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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBlack 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 hes 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, Im prepared, if the NAACP invites me, Ill 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 Gingrichs 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 dont think that, when you start using blacks in general as a stepping stone or a punching bag
GINGRICH: I didnt 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 whos 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.
MADem
(135,425 posts)He acts like he has a perpetually raging case of jock itch, or something.
I see the sun setting on his bloviated self.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)That's what Peggy Noonan called him, lol!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002134034
And it looks like Yvan Lamothe pwned him!
Fire Walk With Me
(38,893 posts)ellisonz
(27,711 posts)Atman
(31,464 posts)I'm sure some of Newt's best friends have employed blacks who've been on food stamps!
justiceischeap
(14,040 posts)recipients are white.
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)Don't you know that by now??? And it is especially true of whites, who want to think that they have some superiority.
bigtree
(85,996 posts)folks out here don't stand for that shit
T S Justly
(884 posts)southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)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)Social media is just beginning to record the events. Otherwise, I agree with your post.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)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?
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)LiberalAndProud
(12,799 posts)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.
spanone
(135,841 posts)Control-Z
(15,682 posts)He has a gay friend.
evilkumquat
(386 posts)Yeah.
Where would the infrastructure of the South be without it?
treestar
(82,383 posts)Does he think that matters? He needs a thicker skin.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,234 posts)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.
City Lights
(25,171 posts)MMJjestic
(34 posts)He meant "Blah" people!
zbdent
(35,392 posts)did Newt ever accept an invitation from the NAACP, and actually show up to listen to them?
RainDog
(28,784 posts)Control-Z
(15,682 posts)members with him in the photograph? They sure do have a look about them.
Botany
(70,510 posts)Sounds like Newt is just making stuff up again.
LiberalAndProud
(12,799 posts)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
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)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.
Crowman1979
(3,844 posts)Zalatix
(8,994 posts)Seriously?
Johnny2X2X
(19,066 posts)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.
vaberella
(24,634 posts)Blacksheep214
(877 posts)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.
Evasporque
(2,133 posts)ecstatic
(32,705 posts)Lamothe, who has earned a masters 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 dont 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)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)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.
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)agentS
(1,325 posts)Y'all should see the segment after it posts. It was really moving.
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)He knows he's been fucking caught for the bigoted fuck he is.