Shepard Smith of Fox News gives Nader hell!

[woolldog]

Run time: 04:48 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibsP6XN2dIo   Posted on YouTube: November 05, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: November 05, 2008 By DU Member: woolldog Views on DU: 4459

 
Get 'em Shep!

[Cattledog]

1. Nader sucks I hope he rots in hell!

[BeliQueen]

2. Boy! If Fox News calls something "offensive"

and I agree with them, then you gotta know it's offensive.

And Nader doesn't even get it.

Geez!

[Postman]

3. Do you morons understand what an "Uncle Tom" reference means? Ralph is correct.

I voted for Obama and Ralph Nader is 100% right on the money. If you think "Uncle Tom" is somehow a racial slur then you don't know your ass from a hole in the ground.

Will Obama be the wolf in sheep's clothing for corporate America or will he be a President for the working class against monopoly capitalism?

Get real with your "I'm offended" bullshit.

[TheEuclideanOne]

6. Are you serious?

How is Uncle Tom not a racial slur? If he used the term "Wolf in Sheep's clothing" then you can say that it is not a racial slur, but Uncle Tom clearly is. I can use other terms that have a similar meaning. "House Nig---" for example. Could your twisted logic still apply here? Would he be using the same term if McCain won?

So, let me throw it back at you. If you are saying that "Uncle Tom" is not a racial slur, than please explain (if you can).

[sandspur]

7. First of all "uncle Tom" IS a racial slur, even though the character may not

deserve to have the current meaning tied to his name. There is debate on this aspect of the book.
Second Nadar's hubris is so profound that instead of Urging the President elect remember the poor and offering to join him in helping them, Ralph thew down the gauntlet in a offensive manner.
Third. There is absolutely NO excuse or reason for you to be offensives.

[supermodel]

8. Sorry, using Uncle Tom IS a racial slur!

You have to ask yourselves...would he have used "Uncle Tom" if Obama were white???? I don't think so. Uncle Tom is a pejorative for a black person who is perceived by others as behaving in a subservient manner to White American authority figures, or as seeking ingratiation with them by way of unnecessary accommodation....according to Wikipedia.

So if Obama were white, the term "Uncle Tom" wouldn't have made sense in this context.

[progdonkey]

10. You, sir, are a blithering idiot of the highest order...

"Uncle Tom" is not racist? Would a white person (or Latino, or Chinese, etc.) ever be called an Uncle Tom without receiving puzzled looks from others in the room? (Much like if a person called a white man a spearchucker--it would just be weird.)

Besides, "Uncle Tom" is not the same thing as a wolf in sheep's clothing, because it's still a wolf. An Uncle Tom in that situation would be more like a sheep who helps out the wolf with his stitching and wonders why the other sheep are so afraid of the wolf, who's actually not that bad.

Seriously, do you have any idea of where the term "Uncle Tom" originated?

Nader is and will always be a disgusting piece of grandstanding shit whose vanity cost us and the world countless lives. He should be lined up alongside Cheney and Bush at the war crimes tribunal.

[depakid]

36. "Seriously, do you have any idea of where the term "Uncle Tom" originated?"

One wonders if you do, considering your last sentence.

I'm not defending Nader here- what he said was impolitic. On the other hand my guess from the shallow and knee jerk aspects of your post- is that you've never read (or thought about) what Harriet Beecher Stowe had to say.

[BayjanDem]

19. Uncle Tom is some HIGHLY OFFENSIVE SHIT!

You must be outta your damn mind. Nader could've used a million other analogies in labeling Obama a corporate shill. Uncle Tom refers directly to his race. Nader is a fool. Go away Ralph, just go away.

[demwing]

20. If there is ignorance in the thread, it comes from you.

"Uncle Tom" is a slur specific to African Americans. It refers to a "black person who is regarded as being humiliatingly subservient or deferential to white people."

It has nothing to do with being a wolf in sheeps clothing, which implies an individual who gives the appearance of safety, while actually being a danger.

The term "Uncle Tom" implies being a willing servant to your enemy. A race traitor.

Similar terms include "House Nigger", "Oreo", and "Aunt Jemima." Tell me one instance where you might use ANY of those terms to describe a white person, or where you would use those terms to positively describe a black person.

You can't.

Now sit back, keep your ignorance hidden, and try to learn something.

