Bobby Rush: Refusal to seat Burris just like ‘dogs being sicced on children in Birmingham.’
Bobby Rush: Refusal to seat Burris just like ‘dogs being sicced on children in Birmingham.’
After disgraced Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris to the Senate, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) became Burris’ most vocal defender. He likened Senate Democratic leaders, who said they would not seat a Blagojevich appointment, to George Wallace and Bull Connor and warned Senate Democrats not to “hang or lynch” Burris. Tonight on MSNBC’s “Hardball,” Rush went further, comparing the Senate’s refusal to seat Burris yesterday to one of the most violent chapters of the civil rights movement:
RUSH: It reminded me of the dogs being sicced on children in Birmingham, Alabama. That’s what it reminded me of.
Rush also declared that racism “is as American as apple pie.” Watch it:
“When Rush threw that ‘lynching’ card out there, he didn’t just disgrace himself, he really trivialized, arguably, the most disgraceful eras in American history,” the Atlantic’s Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote. Coates has more here.
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Jebus. Hyperbole much??
January 7th, 2009 at 5:50 pmI always wondered how “sicced” was spelled…
January 7th, 2009 at 5:50 pmOh PUHLEEZE. It’s comments like these that make fighting racism and bigotry that much more difficult. Let’s not forget, both sides of the aisle have their raving morons.
January 7th, 2009 at 5:54 pmThis has less to do with race then with sparring egos…Reid vs. Blago.
I think the senate Dems should have found a better way to handle this whole situation.
January 7th, 2009 at 5:56 pmWrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
Mr. Rush, if the NAACP isn’t concerned, I’m sure as hell am not going to be concerned.
If you want to be Blago’s puppet, that is your problem.
January 7th, 2009 at 5:59 pmAccusing people of bigotry and racism where none exists is little different from acting on bigotry and racism. Rush should be ashamed of himself. He knows that Burris’ color has nothing whatsoever to do with the Senate Democrats’ disapproval of him.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:01 pmBobby Rush has a problem that Obama made it and he didn’t. This is getting so old and that’s why Obama is the President. We don’t need to drag up the pass of the Civil Rights Movement. We no longer have or need a Black Panther Party and only a few sick racist are still around. Bringing up the pass and using the race card is only an excuse now. Rush is as bad as some of the sick Republicans dragging up US History. We are noting living in 1972 and Rush is just made he didn’t make it to the top. I’m an African American and a little older then Rush so he can’t tell me anything and he needs to either get over it or retire and talk to old people who only remember 1972. What’s sad is even Dr. King would be ashame of Bobby Rush and he died for the Civil Rights Movement Rush only benefitted from it.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:01 pmRepresentative Rush has made his bogus case from the very beginning, with absolutely no offer of evidence of any actual racial discrimination whatsoever, against the recently appointed but presently unseated junior Senator from Illinois.
Representative Rush cheapens, debases and trivializes the conversation about this and other issues involving racial discrimination, which continues to be a festering cancer upon this society. It’s no wonder that characters like Chris Matthews delight in offering him a public platform for his distorted and misguided claims.
Shame on Rush, and upon Mathews and others who continue to provide a platform for his diatribes.
MEMO TO Representative Rush: for the sake of the cause, you own sake and that of Senate appointee Burris, STFU!
January 7th, 2009 at 6:01 pmOh, goodgawd! The country is on its knees economically, there is much to undo of the injustices of the outgoing regime—can’t they at least try to act like adults?! I was looking forward to some sanity.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:02 pmExplain to me how Rush is not racist for bringing up Burris’ race?
I agree with wiley. I really thought that we could look forward to some sanity for a change. Especially considering the real issues our country faces right now.
This may be the most critical time for our country since 1776 and it’s like herding cats to get our elected officials to focus on reality… let alone solve it.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:10 pmReally? Who has video of the Senate Sargent at Arms using a water cannon on Burris?
This part of Blago’s twisted logic. America is now a third world country.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:14 pmDear Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL),
STFU! You are doing no one and mean everyone no favors.
You need to be smart to fight racism…go away! STFU!
January 7th, 2009 at 6:15 pmBobby Rush: Refusal to seat Burris just like ‘dogs being sicced on children in Birmingham.’»
– - Yep, JUST like it. (eyefreakinroll)
January 7th, 2009 at 6:16 pmThis Burris thing is just getting silly….
