By John W. Lillpop
By design or by virtue of just more bad luck, the intense battle over the federal deficit, out-of-control spending, and the future of America has turned ugly.
Ugly, indeed, as reported at the reference, in part:
A leading voice in the Congressional Black Caucus told supporters last week that Tea Party-affiliated lawmakers are devastating the black community economically and would be happy to see black people "hanging on a tree."Given Barack Obama’s persistent call for “dialing down the rhetoric” and demand for more civility, one must ask: Where is Barack? Why has the president failed to use his bully pulpit to demand that the CBC refrain from such vile, intemperate public discourse?
Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.), the CBC whip, told attendees at the CBC's Job Tour visit to Miami that the Tea Party is actively taking steps to keep down the black community and other vulnerable populations.
"This is the effort that we're seeing of Jim Crow," Carson said. "Some of these folks in Congress right now would love to see us as second-class citizens."
"Some of them in Congress right now of this Tea Party movement would love to see you and me ... hanging on a tree."
A spokesman for Carson, later in the article, actually defended his boss' "strong language," saying:
"A child without basic nutrition, secure housing, and quality education has no real chance at a meaningful and productive life. So, yes, the Congressman used strong language because the Tea Party agenda jeopardizes our most vulnerable and leaves them without the ability to improve their economic standing."
Being without the ability to improve one's economic standing is indeed a dire situation. But it is not the same thing as being strung up by an angry mob from the nearest tree. It just isn't.
The accusation that the Tea Party harbors racism or racist elements has been around since soon after the Tea Party appeared on the American political scene. It is a subject for intense debate. Strong language is often used in this debate. But Congressman Carson's remarks have taken this language to an entirely different level -- a level where he really shouldn't have gone.”
Perhaps we need a “civility czar,” one with the temerity and integrity to tell Maxine Waters to, “Shut up and go straight to hell yourself!” and to tell Rep. Andre Carson, “The only advocate for second-class citizenship for African-Americans is folks like you!”
Or are loose canons like Waters and Carson saying things that Obama agrees with but cannot say in public?
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/when-democratic-rhetoric-goes-too-far-2011-8#ixzz1WiSx3DIO
