Some have argued that the vitriolic nature of the opposition to health care reform among the political right comes not from a concern about money per se, but a concern that the money of good, hard-working, white Americans will be transferred to the not-so-good, lazy, non-white Americans. That is, that this is isn’t about money, it’s about color.
The fact that conservative anti-health care reform activists hurled the n-word at Black lawmakers on Saturday adds heft to that argument, as does the justification of the use of that word by Representative Devin Dunes (Republican – California) as understandable given Leftist “totalitarianism”:
Via Matthew Yglesias.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 18
Deaf Indian Muslim Anarchist — March 22, 2010
I'm happy it happened. Thank you, Republicans, for showing your true, ugly, racist side! You're just making yourselves look worse ^_^
adamson — March 22, 2010
Teabaggers can kiss my ass!
-a black person from California
Lance — March 22, 2010
You need to edit this post for clarity--well, first, for the typo in "Nunes". But also, the text refers to "the justification of the use of that word by Representative Devin Dunes", which reads most easily as "the justification of [the use of that word by Devin Dunes]" (i.e., a justification of him using the word) as opposed to "the [justification of the use of that word] by Devin Dunes" (i.e., his justification).
I mean, don't get me wrong; him justifying its use is pretty awful. It's just not as awful as him actually using it, which is what the text made it sound like happened.
KC — March 22, 2010
Why do we focus on racism only when it's brought into the political realm? Why isn't mainstream news doing stories about the institutionalized racism and housing segregation going on TODAY? Sure, I think this simple incident should wake people up, but racism is alive and kicking in the US and goes far beyond someone saying the word "Nigger."
Interestingly, although you say Dunes is the only one justifying the action, I interpreted Becerra as saying nearly the exact same thing; Becerra was simply more apologetic about it.
They both said there's free speech, but that saying such a word isn't acceptable (which is contradictory in it's nature, anyway.)
Simone — March 22, 2010
That's just horrifying.
apocalyptopia — March 22, 2010
Lets also not forget that they were screaming "FAGGOT" at Barney Frank as well. It's not just hatred toward non-whites, it's hatred toward anyone that doesn't fit into their ideal little box.
Ask Me No Secrets, I’ll Tell You No Lies « Bitches Get Stuff Done — March 22, 2010
[...] don’t want to talk about how we are hurling racist epithets in our nation’s capitol. Bodies remain war zones, whether they are the bodies of women, the [...]
Woz — March 22, 2010
What I think is the funniest about his defense of the teaparty-ers is that he says it might have been a slip of the tongue. You know, how sometimes when you're shouting at someone and you just accidentally become racist? Funny, it's never happened to me...
CB — March 25, 2010
Making excuses for this is loathsome. And it's that type of behavior that makes me think "I want my country back" is code for "get that nigger out of the White House!" And this is with a guy who's half white, for crying out loud...
The N-Word on Capitol Hill » Sociological Images | Hill Talk — March 25, 2010
[...] The N-Word on Capitol Hill » Sociological Images [...]
Emily — March 26, 2010
What he meant to say: "But it doesn't really mean anything anyomore, because we have a black president, right? Obviously it didn't hurt you people too bad."
The N-Word on Capitol Hill » Sociological Images | Hill Talk | Hill Talk — March 27, 2010
[...] The N-Word on Capitol Hill » Sociological Images [...]