….is there any other REAL NEWS for these children to play with?
January 7th, 2009 at 6:23 pmTrivialize the civil rights struggle much?
“Hi, I’m Rep Bobby Rush. And after a tough day of legislating, boy do I sure feel lynched. I’ll tell ya, sitting through a long Congressional session is like having dogs sicced you if you’re a child in Birmingham, Alabama. That’s why I drink Gatorade…”
January 7th, 2009 at 6:28 pmre 16: You know, windy, nobody’s going to believe you’re anything other than a useless concern troll if you continue to post stupid BS like that…
p.s. toss in a few random capitalizations, won’t you?
January 7th, 2009 at 6:36 pmThank you for that post, Jackie. As a white man, I don’t feel comfortable having the final say as to whether or not something is racist, but I’m just not reading the outrage from the black community. One black professor commented that the image of an exclusively white senate blocking the only black member from being seated can conjure images of the civil rights struggles but cannot be proven in this case to be bigoted with objections from a black president and black secretary of state.
On a constitutional note, my strong belief is that Roland Burris should be seated without the senate taking a vote.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:41 pmListen, if you want to say that you feel someone is being treated unfairly, say so. You don’t compare it to lynching.
This is like Cartman on Southpark thinking that him not getting Cheesy Poofs is like the Holocaust or something. It’s almost that much of a stretch.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:42 pm“Bobby Rush: Refusal to seat Burris just like ‘dogs being sicced on children in Birmingham.”
Spare me. He is certainly adding more fuel to fire in regards to racism in this country. Pay no attention to the man behind that curtain.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:46 pmI don’t think Burris is being treated unfairly. I realize Blagojevich has the right to appoint someone to the senate seat. He is still the governor of Illinois and has that right. Ethically Blagojevich should not have appointed Burris, and frankly Burris should not have accepted. Legally this is tough to challenge.
I in no way think this is akin to siccing dogs on children or spraying people with water hoses. The Senate has a legitimate problem with Burris.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:50 pmSince Blago is white (and an embarassment to the race) and it is his decision that is being rejected, how is this really racist? Wouldn’t any of Blago’s selections be turned away, because he is tainted by criminal accusations. This has nothing at all to do with Burris’ race, and everything to do with the Governor’s ineffectiveness and inability to govern. Bobby Rush has been a publicity hound since he was one of the Chicago 8–I really don’t expect much else from him. I hope others can see through his latest folly. (Off Subject: have you seen pictures of the crypt Burris has had built, with his many many accomplishments? http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/1208/Roland_Burriss_Monument_to_Me.html He should be turned away from the Senate on principle alone, for being an egomaniac, of any color!)
January 7th, 2009 at 6:51 pmAll the Democratic Senators signed a letter saying they would block whoever Blago appointed, before they knew who – or whether – he’d appoint. They haven’t changed their stance.
Perhaps the “what if he appointed a black guy” argument should have been made before then, instead of expecting them to instantly reverse themselves the moment a black guy showed up.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:53 pmGive it a rest, Bobby Rush. You have just trivialized the Civil Rights movement.
Stupid much?
January 7th, 2009 at 6:58 pmI agree that Rush is a counterproductive idiot but what you’re saying is completely untrue and while racists are sometimes marginalized, ther is both an institutional bias in black communities, and the crazed supporters of Palin show that there is still something bubbling up from beneath the crust.
January 7th, 2009 at 7:03 pmThanks McWars Says
Now as for the Senate Seat there are laws that have to be followed such as certification. Burris can set down but without being certified he can’t vote or voice an opinion. Let’s hope the Senior Democrats try to follow the law this time. Burris is using race for public support. Your right not enough African American have spoken up about this matter. I’m to old and have seen to much to deal with Burris and Rush with their tired old cry of racism. Our country has serious problems and don’t have time for some wannabe Burris to fill in his grave plot with Senator of Illinois wrtten. I’m more interesting in listening and helping Obama get our Economy back, bring our troops home and improving the US image around the World.
January 7th, 2009 at 7:03 pmwindsor Says:
Bobby Rush is absolutely correct in his assertion, he should call it what it is, a high-tech lynching for uppity blacks who in any way deign to think for themselves. We cannot allow our party to get away with this kind of regressive behavior.
Your assertion is that if Blago had appointed a white man, none of this would be happening? Do you have any the tiniest fleck of evidence?
