ClydeR
04-30-2014, 09:39 PM
A Mississippi Democratic Congressman says Clarence Thomas is an “Uncle Tom,” Mitch McConnell is a “racist,” and that Republicans are only anti-big government and anti-Obamacare because President Obama is black. Rep. Bennie Thompson made the comments over the weekend while appearing on a New Nation of Islam radio program.
More... (http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/democratic-congressman-makes-shocking-racial-comments-about)
When asked about it in a later interview, quoted below, he said it was okay because he's black too.
Bennie Thompson serves Mississippi's highly gerrymandered second congressional district. He's safe.
Bash: When you said Clarence Thomas was an "Uncle Tom," what did you mean by that?
Thompson: "Well if you look at his decisions on the court, they have been adverse to the minority community, and the people I represent have a real issue with an African American not being sensible to those issues."
Bash: Isn't that a racially charged term?
Thompson: "For some it is, but to others it's the truth."
Bash: Because looking at that and hearing that kind of language, that certainly wouldn't be appropriate if it was coming from somebody who was white.
Thompson: "But I'm black."
Bash: That makes it OK?
Thompson: "I mean, you're asking me the question, and I'm giving you a response. The people that I represent, for the most part, have a real issue with those decisions–voter ID, affirmative action, Affordable Care Act–all those issues are very important and for someone in the court who's African American and not sensitive to that is a real problem."
More... (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/30/rep-thompson-doubles-down-on-racial-remarks-in-interview-with-cnns-dana-bash/)
More... (http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/democratic-congressman-makes-shocking-racial-comments-about)
When asked about it in a later interview, quoted below, he said it was okay because he's black too.
Bennie Thompson serves Mississippi's highly gerrymandered second congressional district. He's safe.
Bash: When you said Clarence Thomas was an "Uncle Tom," what did you mean by that?
Thompson: "Well if you look at his decisions on the court, they have been adverse to the minority community, and the people I represent have a real issue with an African American not being sensible to those issues."
Bash: Isn't that a racially charged term?
Thompson: "For some it is, but to others it's the truth."
Bash: Because looking at that and hearing that kind of language, that certainly wouldn't be appropriate if it was coming from somebody who was white.
Thompson: "But I'm black."
Bash: That makes it OK?
Thompson: "I mean, you're asking me the question, and I'm giving you a response. The people that I represent, for the most part, have a real issue with those decisions–voter ID, affirmative action, Affordable Care Act–all those issues are very important and for someone in the court who's African American and not sensitive to that is a real problem."
More... (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/30/rep-thompson-doubles-down-on-racial-remarks-in-interview-with-cnns-dana-bash/)