Carson: Obama identifying with black Americans "a bit of a stretch" because he was "raised white"

[Miles Archer]

https://www.facebook.com/topic/Ben-Carson/111496148866390

Ben Carson: Republican Presidential Candidate Says President Obama Was 'Raised White'

"He's an 'African' American. He was, you know, raised white," Carson said on Politico's "Off Message" podcast. He called Obama's attempts to identify with black Americans "a bit of a stretch."

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. This guys suffers from chronic brain farts.

[wordpix]

28. this man is so incredibly stupid, and yet he's a renowned brain surgeon

so he can't be that stupid. Maybe he has a chasm between his right and left brain lobes.

[TheCowsCameHome]

30. Or he removed it for scheduled maintenance?

[wordpix]

45. My hypothesis is he breathed too many toxic chemicals in the op rooms

Lots of nasty chemicals in the air there, and the rooms are all closed up.

[KamaAina]

2. Dear TaliBen: No one on O'ahu is "raised white"

True, his grandma was a haole, but the entire community is integrated from top to bottom. Haoles make up only about a third of the population. Even Punahou, his exclusive alma mater, is not all haole; its college-like campus includes the Wo International Center, named after an alum. (Come to think of it, it wouldn't be a bad place for a branch of "Barry"'s presidential library. )

[kelly1mm]

3. Haole is an offensive racial/xenophobic slur. Perhaps you should rephrase. nt

[atreides1]

4. Ahem

Last edited Tue Feb 23, 2016, 02:42 PM - Edit history (1)

haole
A word used mainly in Hawaii to describe a white person. Depending on how you say it, the word can mean either an insult or just a fact.

Like other Hawaiian words, that also have many meanings...and how the word is used!

[kelly1mm]

8. Same with lots of other racial/xenophobic slurs. They are offensive to some/many and that

offense is not based on the intent of the speaker/writer, but rather the person on the receiving end.

I don't think racial/xenophobic slurs are looked upon favorably at least here on DU where we should know better.

[atreides1]

13. But

A caucasian person who grows up in Hawaii, would know by the use and inflection of the word!

[Miles Archer]

17. My immediate knee-jerk reaction to that word, no matter how it is used, is...

..."fuck you."

To be clear, I am not saying that to you. So no one needs to hit the alert button to narc on my "over-the-top or otherwise inappropriate behavior." I'm not directing it toward anyone.

What I am saying is that if someone said to me "Hey, haole," I'd have a really tough time not firing back with "fuck you."

It's like "wop" or "guinea." One time, when I was a teenager, I was at YMCA day camp and a kid called me a guinea in arts and crafts class and I yanked him out of his chair and knocked him on his ass and the woman in charge of the class yelled "I DO NOT allow fighting in my class!"

My only regret was that he was already down on the floor so I couldn't knock him down again.

I don't handle nicknames about my ethnicity or the color of my skin very well. It's an ignorant and racist term and I don't really care about "how it's used." It's intended to be a disparaging label and I'm not amused.

[randys1]

23. White people can be offended by such terms after they have spent 200 plus years

on the receiving end of racism, until then, pfft.

[TM99]

29. So those of Irish descend

would certainly qualify under your stated rubric given the racism they suffered here and under British forced rule for centuries right?

Personal bigotry and racism exists and can affect any of us no matter what our race, gender, creed, orientation, etc.

[Nevernose]

51. This is an interesting argument in current multicultural thinking

It seems that, among the academics at least, that recently it's been decided that only minority victims can be the victims of racism. Or, to simplify, anyone can be a bigot but racism is institutional in support of one group over others. I think that's a fair characterization -- and one I disagree with.

I think that redefining racism and bigotry, or clarifying them or whatever, does more harm than good. It confuses people, even allies, who are not part of the "academic" multicultural/social-justice world.

I believe that we should define racism as "treating people differently because of their race," or at least something close to that. Not so much out of accuracy, but out of pragmatism.

My daughter (an ultra-liberal college kid; I'm so proud), for instance, went to a middle school that was 90% Latino. She was 90% white. Middle school is rough no matter how good you've got it, and despite her intelligence, liberalism, and education, you would never be able to convince her that she was not the occasional victim of racism from classmates and even teachers. She's well aware that society as a whole is more racist against her than Latinos (and more bigoted towards "hers" than "hes&quot , but you won't be able to talk her out of feeling like she was at least occasionally the victim of racism.

