DeSantis Uses Racist Dog Whistle...

[Sparko]

I also apologize when I have inadvertently said or done something that caused harm. If I turn a corner and run head-on into another person, I didn't do anything "wrong." I had an accident. I still apologize to the person I hit.



It is simple enough to say, "My intention was to alert people to the risk of introducing socialism to our state when things are going so well. My use of the term "monkey" was not well thought through, given the way that term has been, and is still, used as a racist slur. I intended no insult to Mr. Gillum and respect him as an opponent. I apologize if any insult was perceived. None was intended."



Yeah...I've never seen the right do anything like that...



I struggle with these examples. On one hand, I understand that for a white person to use that word, given it's history, is (or can be) inappropriate. On the other hand, part of me feels it wanders a bit into politically correct speech when we bar people from using a given word absolutely and without respect to context. Substituting "the N-word" and "the F-bomb" for the actual word seems a little childish. To me, there is nothing wrong with anyone of any race saying, "The term "nigger' was long used as a racial slur, and should not be used in polite company."

I'm going to go out on a limb, however, and bet that if I write "The word '• Edited by a Moderator •' is considered a crude and derogatory reference to the human sex act and should not be said in polite company or public arenas," I'm going to be edited by a mod. So is there a difference...?

Moderated By: rogue06

You knew full well the term is against forum decorum

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well, that happened.

Since you are speaking of the "n-word" in an academic manner it will not be modded. But we do mod the gratuitous use of the F-bomb.

I guess we should alert the media to your use of the N-word so that they can properly shame you into apologizing for it, you horrible racist, you. (that is a joke)

[guacamole]

I don't suppose people consciously choose in each case whether or not to be offended. Rather, I think they made the choice at some point to cultivate a mindset that is hypersensitive and easily triggered by innocuous words and phrases.

When somebody - for whom there is ZERO track record of being racist - says something that you have to INFER is racist, rather than give him the benefit of the doubt - yeah, those people are choosing to be offended, and it's like they think Gillum is incapable of standing up for himself because, gosh, he's BLACK!!!! Liberals seem to think black people need to be "took care of".

FORTUNATELY, I associate with quite a few black men who are confident in who they are, and don't get drawn into this jackwagon nonsense.

I meant "here" as in, "on Tweb", not "in the universe."

[Mountain Man]

I meant "here" as in, "on Tweb", not "in the universe."

Well, I think certain folks here on tWeb are deliberately trying to manufacture a molehill and then declare that it's a mountain.

[Sparko]

Well, I think certain folks here on tWeb are deliberately trying to manufacture a molehill and then declare that it's a mountain.

manufactured outrage.

[carpedm9587]

OK, crybaby*, I'll use ... in the future. (I usually do, to show that it wasn't the entire content.

Thanks for the consideration. And I am NOT a crybaby. Now where the heck is my bottle and diaper...?

You're making a big deal out of nothing -- if this were a friend of yours, you'd give him the benefit of the doubt.

We're not talking about a friend - we're talking about a politician saying something in a public forum. Apples and oranges, my friend.

Because you're an extreme leftist pinko commie and you're rooting for the Democrat, you can't give the slightest benefit of the doubt.

Actually, I could give a hoot about the Florida gubernatorial election. I'm in Vermont. I'm mostly concerned about the Vermont executive/legislature and the federal positions. I'd care only if they were running for U.S. Congress.

Hence, my question - is there ANYTHING other than this to indicate the guy is racist? The answer is, so far, clearly "no".

I think I've been pretty clear that I don't think he's racist (for that exact reason). I think he made a political gaff that was stupid on his part.

*CP does not actually think Carpe is a crybaby - just overly sensitive

And your dog wears army boots...

[carpedm9587]

well, that happened.

Since you are speaking of the "n-word" in an academic manner it will not be modded. But we do mod the gratuitous use of the F-bomb.

I guess we should alert the media to your use of the N-word so that they can properly shame you into apologizing for it, you horrible racist, you. (that is a joke)

I rest my case...

