What if Rick Perry were a black man?

[Empowerer]

Can you imagine the reaction Perry would get in the media and in Republican circles if he were an African-American man?

Just think about the reception a swaggering, sneering, overly-confident, trash-talking, short-tempered, truth-stretching black governor with limited powers and mediocre performance would be getting right now . . .

I tend to think it would be somewhat different than that being accorded Rick Perry.

[gateley]

1. Totally agree. nt

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Two words:

white privilege

[Empowerer]

4. Exactly . . .

One feature of white privilege is that just about any white man, regardless how limited, ignorant, undistinguished or unremarkable, is presumed to be entitled to reach for any political goal he wants without question. Just look at the fields of white men who have been taken seriously as presidential candidates over the years - and particularly this year. But a black man has to be Barack Obama - brilliant, accomplished, supremely educated, extraordinarily eloquent (while being praised for being "articulate," highest possible personal morality, and damned near perfect in every other way - to just be treated as worthy of being in the room.

[woolldog]

13. Sounds like a Herman Cain

with more experience.

[tularetom]

3. His hair would look even sillier than it does now

[sadbear]

5. They would probably put him in charge of the RNC.

[Empowerer]

6. No they wouldn't

Not a chance...

[sadbear]

7. Hint: They already have.

[Empowerer]

9. No they haven't

Michael Steele isn't anything close to Perry in attitude or demeanor.

[sadbear]

10. That's debatable.

[underpants]

8. With a 2.22 GPA in animal science he would have been asking about fries

[handmade34]

11. that would be Allen West?? n/t

[Richardo]

12. We'd never have heard of him.

He sure as shit wouldn't be Governor of Texas, I can tell you that.