We all saw Drudge’s headline yesterday which linked to a video of a black woman saying that she’ll vote for Obama because he provides her and every other minority in Cleveland with a cell phone.
Cord Jefferson and Dave Weigel weigh in on Drudge’s history of anti-black yellow journalism. Both point out that the Lifeline Assistance program through which the woman and all of her neighbors have probably obtained their cell phones was instituted by Ronald Reagan. It is part of the Universal Service Fund program stretching back to FDR in which the government subsidized access to phones for people who lived in rural areas or who couldn’t afford phones or who needed access to 911 services. Today as the scope of the program expands (as all government programs do) the program is also aimed at helping people whose income falls near the poverty line. They are given the phones in order to have the ability to search for jobs and do other similar pro-social things.
Which brings up the question – why is this woman celebrating receiving a cell phone as a gift from Obama when it is not actually a gift from Obama? Would this be under discussion if the woman weren’t so ignorant? Jefferson mentions this:
It is sort of sad that the woman in Drudge’s “Obama phone” video has no idea that her free cell phone has nothing to do with Obama. But conservatives who would try and hold her up as an example of a liberal president gone wild with handouts are just as sad and ignorant, and more cruel by a large margin.
Trust that a similar video from a redneck who supported Romney would make the rounds if liberals could get hold of one.
But what I think is most interesting about this video is that it fits the narrative that Obama’s base believes he is the Messiah. The video of this woman is really no different than the disgusting montage of Hollywood celebrities during the ’08 campaign vowing to serve the President. To carry forth the political metaphor of government as disciplinary father or government as doting, supportive mother: this particular woman, whose views are more common than Weigel or Jefferson will admit, is happy not only because she gets a phone but also because the phone comes without judgment.
Mitt Romney tried to articulate what this woman represents in his remarks on the 47%. It isn’t really about how much individuals are making or taking, it’s more about the normalization of the maker ethos or the taker ethos. This particular video along with the one in which another black woman expressed joy that the newly elected Obama would help her pay her mortgage mixes with the general belief held by conservatives that the hypothetical unchecked Obama would push even more welfare support. The belief is also that he is much less critical of these types of supports than a Bill Clinton and certainly a Mitt Romney.
The attitude which has either been created by Obama or which is somehow attached to him is that he offers not only goodies but also that grabbing for goodies is a socially acceptable behavior.
Conservatives in the past have support social welfare programs. That’s no secret. But the stigma against such reliance existed alongside the actual program. It was never something that anyone would openly and proudly admit to taking part in. The video of the woman reminds us that there is a constituency which is not ashamed of its reliance on government. When welfare has ever been discussed in relation to a particular race, it is framed as something that many black people need in order to overcome pre-existing social obstacles. Therefore, welfare programs are considered more central to the black experience. It has therefore become more normalized to the black experience, and this was not how conservatives envisioned welfare to be used.
It is not viewed as a bridge to a better future or temporary relief. The bi-partisan TANF program is an example. Instead, we’re reminded that many view welfare and free phones as a way of life, as an end in itself. And the feeling is that an Obama presidency has fostered an environment in which that has become an acceptable lifestyle rather than a temporary hold up which individuals are striving to overcome.
The program was started under Reagan, but expanded greatly under Obama (by design) in the same way that he’s attempted to expand welfare rolls by “outreach” and relaxation of rules.
The program has expanded 300% since Obama got into office, and the Obama regime has not shied away from the popularization of the term “Obama phone”. I remember first reading about this back when the “Peggy Joseph” video went viral on youtube.
Reagan didn’t have congress, so he had to do some horsetrading. Also, as Camlost said, it’s been hugely expanded under Obama. (As has all spending. Gotta keep those printing presses going.)
That’s what I don’t get about this election. Romney sucks and is possibly the study I candidate ever -which shouldn’t matter but it does because people want a story, not to hire the best available manager – but he doesn’t want to transform America into a full-blown social democracy. Obama is working to turn us into Greece and so many people are apathetic about it. This isn’t the most important election ever, but it damn sure matters.
I think Obama should reward this woman for her endorsement with an invitation to the White House. There is a similar video of Republicans in Arkansas made by Nancy Pelosi’s daughter. They all have a completely different mentality, government handouts weaken character.
Ulysses said: “Reagan didn’t have congress, so he had to do some horsetrading. Also, as Camlost said, it’s been hugely expanded under Obama. (As has all spending. Gotta keep those printing presses going.)
“Conservatives in the past have support social welfare programs. That’s no secret. But the stigma against such reliance existed alongside the actual program. It was never something that anyone would openly and proudly admit to taking part in.”
