No one can argue that Dan Rather is one of the legends of broadcast television. The only blemish in his spectacular CBS career the uncovering of his use of false sources during a 60 Minutes investigation into President George W. Bush’s Air National Guard service. Rather has blundered again.
On a recent edition of The Chris Matthews Show, Rather made a remark about President Obama and his current healthcare proposal stating that ‘Obama couldn’t sell watermelons’. In this over so increasing politically and morally concious world, his remarks were taken as racist and Rather has made an apology.
Rather was referencing Obama’s plea to Republicans to have the healthcare plan passed. Though he stated that Obama was a nice person, he went on to say ‘even if he had state troopers flagging down traffic, he still wouldn’t be able to sell watermelons’. Rather went on the popular website The Huffington Post and issued an apology. He said that his remarks were taken out of context and that he had a good record of covering the Civil Rights Movement back in the 1960′s. He also stated that the Civil Rights Movement was one of the first assignments that he had as an early journalist in Texas.
I am astonished that he did not say “I have Black friends”?
I have no doubt Rather meant nothing untoward w/ his remark. But, had Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck made this comment, they would be getting skewered. Mercilessly and endlessly. If the left says it, it is just a poor choice of words. If the right says it, it is sheer, unadulterated racism.
What’s worse is the author referring to the Huffington Post as a popular website. Funny. I looked and couldn’t find it in the top 128 websites visited in the U.S. It might be the 129th, but the list stopped at 128. That’s popular?
The moral: Hold your breath waiting for the left to behave honorably and honestly and see what happens. My money’s on unconciousness.
His age and Texas culture may have something to do with the “watermelon” connection. Watermelon was associated with the “minstrel” or “coon” entertainment culture of both North and South.
However, let’s look at another side of the watermelon phenomenon. The South is hot during summer months. For both poor blacks and poor whites, watermelon was the bottled water of the day. It was cheap. It also was a great and instant source not only of hydration but potassium. It’s these two latter elements that are most compelling. Alas, the “coon eating watermelon” caught on and has stuck around. So Rather’s age and Texas culture has something to do with it. He doubtless has family members who regularly to this day employ the “n” word. So let’s get real!
Dave, although conservatives like to pretend they have a patent on morality, neither party is full of saints. There are xenophobes on both sides.
I don’t really have an opinion on Dan Rather other than considering his age, I’m willing to bet he’s used a slur or two in his day and meant it. Same as Harry Reid
Solip…I think you’re on to something. Both Rather and Reid were born under segregation and doubtless had any problem with it. After all, it was a way of life. Reid, for example, belonged to a religion that long held toxic points of view of “the Negro male.” Moreover, Nevada, as described in many a documentary, was at one time considered the Mississippi of the West. Again, let’s get real!
There is always those people who “ASS UME” what someone meant by their comment. Watermelon is not a dirty word! This kind of thinking is what could be wrong with this nation.
Watermelon , no matter how you take it….when a black is invloved, is racism comments from whites.
Rader did not make this statement when Bush was in the Whitehouse messing up all the way.
Let’s remember the more accurate and updated definition of racist:
Racist: 1. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive term for a white person. 2: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities, if promoted by white people. 3: a belief that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race, if promoted by white people.
I note that this is a Canadian site, so I will give an example that Canadians can relate to. I learned, in many visits to Quebec, that one of the derogatory ways an Anglophone refers to a Francophone is by calling him or her a “Pepsi” (I guess that the opinion is that French speakers like Pepsi Cola). Rather’s comments would be like a Canadian journalist saying Jean Charest couldn’t sell Pepsi.
I love it when Canadians try to preach ethnic morality. The worst cases of ethnic discrimination that I have ever witnessed is English Canadians treatment of French Canadians. It’s no wonder that many Quebecois want to form their own nation. Good for them!
So if a person is black and a white person happens to use use the word watermelon and the black person’s name in the same sentence it automatically becomes a racial issue? Absurd!! I am disappointed that Dan Rather has apologized!
