The Individualist: Plantations and Hurricanes and Chocolate City Oh My

Posted by Joe Rivett on 01.23.2006

Hillary and Nagin play the race card. Find out and see who does it better...

I celebrated Martin Luther King Day with my students by watching the "I have a dream" speech. I simply played it and explained why every one and every race should celebrate it. Nothing else to say, King said it all.

Hillary Clinton used the holiday to attack the Bush administration. She stated that the Bush Administration was one of the worst administrations in history and that the Republicans run the Congress like a plantation, if ya know what she means. I wasn't sure what she meant. I first thought maybe it was a jab to Tom Delay being the majority "whip". However, it became clear that she meant there is no dissent tolerated. Actually, it kind of sounds like my job.

Nevertheless, she makes an interesting point. One of the chief Republican claims is that the Democrats do not have new ideas. I agree with this sentiment but there are two reasons they do not have new ideas. The first reason is that they like the status quo before Bush. Secondly, they don't have a majority in any part of Congress to pass a new idea. When they make proposals, they usually get voted down. Because the Republicans have a majority on all of the committees, Democrats do not have the power to call hearings unless the chair is a decent senator like McCain or Specter.

One of the things that I hate about politics is that the House is 48% Democratic yet they aren't able to represent the people the way Republicans do. In the Senate there are more moderates and more compromise, but the House is a different story.

Is the Bush Administration one of the worst in history? We simply don't know yet. I don't' have a problem with what Mrs. Clinton said. I admire her for taking a chance and making strong accusations.

Clinton's actions were smart and Bush's response was horrible. Now I bet you are wondering what Bush's response was. His response was having his wife go on television and say that it was a ridiculous comment. Nothing makes you look more like a pussy than when your wife has to defend you. The next response was made by the RNC when they stated:

"Senator Clinton repeatedly attacked the Bush administration over body armor, called for hearings, and then didn't bother to show up."

Hillary's spokesperson fired back with:

"The briefing was called on short notice and that the senator already had a full day of events scheduled with constituents in New York and sent an aide in her place… only one Republican attended the special briefing."

I'm not sure if Hillary would make a great candidate for 2008 but I do know that she doesn't let the other side get away with misleading comments. I remember when Dick Cheney criticized John Edwards' attendance at Intelligence Committee meetings and Edwards did not respond that Senators send aides to conferences because they are out of town so often. Hillary also pointed out that former speaker Gingrich made the same comment about Democrats:

"I clearly fascinate them. I'm much more intense, much more persistent, much more willing to take risks to get it done. Since they think it is their job to run the plantation, it shocks them that I'm actually willing to lead the slave rebellion."

Not only did he refer to it as a plantation, but apparently Newt is the modern day Nat Turner or Toussaint L'Ouverture. Again, Hillary may not be the best candidate but she has more balls than Kerry and Edwards.

I don't' have a problem with what Hillary said. Using Nazis and slavery in an analogy is useful because each represents an event that every one knows and every one agrees is bad. However, she could have picked a different day to make the comment. She took Dr. King's spotlight off him and his movement.

Another person in the last week to make a racial comment was Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans. Before, I get to that, what offended me was not the chocolate but that an angry God sent the hurricanes. I expected Pat Robertson to tell us that God wanted to punish the sinful city of New Orleans, not Ray Nagin. This is taking the Lord's name in vein.
I really hate when people "know" God's actions or reasons as if they have a personal line to the man upstairs. According to Nagin, God is also upset at black America for not taking better care of its people. I disagree on two counts. First, I don't know what pisses God off. Secondly, people should take care of others regardless of race.

I'm no Bible expert but I don't think Jesus addressed race. I also hate when people ask why there is black on black crime. The answer is simple: a black man in the inner city can only rob another brother. Additionally, do you ever hear of Asian on Asian, or Hispanic on Hispanic crime? No. Crime is crime.

Nagin also stated: "This city will be a majority African-American city. It's the way God wants it to be." When I heard this I said to myself, "Damn, he's lucky he's not white." Could you imagine the term African-American being replaced with "white" and a white governor saying it? Sounds like George Wallace.

How does this man have a job? If Grey Davis can be recalled why has no one recalled this nincompoop?

But I feel bad for Ray Nagin. Most mayors do not have to deal with what he has been through. The stress must be horrible. So I forgive Ray Nagin because God would want me to… I think.