Pajamas Media

For Obama, Not All Hateful Rhetoric Is Equal

The Illinois senator's campaign persuaded a delegate to step down after she called her neighbor's African-American children "monkeys." Was the remark just a poor choice of words — or was it more insensitive than Reverend Jeremiah Wright's controversial sermons?

April 12, 2008 - by Bob Owens

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If you are homicidally-minded, (not too famously) anti-Semitic, white-bashing, and prone to attacking the United States, Barack Obama can forgive you. There are some lines, however, that it seems even the Obama campaign doesn’t want crossed.

This past weekend, Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski — a Carpentersville, Illinois village trustee elected as an Obama delegate to the Democratic National Convention — was encouraged by the Obama campaign to resign for inflammatory speech. Ramirez-Sliwinski did not assert that America was run by hate groups. She did not state that the country deserved terrorist attacks; nor did she indict our government with conspiracy theories of racial genocide. And she didn’t try to goad followers into snuffing out a man’s life for running a legal business she does not like.

What Ramirez-Sliwinski did do was tell children to stop playing in a small magnolia tree “like monkeys.” The two children are African-American. The mother of one of the two children called the police over the slight, which Ramirez-Sliwinski insists was not racial in nature. Ramirez-Sliwinski was issued a citation for disorderly conduct, even though she claimed to have acted on behalf of the safety of the boys.

For the weekend slight, the Obama campaign convinced Ramirez-Sliwinski to resign on Monday. She has since reversed her decision, and decided to fight the disorderly conduct charge and remain a delegate. The mother of one of the children has stated that if Ramirez-Sliwinski fights the disorderly conduct change she will “involve” the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, though it’s unclear what purpose would be served by having the civil rights group take sides in a case pitting one minority it serves against another.

Barack Obama’s presidential campaign been pounded for weeks for revelations that his pastor of 20 years, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, used inflammatory language in sermons that have been characterized as being anti-American, anti-Semitic, and racist. Wright has retired, but Obama’s current pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ, Rev. Otis Moss, wasted no time in using race to defend Wright by equating criticism of Wright’s language with a public lynching. Obama has publicly refused to sever ties with Wright or Trinity United Church of Christ.

Another Chicago minister strongly supportive of Obama is James Meeks, who is also an Illinois state senator. Meeks has come under fire for his own choice language and positions. The minister has drawn the ire of gay rights advocates for his strident stands against homosexuality, which some critics categorize as homophobic. Meeks has refused to denounce the bashing of whites, even referring to white American mayors as “slave masters.” He has also called African-American ministers he sees as working for the current system “house n*ggers.” Despite these points of friction and intolerance, the Obama campaign has not severed ties from Meeks. Instead, it has sought to merely downplay his statements.

Then there’s the Rev. Michael Pfleger, who has helped set Barack Obama’s “moral compass” for 22 years — which is longer than Obama has known Wright. Pfleger also happens to be a radical apologist for the Nation of Islam, and he has asked followers to murder (his exact word was “snuff”) a firearms retailer because he’s against the ownership of firearms. Despite calling for the death of John Riggio for engaging in lawful commerce and his own history of anti-Semitic diatribes, Pfleger is still featured on the campaign’s People of Faith for Obama page.

Infamous anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan is one of the few radical Obama supporters who has been rejected by the presidential candidate. Although this only happened after Obama was badgered about that support in a debate with Hillary Clinton.

Considering Obama’s historical support from radicals and his record of hesitatingly distancing himself from them (if at all), it was curious that Ramirez-Sliwinski found herself in discussion with Obama staffers Monday about her status as a delegate for the campaign. Especially since it was over a statement that most are willing to write off as an unfortunate word choice.

Or perhaps it isn’t surprising at all.

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40 Comments

Jack:

My Dad used to call me and my brother monkies. And I bet a black man watching a bunch of kids playing in jungle gyms with joy and abbandon would call those kids, of whatever race, monkies as well.

