(Clark County, Nev.) GOP official fired for remarks

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The spokeswoman for the Republican Party in Nevada's most populous county was fired Saturday, after she said the Democratic Party made black people "dependent on the government."

Didi Lima, the Clark County GOP communications director, also was removed from her volunteer role as a Hispanic community liaison for Republican John McCain's presidential campaign over the remarks made earlier in the day while working at a McCain campaign booth.

"We don't want (Hispanics) to become the new African-American community," Lima told The Associated Press. "And that's what the Democratic Party is going to do to them, create more programs and give them handouts, food stamps and checks for this and checks for that. We don't want that."

"I'm very much afraid that the Democratic Party is going to do the same thing that they did with the African-American culture and make them all dependent on the government and we don't want that," she said.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/09/27/politics/p172030D91.DTL&tsp=1

[Duke Newcombe]

1. Damn!...teh ignoranz...it burns!!

In the year 2008 we still deal with ignorant utterances like this. Pitiful, really.

Duke

[ptolle]

44. the real pity

The real pity is that this is nothing more than just one more repetition of standard republican wingnut philosophy. It's at the core of their beliefs about both the Democratic party and minorities, especially black Americans. From that perspective it's worse than pure ignorance. It's a willful disregard for other human beings and for anyone deemed an opponent of the ideology the speaker has internalized.Ignorance can be dealt with in various ways, but the conscious adoption of such a demeaning and degrading attitude might be beyond all rectifying. It summarizes why republicans should never be entrusted with political power at any level.

[medeak]

2. first NM now NV

what is with these uppity elite hispanics?

[Big_Mike]

3. Open mouth, insert foot

swallow until you hit kneecap!

What is with these dunces???

[madeline_con]

4. I would think she'd be commended.

Isn't that reflective of Repuke "values?"

[StClone]

18. Limbuagh wink and a nod

One big disinfo commercial to mistrust others because they are living off the hard work of white folk. But the inherent belief the rich are trustworthy is instilled at ever level in the Con/Repug belief system.

[SDFalconer]

30. She probably was commended

in private :banghead:

[Tutonic]

5. How many more of these Hispanic Republicans are going to do this?

This is like the fourth one during 2008 that has made some hostile statement about blacks. I sthere that much rancor against blacks by Hispanics?

[Bette Noir]

10. No.

As with any groups of people, some individuals are good, and some are not. Hispanics (many of whom don't like that term) are not at all homogenous. They (we) have come here from many places, with different cultures, for different reasons. The outlooks of people who came here because their families were killed by right-wing juntas are not going to be the same as those who came here because a Communist government seized their assets. Someone whose family has been in the same place for several hundred years before that land was annexed by the US is going to have a different point of view than a recent immigrant.

I have known people with all of those backgrounds. My own background is that of a native-born US citizen, from native-born citizens on both sides of my family for several generations, but culturally the first-generation daughter of an immigrant. My mom is from Puerto Rico-- same country, different culture. On my mother's side, my ancestry consists of Spanish noblemen and African slaves. Most of the "Hispanics" I see here in California are from Mexico or Central America, and don't consider me the same sort at all. The immigrants consider me simply "American." Come to think of it, the ones who have been here for generations also consider themselves simply "American," and don't bother about their ancestry any more than any other ethnic Americans. We all eat turkey at Thanksgiving; the side dishes reflect our ancestral culture.

The newspapers like to report stories of violence between "black" gangs and "Hispanic" gangs, but, if they are held to a standard of truth, they admit that the lines drawn are between neighborhoods, not races. If there is friction between African-Americans and Hispanics in a given area, it is usually because both are poor and there aren't enough jobs to go around. They are fighting over the bottom rung on the economic ladder. I don't see this friction in prosperous neighborhoods, where everyone is getting by.

As for the initial resistance to Obama's candidacy that the newspapers liked to point to as evidence that "Latinos will never vote for a black man," that had more to do with a tendency among some to combine a culturally conservative streak with their political progressivism. Hillary was the more conservative of the leading Democrats, and a familiar face, which made her seem like a safer choice. Once she was out of the running, Obama instantly led by about a 2-1 margin over McCain among Hispanics. I myself have been an outspoken Obamite since he first announced his candidacy, as I have less of the innate cultural conservatism than many Hispanics. Heck, I've even been divorced, which is unthinkable to many.

[formercia]

13. "I don't see this friction in prosperous neighborhoods,"

That's why everyone should do their best to see that there is no bottom rung to the ladder and thus, no reason to fight.

She has it ass backwards. The right-wing reactionary mantra is "Starve the beast", kill all social programs and handouts and let them starve.

Divide and conquer. Make sure they're so busy fighting each other that they don't have time to think about who the real culprits are.

