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[Pastry]

What the hell does saying he wants to punch Obama have to do with race? How is this white priviledge? What a terrible article.

The whole argument kind of fails, since the guy probably would have said the same thing about Bill Clinton. The comment had nothing to do with race and everything to do with party politics bullshit.

Ugh. This article is discussing the media's reaction to his comment, which would be viewed completely different if Obama had a son that made these comments. No one is saying the comment itself was racial but the lack of reaction by the media is in large part due to "white priveledge".

 

[fallagin]

Hold up.

I was gonna do the whole "conservative troll" bit, but there are people that aren't agreeing with what the article said?

In a nation that has an unnatural fear of young black men?

Where Trayvon Martin happened?
Where Blacks and Mexicans cannot wear hoodies because they will look like gang members?
Where Barack Obama is accused of being born and raised in Kenya and a secret Muslim?
Where there are shirts worn at rallies that say "put the White back in White House?"
Where a state politician thinks Blacks should be thankful for slavery and gets to keep his job?

Like, for realz? You guys think that if one of Barack's daughters said she wanted to clock Mitt a few weeks ago, the media wouldn't be shitting all over it?

This.

Alot of people in this thread are pretty naive.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

It is unreal how many people in this thread have had the point of the article fly over their heads.

 

[Kusagari]

I understand what the article is saying, that had the shoe been on the other foot people would be going nuts. It's unfounded and pure speculation. Bringing race into this seems unnecessary.

If you think it's unfounded you either don't live in America or must be living a life of white privilege yourself.

 

[Veezy]

"No it does not"

*proceeds with more assumptions*

So you're saying, with a straight face, that the American media covers stories of violence against Black and Brown people in America the exact say what it covers stories about Whites?

In America.

The one I live in.

With the CNN and the Fox News.

That one?

 

[TheExodu5]

I understand what the article is saying, that had the shoe been on the other foot people would be going nuts. It's unfounded and pure speculation. Bringing race into this seems unnecessary.

Exactly. And not only that, but the only reason it would be different if the roles were switched is if there was a change in class. If an underpriviledged juvenile was saying this, it might be taken literally. If it was coming from someone known and respectable (relatively speaking), then it will obviously not be taken literally, as is the case with Tagg's comment.

 

[DanteFox]

Hold up.

I was gonna do the whole "conservative troll" bit, but there are people that aren't agreeing with what the article said?

In a nation that has an unnatural fear of young black men?

Where Trayvon Martin happened?
Where Blacks and Mexicans cannot wear hoodies because they will look like gang members?
Where Barack Obama is accused of being born and raised in Kenya and a secret Muslim?
Where there are shirts worn at rallies that say "put the White back in White House?"
Where a state politician thinks Blacks should be thankful for slavery and gets to keep his job?

Like, for realz? You guys think that if one of Barack's daughters said she wanted to clock Mitt a few weeks ago, the media wouldn't be shitting all over it?

You realize that the fact that racism still exists does not mean that that racism is widespread enough for the OP's article to be true? It might be, but you're going to have to make a better case than asking rhetorical questions.

 

[Slayven]

You realize that the fact that racism still exists does not mean that that racism is widespread enough for the OP's article to be true? It might be, but you're going to have to make a better case than asking rhetorical questions.

Are you serious?

 

[SlowRevolution]

Having racist beliefs predisposes one to making dumb comments when talking about people of other races. It's not all that unlikely.

I get what you're saying and personally agree based on what we've seen from that family, but it's still just speculation, it's hard to say that Tagg's comment had anything to do with racism. I think he was just pissed his dad lost, and he doesn't know how to show respect. I think the media might be reluctant to go balls out and turn it into a Tagg's A Racist story, so just reporting on a rich guy being a sore loser and saying something stupid (in an election season where rich guys say a lot of stupid stuff) isn't that interesting.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

You realize that the fact that racism still exists does not mean that that racism is widespread enough for the OP's article to be true? It might be, but you're going to have to make a better case than asking rhetorical questions.

This isn't about racism.

 

[Devolution]

The reason a hypothetical Obama son would get raked through the coals is the same reason Obama can't ever look too angry or come across too strongly. I thought this was obvious.

 

[Derrick01]

So you're saying, with a straight face, that the American media covers stories of violence against Black and Brown people in America the exact say what it covers stories about Whites?

