Rice: The Republican Party Brought Us To A Place Where ‘People Can Look Beyond Race’
Rice: The Republican Party Brought Us To A Place Where ‘People Can Look Beyond Race’
Yesterday, Secretary of State Condelezza Rice sat for an interview with CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo. In a portion of the interview that does not appear to have aired, Bartiromo asked Rice about her “thoughts on the Republican party.” Rice claimed that the GOP has played a large role in bringing the country to a place where “people can look beyond race“:
RICE: [T]he Republican Party also has done a lot for bringing us to a place that — not that race doesn’t matter, but where people can look beyond race. If you look at the last two Secretaries of State, African Americans, they were Republican administrations, the Administration of George W. Bush that appointed them.
Rice’s rosy picture of race relations in America is puzzling. In March of this year, Rice more credibly argued that “America doesn’t have an easy time dealing with race.” Rice noted at the time how prevalent the after effects of our national “birth defect” — slavery — continue to be:
RICE: [T]hat’s not a very pretty reality of our founding, and I think that particular birth defect makes it hard for us to confront [race], hard for us to talk about [race], and hard for us to realize that [race] has continuing relevance for who we are today. … [D]escendents of slaves, therefore, did not get much of a head start. And I think you continue to see some of the effects of that.
More puzzling, however, is her crediting the Republican party with the significant progress that has been made with regard to race and racism in America. In recent years, the party has blocked attempts to protect civil rights. Additionally, Republican power brokers have spouted xenophobic and racist rhetoric, while members of the conservative movement cheer them on. In particular, Republican presidential candidates have a history of exploiting racial and ethnic divides for electoral benefit.
The Republican party’s failure to include minorities is evident by the lack of diversity in the congressional Republican caucus. Of the 247 members in the caucus, none are African-American and just five are Hispanic. Similarly, at the 2008 Republican National Convention, just 2 percent of the delegates were black.
In fact, as former Bush speechwriter David Frum put it in criticizing his party on NPR this morning, the Republican Party is the “party of white America.”
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If you look at the last two Secretaries of State, African Americans, they were Republican administrations, the Administration of George W. Bush that appointed them.
– - George Bush, channeling Stephen Colbert: “Why, some of my best friends are black.”
December 12th, 2008 at 5:41 pmThey lied us into a war, allowed an attack on the World Trad Center in their first year, and their ineptitude in governance and economics have gotten us to the worst place we have been in since the Great Depression.
December 12th, 2008 at 5:42 pmShe really is just completely clueless, isn’t she?
December 12th, 2008 at 5:44 pmRice isn’t wrong in a sense. Bush and the GOP have made the country so bad for all Americans of every race, creed, color and sexual orientation that Americans have decided, ‘Heck I really don’t give a shit what the new president looks like as long as he’s smart, practical, sensible with good ideas.’
And that’s what we got. It just so happens Obama is black.
December 12th, 2008 at 5:46 pmJebus. Delusional much…???
Pssssst, Condi – there are treatments and good drugs for that.
December 12th, 2008 at 5:47 pmWTF?
Wow. Secretary Rice needs to check her electrolytes.
December 12th, 2008 at 5:51 pmZooey Says: She really is just completely clueless, isn’t she?
– - She doesn’t even know she’s a lesbian.
December 12th, 2008 at 5:52 pmBadmoodman Says:
Zooey Says: She really is just completely clueless, isn’t she?
- – She doesn’t even know she’s a lesbian.
December 12th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Once you go “Bush” you never go back. :D
December 12th, 2008 at 5:54 pmShe is a fukcing dumbass.
December 12th, 2008 at 5:54 pmLet’s see, Lincoln freed the slaves and pretty much after that the Republicans have been clueless. It was Truman, a Democrat, who ordered the integration of the armed forces. And, it was Kennedy, a Democrat, who ordered US Marshalls to enforce desegregation of the many southern schools. And, it was Lyndon Johnson, a Democrat, who brought about landmark civil rights legislation. And, it was Martin Luther King, Malcom X, etal who fought for the civil rights and dignity. Sad but true, few if any influential Republican politicians saw fit to advance the civil rights struggle of blacks. To give credit for much of anything to the Republican party is a gross distortion.