Tl;dr: I think it's more pragmatic to point out the differences between individual racism and institutional racism than trying to explain the difference between racism and bigotry to someone that has been a victim of either. But that's just my opinion!

[phylny]

59. That's the spirit.

I know that's how my white mother felt when she and my dad moved into their new neighborhood on Long Island and her neighbor called her and our family "dirty wops." I'm sure that's how my white classmates felt when others called them kikes.

These were not insults, though, because they were white.

[oberliner]

34. You sound like a very violent person

Or at least were once a violent child.

[snooper2]

16. where is my safe placed when I need it :P

What do you think about calling someone a gringo?

[kelly1mm]

18. I am sure some would find it offensive and I myself would not use it. nt

[wordpix]

32. doesn't bother me, a white dude

Gringo away.

[KamaAina]

6. In general usage, that is only true if it is preceded by "f--kin'" or "damn".

The same is true of other descriptive words, like "pake" for Chinese. For some reason, the only such word that is considered offensive on its own is popolo (black).

[atreides1]

12. Exactly

[kelly1mm]

19. My Grandfather to the day he died called black people 'colored'. He did not MEAN it to be

offensive but it was.

Several DU'ers are telling you it is offensive but you seem to think that the intent of the speaker is what matters rather than the listeners being offended.

It is not. Just like my GF did not mean to offend, he did.

[KamaAina]

20. I doubt that many of these DUers have spent much time in the islands.

As my username implies, I lived there for nearly a decade. And I self-identify as haole.

[kelly1mm]

22. So? Do you have to live in the islands to be offended by someone posting that here on DU? nt

[mahina]

62. Language and communication scholars say that meaning resides in the receiver.

It's not an offensive term where Hawaiian is spoken, so it's kind of funny to take offense at the term elsewhere. Imagine trying that out with a word from your own place and you'll see what what I mean.

Cheers.

[El Supremo]

36. I was called "Tex Haole"...

by the native Hawaiian construction workers I worked with in Hilo. I didn't find it offensive, But if I did, those Nui Kanaka maoli would have beat the shit out me.

But some are missing the point. I don't consider Obama a black either, but why the hell does it matter?

[KamaAina]

37. "I don't consider Obama a black either"?

[El Supremo]

41. Michelle Obama is.

For me, an African American is one who had slaves as ancestors. Barack didn't.

[KamaAina]

52. So having a non-enslaved African father doesn't count?

And what about all the free blacks in New England and elsewhere?

[El Supremo]

54. A lot of New England freed blacks' parents were slaves.

I know. My Massachusetts ancestors owned them in the 17th and even 18th centuries.

And another thing - almost all our slaves were West Africans. The Obamas were East African.

But again... who cares?

[KamaAina]

58. You have Massachusetts ancestors?!

Tom Brady's publicist, Nelson Muntz, says:

[1939]

53. At one time

"colored" was considered the most polite term to use for "negro".

We were always taught to say "colored" and not any other word.

Now we have traveled the spectrum from colored to black to African-American to People of Color.

[WestSeattle2]

47. I've spent a lot of time in Hawaii and have never considered being called haole offensive. I've

always taken it as describing a mainland Caucasian, which I am. <shrug>

[mahina]

63. +2

It's like being called a blonde or a brunette; nothing to get anybody's undies in a wad over.

[mahina]

61. +1

Re the term haole, though I haven't heard popolo used in a derogatory way.

Howzit going Kamaaina?

[Generic Brad]

49. Haole does not have the xenophobic connotations you ascribe to it

I have lived in Hawaii for a portion of my adult life. For a few years I even lived on the same block President Obama grew up on. I am caucasian and was routinely referred to as a haole in casual conversation when I was young. It was never delivered in a derogatory manner and certainly never in a way where offense was intended.

Hawaii is my favorite place on earth and I consider it my adopted home. While I don't personally use that word when I speak, I have no qualms being called that. Haole is used the same as if you referred to Japanese or Korean as Asian. It covers Irish, English, French, mainland caucasians, etc. No offense is intended by that word or taken by people living there.

[mahina]

60. ? It is? News to me.

Kelly, are you here in the islands?

[truebrit71]

66. Clueless.

[qwlauren35]

5. You can't hide blackness in Chicago.

Yes, he was not raised by black people. And it really does make a difference. It means that he wasn't taught the defense mechanisms that we learn, he was not taught the positive messages of blackness that we try to instill in our children, he basically had to figure out "blackness" on his own. BUT! Then he went to Chicago, and then he married Michelle. So, he's had several years of black immersion.

