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Tagg Romney: Example of White Privilege?
- Thread starter MWS Natural
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The article is a poor attempt at making Romney look bad through his son while also race-baiting the audience.
Gentleman Jack
Member
White privilege does not exist in Tagg's reaction.
It exists in the perception of Tagg's reaction.
I think this is a crucial point too many posters have ignored. Tagg's comment is getting every single benefit of the doubt here. Nobody is seriously accusing him of being either violent or racist (okay maybe the article does exaggerate the violence of the comment). The takeaway is that Tagg gets no real shit over it because he's white.
Now look at what happened when Obama talked about Trayvon Martin. Or when Mitt brings up Jeremiah Wright. White privilege as a label exists to provide context to events where it is absent, not as an explicit act of white people.
Baconsammy
Banned
The article isn't calling him a racist. It's saying he behaved as he did because he's white, and being white gave him the right/privilege to say what he did. It's not about racism, but it is about race baiting. Ginning up something stupid that serves to do nothing but create a further divide between the parties and the races.
Not seeing that at all. My reaction to it has nothing to do with my race. It has everything to do with my intelligence. And there's been a lot of overwrought reactions to his statement. On liberal blogs and news outlets. Much like the opposite occurs on rightwing blogs and news outlets when the reverse happens. Like I said, just creating a further unnecessary divide between the races and the parties.
I think the crucial point you're ignoring is that his voice-tone and the mood in the recording was very light-hearted and it was obvious that he was joking and wasn't being serious.
No, but it was very specific in emphasizing race as the central issue in analyzing the comments, when there is no racial context to them whatsoever. ("He feels totally comfortable fantasizing about committing physical violence against an African American man.")
I disagree. The author goes out of his way to demonize Romney, what he said, and (his interpretation of) why he said it. ("such grotesque dreams," "publicly fantasized about violently bludgeoning," etc.) These things are fundamental to his entire argument.
I don't disagree with that, but I do feel that that is its own, entirely separate issue that deserves a better discussion than what the author's piece inspires.
Tim the Wiz
Banned
Let's see Tagg try to win a BET award. Where is his white privilege now?!?!
It's a joke. I'm certain this was more of an issue in the past and those of you who believe it still is in strong effect must at least admit it has to be dying. Times are a changin.
I mean, I hope.
la flama blanca
Banned
It's a bit weird to say though no? I'd feel weird saying such things knowing it'd be recorded and printed.
Gentleman Jack
Member
So what?
Did you see the post in this very thread where somebody suggested that Michelle Obama was violent for obviously joking about wanting to claw Clinton's eyes out? That is how privilege works.
DanteFox
Member
no. please link this post.
MWS Natural
Member
I'm pretty sure that was to demonsterate how silly this whole thing and the article is...including that long ass post of yours with all those what ifs.
Deified Data
Banned
It could be argued that the light-heartedness with which he approached the subject was itself an expression of white privilege, i.e. whites can afford to joke about hitting someone while blacks cannot.
Baconsammy
Banned
This is how partisan bullshit works.
Alligatorjandro
Banned
ding ding ding
Baconsammy
Banned
Jags fan. How can anyone take you seriously? LOL.
You know, its crazy, some people would absolutely have you believe its the other way around. That white men are the real ones getting the short end of double standards, because of Political Correctness and all. Though their number one example would probably be how they can't say the n-word. So ymmv.
The thread has devolved into this too.
I thought this thread was about white privilege though...?
According to this article, how is Obama President if this is true? Did Doc take her back in the delorean so she could retroactively say that after he was already elected?
Edit: Obviously he only got elected because they were fellow democrats and had democratic privilege, my bad.
Privileges other than White privilege exist, y'all. Being able bodied, being rich, being heterosexual, being cisgender, being a male, etc. etc. etc. All of these privileges have different impacts on us, it's called kyriarchy.
That being said, Barack and Tagg hold a lot of the same privileges. They're both wealthy, able bodied, heterosexual, educated, cisgendered males. Obama has a privilege of power over Tagg because he's the President and Tagg is not. The privilege Tagg has over Obama is that he is white and Obama is not. There are a lot of things at play here, sure, but the one privilege Tagg and his father have over Obama, which allows them to show him disrespect because they aren't considered an "other," is whiteness.
