MSNBC's Buchanan called Obama "exotic," said "[h]e's like the guys in the Harvard faculty lounge" who "don't know anything about their country"
MSNBC political analyst Pat Buchanan said of the Republican strategy against Sen. Barack Obama: "[T]hey're going to use his associations. And they're going to use his statements, his elitism. They're going to use the fact he's exotic."
On the June 12 edition of MSNBC's Verdict, MSNBC political analyst Pat Buchanan said to host Dan Abrams, "Dan, I've told you all along, the only way the Republicans can win this when the whole country wants to throw the Republicans out, is raise questions, raise doubts about the alternative -- just like the Democrats did with Reagan in 1980." Buchanan then said of the Republican strategy against presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama: "And they're going to do it. And they're going to use his associations. And they're going to use his statements, his elitism. They're going to use the fact he's exotic." Democratic strategist Tanya Acker responded to Buchanan's statement by saying, "Exotic? What does 'exotic' mean? What's exotic? Is 'exotic' code for 'black'? I don't understand what exotic means." Buchanan then replied, "All right. Here's what it means. Listen. 'Exotic' is code for somebody who talks to people in Pennsylvania as though they're some stupid tribe holding on to their Bibles, guns, and bigotries, and telling that to a bunch of people in San Francisco behind closed doors."
Later in the segment, Acker said, referring to Obama, "[T]he notion that he is somehow exotic, that he's so different from the rest of America, I mean, I just have to take issue with that. He's really -- he's browner than a lot of America, but he's really not that different." Abrams then asked, "Pat, is the strategy to use code words? I mean, is the strategy going to be to use words like 'exotic' where people say, 'Well, I guess he wasn't saying that he's bad, but, boy, that sounds kind of funny' -- to use these words in the hope that they're going to stick?" Buchanan replied: "[W]hat do you mean, 'code words'? Barack Obama made these statements. It tells you where he is coming from. He is coming out of the left. He doesn't understand Middle America. He's like the guys in the Harvard faculty lounge. They don't know anything about their country. They sit up there and talk to one another." Responding to Buchanan, Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky said: "Wait a second, Pat. Pat, listen, Barack Obama is as American as you and I are, and these code words for exotic is exactly that; you're trying to paint him as some sort of a strange outsider."
From the June 12 edition of MSNBC's Verdict with Dan Abrams:
ABRAMS: Pat, should John McCain have come out and been more aggressive in saying, look, I -- he was the one who was saying before, "We're not going to go negative," et cetera. And now he's saying, "Well, you know, what do you want me to do? I can't control everything." I mean, he is backing off a little bit, isn't he?
BUCHANAN: Sure. Well, Dan, I've told you all along, the only way the Republicans can win this when the whole country wants to throw the Republicans out, is raise questions, raise doubts about the alternative -- just like the Democrats did with Reagan in 1980. And they're going to do it. And they're going to use his associations. And they're going to use his statements, his elitism. They're going to use the fact he's exotic. I mean, that's what's going to happen. And McCain --
ABRAMS: Wait.
BUCHANAN: -- McCain would be foolish --
ACKER: What does "exotic" mean?
BUCHANAN: -- foolish to --
ACKER: What's exotic? Is "exotic" code for "black"?
BUCHANAN: No, exotic is code --
ACKER: I don't understand what exotic means.
BUCHANAN: All right. Here's what it means. Listen. "Exotic" is code for somebody who talks to people in Pennsylvania as though they're some stupid tribe holding on to their Bibles, guns, and bigotries --
ROGINSKY: Oh, Pat.
BUCHANAN: -- and telling that to a bunch of people in --
ROGINSKY: Come on.
ACKER: Come on.
BUCHANAN: -- San Francisco behind closed doors.
ROGINSKY: Come on. Pat, let's be realistic.
