Popular NASCAR driver sponsored by GM calls for genocide in Iraq

[JackNewtown]

The NASCAR world is an alternate universe in many ways where a driver can make such a statement and no one in the NASCAR world blinks an eye. If a NFL, NBA, or baseball athlete made a similar statement it would be a huge scandal among fans of those sports as well as the national media. I posted this here in the hope that this will spread across the blogosphere. To have a "celebrity" promoting such reprehensible views is bad enough, but this is an individual whose exploits are bankrolled by one of the biggest corporations in the world. Does GM really want to be associated with someone who wants a, for lack of a better word, "final solution" to the Iraq problem? :eyes: GM should at least condemn his statement, if not end its sponsorship of him, unless it endorses such views...

Note: Harvick endorsed Bush in 2004...

http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/cup/08/02/kharvick.10.questions/index.html

< Question: 3. If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be?

Harvick: Oh, the president. The first thing I would do is drop a bomb and clean the place out, over in Iraq.

Instead of making everybody suffer through everything we go through, I'd just wipe it out and be done with it.>

[Bozita]

1. Bomb first. Learn later.

The NASCAR way.

Scary!

[cami715]

61. Just consider the source -

Here is someone whose life career consists of driving in circles!
Typical NASCAR mentality.

[Mr_Spock]

2. That's a commonly held viewpoint among many who enjoy NASCAR

It shouldn't surprise anyone that they are not in an uproar over this.

[JackNewtown]

4. True, but GM should not support such a person

I don't care if he is a NASCAR driver. We know if he were in any other sport, and probably any other major racing league other than NASCAR (ever hear F1 drivers make such comments?), this would not be tolerated. Look at what happened in several other cases when other enterainers who made racist comments had their careers destroyed or severely damaged. This guy is sponsored by a huge, global, American-based corporation and is getting a free pass! Fuzzy Zoller's sponsor, I believe it was K-Mart, ended its association with him when he made a racist statmenet that was not nearly as bad as Harvick's; GM should do the same.

[Mr_Spock]

9. I agree - GM is taking a big risk

Well, maybe not so big - lol - there does appear to be a GM bias among many of the same types who would love to blow the ME to kingdom come.

[JackNewtown]

12. Sadly, there is no risk--unless the word of this spreads

Racism is no big deal in the NASCAR world, which is why this did not create a controversy. However, hopefully, we can spread this across the blogs and force GM to do the right thing. If not, GM should be exposed as spending millions of dollars to promote a 21st century NASCAR driver version of Hitler.

[sgxnk]

68. his statement was absurd

but i see no evidence it was RACIST

iraqis are not a race

[Hell Hath No Fury]

71. Uh huh...

sniff :eyes:

[sgxnk]

73. sorry

if facts intrude on yer rhetoric

carry on


nice nonresponse btw

[tabasco]

90. Yeah, they just hate all brown people.

Not racist at all, just colorist.

[Richard Steele]

99. Oooookaaaay........

[lectrobyte]

69. > Racism is no big deal in the NASCAR world

sad but true

[QuettaKid]

59. NASCAR is not a sport. It's people driving in circles. nt.

.

[leesa]

64. You kidding me? GM MAKES the wars we enjoy. What are ya

talking about?

[madeline_con]

8. Whew! Good thing you didn't say "most" who enjoy NASCAR.

Harvick's an idiot, obviously.

Please don't blame NASCAR fans for that.

[Mr_Spock]

14. I know how sensitive people are on a topic like this

They do say prayers and sing many patriotic songs at the racetrack where I race - and I don't meet too many who are not in the RW train of thought. In spite of that, I would never presume that most were similar to the folks I talk to. I can verify "many" though. :D

[madeline_con]

15. There should be an uproar over generalizations about

NASCAR fans.

We're fucking idiots? I really don't appreciate that. I like to watch people drive fast in a circle. That doesn't mean I support stupid people who say ignorant shit about the war.

[JackNewtown]

16. I too am a NASCAR fan. Guess who my favorite driver was before this?

I can't believe I supported such a vile person. :(

[madeline_con]

19. Kevy?

No way!

