Speaking to the Justice Department in honor of Black History Month yesterday, Attorney General Eric Holder said that “we, average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race.” When it comes to discussing race, he said, the U.S. is “essentially a nation of cowards.” He said that the Department has “a special responsibility,” and that as long as he is Attorney General, the Department “must — and will — lead the nation to the ‘new birth of freedom’ so long ago promised by our greatest President.”
Apparently, the notion that the DOJ might “lead the nation” in protecting and upholding justice greatly alarmed Fox News’ Megyn Kelly. Interviewing Juan Williams this morning, she declared that “addressing racial ills…strikes fear down the spines” of conservatives:
KELLY: He said they [the department] has a special responsibility in addressing racial ills. That — that strikes fear down the spines of many conservatives in this country, because they don’t want the Justice Department taking us back to the day when they get heavily involved in things like affirmative action, and things like voter registration rights. [...]
WILLIAMS: What you will see I think is more aggressive enforcement in terms of existing civil rights laws. And that was the fear that the existing civil rights laws were not being enforced by the Bush justice department.
KELLY: Well a lot of people thought that the Bush Justice Department sort of got us back to the point where we were — we were being reasonable.
Watch it:
Part of conservatives’ “fear,” according to Kelly, is that Holder would change the DOJ’s focus on voting rights. “The Bush administration was all about voter fraud, some of the Democrats more about voter registration rights,” she said. She’s right: As former head of the DOJ’s Voting Rights section Joseph Rich detailed, under Bush the DOJ “notably shirked” its traditional duty of protecting minority voting rights:
It has notably shirked its legal responsibility to protect voting rights. From 2001 to 2006, no voting discrimination cases were brought on behalf of African American or Native American voters. U.S. attorneys were told instead to give priority to voter fraud cases, which, when coupled with the strong support for voter ID laws, indicated an intent to depress voter turnout in minority and poor communities.
Even after Bush’s DOJ made “voter fraud” a “top priority,” between October 2002 and September 2005, just 38 cases of voter fraud were prosecuted nationally — “and of those, 14 ended in dismissals or acquittals, 11 in guilty pleas, and 13 in convictions.” Yet, according to Kelly, diverting resources to a crime that exists only in the right wing’s imagination is entirely “reasonable.”
I actually know some conservatives who will address racial ills.
They address someone’s race as an illness. I saw them in the Palin event videos on Youtube especially.
A lot of them want the freedom to be a racist without being identified as one.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:28 pmPoor lil’ Ms Megyn – when will those awful minorities stop oppressing her?
I guess having Uncle Juan on her show proves how “integrated” her thinking is?
Tokenism is SO much nicer than racism, and all the Faux News girls agree.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:28 pm“Bush Justice Department sort of got us back to the point where we were-we were being resonable.”
February 19th, 2009 at 2:29 pmGood God! This woman is truly stupid. and such a tool for the Reich Wing.
megyn kelly.
can’t you just see the “fear”
going down her spine?
:)
February 19th, 2009 at 2:29 pmThe right doesn’t want to discuss any rights for Americans issues.
They think they have insulated themselves against it but it was just another one of their many fantasies that are disconnected from reality.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:29 pmI’m waiting for the wingers to begin arguing again that our Founding Fathers were all white men, many slave owners themselves, and that the concept of “all men are created equal” really only applies to white men. I do believe that is one of the philosophies held by the KKK and various neonazi groups, too.
Juan Williams should consider stepping down from NPR.
PEACE
February 19th, 2009 at 2:29 pmThis is definitely not the time for the GOP to address race. All their arguments that the government or Democratic party have hobbled minorities and robbed their independence, by doing things like helping to feed children and pay rent, are not going to fly in this economy.
And we see more and more “real Americans” in their vulgar terms, the white middle-class folks hitting food shelves, unemployment, etc. But the minorities are still being lazy for not boot-strapping, right? Never mind that much of New Orleans has been cleared out, even without water damage, and most well-off African Americans and other minorities were strong-ARMed into exploding mortgages, even if they made over $100,000 or $150,000 a year.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:33 pmOh, heavens no — we certainly wouldn’t want the U.S. Department of Justice getting involved in things like…oh, I don’t know…equal justice for all, now would we?