Los Caballeros de Malta,returning their version of Spanish colonialism to Latin America.

Their oath:

http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/esp_sociopol_malta02.htm

Note the source.

[barbtries]

28. damn

that's some crazy shit.

[formercia]

35. Just like my Mother when she was young

She has that same crazy true believer look on her face.

I grew up around these nutbags.

Looking at her picture is enough to bring on a panic attack.

[Kind of Blue]

29. Great analysis. I've found the same thing true in the Africans

I know. I'm straight up immigrant from Africa, been here since I was kid, but I've noticed a lot of Africans newly here and who do have citizenship vote republican. They love that bootstrap value aspect of it and are truly pleased to have the chance to strive. But their children born here vote Dem. Those who came during the early 60's, like my dad, are Democrats. They fell in love with the Kennedy's and Martin Luther King, Jr., especially during the time when many colonies were breaking the bonds of imperialism.
You're right about the word Hispanic. My husband is part Spanish and hates the word. I thought it was just him :)

[no1dolo]

39. Thank You!

This has been one of the most informative post that I have read in a long time. As an Afro-american, I had trouble understanding why so many (or as the media would have us believe)groups of Spanish descendants would vote Republican. I live in south Florida and there are many different groups of Spanish-speakers from many different countries here. For the most part, I never felt the Republican party was any more sensitive to their needs than they were to Afro-Americans.

[Jackpine Radical]

40. I also think that the Ruling Class types would like to foment whatever

divisions they can between various ethnic groups and classes. It serves their interests to maintain the reality of division where they can, and the image of it where they can't engineer the reality. They have done this in the south for generations--kept the poor whites and the poor blacks seeing each other as the "enemy," while they exploited both groups.

And by the way, thanks for one of the more memorable pieces of prose I have seen on DU in some time. If you haven't started a journal, please do so as a repository for pieces like this.

[NOLALady]

41. It's interesting

that most Blacks are also culturally conservative. IMO, the Hispanic and Black cultures have a lot in common. HRC was also favored early on in the Black community for similar reasons, she was familiar and she seemingly had the best chance of victory.

[rst02]

6. Just watch...

I would not be surprised if Fox news hired her for her insightful opinions.

[peanut]

7. Geez, if the GOP has to fire all their racists....

who will be left to run the party?
;o)

[scytherius]

9. Oh about

3 or 4 people.

[olddad56]

8. seems to me that right now, it is the wealthy that are depending on the government ...

to protect their assests, while the poor have no assets to protect.

[L. Coyote]

23. seems to me that right now, it is the thieves that are depending on the government ...

[LVZ]

11. local GOP already deleted her name but Google cache URL is ...

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:0BEFUpR0lLoJ:www.clarkgop.org/organization.htm+%22didi+lima%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=24&gl=us

[e-mail]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NV_GOP_HISPANICS_CAOL-?SITE=CAANR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[formercia]

17. They scrubbed the sub link.

That didn't take long.

She must be well-connected. :rofl:

[sellitman]

12. The real sad thing is...

most repiggies would sign onto this statement in a New York Minute.

It's only derogatory to Democrats.

[whistle]

14. What a douche-bag, and repukes don't make corporate predatory capitalists

...all dependent on the government? Someone kindly go rub Didi's nose in the $1.2 trillion bailout Sec. Paulson and George Bush are whoring for the investment banking folks? Are only the black investment bankers asking for those handouts?

[1776Forever]

15. If we can loose BILLIONS in Iraq to no-bid contractors but we can't give a hand to a dying American?

We are the government! We are the only large country in the world without insurance for the least of us! What is so dependent on that?

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1447684

[madrchsod]

16. ethnic hatred comes in every colour

[Preening Fop]

19. To be replaced by another Narcissistic amurikan who can keep their Mouth Shut....!

:nuke: :patriot: :nuke:

[happygoluckytoyou]

20. WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING-----------------> _-_-_-_-_->

The GOP does not REALLY care how they stir the pot. They never have. IF the Dems had chosen a WOMAN, Palin would still be strangling moose. IF the Dems took a holy-roller, they would have chosen a NASCAR Dad. If the Dems are pro-choice, they go pro-life. ON ANY ISSUE... the ONLY real issue the wealthy care about is STAYING WEALTHY. How do the top 5 % get more than a 50 % vote at ANY ELECTION.... 1) keep the population misinformed (own the media)....2) start and stir conflict (church vs state, black vs white, white vs brown.... and of course NOW, the black vs brown) This is NO DIFFERENT than the wedge they have been TRYING to inflict between JEW and BLACK for the past several years.

[lonestarnot]

25. But doesn't it make you wonder though, because they are not all rich, that the rest are just

bigots. I hate sharing air with these people.

