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one_voice

(20,043 posts)
Sun Jan 8, 2012, 05:49 PM Jan 2012

Black Man Confronts Gingrich On Food Stamps Comments: ‘Stop Using Blacks As A Punching Bag’

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich defended himself today against charges of racial insensitivity by noting that he’s worked with African-American leaders in the past.

At a town hall event meant to appeal to Latino voters at a Mexican restaurant in Manchester, an African-American man confronted Gingrich about recent comments he made that have drawn the ire of the NACCP and other civil rights leader. Gingrich controversially said last week, “I’m prepared, if the NAACP invites me, I’ll go to their convention and talk about why the African-American community should demand paychecks and not be satisfied with food stamps.”

*snip*

At the event today, Yvan Lamothe, a 59-year-old former New Hampshire state employee and small business owner, drew strong applause from the crowd when he told Gingrich that he has never taken welfare or food stamps and was offended by Gingrich’s suggestion that most African Americans do. Gingrich responded with something like the classic “some of my best friends are black” defense, noting that he has worked with people like Condaleeza Rice and Colin Powell in the past:

LAMOTHE: My question to you is, do think blacks represent an American problem. And if you don’t think that, when you start using blacks in general as a stepping stone or a punching bag–

GINGRICH: I didn’t say that. I just want to say that frankly this makes me very irritated. The Democratic National Committe took totally out of context half of the sentence, OK? I mean clearly somebody who’s served with Colin Powell, who has served with Condaleeza Rice, I have a fairly good sense of the fact that African Americans have many contributions to America.

*snip*

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/01/08/400175/black-man-confronts-gingrich-food-stamps/


Newtie played the I have a black friend card.

42 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Black Man Confronts Gingrich On Food Stamps Comments: ‘Stop Using Blacks As A Punching Bag’ (Original Post) one_voice Jan 2012 OP
Good for the questioner to push that jerk. Newtie always is "irritated." MADem Jan 2012 #1
Newt's just an 'angry little attack muffin' pinboy3niner Jan 2012 #4
:D Fire Walk With Me Jan 2012 #16
Liar! ellisonz Jan 2012 #27
That's totally unfair Atman Jan 2012 #2
I wish someone would confront him with the fact that the majority of food stamp justiceischeap Jan 2012 #3
No one want to hear the truth. Curmudgeoness Jan 2012 #8
that's it bigtree Jan 2012 #5
Wonderful to see and hear that. K&R (nt) T S Justly Jan 2012 #6
Finally a black citizen speaks up and tells it like it is and his answer of having black friends southernyankeebelle Jan 2012 #7
There have been many Black citizens who've spoken up and told it like it is ... T S Justly Jan 2012 #11
Other then the computer I don't have facebook or twitter southernyankeebelle Jan 2012 #18
If you have a computer, you can have facebook and twitter which are free. nt riderinthestorm Jan 2012 #21
I use to have facebook but I am off now. I just don't like it. I am not into twitter. southernyankeebelle Jan 2012 #23
Gee African American citizens speak against this racism all the time, long prior to Bluenorthwest Jan 2012 #31
My comment wasn't meant to offend you and if I did please except my apologies. southernyankeebelle Jan 2012 #35
That Newt sure has a tin ear. LiberalAndProud Jan 2012 #9
he's excrement. spanone Jan 2012 #10
That is Santorum you're thinking of. Control-Z Jan 2012 #12
"I have a fairly good sense of the fact that African Americans have many contributions to America." evilkumquat Jan 2012 #13
Newtie is irritated? treestar Jan 2012 #14
Now pull the other one, Newtie. Tarheel_Dem Jan 2012 #15
Keep digging, Newt. eom City Lights Jan 2012 #17
I thought Newtie would say he wasn't using Black People as punching bags MMJjestic Jan 2012 #19
Before running for President, and while actually "employed" as a Republican politician ... zbdent Jan 2012 #20
k&r n/t RainDog Jan 2012 #22
Are those family Control-Z Jan 2012 #24
When did Newt serve w/ Condi Rice? Botany Jan 2012 #25
Interesting this. LiberalAndProud Jan 2012 #26
So, *THAT* is Newt's definition of "Worked with" is? Raine1967 Jan 2012 #30
Newt is so full of s*&$ that he's about to burst out of his armani suit! Crowman1979 Jan 2012 #28
And the GOP accuses Democrats of race pandering??? Zalatix Jan 2012 #29
Wow Johnny2X2X Jan 2012 #32
You have to love Gingrich though. What I said is not what I said. He always says that. n/t vaberella Jan 2012 #33
President Obama will shred any Rethug in a debate. Blacksheep214 Jan 2012 #34
The Muffin is angry....nt Evasporque Jan 2012 #36
The full comment is even better: ecstatic Jan 2012 #37
Whoa! Thanks for posting that-- ProgressiveEconomist Jan 2012 #40
New thread I built around yr post ProgressiveEconomist Jan 2012 #41
Good for Yvan...put that worthless POS on notice! knr joeybee12 Jan 2012 #38
He was just on Al Sharpton's show agentS Jan 2012 #39
I love when he gets "irritated" ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jan 2012 #42

