Racism in America

Is there still racism in America? The simple answer is yes. However, the vast majority of us are not racists. As a nation, we have made tremendous strides. Unfortunately, recent events involving Henry Louis Gates, Jr. show that too many people are clinging to the past:

Gates had trouble getting into his home because of a damaged door.

Cambridge police Sgt. James Crowley was dispatched on a possible break-in. He found Gates there and asked for identification.

Police say Gates initially refused, became angry and accused the officer of racism. Gates was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, which was dropped.

In response to a question at a news conference, Obama said Gates was a friend and said he didn't know all the facts, but that the police acted "stupidly" in making the arrest.

Personally, I wouldn't be offended if a police officer asked me for identification while I struggled to enter my home. In fact, I would be grateful that they were so responsive to policing the community and protecting my property. Based on what I've read and heard, it seems to me that Professor Gates is the one with the problem here.

I actually had something like this happen to me once. When I was much younger and living in Los Angeles, I was driving a $500 car with a broken backseat window. I had broken the window myself because the locks didn't work on the car and the way for me to let myself into the car was from the inside. Well, while driving around, I was pulled over one day by a police officer.

He flat out told me that he pulled me over to check and see if I had stolen the car. At the time, I was in my early twenties. It was summer so I was pretty dark and sporting a mustache and goatee, which my wife always thought made me look like a gang member. Probably a pretty accurate assessment since I actually landed a role in a low budget film as a gang member with that look.

Did I take offense that the police officer pulled me over? Did I become belligerent and argumentative? No, he was doing his job. If Professor Gates had assumed the same instead of jumping to a conclusion that officer's actions were motivated by racism, this all would have been a non-issue.

Of course, the real problem here is that the President of the United States, the leader of the free world, felt the need to chime in on the incident. Moreover, he did so in a way that assumes racist motivation on the part of the police officer. That's wrong. Of all the things the President should be focused on, this just doesn't rank.

Governor Richardson's Racist Comment

It wasn't that long ago that Governor Richardson had that embarrassing accidental presidential candidacy announcement on Fox News. You remember, right? The one where he defined how he was running, and then had to backpedal fast to say he didn't mean he was running. Here, let me refresh your memory:

In a news release issued around 5:30 p.m. today, Gallegos added: “FOX News incorrectly reported that Governor Richardson has announced he will run for president. When asked directly whether he will run for president, Governor Richardson said he will make a final decision in January.

“Other comments from the interview were taken out of context based on a hypothetical question that FOX News posed about the Governor’s strengths should he run for president.”

Fox's Web site quoted Richardson as saying "I am Hispanic, which I believe is an asset. But I'm not running as an Hispanic. I am running as an American who is proud to be Hispanic."

Well, it looks like that episode is about to come back and bite the Governor yet again. This time people are surely going to take notice that less than six months have passed since, Governor Richardson was emphatically proclaiming that he was "not running as an Hispanic."

Yet, yesterday Governor Richardson was quoted as saying:

Presidential candidate and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) said Monday the reason he has not called for the removal of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is that the two both have Hispanic backgrounds.

Richardson, in an interview with The Hill, said he is “pretty close” to making such a call, but added that he is reluctant to do so before Gonzales’s Senate testimony despite the high-profile involvement of New Mexico in the U.S. attorneys scandal.
“The only reason I’m not there is because he’s Hispanic, and I know him and like him,” Richardson said, adding, “It’s because he’s Hispanic. I’m honest.

“I want to give him the benefit of the doubt.”

WHOA! The Governor of New Mexico, who also happens to be running for President of the United States, is on the record as saying that he is not calling for removal of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales because Gonzales is Hispanic? That is SO wrong on SO many levels.

First off, it's racist (and it's not the first time). For Governor Richardson to say he is holding AG Alberto Gonzales to a different standard level because he is Hispanic is insulting to all Hispanics.

I take that back.

It's insulting to everyone who supports equal treatment under the law regardless of someone's race. How can Bill Richardson the "accomplished" diplomat, who loves to tout his nomination for several Nobel Peace Prizes, not know that there is something terribly wrong with making political decisions based on racially defined parameters? How can someone like this be seriously considered as a candidate for President of the United States?

I don't think he can. Imagine the other candidates - on either side of the aisle - saying they are withholding judgment because the individual in question, like them, is: Caucasian, African-American, Mormon, or a woman. Now imagine them getting elected to the highest office in the land. You can't right? Me either.

A Hispanic Who Should Know Better

This guy, Ruben Navarrette, Jr., has got to be kidding, right? (hat tip: Monahan) I mean how can anyone in their right mind, let alone a Harvard graduate, come to the conclusion that the outcry against "voter fraud" is all about keeping a lid on "surging Hispanic political power." Have you ever heard of the Viva Bush campaign efforts? We're not exactly talking about Republicans running away from Hispanics.

But what truly amazes me, is how can anyone who reads a newspaper, let alone a columnist who is syndicated in the Albuquerque Journal, can think that any elected official in New Mexico, especially ones who get elected term after term, could possibly do anything other than embrace the Hispanic vote?

Give me a break.

Mr. Navarrette, allow me to take a moment to introduce you to the state of New Mexico. We have a Hispanic Governor. We have a Hispanic Speaker of the House. We have a Hispanic President Pro-tempore of the Senate. We have a Hispanic Mayor of the State's largest city. We have a Hispanic Secretary of State. Do I really need to go on? Heck, even the recent Bernalillo County Republican Chairman race was between two Hispanic candidates. Are you starting to get a picture here?

If you want to argue the merits of Mr. Iglesias' firing, by all means, please do. However, to try and turn this into a race issue is offensive. It is offensive to New Mexicans, and it is offensive and demeaning to all Hispanics.

And as long, I'm talking about the absurd and offensive statements, let's look at one of the quotes you attribute to Mr. Iglesias:

“I'm a little bit suspicious of the theory that there are a persuasive and large number of illegal immigrants who are voting,” [disgruntled former U.S. Attorney, David Iglesias] acknowledged. “Have some voted in the past? I'm sure some have. But is it large enough to skew an election? I don't think so.”

Mr. Iglesias how is it that you are "sure some have" voted? Could it be because proof of voter fraud has come before you, but you decided not to prosecute? And since when is it okay for a prosecutor to believe that the law should only be enforced if it is going to skew an election?

Oh, and do I really need to mention the margin in this last election for the 1st Congressional District? We're not talking about the need for large numbers of unregistered voters - garden variety will do, no need to be here illegally. Just three or so more per precinct would have swung the election the other way.

So, at the end of the day, we have a columnist who shamelessly plays the race card in order to come up with a unique angle on what is becoming a very tired story. And, a former U.S. Attorney who looks more foolish each and every time he opens his mouth to the press. No one needs to attempt to suppress "surging Hispanic political power" when we have spokesmen like these making us look foolish.