December 12th, 2008 at 5:58 pmThe last two secretaries of state were puppets……are you really that proud of yourself? Powell aint for sure.
December 12th, 2008 at 5:58 pmTry breaking the pills in half, Condi.
December 12th, 2008 at 5:59 pmThe Republican Party Brought Us To A Place Where ‘People Can Look Beyond Race
Yeah, the unemployment line.
December 12th, 2008 at 6:01 pmIs this one in the “legacy talking points”?
December 12th, 2008 at 6:01 pmI am so sick of seeing Repubs trying (in vain) to convince us all they have done a wonderful job– why, to them, they’ve won Iraq, they love & promote African-Americans (remember the hatred Palin stirred up?), the are the only ones who love America (while they do everything possible to divide people, and so on. I guess we’ll have to put up with these lies & history rewrites for a little longer, but good Lord, Repubs, try to go out with at least a little honesty.
December 12th, 2008 at 6:04 pmYeah, but they hired to black people for important jobs! And everyone knows how influential Powell and Rice have been in shaping this countries policies for the past 8 years.
December 12th, 2008 at 6:11 pmWhat’s next, that Bull Connor was misunderstood and a great humanitarian deserving of a medal a la Chuck Colson?!
Will this endless bull$hit ever stop spewing from their mouths? This is why God cries when they pray!
December 12th, 2008 at 6:11 pmBoy, Rice has truly become delusional. Stanford, are you sure you want her back? Maybe you should rethink this.
December 12th, 2008 at 6:12 pmBuckie Boy Says:
The Republican Party Brought Us To A Place Where ‘People Can Look Beyond Race
Yeah, the unemployment line.
Good one Buckie!
December 12th, 2008 at 6:22 pmJeebos, another thread on bush’s mistress with dead eye’s…She’s brain dead as well..I sure am sick of “those people” and no I don’t mean black’s I mean stupid ass kissing whore’s in the bull shit bush administration….Blessings to everyone else.
December 12th, 2008 at 6:26 pmRice: The Republican Party brought us to a place where REPUBLICANS can look beyond race’
_____________________________________________________________
Well, Condi — I tried to fix that for you, but your party still lives in a world where there are “good” blacks (like you and Clarence Thomas) and then there are all the rest.
Meanwhile, most of our party voted for Obama because he was the best person for the job, not because he was a token. We’ve been looking beyond race for awhile now.
December 12th, 2008 at 6:26 pmThis must be how the Right salve the wounds of failure–by heaping false praise upon themselves.
December 12th, 2008 at 6:30 pmYeah, Republicans look beyond race – to racial cleansing (see Katrina, New Orleans)…
December 12th, 2008 at 6:32 pmLooks like condi has gotten the polish the bush turd oh I mean legacy memo
December 12th, 2008 at 6:33 pmMy God this woman is delusional. First of all as someone said, this David Frumm. It is the party of white America.
All of the civil rights legislation now laws, were fully and totally put through by the Democratic party. The only kind of remotely related social program ever put through by any Republican was the EPA established by Nixon. That is it. They have consistently voted against any and all things not business related. She is one of the worst liars of them all. And that’s saying something.
December 12th, 2008 at 6:47 pm“GOP has played a large role in bringing the country to a place where “people can look beyond race”
Say what?!
December 12th, 2008 at 6:53 pmThe republican party of white rich men, former KKK members, white supremacists, and voters against all legislation designed to eliminate discrimination — because she gained access to the White House, she thinks they’re the saviors of minorities.
Yes, when you’re so deep in a hole, you really can’t see colors.
December 12th, 2008 at 6:57 pmCondi should go ask Colin Powell about how it is on the other end of the spectrum being the parties token black Hallmark greeting card.
I think a lot of her job was predicated on her sounding smart. Notice the word, “sounding”.
December 12th, 2008 at 7:00 pmSo here’s the thing condi, I think you’re full of sh!t, and there you have it.
December 12th, 2008 at 7:04 pmDo dreams of glowing mentions in the history books keep you warm at night Condi?
December 12th, 2008 at 7:07 pmWayne A. Schneider Says:
Is this one in the “legacy talking points”?
