Where's the Outrage?

This is still bothering me.

He [Dean] surveys the crowd of 150 crammed into the room [at the African American Caucus]. "You think the RNC could get this many people of color into a single room?" he marvels. "Maybe if they got the hotel staff in there."

(Emphasis mine.)

Granted, the vast majority of Americans who are black are Democrats and did voted for John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election, in spite of the conservative views that many black Americans have, such as those on abortion and same-sex marriage. Chairman Dean could have just left it at plain fact; that the Republicans can’t muster the sheer numbers of black Americans to their gatherings that Democrats can.

What was up with the ‘hotel staff’ comment, however?

Does he mean that Republicans would only invite the black hotel workers into their midst, rather that the hundreds of thousands of black physicians, lawyers, PhDs, engineers, executives, journalists, etc.?

Or does he mean that most blacks *are* hotel workers or equivalent--and honorably-employed--blue-collar types, rather than (formally) well-educated sorts?

Or does he mean that Republicans would only invite those blacks who were handy at the sort of place in which political gatherings are held (in this case, the Hilton Washington) and would “forget” to invite those who are *deemed* to be “smarter”? Does he think hotel workers aren’t intelligent and are “dumb’ enough to be “lured” into a Republican gathering merely because of simple proximity? (Believe me, many of the most intelligent people out there are among the ranks of blue-collar workers.)

Well, excuse me, but I can’t help but Forget the Rule, perhaps because I don’t subscribe to it in the first place. Why is newly-minted Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean being let off the hook for this extremely suspect statement?

Does the name Trent Lott ring a bell? Bloggers ran him away from the Senate Majority Leader position (so I’m told; this was a bit before I started following blogs). At least Senator Lott apologized.

Can we at least ask for a clarification from the good governor? After all, he is the face and voice of the Democrat party, not some poor previous-unknown guy from a fledgling news service.

Comments

[George]

In lieu of outrage, EBrown over at Vision Circle mentions Shannon Reeves' take on the dynamic from a couple of years ago.

[baldilocks]

Sounds like a good way to go, George. Perhaps one of the Democrats should send such a letter. Since I'm not a Democrat, I don't think that the DNC would listen to me.

[Steve]

Just another example of how the Democrats can get away with saying pretty much anything they want.

[StinKerr]

Maybe Dr. Dean should meet my ophthalmologist. I don't think he carries a tray...unless he wants to.

Yeah, Senator Kleagle Byrd got a pass a while ago too. Well, it must be that his office issued an apology that made it all better. Unless it was that D after his name.

Then there was the Senator who got up on the floor of the Senate and lauded Senator Byrd much like Senator Lott did for Strom Thurmond. I think it was Harry Reid. Naw, it couldn't have been, he's the minority leader now...

Funny how these things work, innit?

[baldilocks]

By the way, George, I see I forgot to say thank you for pointing me to both the article and Darkstar's commentary. You got me pre-caffienated. :hangs head in shame:

Thanks.

[DarkStar]

Charlie Rangel kinda sorta said Dean was out of line. It was too wishy washy for me.

But my point in showing Shannon Reeves was to point out that he said Republicans treated him as hired help at a GOP convention.

Oh, I'm not a Democrat. I'm not a Republican. In my state, I'm non-aligned.

[Glenmore]

I believe all Dean meant was that the Republicans attract so few blacks through normal political channels that they would have to 'draft' the hotel staff to match the number of blacks who were present in the Democrat function he was attending. I don't think he meant to disrespect anyone except Republicans (& perhaps especially black Republicans). I don't think he's anything worse than 'tone-deaf' - though in his current position that may not be insignificant. (Of course I felt pretty much the same about Lott, so what do I know?)

[Bostonian]

Glenmore, I think you're right--he meant well. Sort of. But talk about tone-deaf! His statement was dripping in assumptions that would raise the hackles of many or most people.

Mostly I am struck by his easy assumption that if you brought the hotel staff in, that would make the mix of people more black. Where is this caricature true?

[George]

Never a problem, Juliette. Presence beats caffeine every time.

Reeves' point about others' disbelief that he belonged in the Republican Party is what sticks with me. I am doubtful such a letter will be written; then again, I don't expect Democratic blacks were honestly offended by Dean's humor.

In an ideal world, there'd be enough black Republicans around, as well as present and engaged, that Dean's gibe about Potemkin presences of people of color wouldn't have such a truthful ring or split my sides with laughter.

[baldilocks]

Gentlemen (and any ladies that may be reading): see my most recent commentary.

[jri]

That's easy. Dean was pointing out that meetings of the Republican Party are usually attended by mainly Whites and that there are usually more African Americans on the wait staff than there are in attendance.

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[tgibbs]

It seems pretty straightforward. Dean was remarking on the fact that the racial composition of the delegates was similar to that of the hotel staff who were present in the room serving them, and that it is hard to imagine this being the case if it were a Republican gathering.

[AH·C]

Silly girl. Don't cha know that one must never question the integrity, let alone the tone-deafness of your fearless leader? now get back on the plantation ;)

I'd be interested in getting a head count of all the groups in attendance. Maybe if they were all in one big happy room the evening's demographics might have wound up looking like that which the good doctor was alluding to. ROTFLOL.

Bigger question, are we seeing the slo-mo dissolution of the donks like the whigs of old?

[David D]

This was the African American Caucus. I suspect that the RNC Chair could also draw a crowd of 150 at a Republican African American Caucus.

"You think the RNC could get this many people of color into a single room?" he marvels.

A crowd of 150 at the African American Caucus in DC is MARVELOUS?

"Maybe if they got the hotel staff in there." - cause, as we all know, the only people of color that Republicans are the help.

I think it's a safe bet that there wouldn't have been 150 African Americans in the room if the meeting was held in Vermont. After all, there are only about 3000 African Americans residing in the state. http://www.vtliving.com/stats/

Perhaps that's the reason for his comment: maybe the only time he catches a glimpse of an African American is when he's travelling & staying in a hotel.

Bush got about 1,500,000 African American votes for President this year. I'm not sure how many Dean got, but comments like this explain why it was fewer than Bush.

Yes, Dean will continue to 'amuse' us for the next 4 years, and the media will continue to excuse his excesses (except the screams). This explains to me why the MSM is viewed as liberal, and why fewer & fewer people pay attention to them.

[ahem]

At this point, it's only fair to mention this interesting article by Deroy Murdock at National Review.

[Webster]

Liberals quite often, I find, have contempt for black people. They appear to be so guilt-ridden from their past sins against blacks that they try to make up for it by patronizing blacks. Privileged Dr. Dean is just a square, and he will never get it. He will always stumble like this, and his friends in the main stream media will look the other way. Ditto his friends in the congressional black caucus. What a world.

The next generation has its problems, but this stupid patronization is not one of them.

[Rafael Daniel]

Perspective, anyone? If Dean had been in LA and made the hotel staff comment, what would we say considering most of the hotel staff there in SoCal is of Hispanic lineage? While it wasn't the smartest thing to say, there is a (large) kernel of truth in it. Not pretty or Politically Correct (Ack!), but true nonetheless.