MADem

(135,425 posts)
1. Good for the questioner to push that jerk. Newtie always is "irritated."
Sun Jan 8, 2012, 05:53 PM
Jan 2012

He acts like he has a perpetually raging case of jock itch, or something.

I see the sun setting on his bloviated self.

Atman

(31,464 posts)
2. That's totally unfair
Sun Jan 8, 2012, 05:54 PM
Jan 2012

I'm sure some of Newt's best friends have employed blacks who've been on food stamps!

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
8. No one want to hear the truth.
Sun Jan 8, 2012, 06:09 PM
Jan 2012

Don't you know that by now??? And it is especially true of whites, who want to think that they have some superiority.

 

southernyankeebelle

(11,304 posts)
7. Finally a black citizen speaks up and tells it like it is and his answer of having black friends
Sun Jan 8, 2012, 06:06 PM
Jan 2012

don't cut it. As a white person I am offend by Gringrich comments especially when he grew up in a military family he should know better to say stuff like that.

 

T S Justly

(884 posts)
11. There have been many Black citizens who've spoken up and told it like it is ...
Sun Jan 8, 2012, 06:22 PM
Jan 2012

Social media is just beginning to record the events. Otherwise, I agree with your post.

 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
31. Gee African American citizens speak against this racism all the time, long prior to
Mon Jan 9, 2012, 11:38 AM
Jan 2012

Twitter etc. To claim that they are 'finally' doing so is to me, sort of naff and totally incorrect. Finally? Really? That's how you see it?

LiberalAndProud

(12,799 posts)
9. That Newt sure has a tin ear.
Sun Jan 8, 2012, 06:10 PM
Jan 2012

Newt (some of my best friends are black, so what's it to you if I'm a racist bigot) Gingrich has no appreciation for the finer notes he sings.

evilkumquat

(386 posts)
13. "I have a fairly good sense of the fact that African Americans have many contributions to America."
Sun Jan 8, 2012, 06:22 PM
Jan 2012

Yeah.

Where would the infrastructure of the South be without it?

Tarheel_Dem

(31,234 posts)
15. Now pull the other one, Newtie.
Sun Jan 8, 2012, 06:32 PM
Jan 2012


My question is, why weren't these questions posed by the likes of Hermain Cain, Michael Steele, and Condi Rice? Instead, they'll come out in defense of shit like this. Herman Cain's a bigger racist than Newtie, which is his appeal to the far right.

zbdent

(35,392 posts)
20. Before running for President, and while actually "employed" as a Republican politician ...
Sun Jan 8, 2012, 09:30 PM
Jan 2012

did Newt ever accept an invitation from the NAACP, and actually show up to listen to them?

