Unjustified Bias on Work Ethic

As of Tuesday, February 7, 2012

A recent article was published by Leonard Pitts of the Miami Herald, titled “Practicing the Politics of Racial Resentment,” which can be read at http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/24/2606032/practicing-the-politics-of-racial.html.

The article attacks Newt Gingrich’s position on good work ethics and the increase in food stamp distribution by our government, stated during campaign debates.

Mr. Pitt goes further into the past and identifies presidents who have addressed government handouts during campaigning with what he suggests as “racial overtones.”

Is Mr. Pitts aware there are more people of non-color who are receiving food stamps and other needed benefits by the government than those of color?

Has he ever listened to Condoleezza Rice, Bill Cosby, Alan West and others on this issue?

Since government welfare began some 50 years ago, the “needy” continue to increase at the expense of the hard-working multitude. The American black family has experienced a radical shift in their family unit. They have gone from a 75 percent model of husband, wife, children to 25 percent.

This is a clear example of what can happen when government subsidies are given to those, mostly of minimal needs, and continue to do so at no cost.

We also have recently seen similar ideas from Occupy Wall Street groups addressing the handout world.

Even when they have parents of wealth, and a college background, they still want everything at no cost to themselves. Why work if you can get it for free?

There are many other social programs that are devastating our country.

If this continues and, God forbid, expands, we will implode and no longer be a superior nation in the world.

Mr. Pitts has clearly shown in the article his continued racial bias to enflame minorities when it just isn’t warranted.

Richard Wilson

Whispering Pines

More like this story

JimHeim 3 months, 2 weeks ago

In North Carolina the average white household is worth about $120,000. The average black household is worth less than $7,000. Tell me again how that's because of government handouts.

OldSpook 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Jim, What is the basis for your figures and may I ask for the sources? No disrespect intended, but 47.6% of statistics are either made up or skewed.

NocOwl 3 months, 2 weeks ago

As a person who is admittedly not well versed in politics, but who has for the most part voted Republican, I find myself embarrassed to be even considered in the same camp as people like Newt and other ultra-conservative types. I do think his comments were made with racial overtones, and I think those who say otherwise on the basis of there being “more people of non-color” receiving gov’t benefits is just pulling the wool over their own eyes. But I can’t prove it, because I can’t seem to find any (reliable) source for the statistics on race and welfare. Is it not being published for public viewing? How does anyone know what the true numbers are? If anyone has a source, I’d love to see it.
There is a disparity in poverty levels that needs to be addressed openly and honestly if we want to find a solution. I’m disappointed in all of the '12 Republican candidates, and even though I switched teams last election and voted for Obama (because I couldn’t in good conscience give someone like Palin my vote), I am also disappointed in the things Obama has done during his time so far.
All the constant bickering between the parties just takes the focus off of the real issues.

dustyrhoades 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Is Mr. Pitts aware there are more people of non-color who are receiving food stamps and other needed benefits by the government than those of color?

He probably is, but it was Newt who explicitly linked back people with food stamps.

The point is that when you're talking about "food stamp presidents", you're pandering to the racists that don't know more whites than non white are on food stamps, the people to whom "cut government spending" means "quit giving money to people darker than me." And don't pretend you don't know plenty of those.

It's called "dog-whistling." Republican strategist Lee Atwater summed it up best (probably because he invented it) Warning! There's racially charged language ahead, but it's Atwater's, not mine:

You start out in 1954 by saying, "Nigger, nigger, nigger." By 1968 you can't say "nigger — that hurts you. Backfires. So you say stuff like forced busing, states' rights and all that stuff. You're getting so abstract now [that] you're talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you're talking about are totally economic things and a byproduct of them is [that] blacks get hurt worse than whites. And subconsciously maybe that is part of it. I'm not saying that. But I'm saying that if it is getting that abstract, and that coded, that we are doing away with the racial problem one way or the other. You follow me — because obviously sitting around saying, "We want to cut this," is much more abstract than even the busing thing, and a hell of a lot more abstract than "Nigger nigger."

Remember this is the primary Republican strategist of his day, talking about Republican strategy.

I find myself embarrassed to be even considered in the same camp as people like Newt and other ultra-conservative types.

Please, please, let your voice be heard within the party. The usual gang of brownshirts will deride you as a RINO, but your country needs you.

MikeNC 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Jim Heim, where did you get your Info on your statistics? According to N C State, I found this 44% of Black families have a single Female has head of the family VS 12.6% of White Families with a female as head of the family. Pretty impressive that Female as head of households in the Black population is almost 4 TIMES Higher ! Which has a Major bearing when you then consider the median household INCOME ! Now also factor in that over 20% of the Black N C Population is below high school education VS 12.6 % of the White Population. Almost DOUBLE. Average Income for White Families in N C $52,000 VS $32,000 for Black Families. How's that Plantation Welfare System working out for our Black Population in North Carolina? Not too good. Diane

AFCHIEF 3 months, 2 weeks ago

@MIKE, come on man, you busted Jim Hymen out the door. You know he can't back up those #'s, he pulls out of his behind to come up with a false fact.

wdd101st 3 months, 2 weeks ago

JimHeim 9 hours, 57 minutes ago

In North Carolina the average white household is worth about $120,000. The average black household is worth less than $7,000. Tell me again how that's because of government handouts."

