Holder: I Wasn't Talking About Race, I Was Commenting On 'Civility'

[cal04]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/holder-i-wasnt-talking-about-race

Attorney General Eric Holder said Friday that when he was criticizing the way he was treated by congressional Republicans last week, he was not referring to race.

"I didn't say there was a racial component. I was very careful not to say that," he told the Huffington Post.

(snip)
Holder said during his speech that he has faced "unprecedented, unwarranted, ugly and divisive adversity" over the last few years.

"And if you don’t believe that, you look at the way — and forget about me, forget about me — you look at the way the attorney general of the United States was treated yesterday by a House committee," he said. "That had nothing to do with me. Forget that. What attorney general has ever had to deal with that kind of treatment? What president has ever had to deal with that kind of treatment?"

Eric Holder Says He Wasn't Playing Race Card When Decrying GOP Opposition
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/14/eric-holder-race-card_n_5147881.html?1397500580

[JoePhilly]

1. He's playing it correctly.

The right wing loves to make statements that have a dog whistle component and then, when folks complain, they act confused ... "wait, you thought I meant that in a racial way??? ... Gasp!! I did not mean it that way."

Holder is smart to throw this right back in their faces.

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. +1. eom.

[bigdarryl]

3. Come on Eric it is about RACE!!!!

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. No doubt ...

But why have him make it about race (by not bringing up race) when they ARE making it about race (by bringing it up)?

[okaawhatever]

10. If he sticks to commenting on the behavior itself, and not what motivates it he removes any

ammunition the Republicans have against him. They want to complain about him "playing the race card" or whatever they call it this week. Ignore race and his treatment was despicable. That speaks for itself. Twenty or so years from now, people will look back and say they treated him like shit because of his race, but it will only add background information. Bottom line is, they're treating him like shit and they can't give a reason why.

[red dog 1]

7. + 2

[Enrique]

9. he should have said

"Is Louie Gohmert white? I didn't even notice. I don't see color."

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Should he not be able to comment about race because he happens to be black?

It's like saying that women shouldn't comment on misogyny because they're women.

[Cha]

6. Thank you, cal!

[red dog 1]

8. K&R...Thanks for posting

[okaawhatever]

11. K & R nt

[JI7]

12. "I didn't say there was a racial component. I was very careful not to say that,"

and we know why he had to be careful not to say what we all know.