Joe Lieberman's constant quips to Al Sharpton

[Gringo]

He started this a while back, with little comments like "Hallelujah Brother" and what not. I always get the feeling that Joe is just a geeky guy trying to be "down wit da bruthas" In a way that may have been cool back in the 70's, but then I also think there's a bit of patronizing or condescension to Sharpton there. Sharpton is always a good sport about it, but It's quite clear that he doesn't do this with the other candidates. Is it:

[SlavesandBulldozers]

1. Sharpton should reply

"Nice Suit Joe, Vat is dat Velvet"

[eissa]

3. LOL!

Sharpton: "Oy vey, Joe! Stop kvetching about the endorsment already!"

[JackSwift]

2. Lieberman once fought for civil rights the hard way,

protesting at demonstrations, etc. Personally, I think that only Gephardt, Dean, Kerry, and Clark should be seeking the primary, and that the others should leave as soon as they see fit, the sooner the better. And my apologies to supporters of the other candidates, all of whom I like politically, except Lieberman. I think that except for Lieberman, they have made no inappropriate attacks on each other, but I doubt that can hold.

[Larry Gude]

6. It's a matter of style...

...ever hear Clinton at a black church? Nobody complained about him because he is GOOD at it. I don't see either as condescending, just trying to be cool. Clinton is almost ALWAYS cool. Joe, well, Joe doesn't do cool very well.

Nobody wants to face it because he is very few peoples first choice on this board but, after last night, Joe is back in the race. Two reasons:

1. He set Al (Sharpton) back on his heels about the war: We are doing the right thing only Shrub is messing it up.

2. He is handling the Al (Gore) snubbing with class.

Both these score points with moderates (the people who decide Presidential elections) which equals:

"Electability"

Personally, I thought DK kicked ass last night and nobody comes off near as well as CMB.

[eissa]

8. What?!

Handling the "snub" with class?! God, could he be any more whiny and martyr-like?! And we are NOT doing the right thing; the motives of this administration have never been right and supporting them has never, and will never, be right.

[Larry Gude]

12. I didn't say we...

..were.

I said he said we were and that that flies with moderates.

His voice always sounds winey.

[ibegurpard]

4. Did Lieberman really say "Hallelujah Brother" to Sharpton?

groan

[beyurslf]

5. I think Lieberman considers himself a holy and reverent person

and feels the same way about Rev. Sharpton. So he feels like they have that "bond" of religiousity.

[Julien Sorel]

7. Lieberman talks that way all the time.

It isn't just to Sharpton. I heard him say 'Right on sister' to a white woman on a radio program a few months back.

[Cocoa]

9. I love it

I think it's real, and that square white people should be encouraged to take the risk of looking foolish. Sharpton and Lieberman are opposites in a lot of ways, it's heartwarming for them to come together where they can.

[Larry Gude]

13. See???

Cocoa got it right.

It's like us white guys dancing. It may be a bit tough to watch but at the end of the evening, we do get credit for trying.

Que: Beers (many)

Que: Ohio Players

[felonious thunk]

10. O come on

Lieberman is not racist, and it's downright disgusting to suggest that he is. Like him or not, the man's got a solid record, along with life experiences, that show him to be strong on civil rights. This is a poor reflection of throwing a dangerous term upon someone that you don't agree with.

[Gringo]

14. Everyone is a racist to a degree

Except for little children, and even they are somewhat aware of the physical diffferences.

When I say that everyone is racist, I mean that I don't believe there is a color-blind person in this society, The good people try to be fair in their dealings with people from different walks of life, the bad live in constant fear and hatred of the "other".

I'm not suggesting that Joe is a "RACIST" in the mold of a Strom Thurmond or a David Duke. I'm just suggesting that his little quips hint at a condescension reserved only for Sharpton. Whether it comes from a subconscious race fear or discomfort, or simply from his awkwardness is beyond me. I wanted to see what others thought of it. Even though "subconscious racism" is getting the most votes, I don't think anybody here would call him a racist. He's just a guy, like many of us, who struggles with his feelings on race, and is no doubt trying to do the right thing.

I know a lot of folks will disagree and claim that they are color-blind. I think we all have race fears and complexes, the question is whether we embrace the fears and become racists in practice, or do we put ourselves above those feelings and try to be better.

[theboss]

16. Except Joe has been working with black people for years

My dad is one of the "whitest" guys you would meet. But his first job in teaching was in an inner-city school in the 70s. He still sometimes slips into the dialect he picked up there.

[Gringo]

21. It's one thing to be a white person growing up in a black community

But for a white person who normally speaks one way to suddenly slip into "negro mode" simply because the audience is African-American, is pretty condescending, IMO. It implies that the audience is incapable of listening to and understanding a speech given in "white" English.

I sure would feel wierd if Snoop Dogg came to my office and started to talk like Joe Lieberman just because everybody there was white.

What's wrong with being oneself?

