Pat Buchanan Refuses to Apologize: 'Calling Obama 'Your Boy' Was Not a Slur'
MSNBC's Pat Buchanan refused to apologize Wednesday for telling Al Sharpton that President Barack Obama was his "boy."
"Lemme tell ya, your boy, Barack Obama, caved in on it in 2010 and he’ll cave in on it again," Buchanan had told Sharpton Tuesday.
"Let me clarify something that happened last night on the Al Sharpton show," Buchanan said Wednesday morning on MSNBC. "A very spirited discussion, I was asked who was the big losers in these battles and the big winners, and I said one of the big losers, using boxing terminology, was ‘your boy,’ and I meant the president of the United States."
"Rev. Sharpton said my boy is the president of the United States and he’s doing a rope-a-dope in the Ali fashion and he’s going to finish off your crowd. Now this was taken, some folks took what I said as some kind of slur. None was meant, none was intended, none was delivered, for the record," he added.
Buchanan didn't explain what he had meant Tuesday when he wrote that "the Tea Party 'Hobbits' are indeed returning to Middle Earth -- to nail the coonskin to the wall."
UPDATE: John Amato:
Buchanan knows how to use coded words to make racist points since he's been around the Southern Strategy a long time. And his long history of bigotry is well documented so he's someone that will never get the benefit of the doubt.
And note that he attempted his little crawfish routine on Mark "Obama is a d*ck* Halperin's return from suspension. Birds of a feather flock together, I see.
And David Shuster and Keith Olbermann were run from MSNBC for much pettier offenses...while these clowns cash Phil Griffin's checks. Liberal media, MY ASS.
Anthony
Sorry if I'm missing something, and i know Buchanan's history, but I wasn't offended in the slightest and I think this is just a really weak plank to stand on. It's like when people say "you people" ambiguously and not in any context of race and someone else says "What do you mean 'you people'?!?!
Sometimes the person just means you and people who think like you, not your race... I give Buchanan a pass, we have way bigger things to worry about than this.
I think there's plenty of fodder in Buchanan's recent and not-so-recent history of writing and speaking... just don't think this is among 'em...
As a side note... hobbits returning to Middle Earth to .... WTF? Nail the what to the what????!!!!!
Insulting with the codeword "coon" in the statement, and insulting to anyone who is a follower of Prof. Tolkien's work...
Pat seems to be the sort of bigot I got to know all too well living in Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsfville and Nashville... the sort of bigotry that just goes clean to the bone, and shit just falls out of the mouth without effort or awareness.
In the marketplace of ideas, too many people shop in the bargain basement.
-- Thunder BlueRose
Why, yes, I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU
http://saxman.bravepages.com
Stipulated: Pat Buchanan is a racist shit-weasel.
That said..."nailing the coonskin to the wall" is a hunting term. I don't believe that in this case the reference to "boy" was necessarily meant racially, but with a moron like Buchanan it's hard to tell for sure.
This is a non story. Pat uses that term alot, especially when people are getting under his skin as Al did.
He has said "your boy" in referring to Clinton a number of years ago.
Pat's a racist, of that there is no doubt. He's a dinosaur, but the fact is he didn't mean this comment in the context that everyone is taking.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
I disagree. If you listen to the lazy drawl with which he said "Your boy," it's clear that it's not a "boxing reference" but a racial slur.
What a fucking fool. Hateful bastard has been a chronic racist his entire nasty life and he apologizes for one singular incident?
Some NBC corporate asshole forced this bitter old bigot to make that statement.
False analogy. George Wallace apologized. Try "a Lester Maddox level racist".
Buchanan is such a racist these things just role off his tongue like he is saying, "Howdie mam. Nice to see you. I see your boy is doing a good job of watering the lawn and washing the car and polishing your shoes. It must be nice to have a boy like him around" as the 60 year old man rolls up the hose to put it away. The 60 year old black man.
Having said that I don't think he really meant it in a racist way but it originated way back when as a racist way to say something. It also shows that Buchanan is out of touch. I think he should know that it would get this kind of reaction and I think it is fine to call him out on it because the Right Wing Teabaggers would call somebody out on anything similar that somebody on the left would do like this. We can't let this stuff roll off our backs because we get left behind. This is the way the Right rolls. Never let up. Keep hitting and hitting and hitting. Otherwise we end up like Obama did with this debt ceiling deal. Buchanan is a racist. Even if you think it was innocent maybe it wasn't.
