Unequal justice evident in column
Published: October 13, 2009
Gee, I guess the “race card” only works in one direction, huh?
Eugene Robinson’s commentary on the scandals involving John Edwards (“Edwards: The worst type of cad,” The Daily Progress, Sept. 29) would cause a massive uproar of citizens decrying racial bias had his opinions been racially reversed. Former D.C. Mayor Marion Berry — a notorious crack-smoking, scandal-ridden, frequenter of prostitutes who avoided charges and accusations of corruption only while he was in prison — is called a “lovable rogue,” “genuine, if … flawed.” Meanwhile, John Edwards’ sexual dalliance and subsequent denials caused him to be labeled the “worst kind of cad.”
The author’s references to the “perfect smile and … $400 haircuts” thinly disguise his contempt. I suppose the $400 haircuts the white politician gets are a lot more onerous than the untold amounts of money His Honor, the black politico, spent on hookers and dope.
Had this comparison been made on the opposite side, with equal venom and contempt toward Mayor Berry, the NAACP would protest.
“Equal” means just that: equal.
Timothy Alan Jones
Fluvanna County
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Reader Reactions
Thank you “Captain Obvious” for your verbose attempt at belittling an honest dialogue. I suppose that whatver planet you live on only wants to hear the opinions of the slected “intelligensia” such as yourself. I assume that most people are aware that a columnist’s job is to sell papers…thats what papers do..duh. Perhaps if you would put down your thesauris long enough to read the column and associated comments you wouldn’t call people immature for voicing thier opinions. no where in my letter or my comments did I call Eugene a racist. Nor did I, in any way, defend or excuse the shody behavior of either politician. Last but not least, your note contains more name caling than mine! So there! Neener Neener Boo Boo.
That wasn’t a nail you hit.
Anyway, any reasonable person—by that I mean impartial, objective, well-intentioned—who is intellectually honest, would likely find Eugene Robinson’s typical commentary severely biased, often racially provocative, grandiose, delusional. Mr. Robinson’s neighborhood clearly is not mainstream—I suspect he lives in some bubble much of the time.
That said, he is a syndicated columnist, and not unlike many of his peers—whether in print, talk radio, or cable ‘news’—full of himself, his worldview, his ‘spin’. Calling him a racist really serves no purpose.
Anyway, Mr. Edwards was the worst kind of cad, by any objective standard—he broke his oath of office, he broke his marital oath, he used his friends and abused his office. Maybe he can seek forgiveness and rehabilitate himself, but he has a way to go.
Ex-mayor Berry? Basically, a junkyard dog.
Why anyone would defend either man—or for that matter, engage in name calling over some sort of moral equivalency argument concerning race—is beyond me. High-mindedness? Hardly. More like a third grade spitball fight among class rejects.
Peace.
A couple more of Eugene Robinsons heros are the loveble murderer Fidel Castro and his southern buddy Hugo Chavez. Every other article Robinson writes is about racism, I wonder why Toomey feels the need to defend him. Judging from his responses, I would say I hit the nail on the head with my 1st comment.
AMEN ! Salty Dog, Proposing “special treatment” of ANY ethnic group over any other group of Americans is wrong! Those that insist on two standards for two groups are the most insidious kinds of racists. The buffoons in robes and other hatemongers we can simply discount as being well…simple, but the racist that is the most dangerous are the ones who appear to imitate progressive thinking liberals, while steadily focusing attention on our differences instead of our commonality. EQUAL protection under our laws. Freedom from oppresion, One nation under God….INDIVISABLE..these are the principle we not only were founded under, but must strive to adhere too, whether our principles are “politically correct” on not! God bless America!
It is not unreasonable to expect freedom of speech to be respected without accusations of racism or bigotry. We need to get this all out in the open so that we all live by the same rules.
and since you asked Mr toomey, you are not an idiot, but you are a racist.
Disgusting words and thoughts?
Read you own words Toomey.
hey pat,
here’s whats funny..those “POLORIZED” words you so painstakingly counted were mostly…youre! directly taken from your comments not my letter. I never used any of thm with the exception of the sarcastice refrence to the panthers.
I feel so illuminated now. Thanks for helping me along in my journey through life. Let’s list/count the polarized words in your response and see if we might be able to get at some truth in the analysis; hate, venom, disgusted, outraged, injustice, racism, hatred, name calling, bigot, attack, racism (again) evil, militant, ‘kill whitey, Black Panthers, stupid. 16! Seems to be an inordinate leaning towards rage and little towards balance, cogency, analysis and introspection. Just my opinion, but then again I’m an idiot. Right?
to:patrick toomey, your comments reguarding my letter seem to be full of hate and venom…why? I made an observation of what I considered an inappropriate comparison of politicians in a column. Did you even read the column? You are so disgusted and outraged by the existince of a man who simply observed an injustice? Racist? I belive the hatred and name calling in your note tells us whom is the bigot. I have yet to do any sort of ame calling and you attack me personaaly because you dissagree? accusing everyone who disarees with your views of being in the kkk is the worst kind of racism. Just like my oberservation in the paper…equal is equal…BOTH ways. How would it be, since our views differ, if I accused you of being one of those evil, militant “Kill Whitey Black Panthers? That would be racist and stupid…just like your comments.
Foehammer,
And you, like the cowardly members of the KKK who hid behind white cloth sheets, shield your name from public scrutiny. Are you afraid to reveal your true identity so that other Albemarle area residents will know the face of the man who spews forth such disgusting words and thoughts?
Patrick Toomey
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