Newt Gingrich: 'Normal white Americans ... don't understand being black in America'
Source: CNN
Washington (CNN) — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Friday that "normal white Americans" don't understand "being black in America."
"It took me a long time, and a number of people talking to me through the years, to get a sense of this: If you are a normal white American, the truth is you don't understand being black in America and you instinctively under-estimate the level of discrimination and the level of additional risk," he said Friday on CNN Political Commentator Van Jones' Facebook Live stream.
Jones and Gingrich discussed this past week's shootings in Dallas, Texas; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Five Dallas police officers were shot and killed Thursday night as hundreds protested the back-to-back police shooting deaths of two African-American men earlier in the week.
Gingrich, who is among those being considered as Donald Trump's runningmate, said white parents do not have to teach their children how to interact with police the way black parents do.
"It is more dangerous to be black in America," he said. "It is more dangerous in that they are substantially more likely to end up in a situation where the police don't respect you and you could easily get killed. And sometimes for whites it difficult to appreciate how real that is and how it's an everyday danger."
Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/08/politics/newt-gingrich-white-americans/index.html
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PatSeg
(47,501 posts)who thought poor kids should work as janitors in their schools?
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)so many liberals/progressives on these pages.
That said, I don't believe he believes a word of what he said.
PatSeg
(47,501 posts)But I don't believe he believes it either. He isn't known for his sincerity or compassion.
MFM008
(19,816 posts)because he knows hes on the ticket.
Just like the Dumpster fires comment today, so reasonable
so sane.
you know someone else wrote them.
PatSeg
(47,501 posts)and has some self control, so he can maintain the appearance of compassion, but Trump only displays reason in small spurts. Put him on stage in front of his base and the old Trump cannot be repressed. Yes, someone definitely wrote Trump's, he doesn't even use some of those words.
Red Mountain
(1,735 posts)HEY.....LOOK.........I can make friends with the blacks!
PatSeg
(47,501 posts)Now he can start showing depth and understanding for Hispanics and women!
Scruffy1
(3,256 posts)
geardaddy
(24,931 posts)Except I think he does believe what he says. Catch the reference to "normal white Americans?" as if being a PoC is not normal.
7962
(11,841 posts)If it meant what you think, he would simply say "normal americans".
He's pointing out that "normal white americans" are those who have never had anyone close enough to them to explain why things are different for black people & they're not engaged enough in seeing the world as a whole. Too many people, of any color, never watch or read any news, dont vote, dont PAY ATTENTION.
Maybe a better choice of words would be "average white american", but I know what he means because I know a lot of the people he's talking about. Most are older folks who still think that if you dont do anything wrong, you'll never get pulled over. Which is what I used to think when I was much younger.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)we are supposed to not point out the bigoted statement because ... well ... he tried.
geardaddy
(24,931 posts)I'm not gonna hold my breath though.
MFM008
(19,816 posts)as the polls allow.
Spot on.
liberalmike27
(2,479 posts)While I applaud the speaker, for trying, I've got to think there is a better word to use than "Normal." "Racist" maybe, or "Un-evolved white Americans," just something besides "normal." If you're not aware in this day and time of the phrase "white privilege," and what it means, that you don't have to awaken each day and worry about what trouble being born with dark skin might get you into with white racists, then you haven't been paying attention. Perhaps "Clueless white Americans?"
OrwellwasRight
(5,170 posts)In that 'non-normal' white Americans may understand, but 'normal' white Americans, of the type Gingrich is used to dealing with, definitely don't understand.
leftofcool
(19,460 posts)
rpannier
(24,329 posts)It at least puts it out there for public consumption and adds a voice from the conservatives that there is a problem
Whether he believes it or not, it's out there and may force some people to at least think twice about their opinions regarding race and law enforcement
I'm skeptical, but hopeful
Sometimes in life, you take what you can get from some people
We'll see if he sticks to this or 'clarifies' what he meant in the next few days
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)The fact that Newt has something of a clue on anything is quite shocking.
skepticscott
(13,029 posts)nicely prepackaged talking points today. Newty is stumping big time for VP.