____________
More of a “trial balloon”, Wayner. They’re trying everything and anything they can, hoping SOMETHING works. Hell, they’ve got to go w/ fantasy BS.
Me, I think of it as a “clay pigeon”…
PULL!!!
December 12th, 2008 at 7:10 pmShe’s been a token her entire life, so I wouldn’t expect her to see, or acknowledge it. But I pity the poor college students who must endure her self-aggrandizing historical revisionism.
Perhaps her collegues will mount a truth-telling campaign, to mitigate some of the damage done to their innocent young psyches.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:23 pmI was unaware that Condo smoked that funny stuff. But then, this IS the Bush administration: No weed left behind.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:24 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
Meanwhile, most of our party voted for Obama because he was the best person for the job, not because he was a token. We’ve been looking beyond race for awhile now.
First, AMEN!
Secondly, who is she speaking to, exactly? People of color in this country? Does she think for one second that African Americans believe that shit? She’s completely irrelevant and is only speaking to try and repair Bush’s legacy with his talking points memo.
Everything the republicans say and do these days is irrelevant. Their base consists of over-indulged old white men, illiterate rednecks and sad, uninformed old people like that woman with bed head at the McCain rally who said Obama was an Arab.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:29 pmI am so tired of this administration lying to the American people I could scream! I hope no one in Obama’s administration ever thinks it okay to do that after all these years of lies to US and the World! Wouldn’t that be refreshing?!
December 12th, 2008 at 8:30 pmSorry I can’t stop laughing this is to funny. What wont these loyal Bushie do to help save his legacy.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:49 pmWhat is with repugs?
chimpy has nothing to do with what President-ELECT Obama doing for diversity.
thomas, rice and powell are the biggest old white repug asskissers on earth.
Another lie contributed by chimpy’s teabaggers.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:57 pmIt is easy to see why Bush is pals with Rice. They are two of the most delusional liars that obviously believe what ever comes out of their mouths. Absolutely ridiculous pair, this woman has done more harm to America than any woman in history of our nation. I dare say only Palin can beat her record.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:22 pmShirley Chisolm was the first African-American to run for President and Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American to sit on the Supreme Court. Both of those events happened over 40 years ago. Apparently the more meaningful events don’t count in Rice’s eyes. Time to go shopping for more shoes, I guess.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:32 pmBTW, who’s in that picture to Condi’s left?
Looks like… Herman Munster shaking hands w/ OJ Simpson, if you ask me…
December 12th, 2008 at 11:36 pmThe sun came up this morning. Thank God for the Republicans.
ptttht
December 12th, 2008 at 11:59 pmYes, Ms Rice, but that was in 1865.
December 13th, 2008 at 12:01 amActually, two African-American Secretaries of State in a row is an achievement. You’ve gotta give ‘em that.
However – and this is far more significant in the real world that we live in – the “ideas” and “values” of the Republican party stand for nothing more than serving the interests of the wealthy by pandering to uneducated rural white folk. That’s the only description of their “principles” that actuall explains their behavior.
So the history books might note that Bush was somewhat pro-African-American based on his SoS picks, but that’s a long way off. Until then, he and his party are utterly complicit in racially divided politics based on winning by disenfranchising minorities.
December 13th, 2008 at 12:38 amCondi is right!
The failures, crimes and ignorance of the republican party in recent decades have enabled Americans to look beyond race and elect and brilliant bi-racial politician to the Presidency of The United States. Barack H. Obama!!!
December 13th, 2008 at 1:28 amYES WE CAN……AND DID!!!
rice is a pitiful person. She lives in a world where all of reality is manufactured in her head according to her latest fancies and each reality lasts only as long as her next thought. She is incompetent beyond words. Her lying is pervasive. It is really, really tragic that she was put in a position to cause so much unnecessary destruction and suffering to so many innocent people, as well as the ruination of the US’ international standing.
December 13th, 2008 at 8:26 am.
“GOP has played a large role in bringing the country to a place where “people can look beyond race”
coming from an administration who for the past eight years drilled into their brain dead minions all arabs are terrorists? that’s rich.
December 13th, 2008 at 9:18 amVincennes is correct, and I have to wonder if Obama might even have gotten a substantial share of the KKK vote.