January 7th, 2009 at 7:04 pmWell, today Reid went on to describe Burris as a nice guy, who is a family man, and who has 2 PhDs as if Reid was a little shocked to find this out after he had dragged Burris through the wringer, so I suppose it’s not surprising that some black Americans, such as Rush, hinks this was a race issue. It wasn’t, of course. It was just Harry Reid acting like he was a tough boy, when really, he ended up looking like a whiny ass titty baby.
January 7th, 2009 at 7:07 pmif you close your eyes and listen to him, he sounds exactly like the homeless dude outside the 7-11 asking for spare change. what ever happened to the best, brightest and most articulate serving in our government?
January 7th, 2009 at 7:08 pmOK, Mr. Burris, care to distance yourself from Mr Rush’s ridiculous and offensive tactics?
January 7th, 2009 at 7:12 pmGawd, please make them go away. I can’t take any more of this. Seat Burris and then make him irrelevant. Otherwise he will spend the next year being the Drama Queen of the Senate.
January 7th, 2009 at 7:56 pmI don’t suppose Tweety smacked him down, did he?
January 7th, 2009 at 7:57 pmAli Frick deserves great credit for posting this thread. The integrity of TP is majorly enhanced when you call Democrats on egregious behavior. This type or race baiting garbage has no place in America.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:13 pmThis is insane. Playing the race card in this situation makes absolutely no sense. ANYBODY Blago picked would be in a similar situation regardless of color (or sex, or religion, or funny last name, or any other factor).
And the fact that Obama himself (a man of color, in case nobody noticed) has issues with the appointment makes this kind of accusation look pretty stupid.
Bobby Rush may be Burris’ “most vocal defender” but he sure isn’t doing Burris any favors.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:51 pmGo BULL, GO Wallace!
RRJ
January 7th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Don’t know what all the upheaveal over the Burris Senate Seat appointment that was appointed by Blagojevich, he is [accused] not convicted of anything. He is accused of trying to sell Obammy”s seat and eveyone wants him in jail. Obamma along with millions in Muslim and old fat blob Ophra’s money along with dead people and dogs voting for him bought the President’s Office, so why aren’t all of them being arrested and jailed and barred from taking office. Old ted kennedy has an excuse he is for all intents and purposes brain dead, Caroline doesn’t have enough brains to get out of the rain so those two should be excempt and looked over. Hillery said for months how Obammy was fit for squat and the Obamma offers her the same job Old Bill offered monica and now she tewlls us what a great guy he is. All of them sux and belong in jail.
January 7th, 2009 at 9:15 pmThank god Obammy will only be in office one term if that! Maye some one will want to put him in jail for buy the President’s Office.
RRJ
You know, Bobby Rush making that comparison reminds me of the Holocaust.
January 7th, 2009 at 9:48 pmBobby Rush has officially achieved Tool status.
January 7th, 2009 at 9:51 pmBobby Rush might be old school. But is he totally wrong in his criticism of Establishment attitudes? (Despite Burris’s refusal to make an issue of “race”.)
When you’ve been up against it all your life you can tell by subtle signs when you’re being messed with and shitted. Most of what happens in the light of day is prompted by what’s underneath ordinary conscious life. Sometimes people act intentionally, sometimes out of habit. Sometimes carelessly. Sometimes just plain stupidly.
This whole situation has not been handled very well by Reid and other party leaders. And Obama’s odd initial stated opposition to seating Burris didn‘t help the matter– although Obama has modified his position by now calling the situation a Senatorial matter.
[ See WP article: Burris To Be Seated?
Furthermore, there are many questions that must still be explored regarding the timing of the coming to light of the Blagojevich Affair, US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s statement announcing a filing of a complain --no grand jury indictment had been issued-- and the Illinois Governor's alignment with the UE workers at the Republic Windows factory takeover and their demands against the powerful Bank of America for just compensation, and how that direct labor action ties in with a “message” communicated in no uncertain terms to President-Elect Obama--who supported the workers, something no President since FDR has openly done-- by the Powers That Be on High i.e. the moneyed market-dominant elite. All this within the timeframe of crucial negotiations between Big Auto and the United Auto Workers (UAW). [See:
The Wonderful Life and Strange Death of Walter Reuther ; Walter Reuther and: The 1936-'37 Flint Sit-Down Strike . ]
The best thing the Dems can do ASAP is to seat Burris and move on to bigger things. Then let’s get Franken in there. And impeach Saxby Chambliss (that bloated Neo-Confederate a-hole…!)