I'll 'fess up. I like Waltrip, even though he's goofy, is always bringing up the rear and inevitibly hits the wall, I have no clue why, but I do. :shrug:

[JackNewtown]

23. I was an Earnhardt Sr. fan

When he died I naturally began to pull for his son and Harvick. For those of you who aren't NASCAR fans, Harvick took over arguably the most pretigious ride in NASCAR. It was as if he had stepped into Michael Jordan's #23 uniform. If he drove for an also-ran team sponsored by Uncle Joe's BBQ it wouldn't be nearly as big a deal. This guy may win the championship this year and he is sponsored by General Motors. Does GM favor genocide?

[madeline_con]

30. Does GM favor genocide?

I doubt if they told him to say such crap, but being a major corp, dependent on oil to fuel their "industrial machine," so to speak, yes they do indirectly support all the wonderful things the gov does to procure said fuel. Absolutely.

They'd NEVER admit it, though. There will be an apology this weekend, probably.

[JackNewtown]

36. I doubt there will be an apology, unless word spreads

This hasn't made it into an non-NASCAR media outlets and this is probably the first exposure it has gotten on progressive sites. Hopefully it spreads and GM is forced to act. If there is no uproar, GM will remain silent so it doesn't bring broader attention to his remarks.

[Iris]

58. They probably don't. But I'd bet if they had someone like, say, the

Dixie Chicks promoting them and they spoke out against Bush, they'd drop 'em like hot potatoes.

[peacebaby3]

74. Just so you know...

I don't watch NASCAR at all, but my husband does every once in a while so I who some people are and I'm assuming you are talking about Michael. I can't say what Michael's feelings are, but his brother Darryl (??? Spelling) is a fundie extremist who is a big supporter of Bush*. I saw him in an interview recently where he was spewing right-wing talking points.

Maybe his brother is different and you may not care about his politics anyway.

[madeline_con]

91. I don't even know if Michaels's the least bit politically aware...

DW's a bit of a dumbass, IMO.

Michael's just a goofy underdog, I guess that's why I like him.

[Mr_Spock]

18. Hmmm, I can't find a reference to "idiot" anywhere.

I have talked to many at the track who support this type of thinking and I know it would not be considered over the edge at the track to say such a thing.

Do you disagree?

[madeline_con]

21. It might not be considered "over the edge" ...

but I'd hope they weren't close enough for other people to think they were with me!

The idiot part was implied.

[lonestarnot]

3. without even reading because I can't read nasty car stuff, I can see

from the headline that there is not shocker here.

[JackNewtown]

7. GM sponsoring racists is par for the course? nt

[lonestarnot]

62. Could be their hole in 1, but I don't know anything about golf either.

[Kerrytravelers]

5. What a wonderful human being. So loving, so kind, so empathetic

to non-Americans and their plight.

Let's reverse the subject, shall we?
Instead of making everyone here in America suffer from his stupidity, let's just bomb his house and worry later about any innocent people that may be killed.

It's easier that way, right?





And no, I am not advocating actually bombing this idiot, merely putting the shoe on the other foot.

[Webster Green]

6. Ugly American dumb ass good old boy...

He would do the same thing to us goddamm libruls if he had the chance.

[The Wolf]

24. Strangely enough, a hole may be open in this department...

The hole may be smaller than a stapler, but it is there nonetheless.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060817/pl_nm/nascar_dc

With the sport trying to be more mainstream and away from the Southern roots, it is open to hook off of for the Dems if they can get in a candidate that can crack that code. Is it a viable tool to take back Congress in '06? Not even close, substantiated by boneheaded comments by a straight up bonehead such as himself. But something worth keeping in the playbook later on down the road.

[Bombero1956]

45. sorry

Harvick is from Bakersfield California, hardly a good ole boy. What he said was wrong, don't lump him in with southerners.

[Clark2008]

46. Yeah, us Southerners don't want to be lumped in with you

weirdos in California!!

(Sucks, when the bias is on the other foot, now, doesn't it? Stop lumping Southerners in with idiots, you idiot.)

[Bombero1956]

83. I hope

you don't think I was putting Southerns down by my comment. It was directed at Webster Green.

[Kerrytravelers]

70. Doesn't Good Old Boy extend beyond the South?

My Southern relatives refer to guys like this as a "Good Old Boy", Southern or not.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

72. As a Californian...

I can tell you that we have as many racist, redneck jackasses as just about anywhere else. Just about anywhere inland you can count on being more conservative than not (Fresno, anyone?) and soCal outside of LA is notoriously RW (B-1 Bob Dornan).