[Gman2]

25. I'm Glad Someone Understands.

He is using Showboating language, but his point is sure, and obvious. The middleclass talk had better be code for all the not rich. This is true, and I believe that Obama did use it as code. As a community organizer, he certainly supports the poor. He needs us all to KICK his ASS to the left, so he can insulate himself to a degree. If he lurches, without usall doing the initial shoving, he will be marginalized. WE MUST do some SHOUTING, just like Nader, to utilize this rare proponent of real human rights. Obama said, this isnt about him. He can ride our wind to heights unknown. But we are that hurrican, or we are that wisp. He is asking for just that. He is schrewd. He will not lead this parade, and we cant expect him to. Soon, the full weight of the recession/depression/collapse/governmental type already changed hits the press. He understands that in reality, he is limited in political capital. He will be the kind of president that collects political cap. to the end. He doesnt see any need to spend down like Bu#h. That leaves groups like us, to risk like Nader, to empower Obama to lead us to real change.

[demwing]

27. Nader could have accomplished that push with playing a race card

and you know it.

[rainy]

4. What a bullying fool. He didn't hear a word Ralph said. He was only harping

on one word and trying to ridicule Ralph. He was belittling him and being rude and nasty. The Republicans standard operation: bully and ridicule. Honestly Ralph has always made excellent points.

[pberq]

16. True - there is no attempt at a real discussion

Fox is not about exchanging ideas, only about bullying and ridicule, as you say.

[demwing]

26. You carry water for Nader's personal agenda

Nader had no desire to exchange any ideas. He's proven that time in and out. He pushes his agenda, truth be damned. He's a dangerous person. A zealot. A crusader, blinded by his goal, and oblivious to shades of truth that sit outside of his black and white reality.

[pberq]

30. Bull and more bull!

As the other poster said, they're playing you like a fiddle

Then again maybe you're a supporter of the DLC corporate agenda

[demwing]

21. I don't normally like Smith, but he was neither rude nor nasty.

He never raised his voice, he never called Nader a name, and he actually gave Nader an opportunity to rephrase the quote to make it less offensive, an opportunity that Nader gleefully rejected.

Furthermore, Ralph Nader has NOT "always" made excellent points, He' been a buffoon since his presidential aspirations got the best of him. Remember his comments about Bush and Gore being virtually the same? Nader has never backed down from that comment, to my knowledge.

Your blind defense of Nader calls your judgement and wisdom into question.

[mzmolly]

34. Ralph used the term "Uncle Tom" to indicate that Obama would represent

corporations vs. the people. :(

[zeos3]

37. agreed,

Ralph said nothing wrong, he got steamrollered.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

5. Incredible. I actually like Shepard Smith more than Ralph Nader now

And that's not saying much.

FUCK YOU, Ralph. Why don't you just go ahead and call him a "house nigger"?

You sound like a broken record, and you are now, at this moment, officially irrelevant.

Oh yeah: FUCK YOU.

[pjt7]

9. the point is will obama

defend people or corporations? & we won't know until he picks an attorney general & decides to go after Wall Street thieves, hidden 9.11 criminals, etc.

Shepard was looking for drama & got it.

[pjt7]

12. You guy's are being played like

a fiddle, if you let a FOX producer get you infuriated over the word "Uncle Tom" rather than holding Obama accountable for going after the corporate criminals that have looted America for 8 years.

The jury is still out & I hope Obama shows true strength & restores our Country back to a nation of Law.

[pberq]

15. Exactly. Ralph has raised the central question

Yes, he could have done it without using the words "Uncle Tom".

However, people are allowing that error to overshadow the primary question:

Will Obama use this mandate to return America to its citizens, or will he continue to allow corporations to run the country?

He will have tremendous pressure from the big money boys to continue with the corporate agenda. It will take a huge amount of courage for Obama to go against those guys. I do not envy his position.

If Obama tries to return this country to the citizens, he will face intense retaliation from the corporate predators.

[demwing]

22. The jury is NOT still out

An dumb accusation from Ralph Nader does not equate to a real question on Obama's character. I judge by actions, not by accusations.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

13. He could have made that point without using the term "Uncle Tom"

And the fact that he has no clue how offensive it was just shows how incredibly out of touch he is.

[BlueJazz]

14. I agree...I understand what he was trying to say but his choice of words...

...over-shadowed the true meaning.

[demwing]

23. I disagree. nader was given the opportunity to rephrase the comment.

He practically sneered at the chance, and flatly turned it down.

Nader knew EXACTLY what he said, and said exactly what he meant. Fuck him.

[BlueJazz]

35. I watched it again. Yeah..I see what you mean.

[Libertas1776]

11. a giant once lived in that body

Nader's arguments absolutely ringed true. They always have.

