Racism: It's what's for dinner!

One of the problems with stoking fears about our (black) President, fomenting right wing anger, and radicalizing political speech is an unfortunate tendency to bring the racists out of the woodwork.  Three recent high profile examples are an appalling and sick sign of the times.

First up, South Carolina state Sen. Jake Knotts (R). Last week he actually said of the Indian-American Republican candidate for governor of his state, Nikki Haley:

“We already got one raghead in the White House, we don’t need a raghead in the governor’s mansion.”

Refreshingly direct.  No "macaca" or other euphemism.  Just pure racism.  Of course when enough of a scandal erupted, he finally issued a nonpology, using the old canard, "I was just joking." 

Then, in non-helpful follow-ups, he dug an even deeper hole, expressing disbelief in Haley's claim that she's a Christian and claiming that she was being controlled by a network of Sikhs.  He also apparently declared war on India.  No joke.

***

Next up,  morons in Arizona!  No, I'm not talking about the new immigration laws.  This is something else.

An Arizona elementary school created a popular outdoor mural which pictured actual students at the school, some of whom are, shockingly, not white skinned! Apparently, some racists didn't like that and would cry out racial epithets as they drove past the mural.  A city councilman who has a radio show, also attacked the mural:

I am not a racist individual, but I will tell you depicting a black guy in the middle of that mural, based upon who's President of the United States today and based upon the history of this community, when I grew up we had four black families - who I have been very good friends with for years - to depict the biggest picture on that building as a black person, I would have to ask the question, 'Why?'

 Um, why not?  Real tough question there, dude.

Anyway, the Principal reacted to this racism by standing strong for his students and his school.  Nah, I'm just kidding!  He totally caved and said that the school was going to lighten the color of the faces on the mural, which are, again, faces depicting actual students at the school!

Fortunately, after a huge outcry, the Principal found his balls and has declared that the mural will be restored to its original design.  And the city councilman has been fired from the radio show.  So this one ended with a good result.

But really, Arizona?  Are you trying to compete with South Carolina for the title of Most F*cked Up State?

***

And finally, we have some sex mixed in with our racism!  This is the newly crowned Miss USA, Rima Fakih. 

 Very pretty, no?  She's the first Muslim ever to win the crown!

Wait.  Muslim?  That can't be right.

– Conservative radio host Debbie Schlussel blamed Fakih’s win on a supposed “politically correct, Islamo-pandering climate” in America and labeled her a “Lebanese Muslim Hezbollah supporter with relatives who are top terrorists.” [5/16/10]

– Right wing pundit and Fox contributor Michelle Malkin ranted that “Fakih’s cheerleaders are too busy tooting the identity politics horn to care what comes out of her mouth” and that “the Miss USA pageant didn’t want to risk the wrath of the open-borders mob.” [5/16/10]

– Conservative author Daniel Pipes, who was briefly appointed by former President George W. Bush to the U.S. Institute of Peace, opined that “this surprising frequency of Muslims winning beauty pageants makes me suspect an odd form of affirmative action.” [5/16/10]

– Fox News’s Gretchen Carlson complained that Woolard’s “informed opinion” may have cost her the crown, and said that Fakih may have won because we live in a “PC society.” [5/17/10]

Woolard is Miss Oklahoma, the white, blond-haired woman who got second place.  So certainly Fakih's victory can't be because she deserved it!  It must be due to affirmative action or our "politically correct society".  After all, she beat a WHITE WOMAN.  There must be some other reason!

Dumbasses.