Rose Siding
(32,623 posts)-to hear him acknowledge discrimination and the difference in the levels of safety between races is very different than what Trump is on record as saying.
Has he changed his tune? It's progress, I guess, but his racism, and his courting of racists, is well documented.
Scruffy1
(3,256 posts)What possessed Gingrich to go full kumbaya and actually speak simple truths about racial relations in the USA? WTH
B2G
(9,766 posts)PatSeg
(47,501 posts)I hate being so cynical, but it IS Newt Gingrich.
Response to B2G (Original post)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
elleng
(130,973 posts)A for effort, imo.
B2G
(9,766 posts)Response to elleng (Reply #10)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
B2G
(9,766 posts)Response to B2G (Reply #18)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
B2G
(9,766 posts)As pointed out down thread, it's vital that the right start speaking out and acknowledging the very issue Gingrich did today. Until that happens, we're just going to remain on 2 sides of a vast divide and things will only get worse.
To nit pick an otherwise excellent statement says more about your motivation than it does his.
Good day.
Response to B2G (Reply #24)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
uhnope
(6,419 posts)"normal white Americans" is a clumsy way to say "average white Americans".
I'm not applauding him at all, but it's interesting to speculate why he's saying it.
Response to uhnope (Reply #34)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
uhnope
(6,419 posts)that when someone said "up" it was a code word for "down" if you listen very closely...
Response to uhnope (Reply #45)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
LuckyLib
(6,819 posts)He makes some good points. I can't believe I'm saying that about Gingrich.
geardaddy
(24,931 posts)Response to geardaddy (Reply #33)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
7962
(11,841 posts)Response to 7962 (Reply #55)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)given the context here, I don't think it was meant in a racist way.
I'm more mystified than anything about this--who fed Gingrich these lines?
Response to geek tragedy (Reply #74)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)sane policy talking points for them.
Response to geek tragedy (Reply #84)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
Response to rjsquirrel (Reply #15)
JTFrog This message was self-deleted by its author.
treestar
(82,383 posts)exactly. So the black people aren't normal Americans per Newtie.
ZombieHorde
(29,047 posts)but I'm glad he's talking about this.
Sand Rat Expat
(290 posts)The Lovecraft image in your signature is the best thing ever. My wife and I both laughed ourselves stupid over it.
ZombieHorde
(29,047 posts)I don't think too many people know what it is.
Sand Rat Expat
(290 posts)Lovecraft's work is still pretty obscure, sadly enough. I remember when I first read "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" and I was just floored. I hunted down everything of his I could get my hands on after that. Not all of it is as good as Shadow, but it's miles better than a lot of horror fiction.
I'm anxiously awaiting the new Call of Cthulhu video game in development. I've felt for years that gaming would benefit from a real Lovecraftian horror experience. If you game at all and you haven't played it yet, give Amnesia: The Dark Descent a try. It's very much like playing one of his stories.
ailsagirl
(22,897 posts)Gives me a dreaded feeling of deja vu
underpants
(182,829 posts)
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)on edit: However, I give him props for this one. Maybe some of his fans will hear him.
B2G
(9,766 posts)jberryhill
(62,444 posts)It is bad of me to put in a dig, because it is a surprising statement for him to make.
And it is true that, even abnormal white Americans like me cannot truly appreciate what it means to deal with this.
maxsolomon
(33,345 posts)to change anything, because the minds of "normal white americans" (AKA GOP voters) are closed to anything a liberal says.
No matter what you think of him, I'm glad he's saying this.
At least some people will listen.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)glowing
(12,233 posts)Sitting beside him... BTW, I think interaction with Van Jones on their Cross talk show actually did help him out a bit. I find that listening to Van Jones is rather inspirational and enlightening. And I can think that Newt did appreciate Van talking to him rather than just calling him names.
63splitwindow
(2,657 posts)For those who didn't get the inherent bigotry of his statement.
B2G
(9,766 posts)It's obvious he was talking about a typical white person, not saying that blacks aren't 'normal'.
63splitwindow
(2,657 posts)He said "NORMAL"--- as if being white makes one a "NORMAL" American and all others- native Americans, Hispanics and Blacks included, are something other than "NORMAL" Americans. The bigotry is so ingrained as to be automatic and the phrase sounded "NORMAL" to his ear.