[TexasLawyer]

10. Question 4 to Kevin Harvick

4. What is the most embarrassing moment you'll own up to, either in or out of racing?

Hands down, it's gotta be my answer to the last question. Geez, I'm a bonehead. A racist warmonger, too. Can you forgive me?*/


*/ not his actual answer, of course!

[pstans]

11. Why stop at nuking Iraq, why not nuke the entire Middle East too?

[JackNewtown]

13. I bet he wants to do that too

But it is more socially acceptable right now to limit favoring genocide to Iraq.

[Bluebear]

17. 'making everybody suffer through everything we go through'

Yeah, Iraq really made you suffer badly in your 31 pathetic years on earth you chickenhawk piece of SHIT.

[JackNewtown]

20. He's driving here so he doesn't have to fight them there

:rofl:

[Kerrytravelers]

33. LOL!

:rofl: :rofl:

[upi402]

22. That's a "sport" like friggin' *poker* is a sport

4 wheels- no balance
turn left- only
sit on your butt
a whole TEAM of mechanics to work on your vehicle.

Dang, no wonder Bush got "reselected".

(sure the horsepower is cool. okay fine.)

[JackNewtown]

25. This isn't a NASCAR thread

Let's save the NASCAR bashing for another thread! The key issue here is General Motor's association with Harvick. Does GM condone his remarks? I haven't seen GM condemn them...

[upi402]

27. yes dad, am i on restriction again sir?

:rofl:
what a dorky thing to say to my post.
who cares what these idjits say... they are idjits speaking to an idjit audience.
too subtle?
nuf said?

[JackNewtown]

31. Response

The attitude many here have toward NASCAR fans and other people perceived as similar is wrong and also hurts our chances to win votes among them. They perceive us as looking down on them, and perhaps they are right... There is something very wrong when NASCAR fans are ridiculed while Hezbollah's actions are justified, or even lionized here...

Who cares? General Motors consumers should. Would you not care if GM sponsored a KKK rally?

[upi402]

47. kinda seems like there's a lot more going on. remember Downing St.?

Some guy saying something ignorant is nothing new. Usually it's more of a star or a superstar athlete.

Sure it would be nice to see NASCAR dads vote in their own best interests, but have you talked to many motorsports enthusiasts? I have extensively, and it is not hopeful, in the mean.

You just came off like a righty there just a bit, telling me to stifle, to stay 'on topic' in your narrow perception of 'on topic'. This is GD and it's best not to pee on the electric fence, people say the damnedest things in GD and that's okay.

What some goof on the DU says about the "sport" of driving in circles is not going to give Bush a 3rd term. Relax and lick your wounds if you took my opinion to heart.

[Bluebear]

28. And why Harvick isn't signed up to "solve the Iraqi problem".

nt

[JackNewtown]

37. see post #20 nt

[leesa]

65. GM is a war machine. Why would they object? The only reason I can

see is that if you nuke a place you take out a potential arms market. Who do you think has been pushing war 24/7 on the teevee?

[madeline_con]

34. Seriously...

Do you think any slob can drive a car at an average speed of 150mph for 2-300 miles? These guys are sore as hell and beat to shit when they get out.

[cannibals are neat]

96. okay

You wait until it's 95 degrees outside, get in your car, turn the air conditioning off, and drive around in your cul-de-sac as fast as you can without losing control for 200-500 laps, then come back and talk to me about NASCAR not being a sport.

[LTR]

26. Not surprising

Kevin Harvick has a pretty crappy reputation. He's known as being a hotheaded prick.

[JackNewtown]

29. His teammate Jeff Burton wants to run for the Senate in the future

Probably as a Republican too. If he runs, we should remember his silence when his teammate called for genocide.

[madeline_con]

35. Isn't there a race trhis weekend?

Give them time, oh ye of little faith. Surely they'll make Kevin apologize.

