The silent ovation for Condoleeza Rice...
George Bush has nominated the first black woman to the position of Secretary of State. She is succeeding a black male named Colin Powell; generally an appointment like this would bring a great deal of air time in the media, but as we see there is little fanfare about this appointment. To me, this is an indication of many things, but here is what comes to my mind.
1. People aren't comfortable with the GOP being innovative and progressive when it comes to race.
2. Despite what many people think, black people are not a monolithic body that considers the success of one to be, "one for the team."
3. People aren't ready to praise a President for installing a cabinet that "looks" like America, unless he's a Democrat.
I noticed this long ago, but some of the most outspoken right-wing media voices have complained about it. As a matter of fact, Andrew is discouraged that no credit has been given to our President. That is very good for him to point that out, but I find it strange that he is so interested in these issues. "Credit for appointing a black person to this position?" I thought that the Republican Party was full of people who are staunch advocates of "The best person for the job." Is it not them who coined the term *"reverse-discrimination"? So "desirous" is the right to have their just due when it comes to recognition for being an "inclusive party" that Rush Limbaugh weighed in on this issue and wondered why nobody said anything praising Bush for appointing Condoleez Rice.
I don't dislike Rush Limbaugh personally, but there are many things that he says that sort of irk me. There are issues that he decides to champion that I don't like.
Besides the issues, I also don't like how Limbaugh flips back and forth on two sides of issues. I certainly didn't think he should have been fired for his remarks about Donovan McNabb being praised for his quarterback skills because people are "desirous that a black quarterback do well". He was hired to be a color commentator, and to me that means you say the things that some people may think, but may not want to say. Hell, even say some things that most people would think are outrageous, but everyone loves to argue anyway. But, getting back to my point. He touts McNabbs prestige in the NFL because of him being black, not his ability. But yet, he is put out because there is not a media frenzy about Rice succeeding Powell as secretary of State, and her being the first "black woman" secretary of State. He is also miffed that there is not a lot of buzz about Alberto Gonzales being named Attorney General. Hmmm.....Are we here to applaud Bush for the caliber, or the color of his appointees? Granted, had this been an appointee from a Democratic President there would have been more buzz, but much to Limbaugh's surprise not all black people think alike, and not all Hispanic people think alike. I really don't like Ward Connerly or Louis Farrakhan, I am as different from them, as they are from each other. I also personally don't think that another black person's success is "one for the team"? Know what I mean? So, Condoleeza Rice has been appointed as Secretary of State....I am willing to bet that my well-being will remain the same no matter what race, gender, or age of the person that fills that position. The Republican Party has long taken hits for being a bunch of "educated racists", I don't believe that they are any more than any other party, but I do think that there has been a level of indifference regarding race, sometimes to the point of being a "calculated indifference". So, why would Rush, a staunch conservative and media darling of the Republican Party, want to acknowledge a first that has been accomplished regarding race?
I have to say that I don't think that George Bush had public praise on his mind when he appointed Condoleeza Rice. I think that he trusts her judgment, and he deems her to be a competent and qualified individual. I have heard that many people say she is not ready for this position because her experience as Provost at Stanford and Director at NSA won't compare to the level of responsibility and far-reaching demands of Secretary of State. I disagree, I think she will do very well, as a matter of fact, I think she will accomplish most everything that she sets her mind to. But, I seriously doubt I will agree with a lot of her endeavors. I think this is a milestone, much as when Madeline Albright had the position, but accolades notwithstanding, she is the right one for a Bush Cabinet.....accolades or not.
* (Reverse Discrimination--As if there were such a thing, not to say that whites cannot be victims of discrimination, but if they are,it is just that.....discrimination. The reverse of "discrimination" would be "equality"...right? That is unless you think that minorities being discriminated against isshould be the acceptable norm.)
George Bush has nominated the first black woman to the position of Secretary of State. She is succeeding a black male named Colin Powell; generally an appointment like this would bring a great deal of air time in the media, but as we see there is little fanfare about this appointment. To me, this is an indication of many things, but here is what comes to my mind.
1. People aren't comfortable with the GOP being innovative and progressive when it comes to race.
2. Despite what many people think, black people are not a monolithic body that considers the success of one to be, "one for the team."
3. People aren't ready to praise a President for installing a cabinet that "looks" like America, unless he's a Democrat.
I noticed this long ago, but some of the most outspoken right-wing media voices have complained about it. As a matter of fact, Andrew is discouraged that no credit has been given to our President. That is very good for him to point that out, but I find it strange that he is so interested in these issues. "Credit for appointing a black person to this position?" I thought that the Republican Party was full of people who are staunch advocates of "The best person for the job." Is it not them who coined the term *"reverse-discrimination"? So "desirous" is the right to have their just due when it comes to recognition for being an "inclusive party" that Rush Limbaugh weighed in on this issue and wondered why nobody said anything praising Bush for appointing Condoleez Rice.
I don't dislike Rush Limbaugh personally, but there are many things that he says that sort of irk me. There are issues that he decides to champion that I don't like.
Besides the issues, I also don't like how Limbaugh flips back and forth on two sides of issues. I certainly didn't think he should have been fired for his remarks about Donovan McNabb being praised for his quarterback skills because people are "desirous that a black quarterback do well". He was hired to be a color commentator, and to me that means you say the things that some people may think, but may not want to say. Hell, even say some things that most people would think are outrageous, but everyone loves to argue anyway. But, getting back to my point. He touts McNabbs prestige in the NFL because of him being black, not his ability. But yet, he is put out because there is not a media frenzy about Rice succeeding Powell as secretary of State, and her being the first "black woman" secretary of State. He is also miffed that there is not a lot of buzz about Alberto Gonzales being named Attorney General. Hmmm.....Are we here to applaud Bush for the caliber, or the color of his appointees? Granted, had this been an appointee from a Democratic President there would have been more buzz, but much to Limbaugh's surprise not all black people think alike, and not all Hispanic people think alike. I really don't like Ward Connerly or Louis Farrakhan, I am as different from them, as they are from each other. I also personally don't think that another black person's success is "one for the team"? Know what I mean? So, Condoleeza Rice has been appointed as Secretary of State....I am willing to bet that my well-being will remain the same no matter what race, gender, or age of the person that fills that position. The Republican Party has long taken hits for being a bunch of "educated racists", I don't believe that they are any more than any other party, but I do think that there has been a level of indifference regarding race, sometimes to the point of being a "calculated indifference". So, why would Rush, a staunch conservative and media darling of the Republican Party, want to acknowledge a first that has been accomplished regarding race?
I have to say that I don't think that George Bush had public praise on his mind when he appointed Condoleeza Rice. I think that he trusts her judgment, and he deems her to be a competent and qualified individual. I have heard that many people say she is not ready for this position because her experience as Provost at Stanford and Director at NSA won't compare to the level of responsibility and far-reaching demands of Secretary of State. I disagree, I think she will do very well, as a matter of fact, I think she will accomplish most everything that she sets her mind to. But, I seriously doubt I will agree with a lot of her endeavors. I think this is a milestone, much as when Madeline Albright had the position, but accolades notwithstanding, she is the right one for a Bush Cabinet.....accolades or not.
* (Reverse Discrimination--As if there were such a thing, not to say that whites cannot be victims of discrimination, but if they are,it is just that.....discrimination. The reverse of "discrimination" would be "equality"...right? That is unless you think that minorities being discriminated against is
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