Ben Carson, the latest Republican black toy.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

So Ben Carson's gonna run for President, and more than one white Republican I know heart is a flutterin'.

So why all the gushing love for Carson? It's simple. He's the latest in a long line of "black toys" for the Republican Party. He's not the first, and he won't be the last.

The guy they tout out as their great black hope, to prove once and for all that the Republicans aren't a party synonymous with racism, and that they can have their own Barack Obama that will cause African American voters to abandon the Democratic party in droves and pin on their elephant lapel pins.

We've seen it before. Michael Steele. Allen West. Herman Cain. Same song, same dance.

The thing though is, for an African American to rise to the level of cognitive dissonance that would allow him or her to embrace the ideals of the Republican Party, we can't expect the most emotionally balanced individuals. And thus, they flame out quickly. Very quickly.

Hence, that's the reason we talk about Steele, West and Cain in the past tense and not in the present. Because they were done in by their own inevitable flaws. On the other hand, the Democratic Party has guys like John Lewis that have been a force in the party for decades. Because they don't have to wake up every morning and constantly lie to themselves. And it's that constant lying to themselves that I think throws black Republicans off the rails mentally.

What's worse, though, is that the GOP leadership doesn't really care. If one black Republican fails--and they inevitably do--they'll just replace him with another one. And they'll replace that guy with the next. And so on and so forth. So Steele gets replaced by West gets replaced by Cain gets replaced by Carson gets replaced by who knows? I'm sure Mia Love will be thrown in the mix sometime soon, and then probably spit out just as quickly.

Meanwhile, the Republican party remains so incredibly stupid in thinking that blacks will flock to their party simply because they'll throw out a black Republican to vote for. Such a thinking is incredibly patronizing of the African American community, who knows it is much smarter than what the GOP takes it for.

[simak]

1. Considering he's a highly respected neurosurgeon, comments like those make me uncomfortable. n/t

[LibertyLover]

2. He was a neurosurgeon

but now is retired. Also, per people in the OR who knew him - he wasn't that great. Johns Hopkins had at least one other black, pediatric neurosurgeon who was better than Ben and a lot nicer to staff.

[alarimer]

3. A neurosurgeon who doesn't believe in evolution is not someone I want operating on me.

He's an idiot. Even the guy who finished last in medical school gets to be called "Dr."

[Tommy_Carcetti]

4. In terms of medical knowledge, he's a genius. And I respect his medical career.

But in terms of politics and the things he's said, he's completely off his rocker. Absolutely nuts. And he's willfully made himself the latest Republican tool.

Being a genius in one field does not necessarily make you adept in others.

I know a great automechanic. Maybe he should run for president as well!

[simak]

5. Maybe when America has a car problem we can have a mechanic for President.

But I would not dismiss the value (or effectiveness) of a brain surgeon when healthcare is such a big issue.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

6. Carson went on record saying that the ACA was the worst thing to happen to the US since slavery

By that measure, it means it is supposedly worse than Jim Crow, the Depression, McCarthyism, Watergate, Vietnam, 9-11 and Iraq.

That's just delusional thinking, plain and simple. I wouldn't trust the political opinion of anyone who said something as ludicrous as that.

[kelliekat44]

20. That comment alone disqualified him in my view. nt

[Johonny]

27. Exactly all his arguments come from authority

He IS or was a medical doctor so we must trust his opinion is the whole argument from him. Well I've heard his opinion and I don't respect it. The man demonstrated he didn't understand ACA at any level. His claims about it were unfounded. That's something that is supposed to be in his wheel house of knowledge. Arguments from Authority have little value once statements have been proven to be false. He might have been good inside an operating room at one time, but he doesn't appear to understand basic political principals or legislative facts. That's not an insult to him, that's reality.

[KG]

7. he's a dellusional nutbag. his comments make me uncomfortable, after I quit laughing

[ChisolmTrailDem]

10. Yup, right-wingers certainly have no problem supporting such a wingnut... nt

[Rex]

14. So surgeons are immune from bigotry? How interesting.

Watch this video and tell me if it makes you uncomfortable.

[simak]

17. No more uncomfortable than if a white conservative said it. n/t

[Rex]

18. Didn't say anything about race, why are you bringing that up?

Did you watch the video? The man is crazy.

[kelliekat44]

22. It is ugly and it is what I was trying to point out in some of my previous posts. nt

[Rex]

25. Neo-marxists (whoever that is) decided that the gay agenda would destroy America.

The man is bonkers. He would fit right in with Putin's Russia.

