Ah, Joe, here we go again with those pesky little words that keep getting in your way.
Why for heaven’s sake would you dredge up the names of avowed segregationists — Sens. James O. Eastland of Mississippi and Herman E. Talmadge of Georgia — of all the names you could have given as examples of your ability to work with folks of different ideological views. These racists were among the absolute worst examples you could choose.
I am still wondering what could possibly be the value of working with these “good ole boys.” In no way is working with them a good thing to hold up, Joe. Especially since it was common knowledge that a few of their ilk traded their hoods and cross-burning activities to design legislative agendas to keep those uppity black boys and girls in their place. Sure they didn’t call you “boy,” instead they called you “son” and made you part of the family. In essence, they patted you on the head with one hand, and with the other, they restricted and redistricted black empowerment to oblivion, including actively blocking the right to vote for African Americans.
Geez Joe, polls show you have 75% of the black vote. Where the heck are your sensitivities? Many now have to be wondering how much influence your ”fathers” wielded. Did they weigh in on the disastrous crime bill that enhanced mass incarceration that you and Bill Clinton helped craft and which the black community is still digging out from? And what was their role or influence in the so-called “public lynching” that Justice Clarence Thomas claimed at the Anita Hill hearings. The “good ole boys” were in their heyday then.
For me and I’m sure many other African Americans, the question remains: What exactly did you get done by forming allegiances with avowed race haters, Joe? I know you were pretty close to Sen. Strom Thurmond, whose eulogy you delivered, and who was an active and engaged racist. But the senator was not averse to sleeping with a black woman with whom he fathered — and hid — a black child. If that kind of behavior doesn’t hark back to the dark days of slavery I don’t know what does. I do believe it was definitely the kind of mentality that many of the “good ole boys” brought with them to Congress.
Your foot-in-mouth gaffe couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time — while Congress was discussing HR40 and reparations. Where exactly do you stand on reparations Joe? I bet your “good ole boys” would turn over in their graves to learn this issue has come up for discussion before Congress or that you served under a black president.
Do you believe Mitch McConnell’s asinine opinions of reparations — that some have already been paid — with a civil war that freed the slaves and with the election of Obama, who by the way was not a descendant of slaves, as the first black president. What a ridiculous and nonsensical assessment.
So what’s your take on that one Joe — after all, you described Obama as “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice looking guy.” He lifted you to VP and, in doing so, took you from obscurity to being a real competitor in this race. But eight years as his right-hand man does not give you a free ride to say what you want with impunity. We need to hear where you stand on issues of importance to the African American community.
I guess one might wrap this up as a case of “boys will be boys.” And boys don’t like to apologize because it could make them look weak. I get that. Not to mention that it is bad form to start your campaign with too many apologies. After all, you have already apologized for being touchy-feely with some women, and now there are some calling for you to apologize to the black community. What’s a guy to do?
One thing’s for sure, Sen. Cory Booker doesn’t owe you one,
Your words forced him and Sen. Kamala Harris to speak out, and they did forcefully and rightfully so. They would not be elected to office if left to your segregationist buddies. To many in the African American community, that alone absolutely negates any other message you were trying to impart about the value of your ability to get things done through collaboration — as important as that is. Unfortunately, you used a flawed and incendiary example that insulted more than it enlightened.
Joyce Ferriabough Bolling is a media and political strategist and communications specialist.