/snark
February 19th, 2009 at 2:33 pmWell, when your network calls a fist bump by the soon to be president and first lady a “terrorist fist jab,” you’re inciting hatred and fear. It’s a short step to racist hatred and fear.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:34 pmwow, Joe — who knew Megyn was into threesomes??? ;o)
February 19th, 2009 at 2:35 pmspencers mom Says:
Juan Williams should consider stepping down from NPR.
I think NPR cut Juan loose just this week…
February 19th, 2009 at 2:35 pmKELLY: Well a lot of people thought that the Bush Justice Department sort of got us back to the point where we were — we were being reasonable.
Back when the darkies knew their place, right?
Now that these nutjobs on Fox don’t have to disguise their contempt for America and Americans, its becoming rather instructive to see what the Right Wing truly thinks.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:36 pmWhat aren’t conservatives afraid of?
February 19th, 2009 at 2:36 pmKelly said,” the Bush administration was all about voter fraud…”. Should have been corrected to say, ” The Bush administration is all aboutcommitting voter fraud…”.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:36 pmSo, we have a fake broadcaster doing a fake interview with a faux Black man, & she’s scared minorities may get to vote.
Fear is the mind killer, but Republicans don’t have minds…
February 19th, 2009 at 2:36 pmstewarjt Says:
Well, when your network calls a fist bump by the soon to be president and first lady a “terrorist fist jab,” you’re inciting hatred and fear. It’s a short step to racist hatred and fear.
It was a completely racist insinuation the Kelly made with that idiotic remark – it fed into the whole “is he an Arab?” BS.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:38 pmfergus Says:
Kelly said,” the Bush administration was all about voter fraud…”. Should have been corrected to say, ” The Bush administration is all aboutcommitting voter fraud…”.
Anyone hear any developments in trAnne Couleter’s voter fraud investigation?
February 19th, 2009 at 2:39 pmThat — that strikes fear down the spines of many conservatives in this country, because they don’t want the Justice Department taking us back to the day when they get heavily involved in things like affirmative action, and things like voter registration rights.
It’s time to start calling “conservatives” what they really are: reactionaries. The Bush DoJ was happy to ignore their responsibility on civil rights issues, and Megyn McWhitey, O’Reilly, Limbaugh et al are terrified that white privilege may become a thing of the past.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:40 pmThe Department of Justice into justice for all Americans??? Why, that slippery slope would take us to the Environmental Protection Agency taking care of our environment! And the Secretary of State engaging in, **shudder**, diplomacy! And the Federal Communications Commission regulating…oh, I get it, now.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:40 pmZimzone Says:
So, we have a fake broadcaster doing a fake interview with a faux Black man, & she’s scared minorities may get to vote.
That pretty much sums it up perfectly.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:40 pmSilly Rethugs and thier Silly Penchant for surpressing votes.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:41 pmot, but is this some
kind of troll holiday?
they really are mia.
*
have they given up?
*
February 19th, 2009 at 2:41 pmKELLY: Well a lot of people thought that the Bush Justice Department sort of got us back to the point where we were — we were being reasonable.
REASONABLE?
Yeah, disenfranchisement of ethnic minorities is totally reasonable. To a repuglycan.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:42 pmIn the words of Megyn’s (an absolutely dip-shit spelling of that name if you ask me) mentor:
Bill O’Reilly: But do you understand what the New York Times wants, and the far-left want? They want to break down the white, Christian, male power structure, which you’re a part, and so am I, and they want to bring in millions of foreign nationals to basically break down the structure that we have.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:43 pmRUCerious Says:
KELLY: Well a lot of people thought that the Bush Justice Department sort of got us back to the point where we were — we were being reasonable.
REASONABLE?
Yeah, disenfranchisement of ethnic minorities is totally reasonable. To a repuglycan.