[crosstalk]
ACKER: Come on, Pat, you can do better than that. You can do better than that. There's no question --
ABRAMS: Hang on, hang on. One at a time. Tanya, go ahead. Hang on, I'll let you -- hang on, Brad [Blakeman, Republican strategist]. I want to let Tanya go and then I'll let you get in.
ACKER: We can revisit ad nauseam the wisdom of whether or not Barack Obama should've made the unfortunate comment about people being bitter. I think he admits that was a misstatement; we all know that. But the notion that he is somehow exotic, that he's so different from the rest of America, I mean, I just have to take issue with that. He's really -- he's browner than a lot of America --
BUCHANAN: Well, he's --
ACKER: -- but he's really not that different.
BUCHANAN: Look, he's Hyde Park --
ABRAMS: All right. But is that the strategy, Pat?
BUCHANAN: -- faculty lounge.
ABRAMS: Pat? Wait, let me ask you, Pat. Pat, is the strategy to use code words? I mean, is the strategy going to be to use words like "exotic" where people say, "Well, I guess he wasn't saying that he's bad, but, boy, that sounds kind of funny" -- to use these words in the hope that they're going to stick?
BUCHANAN: Well, I mean, I don't know what we're -- what do you mean, "code words"? Barack Obama made these statements. It tells you where he is coming from. He is coming out of the left. He doesn't understand Middle America. He's like the guys in the Harvard faculty lounge. They don't know anything about their country. They sit up there and talk to one another.
ROGINSKY: Wait a second, Pat. Pat, listen, Barack Obama is as American as you and I are, and these code words for exotic is exactly that; you're trying to paint him as some sort of a strange outsider. This is such a typical Republican thing --
[crosstalk]
BLAKEMAN: What about your code words?
ABRAMS: Hang on.
BLAKEMAN: What about your code words?
ROGINSKY: What code words are those?
BLAKEMAN: What about your code words?
ABRAMS: All right, hang on. All right. Brad -- hang on one sec, everyone. Go ahead, Brad.
BLAKEMAN: Your code words about McCain's age. He's --
ROGINSKY: I think McCain has every right --
BLAKEMAN: -- "confused."
ROGINSKY: -- to run.
BLAKEMAN: Oh, come on.
ROGINSKY: He is con -- wait a second. Wait, wait --
ABRAMS: Wait, Brad.
BLAKEMAN: Let me take the mystery out of it.
ABRAMS: Wait, wait, wait hang on. Julie, I gotta -- I want to let Brad finish. Hold on.
ROGINSKY: All right.
ABRAMS: Brad, we're going to get back to --
BLAKEMAN: OK.
ABRAMS: -- this issue of the "confused," et cetera. We're going to get back to that later in the program. But do you think, look, this conversation -- I got to tell you, Brad -- says to me that this is going to get ugly.
BLAKEMAN: Sure it's going to get ugly.
ABRAMS: -- and it's going to get ugly early. Fair?
The other right-wing media mogul you should worry about
Palin's book and Obama's bow: a media week to forget
Media Matters: The Palin chronicles
I think what Pat meant was that McCain is like those guys in the White House who don't know anything about the Constitution.
I think what Pat meant was that McCain is like those guys in the White House who don't know anything about the Constitution.
Or it's like those guys on the political right (including himself) who don't know their a$$ from a hole in the ground.
hey Col., guess you're officially on the pay-roll now! congrats!
On a side note, Buchanan needs a nap ;)
"He is coming out of the left. He doesn't understand Middle America. He's like the guys in the Harvard faculty lounge. They don't know anything about their country. They sit up there and talk to one another."
Oh, and I have a question. What is the issue the right has with Harvard? Whenever they talk of "liberal elitism," whatever that is, Harvard is almost always mentioned in the same breath. I mean, all those liberal elites, like Bush and Kissinger, must be so out of touch with America that they are seen as "exotic" as well, right? Or, like Abrams says, exotic is code word for black.