Now we have black history month, black beauty pageants, NAACP which is a black organization and on and on. If white people ever tried this and called anything white etc. the world would stop spinning!! These sensitive and oportunistic people need to grow up!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am not going to walk on egg shells!
Kay, you’re probably going to get slapped before you close your eyes. Go into a black neighbor hood and strike up a conversation about watermelon and let’s see how far you get.
Good for your comments. I, a white person agree with you.
Right on Kay!
freud said, “sometimes a cigar is just a cigar”.
What is wrong with? Guess he hit it where it hurts most – TRUTH!
Rather is such old news I’m amazed anyone even cares.
I care. Rather might old but he normally gets it right.
Oh, and one other thing: I always thought that Dan Rather was horse’s ass. I felt that he always believed that at least one half of the news story was about him. I am, quite frankly, tired of watching television news and seeing a personality who feels that what they offer is the gospel. Dan Rather was always one of these types of journalists. I am extremely happy that he is no longer on the air, and I am extremely happy that he lost his lawsuit against CBS.
Not that I even care to defend Dan Rather but so what if he inadvertently made a racist comment. All kinds of blatent racist comments are made all the time by spoksmen for a variety of “minority groups” that are of no consequence to those who make them. They are even encouraged to make them.
Regardless of what so many try to pretend; there is not a single person on this planet who is not racist in some way and those who protest the most vigorusly that they are not are probably most racist of all. Tell me your not racist and I’ll tell you your a liar.
One thing I can bet Roy,,, you are a racist….
Roy
So well put the truth always hurts
Everyone gets so butt hurt these days about this about that get a life and forget the small stuff
and yes i am racist about a few things that go
on with the so called goverment what a joke its
more like ringling bros circus
The bottom line is …..”Get over it people….our president is here and they need to stop embarrassing the nation” They are so concerned about themselves and their interest that they are over looking the important issues at hand! Please get a life!
First off I would like to say to this “Kay” person whom ever she is, You are taking aim at a lot of things such as the NAACP and it seems to me you know nothing at all about them and is working very quickly to shut them down. You never cared to mention whom but these Groups up and you also fail to mention why we Celebrate Black History Month therefore you should be the very first one that should be able to understand why Real Human Beings is going to call Dan Rather’s Comments Racist, It’s not just because he said it, It’s also because of those like you. Want to shut something down because it was brought up for those of Color but yet you fail very badly to understand what the NAACP is and just what they do as well as all these other things you mention. It’s not because of African Americans that we have the NAACP it’s because of those like the KKK that we have Groups like this and we Celebrate Black History Month. If you are going to tell something tell it like it is because Sugar Coating isn’t getting anyone into the Gates of Heaven. I see so many on here taking up for Dan and guess what you are a Racist for standing by someone that said something he should not have said. It’s not really about Dan saying it to be a Racist about it because it all boils down to he said something that he should have just kept to his self being a Professional. This may not be a comment on Race but it is a comment on bad choice of words and this is something everyone must own up to because it’s reality. I feel sorry for those that think those like Rush and Beck as well as Fox News Channel as a whole is doing good in this Country when they are promoting Hate and Racism and the “Fact” that they are doing these things Unmasked unlike some that hide theirs. It’s people like this the reason we deal with School Shootings and for you to say Rush, Even Dan is not in the wrong you are only Promoting more School Shootings. You should think about this the next time your Child didn’t make it Home because of a School Shooting, I know I might sounded way to Hash for you on that Note but so are those like Pat, Rush and Glenn as well as Fox News Channel them self as a whole. No question about it the Watermelon Saga is something Dan should have kept to his self though I’m glad he didn’t because though we don’t need this type of thing in this World it’s still good to see when people come out of the Closet with it so we will know them and just whom to stay away from.
What you said does not make sense!
TJ high tec
Try to read and understand what Kay is saying–one more time. BTW the conseverative talk show hosts you mentioned are not racists. It’s people like you TJ that makes some people racist. Go back to school and learn to say what you mean. What a mess!