Response to 63splitwindow (Reply #25)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
geardaddy
(24,931 posts)That just screams bigotry.
LiberalLovinLug
(14,174 posts)Or is this the easy PC police response.
Many on the right will struggle to dot all the i's and cross all the t's of PC speak. Its hard to give them a break on this, but I think we must, especially at this time, to forgive their semantic mistakes, when they clearly are actually attempting to build bridges, no matter how long overdue or tepid.
63splitwindow
(2,657 posts)" The bigotry is so ingrained as to be automatic and the phrase sounded "NORMAL" to his ear. "
LiberalLovinLug
(14,174 posts)That is what I also concur.
You didn't answer my question. Based on your response I'll take your answer as "No but..."
Its easy to find excuses to dismiss any and all overtures based on your own interpretation of his ignorance of one word of what he said. Just like a grammar police person can dismiss a post's intent based on one word spelled wrong. But that misses the importance of this gesture.
And no its not even about if Newt even actually thinks much about this and is only saying these things to pave a way to a VP offer, as the "moderate" Republican. Its more about the Republican base hearing this from one of their respected leaders. Making them pause, even for a second, which they would never do if a Democrat said the same thing. That for them, he is speaking in their language, ignorantly insensitive though it is.
Baby steps.
63splitwindow
(2,657 posts)His comment was inherently bigoted. It flowed NATURALLY from his mouth. It was not his intent to say something bigoted in this instance, in my personal opinion. He does not recognize his own bigotry because it is so deeply ingrained. That is one reason bigotry is so hard to eradicate. But it is good to keep trying--- after all, "We hold these truths to be self evident..."
LiberalLovinLug
(14,174 posts)Sorry if I misunderstood.
My point was that we cannot wait for those on the right with, as you put it, "bigotry (....) so deeply ingrained" to be perfect specimens of the human race before we at least recognize moments like this for what they are. As you said also, that you believed his intent was NOT to be bigoted. So the only way forward is to, perhaps gently point out his unintentional but institutionalized racist language, but that that must not highjack the moment.
I assumed you were also stalled once you read his unfortunate wording. Getting caught up in the word he used rather than the intent, which I feel is much more important, at least for now. And that it isn't even important if he himself believes what he says, it is more important for other Republican voters to hear that. They will also take it that he was actually trying to be somewhat empathetic and compassionate in that statement And that the last thing we need is for a PC policeperson to snap at them and create an issue where none existed...at least in their minds.
This could also be a response to the others that replied to my post below this.
Response to LiberalLovinLug (Reply #36)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
wryter2000
(46,051 posts)But it was racist as all get-out, nevertheless.
uhnope
(6,419 posts)B2G
(9,766 posts)It's much more fun to hate the 'enemy' and shut your mind down to any possibility that there might be a tiny bit of common ground.
No wonder this country is in the mess it's in.
I've noticed for years that a lot of conservatives caricature progressives as childish, naive, silly, essentially well-meaning but just not cognizant of how the world really works. The more virulent among them might call progressives stupid or idiotic, things along those lines. The really off-the-deep-end ones use the old Marxist pinko commie etc. etc. canards. The more hateful conservatives will outright celebrate when a progressive icon dies.
Among progressives, conservatives are all of those things, and evil in the bargain. On this very board, I read (with dismay) a tirade against conservatives advocating that conservatism be designated a mental illness, and conservatives should be stripped of rights, barred from holding office, locked up, and essentially "reprogrammed" until the "disease" is cured, and not a single person spoke up against it. I've read threads here celebrating the deaths of conservative icons, and it makes me just as heartsick and disgusted as it does when I see conservatives do it.
Until that kind of thinking and behavior stops, there will be no common ground. Until conservatives and progressives can consider the idea that just maybe both groups need to stop viewing each other as "the enemy" and view each other as "fellow Americans with whom I disagree," there will be no common ground, and that's one of the main reasons this country is in the mess it's in, you're absolutely right.
And as a low-count poster, I know the alerts and hides are coming, and maybe even a banhammer. So be it.