[JackNewtown]

39. Has this gotten coverage anywhere? nt

[DRoseDARs]

32. Email GM and let them know how y'all feel...

Me, I could care less what some athlete (is a racecar driver or race/stunt pilot an athlete?) or celebrity spouts out of their over-paid, over-glorified mouth. But don't let me stop you from letting GM know that this particular display of verbal diarhea from their sponsored driver doesn't go over well with you.

http://www.gm.com/gmcomjsp/contactus/

[JackNewtown]

38. Thanks, I am writing to them now nt

[madeline_con]

40. Y'all. LOL!

Done. And now, to bed. Perchance to dream....

[DRoseDARs]

42. "Y'all" is a proper contraction, damn it!

:P Goodnight. :)

[JackNewtown]

41. What I wrote to GM

I am very disappointed that GM has not taken punitive measures against its NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick after he, essentially, called for genocide of over twenty million Iraqis. At minimum, GM should denounce his remarks and fine him. GM is a global corporation with consumers of all stripes. To have a great company such as GM associated with such remarks is a travesty.

The remarks haven't received much coverage so I will include them here:

http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/cup/08/02/kha...

--Question: 3. If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be?

Harvick: Oh, the president. The first thing I would do is drop a bomb and clean the place out, over in Iraq.

Instead of making everybody suffer through everything we go through, I'd just wipe it out and be done with it.--

It is clear he is calling for the destruction of Iraq, and with that the death of millions of innocent people. He does not even attempt to qualify his comments to show some regard for innocent life. What he is advocating is essentially a "final solution" to the Iraqi problem. It would be a sad day if GM condoned and continued to associate with someone who publicly promotes the vilest of views.

[theHandpuppet]

75. Great letter!

The only thing I'd add is that Harvick's comments won't make you consider buying a GM product anytime soon! You have to hit them in their pocketbook, which has more validity to them than a conscience.

[JackNewtown]

43. Where else should I post this to spread the word? nt

[AntiFascist]

44. I'm sure GM would like us to really become the "Great Satan"...

then we would be able to afford all the gas it takes to run their vehicles.

[Goat or Panic]

48. Um...NASCAR dude...

If you nuke Iraq, what's your car going to run on?

[Alacrat]

50. Iraq is importing gas

not producing.

[Goat or Panic]

53. I know...

I'm just getting unnerved by all this casual "Let's nuke the middle east" talk I'm hearing.
Ran into it at work also.....

[Alacrat]

49. I think there is`a deeper meaning to his comments

His comments sound as though they are coming from a man who is fed up with this war, "Instead of making everyone suffer through everything we go through". I think he is saying let's get the hell out of there now, and the hell with the consequences. Harvick has a macho bravado trackside, but seems mild mannered away from the track. I hardly believe he wants nuclear genocide against 20million people. I think he is also saying bush is doing a terrible job, and would love to take his place, if only to get us out of this illegal war. He can't say the things I believe he would like to say, or he would be an outsider in nascar, and soon unemployed, but I think he got his point across, if people would listen, and not be so quick to jump on his back. JMTC

[JackNewtown]

51. He wants to get out--"when the Iraqis 'stand down', we'll get out"

He wants to get out only after a "final solution" to the Iraq problem. Hitler would have had a similar position.

He may oppose the war but his racism is pretty clear. More likely, though, he is a Freeper-type, who thinks Bush is being "too PC" and too soft in the war.

[Buns_of_Fire]

55. You may have a point, there.

It could be just frustration talking. We've all said off-the-wall shit at times when a question unrelated to our particular area of expertise is thrown at us. After all, the drivers aren't hired based on their knowledge of geopolitics (or petropolitics). :shrug:

But then, I was always a Dale Earnhardt guy, myself. Y'all. :-) )

[niyad]

56. you clearly see a whole lot more to his statement than most of us do.

quite frankly, "dropping a bomb and clearing it out" sounds like nothing more or less than genocide, period. NO frustration with the chimp, just pure hatred and bigotry.

[Alacrat]

85. I hear a lot of frustration in his words

and I'm trying to give him the benefit of a doubt. I can't say what his true feelings are, but I know he has several charitable foundations, gives a lot of time and money for those and others. I think he is a pretty good guy, that is if he doesn't really want genocide. He has visited veterans hospitals, and seen the wounds, and destruction to bodies and souls, and I'm sure it has had an affect on him. He may be, but I have a hard time thinking he is a true nukem' all type, only he knows, either way his comments were inappropriate, and in very bad taste.

[hvn_nbr_2]

89. "drop a bomb and clean the place out" = advocating withdrawal???

