Obama stands by the term 'thugs,' White House says

[derby378]

President Obama doesn't regret using the term "thug" in describing the violent rioters in Baltimore this week, spokesman Josh Earnest said Wednesday.

"Whether it's arson or, you know, the looting of a liquor store ... those were thuggish acts," Earnest said.

In discussing the riots Tuesday, Obama assailed the "criminals and thugs who tore up the place," and described them as a distraction from the real issues of police brutality.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2015/04/29/obama-white-house-baltimore-stephanie-rawlings-blake/26585143/

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. thuggies

from India obviously vs the Germanic Vandals

[treestar]

6. Yep

[LittleBlue]

2. This thread won't end well

[derby378]

7. Maybe not...

...but the article clearly indicates that the Persians have reached Thermopylae, and the linguistics battle has been joined.

[ann---]

4. Good for him

Rioters who steal and set fire to the property of innocent
people are nothing less than "thugs" - regardless of their
color.

I'm sure he (and I) would call white or other rioters who did
this by the same name - they are thugs - period.

[frylock]

30. i would love to see citations of white people rioting being referred to as thugs..

perhaps you can assist by providing such evidence?

[ann---]

37. Citations?

How do you know for sure that all the thugs in Baltimore who are
looting and vandalizing property does not include whites?

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

52. I would like to see them as well, but we wont, NEVER happens

Obama is playing to that bullshit center again.

Thugs is the new N word and that is that.

Use it at your own peril

[frylock]

58. check this..

really good interview that is well worth listening to.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026598453#post14

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

59. thanx

[GGJohn]

74. Oh bullshit.

I use thug all the time to describe any criminal, no matter who it is.
Thugs are criminals who prey on innocent people.

[840high]

64. As would I.

[GeorgeGist]

5. Thuggish act goes unpunished.

[derby378]

16. Thank you!

Hole-in-freakin'-one.

[ann---]

39. Doesn't make

the thugs in Baltimore (or anywhere) not thugs.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

53. NO SHIT +100000000000000000000

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. Does the opinion of one black man represent every black man now?

Last edited Thu Apr 30, 2015, 03:32 PM - Edit history (1)

What if Bush had said it was okay to use the word thug? Would you be posting it here?

I'm trying to be honest and respectful, but this is getting ridiculous.

It's this:

Did thug used to mean a black youth? No, and I used to use it...all the time.
Has thug been co-opted by certain members of the media and voting public, not to mention politicians, to describe young black men? Hell yes. Even a blind man can see that.

[JI7]

9. this is it but some want to see things as just

One or the other . Like that mother getting her kid . She is either hero or abusive.

I refer to George Zimmerman as thug.

But when especially right wingers use it in cases of any young black male we know what they are trying to say.

[derby378]

11. Our society has linguists who compile dictionaries for a reason

Once in a while, someone will coin a new word or a new definition for an existing word. I've been there. Either it will fade into apocrypha or it will become fairly standard usage. But that's why our language has gatekeepers. Be glad we're not French.

I refuse to give racists the power to "co-opt" a word for their own nefarious purposes. I will not give them credit no matter how hard they try. To do so would be to admit that they are winning, and that cannot happen.

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. I refuse to be part of the problem. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

47. Yup we do

and neologisms (hint this is one) usually take anywhere from 5 to 10 years to make it to the official dictionary. Look it up in urban dictionaries first.

Second hint, language evolves, why Gay no longer stands for happy, even though it is still in the dictionary.

[derby378]

48. I'll grant you that, but with one important distinction

The new definition of gay evolved organically over a couple of decades, as documented in the writings of Gertrude Stein and Noel Erskine as well as movies featuring Cary Grant. What you're seeing with thug is not so much an organic evolution as it is an attempt at engineering a new definition and retrofitting it into common usage.

Sure, people objected to the "new" definition of gay, but it had been percolating on the street as far back as the 1890s. This attempt at a neologism, however, doesn't appear to have the same authenticity - it could be argued that it looks forced.

[nadinbrzezinski]

49. Given that I hear this from PoC

that it is the new nigger... and I hear it regularly from many of the people in the neighborhood, who exactly am I to question that?

Moreover, while Fox started the use with Trayvon Martin this might go all the way back to 2005. That is one decade, organic and all.

[Logical]

22. Nor does your opinion mean anything. Nt

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. ouch...

[derby378]

24. Be nice...

SM asked, and I tried to answer. No sweat, so please chill.

[Butterbean]

29. Probably one of the most succinct, and best explanations I've seen yet on the subject. n/t

[mythology]

38. Apparently it is supposed to when claiming the word thug is racist

Or is that different?

[NaturalHigh]

42. Someone here proclaimed the word "racist"...

and now we're all supposed to jump on that bandwagon. I refuse to go there.

[840high]

67. Good for you. That makes

at least two of us.

[GGJohn]

77. Make that 3 of us. eom.

[romanic]

50. Who said it did?

If Obama had said differently, would you be asking the same question?

[ScreamingMeemie]

51. If Obama had said differently, I sure as heck wouldn't have posted it.

That's not who I am.

[SamKnause]

10. The term thug

is better suited to describe the police and their actions.