Of course, when you go to Columbia to get your masters, as Buchanan did, you could be seen as out of touch with the common American as well ;)
"DBeden4153" has these words of wisdom:
Which makes you wonder if the Religiopolitical Right's delusion of "Americanism" is based upon The White Frame House on Maple Street, so to speak, as the foundation of their pseudo-idealised agenda tending, methinks, to ur-Producerism.
What is the issue the right has with Harvard?
They keep forgetting that Dubya got his fake MBA from there.....
We all know that Republicans pay big money for their gated and planned communities, so it's not so much they don't want to be told what to do. They just want the right kind of people telling them what to do.
Buncha damn phonies.
What is the issue the right has with Harvard?
Weak football program.
Congratulations Colonel & welcome to a very exclusive club of MMFA tipsters, or since I'm a Con, in my case it might be snitcher ;-)
I never sent a tip in either, but had mentioned something in a post about what I saw on one of the morning programs.
I keep waiting for some perks or a big fat check...but I guess neither is coming ;-)
Now on topic: I don't think "exotic" was code for Black. I think Buchanan was trying to be subtle & going for foreign or un-American. He had to do a quick sidestep when called on it & what he offered made no sense.
Pat is normally a straight shooter even if you don't agree with him. Here I think he missed by a mile.
"I don't think "exotic" was code for Black. I think Buchanan was trying to be subtle & going for foreign or un-American. He had to do a quick sidestep when called on it & what he offered made no sense."
I can agree with that, despite what I said above. I have issue with the demonization of institutions of higher learning, from which most everyone demonizing them have graduated from (Buchanan from Columbia, for instance. Talk about a bastion of liberalism! ;)) It's a common theme that, for me, shows the incessant need for the hardcore right to dumb down the American populace, even though we've done a pretty good job of that already.
You and Jeter are my idols.
I'm now working on controlling numbered ping pong balls in lottery drawings by sending signals through my satellite dish.
Col wrote:
>>Jeter, I'll need directions to the clubhouse, and the password.
Are you a comedian or something? Every post of yours posts is really funny. (Well, maybe not every one, but most.)
No, FunnyMP, I'm more of an imbecile, but I appreciate your low standards for comedy.I'm a construction worker, just like Sean Hannity, but there are some very funny posters here (including you, I've seen some real gut-busters from you),which is one of the reasons I like this site, as opposed to other sites I lurked around where posters took themselves verrrry seriously.
And i'm not even talking about the accidentally hilarious posters here, who are in a class of their own.I can write that, because they have no idea I'm talking about them.
You and Jeter are my idols.
Well King I am humbled by your hero worship, as I'm sure the Colonel is. I'm sure I speak for the Colonel as well when I tell you that we will promise to try to live up to your high expectations by continuing to ferret out Conservative mis-information wherever we may find it. Which of course is everywhere!! ;-)
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night...or even the MSM can stop us in our mission!
CHS. Fedora? You look much more exotic in the pillbox.
Oscar, you've still got that image burned into your mind? Sorry.
And Jeter, I like your spirit. Now let's go "catapult the propaganda" into the stark light of day. For Worrierking !!!
Verdict is one of the fairer programs on MSNBC. Abrams, to his credit, usually lets both sides have their say, unlike Olbermann who only wants his opinions rubberstamped. Abrams is from the left but he doesn't brow beat those he disagrees with and is respectful and open to varying opinions.
So Buchanan said this, so what? I don't agree with him either but he was challenged on what he meant and those that disagreed with him were given ample time to give their side.
This is called discussion and disagreement on political topics of the day, it should be highlighted here to its credit, not misinformation.
Tommy - burried in the bowels of MMFA lexicon is that misinformation is any negative news story, comment or opinion taken against it's chosen candidate, and any positive news story, comment, or opinion in favor of said candidates opposition.
I know you've been around here long enopugh to know this, however with all the crazy styff going on in the world of golf today perhaps it slipped your mind. Happy Monday.
I'll give credit to Abrams and his format, but I will not give a single iota of credit to MSNBC for employing a xenophobe like Buchanan.
Besides, does MMFA not give any credit to Acker and Abrams for their responses?
