My Own ‘Plantation’ Scandal
Oh, dear; if anyone even remotely cared about what I had to say, I might be in some trouble. I can probably kiss my 2008 presidential aspirations goodbye, in any event.
I’ve received quite a lot of hits today from Google; seems if you type in ‘democratic plantation’, the fifth result brings you to this post (well, actually, you come to this post at my old blog). (As a bit of side trivia, it was only my second post ever!)…
Am I guilty of a double standard when I complain about Hillary’s usage of the word ‘plantation’ when describing the Republican congress before a predominantly black audience, followed by her little ‘wink, wink’ comment? Perhaps…Here’s what I said on November 21st, 2004:
Bush increased his percentage of the black vote despite the scare tactics of the left for two reasons: (1) the shared conservative values of black churchgoers and Republicans, and (2) disgust with the Democratic Party’s plantation mentality.
Well, well, that’s a tidy little find, isn’t it? Thanks, Google! (Note to self: opposition research is best conducted on people other than yourself).
What do you think? Obviously, my point, if you read the post, was that far too many Democrats talk as if there is one monolithic ‘black’ viewpoint, and if you hold another one (particularly a conservative one), you’re a sellout. I don’t know…I’m too close to my own argument, obviously, but perhaps terms like ‘plantation’, ‘Uncle Tom’, etc., are past their usefulness in a political context. There’s a thin line between making an appropriate analogy and taking intellectual shortcuts and reaching for the easy word…and obviously context means a lot.
Still, probably not my finest moment…
The applications were different.
You were usingthe term to a general audience to illustrate closed-minded thinking.
She was using the term to a black audience not only to illustrate closed-minded thinking, but to inflame racial tensions for political gain.
Quite a bit of difference in my opinion, especially with regards to intent. Consider the following from two different people:
“Calling people niggers is insulting.”
“Joe thinks you’re all niggers.”
Both used “nigger”. The word itself doesn’t make both users “bad”. The intent behind the use, however, does impute some racist thinking in the second example. This isn’t any kind of hair-splitting; the intent makes all the difference.
Well, I’m glad I’m not the only one that saw a difference…have a good one…
It seems that scandal was destined to find a place at decision 08. Let us not forget the coverup that brought an abrupt end to Mason and Audra’s “Kids have no Rights Movement” of 1994.
Yes, Mason, I remember that campaign well…I thought I could bribe you out of remembering that scandal with a U2 concert, but I see now I was mistaken. (But remember, every day is kid’s day)…