63splitwindow
(2,657 posts)Response to uhnope (Reply #37)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
uhnope
(6,419 posts)now we even have secret codes and you, of course, have the decoder ring.
Response to uhnope (Reply #48)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
uhnope
(6,419 posts)in a rare (for him) statement of simple basic truth about racial relations in the USA, and in a message that is full of surprisingly honest assessments about racial discrimination and inequality in the USA, that Gingrich is simultaneously and intentionally slipping in coded language with an opposite message?
And do you really think that is more likely than the possibility that people who speak in public might sometimes slightly flub their choice of words?
And if you do actually believe that he's speaking in opposite-message code...why do you think Gingrich is doing that?
And can you see how this belief could look ridiculous to some observers?
Response to uhnope (Reply #58)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
uhnope
(6,419 posts)now address the other points, please. Here, I'll rephrase them for you:
You believe that, in a message that is full of surprisingly honest assessments about racial discrimination and inequality in the USA, and even a call for greater racial understanding and tolerance, Gingrich is simultaneously and intentionally slipping in coded language with an opposite message.
You also believe that that is more likely than the possibility that people who speak in public might sometimes slightly flub their choice of words.
Now, please tell us why he would bother to intentionally speak in opposite-message code, in your theory?
And again, can you see how this belief could look ridiculous to some observers?
Response to uhnope (Reply #70)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
uhnope
(6,419 posts)btw I despise all members of the Bush admin, bar none, and include Gingrich in that
wryter2000
(46,051 posts)The word jumps out as racist.
Still the rest of his comment is surprisingly right on.
jonno99
(2,620 posts)
ram2008
(1,238 posts)Which conservatives called "racist" for absolutely no reason but to poutrage. We need to stop being afraid of words in this country and stop being outraged about every little thing. Newt deserves credit for being rational for once, although his motivations may be sinister what he is saying here is true.
Hayduke Bomgarte
(1,965 posts)What in the hell would Gingrich know about normal Americans, of ANY persuasion?
anigbrowl
(13,889 posts)From what I know of Gingrich he's actually quite intelligent and perceptive, but he's also terribly egoistical, so if he is heavily criticized for saying this by conservatives he will probably go silent again because he hates being unpopular.
As someone else said conservatives won't listen to a liberal about this, so I'm glad to see a conservative stepping up to the plate to make the argument...although we shouldn't be here to begin with. Oh well.
bluestateguy
(44,173 posts)But I have not forgotten his "food stamp" crack about Obama in 2011, which was racially coded.
bucolic_frolic
(43,181 posts)crawl back in your hole
JHB
(37,160 posts)Hint: 1994
This is a surprising comment. I don't know what inspired him to say this, but it's good to hear on a day such as today, in spite of the cringeworthy use of the term 'normal white American.'
63splitwindow
(2,657 posts)He also said
"It is more dangerous to be black in America," he said. "It is more dangerous in that they are substantially more likely to end up in a situation where the police don't respect you and you could easily get killed. And sometimes for whites it difficult to appreciate how real that is and how it's an everyday danger."
http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/08/politics/newt-gingrich-white-americans/index.html
So what would be some steps towards helping resolve the situation, Newt? Would actually having shown appropriate respect to a black President for the past 8 years have helped, Newt?
Chemisse
(30,813 posts)That has really fueled racist passions over the past 8 years.
63splitwindow
(2,657 posts)
choie
(4,111 posts)Wounded Bear
(58,666 posts)but maybe I'll get a chance to vote against him this fall. 
longship
(40,416 posts)
wryter2000
(46,051 posts)Can't be seen as sympathetic to those people.
puffy socks
(1,473 posts)Are there abnormal white Americans that understand what it's like to be black in America?
Does anyone believe Newt has genuine concern for AAs?
the man who said this...
“My argument is the policies that have driven us apart, the policies that have trapped African-Americans in all too large numbers in poverty and in hopelessness [are] the ideological policies that say, ‘Black lives matter.’
“Well, baloney! All American lives matter, of all backgrounds,” he continued. “And we ought to challenge the Hillary Clintons and the Bernie Sanderses to say that American lives matter. All American lives.”
clearly does not understand, nor do I think he cares. He is the epitome of the term psychopath.