In America.

The one I live in.

With the CNN and the Fox News.

That one?

I'm saying all of that stuff you listed has nothing to do with each other or this kind of scenario. I have no patience dealing with IF obama's daughter said this or that things MIGHT be different. Complain about it after it happens instead of trying to make everything a race issue beforehand.

 

[Clevinger]

Also, I wonder if Tagg is going to someday run for president and be the third generation of failed Romney bids; the second with a dumb name.

 

[alphaNoid]

Hyperbole much

 

[Slayven]

The reason a hypothetical Obama son would get raked through the coals is the same reason Obama can't ever look too angry or come across too strongly. I thought this was obvious.

THink where you at DEvo

 

[Wuthering_Heights]

Nobody is covering the comment because there is nothing to cover, and rightly so.

Some guy wants to punch guy who called his dad a liar. Stop the presses!

Pfft.

 

[Bulbo Urethral Baggins]

Maybe the dumbest article I've read in a long time.
The Onion should hire this writer.

 

[Joates]

What the hell does saying he wants to punch Obama have to do with race? How is this white priviledge? What a terrible article.

This.

You want to punch your dads opponent in the face? You must be racist.

This writer is a loser.

 

[Veezy]

Exactly. And not only that, but the only reason it would be different if the roles were switched is if there was a change in class. If an underpriviledged juvenile was saying this, it might be taken literally. If it was coming from someone known and respectable (relatively speaking), then it will obviously not be taken literally, as is the case with Tagg's comment.

Wrong.

A rich, Black, young, man could not get away with this line. At all. The media would rip it to shreds. Barack would have to publicly apologize. It's be in the news cycle more than Libya, because we all know that narrative isn't playing out how the media wants it to be at all. It would be a debate question.

I say that with all seriousness. It would be a debate question, why the presidents son would think it's okay to even joke about violence against Governor Romney.

 

[Devolution]

THink where you at DEvo

Oh yeah.

 

[Deified Data]

His name is...Tagg? I've never seen that Romney before. He looks just like his dad. Uncanny.

If I absolutely have to chime in...does Tagg benefit from white privelege? Almost certainly. But I'm not sure that's what's at play here, so much as "I'm the son of a rich governor/candidate for POTUS" privelege, which I hear is pretty awesome. I mean, this is the first time I'm hearing this story, and I can't imagine a news outlet like MSNBC saying "Welp, he's white so we're going to have to under-report on this"...right?

I think the fact that I'm just now hearing about this has more to do with the media's current obsession with feigned neutrality than it does the race of the offender, call me naive.

 

[DY_nasty]

White Privilege =/= Racism

This.

And either people didn't read the article or it went right over their heads for a number of reasons.

 

[zaxon]

Ugh. This article is discussing the media's reaction to his comment, which would be viewed completely different if Obama had a son that made these comments. No one is saying the comment itself was racial but the lack of reaction by the media is in large part due to "white priveledge".

... who cares?

The hypothetical case of a media overreaction to a hypothetical different version of events would be ENTIRELY WORTH CRITICIZING.

The argument that we then need to ALSO stupidly overreact to this situation because of that is absurd.

 

[Tallshortman]

Not a great article imo, but I didn't realize his son publicly stated he wanted to punch the president of the US. What a hilariously dumb thing to say.

 

[Menelaus]

Out of touch rich white guy raises out of touch rich white guy, news at 11.

 

[Exr]

If you think it's unfounded you either don't live in America or must be living a life of white privilege yourself.

I don't live in America, and I'm not white. Certainly some media outlets would spin it had one of Obamas relatives said this, but I doubt a majority of popular media would condemn he/she for it. You will always get some media outlets that put a spin on these things to further some agenda or propagate some bullshit, especially when it comes to race. But to believe that there would be a large public outcry over it among the majority? Preposterous.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

This.

You want to punch your dads opponent in the face? You must be racist.

This writer is a loser.

This has nothing to do with racism.

 

[LuCkymoON]

It's good to know that only the Secret Service is stopping him from attacking the POTUS and not any moral convictions.

 

[Lambtron]

Honestly the entire Romney family is a shining beacon of privilege. I thought Romney's "You'll get your chance in a moment. I'm still speaking." line was a pretty huge example of that, too.