In any event, there’s certainly more here than meets the eye.
At least, that’s the way I feel about it. Call me crazy.
====
Notes:
Arrest of Illinois guv: Were real targets Obama and UAW?
http://www.workers.org/2008/us/illinois_guv_1225/
====
January 7th, 2009 at 10:21 pmgreenpagan Says:
…US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s statement announcing a filing of a complain –no grand jury indictment had been issued– and the Illinois Governor’s alignment with the UE workers at the Republic Windows factory takeover…
Fitzgerald quite reasonably explained that he wanted to publicize the situation before Blago appointed a Senator, hopefully to give someone a chance to stop him.
But I like your irrelevant connection better than Rush’s irrelevant collection. Looks like fun.
Frankly, the whole situation just smacks of the Armenian Genocide all over again.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:26 pmrepublicans hate facts Says:
Zooey Says:
Give it a rest, Bobby Rush. You have just trivialized the Civil Rights movement.
Stupid much?
The irony is that you did the same in the primaries, you should take your own advice and give it a rest…
I agree this isn’t a civil rights situation, but your hypocrisy in the matter means you should really keep your trap shut…
January 7th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Get bent, lunatic.
I’d like to see your proof that I “did the same thing.”
January 8th, 2009 at 12:32 amBobby Rush is now Billo’s newest Best Friend Forever…next to Jack Daniel’s and that Lucifer guy you hear about every Sunday, if you’re into that “church” thing.
January 8th, 2009 at 12:43 amBobby Rush is mental.
The brother needs to retire.
January 8th, 2009 at 1:04 amI’m sorry, but Bobby Rush needs to STFU! Now and forever. As a black person, I laugh at his guy because he is so stupid. Where is the racism in not seating Burris. Shut your mouth, man. Please!
January 8th, 2009 at 2:02 amYou know what? NO
My grandfather was the Jefferson County (Birmingham) coroner during the civil rights era. He saw the deaths that resulted from someone’s skin being the “wrong” color, and impressed upon me the injustice that happened here at that time. I have seen the autopsy photographs of those who were not “fortunate” enough to have been born with melanin deficient skin during the 60’s and 70’s.
No. You do not get to co-opt the pain and struggle of those here in Birmingham (or anywhere else, really) who dealt with very real, very life threatening racism.
Blago is corrupt. Burris has tainted himself by accepting this very bogus appointment. Step down now and run for the office. IL deserves nothing less.
January 8th, 2009 at 2:51 am“motorfingaz Says:
Bobby Rush is mental.
The brother needs to retire.”
for real!!!
January 8th, 2009 at 5:58 amZooey Says:
Get bent, lunatic.
This exchange here is uncomfortably reminiscent of the Rwandan massacres…
January 8th, 2009 at 10:05 amI’m glad someone like Bobby here has jumped the shark. Hoping to get your way by waving the race card like a foul in soccer in hopes that white liberal guilt will trump any real concerns has, I think come to it’s ridiculous end.
January 8th, 2009 at 10:13 amDo you hear that Jessie, Al and Spike?
I hope you can now see that refering to Bush and Israel as Nazi’s is just as ridiculous. People who use unbelievable atrocities to compare differences of opinion diminish themselves. Moreover, they diminish the heinous act being exampled.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:30 amElBruce, Armenian genocide? Phfft, please! Your more thoughtful than that. I liked your post on the congressman sleeping in his office. You are truly one of the more informed on this site.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:35 amAnother thought, where are Chris Matthew’s balls? I can’t understand that he wouldn’t immediately fix Burris’ statement after the siccing dogs in Birmingham comment. He wouldn’t let anyone else get away with such a fantastical comment. Curious. Is it because Rush is black or because he is a democrat?
January 8th, 2009 at 11:40 amWow Bobby just outright claimed what gay activsts have only heavily implied about themselves.
Talk about jumping the shark.
January 8th, 2009 at 1:39 pmI hope Mr. Rush’s keepers find him soon and gently escort him back to the Home for the Extremely Unpleasant.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:19 pmdrew3rd Says:
ElBruce, Armenian genocide? Phfft, please!
See, you criticizing me like that is exactly like one of Stalin’s purges.
January 8th, 2009 at 6:35 pm