[Cow Poke]

.................................................. .................I think I've been pretty clear that I don't think he's racist (for that exact reason)..........................................

So, cut him some slack!

I think he made a political gaff that was stupid on his part.

But let's get the cross and the nails anyway!

The guy unintentionally said something that the liberals jump all over and see as racist, when "it's pretty clear that he's not racist" (paraphrase)

I just get sick and tired out of this "politics of personal destruction" crap.

[carpedm9587]

So, cut him some slack!

The man made a political blunder. I've never said otherwise.

But let's get the cross and the nails anyway!

No - let's just admit he made a political gaff, instead of defending him six ways to Sunday. Most on the left seem to want to scream "racist." Most on the right seem to want to scream "innocent." I think the man made a stupid political blunder. I guess you'll just have to deal with it...

The guy unintentionally said something that the liberals jump all over and see as racist, when "it's pretty clear that he's not racist" (paraphrase)

I just get sick and tired out of this "politics of personal destruction" crap.

Then you show eschew politics...

[oxmixmudd]

Yes... but does it really need to be pointed out -- AGAIN -- that DeSantis did not use the term to refer to Gillum?

That is what the debate is about MM. We don't know if he meant it that way or not. We know what it means in this context to most black people and many of us familiar with the use of the word monkey in relation to race. I already defined in precise terms exactly how and why it may very well be about Gillum. Double entendre coupled with the fact it's not a legitimate phrase but rather a modification of the legitimate form of the phrase, substituting a term with the same first letter that can be a synonym, but when applied to a person of color IS a racist term.

You can't legitimately dismiss this issue. Your two attempts at dismissal are fundamentally flawed.

(1) that he didn't mean to ( this is unprovable) and
(2) that it's extreme to be offended by it (this is patently ridiculous and pure ignorance on your part)

(a) He needs to apologize if he is interested in attracting non-racist voters.

(b) He needs to let it stand if he wants to keep the racist voters tight in his camp.


Right now his choice is (b), which means it is likely he is racist on some non-trivial level.


Jim

[lilpixieofterror]

That is what the debate is about MM. We don't know if he meant it that way or not. We know what it means in this context to most black people and many of us familiar with the use of the word monkey in relation to race. I already defined in precise terms exactly how and why it may very well be about Gillum. Double entendre coupled with the fact it's not a legitimate phrase but rather a modification of the legitimate form of the phrase, substituting a term with the same first letter that can be a synonym, but when applied to a person of color IS a racist term.

You can't legitimately dismiss this issue. Your two attempts at dismissal are fundamentally flawed.

(1) that he didn't mean to ( this is unprovable) and
(2) that it's extreme to be offended by it (this is patently ridiculous and pure ignorance on your part)

(a) He needs to apologize if he is interested in attracting non-racist voters.

(b) He needs to let it stand if he wants to keep the racist voters tight in his camp.


Right now his choice is (b), which means it is likely he is racist on some non-trivial level.


Jim

I find it interesting how often liberals look for ways to get offended and look for any excuse to paint their opposition as secret racist. While of course, blaming Trump for the lack of decent political dialogue. Keep it classy.

[oxmixmudd]

I find it interesting how often liberals look for ways to get offended and look for any excuse to paint their opposition as secret racist. While of course, blaming Trump for the lack of decent political dialogue. Keep it classy.

So I'm a liberal now?

I guess compared to KKK I am probably 'liberal' ...


Jim

[lilpixieofterror]

So I'm a liberal now?

I guess compared to KKK I am probably 'liberal' ...

[NorrinRadd]

That simply isn't true NR. The way monkey is used by racists is exactly the sort of under the table substitution this could be. Change "muck this up" or "mess this up" to 'Monkey this up' and to the racist you immediately obtain the alternate meaning. which is, plainly and simply, this:

Don't MESS this up by letting a MONKEY be governor.

