“Hip-Hop-Dancing Colin Powell..."

[Inyri]

You can't call the people whom wrote a news story racist because they quoted what was actually said, see the lines in quotation marks.

Powell -- who has yet to back a candidate -- told the audience: "I stand before you as an African-American. Many people have said to me you became secretary of state of the USA, is it still necessary to say that you are an African American or that you are black? And I say yes, so that we can remind our children."

Hey, maybe I missed it -- can you enlighten me? Where in that quote does Colin Powell say "And obviously I'm voting for Obama because I'm black"?

[ET Warrior]

I can call an article racist when it insinuates the Collin Powell dancing Hip-Hop is somehow indicative of who he is going to vote for, because so far in all of the debates I have heard no mention from Obama about his stance on Hip-Hop and therefore see no reason to draw that conclusion unless you're going to assume it's a 'black thing'.

[mimartin]

The article seem to jump to conclusions based strictly on race.

 

1. African American = Vote For African American

2. Attends celebration entitled “Africa Rising” = Vote For African American.

3. Dancing Hip-Hop with young men of African descent = Vote For African American.

 

No really, a story whose only ill-conceived sources are purely race base speculation should not be considered racist.

[GarfieldJL]

I can call an article racist when it insinuates the Collin Powell dancing Hip-Hop is somehow indicative of who he is going to vote for, because so far in all of the debates I have heard no mention from Obama about his stance on Hip-Hop and therefore see no reason to draw that conclusion unless you're going to assume it's a 'black thing'.

 

Study the demographics from the primaries as to the breakdown of who voted for Obama and who voted for Hillary.

 

Fact is, there are people voting for Obama just because of skin color, just like there are people that are voting against him just because of skin color.

 

Fact is if this had been some white guy potentially supporting McCain because of McCain's skin color, you guys would be calling that person racist.

 

Personally, the race card has been played too many times this election to mean anything at this point except an attempt to intimidate people.

 

The article was going off of polling data among different demographics as well as data from the primaries.

 

Could the article have been worded better, yes it could have.

[mimartin]

 

Could you please read the original post and edit your remarks accordingly. Again, there are already threads in this very forum dedicated to those topics and threads that are not dedicated to those topics but that have became inundated with those topics. I wish this thread to stay on topic and not become about Obama or McCain. This article has nothing to do with either beyond the speculation that Powell may endorse Obama.

 

Thank You.

[GarfieldJL]

Could you please read the original post and edit you remarks accordingly. Again, there are already threads in this very forum dedicated to those topics and threads that are not dedicated to those topics but that have became indicated with those topics. I wish this thread to stay on topic and not about Obama or McCain. This article has nothing to do with either beyond the speculation that Powell may endorse Obama.

 

I'm giving a reference to the most recent example of overplaying the race card that I can think of. People are a little too quick these days to call someone a racist. As well as being a little too quick to call something offensive.

 

Because unless you're saying the article is racist, there is nothing there to claim that the article is offensive.

[True_Avery]

Fact is, there are people voting for Obama just because of skin color, just like there are people that are voting against him just because of skin color.

Quoted for emphasis.

 

The article wasn't offensive. He went up on stage in support of African Americans, then danced.

 

That's it. I'm sorry, but supporting the African Americans doesn't instantly make you a liberal/left-wing. You can support a group and still be a republican, and still vote republican.

 

Is he going to vote for Obama because of his skin color? I don't know, and I frankly find it silly that any of you care. I've heard worse reasons for voting.

 

Fact is if this had been some white guy potentially supporting McCain because of McCain's skin color, you guys would be calling that person racist.

The most intelligent thing I've heard all day. (Not being sarcastic)

 

The article wasn't racist though, people have called McCain a racist for pointing out Obama's connections to William Ayers, so my question would be is the race card being overused to the point it has no meaning other than intimidation?

At this point, yes. At the beginning of his run I'd say that the card had a valid use, but it seems to be now just something to throw out as an excuse to say "You're racist!"

 

Considering Obama has a chance to be president, I'd say that the actual racists don't have as much power as they think they do.

 

Here, let me point out something out:

 

"Many political analysts -- including Zbigniew Brzezinski, Robert Novak and William Kristol -- have predicted that Powell, who was secretary of state under President Bush, will back the Democrat in the race."

Political analysts.

 

I don't know about you, but they are often very incompetent people who are paid to sit down and talk about what they believe. Take their beliefs with as much salt as you would a Kavar's post.

 

And, again, they are poltical analysts. The article pointed out their opinion; making them the "racists", not the article.

 

Here is another quote:

"Powell has said in the past that he has been hesitant to make an endorsement until he hears more from both candidates."

There, two opposing parts in the article, making it break even on the bias scale.

