Kanye West ripped into George Bush recently at a charity fundraiser for hurricane Katrina on NBC --essentially calling him a racist. Despite many Republicans claiming they were closing their wallets after the remark, he still managed to raise 30 million dollars for Katrina victims.
It is without a doubt that Mr. West, like every other American, is entitled to his opinion and its no crime to express his opinion in a manner where it can be heard by as many people as possible.
The question remains, however, is Kanye West right?
A little-noted statement by Linda Chavez, from Mr. Bush’s own administration, appears to shed more light on what Mr. West must have meant. Her statement strongly supports Mr. West’s contention, not only with regard to Mr. Bush, but also with regard to his whole cabinet. Keep in mind that Ms. Chavez is the President of the Center for Equal Opportunity and former head of Bush’s U.S. Civil Rights Commission, to make her statement even more Orwellian. She observes as follows:
(1) In New Orleans, you are dealing with the permanently poor — people who don't have jobs, are not used to getting up and organizing themselves and getting things done and for whom sitting and waiting is a way of life, . . .
(2) This is a natural disaster that is exacerbated by the problems of the underclass. The chief cause of poverty today among blacks is no longer racism. It is the breakdown of the traditional family.
Now we know it is a Republican talking point to shift the blame for the slow response from George Bush, the person ultimately responsible, to local Mayors or even the citizens of the flood, but Chavez’s blame-the-victim attacks are beyond the pale. Republicans like to talk in “code” to their base, but their “code” is easily deciphered by anyone with a pulse. Ms. Chavez’s statement decodes from “Republican talking point” to “ordinary English” as follows:
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - JELIEL
F YEAH!
Very nice post, kick ass...
2 - steve
so kanye west raised 30 million dollars by his lonesome? Bravo.
imagine how much he could have raised if he didnt open his big fat mouth.
kanye west...opening the wound of poor white-black relations. Job well done!
Now who has the salt?
3 - Will Awdry
Kanye West did what he was told. He's not smart enogh to come up with that on his own. He's parrotting what his handlers are telling him. By bashing the President and turning the event into drive by mud slinging he took away from all the good that everyone else there was trying to do. I won't donate a nickel to anything that Kanye endorses.
4 - steve
Ill second you on that. Im not playing on the same team as Kanye
5 - JAMAL PRESONS
Thats True I also Beleive That President Bush Doesnt care why do you think it took almost 3 days for helicopters and other sources of help to come in and..if new orleans was a majority of white people they would have been in the next day......i mean of course the people are going to loot because they have no food....it just sickens me how white america puts us off everyday.....you see it in the streets everyday..if i walk down the street some white people make sure not to walk on the same side of the street as i do,because they think im going to do something,but no im not all black people arent the same i bet you any amount of money,that if condaliza rice was not in the position of power shes in or if she lost it all tomorrow,when she enters back into the real world,she'll see how it is how,white america wont gave dang about her......
IT JUST SICKENS ME....AND IM ONLY 15
6 - Dave Nalle
Sorry, I missed something. Is what Linda Chavez said not true? Is it not something which every sociologist studying poverty in America pretty much agrees with? When did it become racist to tell the truth?
Dave
7 - GIDST#11988
Kanye West took it upon himself to put his "nuts on the chopping block", as my friend so eloquently put it...with that said, whether he was a puppet and/or his comments expressed how he felt, it took a lot of guts...I believe at least one comment of his touched all classes of Black America in some form. Some may not want to admit it...however, I'd be willing to bet that Kanye's words mirrored your own thoughts if not your own words.
8 - Melissa
Bravo for Kanye! He is my hero, He is 100% right, I support him on this one, I am a definitely a Kanye West fan now. He's got balls and brains!
9 - Chris
It's sad how politics will cause you to close your wallets. You disagree with Kanye? THen don't buy his music. But to take it out on the victims? You know what? Keep your money. If the money is sent with judgement, superiority, and arrogance, it's beter to spend it on another gas-guzzler and a Support The Troops sticker that was amade in Taiwan.
10 - Jason Lee
People Listen. Dont read if you only want to see what you think you should see. Kanye's "Big Fat Mouth" as some of you so eloquently put it- Speaks the truth. DO NOT try to tell me that this disaster was treated the same as a lesser although serious disaster of Hurricane Andrew, because if you do... You have got to be either unable to understand world politics, or just think you know what the hell is going on.