December 13th, 2008 at 9:35 amIn fact, as former Bush speechwriter David Frum put it in criticizing his party on NPR this morning, the Republican Party is the “party of white America.”
Edit:
In fact, as former Bush speechwriter David Frum put it in criticizing his party on NPR this morning, the Republican Party is the “party of illeducated, poor, anti-intellectual white America.”
December 13th, 2008 at 9:39 amThe Republican party by definition is a racist party.
December 13th, 2008 at 9:53 amThere are no Black GOP Govs,Senate nor Congressional members.
This is the culmination of the Southern Strategy.
However there are less racists to give them a majority but that won’t stop them because they can’t help themselves.
Republicans idea of inclusion are Sarah Palin and Clarence Thomas.
Cynical choices made for appearance only Ms Rice.
Everybody united against the common enemy: Republicans.
December 13th, 2008 at 10:57 amI’m guessing that this is another branch of the Legacy Project. And it’s a particularly bizarre claim because it seems like the Bush Administration wants to take credit for preparing the nation for Obama.
I’ve never seen someone try to ride the coat-tails of the person that is following them.
This isn’t the first time that Bush wished to be lauded as some sort of civil rights revolutionary because he appointed Powell and Rice. Nearly every time was is questioned about his civil rights record, he would bring up Condi and Colin. Was it really so hard for him to appoint them? Were there protest and riots?
Wow. Bush sure was courageous and progressive to appoint Colin Powell; a guy from his dad’s administration and also one of the most popular political figures in the country.
December 13th, 2008 at 11:03 amSpeaking of repugnicsum:
Countdown obtained a memo entitled “Action Alert – Auto Bailout,” sent Wednesday at 9:12am, to Senate Republicans.
The Los Angeles Times reported that it was circulated among Senate Republicans.
The brief memo outlines internal political strategy on the bailout, including the view that defeating the bailout represents a “first shot against organized labor.” Senate Republicans blocked passage of the bailout late Thursday night, over its insistence on an immediate union pay cut.
Senators Ensign, Shelby, Coburn and DeMint will hold a press conference in the Senate Radio/TV Gallery. They would appreciate our support through messaging and attending the press conference, if possible. The message they want us to deliver is:
1. This is the democrats first opportunity to payoff organized labor after the election. This is a precursor to card check and other items. Republicans should stand firm and take their first shot against organized labor, instead of taking their first blow from it.
2. This rush to judgment is the same thing that happened with the TARP. Members did not have an opportunity to read or digest the legislation and therefore could not understand the consequences of it. We should not rush to pass this because Detroit says the sky is falling.
The sooner you can have press releases and documents like this in the hands of members and the press, the better. Please contact me if you need additional information. Again, the hardest thing for the democrats to do is get 60 votes. If we can hold the Republicans, we can beat this.
The GOP sent the first shot across the bow of the upcoming Obama administration as they killed the auto rescue plan Thursday night. It never was about trying to help the automakers or the economy, but an effort to crush the working class and punish unions. There are many more people in line to suffer if the Big 3 go out of business, but Shelby and his band of brothers couldn’t care less.
“Union Busting” is a high priority for these Conservatives fools that have allowed our country to be run into the ground.
December 13th, 2008 at 11:42 amBah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! That is tooo funny! Since when did Condisleeeeeeza Rice become a comedian?
December 13th, 2008 at 11:46 amMarcus Aurelius Says:
Everybody united against the common enemy: Republicans.
December 13th, 2008 at 11:48 am“““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Republikkkans united against the common enemy: The human race.
Oh….wait I get it now, Condi was talking about NASCAR and the Daytona 500.
December 13th, 2008 at 11:50 amIs Rice on drugs????!!!!! She must be! It is the only way someone like her would be ignoring calls for war crimes prossecution, US Torture program, and the results of last election! Not to mention the Finacial FIASCO to sum up to her leader’s FIASCOS!
December 13th, 2008 at 12:47 pmI hope this woman ends up in front of an international court! RICE = HAGUE 2009!
I am new to this website and also to politics in general. I am not sure whether I am a progressive or a conservative or what. I wanted to know if someone could help me understand what exactly the progressive philosophy is. Meaning more precisely what is the basis of your political views from a more philosophical or metaphysical standpoint? I would like to thank anyone in advance who would like to help me out.