 

So... why are we talking about this again? Seems to me you all are now just finding excuses to point fingers.

[mimartin]

The article wasn't offensive. He went up on stage in support of African Americans, then danced. [/Quote] I see nothing offensive about that. The part I'm offended by is the article’s leap in logic that by dancing and attending a celebration of African heritage Colin Powell is going to endorse Obama. Does anyone really believe if Powell was about to endorse McCain we would have seen the same article with the title “Hip-Hop Dancing Colin Powell Fuels Speculation He’ll Endorse McCain”?

 

I not pointing fingers at either side as they have nothing to do with this. My problem is only with the article.

 

Because unless you're saying the article is racist, there is nothing there to claim that the article is offensive.

I called it racist and I am offended by it.

[GarfieldJL]

I see nothing offensive about that. The part I'm offended by is the article’s leap in logic that by dancing and attending a celebration of African heritage Colin Powell is going to endorse Obama. Does anyone really believe if Powell was about to endorse McCain we would have seen the same article with the title “Hip-Hop Dancing Colin Powell Fuels Speculation He’ll Endorse McCain”?

 

Uh huh, except as True_Avery pointed out:

 

"Many political analysts -- including Zbigniew Brzezinski, Robert Novak and William Kristol -- have predicted that Powell, who was secretary of state under President Bush, will back the Democrat in the race."

Political analysts.

 

I don't know about you, but they are often very incompetent people who are paid to sit down and talk about what they believe. Take their beliefs with as much salt as you would a Kavar's post.

 

And, again, they are poltical analysts. The article pointed out their opinion; making them the "racists", not the article.

 

 

I not pointing fingers at either side as they have nothing to do with this. My problem is only with the article.

 

And I'm saying that there is nothing there to say the article is racist as True_Avery pointed out. They're just quoting stuff and quoting some political analysts, which is how the story is being presented.

 

I called it racist and I am offended by it.

 

Quoting people in a news article and pointing out what political analysts are saying doesn't make the article racist. If anyone was racist it would be the analysts.

[mimartin]

Does anyone really believe if Powell was about to endorse McCain we would have seen the same article with the title “Hip-Hop Dancing Colin Powell Fuels Speculation He’ll Endorse McCain”?[/Quote] Your reply does nothing to explain the title of the article or answer this question.

[GarfieldJL]

Your reply does nothing to explain the title of the article or answer this question.

 

I don't really get what is racist about the title, nor do I get the offensive part.

[True_Avery]

Your reply does nothing to explain the title of the article or answer this question.

It is an article title. Are we so desperate to nit-pick that we are going to debate about a title to an article that is not racist?

 

"Hip-Hop Dancing Colin Powell Fuels Speculation He’ll Endorse Obama"

 

1) He's Colin Powell

 

2) He did in fact Hip-Hop dance.

 

3) His dancing fueled speculation by a few political analysts.

"Many political analysts -- including Zbigniew Brzezinski, Robert Novak and William Kristol -- have predicted that Powell, who was secretary of state under President Bush, will back the Democrat in the race."

 

4) And, finally, why do we care who he votes for?

 

The title is fitting for what the article offers.

[Corinthian]

"I stand before you as an African-American. Many people have said to me you became secretary of state of the USA, is it still necessary to say that you are an African American or that you are black? And I say yes, so that we can remind our children."

 

It wasn't the Hip-Hop Dance. The title of the article is just something to catch the eye. Hell it caught my eye.

[ET Warrior]

Except the article attempts to draw a correlation between the Hip-Hop dancing and the speculation of who he will support. None of the speculation I've seen about it has indicated that they were swayed by his hiphopping, EXCEPT for that article.

[mimartin]

Fair enough, you don’t see any racism. Your saying it is not there or my saying it is there does not make either true. Just because I respect True_Avery’s opinion does not mean I agree with her in this case.

 

I am still offended by the article because I know we would never see the title“Hip-Hop Dancing Colin Powell Fuels Speculation He’ll Endorse McCain out of Fox News. Am I saying the author is a racist? No. I am saying the article is either racist or it is an attempt to smear Colin Powell before he possibly endorses Obama. So to me, either Fox News website is either bias or racist. I only see two options.

[True_Avery]

Just because I respect True_Avery’s opinion does not mean I agree with her in this case.

Why thank you

 

I am still offended by the article because I know we would never see the title“Hip-Hop Dancing Colin Powell Fuels Speculation He’ll Endorse McCain out of Fox News. Am I saying the author is a racist? No. I am saying the article is either racist or it is an attempt to smear Colin Powell before he possibly endorses Obama. So to me, either Fox News website is either bias or racist. I only see two options.

Hm, fair enough.

