Frist Rejoins All-White Country Club

[babylonsister]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/08/10/frist_rejoins_all-white_country_club.html

Frist Rejoins All-White Country Club


According to the Nashville City Paper, former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) "has unofficially declared that he should no longer be a considered a candidate for office either statewide or nationally. There were no press releases, no speeches, no e-mails, just a simple note on a bulletin board."

"The note isn't important, what's important is where the bulletin board is."

"Frist has applied to rejoin the Belle Meade Country Club... Frist joined the club in the 1980s but resigned his membership in 1993 when he first ran for the U.S. Senate. At the time the club was all-white, all-male, with no Jews and no African-Americans as members -- not something that a statewide candidate needed on his resume at the time."

[izquierdista]

1. His task is complete

His sole purpose for venturing into politics was to solidify the status quo in the health ripoff industry, at which he did admirably. At least a generation of profits will accrue to his friends, family and business associates before any meaningful dent will be made in them.

[babylonsister]

2. Yep, another mission accomplished.

Makes me feel all upchucky. :(

[Stevenmarc]

3. Hey it's a great golf course although I hear it's a bitch clearing the burning cross on the 9th

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. *snarf*

[SoCalDem]

4. Gee, another republican who's got his priorities straight.

Rake in wads of money from health non-care, a government pension and now his life's complete..back with his racist friends for languid days of golf & schmoozing at the 19th hole..

[UTUSN]

5. Home is where the heart is. n/t

[City Lights]

6. How fitting. nt

[imdjh]

7. I hate to be a killjoy, but Belle Meade has no rule against black members.

http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/bill-frist-will-never-be-president-united-states

[Stevenmarc]

9. Yippeee they've embraced tokenism.

[imdjh]

10. So why should they or anyone else care what someone like you thinks?

If they have a rule against blacks then you call them racist, and if they have a black member then you call them tokenist. So how many black members do they need to have to make you happy? They have a couple of Jewish members according to the article, so make sure you have a proper quota for them too. How about a Jewish country club that has no blacks- we need a new word for that I suppose.

[Stevenmarc]

11. Why should I care if you can't accept reality

One black member and a couple of Jews is pretty much the definition of tokenism.

However if the concept eludes you them let's look at the definition.

Tokenism
1. The practice or policy of making no more than a token effort or gesture, as in offering opportunities to minorities equal to those of the majority.

2. The practice of hiring or appointing a token number of people from underrepresented groups in order to deflect criticism or comply with affirmative action rules: "Tokenism does not change stereotypes of social systems but works to preserve them, since it dulls the revolutionary impulse" (Mary Daly).

And apparently yours is fairly dull.

[imdjh]

12. As long as they aren't tax-free, their membership policy is none of our business.

It's an exclusive club, not a community center or public accommodation.

[Stevenmarc]

14. Unfortunately

you are way to busy trying to prove a point that has nothing to do with the OP. No one is attempting to challenge the membership rules of the Belle Meade Country Club, the topic really is the hypocrisy of Bill Frist but then being a killjoy certainly takes a precedence over paying attention.

[imdjh]

15. Really? That was the point?

[LanternWaste]

19. Odd...

Odd... the clubhouse removed the 'no blacks allowed' rule only in '94-- coinciding quite closely with Frist's original departure. Nice post-hoc save on that one by the club.

[peekaloo]

8. well that's just his cross to

burn.


now he can return to the simple life of video diagnosing

[Quantess]

16. Is this country club *officially* for white males only?

Or is it just incidental that all the members happen to be white males? That would make a big difference.

[bluestateguy]

17. People always fall back on the argument that it is a private club and this is their right

As if that is supposed to shut down any criticisms.

Well so be it, and we have the same 1st Amendment right to criticize such organizations and denounce people who find it desirable to belong to such groups.

The KKK has the right to exist too, but we certainly have the right to criticize them.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Ah I been missin ole cat killer Frist

Glad to hear he is enjoying his years away from public service.

BTW, hope there aren't any cats missing in his neighborhood. :scared:

[LiberalAndProud]

20. Richard Sinkfield is an interesting guy>

What can he be thinking?

http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/bill-frist-will-never-be-president-united-states

The only black man in Belle Meade

On August 20, 1994, after Frist quit, Atlanta attorney and Vanderbilt Law School graduate Richard Sinkfield became the first African-American to join the club since it was founded in 1901.


Reached by The City Paper in Atlanta, Sinkfield seemed unaware that he was still the only African-American member or the controversy that still comes to politicians that are members of the club.

“I haven’t followed the politics. As a non-resident member I am not a voting member and I don’t have knowledge of applicants,” Sinkfield said.

When asked if he had ever lobbied for other African-Americans to become members, Sinkfield replied, “It is not something I have been personally active in one way or the other.”

As to the circumstances surrounding his membership he said, “I favor diversity and at the time I would contribute diversity and further diversity for the club.”

Sinkfield continued by stating, “To my knowledge, the club is not biased on race. I hope they continue to consider applicants on a non-racial, non-sexual, and non-ethnic basis. I have no indication that there is any bias.”