Boy, do I agree with this "First off- KANYE WEST GOT IT WRONG"

[genieroze]

First off- KANYE WEST GOT IT WRONG. The recent statement by Kanye West, that "Bush doesn't care about black people", was born of a furor that we all share, after seeing what we have, down in New Orleans, over the past two weeks. However, like all that results from furor, it is limited in vision, and comprehension of the bigger picture.

Bush, indeed, doesn't care about black people- but he also doesn't care about white people. He doesn't care about asian people, arabic people, indigenous people of any stripe, or any other race. He doesn't care about the servicemen and women he sent to Iraq- whatever their race. He doesn't care about the millions who have slipped into poverty, since he took office- whether they be black, white, or whatever.

Bush, quite frankly, couldn't be bothered to wipe his ass on anyone who doesn't make less than $200,000 a year, and then, only if they're republicans. One might also say that he reserves his care for massive corporations which, even though they exist on paper, hold all of the benefits, and none of the liabilities, of "personhood".

Just thot I'd point that out...

http://www.ericblumrich.com/

[Captain Hilts]

1. There is no evidence Bush is a racist. But lots that he is a classist.

He hasn't got a clue how middle and lower income folks live.

It would have done him a world of good to have been drafted as a private rather than go straight to flight school, which he did specifically to avoid being enlisted personnel.

[Greeby]

2. Thats what I've been saying for weeks

Thanks, Eric :hi:

[LiberalArkie]

3. Amen

I once heard a comment by one of the Republicans say "We have to help these poor people, those who earn less than $100,000 a year."

In deed the Jesse's have have wrong. It has always been a class war.
It has not been abouth black people for a long time. It has been about the poor people.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

7. Totally agree

race is becoming more and more irrelevant. I have black neighbors, colleagues, bosses, friends, inlaws.

And they are all middle class.

[WhiteTara]

20. yep, we are all

from the lower classes as far as these creeps can tell. If you aren't in the inner circle of hell, then you have no need to take up space on the planet. Oh, BTW, welcome to DU, LiberalArkie :hi:

[marmar]

4. De acuerdo...

He does not give a damn about any everyday people. He is completely disconnected from the experience of regular folk, including all those low-income whites in the Red states who feel compelled to vote for more abuse in every election.

[witness2]

14. Absolutely right

Bush only cares about those who support him politically or who support his supporters. The rest of use are inconvenient obstacles to his dimly viewed plans to change the country in a way few of us are ready for.

[MissMarple]

5. George Bush doesn't like poor people.

I have believed this for quite some time. He doesn't understand how people become poor and why many remain poor. He just doesn't get it, so he blames the poor for the circumstances visited upon them by a predatory economy.

With out a democratic government to protect the people from unregulated corporate power, there will be no middle class. George doesn't understand that either. He is an opportunistic, sanctimonious bully who is, most probably, afraid of poor people.

[kiki]

6. So?

His statement is still true. He didn't say "He doesn't care about black people, but he cares about everyone else."

West was saying what was true in his context and that of New Orleans as he saw it. If other famous types stood up and said "Bush doesn't care about white/Asian/Hispanic/poor/intellectual/left-wing/gay people" or whatever their own demographic was, each would be telling the truth (unless they said "Bush doesn't care about insanely rich pseudo-fascists"). And it would be a good thing - certainly better than the deafening silence we've had for the past four years.

[marmar]

8. Very true...

Kudos to Kanye for having the cajones to speak, unlike so many entertainers, sports stars etc etc

[kiki]

10. But didn't he look wierd?

Shaking, I mean like gun-to-his-head terrified.

Mike Myers' reaction was hilarious. *Through gritted teeth* "Dude, ixnay on the acismray..." Screw him.

[Ben Ceremos]

21. Tangentially,

I would appreciate if the people posting to DU would stop mangling my native tongue with the repeated malapropism "cajones". It does not mean what you think it means. The appropriate term is "cojones", with 2 o's. The malapropism is bad slang for "large boxes or crates". I believe that most people who use that term here mean the former, namely cojones: testicles. And Kanye West has courage and cojones I wish to add.