[KamaAina]

39. What does being a neurosurgeon have to do with being President?

Hell, why not elect Joe the Plumber? (Oh, right. He's not a plumber. )

[Odin2005]

70. Memet Oz is a highly respected heart surgeon, but he's still a peddler of quackery.

[yeoman6987]

80. I agree! Dispicable wording for an adult no matter who it is.

[hot hunk]

83. repubs like to throw in a token for show

reality is that ONLY white men are qualified to win their primary

[onecent]

85. NOT ME!!! Doesn't make me uncomfortable. This Ben Caerson is

a psychopathic.....and will take america backwards over 40 years....no 50 years.

Why would the repubs vote a black man to run??? They beat the shit out of Obama every single day by denying him
or even acknowledge that he WAS THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK.
WHAT IS wrong with people???????

[Bigmack]

8. Typical Repub hypocrite...

[Tommy_Carcetti]

9. He's like Clarence Thomas without the sexual harassment allegations. nt

[KG]

11. He'll be claiming he did alllll his own

[Bigmack]

12. I should make clear....

... that I don't begrudge him his life. I'm proud that we still have enough of a safety net that a relatively poor black kid could become a neurosurgeon... with our help. It shows what those programs can do.

I never begrudge any of my tax money going to help people get a leg up.

Now.... the F-35... that's a different story.

[KG]

13. I endorse the social safety net. but not bozo's like this

who later claim the did it all on their ownsome

[simak]

19. Has he made that claim?

[JustAnotherGen]

38. Is hypocrite more acceptable to you?

Interesting facts about Dr. Ben Carson, Conservative Icon:

1. raised by a single mother
2. raised in public housing
3. fed with food stamps.
4. supported with welfare wasnt-dependent-on-government
5. kept healthy with medicaid…
6. educated in public schools
7. got eyeglasses from state agency
8. benefited from affirmative action to enter college
9. used federal loans and Pell grants in undergrad school
10. benefited from affirmative action to enter medical school
11. med school paid for with grant from USPHS*
12. said: “The disintegration of the family unit and the welfare state are enslaving African-Americans and ruining their futures.”


He's also very wrong about something. I took A.P. US History and I still haven't joined ISIS:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/01/ben-carson-ap-us-history_n_5910982.html

In August, the Republican National Committee adopted a resolution calling for a push against the course, claiming it "deliberately distorts and/or edits out important historical events."

Carson, who has said he will likely run for president in 2016, apparently agrees with the RNC resolution.

"There's only two paragraphs in there about George Washington ... little or nothing about Martin Luther King, a whole section on slavery and how evil we are, a whole section on Japanese internment camps and how we slaughtered millions of Japanese with our bombs," Carson said at the event.

He continued, "I think most people when they finish that course, they'd be ready to go sign up for ISIS ... We have got to stop this silliness crucifying ourselves."

What he's really saying is those taking History courses at University also should not have to take history 101 or 102. AP excellence allowed me to bypass 101 and test out of having to take 102.

For a student who didn't get all of those freebies that Ben received (I was only eligible for an unsubsidized Stafford Loan half way through my sophomore year and beyond) - being able to test out of classes and take the 100 levels while a high school student can reduce your cost of university by a semester or in my case - allowed me to get a minor in something I was interest in along with my two majors without additional semesters.

Again - if you don't get the 'freebies' and 'entitlements' Ben received - you can kind of see where he is big old hypocrite and really wants a country of Poli Sci and History majors who miss key things . . . like The Treaty of Paris. And like - oh - the impressment of Americans at sea by the British as a cause of the war of 1812.

Yeah I know - not important. Knowing that will make you join ISIS.

[simak]

72. I'm not sure that's hypocrisy. Ingratitude, maybe.

Hypocrisy would be if Carson's kids were being raised by a single mom, in public housing, etc., while he advocates for a better way.

[JustAnotherGen]

74. Agree to disagree

;-

You are entitled to feel that way and there is nothing in TOS that prevents any of us from being downright vicious to the opposition party. Now is the time to reload - not retreat or play kissy face nicey nice.

[sakabatou]

16. +10

[treestar]

78. Exactly. To be a Republican is to be a hypocrite

It's really I Got Mine, who cares about the rest of you. That is clearly their real position. Everything they say is an attempt to deflect from that or manipulate others.