 

I guess it depends on context. The title looks harmless enough, but I can see how it could be an attempt to call him out on it. I'd be more offended by it if the actual article was a smear, but from what I see its pretty tame.

 

Its definitely a title meant to catch the eye, as It seemed to catch all of our attention.

 

Being that it seems to have been made to reel people in, grabbing the bait and letting it pull you in seems like a waste of time. Sure, it might be offensive, but that may have been the intended feel in order to get people talking about it.

 

In that respect, it seems to have worked. Although I'm not one to talk, considering I'm here posting in this thread

[Corinthian]

Daggers in every shadow much?

[GarfieldJL]

Except the article attempts to draw a correlation between the Hip-Hop dancing and the speculation of who he will support. None of the speculation I've seen about it has indicated that they were swayed by his hiphopping, EXCEPT for that article.

 

And what exactly does that have to do with race? There are people of every race that dances to hip-hop.

 

It's an eye catching title, but Powell was dancing to hip-hop so it's accurate, there isn't any racial undertone.

 

Being that it seems to have been made to reel people in, grabbing the bait and letting it pull you in seems like a waste of time. Sure, it might be offensive, but that may have been the intended feel in order to get people talking about it.

 

Actually the accusation that it was racist is more than a bit of a stretch to begin with.

[Achilles]

Except the article attempts to draw a correlation between the Hip-Hop dancing and the speculation of who he will support. None of the speculation I've seen about it has indicated that they were swayed by his hiphopping, EXCEPT for that article.

Agreed, however I also think this post completely ignores the use of unnecessary race cues such as the mention of event (Africa Rising). I guess I'm still struggling to understand how "Colin Powell showed off his hip-hop moves at an 'Africa Rising' celebration in London Tuesday" is related to "fueling speculation that the former secretary of state is about to endorse Barack Obama for president."

 

It's a complete non sequitur. Here are some more:

 

"Colin Powell showed off his hip-hop moves at an 'Africa Rising' celebration in London Tuesday, fueling speculation that he wants to enslave the white race."

 

"Colin Powell showed off his hip-hop moves at an 'Africa Rising' celebration in London Tuesday, fueling speculation that he and Condolezza Rice are having an extra-marital affair."

 

"Colin Powell showed off his hip-hop moves at an 'Africa Rising' celebration in London Tuesday, fueling speculation that aliens will invade our planet next Wednesday."

 

I want to amend mimartin's ground rules for this thread so that every post for this one forward must include a non sequitur argument (using the format above). At the end of the thread, GarfieldJL will commit the list to memory and then recite it for Bill O'Reilly (using a spoken-word format complete with bongo drums and hemp pants) on Election Day. All in favor?

[Corinthian]

True, Garfield, people from all races dance Hip-Hop, but only blacks don't look completely stupid doing it.

[KinchyB]

Actually the accusation that it was racist is more than a bit of a stretch to begin with.

 

Let's see...

 

Colin Powell has his dancing shoes on, fueling speculation that he's gearing up to do the Obama Two-Step.

 

These two things have absolutely nothing to do with each other, but let's see where the article takes us...

 

the Joint Chiefs of Staff performed an impromptu hip-hop dance alongside well-known rap stars Tuesday following a speech at a festival in London celebrating African-American music and fashion.

 

They make note of the African-American music and fashion festival, alongside rap stars... As that is the only music African-Americans listen to apparently. Other mentions of either musicians or fashion would help, but instead they go with rap... a traditional african american stereotype...

 

Powell -- who has yet to back a candidate -- told the audience:

 

Again, has nothing to do with the festival at all. They are really reaching to make this political.

 

"I stand before you as an African-American. Many people have said to me you became secretary of state of the USA, is it still necessary to say that you are an African American or that you are black? And I say yes, so that we can remind our children."

 

Not 100% sure why they choose this specific phrase as it points out that he is indeed African American, and is proud of the fact. Okay...not sure why this particular phrase is relevant to who he is picking for president as it discusses his positino in the current government (among other things as well if they actually took the time to quote anything else from his speech...link to more info on his speech in the bullet points at the end). Okay, let's continue...

 

Powell has said in the past that he has been hesitant to make an endorsement until he hears more from both candidates.

 

Arg, went from pres campaign, to festival, to the current government, now back to the campaign... article is somewhat skitzophranic... kinda like my ex-gf but compared to her the article actually makes sense so I digress as i'm still not sure what the article is about. Continuing...

 

Political pundits have speculated that his endorsement might come shortly after Wednesday night's presidential debate at Hofstra University, during which both Obama and John McCain will square off on domestic issues.

 

More campaign stuff... blah....

 

Many political analysts -- including Zbigniew Brzezinski, Robert Novak and William Kristol -- have predicted that Powell, who was secretary of state under President Bush, will back the Democrat in the race.