Surely, when a person starts referring to something Bushie did as even approaching reasonable they should probably have their head checked.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:44 pmJoe Cantwell @#23.
The RNC checks were late this month.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:44 pmjoe cantwell Says:
ot, but is this some
kind of troll holiday?
they really are mia.
They’re probably trying to figure out ways to rip-off benefits from the stimulus and housing plans.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:46 pmRUCerious Says:
Joe Cantwell @#23.
The RNC checks were late this month.
Michael Steele spent all their money on hip-hip discs…
February 19th, 2009 at 2:47 pmBillo’s budget for interns ran out. Roger only gave him $100, and won’t let him use the company credit card.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:48 pmBut, but, but they have Michael Steele now.
¶ AIO
February 19th, 2009 at 2:48 pmSpeaking of dumb, I see that Coultergeist will be on Larry King tonight.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:51 pmMz. Kelly should be reminded that conservatives have no spine.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:55 pmTweedster Says:
joe cantwell Says:
ot, but is this some
kind of troll holiday?
they really are mia.
They’re probably trying to figure out ways to rip-off benefits from the stimulus and housing plans.
*
that stimulus package
really shamed their asses,
didn’t it?
*
February 19th, 2009 at 2:56 pmIs Wan Williams still paying off his school loans?
And who the chingadero spells “Megan” “Megyn”? I’s like an advertisement for a specialized medical procedure: “Me? Gyn!” Like that hopeless, vacuous bint, Mee-Shell Norris.
Chuy! These morons give me gas.
But Wan Williams needs to just move over to Faux Noise, where his ‘talents’ such as they are are obviously much valued…
February 19th, 2009 at 2:56 pmSpecial? Isn’t that the new PC term for light lunch? So George had a ’special’ interest in law enforcement?
February 19th, 2009 at 2:57 pm.
Q U E S T I O N:
Now, why would a CONservative be afraid of a black person?
.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:02 pmKELLY: Well a lot of people thought that the Bush Justice Department sort of got us back to the point where we were — we were being reasonable.
What in the HELL does she mean by this? “We were being reasonable” in what? Not taking away all of the minority’s (including women’s)civil rights?
Either this woman has absolutely no fu(king clue what she’s talking about or she is one brain washed person.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:03 pmOOOO obeying the law strikes fear in repugs.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:05 pmAs far as Ms Kelly and the Righties are concerned, the Justice Dept. exists to preserve unearned privilege under the law, not to ensure that privilege is distributed equitable under the law.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:07 pms/b equitabl-y.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:08 pmI believe what Megyn is saying is “I got mine by selling my soul and I need to grab for everything I can right now because when the rest of the world learns I really am an airhead all I have left is becoming a mistress for some fatcat repug clown.”
February 19th, 2009 at 3:10 pmSaw a great show on PBS’s American Experience about lobotomy. It was touted as a means to “cure” patients of their out of control anxieties, unjustifiable fears, and erratic behaviors.
Although it is not longer performed, perhaps those most disturbed by the thought that the Dems now control the country and that justice will be sought for criminal activity should consider resurrecting the lobotomy.
PEACE
February 19th, 2009 at 3:14 pmHaving variously but consistently encouraged, ignored or denied racism and its effects the LAST thing the GOP wants to do is actually address the issue.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:14 pmThat’s why they have people like Alan Keyes, Bobby Jindal, Michael Steele who take their cues from the White male hierarchy, and cheerleaders like Juan Williams and Armstong Williams who pay them for their tokenism.
Wait – you mean there’s racism in America?
I appear to have been misinformed.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:15 pmsorry, that should read “who are paid for their tokenism”.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:15 pmI feel terrible but watching Kelly just brings to mind the blond joke about why they wear long hair and pony tails.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:20 pmAnd watchdog brings up the one about why dogs lick their butts.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:21 pmYou’re right pincess. The Justice Dept. needs to spend more time making sure brown people are jailed for smoking pot.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:23 pmI’m struck with fear in my entire body just thinking about anyone or anything at FOX News…….WOW! Can they get anymore blantant over there?