I really don't think so.

[BlooInBloo]

52. Yet again, this is only news to white folks.

EDIT: It's amazing how much news there is for white folks - lol!

[JackNewtown]

54. I am white?

Apparently someone forgot to send me the memo. ;)

[NMMNG]

57. Typical scumball opinion

And he'd be the first in line to decry an Iraqi who said the same about the US. :eyes:

[DrDan]

60. this goofball can be reached at [e-mail]

on edit - perhaps not - my mail just failed - guess he has found out how popular his cowardly comments were.

[jsamuel]

63. Sounds like the Pres. of Iran about Israel

[ProfessorGAC]

66. Geez, What An Idiot

He's just a guy good a driving really fast. He's not educated, and his job requires hand-eye coordination, not intellectual brilliance.

His opinion is worthless on any matter other than suspensions and horsepower.

And, if i'm not mistaken, he's young enough to sign up, isn't he?
The Professor

[SammyWinstonJack]

67. Tough guy. I'm impressed

:eyes: Instead of making everybody suffer through everything WE go through, I'd just wipe IT out and be done with it.>

What can be said about that comment? Poor suffering 'Muricans. USA! USA! USA! :puke:

[Abies]

76. Show some mercy, folks, it could be lead poisoning

His idiocy may be a symptom of inhaling all those fumes from the leaded gas NASCAR uses...

From Medline Plus <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002473.htm#Symptoms>:

"There are many possible symptoms of lead poisoning. Lead can affect many different parts of the body. Over time, even low levels of lead exposure can harm a child's mental development. The possible health problems get worse as the level of lead in the blood gets higher. Possible complications include:

* Reduced IQ
* Slowed body growth
* Hearing problems
* Behavior or attention problems
* Failure at school
* Kidney damage

The symptoms of lead poisoning may include:

* Irritability
* Aggressive behavior
* Low appetite and energy
* Difficulty sleeping
* Headaches
* Reduced sensations
* Loss of previous developmental skills (in young children)
* Anemia
* Constipation
* Abdominal pain and cramping (usually the first sign of a high, toxic dose of lead poison)
* Very high levels may cause vomiting, staggering gait, muscle weakness, seizures, or coma"

[ProfessorGAC]

77. It Could Just Be Innate Stupidity, Too

And i'm going with my explanation. (Your post is funny, btw. Good one.)
The Professor

[Abies]

80. Or, perhaps both...

How about innate stupidity compounded by lead poisoning? Poor guy, he had little to lose.

[leeroysphitz]

78. Doesn't this guy write for The Weekly Standard?

[screembloodymurder]

79. Can these people be charged with hate speech?

I'm serious.

[Alacrat]

86. I hate his speech, but defend his right to say it

I would love to shove a sock in many a mouth, but freedom of speech is exactly that IMO, if you don't like it don't listen. We are the last group that needs to call for censorship on speech, if he could bush would shut us down in a second, and all he sane voices would be silent. You have to take the good with the bad.

[Blue_Tires]

81. what a jagg-off

[Cha]

82. Is this why I read on DU

in the last couple of days that there is a crack in Nascar dads' support for repukes?

[JesterCS]

84. ugh

and he was my favorite driver too ><

[YOY]

87. Cue deuling banjos

n/t

[hvn_nbr_2]

88. More disturbing than that a NASCAR driver says this...

NASCAR.com features it on their website.

Do NASCAR and GM support genocide?

[ms liberty]

92. Support Dale Earnhardt Jr...

He took his whole crew to see Farenheit 911 the week it came out. I think that puts him in our camp.

[cannibals are neat]

94. Dale jr

stated in an interview that he's a repub, but to his credit, he also said that he hates when people use racist terms around him. I think that he's probably mainly a good guy, he just votes the wrong way. But then again, he is an athlete, and I don't care what athletes have to say about politics. That's not what they're there for.

[farmbo]

93. NASCAR...National Association of Senseless Caucasion Automobile Racers

eom

[cannibals are neat]

95. I suppose you'd

like to explain Bill Lester?

[WiseButAngrySara]

97. GM is probably promoting him for this! War profiteers... ....n/t

[wishlist]

98. Sylvania (owned by Siemens) is also a 'proud sponsor' of Harvick n/t