I am talking about the entire conversation, just because Buchanan says something that MMFA doesn't like, it's here. When conversations like this, back and forth with various opinions put forth, should be welcomed, however, because Buchanan uses a questionable term, BAM, it's here as misinformation of furthering the conservative agenda.
Ridiculous.
Tommy's just mad, that's why I won't even dignify his attempts to belittle this item with a response. Jeter and I were chillin' in front of the malt shop, wearing our MMFA Tipster letterman jackets this afternoon, the hot babes swarming o n us, and Tommy just sat in his WITHMobile fuming and staring at us.
And his Pole dancing was a real letdown, just some workmanlike Polish folk dances done to patriotic Sousa marches.
"Jeter and I were chillin' in front of the malt shop, wearing our MMFA Tipster letterman jackets this afternoon, the hot babes swarming o n us, and Tommy just sat in his WITHMobile fuming and staring at us."
Thanks for a good laugh. I was imagining the scene in a SpongeBob SquarePants setting with SpongeBob, Patrick and Squidward as the characters.
"So the hardline liberals that these networks employ are fine, no matter how far to the left they are. It's just the conservative ones that should be softer and less opinionated in their tone?"
Tommy, I know the term "strawman" is used here a lot, but in this case your argument definitely applies. You can only infer that Pete agrees that all those "far left" at MSNBC he agrees with without any substance from what Pete said to back your assertion up. You're playing "obfuscate and attack" which lends little credibility to your argument.
BTW, the only one who's actually "far left" or "hardline liberal" at MSNBC is Rachel Maddow, and at least she's honest about it. Case-in-point, she's gone on record saying that Obama is nowhere nearly progressive enough for her.
That's your opinion. Pete was complaining about Buchanan being on MSNBC, but I doubt that any liberal would find him complaining, no matter how left they are.
And if you don't lump Olbermann in with Maddow as being straight down the line liberal, then you and I don't share that opinion either, and he hosts a primetime show, devoid of one iota of an opposing opinion.
I'm talking about racism and xenophobia, not just having a hard, opinionated tone. There's a difference, and it will become clear to you when you attempt to locate a hardline liberal at MSNBC who is xenophobic and racist.
Here's some more of that "liberal paternalist" B.S. oozing out. A lazy, half-baked attempt to potray the left wing as the real enemy of non-white voters. In this case, the left somehow views non-whites as a political weapon to use against the right.
If the right wing is that upset about the left capturing more votes from minorities, they should suck it up and start acting like they want their votes. If they're not, they can stay apathetic toward media sources that give xenophobes like Buchanan a platform.
The rest of the news team behaved admirably and challenged him on it, and for that I applaud them.
Your strawman argument that MMFA is annoyed with the format of the debate is not the case, and is not how the item is presented on MMFA. If the rest of the panel had not behaved as well as they did, ably criticizing Buchanan's statements (for which MMFA gave them credit in their description), the headline would have been something like, "MSNBC's Abrams & Acker failed to challenge Buchanan's claims..."
I remember reading an article about Victoria Principal back in the day where she said she had trouble getting parts because she was considered too exotic looking. It just means, Hey, you're not white enough!
I could give Patsy B the benefit of the doubt that he might have meant he was too foreign, having lived all over the world and having international brothers and sisters And having an unusual (by US standards) name. But when pressed he didn't say that. He stammered some BS. So one wonders.
Exotic? Hot for sure when she was young. And still attractive now that she's older. Don't know why you think Victoria Principle meant not White enough when referring to herself as exotic.
Well, I do know what she looks like thank you very much. But that was her opinion, not mine. Maybe I didn't make that clear. It was a hollywood bias then, not so much now. And it is a fact that anything that is outside of the norm (meaning white) is considered exotic to some Wonder Bread Americans.
Well, I do know what she looks like thank you very much. But that was her opinion, not mine. Maybe I didn't make that clear.