 

Okay, so now they are speculating that he's endorsing Obama even though he hasn't given any indication in the least as to who he is voting for. They did site some names here though which helps, but they are definitely doing they part in re-enforcing the idea that he is going with Obama with this article...

 

After Powell's address to the audience, he took center stage -- dressed in a suit and tie -- to show off his hip-hop dance moves.

 

Okay, back to the festival... making a note that Powell was center stage, in a suit and tie, and he danced hip-hop!!

 

Oh...and the summary at the top...

 

Colin Powell showed off his hip-hop moves at an 'Africa Rising' celebration in London Tuesday, fueling speculation that the former secretary of state is about to endorse Barack Obama for president.

 

1. Referring to the summary above...Africa Rising is in quotation... that's odd and the radar is going off a bit... especially since the full name is the Africa Rising Festival. So what's up with Africa Rising?! Leaning towards racist... but let's continue
    
   
2. They bring powell hip hop dancing, well known rap starts, and an african music and fashion festival all together in one nice neat sentence. What do they have to do with each other? Well, it is a music festival, they is hip hop there hence the rappers, and Powell is dancing. Great!! That's not bad, but wait... no mention of other performers, other dancers, or even fashion even though is explicitly stated in the sentence. It does draw on the stereotype of african americans liking rap (and in this case only rap) and that they all, no matter the age, can dance hip hop. That's kinda odd... granted not completely racist but definitely leaning that way.
    
   
3. They do make sure to mention Powell being proud that he is black though... I'm really trying to see where that fits in... but it doesn't in any way, shape, or form. In fact this quote adds nothing to the article and is completely unneeded to re-enforce any legitamate point in the article. The only thing it notes is that Powell is proud to be black. In fact, this was the only thing they took from his speech... link (part of it but also discusses other talking points) ... so they cherry picked this one specifically for impact... racist... yes.
    
   
4. The political points are completely useless in this article. They have no point and no relation. The only relation is that both Colin Powell and Barack Obama are black. If this were just an article about what Powell is going to do fine that's not racist, but unfortunately the article falls far short of that.
   

 

In conclusion...

 

They talk about classic african american stereotypes ignoring everything else that went on during this festival. They did manage part of the full name of the festival but put in quotes two specific words... Africa Rising. They emphasize a part of what Powell that discusses race specifically but do not mention anything else he discussed. Then they throw in politics by trying to show that Powell is endorsing Obama... how... because he's at an african american festival, dancing hip hop, talking with rap stars, and making a speech about being black.

 

Yes, this article is racist.

 

 

P.S....@achilles "Colin Powell showed off his hip-hop moves at an 'Africa Rising' celebration in London Tuesday, fueling speculation that one day logical fallacies will indeed come to an end."

[Corinthian]

Are you serious, Kinchy? Let's start with your four points.

 

1: Oh. My. Lord. They did not put the word FESTIVAL in there. RACISTS. BURN THE RACISTS. Did you take lessons on how to flip out over nothing?

 

2: Uh, no. It says 'Colin Powell danced hip-hop.' Which he apparently did. Although probably quite badly and ridiculously. Projecting much?

 

3: That's the kind of thing that's going to fuel speculation, especially given there's also a lot of speculation that Obama is getting a large number of votes from people who are only interested in him being Black.

 

4: Yep. You're right.

 

The article is pretty horrendous, but come on, painting it as a racist diatribe against the black community is stretching.

[Tommycat]

Could it be because a vast majority of the African Americans are voting for Obama that him dancing with them may be seen as a possible trend towards an Obama endorsement. See unlike Whites, the African American community isn't split nearly 50/50. That community is near 98% for Obama. To be honest, that smacks of racism more than anything. If 98% of white voters were going to McCain, and Powell had been at a white festival(hah as if) it would fuel speculation that he was going to endorse McCain. Him attending a festival with a large majority of Obama supporters tends to lend credence to the speculation that he will endorse Obama.

 

Powell emphasizing his being black can be seem as him being with the majority of the black community.

 

Personally, it would be more likely to turn more Fox viewers towards voting for Obama anyway. Most of us have a deep respect for Powell. Even when the African American community was calling him an Oreo(no, that's not racist at all), I respected him. Of course it could also be Powell trying to show that just because he supports the Republicans that doesn't mean he's any less black(considdering the criticism he's had over the years, that may be what he's doing). But either way, the article itself isn't racist. If you see him at an NRA meeting palling around, it'll fuel speculation he's endorsing McCain.

[Corinthian]

He could prove he's black a lot better than by dancing badly.

[Tommycat]

He could prove he's black a lot better than by dancing badly.

 

Well I was talking more about his speech than his dance afterwards. Besides.. are you saying that blacks can't dance badly?