 

[LegendofJoe]

The reason a hypothetical Obama son would get raked through the coals is the same reason Obama can't ever look too angry or come across too strongly. I thought this was obvious.

Maybe it's because I grew up around more black people than white but I don't understand where this "angry black man" stuff comes from. I've seen it from some sheltered white people I've been around, but I really don't understand it. What makes a black person more frightening than someone else of another color?

 

[cubicle47b]

... who cares?

The hypothetical case of a media overreaction to a hypothetical different version of events would be ENTIRELY WORTH CRITICIZING.

The argument that we then need to ALSO stupidly overreact to this situation because of that is absurd.

This is an article about white privilege which is an important concept for people to understand. It's not asking people to overreact to the situation.

 

[Byakuya769]

So because he said he wanted to hit the guy he's a racist?

I mean I'm sure being the son of Romney he probably is at least a little racist, but there's nothing wrong with what he said. What a ridiculous article.

Guys like you do a great job of bringing up the word "racist" when it isn't even in the discussion.

 

[Deleted member 20415]

This isn't about racism.

I get what you are saying.

People should be outraged by this guy's comments but it hasn't been covered widely because of the white brotherhood's collective efforts to suppress it and not react to it.

I told about 5 people at work that this guy's an asshole and that he technically threatened the President. I didn't get on Twitter or Facebook or shout from the rooftop about this because my fucking opinion doesn't matter.

The article does try to make a racist link - whether that's a link of Tagg Romney being a racist or everyone being a racist because they haven't criticized him publicly and outrageously. People are doing it, in their own way, not everyone is going to scream about it.

 

[Artemisia]

Yes it is.

No it's not. Read the article again.

It's about the privileges that allow Tagg to make comments like this about a black man (the president) with little to no uproar, but not the opposite.

 

[PhoenixDark]

Is he a rich, entitled person? Yes. I'm not going to add race into it

 

[faceless007]

Exactly. And not only that, but the only reason it would be different if the roles were switched is if there was a change in class. If an underpriviledged juvenile was saying this, it might be taken literally. If it was coming from someone known and respectable (relatively speaking), then it will obviously not be taken literally, as is the case with Tagg's comment.

White privilege is also a class issue as well as a race issue, the two can't be separated as cleanly as you think.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

Word.

 

[Pastry]

... who cares?

The hypothetical case of a media overreaction to a hypothetical different version of events would be ENTIRELY WORTH CRITICIZING.

The argument that we then need to ALSO stupidly overreact to this situation because of that is absurd.

Who cares about privilege that is awarded to people because of their social status and sometimes their race? Well I do for one and it seems like a couple other people in this thread do also.

 

[pigeon]

The reason a hypothetical Obama son would get raked through the coals is the same reason Obama can't ever look too angry or come across too strongly. I thought this was obvious.

Privilege is the right not to know obvious things.

 

[DanteFox]

This isn't about racism.

People being treated differently based solely on the color of their skin isn't about racism?

 

[Joates]

Ask yourself: Would the media reaction be similarly muted if a young black male relative of Obama appeared on a radio show and publicly fantasized about violently bludgeoning Mitt Romney? No, it would be the opposite. It would be a multi-day, above-the-fold, 100-point-typeface story initially fueled by Drudge, Fox News and right-wing radio hosts, and then pervading the network news shows.

So a 40 year old son is akin to "a young black male relative"...

And then you go as far as to lower yourself to the shitty level of fox news and co... lol

And to "take a swing at" someone is the same as "fantasizing about violently bludgeoning" them.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

People being treated differently based solely on the color of their skin isn't about racism?

Yes. Just like you can love women but do shitty things to them without necessarily realizing you're doing it. Privilege is not the same thing as racism or sexism.

 

[Devolution]

Maybe it's because I grew up around more black people than white but I don't understand where this "angry black man" stuff comes from. I've seen it from some sheltered white people I've been around, but I really don't understand it. What makes a black person more frightening that someone else of another color?

I honestly don't know but it probably came after the Civil Rights Movement as a way to paint movement leaders as some kind of anti-authoritarian irrationally angry types. The same was/is done with feminists and women who have valid complaints about society. Easier to act like those minorities are just angry for no reason though or any display of emotion is a "here we go" moment. People will say it's not as sinister as I make it sound but it's definitely a silencing tactic that is still utilized.

