Racial attitudes revealed by Fox News in Obama interview

[Vernon Windsor]

"Here is how racism finds expression in the United States in the
21st century. You can tell it is racism because the only thing that has
changed between that period when there was no protest and the current
one is the anxiety of a segment of the population because of race."
—Vernon Windsor blog post March 16, 20010

Fox News' Bret Baier interrupted President Obama so many times during Wednesday's interview
that Newsweek described the enounter as a "interrupt-a-thon."

Baier acknowledged his repeated interjections at the end of the interview, by
interrupting the president once more to apologize. Baier told Obama "I
apologize for interrupting you, sir. I tried to get the most for our
buck here."

MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell said that he could not recall a reporter ever questioning or interrupting an American president
in such an aggressive way. Certainly, O'Donnell argued, Fox News never
took that approach with former President George W. Bush.

(Full article)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/17/obama-fox-news-interview_n...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22887392#35922807

You have to know how many people of color (black people in particular) will
view this exchange. This is another example of how people of color are
slighted in ways that diminish the respect they have should be accorded
due to their office, their titles, or their accomplishments. All you
have to do is to look at how this same interviewer treated George W.
Bush to understand what is really going on here.

We have seen this kind of thing for years in both the South and the North. White
doctors are introduced as Dr. Smith, Dr. Bannock, and Dr. Taylor, while
the black doctor is introduced as "John," stripped of both his title and
the formality of his last name. This is no different. Nor can one
compare European style interviews with those in this country. They are
two separate traditions. The overall message is "you can be interrupted
because of who you are as opposed to who I am, and furthermore, I owe
you absolutely none of the deference normally afforded this office for
exactly the same reason."

[Vernon Windsor]

The term "honest broker" is part of the language of political discourse about the Middle East. I think it is good to know the nature and character of who one deals with. It is for that reason, I posted this link. Knowledge is a good thing. You may all draw your own conclusions in your own time.

[Rhon91]

wow. guess thats how she gets her kicks. whatever... Vernon, you and I are on the same page.

[brujo]

This conversation is tedious at best. I think either side is DYING to be offended by the other side's intent, whether it's real or perceived. Does racism exist in this country? You bet. We all have that pea-sized little part of our reptillian lower brain that allows us to identify differences between ourselves and strangers so we can assess whether we should club the stranger into a greasy mass, or sleep with them. I do think the President should have fucked the reporter up by jabbing a thumb in his throat, at least figuratively for interrupting. But let's get real, both Fox News and the Whitehouse have been at loggerheads for months now. I think Fox News has been unduly critical of this President, and I think the Whitehouse have been a bunch of crybabies, whining about FN's unfairness. Both should get over it. Fox is a legitimate news service even if you don't like it's editorial policy, and the President is the President, and should be afforded ALL the respect his office is due. I didn't care much for Bill Clinton, but at least he could hold his own with snotty Fox News reporters.

[brujo]

I respectfully disagree, I've seen a number of interviews where reporters were agressive with Bill, at least as aggressive with him as Brett Baier was with President Obama; but there is nothing more funny to me than a man protecting his legacy.
After watching the interview, I didn't see racism. I saw a guy firing off questions that took the President off point at times in a one on one. I also saw the President handle it pretty well. I think Brett Baier got hired by Fox for being the way he is, but conversely, I voted for the President because of the way he is.
There is obviously a huge difference of opinion in the American dialogue over healthcare. I don't mind that. But the President's supporters constantly crying racism is diluting the message and the job at hand.
Pacis, if you see racism, I suggest you fight it. Lord knows I do. But what I said was that I found THIS coversation tedious. Because it is. We can spend all day long discussing our perceptions of what motivates people, and all it does is make the task at hand all the more exhausting. At this point in my life, I'm just interested in getting the work done and not making sure people meet the purity standard.

[Vernon Windsor]

Brujo, I respectfully disagree with you. You have stated twice that you found this conversation "tedious," yet here you are. Your assertion that people who recognize the racial component behind mant of the acerbic comments and the disrespect shown this president in particular, are "constantly crying racism" reveals how blind and tone-deaf your are to the problem. You would be wrong too, to believe it is only President Obama's supporters who recognize the effect of racial attitudes in the political polarization of the country.

Indeed, you seem to be part of that group of people for whom any mention of race (much less any discussion of racism) is seen to be "playing the race card," which translates into "We-don't-want-you-to-talk-about-race-because-we're-certainly-not-racists-and-any-acknowledgment-of-that-subject-or-its-possible-relevance-to-politics-works-against-leaving-us-in-our-comfort-zone-where-we-can-pretend-that-race-and-its-consequences-don't-really-exist."

It may well make you and others uncomfortable to discuss matters of race, but you passing judgment on whether or not you are entertained will neither silence me or render the subject of this post any less relevant for the millions of people world-wide who have, through no fault of their own, to deal with the fallout of racial attitudes and racial politics.

[Bull]

Bravo Vernon

[brujo]

I seem to be? Actually I'm not. I'd welcome an honest discussion on race in this country, but we seem to be a ways from that discussion. Any discussion will center around differences, and that in turn promises to create further dissention, without solving any problems. But if you're up to it, start it up.
I'm merely commenting on your assertation that ANY disagreement with the President is racially motivated. It's not. The healthcare debate is about two opposing sides, one that feels the system needs change, and one that feels that it's encroaching socialism. The fact of the matter is, no one is going to know for sure what is either sides motivation concerning their motivations. I think our initial reaction is just to dismiss the other opinion, and often for reasons that have nothing to do with the debate.
And again, I repeat this discussion is tedious. It has nothing to do with either subject now. It is now dealing exclusively with WTP's perception of your motivations, and now your perception of mine.

[Vernon Windsor]

Brujo, you are reading both words and intent found nowhere in my post. I make no such assertion that any disagreement with the President is racially motivated. Nor did I make any mention of WTP in my original post.

You are making things up. Why?

[brujo]

You are such a Boulderite. Did you have tears in your eyes when you wrote that? You're right the original post didn't mention any of those things, it's just where the discussion seemingly led, although I have no doubts about what your intention with the post was originally about.

[Vernon Windsor]

Your problem with Boulder or people who live there, is just that—your problem. Would my words have different meaning if you thought I lived some other place? Your prejudice is not the context in which I express my views, only the context with which you hear them.

[brujo]

No, you'd be a passive aggressive whiner even if you didn't live in Boulder. I only mention Boulder to needle you.

[Vernon Windsor]

Well sadly, you failed, but thanks for revealing your maturity level. Now we know.