[genieroze]

9. Technically as it exists in New Orleans, what West said is true.

Why West was wrong is because Bush does care about very rich black people (especially Republican ones). One on one, a poor black person vs a poor white person he maybe more inclined to help the white one. This is purely judging him by the comments his mother made and his wifes frozen response to the victims of Katrina. There is definitely some tension there.

[Totally Committed]

11. What a bunch of sorry-ass royal horse-hockey!

Kanye West was EXACTLY correct! For the record I am a white grandmother, and have lived long enough to tell you --

Our whole society is based racism. It was started by slave owners, and our national attitude about race hasn't changed much from that, only gotten more "complicated", more nuanced... more hidden.

There is still no equity in education, nourishment, housing, opportunity, medical care, or training. This does apply to poor, but even moreso to blacks and people of color.

We just don't want to admit our own complicity in this dirty rotten secret, because it would mean we'd have to accept our responsibilty and act accordingly to do something about it. But no, it's always someone else's fault... class, not race.

I say BULLSHIT!

We are a classist, racist society, and it has got to end right here and right now with US. We cannot allow it to go on another generation.

TC

[cwydro]

17. sadly

i am afraid this is true...but I think money is the bottom line...no justice for the poor if they have no money for good lawyers, etc. But OJ and MJ and their ilk are fine, 'cause they got the bucks..

[classysassy]

19. The lady

speaks the truth,thanks for telling it like it is.

[Ben Ceremos]

22. TC, I agree...

the USA is possibly one of the most racist countries in which I have ever had the misfortune of living. Classism seems to depend on the (Jim)crowbar of racism. Colin Powell, unfortunate liar and stooge that he is, represents a case study. He, a "black man", rose through the ranks of the military, has served as Sec. of State and has made a fortune in the process. Yet I have heard it frequently from Americans I know that Powell could never be President "because he's black".His "friends" include the BFEE and other rich caucasians. I wouldn't vote for him, but more because he is a shill, a liar and disreputable in many ways.(His color has nothing to do with it.)

[applegrove]

12. Very true. But playing up 'black looters' was a way on connecting

consolidating his base of racists & white people afraid of black crime. Both are anti-taxing the rich.

[Cha]

13. Yeah, it's POOR Black People he doesn't

care for..and POOR White People.and he doesn't give a rat's ass for Rich Democrats, either.

You gotta be a rich bush lap dog before he'll give you an offensive nick name. Wonder what nic he calls blair..and don't tell me he doesn't have one for him.

[distantearlywarning]

15. I agree.

I think Bush doesn't give a rat's ass about anybody who can't get him more power or contribute mondo bucks to the Repukelican party. Black people just happen to be farther down the "don't give a crap about" list than White people.

So it is about racism in one sense and it isn't in another. As another DUer posted so eloquently a week or so ago, "We're all n**ggers now". (Please excuse the ugly 'N' word but it just seems to sum up the situation so well...)

[K-W]

16. So Kanye West didnt get it wrong.

"Bush, indeed, doesn't care about black people"

Does the author of this piece really expect to be taken seriously when he contradicts himself?

[bpilgrim]

18. tell it to the people...

http://news.globalfreepress.com/movs/katrina/bush.html
(requires flash-plugin 8, the latest http://MacroMedia.com )

peace

[freesqueeze]

23. TRUE-GW Fears & Dispises Poor People

Having never admitted to himself how the skids were constantly greased for him throughout his life, he can't fathom why we don't all can't get into Yale as a legacy. Why don't all of us just have their criminal records expunged and rob a city's tax base of millions to build our fortunes.

By far, the worst president of my lifetime.

[warrens]

24. Sociopaths don't care about anybody except themselves

The only "caring" they do is taking care of those who take care of them, for purely selfish reasons. And that smirking murderer is a stone sociopath.