I just like posting photos...it's the new "fad" around these here parts darlin :-)
And no you didn't make it clear that it was her opinion, but now that you have, I'm still curious why she thought she was too exotic looking? But hey, I guess for whatever reason she did.
Of course being exotic looking isn't a bad thing. It can just mean foreign. And foreign can be damn pretty :-)
I know you're saying that "exotic" looking wasn't exactly a plus in Hollywood years ago & may of kept keep certain actors/actresses from getting a particular part because they didn't "fit" a certain category...which was appearing White enough.
There, I wouldn't want you to work too hard :-)
Okay, before I put sticks in my eyes, it was hollywood that thought she was too exotic looking and it was her informed opinion that that was why shes didn't get more parts. I think she may have been told that by some casting agents. So I don't think SHE thought she was too exotic looking, but that casting people did. Is that clear? Ugh. Either I'm stating things badly or you're a himbo :-0)
I'm gonna opt for you being a himbo :-0) he,he.
Hey, I guess I can insult you all day long if I use that smiley face thingy. :-0) Right?
I think you have it. But we were posting at the same time. But you're still a himbo (not that there's anything wrong with that) :-0)
Why, if elitism and "exotic" are two different terms does Buchannan define exotic with the same examples he would use to bolster his contention Obama is elitist?
Buchannan never gave a straight answer to the question about what exotic may or may not mean which definitely lends itself to negative interpretation of other aspects of Obama.
Buchannan left himself open for racism charges by not explaining himself.
Buckman, personal message to you: when a political candidate continuously mistakes Sunni and Shia, he or she is confused. That's the definiton of the term!
Exotic: One who doesn't understand Middle America.
Confused: Old.
Bowling: Big campaign issue.
BUCHANAN: Well, I mean, I don't know what we're --
Why does the man even try to pretend he provides an unbiased perspective? MSNBC needs a new whatever-that-thing-at-the-bottom-of-the-screen is called.
And do tell us, oh great one, what makes Obama anymore of an elitist than say, John McCain, who I would wager is MORE of an elitist than Obama. Why you might ask? Let me list the reasons:
1. McCain's dad was an Admiral in the US Navy, and his grandfather also held a very high rank in the Navy as well. How do you think he got into the US Naval Academy (not some school that takes just anybody by the way, which makes it an "elite" school, nobody would argue with that.
Compare and contrast with Obama's father. A goat herder from a poor African nation. Yeah, those are some elite upbringings right there.
2. McCain has a wife who makes more money than God. Obama's wife, doesn't make nearly as much scratch as Cindy McCain. And she's always been rich. Hmm, elite, I'd say, McCain moreso than Obama don't you think?
3. McCain has been in the Senate for how long now? That's a pretty elite job. Obama, as we keep hearing, doesn't have that much experience, and has been in the Senate far less time than grandpa, and hence, I'd say McCain is MORE elite again.
4. Obama paid for his own higher education, McCain had us pay for his higher education. And yes, Obama and McCain both went to elite higher education schools. Why penalize them for that? If I could have gotten into either of those places, I would have gone as well. What do you want Obama to do? Not go to Harvard because it's perceived as being "elitist"? That's the dubmest argument I've ever heard.
How is Obama a so-called elitist? And please, be specific, and don't come in with the drooling retort that he said common folks are angry and bitter about how things are going these days in the US, because a little reality check, from where I'm sitting, and the "normal" people I talk to, it's the God's honest truth.
"Is 'exotic' code for black" ... of course the left jumps right to the race issue. Give me a break. Only a kool aid drinker would make that leap. Buchanan was calling him an elitist, which he is.
Pleaseee
Pat's called Obama an 'elitist' plenty of times without using the word 'exotic'. Exotic is Pat's code word for 'uppity black'.
i think buchanan is absolutely correct, in his assessment of the strategy the republicans will use against sen. obama, should he be the actual dem. nominee (the convention hasn't happened yet), whether you like what he says or not.
let's bear in mind also, sen. obama has provided plenty of ammunition for all those repub 527's that will come slithering out of the woodwork, come the GE. just because sen. clinton's campaign didn't beat him to death with his questionable associations, doesn't mean the repubs won't. they will, and to horrific effect.
