Minnesota lawmaker Ryan Winkler apologizes for deleted 'Uncle Thomas' tweet

[alp227]

Minnesota State Rep. Ryan Winkler, a Democrat, was so incensed by the Supreme Court's decision to strike down a key part of the Voting Rights Act that he called Justice Clarence Thomas an "Uncle Thomas" in a Tuesday tweet.

Winkler's since-deleted tweet said: "VRA majority is four accomplices to race discrimination and one Uncle Thomas," according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. His comment was made in reference to the "Uncle Tom" epithet.

Winkler immediately issued a statement apologizing for his Twitter remark:

“I was very disappointed today in the Supreme Court decision to roll back key provisions of the Voting Rights Act because I believe the Voting Rights Act is one of the most important steps our nation has taken to eliminate racial discrimination," Winkler began.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/Blog/2013/06/25/Minnesota-lawmaker-Ryan-Winkler-apologizes-for-deleted-Uncle-Thomas-tweet/8451372209895/

[WestStar]

1. That's an apology? I did't understand it was racist? Seems to be some debate?

Dumbass



No cooking show for you Ryan.

[denverbill]

2. I don't understand the need to apologize.

Clarence Thomas is a perfect example of a 21st century Uncle Tom, IMO.

[alp227]

3. Because he's a Randite?

The right loves to hate us for the "Uncle Tom" phrase to describe conservative non-white Americans. Perhaps it's more constructive just to explain WHY Thomas's ideology is wrong rather than fuck ourselves over with "Uncle Tom"?

[cali]

9. you don't? because it's a racist crap comment

and it's a racist crap comment in the same fucking way that calling a Jew a "real Shylock" would be.

[ananda]

4. Sounds a bit tame to me.

Clarence Thomas is so low I can't even find
the words to express it.

[Gravitycollapse]

5. Uncle Tom has come to be a tragic and sympathetic character.

The unfortunate product of a white author that had no idea what she was talking about.

Tragic and sympathetic. Not how I would describe Justice Thomas.

[Revanchist]

6. Don't really agree with you on Uncle Tom

In the book he possessed great courage and was very noble. It wasn't until the plays that they changed him because the south refused to have a strong black man as the central character.

[Gravitycollapse]

7. You should read James Baldwin's take on UTC...

Here's the PDF: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CC0QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uhu.es%2Fantonia.dominguez%2Fsemnorteamericana%2Fprotest.pdf&ei=h73LUajVH8b8igLk3oH4BQ&usg=AFQjCNEmkUbay7GxoUHZcjI7j3T37q7kQw&sig2=Hl3Fk0jV1kDQUq1jpZydsw&bvm=bv.48572450,d.cGE&cad=rja

[Revanchist]

8. I'll bookmark the thread so I can read it once I'm on a computer,

It's a pain trying to read that on my tablet screen.