True. On one hand they (conservatives) know that they have to support these programs, but they know that they have to degrade the people who receive help from these programs too.
Years ago, Piven and Cloward wrote Regulating the Poor: The Functions of Public Welfare, which is still classic, must-read material for anyone who wants to understand how welfare has worked in this country to be used to 1) simultaneously hold certain groups of people up for public degradation in order to enforce the work ethic (you give out welfare because every system MUST to certain degree, but at the same time you talk as badly as you can about those people publicly in order to keep the number of people who need help from asking for it) and 2) welfare is given out during times of civil unrest to squelch any threat that the people might rise and combine forces to push the government even further towards socialism or communism.
Also, if you are looking for a video of poor white people who will be supporting Romney, here it is:
Ah, yes. Glad to see fiscal numerology (The fine art of contorting the numbers until they don’t mean a damn thing, then claiming the other side as ignorant when they point this out) is once again in vogue.
How do white people navigate the political world today when there are growing non-white populations in America who are using political parties to ride their racial agenda? Right and left politics like many things was born in Europe with a 100% European population. Right and left politics can coexist among white people. White people don’t have the luxury anymore of thinking in political concepts when non-white populations use the political system to fulfill their racial agenda.
LOL, gets no credit for any of that. That link from Forbes means nothing. All of those prior Presidents generally presided over times of economic expansion.
When tax revenues are way, way down and the economy is shriniking you’re supposed to reign in spending.
The reality is that Obama actually envisioned much more size, scope and bureaucracy to accompany every one of the big government pet projects that have been passed during his first term (stimulus, Obamacare). He had to compromise on every single one to get them through Congress, even while the Democrats controlled both houses. The only place he gets even a smidgeon of fiscal credit is in reducing monthly war expenditures, which really needed to come down after the war mongering of Bush 2.
Obama isn’t particularly black, except in his money management. When it comes to money, he’s all about “making it rain” and throwing around the $$ dollars today while letting someone else (the white man) figure out how to pay for it all later.
@Jamila: “who-is-the-smallest-government-spender-since-eisenhower-would-you-believe-its-barack-obama”
I might, if he hadn’t doubled the national debt from $8 trillion to $16 trillion in less than 4 years. But since he has, then, no, I cannot believe that. OTOH, if a certain “somone” were to hook me up with 40 Ounces and a Phone, I might be willing to ignore reality. At least until the buzz wore off.
That’s all you got, Soldier?? How you go lead a Army of Brothas with that weakass shit? How about some explainitude, like “white people take more welfare, to make sho they aint none left fo Blacks”
or, “white women use welfare because Black Men are attracted to their EBT cards, and Laws knows white women loves to fuck Black Men”
or, “white people use more welfare, in total dollars, because they outnumber all other groups; however, on a per-capita basis, Blacks take more welfare. Because they entitled to it.”
“I might, if he hadn’t doubled the national debt from $8 trillion to $16 trillion in less than 4 years. But since he has, then, no, I cannot believe that.”
whether you believe it or not is of no consequence.
the reason the debt has risen is because of decreasing tax revenues, mandatory entitlement spending, and rising health care costs, not because of increased discretionary spending. obama wanted to spend more, but the republicans in congress have prevented him from doing so.
Outstanding Sir. Move your operations to smoke out racists night. Anti-Racist delivers armor plated logic and facts. racists may run but they cant stand up to your virility of a Victorious Soldier. One additional directive Anti-Racist. We will watch you comment at day too. Justice demands it and we all serve Justice. You will not malinger.
The program was started under Reagan, but expanded greatly under Obama (by design) in the same way that he’s attempted to expand welfare rolls by “outreach” and relaxation of rules.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/where-do-obama-phones-come-from/article/2509203
The program has expanded 300% since Obama got into office, and the Obama regime has not shied away from the popularization of the term “Obama phone”. I remember first reading about this back when the “Peggy Joseph” video went viral on youtube.
Now we have an ever funnier viral video.
Reagan didn’t have congress, so he had to do some horsetrading. Also, as Camlost said, it’s been hugely expanded under Obama. (As has all spending. Gotta keep those printing presses going.)
That’s what I don’t get about this election. Romney sucks and is possibly the study I candidate ever -which shouldn’t matter but it does because people want a story, not to hire the best available manager – but he doesn’t want to transform America into a full-blown social democracy. Obama is working to turn us into Greece and so many people are apathetic about it. This isn’t the most important election ever, but it damn sure matters.
Liberals are really closing ranks on this one…you can tell they’re terrified of videos like this.
I think Obama should reward this woman for her endorsement with an invitation to the White House. There is a similar video of Republicans in Arkansas made by Nancy Pelosi’s daughter. They all have a completely different mentality, government handouts weaken character.