[simak]

84. I know plenty of Republicans. You couldn't be more wrong. n/t

[sakabatou]

15. The "I'm not a racist, I have a black best friend" routine

[Nye Bevan]

21. I keep reading here that all Republicans are racists.

In which case why would a black guy such as this set Republicans' hearts "a flutterin"?

[pnwmom]

24. Because they think they can use him to gain the Presidency.

What do they care about the skin color of their puppet?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

26. I personally never said that *all* Republicans are racists.

There are in fact actual racists in the Republican Party who go on record as to disliking minorities.

There are also people in the Republican party who aren't actually racist, but support Republican policies that either would result in a disparate treatment or disparate impact upon minorities.

And you have Republicans who wish to remain in denial about those two above facts, and any time an Alan Keyes/Michael Steele/Allen West/Herman Cain/Ben Carson comes to the forefront, they rush to champion those individuals because in their feeble little minds, their presence alone proves that there are not racists in the Republican party and the Republican party doesn't support policies that could be considered to be racist.

[merrily]

28. Yet another defense of Republicans, Nye.

The answer is obvious. Changing demographics mean Republicans have to court all kinds of groups if they every want to see the Presidency again. Rove broke it down and I am almost sure he was not the first

[7962]

65. And no reason to use insulting terms like "black toy". Thats disgusting.

But I guess its ok around here because he calls himself a republican? If Limbaugh said it we'd have 4 OPs about it and 500 comments.

[Nye Bevan]

66. Yes, blacks have as much right as anyone else to choose to be Republicans.

I may disagree with their policies but I'm not going to hurl epithets like "black toy" and "Uncle Tom" at them.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

69. They just want him to run so they can say "See! We have black friends!"

Michelle Malkin spent Wednesday morning gushing about Mia Love as "proof" the Rethugs aren't run by old white men.

[pnwmom]

23. Actually, the latest is the new Senator from South Carolina.n/t

[merrily]

29. "Black toy" is highly disrepectful to African Americans.

Is McCain a white toy because he is a Republican? Is Rubio a Hispanic toy?

We have to stop making all kinds of assessments based on skin color, regardless of its hue.

If you want to say Republicans are using him in a certain way because he is African American, fine, but labeling him a black toy is diminishing him, not them, and diminishing him based on his skin color. (One letter short of calling him the "Republicans' black boy"--and we know that would be wrong.)

[Tommy_Carcetti]

30. Republicans will use Carson for their own good, regardless of whatever he has to say.

And when the get tired of him, they'll throw him out, like an old toy.

Are Alan Keyes, Michael Steele, Allen West and Herman Cain still considered relevant in the Republican Party right now in late 2014?

I stand by the analogy.

[merrily]

33. It's a metaphor, not an analogy and you're very wrong to stand by it.

As I already stated, you put a label on him, not on them (or their behavior).

[Tommy_Carcetti]

36. My OP is all about the Republicans themselves.

And those who rally around African American Republican candidates for the sole purpose that they are black and can be used as a counterpoint to President Obama, or as a way to protect themselves against charges of racism (i.e. "some of my best friends are black....&quot

But the problem is, the quality of these candidates are so poor, that they'll grow bored of one and move onto the next. Like a kid and a toy. It's not like the Republicans have really had a black candidate that they could rally around for a period more than a few years.

[merrily]

37. Again, you put the label on him, not them. Please stop explaining to me that you mean to insult

the behavior of Republicans. I got that from the jump. It's not an esoteric point, esp on DU. That does not address anything in my post about putting a diminishing label on an African American man.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

40. So if I were to have said, "Republicans will use Ben Carson like they would a toy"...

....and kept the rest of my post as is, then somehow it would be acceptable to you? I no get.

[merrily]

44. I said something along that line all the way back in Reply 29. If you do not get that there is a

difference between labeling Republicans, labeling the behavior of Republicans and slapping a diminishing label on an African American man because of the way you think Republicans will behave toward him, I'm sorry. Those are 3 different things, only two of which are okay with me.

I can't think of a single legitimate reason for you not to get it, except that you don't want to get it. You're trying to be right about something that's wrong.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

46. I think you're splitting hairs here.

If you read my entire post, clearly the intent is how Republicans use and then discard their African American candidates.

I'm sorry you can't seem to understand that.

[merrily]

49. I told you that I understood it from the jump. You've basically ignored most of what I've said and

now your diminishing my remarks as splitting hairs. I am off the thread. Enjoy your unbearable "rightness" of being.