February 19th, 2009 at 3:25 pmwatchdog Says:
What a bunch of hog wash!! This guy is calling all Americans Cowards.
This guy? Megyn is a woman, dopey. Maybe you’ve never actually seen one.
I’m thinking that the troll passed out in the middle of a thread yesterday and is only now crawling up to the PC off the rug.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:25 pmi think this poster should be sent to the conservatives
February 19th, 2009 at 3:31 pmwatchdog Says:
Something stupid, as per usual.
What a bunch of hog wash!!
Bull pucky to you sir!
This guy is calling all Americans Cowards.
Actually, dingbat, he said that as a nation we are cowards when it comes to discussing race. Which, by way of the over-defensive remainder of your rant, is a notion you seem to bolster.
And then Michelle Obama tells America that she is proud of her country for the first time in her adult life
Actually, that happened before, and you are once again, out of context and flying off of your hinges. Why so up in arms?
And do not forget Obama calling everyday Americans xenophobes that cling to their guns and religion.
Truth hurts sometimes pal. Again, you’re mis-paraphrasing and out of context, but it was an easy fall back for a reactionary like you to whine about.
Everything about this administration is a bunch of political rhetoric keeping alive this false notion that this country hasn’t changed sense the 1950’s.
I’m pretty sure people’s basic senses have remained intact since the 1950’s. Other things changed too since the 50’s: 15 years after the decade was over, Blacks got the right to vote!
Get it a rest and move on.
Take your own advice and man (or woman) up to the truth buffet. Some of the items on the menu are hard to swallow, but once you stop your crying and complaining, you’ll probably feel better!
February 19th, 2009 at 3:32 pmwatchdog is a whiny biatch.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:33 pmwatchdog Says:
What a bunch of hog wash!! This guy is calling all Americans Cowards. And then Michelle Obama tells America that she is proud of her country for the first time in her adult life. And do not forget Obama calling everyday Americans xenophobes that cling to their guns and religion. Everything about this administration is a bunch of political rhetoric keeping alive this false notion that this country hasn’t changed sense the 1950’s. Get it a rest and move on.
*
you’ve been drinking.
^
February 19th, 2009 at 3:34 pmHmmm… not to be confused with those that abuse their children by naming them Moesha, Lakeisha, etc…
February 19th, 2009 at 3:35 pmspectre381 Says:
And who the chingadero spells “Megan” “Megyn”? I’s like an advertisement for a specialized medical procedure: “Me? Gyn!” Like that hopeless, vacuous bint, Mee-Shell Norris.
Hmmm… not to be confused with those that abuse their children by naming them Moesha, Lakeisha, etc…
Actually twitball, there is a difference between creating a new and odd sounding name and bastardizing the spelling of an established name.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:38 pmspectre381 Says:
And who the chingadero spells “Megan” “Megyn”? I’s like an advertisement for a specialized medical procedure: “Me? Gyn!” Like that hopeless, vacuous bint, Mee-Shell Norris.
Hmmm… not to be confused with those that abuse their children by naming them Moesha, Lakeisha, etc…
*
i want a link on that “etc” name please.
*
February 19th, 2009 at 3:42 pmit is only a subtle difference spectre, but colour me unsurprised that you would throw your own subtle racism into the mix…
February 19th, 2009 at 3:43 pmjoe cantwell Says:
i want a link on that “etc” name please.
I think it is Czech in origin.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:46 pmOh, reasonable = racist. Hmm, perhaps the best way to start working on racial issues is to close down Faux News and keep their hate mongering from being spewed across the country.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:46 pmspectre381 Says:
And who the chingadero spells “Megan” “Megyn”? I’s like an advertisement for a specialized medical procedure: “Me? Gyn!” Like that hopeless, vacuous bint, Mee-Shell Norris.
Hmmm… not to be confused with those that abuse their children by naming them Moesha, Lakeisha, etc…
*
ooops i almost forgot,
“child abuse” is a very serious
crime so of course you’ll be
able to provide us with a link
to that information too,
won’t you?
