Comments on: Black Newspaper Thinks I’m Racist!

By: WEVS1

WEVS1 — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 17:18:59 +0000

“I would love if White people would actually take seriously when Blacks say they are doing something racist, which Giuliani clearly isnâ€™t (but thatâ€™s a pipe dream).”

Me too. The problem is every problem in our society is reduced to “racism” by charlatans like Sharpton and the writers for the “Amsterdam News.” These people hate Giuliani. They hate him for making NYC a safer city and a better city by locking up criminals and moving people off welfare and into work. This is what they consider “racism”.

By: carpeicthus

carpeicthus — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:41:15 +0000

Austin: That’s a great description of him. Now, of course, the question is whether it’s wise to elect another president who needs crises to maintain his political image. I like to go for people who are rooting against them.

By: wilky

wilky — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 05:13:48 +0000

David, I find this to be quite disturbing the way you characterized this.
Here is what preceded the “evil, racist” quote from the interview.

The campaign also helpfully provided a bunch of quotes from New York papers that it says show that Giuliani has been cast as both a liberal and a conservative. The clips included this one from The Amsterdam News in 2000 (before Giulani dropped out of the U.S. Senate race):

So his staff was willing to show clips that labeled him as a liberal, a conservative, or worse. Now here is the qoute from your web site,

The campaign also helpfully provided a bunch of quotes from New York papers that demonstrate Giuliani’s conservative credentials, such as this one from The Amsterdam News in 2000 (before Giuliani dropped out of the U.S. Senate race):

The first blockqoute talks about how he has been cast by others while yours talks about his campaign demonstrating his credentials.

He wasn’t bragging. But it conforms to your mind set. Isn’t this what y’all call truthiness? And this republicans = racist is getting ef’n old.

By: kritter

kritter — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 04:05:25 +0000

Gotta agree with Cjordan- he is going for the Southern vote, because that is a must-have region for any Republican, and one where the RR could block him in the primaries- similarly to John McCain’s South Carolina experience in 2000.

By: David Schraub

David Schraub — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:19:05 +0000

Patrick: Certainly, I agree that there are cases where it is Black paranoia, and cases where it is White denial. I simply think that there are a lot of good reasons (historical, statistical, psychological) to assume the latter unless shown otherwise.

By: AustinRoth

AustinRoth — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:09:38 +0000

I like Chris Rock’s description of him on Saturday Night Live. In a crisis he is great, but under normal times he makes you nervous. He is like having a pit bull in the house. Great to have when a burgler breaks in, but the rest of the time you are afraid it will eat the baby.

By: Patrick P.

Patrick P. — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 01:17:52 +0000

I am not thinking of all Black leaders; I am thinking of people such as Al Sharpton during the 1980s and early 1990s, or black activists who have falsely accused my father and other law enforcement officers of racism.
You are right that White people often do not perceive racism where it does exist (in other words, they are in denial), but you have to admit that sometimes Black people perceive racism where it does not exist (because they have experienced it elsewhere).

By: David Schraub

David Schraub — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:47:30 +0000

Patrick: I’m not sure why–if there are disputed stories–my reflexive reaction should be that Black leaders are “crying wolf” rather than that White people are in denial. Certainly, history (and a fair amount of contemporary research into cognitive psychology, among other things) would suggest the latter being the more likely prospect.

Lynx: Similarly, while I don’t think Rudy is going to campaign on the “I’m a racist” card, I think we should all be leery when Giuliani courts voters who view Black political leaders as the “enemy.” This is problematic for me– by and large, I think our leaders should be people whom marginalized people trust to uphold their interests (who else will, otherwise). When Giuliani is, at the very least, bragging that he is NOT that guy, this should be seen as bad (not to mention disrespctful).

By: DLS

DLS — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 23:30:50 +0000

Giuliani, and for that matter Romney, have a “RINO” image to try to overcome. Northeastern Republicans are notoriously out of touch with (real) Americans [TM] and should be Democrats instead, they tend to be so liberal for “Republicans.” Giuliani is probably trying to demonstrate to everyone outside New York that he has “solid conservative credentials” [sic]. “Consider the source” [of the criticism of him].

By: Cjordan

Cjordan — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 22:46:53 +0000

He going for that southern vote.

Remember when Haley Barbour was accused of being a member of the White Citizen’s Council when he ran for governor of Mississippi? That probably made Haley day and sealed the deal for his victory…yep.

By: Lynx

Lynx — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 22:01:37 +0000

Oh come, I think you take this way too literally. In fact, I’m nearly doubting I’ve understood you correctly, since though we differ on race often I don’t think you’re THAT innocent. Obviously it’s not that he thinks that Republicans will think being called racist is a good thing. Please, that’s ridiculous. The message is that he’s been the victim of unfair race-carding by the Left. I don’t have any idea about Giuliani’s issues with race, whether or not there is a basis for the accusations is besides the point of this post.

The point is “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”. He’s trying to show how he isn’t a lefty, he’s another conservative being attacked by what the Republican’s view is the hysterical cry-wolf race carders.

By: Patrick P.

Patrick P. — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:47:43 +0000

David, you know that one reason most White people don’t take accusations of racism seriously is that so many so-called Black leaders make accusations of racism so casually that it has become like crying wolf.

By: kritter

kritter — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:38:24 +0000

Giuliani had a terrible relationship with minority leaders when he was mayor of NYC- it was the price he was willing to pay to clean it up. It really bothers me that Giuliani is courting the kind of voter who would see this as a positive thing.

By: David Schraub

David Schraub — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:32:04 +0000

I just think it’s in poor taste. Also, I would love if White people would actually take seriously when Blacks say they are doing something racist, which Giuliani clearly isn’t (but that’s a pipe dream).

By: Kevin H

Kevin H — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:16:40 +0000

I think he thinks a liberal paper hating him will win him primary votes, which is sad, but a little less sensational that what your trying to sell.

I’m sure he’s no more proud of the term ‘racist’ than he is of the term ‘evil’, which seems to be what your implying in your post.

By: domajot

domajot — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:11:27 +0000

Giuliani was a Bush like tough guy in talk and deed as a mayor, the notable exception being that he actually accoplished some goods things over the bodies of his critics and victims.