The spin certainly does not stop here on Think Progress.

How many of you actually heard the exchange between Bill O’Reilly and Juan Williams? I did, and there was absolutely nothing racist about it. Those of you on the fringe left who are using this to hammer Bill O’Reilly are being dishonest, and the gaggle of kook lib followers who swallow it hook, line, and sinker are merely perpetuating the lie.

If you think O’Reilly is racist with his comments, how about Juan Williams calling television shows which purportedly represent “mainstream” black Americans: “Minstrel Shows”. Williams was just as tough, if not tougher, in his commentary on the subject…apparently he can be, because he is black.

Are you all prepared to call Juan Williams racist also? Juan Williams was commenting on the fact that most of the current “reality” shows portraying black America do not represent mainstream black America, merely the “Jerry Springer” version of black America, all for a buck.

The entire segment, and a follow up last night, was a commentary on how the “thug rap” culture portrays black America in a negative light, and some blacks, and a lot of whites, profit from it. Predominantly white recording execs were also castigated for their actions in promoting a violent, extreme, fringe culture that in reality has little to do with real black America.

The entire exchange about Sylvia’s was tongue-in-cheeck, in that is was about the fact that mainstream black America is in reality a civil society, with manners, polite social exchange, and good relations with other cultures, NOT the violent, extremely vulgar, crime-ridden version that also denigrates women as mere sex objects, which you see portrayed in the “rap” culture in recordings, movies, and on television.

O’Reilly’s feigned “surprise” (and it was, indeed, feigned) was nothing more than a personality tool used to drive the point home. Anyone who watches O’Reilly more than once know he uses sarcasm, from mild to extreme, from time to time to make his points. It’s called having a personality AND sense of humour…both are traits many liberals lack, and it shows.

He was remarking on the fact that in mainstream black America, the society IS civil, the lifestyle IS healthy and family oriented, and the culture IS beneficial to America as a whole.

The “alternative” version of black “culture” portrayed by “gangsta rap” is eagerly promoted by white record execs, for money, and just as eagerly bought up en mass by white, and black, kids who then see the black cuture in a dishonest light, and then emulate the same dishonest portrayal of the culture, further perpetuating the lie..just as lies are further perpetuated here on Think Progress.

Comment by O. Bigfoot — September 26, 2007 @ 10:08 am
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Anyway, Ludicris is no more representative of black people than Sanchez and O’Reilly are representative of white people. It’s just shameful that we even have to have this conversation.

Listen, Fella, I heard the whole O’Reilly radio comment.
I saw the CNN show in question.
Marie is right; now clean up the Cheetos and go to bed.

∞

Not in so many words, but yes, he does.
Why do you think he is sooo surprised that Sylvia’s patrons were so well behaved ?

∞

Comment by Toliver

Marie has it right, Toli.
The main reason O’liely and his audience HAS that “rap” impression of African Americans is because that’s how Billo presents them on his show.

∞

Of course Bill O’Reilly is racist, just like the overwhelming majority of white Americans. Black people aren’t surprised that O’Reilly would be surprised at what he found in Sylvia’s because we know that most whites, liberal or conservative, would probably have the same reaction.

I’ll give Bill credit for venturing into a Black-owned establishment and taking in the ambience for himself; most white people avoid being around too many Black people because they seem to think the Black people are going to attack them just because they’re white (?).

For my white progressive/liberal brothers and sisters, check with some of your Black acquaintances before trying to point out racism in a foe that many progressive/liberals exhibit as well.

With any luck, he’d start frothing about pink-automatic totin’ lesbian gangs again…

Wait–wait–Inspiration is coming by with a second helping…

Big deal.

It will be news when the twerp doesn’t say something boneheaded during a broadcast.

I can’t believe this animal still has his job. Many, many time the blogosphere has rallied around a blog on a crusade. They’d do it this time, of course, to get rid of this…this…thing called a “journalist.”

Damn it, he can’t keep his job after this, he just can’t. [sigh]