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8/7/2008
Wigderson: What will they do when confronted with REAL racism?
Hot on video, the Capital Times/WisPolitics.com production “WisOpinion the Show” this week featured panelists Brian Fraley of the Wisconsin Institute for Leadership and Stu Levitan of FM 92.1 in Madison. Each week the panelists are asked to name their “rising and falling” politicians for the week. At 10:33 into the program Stu Levitan explains why he thinks “Racism” is rising.
“For the first time since Willie Horton we have an overt appeal to racists in a presidential campaign.”
Really? Are you talking about Congressman Ron Paul?
“There are lotsa [sic] more famous, more prominent celebrities than Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. But it happened that campaign used two sexually available white women.”
Levitan is referring to a television ad by the McCain for President campaign that attacks Senator Barack Obama for being a celebrity of little substance. The ad refers to Obama as the biggest celebrity in the world and shows just a glimpse of Spears and Hilton. Levitan and others on the political left have claimed the ad is meant to stir racist feelings about black men with white women.
Now one might argue that yes, these are definitely two “sexually available white women.” [What?] Now that the McCain ad is on YouTube, this might be the first time Hilton has appeared in an internet video with her clothes on.
But Hilton and Spears are known primarily for being celebrities for the sake of being celebrities, and they are the most famous celebrities of no accomplishment the McCain campaign could find. To somehow claim that McCain is trying to stir white male angst over African Americans dating white women is such a stretch as to strain credulity. The person making the charge just looks ridiculous, and the motives are transparent.
The attempt by Obama’s defenders to inject race into every criticism of their candidate is a blatant attempt to kill debate - and anoint their candidate.
But Levitan can’t help himself. When Fraley criticizes former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler, Levitan comments (at 12:20), “It’s interesting that you would cite Louis Butler right after I talked about racism.” When Fraley calls him on it and asks if he’s not allowed to criticize African American politicians because he is Caucasian, Levitan responds that of course Fraley can talk about African American politicians (thanks for the permission), “But it’s interesting.”
Clearly Levitan was trying to shut Fraley up by impugning racism. Fraley did not let him get away with it and was back to attacking Obama shortly afterwards.
Unasked by Fraley, what would Levitan say if confronted with real racism? As I pointed out last week, after exhausting the word “racism” of any meaning after all the empty rhetoric and false charges, Levitan would be left speechless.
James Wigderson blogs regularly at Wigderson Library & Pub.
COMMENTS
Here's the skinny on racism:
In the Aug. 1 Wall Street Journal, Amy Chozick asked if Sen. Barack Obama's skinniness could be a political liability.
Finding a metaphor for how Sen. Obama is different from most voters without reverting to overt racism, Chozik pointed out that Obama is skinnier than the average voter.
In fact, two thirds of Americans are overweight, and a third of us are obese.
I don't have statistics for how many of us are obtuse, but Wall Street Journal reporters and editors must be more obtuse than the average teddy bear.
Chozik's 1,400 word opus on Obama's girth, or lack of girth, carried a racial subtext, Timothy Noah asserted in Slate Magazine.
"Chozick wasn't asking (and, I feel sure, would never ask) whether Americans might think Obama's hair was too kinky or his nose too broad. But it doesn't matter," Noah wrote. "The sad fact is that any discussion of Obama's physical appearance is going to remind white people of the physical characteristic that's most on their minds.
"Moreover, (African-American journalist Michael) Martin points out, 'The black male body has been commodified in this country from its earliest days. People were brought here for their bodies.'"
Rich Eggleston (Thu Aug 07 08:59:53 2008)
I think the question is what will we do when confronted with REAL racism?
Its not really a question though, because we know to just say "that's not racism" and belittle the person who claims it is. Then we don't have to address why John McCain is capable of producing an ad so stupid that he gets bitch slapped by Paris Hilton. How does that go? "Wrinkled white haired guy?"
My god, that's ageism. How did we miss that.
Yeah, its pretty clear that McCain's ad wasn't even about race, and yeah, Paris Hilton is probably not sexually available (to us). But I hear if you donate to McCain he'll let his wife strip for you. Is she coming to Harley Fest?
Oh my goodness, was that sexist? Nah, nothing ever is.
Matt (Thu Aug 07 11:02:25 2008)
emily matthews (Thu Aug 07 11:39:57 2008)
If the election were merely about looks, I'd vote for Obama in a heartbeat--he's CUTE! However, it is not merely about looks, and the media knows it. Speaking about waist size or skin color is an attempt to get everyone to focus on looks.
How can people play the "race" card anyway, when it comes to him? His mom is WHITE. If we're going to be silly and discuss looks, then wouldn't some black voters be disgruntled with him because he's got too much cream in the coffe?
In my extended family, we have members of mixed race, and members (green carded) that are citizens of other countries--they are first, part of the FAMILY, next they are AMERICANS (or RESIDENT ALIENS); i.e. they belong here.
Race doesn't come into it for us, neither for most people nowadays, so please, all you "race-callers", GROW UP.
emily matthews (Thu Aug 07 11:51:38 2008)
I sometimes get a kick out of conversations like these, especially since were up here in, for all intents and purposes, racially sheltered Wisconsin.
Emily: Really? We don't elect on looks? If I'm not mistaken, every President, except FDR has been taller than his challenger. Whether or not that is a conscious decision is up for grabs, but we clearly do vote on "looks."
In general: I agree--its hard to play the race card on Obama unless you're really uninformed or just pain old prejudiced. Many (I hesitate to say most, but it probably is...) people have grown beyond the perception of race as we used to know it. I know...we still have a long ways to go, but no one will argue things are worse than times before. Then again...there is always West Virginia:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=c-q4MDQ0cDI
Adam Delikowski (Thu Aug 07 15:04:30 2008)
**no one will argue things are worse than times before.**
Whoa! I've heard Obama, himself, say things are worse now in the U.S. than in the past on at least 2 different occasions. In Europe and to a 12 year old girl in this country.
As a matter of fact, I see much more racism displayed by black people toward white people. I have to tell you it was a shocker when I discovered the fact of black liberation theology. That is blatant anti-white AND anti-American.
Racism is not a one-way street.
C.R. Stevenson (Fri Aug 08 09:44:17 2008)
I said the election is not about looks, meaning that the real issues are much deeper. However, I realize that for a number of people, looks are indeed all that matter.
Which is why it would be nice to return to some of the original requirements for voting (as in the past in this country): must own property, must be a member in good standing of a church (denomination not specified, which is what Jefferson meant when he spoke about "separation of church and state"--i.e. no state church), etc.
But this idea would fly like a lead balloon, so I guess it's back to looks (for the trivial-minded), and issues (for those who think a little more).
emily matthews (Fri Aug 08 19:32:02 2008)
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