Another word white people can’t use when describing African Americans.

Why don’t they give us a rule book.

Apr 12, 2008 - 6:02 am Ed Wallis:

Oh, yes. And on the topic of “just words,”

compared Obama’s reactions to

Don Imus’ words

with his response to those of

Reverend Wright.

Apr 12, 2008 - 6:04 am Chip:

Toddlers act like monkeys. Sharing over 95% of their DNA with monkeys is likely a factor. I call my son a monkey daily. He makes monkey noises.

Good lord, the world should stop so every most-sensitive person isn’t insulted? That makes it better? Eternal life is overrated.

Apr 12, 2008 - 7:58 am Morton Doodslag:

I watched an interview with one of Obama’s campaign advisors after this incident. He openly admitted that this staunch Obama supporter most definitely didn’t mean anything racist in her comment, and assured his questioner that she certainly was no “racist”. But he concluded that the word “monkey” had a context for black Americans which whites should always take into consideration.

I’m finally begining to understand

When a black person invokes “context” he or she is invoking a magical word. When applied to whites, it mystically allows the black user to find whatever useful sinister intentions or pretexts he or she wishes to slander, intimidate, or shut down the discussion ( while calling for more “discussion” at the same time!).

“Context” is such powerful magic, that, when used by blacks against whites, sinister intent, grievous injustices, and really really bad hurt black feelings can always be found. How wonderful!!

But the magical uses of “context” don’t stop there, my friends! When invoked by blacks to apply to blacks, it has the special property of cleansing and washing away all bad connotations and denotations of whatever was said, no matter how insane, hateful, or stupid!

“God DAMN America!” ?? “Context” = one black man’s cry of anguish for all evils perpetrated by blue eyed whitey.

“…blue eyed whitey?” “Context” = what blacks who desperately want to end racism call whitey in order to let him know how much blacks want to end racism. (whitey racism, that is). “Blue eyed devil”, “white devil”, “cracker”, “redneck”, “honky”,”white motherfucker”, “white-ass bitch” are all suitable substitutes for “blue eyed whitey”. Just remember “context” (if you’re black - this old time mumbo jumbo doesn’t work for blue eyed devils…)

Apr 12, 2008 - 8:31 am Bernardo:

“Another word white people can’t use when describing African Americans.

Why don’t they give us a rule book.”

Not to worry. I’m sure that under President Obama, we will all be required to attend some Federal sensitivity training program. It will be part of his promised “healing process.”

Apr 12, 2008 - 9:16 am Noga:

Obama on Imus:

“He didn’t just cross the line,” Obama said. “He fed into some of the worst stereotypes that my two young daughters are having to deal with today in America. The notions that as young African-American women — who I hope will be athletes — that that somehow makes them less beautiful or less important. It was a degrading comment. It’s one that I’m not interested in supporting.”

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3031317&page=1

Apr 12, 2008 - 11:12 am NotYourDaddy:

The Language Police are alive and well in Obamaland. If a woman can be charged, and fined $75, for telling her neighbor’s kids to stop climbing around in a tree like monkeys, what might the penalty have been if she’d used a racial epithet? Perhaps she would have been hauled off to jail…

Can one be charged with disorderly conduct for any “insensitive” remark that hurts somebody’s feelings, or does it only apply if the person whose feelings are hurt belongs to a minority group? How about if the person who hurts the other person’s feelings is of the same race as the person whose feelings are hurt? Could they still be charged?

If somebody remarked that someone was as clumsy as an ox, would it be considered disorderly conduct if the person remarked upon was overweight and sensitive about being compared to an ox? How about blonde jokes? Are they illegal, too?