Unfortunately, the very second he went and used that phrase, which indeed has racial connotations in this country, he loses all credibility.
White people do not call other white people Uncle Tom because it is a racial thing, and Nader should have known better.

[Veronica.Franco]

17. Bigot from CT ...

Shows for me that Nader did not and does not live in the real world ... another dinosaur heaves it's last breath and goes down in flames ... it's still all about color for him ...

[pberq]

18. It's amazing how successful

the corporate media, Republicans and some Democrats have been at directing people's anger at Nader, rather than at the corporate predators who are ruining things for the majority

[demwing]

24. Its amazing how Nader

can continue making stupid, rash, and ridiculous statements, and still get support from ...well, from ANYONE.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

29. It's amazing how some people will defend Nader when he essentially calls Obama an "Uncle Tom"

[dothemath]

28. and another damn thing .............

"Uncle Tom" was a fictional character in a book. When the book was written, that moniker was not a pejorative. Karl Rove has been alive a lot longer than the information recorded on his birth certificate.

And now, point out if you must, I am off-subject, but I have to point something out. Tuesday night, Shepard Smith made some remarks to the effect that daily tracking polls referencing McCain's standing with vox populi began a downward trend the morning after Sarah Palin was sprung on us.

Within seconds, Rich Lowry claimed that some time later - magically, appearing from nowhere - the financial meltdown suddenly appeared and poor Sarah unfairly suffered from that. Lowry had demonstrated from previous comments his infatuation with Sarah, going so far as to imply many men 'swooned' when they first laid eyes on her. Translation: women 'swoon', men get a hard-on. If Lowry ever had any credibility, it is gone now.

For Lowry to lose it upon hearing his beloved (in his mind) Sarah criticized, makes one wonder what this fool is smoking. Looks like Repubs are prone to have a nice refreshing glass of Kool-Aid from time to time, you betcha.

[gtar100]

31. Ralph was spot on until he shot a hole in his boat. Sad to say but Smith is right.

I think a lot of other posters here said it well. Nader didn't have to use a racial slur to get his point across. But he did and he defended it. His ship has sunk with that remark. Damn.

[Bippity Boo]

32. Mrs. Fox, are you trying to seduce me?

I have a mixed reaction to this clip. I enjoyed watching the outrage against what Nader said, and I've been angry with the guy since 2000, but found myself wondering if Fox was simply doing the same thing to him that they've done to all Democrats -- put them on the air and then ambush them with moral outrage unbalanced with any opposing viewpoint in a blatant attempt to simply belittle and destroy the subject of the interview, rather than discuss the issues.

This clip may have helped me understand the seductive power of Fox News to right wingers. It feels good to have someone beat up on someone you don't like instead of playing fair. Now that the right wing is on the run, I wonder if Fox is going to attempt to seduce the rest of us they formerly blew off.

[Debt Slave]

33. It's a Comment on the Power Structure

When I first heard this comment I was a bit taken back and aghast by it. Even after rationalizing it, I would agree that it was a poor choice of words, as it is difficult for me, or anyone, to look beyond finding it offensive.

However, I think that he used that particular term because it was a fitting analogy for what he was trying to say. To my understanding the term Uncle Tom refers to a black slave that is subservient to the white power structure to the possible detriment of his/her fellow slaves. If you think of corporations as being the white power structure and the people of the world under the thumb of a plutocratic corporate run fiat money scheme as the slaves, then it is somewhat fitting. Will Obama be for the people of the world, or will he be for the continuation of the current plutocratic power structure.

I for one hope he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. That wolf being a wolf for the people of the world that acted like a sheep to the power structure so that he could be elected to the position of President.

Symbolically his election to the POTUS position is a big step for humanity, but a step just the same. It will be difficult for any person who gets to that position to make the changes needed to be made by humanity. I am hopeful that Obama will have the courage and fortitude to do this.

I don’t think that Nader is making these comments because he is angry that he did not win or to be a racist. He knows that he had no chance of winning. He just wants to try to wake people up to the fact that we live in a plutocratic system masquerading as a democracy.

Unfortunately, he used a term that has a very derogatory racial meaning to get this point across. This is also unfortunate given the significance of this event, but the significance of this event may also be an opportunity to possibly take steps for real change. The system is cracking, and if you listened to Obama’s speech he eluded to this. I just hope that in the trying times ahead, people will learn to think critically on all things (including comments like Nader’s as offensive as they may seem), and not accept what mainstream media tells us at face value.

I am hopeful that Obama will have the courage and fortitude to truly becomes the beacon of change that the America voters believe him to be.