Just a few days ago I emailed MSNBC about Buchanan stating that the Norway shooter was right. I told them I would turn their station back on when he is fired. I don't miss them. I will not generate income for companies that support biggots, lunatics or fools.
I could not get the form to work. Cheap shits.
me-oww!
MSNBC must get rid of this racist, Reslug bastard.
Buchanan's explanation makes it seem as if Sharpton made reference to a boxing analogy first, and Buchanan was just following along.
It wasn't that way at all.
Buchanan's "boy" comment was made first with no discernible analogy to boxing. Sharpton called him on it immediately, and Buchanan then claimed it was a boxing analogy. Only after all of this did Sharpton make any reference to boxing.
Corruption favors the wealthy.
I think Pat's "boy" comment was harmless enough, he has said and written worse.
Quote Pat Buchanan:
"The Day of the Hobbits
by Patrick J. Buchanan
08/02/2011
Mocked by The Wall Street Journal and Sen. John McCain as the little people of the Lord of the Rings books, the Tea Party "Hobbits" are indeed returning to Middle Earth -- to nail the coonskin to the wall."
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=45257
I suppose some would argue that Pat did not mean what he wrote in the context that it appears. Pat has been a public figure for some time now. He should know what phrases are offensive. If he cannot speak in public without using phrases with racial overtones, perhaps he should retire from public life. Or maybe he should be sidelined by those that rely on Pat's opinions for the news they broadcast.
No offense but Pat is a "CrackerAss inbred backwoods racist shitheel". Again... no offense, I'm just sayin".
Buchanan is such a moron; everyone knows Obama is Wall Streets boy.
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
Getting into this stupid dialogue is why the left is dying
I'm not dying, but I couldn't care less about fossilized pundits and generally ignore them.
& (I just wanna see my lotus flower on the board)
far left loon >.<
As one who has practiced Lotus Sutra Buddhism in the past, and incorporates parts thereof in our Wiccan ritual... I'm honored to see your avatar!
In the marketplace of ideas, too many people shop in the bargain basement.
-- Thunder BlueRose
Why, yes, I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU
http://saxman.bravepages.com
...
me-oww!
"fair and balanced" and "both parties do it" yadda yadda...
If a bigoted statement contains any possibility whatsoever of being interpreted or "clarified" as having another, non-bigoted meaning, then not only must the statement be interpreted in the non-bigoted manner, but the person making the statement must also be automatically declared a victim of the shrill whiners complaining of bigotry.
Newton's Second Law: Bigots will look for every opportunity they can find to invoke Newtons First Law.
Corruption favors the wealthy.
I honestly don't believe that this racist old mother fucker was being his usual race hating self in the comment, but with his reputation I understand why anyone would take it as being a bigoted statement.
Buchanan deserves zero benefit of doubt regarding race.
Good job!
and 3 daily hours of that prick Joe Scar. I wrote them for the Buchanan Norway comment, but the form page wouldn't take the thing, I pasted it into an email and sent it to a nightly news at NBC addy and asked them to forward.
I don't know if anyone got it, no one answered, but just quit watching these bitches whose site solicits feedback, but doesn't keep it in working nick so as to accept the feedback it solicits. Shows you how the fuck much Comcast cares about your opinion. Not a bit. And if they can totally stymie your efforts, bigger winning for them.
me-oww!
http://www.mysanantonio.com/mediaManager/?con...
"That's fu*#ing retarded."
Big City Mayor
I heard it to, awkward phrasing it definitely was. Was it a slur or an issue, heck no. Pat while I fully believe given his history and age shows bigoted tendencies, this wasn't one of those times. Can we please get back to real issues such as the president's capitulation yet again to republicans? I would much rather see Keith's special comment get some air time rather than this non issue.
I'm shocked. Usually the first sane post in these kinds of stories is buried under mountains of bullshit condemnation. Thanks for bringing the sanity early!
What means "bullshit condemnation?"
I see folks questioning whether this was an overtly racist comment, or a casual expression by a racist...
Thus far, I see people calling the old fart what he always has been... a racist, nativist bigot with a college degree. Bullshit condemnation? Just calling 'em as I see 'em.
In the marketplace of ideas, too many people shop in the bargain basement.
-- Thunder BlueRose
Why, yes, I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU
http://saxman.bravepages.com
Well if you take the time to look at the comment I was actually responding to, it was
...
Yeah and I have zero regard for how you see it.
Don't like it, bucko? Plenty of other blogs out there for you to make a nuisance of yourself on.
In the marketplace of ideas, too many people shop in the bargain basement.
