On behalf of she who I will not name.

Michael Gardiner


I am disgusted with GoLocalProv and their report of an alleged “racist tweet : by a “ Fung Volunteer.”  It was a sleaze move that smacks of a political dirty trick. First, nobody cares, really, what some campaign volunteer tweets, unless it were truly racist, and it wasn’t and, secondly expecting the Fung campaign to respond to it was sensationalist, irresponsible and revealing of what is all too common in so–called journalism.. They aren’t trying to be fair at all.

Fung volunteer tweets racial comments about Obama http://t.co/POgkiBsmQy #ripoli #Obama #Fung #Rickman #Vincent #NAACP #Providence #RI

— GoLocalProv (@GoLocalProv) January 23, 2014

The Fung campaign disavowed any responsibility for the tweet of a volunteer. What else can he do?  So that leaves someone else to defend the right of a fair political comment. My turn in the barrel.
First, some context, last Sunday it was reported that President Barack Obama said in a New Yorker interview, some people "really dislike me because they don't like the idea of a black man occupying the Oval Office.” The President also said, "Now, the flip side of it is there are some black folks and maybe some white folks who really like me and give me the benefit of the doubt precisely because I’m a black president.”

I think that is a perfectly reasonable thing to say. I think the President’s remarks were overall correct in a general sense, and I don’t think his using the word “black” in and of itself was racist. I don’t think suggesting that some people are proud this country has a “black” or non-white President as a reflection of our triumph over racism and as a celebration of our nation of opportunity for everyone, is a bad thing either. But some felt, that in that statement, the President was implying that those who did not support him or his policies,“non-blacks” if you will, might be racist. Am I being over-sensitive?
I have heard and seen Democrats and Obama supporters claim that those who do not support the President’s policies are racist. Conservatives bristle at this, and are contemptuous of it. They fight back, often wryly and sarcastically.

GoLocalProv “scooped” and “exposed” a tweet that responded to a Fox news report of the President’s remarks:
 
@fox news: His ratings must be getting lower and lower because he's getting blacker and blacker. That's the only thing that explains it."

Obviously the President isn’t physically or visibly changing. Obviously, his being black to any degree, the quip argues, doesn’t explain the lower ratings. It’s political humor. It was sent by a private citizen, who is alleged to be a “Fung volunteer” and it was served up to two older grown men who should have the wisdom and gentleness to just keep walking. Yet they did not. On behalf of the “offending tweetress,” she who I will not name, I call out and chastise without reservation, Ray Rickman and Jim Vincent.

Ray Rickman, who is deservedly praiseworthy and prominent in leading the “Swim Empowerment" efforts, on this occasion got it wrong. “The statement is racist," said Ray Rickman, the former State Representative and Deputy Secretary of State -- and former president of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society. "There's no such word as "blacker". It's derogatory word, which for years I've been trying to understand. The comment is harsh, insensitive, and wholly racist."

C’mon Ray. Frankly, the President really is very comfortable with the word black, and you should be too. I’m comfortable with the word white. Even the word “whiter” works for me. Yes, I admit it, I do want my whites to come out whiter than white, and I want my colors to be brighter than bright. Ray, don’t try and teach what words we may use when you are determined to ignore the true intent and exploit willful misunderstanding. The word “black,” even talking about “black” people isn’t a little red hammer that should make you mindlessly kick. Unless..it’s only if a ..white..person.. says it? Are we still there?

The “offending tweet” was mocking the perception that the President’s had implicitly correlated his approval ratings to his race. That’s actually sort of a good post racial thing, isn’t it?

No less reflexive was the response of Jim Vincent who GoLocalProv reported as “with the RI NAACP.”( psst..He’s the president of the NAACP-Providence)

"When people talk about the President, I don't know why they have to mention his race -- what does it have to do with anything? I find it surprising that someone would mention his race in conjunction with his performance. It's inappropriate," said Vincent. "It doesn't help anyone's campaign to have someone who said that associated with them."
When the President talks about the American people, he doesn't have to mention his race either. But when he does, I am not searching for the opportunity to call him a racist; rather, I try to hear what he really means. We elected him President, twice now. But he did talk about race and he did so in a way that suggested some of his “non-black” opposition might be racist. Well, conservatives who feel they have articulated their policy disputes clearly, have a right to retort.

Ray Rickman and Jim Vincent were reflexive in their condemnation. Given this tweet was from a young volunteer and was obviously wry, sarcastic and sardonic, and given it was responsive to the President’s own remarks, they could have shown some forbearance. Instead they effectively blasted a young person as a “racist” and did so in print.

Ray Rickman and Jim Vincent are community leaders. I expect them to know when not to take the bait. I expect men of stature and power to know restraint.

But Rickman also called on the Fung campaign to remove the volunteer from the campaign. Not only is the young woman to be called a racist, but she is to be discouraged in her exercise of political rights, according to Rickman.

Maybe Rickman should write the President a letter and instruct him when he may and may not use the word “black.” Maybe the President should not campaign for the Democratic nominee in 2016.

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