What’s most disturbing about the Language Police is that there’s really no difference between the Language Police and the Thought Police. After all, it’s not the word “monkey” that’s illegal, it’s what the speaker was allegedly thinking when she used that word. This is where unchecked liberalism leads…

Apr 12, 2008 - 12:48 pm David Thomson:

The monkey comment seems entirely innocuous. It is disgraceful that this woman was “encouraged” to resign her position. This is another example of why I say that a vote for “Barry” Obama is unintentionally a vote for David Duke. At the end of the day, the radical right crazies will take advantage of the frustrations of whites embittered by the relentless attacks of the politically correct elites. Obama is doing nothing to eliminate racial tensions. On the contrary, it behooves him to keep reopening the scabs. After all, the Obama family has earned millions off “diversity” programs. Why put a stop to such a lucrative way of putting money into one’s bank account? Race hustling is very lucrative.

Apr 12, 2008 - 12:54 pm Spinoneone:

Stuff the rule book. Any kid being disrespectful to ANY adult is open to being called a monkey. Particularly when they are placing themselves in danger in a high tree or climbing a fence. Race doesn’t count at all in that instance.

Of course, perhaps the African-American mother is more incensed at the criticism of HER parenting skills, or lack thereof.

Apr 12, 2008 - 12:55 pm Angry African:

I know. Many of you will tell me, as you have, that this election has nothing to do with us foreigners. That it is all about America. The American choice. The American future. And you are (mostly) right. This is your choice. This is about the American future. This is about America. But it does have something to do with us Johnny Foreigners. We do have a stake in this. Why? Because most level-headed people in this world still look to America for direction. We still look up to America. We look for guidance. We look to America for leadership in this crazy little sphere of ours. Question is, can America still provide it? And who offers that hope? http://angryafrican.net/2008/04/12/note-to-america-the-world-is-watching/

Apr 12, 2008 - 2:22 pm Amphipolis:

Wright not only said it, he taught it.

Apr 12, 2008 - 4:14 pm Ed Wallis:

AA, You respectfully ask “who in America can provide guidance and offer hope?”

With respect, sir, most certainly NOT Obama.

Apr 12, 2008 - 4:18 pm Marsouin:

Did she not have to pay $75 “Hate Crime” fine? That’s absolutely frightening. This is yet another example that the Progressive agenda has never been about rights or free speech. It’s pure lust for power. Now we have the ever increasing politicalization of speech and, as usual, the ACLU , NAACP, MoveOn.org, etc are totally silent. What whores, and the mindless, zombies who support them.

Apr 12, 2008 - 4:56 pm REB SHLOMO:

Even if Obama thinks the incident is stupid & rediculous can he afford to alienate black voters?

Apr 12, 2008 - 5:42 pm David Klug:

I call my youngest grandson “Monkey Boy” all the time. It is a term of endearment, not a racial epithet. To think that someone in the United States of America could suffer legal sanction for this is stunning. To think that that someone so close to becoming President would react in any other way than to condemn such government over reaching is scary. In all the condemnation of Rev. Wright, no one ever suggested he be ticketed for his vile words. Obama should also have chastised the mother for her oversensitivity. Does calling the cops over such non-sense spark “racial healing”?

Apr 13, 2008 - 6:15 am Letalis Maximus, Esq.:

Maybe she should have just said: “you little motherf**ckers get down out of that motherf**cking tree right motherf**cking now.”

Apr 13, 2008 - 6:29 am Brad:

Shlomo,

If throwing this woman under the bus instead of defusing a misunderstanding and using it as an example of his ability to heal racial divisions is the way NOT to alienate black voters, then Obama has absolutely no respect for the, dare I say, “typical” black voter. An elitist wuss, this Obama. Liberals suck.

And the charge/fine this woman was issued is maybe the most disturbing aspect. Again, liberals suck.

Apr 13, 2008 - 6:30 am DNL:

Well, looks like we’re getting that conversation on race Obama wanted. Yippee! I can just feel all the racial problems just melting away, more “proof” of the lefty adage that all problems between people are just the result of inadequate understanding and communication. As our understanding of Obama and his background and affiliations increases, I can just feel us all being brought more and more together. Such a warm and fuzzy feeling of inspiration and hope this man inspires.