-- Thunder BlueRose
Why, yes, I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU
http://saxman.bravepages.com
Pat Buchanan is bigoted to the core. Always has been, is now and always will be. While I do not think that using the phrase he used, "your boy" was meant to be racist, it is right to say that Pat Buchanan is a bigot and a racist. I happen to have used that term in jokingly talking to republicans about "their boy" W.
"Now, what I call him off mic, THOSE are slurs."
me-oww!
n/t
In the marketplace of ideas, too many people shop in the bargain basement.
-- Thunder BlueRose
Why, yes, I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU
http://saxman.bravepages.com
quit watching this dick
Which dick should we watch?
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
http://www.uncoverage.net/wp-content/uploads/...
"That's fu*#ing retarded."
Big City Mayor
Pat seems immune from liberal anger. How does he do it? One could assume the TV Network executives approve this disgusting behavior.
Hell, they pay him to do it, finance the mic they give him access to. He speaks for them. They are in 100% agreement with him. They allow him on over and over and over again. It goes without question.
me-oww!
This bigoted racist should be fired..Note that Halprin was setting next to him!!
Geico, Progressive Ins, GM, Urban reverse mortgage, E Trade, American Express, HP, United Healthcare, Gordmans, Bell Plumbing and Heating- Colorado ! A short list....They all have 800 # and email addresses...
Then email the shows he is on and let them know what we are doing! Got to hit them in their pockets!
White supremacists always act as though they are puzzled when everyone hears the dog whistle they blow. It's part of the routine.
I was channel surfing coming back from lunch - wow. At the end Rush guffawed and said something like "hey, I didn't come up the term or make the song."
So, if someone did a song calling the President the "N" word, one could say the same thing. Hey, I didn't invent the term or make the song. Nice. Of course, the accusations of Biden using the word "terrorists" to refer to the Tea Party is just appalling.
As for Pat, he is either racist, ignorant, or both. I don't care if he didn't mean anthing by it - using "your boy" to refer to ANY black man, much less the President, in coversation with another black man in a political debate? Pat, go to Harlem or Compton and throw that word around. Boxing, yeah, right. You'll see a right cross, dude.
I've seen some stuff, man. And some thangs...
Rush, the magic fatboy
Lives by his wits,
He's round and loud and not too bright
And for Godsake, he's got tits.
Rush the magic fatboy
Lucky in many ways
Took lots of drugs and now he's deaf
And can't hear what he says.
Oh, gosh, isn't that funny? Let's hear it for the fat man. Hey, I did write that one, Rush.
I'll just hope that someone is actually monitoring this website. I've been thrown off this site, with a virus message from my computer 2 days in a row. Anyone else having a similar problem? It hasn't been happening anywhere else, so I was just wondering if anyone is experiencing this.
once they were disallowed from calling our president the N word.
People who know of Buchanan know the score.
People who don't, simply don't care.
And racists applaud.
All things considered, he's just a very elderly, soon to be extinct, cipher.
he should aplogize. I watched this when it happened. He offended Reverend Al. Sometimes we make innocent mistakes and there's nothing wrong with apologizing for them. Since Buchanan refuses to apologize, I have to wonder if his remark was intentional. How does any white man expect a black man to react when he says "your boy" to him?
Buchanan comes from an era where blacks didn't question whites, and he doesn't appreciate it today.
The way he used the expression.....it's acceptable. The fact that with this President....all of this "boy" shit is going to cause a ruckus....it was just plain stupid. But then again...Buchanan is pretty well confirmed to be a stupid SOB. It's just "stupid on us" for even having the dumb ass on the networks regularly. Why? He's offensive in nearly every other statement that comes out of his yapper.
"Calling Obama 'your boy' was not a slur"
Obviously annoyed at the level of media attention, Mr Buchanan pulled on his white hood and departed in a waiting limousine.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
This wouldn't be such a problem if the President wasn't so "near".
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
!
Religion will be the downfall of Humanity.
When you've been a racist as long as Pat, you don't even think about what you're saying anymore. As long as he didn't use the "n word", he thinks he's golden.
I agree with Liberal AND Proud above. As much as I dislike P.B. - Rev. Al put "him" on the ropes with their colloquy and the simple old man lost his composure obviously and by saying boy, I believe he was implying "A Lefty". ;-P
A little wisdom I learned as a child... "Sticks & Stones may break my bones...". Save the outrage!