[TNMOM]

21. this is the communications director??? OMFG.

You know the wheels are falling off if the GOP's spokespeople can't be trained to spin --- wow. She doesn't even try to hide the racism.

Didi -- good luck finding a job.

[natrat]

22. surreal it is, as we give trillions to wall street

[Turbineguy]

24. Oh dear.... fired for telling the republican version of the truth

Note to Republicans: Don't ever utter in public what the Party wants you to believe. The Party will disavow you, hang you and leave your rotting corpse twisting in the wind like the criminals of the middle ages.

[barbtries]

26. history is nothing.

nothing. ignorant bastards. i wonder if losing her positions will cause her to search her soul and see her error. but i doubt it. i really doubt it. racism, ignorance, greed: they love it.

[bullwinkle428]

27. Limbaugh gets $10 million a year for repeating this exact sentiment every day,

and then gets embraced by all of the Repukes when he makes an appearance in the halls of Congress - the hypocrisy exhibited by these GOPers is absolutely staggering.

[usregimechange]

31. Hey, thanks for the gift, show your arse in a battleground state...

[gorfle]

32. What a crock of crap

All the Hispanics I know absolutely bust their asses. They are the new wave of the immigrants of old - people who fled poverty and persecution to work hard in a new land to make something of themselves.

[LatteLibertine]

33. Sigh

and people wonder why African-Americans are suspicious of the Republican party. In addition, can anyone see an African-American supporting a candidate that voted against the creation of MLK day?

As far as Limbaugh goes here are some comments I put on Huffington that reflect how I feel-

Rush Limbaugh is the one who said he has "carried water" for the administration. Not me. He is more than an entertainer. He is an advocate for certain elements within the Republican party.

Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter often speak for polite or closet bigots who choose not to express their opinions openly for whatever the reason.

Are all of Limbaugh and Coulter fans bigots? No. They certainly do have some among their ranks though.

*****************************************

I'd politely suggest folks that believe Rush hasn't made bigoted statements investigate things he's said about: Darfur, The NAACP, Jesse Jackson, Donovan McNabb, Senator Obama, Latinos and to callers into the show that happen to be African-American.

Again, I tend to believe he isn't a racist and is pandering to a certain "polite" or cowardly racist segment of his audience. He says what they dare not, or choose not to say. Rush is good at what he does and I feel he's an artful Republican advocate/conman that occasionally makes bigoted statements. "Rush" is nothing more than a character created to make money. No, I do not have a problem with that in of itself. It is unfortunate many of his fans think he believes in the rhetoric he puts forth.

I have zero problems with him arguing for positions that favor the Republican party.

******************************************

There is a good deal of artful bigotry that passes around the country as commentary and entertainment relatively unchecked daily. Imus was engaging in it far before he was "called out". Last I checked, he's back on the air.

You do not need to listen to Limbaugh in order to access sound bytes and transcripts from other sources that accurately detail things he's said. You may educate yourself on his positions without supporting his show.

The fact that he is a conservative "hero" to many in the Republican party speaks for itself.

I am hopeful one day some of his bigoted statements won't be appealing to Americans.

[valerief]

34. Looks like those Park Ave. Wall Streeters are the ones actually dependent on the government.

[krkaufman]

36. And that was their Communications Director.

It's hard to imagine how they talk amongst themselves.

[An Intellectual]

37. They're racists; every single fucking one of them are racists.

[firedupdem]

38. Where do these nut cases get that from? I wish I could get a

fucking food stamp or check right about now! They spread racist garbage and people actually believe that bullshit. I could kick her dumb ass!

[proud2BlibKansan]

42. Just another ignorant GOP bitch

[LVZ]

43. local conservative LVRJ newspaper buries story with small generic headline ...

The conservative Las Vegas Review-Journal buried this story with this small, generic headline:

"Spokeswoman fired for remarks about blacks"

No mention of her being the Clark County (70% of the population) Republican Communications director or McCain's Hispanic Liaison.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/29857174.html

[DuaneBidoux]

45. We must celebrate Republicans like this: it guarantees that one day we control all.

Republicans can't figure out how to attract other than white people (and I think this gives you a pretty good idea why), and the changing demographics means that Republicans, made up completely of whites, will become themselves the permanent minority party.

[KansDem]

46. "Dependent on the government."--you mean like Wall Street? (nt)

[KamaAina]

47. NV is considered a battleground state

at least it has been up to now. This might just be the thing to turn it true Blue! NV Dems (and those from HI with ties there who have been recruited to phone-bank in NV, since we're safely in the bag) need to talk this up.

[trashcanistanista]

48. Oh for cryin' out loud!

These people can't die off fast enough as far as I'm concerned.

Dumbasses, all of them.