It's clever in a way, Monkey carries a relevant double meaning in this case, and so it carries that meaning to anyone that is familiar with how the term is used in a racist context, not naive about how the term is used by racists.

So what we get back to then is what Carpe tried to get to, is there a reason to believe this politician would be motivated to make that little substitution on purpose.

But nowhere does it mean the people offended by that are 'dishonest and/or depraved'. That is, in many ways, a sick conclusion. Racism is NOT dead in this country. As far as we've come, we still have a ways to go. And it is nothing less than ignorant to pretend there is something wrong with the people that took offense.

However, it would be very simple for DeSantis to defuse this.

"Wow, I am so sorry. I see how that could have been taken, and I give you my word it was simply a mistake. Please accept my apology and know I work hard to make sure my speech and life relflects not one element of the depravity that would have made it possible for such a phrase to imply I was meaning that my primary issue with Gillum was related to his race. Gillum is a worthy opponent but we disagree on issues of policy."

So why can't he just do that (at least as of this writing I see no indication he has)? Because either it's not true (he did mean it to carry a racist impllication), he's clueless as to the effect of racism over history (and there are plenty here in that camp, so a real possibility) or he simply isn't capable of being gracious just like the Conspiracy Theorist in Chief.

Which again brings into view just how a man like Trump in office degrades this country and lowers the bar of public discourse to the point of real shame.



Jim

This is another reason I am DELIGHTED Trump is POTUS.

While I don't agree with his apparent policy of *never* apologizing, I firmly do believe we should not apologize for how OTHER people INTERPRET our words. Screw 'em.

In fact, I would dance with glee and try to scrape together a big donation for DeSantis if the next time the matter was raised, he responded with the classic Cheney-to-Leahy retort.

[rogue06]

That is what the debate is about MM. We don't know if he meant it that way or not. We know what it means in this context to most black people and many of us familiar with the use of the word monkey in relation to race. I already defined in precise terms exactly how and why it may very well be about Gillum. Double entendre coupled with the fact it's not a legitimate phrase but rather a modification of the legitimate form of the phrase, substituting a term with the same first letter that can be a synonym, but when applied to a person of color IS a racist term.

You can't legitimately dismiss this issue. Your two attempts at dismissal are fundamentally flawed.

(1) that he didn't mean to ( this is unprovable) and
(2) that it's extreme to be offended by it (this is patently ridiculous and pure ignorance on your part)

(a) He needs to apologize if he is interested in attracting non-racist voters.

(b) He needs to let it stand if he wants to keep the racist voters tight in his camp.


Right now his choice is (b), which means it is likely he is racist on some non-trivial level.


Jim

Anyone with even a shred of common sense would surely understand that if they were to purposefully have used the term as a racial pejorative it would result in a far stronger detrimental reaction for them than a beneficial one. After all, the only ones that such a move could possibly appeal to are almost certain already aware that Gillum is black and already be opposed to him because of it so it would hardly bestow any foreseeable benefit.

Of course it is conceivable that DeSantis is a complete and utter moron -- I really don't know anything about him. After all we have people in Congress who think NASA sent people to the moon and opposed sending stationing more people in Guam lest it cause the island to tip over.

[Tassman]

Anyone with even a shred of common sense would surely understand that if they were to purposefully have used the term as a racial pejorative it would result in a far stronger detrimental reaction for them than a beneficial one. After all, the only ones that such a move could possibly appeal to are almost certain already aware that Gillum is black and already be opposed to him because of it so it would hardly bestow any foreseeable benefit.

Absolutely it will have benefit, given Trump's racist base. And he knows it.

Of course it is conceivable that DeSantis is a complete and utter moron --

Perhaps that too, but he knows exactly what he's doing with his racist slurs.

I really don't know anything about him. After all we have people in Congress who think NASA sent people to the moon and opposed sending stationing more people in Guam lest it cause the island to tip over.

And we have a person in the WH who thinks Obama was born in Kenya. What's your point?