Andrea Mitchell says that Susan Rice withdrawing her name from consideration for Secretary of State would "not help Republicans at all" because she is a "woman of color." How would the first female African-American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice feel about that statement?
Prominent Democrats (loudly) opposed Condoleezza Rice's nomination, as well. Were they racist?
The U.N. Ambassador had been considered by the Obama administration as a replacement for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has resigned. Rice told NBC's Brian Williams that she made the decision to withdraw her name from the potential candidates because it was the "best thing for our country, for the American people." Of course, as valid as the concerns were over her potential appointment, in today's hyper-partisan atmosphere, valid concerns are turned into accusations of racism and misogyny.
Rice has been criticized for telling the media on several Sunday morning news outlets that the Benghazi terrorist attack was a "spontaneous protest" resulting from an anti-Islam YouTube trailer, despite the fact that by the time she made the statements, it had been reported that the Benghazi massacre was actually a terrorist attack.
Even before Rice withdrew her name, Rep. Jim Clyburn slammed critics of Rice for questioning her competence, saying that Sen. John McCain (a vocal critic of Rice) "can't hold a candle to her intellectually" and expressed anger about racist "code words" being used in reference to the U.N. Ambassador. One wonders if Clyburn has any real understanding about how ridiculous he sounds? He seems to be a schoolyard bully instead of an elected representative of American citizens.
Not to be outdone, USA Today said that the criticism will appear to be a "war on women," opining that opposition to Rice "almost certainly will be seen by many others as proof of a GOP war on women. And that will cost Republicans dearly at the polls."
Perhaps the following video will jog some people's memories as to how Condoleezza Rice was treated by prominent Democrats. Here, Al Sharpton was asked to give his opinion about whether Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice are "House Negroes."
Calling opposition to Rice racist or misogynistic is a polarizing non-argument that is grounded in nothing. Have there been any references to her race or gender made by her critics? Unlike Condi Rice who was repeatedly bashed as an "Aunt Jemima" or described in even more offensive terms based on her race and/or her gender.
The Huffington Post reports that Andrea Mitchell said on MSNBC, "This is not going to help Republicans at all, the fact that a woman and a woman of color has been forced out of a confirmation process even before she was nominated."
Watch Mitchell make her inane statement here:
In standard form, Obama responded to Rice's withdrawal by saying, in part,
"While I deeply regret the unfair and misleading attacks on Susan Rice in recent weeks, her decision demonstrates the strength of her character, and an admirable commitment to rise above the politics of the moment to put our national interests first."
The sickening and unfair attack is sadly representative of the polarizing nature of politics under President Obama, who has added to the hyper-partisanship with his own comments or even, at times, with his silence. The double standard is clear.
Image Source: FloppingAces
recommend
Facebook
Twitter
bookmark 
print
Comments: 11
First Benghazi passenger tossed under the bus. About time.
There's too many independent agencies without civilian, Congressional, or Constitutional oversight with a license to kill is what I do know. There'll be more of this kind of thing, the right hand not knowing what the left is doing.
It's not racist to oppose someone who is of another race. I do believe, however, it is racist to always side with someone just because they're the same race. :)