LiberalAndProud

(12,799 posts)
26. Interesting this.
Mon Jan 9, 2012, 04:24 AM
Jan 2012
Newt: I Support Condi
by Robert B. Bluey — 07-27-2006 @ 03:21 PM

Contrary to a published report, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is not plotting to have Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice transferred out of the State Department.
http://www.humanevents.com/rightangle/index.php?id=15265&title=newt_i_support_condi


Newt Gingrich accuses State Department of undermining Bush's policies
PM - Wednesday, 23 April , 2003 18:35:00
Reporter: Alison Caldwell
MARK COLVIN: In the United States, the White House has been forced to defend the role of the State Department under Secretary of State Colin Powell. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich has accused the State Department of deliberately and systematically undermining the policies of President Bush.
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2003/s838759.htm


Raine1967

(11,589 posts)
30. So, *THAT* is Newt's definition of "Worked with" is?
Mon Jan 9, 2012, 11:25 AM
Jan 2012

That friggin laughable.

I was going to asked the same question that was asked above. Your answer is amazing. He never worked with Rice. I would say he BARELY worked with Colin Powell.

Johnny2X2X

(19,066 posts)
32. Wow
Mon Jan 9, 2012, 11:52 AM
Jan 2012

The longer this Primary goes the more stupid statements you hear from the Republicans. They changed their rules to proportional delegates and it is going to kill them, this will drag out for months and not only will they spend millions, but the candidates are also forced to be crazier and crazier.

 

Blacksheep214

(877 posts)
34. President Obama will shred any Rethug in a debate.
Mon Jan 9, 2012, 01:33 PM
Jan 2012

They have been spreading so much crap they no longer can tell the truth.

I want a debate moderated by FactCheck.org. I want a panel of Jeopardy judges on computers calling Bullshit as they say it, 2 minute delay on the broadcast.

Have you EVER heard any non-white brag about how some of their best friends are white?

These cons will never believe (as I recall someone famous say in a speech), "there is only a United States of America. (No black, brown, etc.)

They need to be asked if they even understand what UNITED means. Bush didn't!

Look up Elitist and see pics of Gingrich and Romney. Now see who they try to brand with the label.

Americans need to turn off the reality crap on TV and pay attention to real life.

ecstatic

(32,705 posts)
37. The full comment is even better:
Mon Jan 9, 2012, 07:30 PM
Jan 2012
“My point is… you mentioned that black people should be able to earn a paycheck, not be on welfare, implying that black people in general are on welfare. And I really took exception to that because it demeans my accomplishments, my hard work, because I have worked all my life. I have never been on welfare.”

Lamothe, who has earned a master’s degree, continued:

“You know about history. You know that back in the 1930s, Hitler started talking in Germany about a Jewish problem. My question to you is, do you think that blacks represent an American problem, and if you don’t think that, will you stop using blacks in general as a stepping stone or a punching bag?”

Read more - http://w.po.st/share/entry/redir?publisherKey=Inquisitr.com-607&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inquisitr.com%2F178172%2Fgingrich-taken-to-task-at-town-hall-for-linking-black-people-with-food-stamps%2F&title=Gingrich%20Taken%20to%20Task%20at%20Town%20Hall%20For%20Linking%20Black%20People%20With%20Food%20Stamps&sharer=copypaste

ProgressiveEconomist

(5,818 posts)
40. Whoa! Thanks for posting that--
Mon Jan 9, 2012, 08:46 PM
Jan 2012

IMO no network is going to report that reference to "the final solution"--except maybe Keith Olberman's.

IMO Lamothe should get his full 15 minutes of fame for that bold confrontation of a powerful Republican icon.

Maybe Lamothe will help mute the "dog whistles" Gingrich and Santorum are bound to blow as the campaign moves to a citadel of white racism--South Carolina.

ProgressiveEconomist

(5,818 posts)
41. New thread I built around yr post
Mon Jan 9, 2012, 09:26 PM
Jan 2012

IMO this post must not be buried deep in this thread. I just created a new GD thread (at http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002145120 ) devoted to the failure of major media outlets to report Lamothe's full question. To me, the lack of coverage of the full import of Lamothe's question is an important phenomenon in itself.

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