Apr 13, 2008 - 6:36 am notahack:

This is beyond stupid. I am immediately going to apologize for my ignorance to my eight year son for using monkey as one of his nicknames. Can I still call him puddin’head? I am so confused.

What is shocking is the woman offended called the police and the police responded and charged that horrible horrible woman with disorderly conduct? Where is this place? Kind of like a bizzaro Mayberry.

Apr 13, 2008 - 6:38 am dirigible:

There must be more to this story. It’s hard to believe that any American police department would cite anyone for disorderly conduct for mere talk of monkeys. I could believe that the victim might be harassed by some ridiculous and malevolent race-baiting “person of color,” but not that the police would play along.

Apr 13, 2008 - 6:44 am MarkJ:

Lesson for Mrs. Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski: If you do anything that even remotely embarrasses The Messiah, he’ll drop you like third-period French.

Apr 13, 2008 - 6:44 am pst314:

Many parents call their young rambunctious children “yard apes”.

Apr 13, 2008 - 6:45 am miriam:

I see the African American grievance community is taking a leaf from the muslims’ playbook–be offended at everything–and keep everyone else uneasy and off balance.

Apr 13, 2008 - 7:40 am Hadenough:

Guess we’d all better start remembering to call that thing at the playground a “climbing structure” and not “monkey bars,” huh? Or maybe we should just have those structures removed from playgrounds in order to prevent any accidental epithets by kids who forgot which words are allowed and which aren’t.

Apr 13, 2008 - 7:44 am amr:

I place Mr. Obama in the same category, but on the opposite side, as those smooth talking Southern Democrats of the past. They may or may not have believed in what they were saying, but they did what was needed to be elected. So either Mr. Obama is lying on the campaign trail or will say what his listeners want to hear regardless of his personal beliefs; that is the common perception of a run of the mill politician, not that of an agent of change. Either way, he is now in serious trouble after his San Francisco statements on top of the other supporters’ speech he will not repudiate.

Apr 13, 2008 - 8:43 am Tess:

Good for the delegate! This is the first I’ve heard of her reversing her decision, but I’m glad she felt she got enough support to do so. Here’s hoping she wins the contesting too - it was a silly charge to begin with.

Apr 13, 2008 - 9:56 am Fen:

So much for community involvement. If you see a group of black kids in your neighborhood who are misbehaving or acting in an unsafe way, just turn away. Its not worth getting involved.

Apr 13, 2008 - 10:32 am Silvera:

This is incredible! For years my parents have called me a monkey and told me to quit monkeying around. Does this mean I can sue them for child abuse? Oh, wait, I’m white…so it doesn’t matter.
Also, what do monkeys do but play in trees? Or is it only African monkeys that play in trees? because I could have sworn that South American monkeys play in trees and so do Asian ones. The horror! Does this mean that it’s not just a racial epithet for Africans but for everyone who is non-white?
Just a thought because if you’re going to reverse-anthropomorphizing, the entire English language may need to be re-written. Wouldn’t it be less of a headache if people didn’t assume that someone meant to be insulting just becasue they opened their mouths?

Apr 13, 2008 - 10:36 am Darwin:

@notyourdaddy : Can one be charged with disorderly conduct for any “insensitive” remark that hurts somebody’s feelings, or does it only apply if the person whose feelings are hurt belongs to a minority group?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_buffalo_incident
”
The “water buffalo incident” was a controversy at the University of Pennsylvania in 1993. Student Eden Jacobowitz was charged with violating Penn’s racial harassment policy. He had shouted, “Shut up, you water buffalo,” out his window to a crowd of mostly black Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters creating a ruckus outside his dorm. Others had shouted at the crowd, including several who shouted racial epithets, but Jacobowitz was the only one charged.
…
Jacobowitz explained his choice of “water buffalo” as from Hebrew slang, “Behema,” used by Jews to refer to a loud, rowdy person. He procured several expert witnesses who attested to this and others, such as Michael Meyers, who gave testimonies that “water buffalo” was not a racial epithet against African Americans.
”

… welcome to America.