Demographics for that region far outnumber midde-class caucasians, or middle class blacks- whatever. The point is that black people have always been traditionally neglected in a direct way in a not so direct path. Think about it before you actually post something dumb because you dont understand what I just said. I personally went without getting new groceries this week, and I gave my entire paycheck to my local red cross. Yes I am a black man and I am damn proud of it - But I am also proud to be someone who walks the walk. You can say bravo he raised 30 million dollars.... or Bravo Red cross raised 196.7 million. Or can you be that person to say - What the ****!!! You can raise 350 Million in a matter of hours from the US government yet be unable to act until 24-48-72hours into the New Orleans crisis. 350 Million dollars in a matter of hours... and total aid was in the billions.
After black america and those who see the problem spoke out- now its billions on the way but dammit - I was safe and warm in my house while my brothers and sisters were dying from toxic exsposure and no food and water while we thought the government would step in.
If you post anything about this blog and want to say what you feel - do so. But if you post while ignoring the facts and thinking you know whats going on while you dont... Please spare us the words for someone who gives a damn.
11 - why bother?
You were safe and warm in your house while your brothers and sisters were slicing BLACK 7 year old throats, raping BLACK 5 year olds and beating old BLACK people to death in the Dome.
You are ignoring the facts and thinking you know whats going on while you don't...
Your brothers and sisters have gotten screwed by New Orleans for generations, paid taxes for nothing, watched money earned by the city disappear into fat local pockets. Now it's White America's fault? Now it's Bush's fault? The local New Orleans police are clueless thugs? That's Bush's fault? Nobody can get their head out of their butt long enough to evacuate? They can't stop playing electric slots and get out? That's W's fault? Sure. It's ALWAYS someone ELSE'S fault. The LA Democratic Governor acts too slow, and that's the President's fault? The organization you like the LEAST surprisingly is at fault the MOST.
12 - Scoobie
Kayne West - Gee what brilliance. Managed to single-handedly loose and estimated $20 million in support.
Wow what a bright man .. I wont call him if my town needs help.
Scoobie -
13 - dbaker6165
It's simple... If what Kanye said is so wrong, then I will expect to read about Kanye being sued for defamation.... as for your wallets - between me and you, we both know you never planned to donate - Kanye was just the excuse for you to bail on your fellow americans :)
14 - Scoobie
Dbaker - nice dribble. Do you really think that Kayne had any sense to his dribble? If so you need to read or watch it again. It is ignorant, stupid, and painfull to listen to. And also, his statement about the goverment is there to shoot down his people?? Did he mean he is one of the rapers or thieves, because I dont want to be numbered amoung them.
15 - why bother?
Look at the gangs of New Orleans if you want to talk about excuses. Every one has one there.
16 - Regina
Kanye was right on. I thought this was a government of the people, for the people and by the people. There is no excusing this administration for taking 4 days to drop water to people in need. Bush declared the area a disaster before the hurricane hit and didn't call for FEMA or any government source to be prepared for the fall out. I am frightened that in case of a national disaster, we will use the same disaster plan utilized in New Orleans. The plan that calls for you to help yourself because the administration is focused on terror. Please tell me, if this hurricane wasn't terror, what is? This wasn't a good marketing tool for spreading democracy around the world.
They evacuated 600,000 poor people in Bangledesh during their recent hurricane. God help us all because this administration isn't going to..
Thank you Kanye
17 - tia
i believe that kanye is right in the way that he feels. for someone to say that he was fed that information and did not have the sense to come up with that on his own is ridiculous.have some sense the man has to have some wit to get this far.
18 - Scoobie
Tia - you sound bright. Please dont tell me you enjoyed that ignorant speach. I hurts to listen to it. Its dumb. And he also lost support money for making the statements. Is he going to repay the $20 million he lost???
19 - balletshooz
Here is an example of why republicans get labeled "racist" by blacks, justitied or not.
look at the quotes from the same encampment where bill clinton and barbara bush went:
Clinton
Clinton toured the shelter with his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.
Obama, picked up a little girl who brought him a small heart she had made in a makeshift daycare center at the shelter.
"What's your name, sweetie? You look so pretty," Obama said to the girl. "You made this heart and you decided to give it to Bill Clinton, didn't you?"
The little girl, named Kearra, shook her head affirmatively.