That being said, Barack and Tagg hold a lot of the same privileges. They're both wealthy, able bodied, heterosexual, educated, cisgendered males. Obama has a privilege of power over Tagg because he's the President and Tagg is not. The privilege Tagg has over Obama is that he is white and Obama is not. There are a lot of things at play here, sure, but the one privilege Tagg and his father have over Obama, which allows them to show him disrespect because they aren't considered an "other," is whiteness.
Something Wicked
Member
Punch the President?! That is unheard of! No one ever said that he or she wanted to punch George W. Bush.
In America, partisan bullshit and racial privilege are pretty inextricably intertwined.
The point is that nobody in this thread is honestly arguing that Tagg Romney is genuinely a danger to the president.
Dark Octave
Banned
What's up with these names?
Mitt and Tagg?
What's Tagg's kid's name, Bopp?
Mitt and Tagg?
What's Tagg's kid's name, Bopp?
Deified Data
Banned
radios shipping overview
Member
People get defensive about accusations of privilege because they feel like they're being made out to be doing something wrong. Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't, but people don't like being made to feel guilty over circumstances they had no control over. Really, the only thing one can do to subvert privilege - other than falling on your own sword - is to try to put yourself in the shoes of those less fortunate than you at every opportunity. And that's something that everybody should do, no matter how much privilege you were born with.
The subject of privilege should never be used in an accusatory manner on a personal basis. It doesn't help any discussion. What should be done is to increase understanding of all backgrounds and walks of life, and to realize that people benefitting or suffering on the basis of the color of their skin (or various other arbitrary things) is still a real thing and should be made visible.
But... the way the article tries to link Tagg's careless joke and its lack of coverage to his white privilege is kind tenuous. The author is reading too much into it.
The subject of privilege should never be used in an accusatory manner on a personal basis. It doesn't help any discussion. What should be done is to increase understanding of all backgrounds and walks of life, and to realize that people benefitting or suffering on the basis of the color of their skin (or various other arbitrary things) is still a real thing and should be made visible.
But... the way the article tries to link Tagg's careless joke and its lack of coverage to his white privilege is kind tenuous. The author is reading too much into it.
Jackben
bitch I'm taking calls.
Par for the course for Mormons? Paging ronito.
Everyone knows this. AKA this "news" is anything but newsworthy. The fact is that this article so desperately wants it to be bigger (solely because of a supposed double standard) that it will devolve to same bullshit others in the media do.
Baconsammy
Banned
Because we're intelligent. If Michelle said the same about Mitt, your presumption is that we'd all be up in arms and demanding extra security. We wouldn't be. Race baiting gets no one anywhere. Stop.
...you need to read my posts more carefully.
Jackben
bitch I'm taking calls.
Separate from the article itself, I think there is a major disconnect when it comes to white privilege and I think there are two factors at play that result in why people fail to acknowledge its existence:
1) Pure Ignorance / Denial: some people are just in a bubble or are sheltered and never really presented the opportunity or circumstance to even hear or discuss the term "white privilege". This is where NeoGAF and the Internet rear their ugly truth heads! Still, despite this others just don't want to even think about things like that and would rather willfully ignore it or deny that it exists rather than try and confront the reality of inequality.
2) Social Programming: Kojiima mentioned this, but there is definitely a narrative at play by social powers that try and reinforce the idea that WP doesn't exist or to equate it with old fashioned racism as to deny the power white people receive from it so as to perpetuate its existence. I have to admit for a long time I really hadn't thought about the extent of how my life or the situations I encounter during my life could be different if my skin wasn't white.
There was an amazing article I read about this for my English class in college but I can't remember the name of it at the moment. Basically a white woman academically goes through how deep the instances of white privilege pervade into every area of business, public and private life. It was very informative.
1) Pure Ignorance / Denial: some people are just in a bubble or are sheltered and never really presented the opportunity or circumstance to even hear or discuss the term "white privilege". This is where NeoGAF and the Internet rear their ugly truth heads! Still, despite this others just don't want to even think about things like that and would rather willfully ignore it or deny that it exists rather than try and confront the reality of inequality.
