AC360: Newsweek's Julia Reed Says Obama Is "Out Of His Cotton Picking Mind"

[Turborama]

Run time: 00:51 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNQ69mkkXc8   Posted on YouTube: June 17, 2010 By YouTube Member: ronjohnDC Views on YouTube: 120   Posted on DU: June 17, 2010 By DU Member: Turborama Views on DU: 3593

 
Racial slur?

Well, I think obviously we would rather have $20 billion than not, but nobody thinks that this is the best case scenario.

I mean, one of the things that your previous guest, Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser and Senator Young touched on was the moratorium, which I continue to say is the biggest problem we've got facing us.

We've been decimated economically and emotionally.

The president is driving the stake in the whole region's heart with the six-month moratorium and how disconnected by what that means is, a, the small amount of the $20 billion he is putting aside to cover the cost of the moratorium and, b, what he said in his speech last night that was mind boggling to me.

He said I know this is going to be -- lead to some, quote, difficulty for the guys who work on those rigs.

Well, if he thinks that some guys on the rigs are the only people that are going to be affected by a six-month oil moratorium, he's out of his cotton-picking mind.

Think Progress thought that it was a "racially charged comment" when Lou Dobbs half said it: http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/31/dobbs-cotton-pickin/

[vaberella]

1. No talked with my friend from the South. It's a Southernism. n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Concur, though it was a damn stupid term to use

[eppur_se_muova]

8. Yes it is, but Southerners have got to stop using it.

It was originally meant as an explicitly racist insult, and is offensive, however inadvertently.

When I was growing up in the South, white kids used this as a "cussword" instead of "grown-up" cusswords. But they didn't understand where the term came from. Once I realized it, it became a habit that I had to break very deliberately. You can't let yourself slip and use that expression by accident.

[JDPriestly]

9. It is not racist, if that is what you are worried about.

It is very derogatory, but it applies to people of all races. At least that is what I recall from my time long ago in Alabama. It's a very Southern expression. I had forgotten about it.

[vaberella]

11. I'm hypersensitive and a Northener so I saw it as racist until I asked a friend. n/t

[JDPriestly]

20. In fact, it is sometimes used in a kind of joking, affectionate way.

[nyc 4 Biden]

12. so is using the term "colored folk."

IMO it's racist.

[blm]

24. thank you...especially from a longtime Bush family groupie like Reed

.

[Hugabear]

2. Used in reference to Obama, it very well could be subconcious racism

Very poor choice of words.

[saracat]

6. Oh for petes sake. How silly. it is a very common idiom., And I have never even ben to the South,

except to vacation in Florida for a wekk. My Boston boen grandmother and Brooklyn NY born mother BOTH taught me that expression and used it as well. Neither were racist.

[O is 44]

3. Beyond the statement she lied about the 20 billion

dollar fund, it is not for the moratorium, the moratorium fund is a seperate 100 million dollar fund currently for rig workers only. Of course CNN did not correct her, no surprise.

[Zenlitened]

4. I've always understood the term to be racist in its origin.

Many people use it thoughtlessly, not considering its implications. But when it's used in reference to America's first black president, well... "thoughtless" barely begins to describe.

:wow:

[IOKIYAL]

7. the 100 million is in addition to and I'm sure these

people will have access to the 20b if they have a case.

[Enthusiast]

10. There is no alternative to

a drilling moratorium.

Until safety procedures are reviewed, drilling protocol is firmly established, and stronger after accident containment measures are developed, there has to be a moratorium. Laying boom after the fact just doesn't get it.

If the industry wants to get back to drilling they should use some of their massive windfall to develop truly modern and effective responses and firm procedures to prevent blowouts.

[SemperEadem]

13. who the eff uses that phrase in the 21st century

except those still stuck in the 19th century.

[blm]

21. Julia Reed's a Bush-family cheerleader from way back. That's typical haughty southern talk from her.

.

[bongbong]

14. Old expression

It's a very old expression. My grandmother used it - but she was born in 1895 and is long gone. I never heard my parents use it.

If she is under 60 and used it, or not a southerner, it is most likely subconscious racism.

[Bob Loblaw]

15. there are a number of "sayings"

that people don't think of as racially or culturally insensitive that are indeed so. What if Ms Reed had suggested that the $20 billion should have been $40 billion but that Obama had allowed himself to be "Jewed down"?

[spiritual_gunfighter]

16. This wasnt racist at all

This is a common term that has nothing to do with race. I think that if you start claiming racism at everything people say it trivializes legit. racist speech and actions.

[X_Digger]

17. +1

In the south, it's a stand-in for 'god damned'.

Also see 'ever-lovin'.

"Out of his {god damned | cotton-pickin | ever-lovin} mind."

[TEXASYANKEE]

18. I don't swear.

So I do use "cotton-picking" as an alternative. Never thought of it as racist.

What's more troubling to me is for her (and others I've heard and read) calling for a lifting of the moritorium. This is insanity! I feel sorry for the people being affected by the moritorium, but until safety is assured, no new wells should be running. It's madness to go back to "business and usual" at a time like this.

[booley]

19. Sometimes a saying is just a saying

It may have racist roots but that doesn't mean everyone who ever says it is secretly attacking someone's race.

IF we really want to criticize her comments then all we have to do is look at the substance of what she said.

I mean, Reed is spreading the false and dangerous meme that it's jobs versus the environment, that some how we should put up with environmental disasters to keep people employed as if this oil gushing out into the ocean isn't going to be costing countless jobs.

That bothers me a lot more then some antiquated expression, the origin of which has to be pointed out to most people.

Not all on the right are racists. Some are just stupid.

[Merlot]

22. "...the moratorium, which...is the biggest problem we've got facing us."

She's to stupid to realize what she said sounds racist. It was a poor choice of words, IMO. But with millions of gallons of oil in ocean and the resulting wildlife death, human health problems, and loose of income, the moratorium is the LEAST of the problems the gulf will be facing.

stupid is as stupid does...

[blm]

23. she's not stupid about oil, she's invested in it...she's a longtime Bushie watercarrier

.