[yeoman6987]

79. Herman Cain had women coming out of the woodwork

Saying that he sexually harassed them. Of course the Republicans are going to stop supporting him. We did the same thing with John Edwards. It Herman Cain had t had all those alligations, he might still have a voice.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

81. And that voice would be saying, "Uz-becky-becky-stan."

And making odd Pokemon references.

[cbayer]

67. I agree with this.

There are good reasons to criticize Carson, but this OP makes me very uncomfortable.

[treestar]

76. I think what was meant here was how the Republicans see him

And the Republicans are racists. You can bet that's behind a lot of Republicanism. They are insincere in their other beliefs and when you call them out of that, they don't want to admit their real agenda. Look at immigration. If they believed in the free market for real, they'd want open immigration. Let the market determine how many people come into the US from abroad. When you bring this up, they hem and haw and hide behind terms like "legal" but don't admit that if they really believed in the free market, they should be for an immigration law that is no more than registration for whoever decides to come, without restriction. They refuse to explain this anomaly because they don't want more brown people here, period and know they can't say that. (At least most of them have that much decency.)

[TlalocW]

31. Therein lies the root of Republican racism (and sexism)

Like the original post says, whenever they get a chance, they'll trot out a Black republicans, and they actually think Black people have no higher political thought than, "Hey, he/she is Black like me. I'll vote republican! I'm too blinded by the possibility of electing someone with higher melanin levels to even wonder if his or her political goals will benefit the country, my family and friends, and me."

And they do it with women too. Part of the reason McCain foisted Palin on us was because there were a lot of Hillary-fans upset that Obama got the nomination in '08. They figured, "The little dumplins are so hyped up to vote for someone with the same sex organs, they'll abandon any qualms they have about how our policies affect them!"

TlalocW

[TlalocW]

32. And I'd just like to point out to Carson

And Bobby Jindal as well that there is no way in hell they're going to get the nomination. Republicans really want an old, white guy back in the Oval Office so you can be as conservative as you want, but it ain't going to happen. You might get the veep nomination, but that's it.

TlalocW

[treestar]

77. +1

Republicans are manipulative that way. The believe those inferior people can be easily manipulated.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

35. Again, my intent is to show how Republicans "use" black candidates, like a kid would a toy.

And like a kid and a toy, once they grow tired of said toy, they discard it.

[NCTraveler]

41. I get your point and think a lot of it is spot on.

I added some verbiage to my post above to show where I feel it went over the line. I should not have put such an inflammatory headline in without more text as I know it is not who you are. It is how I read certain sections of the op.

[B2G]

42. If I remember correctly, and I do,

Cain wasn't discarded by a party.

He was torn apart in the media by Gloria Allred.

[merrily]

50. And my recollection is that Republicans dumped him like a pariah after his affair surfaced.

Funny how perceptions differ. That they were ever gung ho for this clown for President was pathetic.

[B2G]

51. No, he withdrew

And then he aligned himself with the Tea Party, who have embraced him.

[merrily]

53. Why do you suppose he withdrew? Because he no longer wanted to be President, or

because his backers gave him what for for disgracing the Party and his support from voters evaporated?

[B2G]

54. More likely because it killed his chances for the nomination

and he knew that.

This all happened in the middle of the primaries.

[merrily]

55. Yes, when you lose backers and voter support, it does kill your chances for the nomination.

There were reasons he knew he was not going to get the nomination.

The amazing thing is that he entered the race to begin with. Did he imagine no one would find out, or did he think he could pull a Bill Clinton (Genifer Flowers).

[B2G]

56. I don't recall it ever being proven

Not to my satisfaction anyway.

I try to be open minded when it comes to accusations in politics, on all sides. The motivation for false testimony is just way too high.

[merrily]

58. The affair? The woman came forward, as did Flowers.

A clandestine extra-marital affair is hard to prove.

[B2G]

59. I know she came forward

But anyone can say anything...just like with Clinton. Accusations are easy to make, proving them is much harder.

During primary season, there's no time for proof. The accusation is all that matters.

[merrily]

61. Um, Clinton and Flowers did have an affair. She had his phone messages on her

answering machine, telling her to stonewall if anyone asked her about it because, unless she talked, no one could prove it.

And both Cain and Clinton had a pattern.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ginger-white-apologizes-to-herman-cains-wife-kids/

[B2G]

62. And how many others accused him as well?

Were those proven too?