December 13th, 2008 at 2:33 pmthbell1985 Says:
Taking you at face value I can say this. I can only speak for myself. Us leftys dont do groupthink. I am pretty far left and can boil down my political philosophy to two statements. Property doesnt have rights. People have rights. When in conflict property must always take a back seat to actual human beings and I never, NEVER, stand with the powerful against the weak
December 13th, 2008 at 3:26 pmOne would think the good old boy old school tricks were caught on to by Americans I guess not after reading comments above. We here’s the lesson in the old days to keep blacks in their place White would bring out one black person to use as a token. Yes the Headlines would read the man/woman loves blacks show the black’s face and then say vote for this white guy he’s a friend to all blacks plus it’s what God would want. I got so tired of hearing the same scam and my GrandMother would always say he wouldn’t speak like that about God if it wasn’t true. The Media is acting shocked about pay to play when that system has been in Politics forever. Who do you think Lobbyist got created.
December 13th, 2008 at 4:00 pmI look forward to Connie and her crew saying it was George W. Bush who freed the slaves and it was George W. Bush who selected Dr. King to lead the Civil Rights Bill yes and it was George W. Bush who ordered John F Kenndey to fight for equal right and it was none only then George W. Bush who told LB Johnson to sign the Civil Rights Bill as Law. I can see it now this country and minorities own all they have to George W. Bush. Some will believe that bull too.
Yeah, condi, we are all in such deep shit, thanks to you and George W. Bush and crew that race is a non issue. But I have learned to HATE the GOP.
December 13th, 2008 at 6:52 pmEugene Debs Says:
Taking you at face value I can say this. I can only speak for myself. Us leftys dont do groupthink. I am pretty far left and can boil down my political philosophy to two statements. Property doesnt have rights. People have rights. When in conflict property must always take a back seat to actual human beings and I never, NEVER, stand with the powerful against the weak
Thank you for replying to my inquiry I do truly appreciate that. I do have some further questions though. When you say property doesn’t have rights do you mean that literally? or do you mean to say that people do not have property rights? And do you believe that rights to property should take a back seat to human beings? In what sense could you provide a for instance?
And if you mean that property doesn’t have rights in the literal sense and should take the backseat when it conflicts with humanity do you mean when ever considerations concerning property of any sort conflict with human development then it is always the concern of the human that should prevail?
I would love to hear a response from anyone on this comment.
December 13th, 2008 at 8:54 pmFirst of all, I highly respect Rice. She has represented our country well in her role.
Secondly, I agree with her that progress has been made… although I would disagree that the party is the cure-all (as she may be alluding to). I’m also glad to see we’ve elected a new president-elect who happens to be African-American.
–Terrace Crawford
December 13th, 2008 at 9:04 pmhttp://www.terracecrawford.com
http://www.twitter.com/terracecrawford
This is true in a way. I know of a great many racist voters who pulled the lever for Obama. The GOP’s ruinous policies and catastrophic blunders united Americans behind the best candidate who just happened to be black. In the end, race had far less impact on the election than the pundits anticipated.
Stupid pundits!
Condi, Powell & Gonzo had no yank in the Republican party
outside of the Bush administration. Can anyone name the most “influential” people of color in the Republican party?
I didn’t think so.
-AF
December 13th, 2008 at 9:24 pmAndrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
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Rice: The Republican Party Brought Us To A Place Where ‘People Can Look Beyond Race’
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So arrogance, incompetence and corruption are color blind. Hip Hip Hooray!
- Tom
December 13th, 2008 at 11:43 pmI am at a TOTAL loss for words to describe this complete fool . . . her GREATEST accomplishment has been finding decent shoes that fit . . . America foreign policy under Bush pretty much decimated 200 years of American integrity and progress . . . hardly “looking beyond race” . . . .
December 14th, 2008 at 3:00 amThe base of the Republican Party is the old Confederacy—where they are still mad today (2008!) that they lost the Civil War. But it could be breaking up—Virginia and North Carolina couldn’t vote for McCain after eight disastrous years of Bush.
December 14th, 2008 at 5:21 pmMACACA!!!
December 15th, 2008 at 3:31 pm