Just to elaborate a little bit, I'm not talking about his questionable associations as much as I'm talking about attacks on his wife and other things. When has any candidates wife been called a "baby mamma"? When has any potential president been so heavily connected with terrorism. When has any senator's faith been so heavily questioned and debated. Finally, when has any politician been described as "exotic".
Republicans would not be spewing such rhetoric if they did not have something in them called fear. They would do well to attack his inexperience and questionable associations. The personal attacks on family and race are only garnering sympathy. I hope and pray they keep attacking.
let's bear in mind also, sen. obama has provided plenty of ammunition for all those repub 527's that will come slithering out of the woodwork, come the GE. just because sen. clinton's campaign didn't beat him to death with his questionable associations, doesn't mean the repubs won't. they will, and to horrific effect.
The truth is Republican 527 groups would create issues to use against Obama, period. Kerry was involved in combat in Vietnam and Bush ran a political campaign but according to the swift boaters Kerry was the coward. The truth is it doesn't matter which Democratic candidate is the nominee, Republicans will do and say anything to win, the candidate doesn't matter.
If you and the Republicans continue to underestimate Obama you do so at your own peril just ask the well known, well financed Hillary Clinton campaign.
In more than fifty years of various affiliations with Harvard University, I have never seen, been in, or heard of anything called a "faculty lounge." People would cringe at the idea. Moreover, in my experience, Harvard professors don't hang out that much together. They tend to have stronger affilations with their own graduate students and specialists in their field elsewhere.
"Faculty lounge" sounds like something at a high school to me, which I suppose suits the quality of the discussion.
Buchanan is a racist. He believes that Blacks should be thankful to whites for taking them from Africa. And Blacks should be thankful for everything whites have given them.
This is insane. A Black man with those view toward the other race wouldn't stand a chance on MSM. I've contacted MSNBC as to why they have him on their shows.
1. Educated people are un-american.
2. Educated liberal people are un-american and possibly terrorists.
3. Only Republicans are pro-america.
4. Only Super Right-wing Republicans are connected to real america.
5. America will be destroyed by exotic people with funny names.
6. Older Right-Wing Republicans have to be respected, no matter what.
7. Tax and Spend, Bleeding-Heart, Left-Leaning, Liberals have to stop using
bad words about the Right-Wing Republican Saviors of Real America.
8. People with dark skin are never to be trusted. (see No. 1, above)
9. Michael Savage is the John the Baptist of our nation.
10. George W. Bush will be remembered as the greatest statesman since Atilla.
11. Tommy should be John McCain's Vice President.
12. Chris Matthews should sit on it.
To my loyal subject Magnolialover (I love magnolias too by the way)
Elitism isn't determined by who your father was or what he did for a living. Nor is it determined by who your wife is or how much money she makes. Nor by what your job is, even if you've been in the senate for a long time. Nor by where you went to college or who paid the tuition. None of those things determine in the least whether a person is an elitist.
A person's elitism is determined by their opinion of themselves and their stance on issues. Barack Obama has said that some regular blue collar folks (apparently some who live in Pennsylvania anyway) who believe in and worship God, or who cherish the second amendment, do so because they are "bitter" toward the government. He has this narcissistic view, like most liberal politicians, that everyone is wringing their hands over what Daddy Washington isn't doing for them.
His answer to everything is more government. Health care, education, job growth, high gas prices, everything has a government answer. He apparently thinks it's all too complicated for us minions to worry about. The rich people would just steal from us and we would end up homeless on the street. Much better for him to take more money from people he thinks are too rich, run it through some expensive government bureaucracy, (a small percentage at that) and give a percentage of it to the little people.
That's what elitism is my friend. Even the son of an absentee father who was once a goat farmer can be an elitist.