 

[squall211]

His name is...Tagg? I've never seen that Romney before. He looks just like his dad. Uncanny.

If I absolutely have to chime in...does Tagg benefit from white privelege? Almost certainly. But I'm not sure that's what's at play here, so much as "I'm the son of a rich governor/candidate for POTUS" privelege, which I hear is pretty awesome. I mean, this is the first time I'm hearing this story, and I can't imagine a news outlet like MSNBC saying "Welp, he's white so we're going to have to under-report on this"...right?

I think the fact that I'm just now hearing about this has more to do with the media's current obsession with feigned neutrality than it does the race of the offender, call me naive.

Tagg would be Keith Olbermann's Worst Person in the World if he still had a show. I wouldn't doubt Ed Schultz having this as the lead story tonight, and I'm sure Rachel Maddow (who I have a mad crush on) will bring it up. As will Lawrence O'Donnell.

FOX news will just have Sean Hannity masturbating into the camera for an hour looking at Mitt's picture.

 

[ggnoobIGN]

The article gave me some serious white guilt.

 

[Veezy]

You realize that the fact that racism still exists does not mean that that racism is widespread enough for the OP's article to be true? It might be, but you're going to have to make a better case than asking rhetorical questions.

Them being rhetorical isn't a problem, though.

The media had debates about Barack's fucking birth certificate not even a god damn year ago! About if he's a secret Muslim! This was news cycle coverage on more than one network!

Homeboy just said, as a joke I might add and we all get that, he would rush the stage.

Joke about attacking president, no coverage
Black and the president, might be Kenyan.

Individual examples only need have parity to show that White people get completely different public coverage that Blacks and Browns epically where there are so many damn examples. How is this debatable?

People being treated differently based solely on the color of their skin isn't about racism?

All White privilege means is that White people have inherent benefits in American society that Blacks and Browns do not have. It is a "type" of racism, but it's not direct in the "I hate Blacks" kind of way.

It's the "we laugh at the joke that White women getting murdered is a bigger deal than a black girl getting murdered because we know it's true" kind of way.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

jump out of your seat and you want to rush down to the stage and take a swing at him.” He then laughed and added, “But you know you can’t do that because, well, first because there’s a lot of Secret Service between you and him.

guarantee you anyone else gets investigated by the secret service.

 

[DanteFox]

Yes. Just like you can love women but do shitty things to them without necessarily realizing you're doing it. Privilege is not the same thing as racism or sexism.

I'm not seeing the difference. I'm well aware that you can love women but still be sexist.

Them being rhetorical isn't a problem, though.

The media had debates about Barack's fucking birth certificate not even a god damn year ago! About if he's a secret Muslim! This was news cycle coverage on more than one network!

Homeboy just said, as a joke I might add and we all get that, he would rush the stage.

Joke about attacking president, no coverage
Black and the president, might be Kenyan.

Individual examples only need have parity to show that White people get completely different public coverage that Blacks and Browns epically where there are so many damn examples. How is this debatable?



All White privilege means is that White people have inherent benefits in American society that Blacks and Browns do not have. It is a "type" of racism, but it's not direct in the "I hate Blacks" kind of way.

It's the "we laugh at the joke that White women getting murdered is a bigger deal than a black girl getting murdered because we know it's true" kind of way.

The fact that those things happened still doesn't prove your point though. That's the thing.

 

[Flo_Evans]

I saw this today on the news. Had to do a double take. Did this dude just say he wanted to punch the president? On national TV?

Yeah he did.

 

[Deleted member 20415]

No it's not. Read the article again.

It's about the privileges that allow Tagg to make comments like this about a black man (the president) but not the opposite.

Again, a modifier is slid in to charge the comment. There exists a privilege in America (the world even) - call it what you want - the haves and the have nots, the 1%, the upper class, asshole class. Whatever, it exists - and is not by nature, racial.

A man born of privilege technically committed assault against the President - hopefully he is given the same regard by the Secret Service as they would apply to any person that did that. He got a pass from the reporter because he laughed immediately afterwards when he should have been asked a followup "Did you just threaten the President?"

He shouldn't get a pass, he should be put through the ringer like anyone else will. Everyone screaming on a soap box about how it was wrong isn't going to solve a damn thing.