*
February 19th, 2009 at 3:46 pmMoesha-derived from the Hebrew for Drawn out of the Water.
Lakeisha- Arabic for Alive and well.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:50 pmKELLY: Well “A LOT” of people thought that the Bush Justice Department sort of got us back to the point where we were — we were being reasonable.
Oh, the old “A LOT” of people thought line…prove it…
….oh, you can’t, because it is a lie…
…FCUK THE REPUBLICANS.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:51 pmMegyn: cutesy variant of old celtic name meaning I love my gynecologist.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:51 pm54 – correction, it was actually ONLY 5 years after the end of the 1950s that black people were allowed to vote in our Democracy.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:51 pmHoodathunk Says:
Moesha-derived from the Hebrew for Drawn out of the Water.
Lakeisha- Arabic for Alive and well.
Megyn – stupid looking version of Megan.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:53 pmHoodathunk Says:
Moesha-derived from the Hebrew for Drawn out of the Water.
Lakeisha- Arabic for Alive and well.
*
one troll, one comment and
then he quits for the day!
*
lazy.
*
February 19th, 2009 at 3:53 pmetc: sound a repug makes when puking a hairball.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:53 pm64 – Hooda, elegant troll smackdown my friend.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:56 pmHoodathunk Says:
etc: sound a repug makes when puking a hairball.
*
then they take that hairball
and try to get it elected to congress.
*
February 19th, 2009 at 3:57 pmjoe, the trolls got summoned to the hive to hug carl rove before he flees the country.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:58 pmTweedster Says:
64 – Hooda, elegant troll smackdown my friend.
*
amen to that brother.
spectre381 just gave
up the ghost.
*
February 19th, 2009 at 4:00 pmWhat?
No 300+ thread infested with trolls du jour explaining how the melting pot of the USA actually eliminated racism?
My favorite from yesterday:
February 19th, 2009 at 4:05 pm(paraphrasing here)
“There is no racism in this great country, and I should know, I’m Native American!”- dew3rd
DRxJ Says:
What?
No 300+ thread infested with trolls du jour explaining how the melting pot of the USA actually eliminated racism?
My favorite from yesterday:
(paraphrasing here)
“There is no racism in this great country, and I should know, I’m Native American!”- dew3rd
*
they’ve surrendered doc.
*
makes me nostalgic.
i’ll always remember dew3rd.
he was a funny, nutty, inbred
kind of troll.
:)
February 19th, 2009 at 4:09 pmDRxJ Says:
What?
No 300+ thread infested with trolls du jour explaining how the melting pot of the USA actually eliminated racism?
My favorite from yesterday:
(paraphrasing here)
“There is no racism in this great country, and I should know, I’m Native American!”- dew3rd
It is always great to see how badly trolls mess up when topics like racism or homophobia or sexism come up. They start lying even more egregiously than before to prove their utterly false premise. dew3rd is a Native American and I’m Mother Theresa – so there isn’t any poverty in the world either.
February 19th, 2009 at 4:10 pmDRxJ Says:
My favorite from yesterday:
(paraphrasing here)
“There is no racism in this great country, and I should know, I’m Native American!”- dew3rd
It struck me later that I’ve never known a real Native American to refer to himself like that, at least not as a primary identification. “I’m Hopi” or “I’m Lakota,” sure. But not “I’m a Native American,” and certainly not as a way to establish credibility.
February 19th, 2009 at 4:22 pmWhat, you mean Billo doesn’t challenge the race question with his “insight” and “debate” with rappers on rap music?!
I’m shocked…shocked I say!
Yeah right. That’s as close as neocons come to a real debate on race.
“We can’t understand where you’re coming from.”
“Why can’t your music be more Nat King Cole?”
“I don’t agree with your message and depictions of violence, but it was good having you on. Coming up next, why the liberals want the Surge in Iraq to fail….”
