Reply #25: It's fair to ask why now. I agree with that

[Solly Mack]

and that's essentially what the question is within this comment.

"But, all of a sudden the Democrats are principled and oppositional when the nominees are black and Hispanic."

Why now? Why not before? Why not Ashcroft? Why not white nominees who are/were just as bad if not worse. Since "content of character" is an issue with Rice and Gonzales (why not with Ashcroft). I can see how it would cause people to wonder if race does play a role now.

I don't agree that just because a nomination is going to be confirmed regardless, that people should just overlook things like lies and torture simply not to offend others. But I do agree their motives for doing so matters. It matters a great deal.

It also matters for those who vote to confirm 2 people who are bad nominees. Who are bad for this country. Racism can be said to be in play for either way of voting. So racism could be directing a yes vote or a no vote. That point too must be examined.

I know some people will say the Democratic Party is without racism. I wouldn't agree with that statement. I do wonder why a stink wasn't put up against Ashcroft in much the same manner. He's every bit as bad as Bush and no different than Gonzales or Rice in regards to personal ethics. He is white, though. So warning bells did go off for me. I'd be lying if I said they didn't.


But people can't just disregard the corruption of either Rice or Gonzales in order to get "one of us" into a position of power.

Yes, it would break some historical ground but at what price?

So I can't be happy about either's confirmation. Because it's a loss for America. Not white America. Not black America. Not Latino...America.

But I can see how the vote of the Democrats in Congress regarding both give pause, and why it looks bad to some. It does look bad. No argument there from me. But the motives behind the Republican vote of "Yes" also give me pause, and I also wonder how much their racism plays into it. Are white people voting yes just to not look racist? If so, that is racist. Are Republicans voting yes just to make the Democrats look racist after years of enduring being called racist by Democrats? If so, that is racist. Are some Republicans racist? Yes.

If playing on the guilt of white people...and no matter what some may say, there's a heck of a lot of white guilt out there that's not built around a belief in true equality, but instead, built around the fear of being labeled racist,...but is playing on that guilt, that does exist, to advance minorities, the way to go? Is it a case of taking whatever we can get?

Do we use white people's racism against them to advance? And if we don't hold power, true power, can't they just discard us later...like Powell is being discarded? I don't like Powell but I know the look of getting discarded.

I think of the CBC while I type this as well. How many white congress members stand with them? Do you know how badly it marginalized the CBC to not have white members of Congress (congress has 2 houses) stand with them in 2000? The sad thing is, it should not have mattered...but it did...and it did because of racism. Because whites didn't stand up in numbers with the CBC, they were marginalized. I get so angry just thinking about it!!!!! People could just poo-poo the CBC because "those black folks are just agitating again"....we should not have needed a white person to make our voices heard....to give power to our voices. That's what pisses me off the most.

The problem is racism seeps into everything and you can't just pinpoint it down to any one thing without touching on everything.

And all too often it's hard to make some white people see just how deep the wound goes...how far the cancer spreads.

I think I've asked more questions than I can answer. Right now I'm very angry just pondering it all out.


Thank you for listening