[merrily]

63. Accused who? And what's your point? Obviously, you didn't read the story I linked

before you replied

I don't think you're looking for facts. Seems like an unspoken agenda afoot. Surface it.

[JustAnotherGen]

43. I understand what you are saying

When black democrats refer to them as tokens - we take heat for that too.

I wonder if you had used token (which is obvious - there are very few of us over there) if the response would have been on his hypocrisy and complete lack of respect for those people who made more money than his mom but paid taxes to 'subsidize his entitlements'.

By denying how a hand up to someone suffering can make a huge difference in their life -

He spits in the face of those who paid his way.

And by believing AP history course work causes one to join ISIS - he's showing us he's a brilliant surgeon but really needs to stick to biology and chemistry because he obviously did not take AP History.

It hasn't changed much since 1990. The early history of the US didn't just magically change - unless.

They are trying to rewrite the causes of the civil war? I dunno. Go figure. Beats me.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

48. When I said "not emotionally balanced", I was attempting to be kind.

Really, what I meant was that they are all seriously flawed personalities that you wouldn't want in positions of high power.

Cain seemed somewhat quirky in a fun way on the surface, but he was dogged by sexual harassment allegations, made some pretty crazy statements and just didn't come off as an intelligent person at all.

Allen West was just batshit insane. Classic NPD example. One of the most disturbing people to hold office in the past decade.

Michael Steele didn't come off as crazy, but did come off as incredibly weak willed, and as someone who was being easily pushed around by the real powers in the party for their own gain.

If DWS is fired, it's because she'd be considered the person to blame for a poor election cycle for the Democrats, nothing more and nothing less. It has nothing to do with her personality.

[Enrique]

45. here's how this kind of thinking could be racist

one looks at a black man and sees that he is black, fine. Sees a black republican and makes some observations about black Republicans. That's not racist. Where it goes toward being racist is where it insists that's all there is. It doesn't want to admit there's anything more to the story.

It dismisses the huge differences between Herman Cain and Ben Carson and insists "they're all the same".

[Tommy_Carcetti]

47. Again my post is more about how Republicans use black candidates.

Herman Cain and Ben Carson are not the same, obviously. Nor is Carson and Allen West the same. They're all individuals with their own personalities and stories.

But to Republicans eager to try and prove their party doesn't support policies that negatively affect minorities, they pretty much are the same. Hence the fact that when one falters, they build up the next in the same exact fashion.

Seriously, the lauding of Ben Carson by those on the right is no different than the lauding that was given by Allen West before he flamed out. Substitute "neurosurgeon" for "army lieutenant" and you'd think they are the same exact person.

They want "their Obama". That's all it is.

[Quayblue]

52. +1

Except, I think it's intentional. They know damn well the demographics of black folks in America, they just don't give a shit. The Ben Carson pick is for none other than themselves.

[Tom Ripley]

57. I prefer the phrase " conservative negro du jour"

[B2G]

60. I thought that term was now taboo.

See, this is what drives me crazy.

There is a different set of standards around here based on one's political leanings. I've seen the term Uncle Tom and Aunt Jemima bandied about by our side...seems to be OK as long as it's delivered against out political opponents.

That is just wrong wrong wrong. Racism is racism, regardless of who it's directed at.

This kind of post drives me insane.

[Tom Ripley]

68. I could not care less

[bravenak]

82. You are right as far as I am concerned.

I have used Uncle Ruckus in the past, but that's pop culture stuff from boondocks. I don't use terms like cracker and I hate the use of the term Uncle Tom or Aunt Jemima. I find it to be racist. If white people want to call themselves names that's fine with me, I am not in an all fired rush to get to use terms like that when discussing them.

[MrScorpio]

64. I hope that he runs...

The damage that his sheer idiocy will inflict on the Republican brand will be epic.

[Barack_America]

71. No. He's a douchebag of his very own making.

What Republicans attempt to market him as is a separate issue.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

73. Well, naturally.

My greater point is the fact that conservatives have desperately attempted to make him---and the many failed black conservatives before him--into "their Obama". Strictly based on the color of his skin and without respect to his outlandish statements that have no connection with reality.

[treestar]

75. Republicans do not intend to let a black man become President

Regardless of whether or not he agrees with them. They use him as a token and might let him into other offices, but there is no way their base will vote for a black President, no matter how Republican he sounds. They'd have to admit a black man was qualified for office, and that goes against their basic thinking.