Study the symptoms not the virus...
career playing to the racists in the St. Louis area. I saw the clip and it is clear that from the very beginning he is uncomfortable with Sharpton Sharpton is not white assimilated, he talks black and this makes racists very uncomfortable when they are forced to converse with someone like Sharpton.
Obama is assimilated and not completely black -- not scary -- but Sharpton is the real deal.
I truly think that Pattie was trying to "talk black" you can hear the inflection in his voice get more of a southern tone and he begins to pick up old verbal styles of the south. The man is from the southern Midwest and a devotee of Jim Crow if there ever was one. I don't think the "boy" comment was meant to be a slur, in the south people will often refer to their buddies as "mah boy", I think Pat was trying to "be down" with Sharpton if you will.
Unfortunately, Buchanan lost his bearings and slipped off the rail. There's no doubt he knows damn well the triggers of a white man calling a black man "boy" -- what it means in context and he should have never said it.
What is horrible is that the old bastard won't own up to it and apologize. He's too proud and is hoping he can stand on the "Who me?" pedestal like he has for years when someone other than the team hears the old racist dog whistles.
http://www.buchanan.org
Yikes! A dinosaur good ol' boy for sure.
(However, he does pay lip service in at least one of his "articles" about the debt ceiling/hostage crisis to the need for increasing revenues for the government along with spending cuts...)
I agree with docb above, we should begin a letter writing campaign to the advertisers on MSNBC.
Religion will be the downfall of Humanity.
I would argue that Obama is 98% Pat Buchanan's "boy", according to Boehner who admitted he got "98%" of what he wanted when Obama caved in completely to Republicans.
I doubt that Sharpton considers Obama his "boy" since the black unemployment rate is twice that of whites.
I agree that Obama needs to "man up," but that has nothing to do with his skin color and more related to what's missing between his legs.
"When you're president -- as opposed the head of a private equity firm -- your job is not simply to maximize profits. Your job is to figure out how everybody in the country has a fair shot." - President Barack Obama
Yes Pat Buchanan is a racist 98% of the time. He is slime. But in this context that really isn't a slur. If he just called President Obama a boy (like "people" like Rush has many times) that would be a racist slur but in the way the word was used this case it isn't.
Obama has been called absolutely everything since his election. He has had horrible caricatures drawn, awful racist jokes told about him, called the "magic Negro", a tar baby, and worse. This old fart can't even keep up anymore. He's going to be in the Old Pundit's Home soon, where he can converse with the likes of George Will, Charles Krauthammer, and all the other has beens who really never were. I'm not speaking for the President, but I'd take bets that this is the least of his worries this week.
That said, if I ran MSNBC for 15 minutes, his would be one of the pink slips I'd send, just on general principle.
I still walk away from any stupidity that the Buchanan's bring to any conversation.... This is George Wallace and Strom Thurmond at their best.
Dinosaurs should stay petrified.
i will never again be on it
I noticed the look on Buchanan's face when he first said it , "your boy" , instantaneously he knew that he'd made a boo boo , to be fair I don't think it was a racist comment , obvious to me that it was just a gaffe ... but what the heck , have fun .
"The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all."
How sweet.
How about these gaffes:
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201108020025
From Media Matters:
"In his writings and television appearances, Pat Buchanan has a long history of bigotry. Buchanan's efforts have found a fan base with a certain fringe segment of the country: white nationalists. A Media Matters review of some of the largest white nationalist groups shows that Buchanan's work is frequently cited and praised."
the shoe fits. I'm sorry but saying "your boy" is not a racial slur. Now the Obamabots feel they have to protect "their boy" at every turn. Well, go ahead, because the bottom line is "your boy" continuously caves to the GOP and tries to shove it down my throat as compromise. "Your boy", Mr. Sharpton, has to grow a pair or just become a card carrying member of the GOP!
I can understand why people would think Pat was using slur. He's said stuff before that was even more obviously racist. However I don't know that I would make too huge an issue of it with Pat on this particular phrase, I've heard him use "your boys" a number of times when it did not involve black people.
True southern people using that phraseology can get into trouble quick in certain circumstances, it also however is a phrase that was commonly used by people who lived during WWI and WWII. Idioms like Great guns, gang busters, and your boys were often used during these times in under more harmless settings. We've reached a point where too many people overly insensitive and too many people are overly sensitive.
Goodnight, Frau Blücher
disgusting about this slur was how Buchanan turned up the Souther drawl for the word "boy". Then spoke about Obama getting a "whipping".
Here are the clips:
http://raginggurrl.blogspot.com/2011/08/pat-b...
Comments are closed on this entry