So, it wasn't a stretch. It was probably a stretching experience to go to Chicago, but he earned his blackness.

[wordpix]

35. In his book, O describes being the only African American around

while growing up in Hawaii. I recall there was one other kid in the neighborhood/school who was his one black friend. That's it. So Obama felt the sting of racism and being "different."

[lame54]

7. So now he is white...

then they no longer have a reason to hate him

[flobee1]

15. Right!

I thought he was an islamic kenyan! Now he's white.
Are they just flinging racial slurs to see what sticks?

[arcane1]

9. I thought he was raised as a Muslim secret agent to destroy America from within.

These people need to make up their minds.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

10. LOL!!! DUzy!

[wordpix]

33. hahaha I second the DUzy

[liberalfromaustin21]

11. Carson is a nut

He should be sent to an asylum, since he's obviously crazy.

[wordpix]

38. but not so crazy b/c he's a brain surgeon

Did he sniff too much anaesthetic and chlorine in the operating room after awhile and have to give it up? I cannot understand this incongruency of Carson's two sides, brilliant surgeon and complete moron.

[joeybee12]

14. I'm reccing simply because of the great photo of Dr. Dimwit...knr

[KentuckyWoman]

21. HOW in the blue ass HELL

did that stupid dumbass ever complete college, let alone med school.

K and R.

[wordpix]

40. not just completed med school, but also a highly renowned brain surgeon

Is he brilliant in the operating room but a complete imbecile otherwise? Or WAS he a brilliant surgeon who now has brain problems himself?

[tblue37]

56. Surgeons are technicians. It is a skill, and he was good at it. That doesn't mean he

has wisdom or that he understands much of anything else.

His autobiography has an appropriate title, Gifted Hands." His "brilliance" was localized in his surgeon's hands.

[malaise]

24. Carson is an a$$hole on steroids

Obama's entire life experience is being black - nothing changes being black.

[moondust]

25. Carson IDing with political leaders?

[MrWendel]

26. I find it ironic...

that Black Republicans are accusing others of "Acting White" or "Being Raised White".

[wordpix]

42. DUzy!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

55. Yet another DUzy!

[Skittles]

27. seriously ugly

[Rex]

31. Pure liquid THC drops!

That is all I am saying.

[wordpix]

43. Carson needs it, or that's his problem?

I do think he's on meds of some sort, or has a brain problem. There are a lot of toxic chemicals in operating rooms, which tend not to have windows or light. Could have breathed the wrong things for too long---chlorine and other cleaning agents, anaesthetic, other drugs used in surgery. Affected his brain. There has to be some kind of reason he's such a brilliant brain surgeon and yet so idiotic.

[Rex]

46. I think like George Herbert Bush, he is using way too much.

He has that Thousand Points of Light stare.

[Frank Cannon]

65. I think he's been writing his own prescriptions for some time.

That may be why he "decided" not to be a surgeon anymore. I know lots of surgeons, and they are generally pretty intense and focused. But he always behaves like he's completely out of it, and it seems like a struggle for him to even express a complete thought.

[YOHABLO]

39. There's something seriously wrong with this man.

[wordpix]

44. that is the funniest pic of Carson yet! lololol

[MisterP]

48. there's a clip for that

and does that mean Carson was raised Goa'uld?

[Generic Other]

50. Why not just come out and call him a "half-breed," Dr. Hammerhead?

This is the shit mixed race people deal with all the time. The white supremacists accuse us of being "mongrels." They call our white parents race traitors. Then we face this sort of betrayal from the other side. Just a "generic other." Neither fish nor fowl.

Well, Dr. Carson, Obama is a helluva lot better black man on his worst day than you will ever be on your best day. How do I know? Because you are a damn Republican. And if you weren't raised "white," then what the hell is your excuse? You work against the interests of your own brothers and sisters every damn day. You look black, but you smell like rightwing flatulence.

[erpowers]

57. Ben Carson: "Republicans Look At Character"

Ben Carson has also been quoted as saying "Republicans look at character while Democrats look at race". I think constantly bringing up a person's race and claiming that person is not black enough, or they were not raised black is looking at race instead of character.

[spanone]

64. hey ben, go fuck yourself.

and give yourself a lobotomy while your at it.....oh, sorry, too late.