"Well, I give you my heart," Clinton said, giving the tiny toddler a hug. "You're beautiful. Thank you for the heart."
Barbara Bush
"What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality," she said during a radio interview with the American Public Media program "Marketplace." "And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them."
in other words, translated
clinton to black person - "i love you for who you are and what you can do"
bush to black person - "you are a lowlife, a refugee camp is a step up for you"
see why republicans have a race problem?
20 - grayse
I agree with the others- if Kanye's comment is the reason you wont contribute to "the cause" than you didnt want to contribute to begin with. This isnt KANYE'S cause- its a cause for AMERICANS. He is allowed his opinions... bigot Republicans voice theirs all day long. Its about time someone said something taboo, but true.
21 - steve
bigot republicans, eh? Mr West proved himself as the bigot of bigots. He wasnt just addressing bush. he was addressing "white america" he only harmed his "people" for what he said.
22 - Long Live Justice and Freedom
Kanye West is right bout the media. But they also dont show shit bout the arabs i mean 1,136 Iraqis died it was barely on da news 35 Somalis died in yemen it wasnt on the news 150 indonesians died it was barely on da news and 35 egyptans died it WASNT ON DA NEWS dis is bullshit u guys dont no shit talkin bout syria cant control da border WAT DA FUCK look at bush hes got illegal immigrants cumin everyday o and dat shit bout isreal big woop no one noes bout da timen wen a million palestenians died cuz of da fukin buldozer u bitchees dont no shit u cia see dis i dont care fuck u and ur administration bush is friends wit dat hoe osama and bushes buddies gave saddam nuclear weapons o yea big deal da same time da london bombings happend the EGYPTIAN bomobings happend and 90 people died i realy feel sorry for america im living here and me and da people r bieng lied to it takes 2 days to get Iraq and like a fukin week to get New Orleans...............
23 - John Bil
>>>"In New Orleans, you are dealing with the permanently poor"<<<
So I guess the black folk in N.O. are dumb and lazy that there is no chance for them? Nobody is permanently poor unless there dead. Kayne West mother is a Doctor, and he grew up upper middle class, and never once worried about where his meal was coming from. So he is proof your full of BS. It is an insult to black Americans to say they are permanently poor.
This problem wasn't caused by people being too poor. It was caused by a Black Mayor who left hundreds of city vehicles just sit and go to waste when they could have been used like they were supposed to be.
You want to blame anyone, blame him. Also you provide zero proof for your slanderous accusations. In case you haven't noticed President Bush has more people of color in top positions than the last 10 presidents combined. Condi Rice has the chance to be the first woman president for Pete sake.
Kayne West, is so deluded it is really just sad, which doesnt reflect on you positively.
24 - Steve Burks
WILL AUDRY: "I won't donate a nickel to anything that Kanye endorses."
SO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE STARVING IS NOT ENOUGH OF A REASON FOR YOU TO DONATE? CHRIS PUT IT WELL ABOVE: "It's sad how politics will cause you to close your wallets."
SCOOBIE: "Do you really think that Kayne had any sense to his dribble?"
SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT. KANYE STUTTERED, SO HE MUST BE STUPID AND HIS COMMENTS INVALID? IT OCCURRED TO AT LEAST ONE OF US THAT KANYE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE UPSET. WHICH ARE YOU, A BLACK COON OR A WHITE BIGOT?
Dave Nalle: "When did it become racist to tell the truth?"
THANKS FOR THE ENLIGHTENING, RHETORICAL QUESTION. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT ALL THIS STINK WAS ABOUT A COMMENT. I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT THOUSANDS OF DEAD, STARVING AMERICAN BLACK PEOPLE SLEEPING ON HIGHWAYS, WATCHING THEIR BABIES WASTE AWAY FOR A WEEK, BUMPING BLOATED CORPSES AS THEY WADED THROUGH A SH-T OCEAN, WHILE POLITICIANS AND OPPORTUNISTIC MEDIA FIGURES RAN THEIR MOUTHS AND REPORTERS VYED FOR THE PULITZER. GLAD YOU STRAIGHTENED US OUT ON THAT ONE.
SOME OF YOU PEOPLE DISGUST ME.
25 - steve
let me get this straight.
you must have been in the same english class as kanye west, yo.
stop slinging crack, get your G.E.D