Would you care to back this up with some links?

Thatcher 3 months, 2 weeks ago

wwd101st-- Suprisingly, I found the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhrfhj.... Cheers to all!

MikeNC 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Dusty does this mean you will have to build a wall of Lies for Jim Heim if he doesn't back up his Statistics and References like ALL of us Conservatives have to do for you? PS JER and Moonchild feel free to jump in at any time. Diane

Thatcher 3 months, 2 weeks ago

MikeNC-- No. This means DR will ignore your post.

Thatcher 3 months, 2 weeks ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34ag4n.... Explains alot.

fugitiveguy 3 months, 2 weeks ago

The left sees nearly everything through the prism of race.

Thatcher 3 months, 2 weeks ago

JimHeim-- Seems like lots of folks here doubt your stats about NC poverty (12 hours, 31 minutes ago). Not me. (1) World record in the 100 yard dash: 8.1 seconds, some guy named "Chuck," 1974, Winter Olympics. (2) 68.4 billion: jobs created by President Obama since December 2011. (3) 517: Number 1 hits by Yoko Ono. We can all agree on these facts. All of us. These are facts. I posted them online. Thus, they are correct. Thank you.

MikeNC 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Good anaologyof the Libs Fugitiveguy! Diane

marathonman 3 months, 2 weeks ago

If we encouraged all to be productive instead of encouraging folks to take, we would be way ahead as the leader of the free world. One only needs look at Europe to see where we are headed if we do not take back some entitlements such as welfare and unlimited unemployment, 99 weeks now. How does Jim Heim and Dusty Rhodes not see that giving will eventually cause many to stop trying to achieve and simply take and then suppliment that with illegal enterprises such as dealing drugs, working odd jobs for cash, etc... Obama is the latest lefty to say outright that we should take from the achiever and give to the under and nonachiever. What kind of nonsense is that. If you don't work, you don't eat. What a wonderful philosophy. As soon as some folks hear, "it is free, I am going to give it to you or you do not have to work", they adopt the that philosophy. If this country re-elects Obama, we are doomed!

Bigguy 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Luis Gutierrez Rebuffs Newt Gingrich's 'Food Stamp President' Claim About President Obama (VIDEO) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=... Hey Dick, don't forget to thank both President Bush's for being the true Food Stamp President. And the point about the Occupy Protesters is not a hand out you imbecile, it's about fair practices. How homeowners are being evicted, life savings lost by recless practices of Wall Street Insiders who bankrupted this Nation, and got rewarded with bonuses while honest hard working people lost jobs.

justmyopinion 3 months, 2 weeks ago

JimHeim says ---In North Carolina the average white household is worth about $120,000. The average black household is worth less than $7,000. Tell me again how that's because of government handouts.

That is an absolute disgrace Jim and I will agree with you if your statistics are correct. Yes, there is a catch because how in the hell is that an endorsement for the democrats if they have controlled NC for what, 150 year (except the past couple.) I thought you were supposed to be a spokesman for the democrats and try to make them look good. Of course that is a difficult task and you just proved it.

MikeNC 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Well this thread will cease by tomorrow, when the Friday Pilot comes out. So I guess it's safe to assume, Dusty isn't going to bother to hold Jim's feet to the fire, like he makes the rest of us do. And it's probably safe to assume Jim isn't going to reveal his source. With that said, I rest my case. Good night. Diane

Thatcher 3 months, 2 weeks ago

MikeNC(Diane)-- Neither Mr. Heim nor DR have time to post their responses here, so I interviewed both of them, and this is their official response: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J834KH....

MikeNC 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Actually Thatcher....I do believe it is just more of their.....

World's Biggest Fart - The Hippo by curiositytube

Thatcher 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Seriously folks...JimHeim posted his comments and "facts" (it is the first post on this thread) 1 day and 13 hours ago. Many here have asked him (or any of his supporters) to supply ANYTHING which supported his "facts." Nothing so far from Mr. Heim. Nothing from any of his supporters. Sadly, and based on some posts here, there are many supporters of JimHeim who don't care if his posted facts are 100% false. None of his supporters here (DR, etc.) seem remotely curious about whether his posted "facts" are true or not. They'll support him no matter what. And when they know he's wrong (like here), they will simply remain silent. That's sad.

wdd101st 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Jim is busy right now. He is busy trying to keep his job as head of the democratic party in Moore County. He has to figure out which of the dozen possible candidates for governor to back. If he picks the wrong one he is toast.

JER 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Gee, wdd101st, that sounds like the same dilemma the Republicans are facing with the selection of their presidential candidate. Maybe we are more alike than we want to think we are.

dogboy 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Alexander Fraser Tyler wrote "The Cycle of Democracy" in 1770. He states that a democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government.It can only exist until the voters discover that can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury.From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over lousy fiscal policy which is followed by a dictatorship. The average of the worlds great civilizations before they decline is 200 years. These nations have progressed in this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; from faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependency; from dependency back again to bondage

dogboy 3 months, 2 weeks ago

" that they can vote themselves largesse"

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