Those Who Teach History Are Doomed To Repeat It

Conservative bristle at the suggestion that Newt Gingrich is “dog whistling” to racists.  Yet, when Juan Williams asked a fair question, Newt casually and quickly responded with no thought… he just said no.  As if there was nothing to think about.  Nothing to consider.   A woman stood up and congratulated Newt for “putting Juan Williams in his place.”  Get to the back of the bus, Juan.  The conservatives at Fox let you be on their network, don’t get uppity and think you have opinions of value to be reflected on.

Newt has, as I noted the other day, made comments regarding blacks and food stamps.  Specifically, he does not want them to be satisfied with food stamps instead of check.  Of course, plenty of people who get food stamps actually get checks…it is just that those checks are small and they are supplementing the income.  But Newt’s statement plays off the notion that blacks are lazy.

Juan simply asked:

Speaker Gingrich, the suggestion that you made was about a lack of work ethic and I’ve gotta tell you my email account and my Twitter account has been inundated by people of all races who are asking if your comment was not intended to belittle the poor and racial minorities … you saw some of this reaction during your visit to a black church in South Carolina by a woman who asked why you refer to Barack Obama as a “food stamp president.” it sounds like you’re trying to belittle people.

The audience booed Williams.  Newt’s answer was not as strong as some folks like to think:

“more Americans have been placed on food stamps under President Obama than any previous president,

It is the economy, stupid.  As our country bled jobs throughout the Bush administration, it is not surprising that many people had to resort to assistance to get by.  But the truth is, you could have made the same statement about George Bush.  And Clinton.  And the senior Bush.  And Reagan.  Applications for food stamps have been on the rise for decades.   In all likelihood?  If Newt were elected President he would be the all new Food Stamp President.

 “continue to find ways to help poor people learn how to get a job, learn how to get a better job, and learn someday to own the job.”

Newt might want to start by not falling back on welfare queen style stereotypes of the lazy minority and poor.

Newt claimed to not see how his words might offend or hurt.  Either he is lying (and therefore a deceptive creep) or he is is sincere and truly nowhere near as smart and amazing as he thinks himself to be.  Yet, the audience cheered Newt and booed Williams.  A woman actually congratulated Newt for putting Williams in his place.  You could almost hear “that colored man Juan Williams” in her tone.  The phrase “putting them in their place” has long ties to the treatment of minorities in this country.  You can say you are blissfully unaware of the history (and you may be sincerely unaware),  but if that is the case?  Do be so quick and haughty to dismiss the words of those who know history.  Do not be so quick to presume the noble intentions of Newt, a man who is a professor of history.  Newt either knows exactly what he is tapping into or he has no sense of history… which makes me feel sorry for people who have sat through his lectures, because he cheated them.