[theboss]

26. Talking that way is being himself

This was part of the Dean discussion on another thread; I said I felt Dean was pandering when he mentioned Wyclef Jean wrote his favorite song. It's just the vibe I get. I mean, there is no way to prove that.

And I think Joe is being Joe when he starts horsing around with Sharpton. I know everyone here hates Lieberman, but in Washington, he's known for having a great sense of humor and being an all-around good guy. And I don't like a lot of Sharpton's actions, but he clearly has the best personality in the field. It makes sense for them to get along and have fun together.

[Gringo]

29. I have a conservative, white, Miami Cuban-American co-worker

Who is a big fan of Tupac Shakur. Totally blows my mind. You can never tell about musical tastes...

[felonious thunk]

22. Well, then you need a different term

Racist is a loaded word, and I think highly unfair to use for Lieberman. I don't read it as condescension, especially since he does not do similar quips with Mosley-Braun. I think that he sees Sharpton as having a colorful personality (which I think is hard to argue) and he's trying to make himself look cool too. Or hell, for all we know, Lieberman and Sharpton are actually friends from somewhere in the past. I mean, there can be a million different reasons, and racism seems a very harsh conjecture.

I disagree with your premise as well, but I'll leave that for another post.

[Gringo]

28. I agree about Mosely-Braun

And that's part of what makes me tend more toward the "dork" side. But as you know, many white men are more at ease with African-American women than with African-American men...

I also understand what you mean about "racism" being a loaded term. I certainly don't mean to lump him with the virulent racists (and race-baiters) that infest the GOP. He would fit right in with the GOP for a number of reasons, but he'd be more of the Olympia Snowe moderate type, and I don't think they are race-baiters.

[theboss]

11. Lieberman has a long, long history in civil rights

He is extremely comfortable with black leaders and in front of black audiences. I think Sharpton knows and respects this. He's earned the right to be goofy with Al.

Those voting for "racist" are idiots. Plain and simple.

[Gringo]

17. Even liberals who are sympathetic/active with the civil rights movement

have been known to be prone to race guilt or fears. Remember the fun the black house robbers on "All in the Family" had with the pious liberal, Mike Stivic, because they were able to demonstrate his latent racism with surprising ease? And how they ended up pulled more to Edith, because she was the only one who truly was color-blind in her heart, even if she was ignorant of all the civil rights issues Mike constantly pontificated about?

In real life, the Edith Bunkers are a true rarity, and I seriously doubt that Joe Lieberman is one of them. Besides, I'm not calling him a Klansman or a segregationist. Only he knows what he's really thinking.

[theboss]

20. You are reading way way too much into that

I think it just shows comfort with Sharpton.

[Gringo]

25. I'm not reading anything into it

I'm guessing what it's telling us about Lieberman's character. I think all of those choices are valid, and could concievably be true. Notice that NOBODY thought it was overt racism. I don't either. Like I said at the beginning, i'm most inclined to think it's just Joe being his dorky self. The other thoughts were in the back of my mind, and I wondered if anyone sensed them too.

It may very well be an expression of MY subconscious racism, or MY subsconscious (& conscious) dislike of Liberman ever since the 2000 election debacle. I thought it would be an interesting topic of discussion, but I don't have the answer - I'm no mind-reader.

To be fair, I think Dean's attempts at addressing race have been even MORE awkward than Joe's quips, even excepting the dixie flag thing. I'm a big Deanie, but I wish Dean would learn to talk TO African-Americans, instead of ABOUT them like he's doing some college dissertation.

[theboss]

27. Joe was great before black groups in 2000

He was on a ticket that got 91 percent of the black vote, and he actually deserves some of the credit.

And, as I said earlier, Lieberman is FUNNY!! Yes, the devil that all DUers hate is a really great guy.

[PDittie]

15. Remember at the end of 'Rock the Vote' when Joe said

..."I wanna party with YOU!" to the coed who asked the question...?

He's just a dork. Not a mean, racist GOP-style dork; 'a white guy tryin' too hard to keep it real' dork.

[in_cog_ni_to]

18. I think he likes Sharpton. n/t

[jor_mama]

19. Lieberman sounds too much like

the dad from Alf. Someone told me that once, and after thinking about it for about 3 seconds I about spewed the water I was drinking it was such a hilarious comparison. This is not a slam on him as a person or on his politics. He just always sounds a little too tired. It's just not there.

What's next, Lieberman on the other line yelling "whasssssssuup" into the phone receiver?

[eissa]

23. LOL!

I remember reading that here yesterday before the debates. Every time Joe spoke during the debates I imagine a big furry puppet next to him!

[theboss]

24. How about Clinton with his "southernisms"

Granted, Clinton was from Arkansas. But he was Georgetown, Yale and Oxford-educated. His "ain'ts" and "y'alls" were completely calculated. But they worked.

Liebermans good at dropping his little phrases too.