2) Social Programming: Kojiima mentioned this, but there is definitely a narrative at play by social powers that try and reinforce the idea that WP doesn't exist or to equate it with old fashioned racism as to deny the power white people receive from it so as to perpetuate its existence. I have to admit for a long time I really hadn't thought about the extent of how my life or the situations I encounter during my life could be different if my skin wasn't white.
There was an amazing article I read about this for my English class in college but I can't remember the name of it at the moment. Basically a white woman academically goes through how deep the instances of white privilege pervade into every area of business, public and private life. It was very informative.
Some of you dont get it...
As was said earlier White Privilege DOES NOT EQUAL RACISM
Its about Privilege: NOUN 1. a right, immunity, or benefit enjoyed only by a person beyond the advantages of most: the privileges of the very rich.
Tagg doesn't have answer for what he said... He gets a media "pass" ... FROM EVERYONE
CNN, FOX, NBS, CBS... That's his privilege
You know damn well if the sides were flipped, This would be top news on every major network for at least a week minimum!
Stop LYING to yourself... You know damn well!!
Fuck, the feigned ignorance in this thread pissed me the fuck off
We can always make a better world tommorow, but we can't do it if nobody tries today...
EDIT: And we know this is fake news thats trying to be bigger than it is, but the author is trying to make a point. He's trying to make you think.
As was said earlier White Privilege DOES NOT EQUAL RACISM
Its about Privilege: NOUN 1. a right, immunity, or benefit enjoyed only by a person beyond the advantages of most: the privileges of the very rich.
Tagg doesn't have answer for what he said... He gets a media "pass" ... FROM EVERYONE
CNN, FOX, NBS, CBS... That's his privilege
You know damn well if the sides were flipped, This would be top news on every major network for at least a week minimum!
Stop LYING to yourself... You know damn well!!
Fuck, the feigned ignorance in this thread pissed me the fuck off
We can always make a better world tommorow, but we can't do it if nobody tries today...
EDIT: And we know this is fake news thats trying to be bigger than it is, but the author is trying to make a point. He's trying to make you think.
And people with working gray matter will ignore it as not newsworthy.
I wouldn't be so quick to assume that. It hasn't happened and all anybody can do is guess what would happen. Yea, lets make a big issue out of that.
Seriously, this whole article is just unnecessarily bringing up the race issue where it doesn't belong and I think thats a bit shameful.
This is very true.. at the end of the day this is a very bullshit story with substance but Im simply commenting on the article as such. But yes I do agree, In the bigger scheme of things, We have hell of alot more bigger shit to deal with
Baconsammy
Banned
Doesn't even need a semi-automatic.
And if we're reading meaning into words, I'd like to put forward that Obama's "Proceed Governor" was code for, "I'm about to kick your ****ing ass in about 30 seconds, and that nice white lady over there that you've been mistreating for the past hour is going to pour the salt in your wounds." Best debate moment ever. Better than the "You're no Jack Kennedy" moment.
Obama look pretty lean to me. Tagg looks soft as shit.
But what do I know I ain't even American.
This is a good post, though I would say that it's not entirely accurate to say that white privilege does not exist in his reaction but perhaps more accurate to say that the privilege he exhibits is produced by the fact that he receives a benefit of the doubt that a non-white person would not receive.
I don't really understand why people are arguing that he is bringing up race unnecessarily; race matters for understanding these remarks and peoples' willingness to countenance them and make excuses for them. I'd argue that you have a poorer understanding of this if you choose to ignore race.
Would it?
If Rush Limbaugh said this, in the same joking manner Tagg did, I bet it'd be all over the news and a big thread on GAF on how Rush is terrible.
If Jeremiah Wright (the example I've seen all over the thread) said this about Romney it'd be all over the place too.
That is because both people are polarizing people. Tagg is not (or at least not as polarizing).
If Obama's daughter said this, in the same context, I doubt it'd appear any where but on Rush or Beck's radio shows.
White privilege exists, I don't deny it, but Tagg's comment isn't all over the place because how many people knew who Tagg was before visiting this thread?
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