Murderous thugs.

[Egnever]

12. Works quite well for them

Maybe better than for most of the other behavior it is used for.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

55. Agreed, but the right uses the word as the N word, period. If that is an INCONVENIENT TRUTH

for some around here (not you), then so be it

[BKH70041]

13. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[NaturalHigh]

14. Oh my. I was told the term was racist.

[B2G]

15. I'm officially confused. Lol. nt

[msongs]

17. uh oh, is it time to recall and censor all those cd's and music videos? nt

[Capt. Obvious]

19. I'll reserve judgement until Bill Cosby weighs in.

[derby378]

20. ...

I think you just won the internets today. Well played.

[Logical]

21. I guess obama is a terrible racist! Damn! nt

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

56. No, just too willing to play to racists and make them comfortable

He considers the tens of millions of vicious racists, Americans too

[Maedhros]

26. YES!

We all know the real atrocity is asking white people to slightly alter their vocabularies.

[Politicalboi]

27. The Mayor called them thugs too

Thug has no color. A group of menacing bullies, male or female.

[frylock]

31. yet it appears it's used to describe angry, black males exclusively

[frylock]

34. I'm not talking about DU..

I'm talking about the real world. Do a google of the word "thug". Report back with any findings of white people being referred to as such.

[frylock]

36. I got 10 pages deep into google before I gave up..

I'm guessing you never bothered, knowing that it was a fruitless endeavor.

[frylock]

43. yes, thug is a known term within hockey..

not used so much to describe white revelers of hockey championships that torch police cars.

[frylock]

46. welp, you win!

I think you knew what I meant, but thanks for playing.

[Logical]

61. LOL, so he finds a white thugin 3 seconds and you fucking change the criteria. You are looking silly

[frylock]

62. yes, i should have said ALMOST exclusively..

and you know what? if you want to use the word, then fucking knock yourself out. just know that you're in the company of some fine, outstanding racist mutherfuckers. Kirk out.

[Logical]

63. LOL, Like president Obama? Let me guess, you hate being proved wrong? nt

[frylock]

65. the President misspoke..

I get proven wrong on many occasions. I use it as a learning experience. I'm learning a lot today.

[riderinthestorm]

71. Obama is doubling down on using the word. That's the OP

he didn't misspeak - clearly he's standing by the use of the word.

[frylock]

72. walking it back would be a show of weakness..

or some such bullshit. IDK what the fuck his mindset is. Maybe he thinks the conservatives will invite him over to the cool table in the lunchroom or something.

[X_Digger]

73. You know better than Obama, eh? That's rich.

You really don't like having your error shown to you, do you?

[frylock]

76. the one I admitted to? that error?

Obama lives in a fucking bubble. It was a poor choice of words. People will defend it because they defend EVERYTHING Obama says or does, and take any perceived slight as a personal attack.

[NaturalHigh]

44. Snap! That one sailed over the fence!

[melman]

68. Here you go

http://nation.foxnews.com/2014/11/22/gang-russian-thugs-pick-wrong-guy


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/video-professional-boxer-downs-thugs-protect-wife-article-1.2018925


http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20141005/thugs-pa-ironworkers-case-details-arsons-intimidation


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11408547/Jubilant-thugs-jump-for-joy-after-crocodile-tears-convince-judge-of-remorse.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2744724/Incredible-moment-tuxedo-wearing-great-grandfather-fought-THREE-crowbar-wielding-thugs-returned-home-house-burgled.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/video-romanian-thugs-brutally-spin-elderly-woman-article-1.1746847

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/racist-thugs-broke-doormans-leg-4468644



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2258964/Anti-English-assault-victim-large-section-skull-removed-horrific-street-attack-thugs-Cardiff.html

http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/11830521.Vicious_Polish_thugs__hiding_in_Croydon___Have_you_seen_them_/

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jailed-vile-thugs-who-beat-5388627

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/471796/VIDEO-Chilling-moment-Ukraine-thugs-beat-up-pro-Russia-supporter-and-throw-him-in-river

[frylock]

70. i was clealy mistaken..

carry on with the use of the word, folks.

[MannyGoldstein]

28. a dog. whistle. for all america.

everyone can see. it. in plain view. and beth page.

[HereSince1628]

33. An appeal to establishment goals.

[Starry Messenger]

40. I didn't realize that he's Black Dude In Chief now.

He's changed his mind on other issues, hopefully he'll come around on this one.

[Quayblue]

54. +1

[Mike Nelson]

57. Thank you, Mr. President...

...we have too many naughty words.

[Iris]

60. Not the first time I don't agree with him. Probably won't be the last. n/t

[Trillo]

66. Well, at least it's not "human scum". NT

[WorseBeforeBetter]

69. Reccing for the discussion. (n/t)

[Skittles]

75. see, they are thugs

but we just need to "look forward" when people start senseless wars based on lies

[Jesus Malverde]

78. Double down

"Whether it's arson or, you know, the looting of a liquor store ... those were thuggish acts," Earnest said.

"Whether it's arson or, you know, the looting of a liquor store ... those were criminal acts," Earnest should have said.

What the police did was the real thuggery.

Boggles the mind