Motley13
(3,867 posts)Remember him on the impeach Clinton bandwagon & he is doing worse things.
He is a Catholic, say what??? 3 wives & screwed around on the 1st 2 & probably the 3rd. The big question, who on earth would want anything to do with him?
Hard to say which one is more disgusting, Newtie or flimflam don, what a twosome
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,005 posts)
zz-la
(224 posts)This man is part of the long history of demeaning comments and supporting discriminatory policies that have disproportionately affected POC, but now he says that he has come around on the issue. Not buying it.
BlueCollar
(3,859 posts)I'm pretty sure I understand what it means to be black in America.
Perhaps you can enlighten me...
mdbl
(4,973 posts)do we really need to talk about anything he says? It's like discussing Sarah Palin.
you know things are bad for the GOP when Newt Gingrich is pretending he gives a damn about black Americans
moonscape
(4,673 posts)and take in the surreal of Gingrich's acknowledgement that it is more dangerous to be Black in the US.
But I've become so jaded that I see this as Gingrich and Trump dividing up the electorate: Trump pulls in the racists, Gingrich goes for everyone else ...
OldHippieChick
(2,434 posts)to use "average" instead of "normal". I am skeptical and cynical, but he is speaking truth in a fashion and it will probably disqualify him from being Trump's VP pick.
The empressof all
(29,098 posts)Altering his thinking----in his case for the better....When folks get closer to death they begin to repent...remember Lee Atwater.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)But as a middle aged southern white male, it is an abnormal person in my demographic who even takes the time to consider what life is like as a person of color in America.
So I can't disagree with him there. And am glad to hear him say it. He is still about the biggest dick out there, but on this one statement I will refrain from criticism.
cagefreesoylentgreen
(838 posts)"The man had been born with a sense for raw opportunity where his soul should have been." -- James S.A. Corey
etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)
brewens
(13,594 posts)
no_hypocrisy
(46,122 posts)
YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)Night Watchman
(743 posts)The controversial words from Gingrich come between 11:26-11:45. But if you watch the whole thing (as I have), you see, in context, that Gingrich is talking about average white Americans, i.e., people who aren't active in the ongoing civil rights movement, who aren't Morris Dees, or Mark Potok, or Bill Maher, or Colbert, or Jon Stewart, or Anderson Cooper, or Bruce Springsteen.
I despise Newt Gingrich: Back in 1994, he pioneered the "Us Good," "You Evil" brand of politics that paralyzes our country to this day, mostly employed by his Republican Party. But, as much as it pains me to do so, I gotta give him a pass on this one.
Vinca
(50,278 posts)Astonishingly good points that are totally ignored by his party.
bucolic_frolic
(43,181 posts)
NickB79
(19,253 posts)While the rest of DU is wringing their hands over hidden racism in his use of the word "normal"
and I don't entirely disagree with that argument), I went on to watch the video and hear more of his statements. For example:
I was under this mindset in my youth, coming from a small rural town that was almost entirely white. I had no idea what it was like to not be white. The only non-white friend I had until 18 was a Hispanic girl who's family only made it one year in our town before leaving. Only when I went to college, made friends with non-white kids, and ended up marrying a non-white woman did I come to realize how fucked up things were. She's still in awe of how I can get out of a minor traffic violation stop with a smile and a polite voice with the officer; her mom is routinely stopped and her car illegally searched by a K9 unit for the same offenses!
The fact that Newt Fucking Gingrich of all people said this is amazing. It's something we at DU have called on the GOP to do for years now. And when one of their most prominent says it, we STILL find a way to bitch about it. I understand, we're jaded after years of hypocrisy and back-stabbing by what the GOP says and what they do. But damn it, it's a step in the right direction, and I'm glad Newt actually said it. Even if no one here on DU takes him seriously, maybe some of his supporters on the right will. I can think of several moderate-right coworkers and family members that would sit up and take notice.
ananda
(28,866 posts)nt
Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)Newticles does not understand what being a faithful husband is, either. He thinks he is still "hot" to women, when the truth is, he never was. Bloated, know it all knows nothing blowhard. Much like tRump. Repulsive, actually.