Is "Uncle Bob" a Racist? Or a Bigot? Or just an Idiot?

[IdaBriggs]

I posted earlier this week about my experience at a family event last weekend, where "Uncle Bob" and I got into a nice political discussion. You can read about it here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1013648, but the summary is that he isn't happy with Junior, but plans to keep voting Republican because as he said TWICE (and I'm actually quoting him here) he is:

"a rich white man"

which he then explained to me meant he could afford to pay outrageous prices at the pump, etc. (read the rest of the conversation for details).

You know how some conversations bug you later? Well, this one has been bugging me all week! I'm wondering if the "rich white man" comment is one I should have jumped all over him for -- was he just being euphemistic, or is he really a "proud" racist / bigot, etc.? All of the things I wish I would have said:

"So, being a rich racist is a requirement before one can vote Republican in good conscience -- that certainly explains a lot!"

or to his wife, "Are you a bigot, too, or just happily married to one?"

You know the type of comments I mean -- the ones that make your husband want to slap a hand over your mouth before hustling you out the door (not that my beloved would EVER actually try such a stunt, but you know what I mean).

So, tell me -- am I overreacting? Was he just being facetious? Or should I have squished him into the dirt?

:shrug:

[wake.up.america]

1. Bob will never be truly happy. He can never have enough money...

he can never be in charge of enough people. Bob can never take a long enough leap, for all I care.

[SmokingJacket]

2. Sounds like he's a bigot about everyone who's not HIM.

He's telling you he's a selfish asshole and will vote for the party that personally benefits HIM, and the rest of the country can go to hell for all he cares. Being a racist is only a small part of his narcissistic pathology.

Something about the country these days has made selfish bigots feel like they now have total permission to express their worst selves.

I would have headed for the beverage table and drowned my anger in a stiff drink.

[Catherine Vincent]

3. He's all three! n/t

[warrens]

4. It's not racist

He's just saying the GOP works exclusively for the wealthy, who happen to be mainly white males in this society.

[Warpy]

5. Well, my reply would have been

"when this clown drags the country all the way down, and the way he's headed he will, you and your money are going to be dragged down with it."

That's about what I said to my pop in 2000, but he wanted that tax cut. I didn't have to say anything in 2004. He voted for Kerry.

Your uncle is selfish and greedy and a slow learner. Unfortunately, it's his right to be these things. If the subject comes up again, feel free to use my line if you want to. You might actually cause him to start thinking and that that's the beginning of the end for kneejerk GOP support.

[4morewars]

6. He's a pig,

no different than the pigs he votes for.

[MsTryska]

7. Well - that is who the Republican Party represents...

I wouldn't be totally offended.


If that's who he is, then that's who he is, and his honesty, frankly is a bit refreshing.


Well - actually - is he rich?

[JVS]

8. I think he was just teasing you a bit

[bleedingheart]

9. I can top your Uncle Bob....

I have an uncle (actually a registered democrat that votes straight ticket)....and he hates anyone that isn't white and he absolutely believes that the "Jews" rule the world....

so one christmas eve we are sitting around, bellies full of good food, and he says..."You know Hitler was right about getting rid of them Jews"...and then goes on to say that perhaps the US should have let him "finish the job so we wouldn't have those problems with them people any more"....

My mouth hit the floor and I basically said..."here we are celebrating the birth of our Lord...a JEW...and you are saying that you would have shoved him in an oven ???" and I basically told him it was the ugliest most racist thing I have ever heard from anyone...


and what is ironic is that....he voted for Gore/Lieberman even had their bumpersticker on his car

point of my post...on edit is that there are a lot of people with really strange logic...

[EC]

10. So everyone else struggleing (including his kin) can just

go to hell? He's got his and who cares about the rest? How long does he expect to keep his if the economy tanks?

[never_get_over_it]

11. I couldn't get to the original post

so I might have missed something from that- but your summary does not make me feel that Bob is a racist or a biggot - but most likely and idiot. Now just how rich is Bob - there are alot of people who are comfortable and think they are one of "them" or will be one of "them" but the truth is there are VERY FEW people in this country that are the wealthy ones that the repunks are working for - the uber rich - the tax cuts are not really helping the upper middle class or the middle class but the really rich pukes making millions - so unles Bob is one of them he is an idiot.

Many people who support the repunks think they will be one of those wealthy folks one day and the plain truth is unless they win the lottery ain't ever going to happen....

[Cerridwen]

13. Broken link: click, then remove the trailing comma...link should work..n/t

[Cerridwen]

12. He thinks he'll make the top .02 percent...simple as that

He actually believes the "American Dream Myth" that if you work hard enough, you, too can become rich.
He votes accordingly.

As to the rest of "us," oh well, guess we don't work hard enough or we don't have "the grace of god" that allows only the top .02 percent in the u.s. to "succeed;" materially speaking.

It sounds as though he needs his consciousness expanded a bit to include the rest of humankind.

My .02 cents worth.

Hiya Ida, long time no "talk."







:hi: