Limbaugh: Obama a "classic case of affirmative action rearing it's ugly head"

motivez · 08-25-2008, 09:18 PM

Limbaugh: Obama won primaries because no one ‘had the guts to stand up and say no to a black guy.’

Yesterday on his radio show, right-wing talker Rush Limbaugh said it’s “striking how unqualified Obama is and how this whole thing came about within the Democrat Party. I think it really goes back to the fact that nobody had the guts to stand up and say no to a black guy.” Limbaugh continued:

I think this is a classic illustration here where affirmative action has reared its ugly head against them. It’s the reverse of it. They’ve, they’ve ended up nominating and placing at the top of their ticket somebody who’s not qualified, who has not earned it. […]

It’s perfect affirmative action. And because of all this guilt and the historic nature of things, nobody had the guts to say, well, wait a minute, do we really want to do this?

Media Matters has the audio.

Think Progress » Limbaugh: Obama won primaries because no one ‘had the guts to stand up and say no to a black guy.’

Full Quote:

CALLER: But here I -- I'm actually idling. I've got the air on full-blast so I'm gonna', I'm going to take my time. But -- she says to say, "Hi." But here, here's the thing, Rush. I'm thinking -- coming from Chicago, you know, where we -- we're just inundated with Barack and his ideas, I do believe that on some level the liberals understand the free market because whenever racism is becoming scarce, they do not hesitate to drill for more.

LIMBAUGH: No, they understand it. They just oppose it.

CALLER: OK. But they want it when it benefits them.

LIMBAUGH: Exactly right.

CALLER: OK.

LIMBAUGH: So when, when a precious resource like racism becomes scarce --

CALLER: Exactly.

LIMBAUGH: -- they will go out and drill for new sources.

CALLER: OK.

LIMBAUGH: You're exactly right. They understand the principle. They want it for themselves, just not anybody else. Liberals can have two sets of rules: One for the elites, the arrogants and the condescending elites, and the other set of rules for everybody else.

CALLER: Uh-hmm.

LIMBAUGH: They will exempt themselves from the limiting rules they place on everybody else.

CALLER: Yes. And you hit it right on with Barack. It -- they keep talking about all these reasons: Why is it the poll's so close? What's going on?

And it reminds me of that, that scene in Caddyshack -- I don't know if you're familiar with where Chevy Chase is trying to teach Bill Murray how to golf and he's kind of saying, "You're not, you're not ..." And he's standing behind him and he's trying to -- and he says, "You're not good."

You know, it just reminds me of that. He's just not good.

LIMBAUGH: What did, what did he say? You're not what?

CALLER: He -- Chevy Chase --

LIMBAUGH: Oh. "You're not good. You're not good."

CALLER: Yeah, he's tryin' to say, you know, you're not leaning, you're not doing -- you're not, you're not good."

You know, so it just reminds me of that. You know, he's just not cut out for the job. So --

LIMBAUGH: No, he's not. He's -- it's -- to me, it is striking how unqualified Obama is and how this whole thing came about with, within the Democrat Party. I think it really goes back to the fact that nobody had the guts to stand up and say no to a black guy. They just -- they were -- liberal policies are always going to end up strangling liberals, too.

And I think, I think this is a classic illustration here where affirmative action has reared its ugly head against them. It's the reverse of it. They've, they've ended up nominating and placing at the top of their ticket somebody who's not qualified, who has not earned it.

It's perfect affirmative action. And because of all this guilt and the historic nature of things, nobody had the guts to say, well, wait a minute, do we really want to do this?

So they do it and then they start behaving in manners and ways that let us know that they know that they've goofed up with the choice. Actually, it's been somewhat fascinating to watch.

Media Matters - Limbaugh: Obama's nomination "goes back to the fact that nobody had the guts to stand up and say no to a black guy"

I mean, is this guy just trying to get his name in the news or is he seriously this stupid?

Affirmative action or not, you don't go on to succeed as Obama did at Harvard Law, becoming the President of the Law Review if you aren't a smart guy..

For all of you who said race isn't an issue, that Obama didn't need to address it, that by Obama talking about it, was somehow playing the race card, this should be proof that it's something the Republicans are going to try to use against him.

When someone like Rush is speaking about his race in such a negative, derogatory manner.. you know the thinking of the party as a whole isn't too far off from that.

Why do they have to try to tear him down because of his skin color? I mean, why can't they recognize that this guy is has achieved the American dream because of his own hard work?

As has been said many times now, his mother was on food stamps for a time, his father left him, he didn't have it easy growing up, he overcame adversity and worked hard, got into the best schools, where he worked hard to get the best education he could.. and then instead of taking a cushy job, he went to work helping people in the inner cities.. finally entering public service.

How can they tear him down as an 'elitist' and 'out of touch' when he certainly comes from more common roots than McCain, who just recently paid off his school debt, who truly knows what it's like to grow up poor..?

It really makes me sick.

Stylerod · 08-26-2008, 09:03 AM

He's right. He's not saying the guy isn't smart. He's not saying a black guy can't be president. He's saying, thruthfully, the only reason he is in the place he is is because he's black. Make him a white guy with the exact same background and there is NO WAY he would have ever beat Hillary.

And putting it into the context of Affirmative Action makes sense. How many blacks and minorities got accepted into college with lower grades than white students simply because of the color of their skin?

DosEquis · 08-26-2008, 09:52 AM

Personally I think he is where he is today because of his speaking ability. You can't rail on his background and use it against him when people like Bill Clinton of 1992 and GWB of 2000 had in a round about way the same levels of experience as he does. Sure they were governors... but thats all they were. Bill Clinton got where he did because he was from the south and had a great speaking ability as well. Barack worked as a state senator and as a US senator, and has picked a multi-term senator for his vice president to oversee that branch of govt.

7960 · 08-26-2008, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by motivez

When someone like Rush is speaking about his race in such a negative, derogatory manner.. you know the thinking of the party as a whole isn't too far off from that.

rush doesn't speak for the republican party

Scrum · 08-26-2008, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

He's right. He's not saying the guy isn't smart. He's not saying a black guy can't be president. He's saying, thruthfully, the only reason he is in the place he is is because he's black. Make him a white guy with the exact same background and there is NO WAY he would have ever beat Hillary.

What a load of crap.

I would ask you to provide some proof to back up this silly claim, but it's opinion and totally subjective.

Originally Posted by Stylerod

And putting it into the context of Affirmative Action makes sense. How many blacks and minorities got accepted into college with lower grades than white students simply because of the color of their skin?

Why don't you tell us? You are the one who think it happens.

Stylerod · 08-26-2008, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Scrum

What a load of crap.

I would ask you to provide some proof to back up this silly claim, but it's opinion and totally subjective.

Of course it's opinion. Just like Limbaugh is stating his opinion. I just happen to think he is correct. He is nowhere near qualified to be president, but, he is black so he gets extra points (see below).

Originally Posted by Scrum

Why don't you tell us? You are the one who think it happens.

The University of Michigan used a point system to admit students. If you were black it was the same as raising your grade level one whole point. The Supreme Court found it unconstitutional and told public schools they could no longer admit students in that way anymore.

DosEquis · 08-26-2008, 10:51 AM

Black has nothing to do with it, and if anything he has less points because of that. He obviously has less points with you and Rush to be certain. Bill Clinton was no where near qualified and neither was George Bush. Ronald Reagan wasn't qualified either by my standards. One thing they had (except bush) was the ability to move a crowd with their sales pitch. So does Barack Obama.

George HW Bush was probably the most qualified in recent history.

7960 · 08-26-2008, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by DosEquis

Black has nothing to do with it, and if anything he has less points because of that. He obviously has less points with you and Rush to be certain. Bill Clinton was no where near qualified and neither was George Bush. Ronald Reagan wasn't qualified either by my standards. One thing they had (except bush) was the ability to move a crowd with their sales pitch. So does Barack Obama.

I'm not quite sure what being a state senator is like in those states but I'm going out on a limb and guessing being a governor qualifies someone more than being a state senator.

DosEquis · 08-26-2008, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by 7960

I'm not quite sure what being a state senator is like in those states but I'm going out on a limb and guessing being a governor qualifies someone more than being a state senator.

I would say overall that you are correct. Being a governor does trump being a state senator. However he has experience as a state senator and being a member of the United States senate. Though the experience is different than being a governor, it is still experience that is needed for running the executive office. His experience is primarily legislative and since he knows what its like being part of the legislative process he could use that as the leader of the executive.

Stylerod · 08-26-2008, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by DosEquis

Black has nothing to do with it, and if anything he has less points because of that. He obviously has less points with you and Rush to be certain. Bill Clinton was no where near qualified and neither was George Bush. Ronald Reagan wasn't qualified either by my standards. One thing they had (except bush) was the ability to move a crowd with their sales pitch. So does Barack Obama.

George HW Bush was probably the most qualified in recent history.

Bush was Governor for a full 5 year term.

Clinton aas Governor for 10 years.

Reagan was Governor for 10 years.

Obama hasn't even finished his first term as a Senator yet. He's as bad a pick as Edwards was, who also had no qualifications but was a good speaker.

Scrum · 08-26-2008, 12:23 PM

Governor of Texas is not like running any other state. The position has almost no power other than a veto.

7960 · 08-26-2008, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by Scrum

Governor of Texas is not like running any other state. The position has almost no power other than a veto.

and exactly how much power does an illinois state senator have?

David Octavius · 08-26-2008, 01:48 PM

Yea its all Affirmative action! Remember when Jesse Jackson and Alan Keys became their party nominee? Oh wait they didn't...since slavery ended we have had exactly 1 MINORITY (forget just black) presidential candidate that won the nomination and now that there is finally one its a threat to some people. People like that will never be satisfied who it is, the simply fact that their skin is a different shade is reason enough to hate them, the excuse they use publicly is just that.

There are many reasons not to like Obama and not to vote for him, but to focus on his race is a very underhanded, almost racist, tactic to rev up votes for the other guy.

7960 · 08-26-2008, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by David Octavius

Yea its all Affirmative action! Remember when Jesse Jackson and Alan Keys became their party nominee? Oh wait they didn't...since slavery ended we have had exactly 1 MINORITY (forget just black) presidential candidate that won the nomination and now that there is finally one its a threat to some people.

it's not a threat. people are curious why someone (notice I didn't say black) with less than one term as a junior senator is all the sudden qualified to be president. they're asking the question, "what has he done that makes him think he can run the country?"

I get it that you don't like some of the proposed answers, but the question is more than valid.

People like that will never be satisfied who it is, the simply fact that their skin is a different shade is reason enough to hate them,

bullshit. I'm still waiting for an answer to why he's a better candidate than hillary.

Swift-Bass · 08-26-2008, 02:30 PM

Obama is very smart. But has nothing new as he keeps spouting. Nothign fresh and certainly offers little change from the normal political process.

there are three reasons Obama is where he is right now:

He has an incredible campaign team
He can speech well to a crowd
He's black.

I'm black as well. But I have to face facts that if it was ANY other freshman senator(that was not black) he wouldn't have gotten the media recognition for peole to even knowhe was in the race. Also, black peole voted for him in record numbers. Granted, that may not be enough to swing a general, but it sure helped in the primary. I believe he got some 97% of the black vote. That's extreme!

As far as experience and intelligence goes. Sure, he's smart. But does he have wisdom? He's experience is so lacking for the highest political office on the planet it shocking and quite frankly scary. Why would you even want someone that has spent more time in teh federal senate trying to become president then they have as a sitting senator as your presidential nominee? That's an honest question. The man has no expereince of note on the federal level. John McCain is far from perfect, but at least he has an established record to critique. The same can't be said about Obama.

TankRizzo · 08-26-2008, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Swift-Bass

Obama is very smart. But has nothing new as he keeps spouting. Nothign fresh and certainly offers little change from the normal political process.

there are three reasons Obama is where he is right now:

He has an incredible campaign team

He can speech well to a crowd

He's black.

I'm black as well. But I have to face facts that if it was ANY other freshman senator(that was not black) he wouldn't have gotten the media recognition for peole to even knowhe was in the race. Also, black peole voted for him in record numbers. Granted, that may not be enough to swing a general, but it sure helped in the primary. I believe he got some 97% of the black vote. That's extreme!

As far as experience and intelligence goes. Sure, he's smart. But does he have wisdom? He's experience is so lacking for the highest political office on the planet it shocking and quite frankly scary. Why would you even want someone that has spent more time in teh federal senate trying to become president then they have as a sitting senator as your presidential nominee? That's an honest question. The man has no expereince of note on the federal level. John McCain is far from perfect, but at least he has an established record to critique. The same can't be said about Obama.

This pretty much nails it.

...and the fact that Octavius was screaming racism just goes to show that Rush is probably onto something with the affirmative action that's been beaten into this country. When all else fails, scream racism because that shuts people up real quick. It's a modern day witch trial if you say something that even REMOTELY resembles something racist, people being fired over using the word "niggardly", coming under scrutiny for using the term "tar baby", etc. and so forth.

You aren't allowed to say anything bad about obama or you're racist.

I highly doubt Obama would have had the success he has had if he were white, he would have gone largely unnoticed and Hillary would have steamrolled to the nomination. But anyhow, that's neither here nor there and not anything that you can prove one way or the other. But Obama more or less was given a free pass for the initial leg of the primaries, he skated by on image alone because he certainly doesn't have much of a body of work to lean on.

DosEquis · 08-26-2008, 03:00 PM

Nobody knew who Bill Clinton was, but he could give a speech just as Obama did. He didn't have to be black to get attention. I guess some people did call Bill Clinton americas first black president. His skin color is of historical significance, but it his speeches and campaign that have placed him where he is today. There have been a variety of other black men that have made an attempt to run, but they didn't get ahead simply because they were black. Where was their pseudo-affirmative action? If you asked those guys they actually lost partially because they were black...so which is it?

We have Obama at the front because he is black but we have Sharpton and Jackson not getting votes because they are black.

Obama does have some new ideas and different ideas than McCain. He will bring change. He has new ideas such as his healthcare plan, and an idea that he is different than McCain on is Iraq policy.