CMU reports:
Elton John has hit out after three promising black singers were voted off the American Idol show. Replicating the thinking that followed the time that British viewers voted favourite Javine off the Popstars show, the US media has been speculating this week that viewers who voted Jennifer Hudson off the American version of Pop Idol were influence by racial prejudice.
Speaking at a press conference in New York to launch an upcoming tour, Elton, who was recently a guest judge on American Idol, told reporters: "The three people I was really impressed with just happened to be black, youngfemale singers. They have great voices. The fact that they're constantly in the bottom three - and I don't want to set myself up here - but I find it incredibly racist."
While Fox, who broadcast the show, have remained quiet on the racist viewers argument, Simon Cowell yesterday told reporters: "My gut feeling is the girl who got kicked out wasn't the American Idol. I don't think she was the best singer."
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Mac Diva
So, what makes Elton's remarks 'bleating'?
2 - Nick Jones
Oh, Mac, don't you know that some white folks believe that because they can't openly use racial epithets anymore, or lynch black folks on a whim, and never get pulled over for "Driving While White", that everything's hunky-dorey in America, and black folks have nothing to complain about?
3 - Mac Diva
Oh, I see, Nick-:). Just by speaking out about something that is a life destroying problem for millions of people, Elton John became a 'bleater.'
Personally, I'm glad to see the issue out in the open. I doubt race determines the outcome for AI contestants, but it does seem to play a role. I commend E.J. for having the nerve and heart to speak out.
4 - RJ Elliott
Wasn't the last American Idol a black dude?
Just wondering...
5 - Andrew Ian Dodge
Has EJ ever considered the fact the American populace might think those three girls were crap? Just because the unwashed masses don't agree with him they are racists? What an arse... Its not like the music business is a black-free zone.
6 - Mac Diva
Hmmm. That sounds like something someone with links to 'scientific' racist Richard Poe (David Yeagley's mentor, y'all) would say.
7 - Phillip Winn
I'm pretty sure Elton John doesn't consistently watch the show, because I don't think that three girls to which he referred were "constantly" in the bottom three. In fact -- though I could easily be wrong on this -- I think it was the first time for two of the three to be in the bottom three.
8 - Scott Pepper
Was the first time for Fantasia in the bottom three, LaToya and Jennifer had both been in once before.
Of course, with 3 of the remaining 5 singers being black, those who cried racism earlier now look just a wee bit foolish.
9 - Mac Diva
Those who refuse to acknowledge race is playing role in this are the ones who look foolish. If the three divas deserved to be among the top contestants, and expert opinion says they did, then not voting for them has to have had a reason not related to ability. The statistically viable reason is race. The commonality of being African-American, female and talented, yet in the bottom choices, is beyond chance. Analyze the factors involved in the voting and you'll find bigotry is involved. In legal terms. we call it disparate impact. Since most racists lie about being racist at the drop of a hat, crunching stats has become among the best way to determine when racial bias is involved in decision making.
Also, it is clear that Right Wingers are not reading the news stories about Elton John. He appeared on the the show and watched the performances.
[Admin: Paragraph deleted.]
10 - Andrew Ian Dodge
Mac Diva...That is slander in the most extreme sense. But then again you go in for that all the time don't you?
11 - Mac Diva
[Admin: Comment deleted]
12 - Phillip Winn
MD: Elton John said, "they're constantly in the bottom three," and yet this was factually untrue. It was the first time for one of the girls, and only the second for the other two. These are the facts, and Elton John was wrong, period.
I am deleting the personal attacks on Mr Dodge because they are completely unacceptable, and you know it.
13 - TDavid
The qualifier from Elton and I don't want to set myself up here makes it sound to me like he knew his statement was going to go over like a lead balloon.
And Phillip - it is a good thing remaining "factually" true and accurate is not a House Rule! LOL If it was, then the cupboards would be mighty bare for some folks around here.
14 - Andrew Ian Dodge
Elton does whatever is necessary to keep himself in the public eye. This is not surprising in the slightest.
15 - Andrew Ian Dodge
Elton does whatever is necessary to keep himself in the public eye. This is not surprising in the slightest.
Actually Philip, with the greatest respect, I would prefer it if you didn't censor her words. They merely make her out to the be a bigotted arse. She is damned by her own fingers.
16 - Phillip Winn
Sorry, Marty, the rules are the rules. When a personal attack comes to my attention, it is removed.
However, I removed the second comment entirely, while some of it may have been accurate and should be left alone. I'll review it and see if there is anything I should put back.
17 - Andrew Ian Dodge
Fair enough, one must be consistent.
18 - Natalie Davis
In the interest of consistency, then, I assume you will post haste remove the last two sentences in Mr. Dodge's comment #15.
19 - Mac Diva
Or the entire entry, which is race-baiting by an associate of David Yeagley's, Andrew Ian 'Marty' Dodge. Dodge is also a supporter of the 'scientific' racism blog Gene Expression. I first encountered him shilling for it last year. For those not in the know, the group asserts that people of African and/or Hispanic ancestry are genetically inferior.
These remarks are not meant as a personal attack on Dodge, but truth telling. If they are removed, it will be clear there is something wrong with telling the truth about far Right Wingers at Blogcritics. Persons who share Dodge's views are certainly free to continue doing so. However, others have a right to know an agenda is involved when he makes posts like this one. If Dodge's concern was really free speech, he would not be attacking Elton John for speaking freely.
20 - Andrew Ian Dodge
Saying someone is whinging does not equal not believing they have a right to say something. Have I called for Elton John to be muzzled? No, of course not. I disagree with what he had to say, but that is my right.
The only person wanting to deny right to free speech is Mac Diva. If you are not extreme left such as she is you have no right to express any opinion on anything. She makes it a point to drive away anyone who does not share her opinions.
Having a link to someone is not the same as condoning all they say. Just like my writing for this blog does not mean I condone all the hate-mongering as practiced by the likes of you. I am not far-right, I am a libertarian.
I will not have my opinions nor my blog-roll dictating by the hystrionics of one person with a grudge.
21 - Mac Diva
The word is 'histrionics,' Dodge. Misspelling it makes you look like an American pretending to be British. (Though that isn't a British spelling either.) An American pretending. . . hmmm.
The term I had on the tip of my tongue for my previous comment was disclosure. A person (Dodge) of such extremist associations ('scientific' racism) should disclose his position when he writes about the topic (race) impacted by them.
22 - RJ Elliott
Getting back to the main point...
The first AI winner was a white chick. The second winner was a black dude. The third winner will likely be a black chick (my opinion).
So, again, how in the hell is AI racist against blacks, or discriminatory against women?
23 - Andrew Ian Dodge
Because Mac Diva and Elton say it is...
24 - Andrew Ian Dodge
Ok here goes nothing:
1. Fact one I do link to the two sites that MD keeps rambling on about.
2. However, using the search function on Dodgeblogium you get no reference to either site in the body of the blog. So I am hardly shilling.
3. MD is so desperate to find something to attack me with... she is now going after my spelling.
One wonders whether this series of attacks on me here and elsewhere has something to do with my pro-Jew/pro-Israeli stance.
One question: Does MD link on her blog to sites with anti-semitic content like Democratic Underground or Ted Rall?
25 - Nick Jones
Saying someone is 'bleating' does imply that one thinks they are complaining without cause or merit. Instead of, let's say, refuting their arguments with fact and reason?