February 19th, 2009 at 4:24 pmwatchdog Says:
What a bunch of hog wash!! This guy is calling all Americans Cowards. And then Michelle Obama tells America that she is proud of her country for the first time in her adult life. And do not forget Obama calling everyday Americans xenophobes that cling to their guns and religion. Everything about this administration is a bunch of political rhetoric keeping alive this false notion that this country hasn’t changed sense the 1950’s. Get it a rest and move on.
So what. Stop racism then talk your shit.
February 19th, 2009 at 4:24 pmgummitch Says:
DRxJ Says:
My favorite from yesterday:
(paraphrasing here)
“There is no racism in this great country, and I should know, I’m Native American!”- dew3rd
It struck me later that I’ve never known a real Native American to refer to himself like that, at least not as a primary identification.
I will agree with your observation, gummitch.
February 19th, 2009 at 4:36 pmdrewturd also went on at length about his loathing of the very people who are his ancestors, and how he passes for an Italian.
gummitch Says:
It struck me later that I’ve never known a real Native American to refer to himself like that, at least not as a primary identification. “I’m Hopi” or “I’m Lakota,” sure. But not “I’m a Native American,” and certainly not as a way to establish credibility.
He probably had family who killed Native Americans back in the day, and a granddad who maybe kidnapped and raped a Native American.
February 19th, 2009 at 4:38 pmDuring the Campaigning years, Obama tried to turn the Rev. Wright controversy into a national dialog on race. I wish he had been more successful.
February 19th, 2009 at 4:48 pmWill these people ever be able to see their predjudice for what it is?
February 19th, 2009 at 5:00 pmKELLY: Well “A LOT” of people thought that the Bush Justice Department sort of got us back to the point where we were — we were being reasonable
Yea, we’ll see about that after the investigation into the firings of the US Attorneys and KKKarl Rove.
February 19th, 2009 at 5:03 pmthey don’t want the Justice Department taking us back to the day when they get heavily involved…..things like voter registration rights
What in the heck is wrong with voter registration rights? Does she realize what she is saying? Or is she speaking in code?
Someone said she is the same one who said the Obamas were using a terrorist fist bump? I thought that one was fired.
February 19th, 2009 at 5:16 pmWatchdog Says: sense the 1950’s. Get it a rest
You don’t read or write much, do you? That’s “since the 1950’s” and “Give it a rest”.
Michelle did NOT say that was the first time she was proud of her country! She said it was the first time she was REALLY proud of her country—implying that she was proud of her country before. Why must you lie? Because the truth would not fit your conclusions?
February 19th, 2009 at 5:22 pmMegan may not like girl on girl Peta commercials, but she’s heavily into Brit Hume..
February 19th, 2009 at 5:44 pmand Necrophilia is even more digusting..
There was absolutely nothing “reasonable” about what the corrupt Republicans in the Bush administration did to our Department of Justice.
February 19th, 2009 at 9:58 pmHolder is a racist idiot.
I sure wish we could talk about race some more. By golly, why doesn’t anybody ever talk about race? Gee, if we could just, I don’t know, have a month to think about the contributions of black people. You know, it’s like black people are invisible. When will black people be recognized and rewarded in this country? It’s unfortunate that we have no black people who have broken out in this country. It’s like Oprah and Barack don’t even exist, no one will talk seriously about their race.
One day, maybe, blacks will make their race secondary.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:04 amSocietal ills relating to Bush’s racial discrimination must be addressed.
George W. Bush is a hate-crime criminal (indicated at http://andrewyu-jenwang.blogspot.com/ 2008/ 12/ what-did-you-think-of-that-naacp-anti.html “George W. Bush had better stop committing hate crimes”).
Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993
“GEORGE W. BUSH IS THE WORST PRESIDENT IN U.S. HISTORY” BLOG OF ANDREW YU-JEN WANG
ONLINE, ANTI-BUSH, EDUCATIONAL, SCHOLASTIC RESEARCH: LISTING OF MAJOR ISSUES
http://andrewyu-jenwang.blogspot.com/ 2009/ 01/ online-anti-bush-educational-scholastic.html
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:39 pm