=darwin

Apr 13, 2008 - 1:47 pm frege:

They wrote that book Miriam.

Apr 13, 2008 - 2:02 pm Rhymes Wih Right:

Now let me get this straight — if Ramirez-Sliwinski exercises her civil right under the Constitution to fight a criminal charge against her, Mama Monkey is going to seek to have a civil rights organization become involved in the case to ensure that Ramirez-Sliwinski does not get a fair trial?

Seems to me that the actual hate crime in question is yet to come.

Apr 13, 2008 - 4:38 pm Believer:

Hello again, Angry African:

You say the world still looks up to America. And for that reason this election is important. You are right.

And for that reason Obama is not the person to provide the “direction, “guidance” and “leadership” you say is needed. Obama will take us in precisely the wrong direction.

There is a simple 8-stage scale of the typical lifespan of a democracy. Google it. A democracy lasts approximately 200 years. We’re at the apathy leading to dependence stage, most likely. The dependence stage leads back into bondage. And is the final stage.

Obama, with his plans for government intrusion into our lives, would seal our fate. Somewhere I read that a democracy dies when the people realize they can vote themselves “goodies.” Isn’t that just what he’s saying people want? And what he offers?

If you notice, spiritual faith is established in the earliest stage. Obama would give us government as our god. We need to get ourselves back in touch with a faith in God rather than in anything man can offer us.

We would then be that Shining City on the Hill Ronald Reagan spoke of so wonderfully. And we would then be worthy of the leadership, guidance and direction so sorely needed for a lost and wounded world.

Apr 14, 2008 - 7:34 pm Korla Pundit:

Obama’s campaign is treating this woman very niggardly.

Apr 15, 2008 - 12:09 pm Don Jaksa:

First of all, monkeys have tails so they COULDN’T be monkeys. They would more appropriatly call them APES, but that might be worse in this situation.

In the brave new world that our future holds for us, we should ALWAYS refer to others as

CARBON BASED NON-GENDER SPECIFIC INSIPIENT BEINGS

Apr 15, 2008 - 12:58 pm Wacky Hermit:

Geez, I guess I can’t ever enroll my half-Filipino kids in gymnastics, lest they be asked to do a “flip”.

I regularly and affectionately call them monkeys when they’re climbing on stuff, and I also call them cats, pot pies (golden brown on the outside, yummy food on the inside), and coconut heads (fuzzy and brown). Nobody seems to mind that. But mention “watermelon” around a black person and see how fast you get called a racist. I scrapped plans to make a set of watermelon potholders and dishcloths for sale, lest I offend someone.

Apr 16, 2008 - 5:34 pm Diane:

This is silliness.

I call my 11-year-old white, Jewish son “monkey” all the time. It’s one of my favorite nicknames for him, others being “catnip” and “madman.” My younger son I tend to call “baby” and “bunny” and “boo-boo.” He says I can keep calling him those things in private, but please, not around his friends.

Apr 17, 2008 - 11:07 am Rayman:

This is the biggest load of B.S. I have heard in quite some time! The primary document of American governance is The Constituion. The first ten Ammendments are The Bill of Rights, Absolute first(numero uno for all the illegal aliens) is FREEDOM OF SPEECH. None of the other nine say anything about the “right to not be offended”. P.C. has put a choke hold on this country and we aren’t far from strangulation. Someone taking offense to a concerned neighbor telling dumb children(I have two),that are going to do dumb things, to quit acting like monkeys has a racial chip on THEIR shoulder. Get the monkey off of YOUR back.

Apr 17, 2008 - 3:28 pm