Considering the historic circumstances, it might be a little unfair to blast Texas Governor Rick Perry for owning a hunting ground named ‘Niggerhead.’ But let’s think about this. Barack Obama has been blamed for even knowing William Ayers, and he’s been tarred by association with the Muslim faith of his grandparents. The right wants us to assume negative things about the president because he’s from Chicago, because he was a community organizer, because he spent part of his life in Indonesia.
What they are trying to tell is that the president’s background means that there is something wrong with him. I can use the same logic to say that there is something wrong with Rick Perry.
His culture doesn’t see anything all that wrong with hunting for niggerheads.
I’m willing to give him a pass on that the moment he’s willing to give the president a pass on being radically out of touch with the American mainstream.
It seems to me that both the Ayers/Wright business and this are similar manufactured controversies for cynical political motives. I’m inclined to give Perry a pass on those grounds this time but point out to Republicans that they’ve been suckered before too. I’m not sure I want to be party to this kind of thing, that’s for sure.
the facts behind the manufactured controversy are in no way similar. how old was Rick Perry when he named that rock? five? six? what year was he born? 1901?
sorry, I mean gained possession of the rock, since it was a longstanding name. I think he wanted Texas to secede, among other things, to avoid having to change the name of that rock
you kind of miss the point of my post, but, yeah, in a world where our opponents make shit up to use against us, having an actual property named Niggerhead starts to become fair game, even if you didn’t name it and you freely admit its offensive.
My point is that is shouldn’t be fair game. But how can you complain about it when you’re smearing the president in every racist way possible.
I think if he owns it, he should change the name. the name is meant insultingly
i’m actually amused to get a solid twofer outta this one. while the story might have faded with the news cycle, cain, probably thinking he had a real shot at the nomination, forgot that he’s only a token republican and foolishly legitimized a “moonbat smear” in a way none of the other candidates could, ensuring at least another cycle of the gop circular firing squad. boom, headshot!
and if there’s one thing wingnuts hate, it’s being reminded how racist they really are.
Perry needed to pay closer attention to what happened to Barbour. The open in your face stupid racism that worked in the 60’s just will not work in the 21st century.
I’ve got no pass for Rick Perry. I’ll bet you a fifth of Jim Beam them good old boys still call it that when they think they’re away from the prying ears of all those trouble-making libruls. I’ll bet they smile a little smile when they do, as they share their little joke that no one else understands the way they do.
The bad part is, Perry’s little kerfluffle is just a symptom. I’ve lived around those good old boys my entire life. They honestly don’t see anything wrong with calling someone a nigger, or a wetback, or a dike or a queer, and they bitterly resent being called out on it.
i don’t really think that Perry or his handlers are intelligent enough…or even politically skilled enough…to see it this way, but here goes.
It’s a matter of voter math, this Niggerhead thing.
How many votes will be won and how many lost?
Win more than you lose and any political action is written down on the plus side. Perry supporters are mainly the good ol’ boys (and of course their bad ol’ wives) that budr mentions above. Bet on it.
“Niggerhead?”
A win, as far as Perry is concerned.
Some sad shit, but there it is.
Deal wid it.
AG
Yeah, mostly a “win” with the TeaTard racist GOP primary voter contingent.
…and plenty of time to let the controversy die down before the general election.
Next question: any of Perry’s ol’ buddies have photos of him standing next to the now-infamous painted rock? Save them for an October surprise?
…and plenty of time to let the controversy die down before the general election.
But it will forever be part of the background of Rick Perry’s image, and it plays right into painting the picture Obama would want to paint of him during the campaign.
It’s not a scandal that’s going to take Perry down or anything, but it’s one more detail that is very useful in making Rick Perry look like a space alien to ordinary people.
Considering what the GOP crowd has chosen to cheer at the various debates, the real surprise is that the WaPo’s discovery hasn’t given Perry campaign a bump. This morning’s polls are showing he’s been totally overtaken by Cain.
Obviously the MSM is at a loss to know what the GOP wants, they went with the Perry story yesterday, ignored Cain’s 9-9-9 story, walked on burning coals rather than touch the Bloomberg/Koch report, all the while making sure that Obama’s Jobs Bill battle was given a ho hum.
And the turn that TPartiers are showing up to join the Wall Street protests, well…good for them.