Yeah, Weigel wrote in his piece that there will be more of this in the coming weeks before the election.
…weigh in on Drudge’s history of anti-black yellow journalism.
Shouldn’t “anti-black yellow journalism” be called “supposedly”?
“Hate-facts” about black opinion or action is neither anti-black nor is it a form of yellow journalism. .
Ulysses said: “Reagan didn’t have congress, so he had to do some horsetrading. Also, as Camlost said, it’s been hugely expanded under Obama. (As has all spending. Gotta keep those printing presses going.)
That’s not true.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/05/24/who-is-the-smallest-government-spender-since-eisenhower-would-you-believe-its-barack-obama/
“Conservatives in the past have support social welfare programs. That’s no secret. But the stigma against such reliance existed alongside the actual program. It was never something that anyone would openly and proudly admit to taking part in.”
True. On one hand they (conservatives) know that they have to support these programs, but they know that they have to degrade the people who receive help from these programs too.
Years ago, Piven and Cloward wrote Regulating the Poor: The Functions of Public Welfare, which is still classic, must-read material for anyone who wants to understand how welfare has worked in this country to be used to 1) simultaneously hold certain groups of people up for public degradation in order to enforce the work ethic (you give out welfare because every system MUST to certain degree, but at the same time you talk as badly as you can about those people publicly in order to keep the number of people who need help from asking for it) and 2) welfare is given out during times of civil unrest to squelch any threat that the people might rise and combine forces to push the government even further towards socialism or communism.
Also, if you are looking for a video of poor white people who will be supporting Romney, here it is:
That’s the video I was referring to. It was Mississippi, not Arkansas.
@ lara
all the same thing
@’Jamila’
Ah, yes. Glad to see fiscal numerology (The fine art of contorting the numbers until they don’t mean a damn thing, then claiming the other side as ignorant when they point this out) is once again in vogue.
How do white people navigate the political world today when there are growing non-white populations in America who are using political parties to ride their racial agenda? Right and left politics like many things was born in Europe with a 100% European population. Right and left politics can coexist among white people. White people don’t have the luxury anymore of thinking in political concepts when non-white populations use the political system to fulfill their racial agenda.
LOL, gets no credit for any of that. That link from Forbes means nothing. All of those prior Presidents generally presided over times of economic expansion.
When tax revenues are way, way down and the economy is shriniking you’re supposed to reign in spending.
The reality is that Obama actually envisioned much more size, scope and bureaucracy to accompany every one of the big government pet projects that have been passed during his first term (stimulus, Obamacare). He had to compromise on every single one to get them through Congress, even while the Democrats controlled both houses. The only place he gets even a smidgeon of fiscal credit is in reducing monthly war expenditures, which really needed to come down after the war mongering of Bush 2.
Obama isn’t particularly black, except in his money management. When it comes to money, he’s all about “making it rain” and throwing around the $$ dollars today while letting someone else (the white man) figure out how to pay for it all later.
@Jamila: “who-is-the-smallest-government-spender-since-eisenhower-would-you-believe-its-barack-obama”
I might, if he hadn’t doubled the national debt from $8 trillion to $16 trillion in less than 4 years. But since he has, then, no, I cannot believe that. OTOH, if a certain “somone” were to hook me up with 40 Ounces and a Phone, I might be willing to ignore reality. At least until the buzz wore off.
white people use weflare more than any other group
That’s all you got, Soldier?? How you go lead a Army of Brothas with that weakass shit? How about some explainitude, like “white people take more welfare, to make sho they aint none left fo Blacks”
or, “white women use welfare because Black Men are attracted to their EBT cards, and Laws knows white women loves to fuck Black Men”
or, “white people use more welfare, in total dollars, because they outnumber all other groups; however, on a per-capita basis, Blacks take more welfare. Because they entitled to it.”
“I might, if he hadn’t doubled the national debt from $8 trillion to $16 trillion in less than 4 years. But since he has, then, no, I cannot believe that.”
whether you believe it or not is of no consequence.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/23/facebook-posts/viral-facebook-post-says-barack-obama-has-lowest-s/
the reason the debt has risen is because of decreasing tax revenues, mandatory entitlement spending, and rising health care costs, not because of increased discretionary spending. obama wanted to spend more, but the republicans in congress have prevented him from doing so.
Outstanding Sir. Move your operations to smoke out racists night. Anti-Racist delivers armor plated logic and facts. racists may run but they cant stand up to your virility of a Victorious Soldier. One additional directive Anti-Racist. We will watch you comment at day too. Justice demands it and we all serve Justice. You will not malinger.
Niggers. What a shock.
PJ: go fuck yourself.
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