McLaughlin takes heat for 'Oreo' comment

[RamboLiberal]

Source: CNN

Longtime Washington talk-show host John McLaughlin is facing fire Monday for referring to Barack Obama as an "Oreo" during a segment on his Sunday political program, "The McLaughlin Group.

The veteran Washington journalist was discussing the recent comments from the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was caught last week by an open microphone on Fox News saying the Illinois senator is "talking down to black people" as he campaigns for the White House. Those remarks were largely seen in reference to Obama's recent admonishment at a Chicago church of some black men who he said were not living up to their responsibilities as parents.

Referencing Jackosn's comments, McLaughlin said Obama "fits the stereotype blacks once labeled as an Oreo — a black on the outside, a white on the inside."

"Does it frost Jackson, Jesse Jackson, that…an Oreo should be the beneficiary of the long civil rights struggle which Jesse Jackson spent his lifetime fighting for?" McLaughlin asked his panelists.



Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

[exothermic]

1. He correctly identified it as an old stereotype...why the outrage?

Some people make careers out of seeking things to be pissed off about. :eyes:

[skooooo]

3. What about Rush???

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. He's like a squash - yellow through and through.

[exothermic]

11. I have some of their albums...they were terrific!

:D

[shanti]

5. oh please

he knew exactly what he was saying and why he said it.

[exothermic]

12. Sure, a historical reference. It's a shame you are offended by facts.

:eyes:

[LeftHander]

6. He defined it so he could use it....SHESSH...

blatantly improper...

[exothermic]

14. Yes, of course he should have just used it without mentioning it was an old stereotype.

Jeezusfuckingchrist, that guy was right, there ARE a lot of whiners in this country.
:eyes:

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[yellowcanine]

10. Why the outrage? Because McLaughlin seems to be using Jackson as "cover" to do a little race

baiting of his own. Jackson after all did not use that term. McLaughlin simply characterized Jackson's comments that way. Little too much winking and nodding there, imo. It is just a little too convenient for someone in McLaughlin's position to maka the "oreo" - Obama connection and then attribute it to Jackson.

[anitar1]

27. McLaughlin is just another snake imho. I think

his defense of Jackson was so false.He did use it to get a racist zinger in there.

[marshall]

30. Senator Byrd used the "n" word in context a few years ago, and got no heat

It all depends on how one couches the use of the word.

[madeline_con]

2. What exothermic said. So what? n/t

[shanti]

4. mr. jackson

should make up his mind! is obama black or isn't he!!? you (still) can't have it both ways in the u.s. of a! as the mother of a son with the same racial makeup as obama, that really bothers me! he certainly wasn't being nice by calling him an oreo :(

[Cronus Protagonist]

17. During the primary, I was informed that Obama is black AND white

By different people, when it was advantageous for each label. And of course, he's multi-racial to the PC crowd as well.

Apparently Obama clearly is not an Oreo because he's white AND black on the OUTSIDE.

If, as some believe, he's also full of hot air, maybe he's really a soccer ball, metaphorically speaking?

:P

[Alcibiades]

7. He's so out of touch

That I doubt he even understands how offensive he was really being.

Oreo, when applied to a black person, especially one who's part white, is as outragous as the c-word, a word that has caused so much furor here.

[Igel]

19. And yet I've heard the word used.

Not always wrt blacks who knew they were part white. Just as I've heard "coconut" and "banana" used. It was rather odd to hear "oreo", an insult against African-Americans, used of a black man with triple citizenship (Guyana, Netherlands, and US) who was trilingual in English, Sranan, and Dutch. It showed a fundamental disconnect, the assumption that race and culture were somehow tied, and solidarity within other-imposed racial categories was more important than independent or critical thinking.

Oddly, every instance I've heard the term used (when not in some comedy routine) it proceeded from the mouth of some self-proclaimed progressive or another. Often--certainly not always--from a wealthy or at least upper-middle-class family. But usually by some proponent of black (or Asian, or Latino/Pac. Islander) "cultural purity".

The words were usually used when the person was being viewed as a "race-traitor" of some sort, or at least working against what self-proclaimed defenders of "the community" believed was necessary and right. The words were usually intended to be offensive. Sometimes they were taken as offensive, sometimes with a derisive laugh, sort of "so exactly how arrogant is the person who used the word?

[sudopod]

13. Did he really say that?

I guess spending all of that time with Pat Buchanan affected him in a less-than-positive way.

[GOPNotForMe]

15. My ears perked up when I heard him say that yesterday.

I wondered if I was imagining that it was as offensive as I thought it was. McLaughlin's had it out for Obama for a long time and I've always suspected that it was race related.

[DS1]

16. I once watched a kid get his ass kicked for saying that

[wvbygod]

23. Watched?

Seems a bit extreme.

[DS1]

24. He'd had it coming anyway

[wvbygod]

29. Likely a squarehead

Could use a rounding off I'm sure.

[liberal N proud]

18. Again they go after someone and he will lose his job

While the fat fucker rush limpballs will continue to spew hate and slander with no consequence.

[rosesaylavee]

20. McLaughlin lives to offend and provoke

Good for his ratings. Nothing will happen to him for saying this.

[marshall]

21. I daresay we'll see residual racism coming out in the most surprising places

Nothing will surprise me--after the campaign throw down and the code worded racism I can't bring myself to believe anybody is above it.

[raystorm7]

22. I always thought of Obama as Caramel candy not an OREO cookie =P

[closeupready]

25. McLaughlin's schtick is to play supermoderator on his talk show, and his use

of the word "oreo" didn't work because he's an older white man who is a beneficiary of a system which historically was very racist, despite the fact that black people who use the same word or even the n word are given a pass. Just the way it is. On racial issues, a white man can not be a super-moderator, and must choose his words carefully. Though I like McLaughlin, and since he's a genuine liberal in the Tipper O'Neill sense, I'd just let this go.

[Love Bug]

26. There are some things White people just can't say and this is one of them

That's not a judgement for us to make, btw.

[KamaAina]

31. I'll bet he's never called Clarence Thomas an "Oreo"

no matter how carefully he set it up. :eyes:

[knixphan]

33. agreed.

[Snarkturian Clone]

32. Yay! More DU outrage over nothing.

The ANNNSUUUUAAA is... who cares!!! Bye BYE!!