On the 4pm hour of Monday’s The Situation Room, anchor Wolf Blitzer highlighted several political news stories, including Republican candidate for president, Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)’s use of the term ‘tar baby’. To some, the term is a racial epithet, however the true meaning of the word is a ‘sticky situation’, hence the term ‘tar’.
CNN’s Jack Cafferty joined the program Blitzer was finished reading the headlines with his ‘Cafferty File’ segment. Cafferty, who is know for his unscripted remarks, opined on the ‘tar baby’ situation and applied Romney meant the comment in a racist sense. However, Cafferty did not make the audience aware of his racist past:
CAFFERTY: I don’t have an assessment.It’s comforting to—to look at guys like Romney and the tar baby remark and—and know that we have such a—a high-quality stable of candidates waiting to take over the nation’s highest office. What the hell is he thinking? Tar baby? I mean, come on.
Cafferty has used several racial epithet’s of his own, even on CNN. The ADC notes Jack’s insensitivity towards those of Japanese descent:
It should be noted that Cafferty has a history of insensitive remarks towards many minority groups, not just Arabs and Muslims. In November of last year, he allegedly went as far as to crudely mock the Japanese language through a series of “ching” and “chong” noises.
Full transcript of the exchange:
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: A possible Republican presidential hopeful is apologizing for using racially charged words. Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts referred to the troubled Big Dig construction project in his home state as a tar baby, said it’s—said it at a fund-raiser with Iowa Republicans on Saturday. Romney now says he didn’t know anyone would be offended by the term, which some consider to be a racial epithet.### JACK CAFFERTY: I don’t have an assessment.
It’s comforting to—to look at guys like Romney and the tar baby remark and—and know that we have such a—a high-quality stable of candidates waiting to take over the nation’s highest office. What the hell is he thinking? Tar baby? I mean, come on.
Lone Star Pundit linked with Political Correctness: A Sticky Situation...
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1:43 pm [ Quote ]
Cafferty is an idiot, plain and simple. According to him, it is perfectly acceptable to run over a person with a car and drive away, but not to utter a perfectly reasonable statement about the disaster that has become of Kennedy’s big dig.
1:48 pm [ Quote ]
Cafferty is spot on…Romney can’t have much between the ears…You’d think he’d stay away from the term after Tony Snow got his toes burnt over using it. “I don’t want to hug the tar baby” Snow said.
1:53 pm [ Quote ]
Yeah but what about briar rabbit and the tar baby?
Briar rabbit says to the tar baby, “howdy” but the tar baby, he dont say nuthin’.
2:03 pm [ Quote ]
Don’t confuse a liberal with diction.
Besides (saying in a lib voice) words mean what you want them to mean
2:06 pm [ Quote ]
I’m going to go out on a limb and guess you voted for the guy that says “nucular” right?
2:18 pm [ Quote ]
There certainly isn’t anything wrong with the word ‘tar baby’ in the context in which the Governor used it. I think it would be quite obvious what the context of his remark was, and the definition in which he used it was the standard definiton, the slang use of it in the racial sense has to be rather more recent and/or very regional since you can’t find that meaning in any dictionary.
Romney may have to apologize for his remark because he’s a politician trying to appear sensitive to suck up to voters, but I certainly won’t exclude the word from my vocabulary just because it can be used as an obscure slang racial slur.
2:52 pm [ Quote ]
And yet you post this and don’t recall any of YOUR own racism.
HYPOCRITE.
3:02 pm [ Quote ]
Imagine the day when you’ll have to say, “Please pass the thin crips waffer biscuits,” because at times the other word is used as a racial slur. . .
3:02 pm [ Quote ]
tar baby
n.
A situation or problem from which it is virtually impossible to disentangle oneself.
Pretty soon we aren’t going to be able to talk about the historical black plague because that would be racist.
3:08 pm [ Quote ]
Or the yellow fever, or the red scare, or John Brown, or Snow White.
I hate you multiculturalist screechers, youre killing our culture with your overblown sensitivities.
3:10 pm [ Quote ]
Imagine the day when you’ll have to say, “Please pass the thin crips waffer biscuits,” because at times the other word is used as a racial slur. . .
this from the guy who calls you “anti-semitic” if you criticize neo-conservatives.
3:32 pm [ Quote ]
Neo-Conservative is code for conservative Jew.
Though you may have a point. What exactly is the common object/term that Neo-Conservative represents?
Tempest, I certainly got myself into a real Neo-Conservative this time. . .
3:45 pm [ Quote ]
Political Correctness: A Sticky Situation…
The evil racism of Republicans has reared its repulsive head once again….
3:54 pm [ Quote ]
This whole thing is so silly.
4:21 pm [ Quote ]
Neo-Conservative is code for conservative Jew.
Though you may have a point. What exactly is the common object/term that Neo-Conservative represents?
Tempest, I certainly got myself into a real Neo-Conservative this time. . .
saying “neo-conservative” is code word for “conservative Jew” is nonsensical.
the common objectives for the neo-conservative movement can be found at: http://newamericancentury.org/statementofprinciples.htm
or this from wikipedia:
Neoconservatism is a political current and ideology, mainly in the United States, which emerged in the 1960s, coalesced in the 1970s, and has had a significant presence in the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. It is today most closely identified with a set of foreign policy positions and goals: a hawkish stance during the Cold War and, more recently, in various conflicts in the Middle East. At times there have been distinct neoconservative positions in domestic policies; in particular, the first generation of neoconservatives were generally less opposed to “big government” and to social spending than other U.S. conservatives of the time, though they also called for significant restructuring of the goals and methods of many social programs.
no mention of the common usage of the word as a slur against Jews, but to be fair, Wikipedia goes on:
The prefix neo- refers to two ways in which neoconservatism was new: many of the movement’s founders, originally liberals, Democrats or from socialist backgrounds, were new to conservatism; neoconservatism was also a comparatively recent strain of conservative thought, which derived from a variety of intellectual roots in the decades following World War II. While some (such as Irving Kristol) have described themselves as “neoconservatives”, the term is used today more by opponents and critics of this political current than by its adherents, some of whom reject even the claim that neoconservatism is an identifiable current of American political thought.
is Irving Kristol anti-semitic?
so if you want to argue whether or not “neo-conservatives” even exist, fine, let’s do it. but calling opponents “anti-semitic” is easy and shifts the debate crazy-land.
4:23 pm [ Quote ]
please excuse the italic confusion above.
6:54 pm [ Quote ]
The Democrat Party and the Left love to use terms like racism, because they have succeeded, falsely to paint the Right as being racist. In matter of simple fact, it is the Left that have pursued racist policies for many decades, but on this subject they are the masters of spin!
9:18 pm [ Quote ]
The Democrat Party and the Left love to use terms like racism, because they have succeeded, falsely to paint the Right as being racist. In matter of simple fact, it is the Left that have pursued racist policies for many decades, but on this subject they are the masters of spin!
“blah, blah, blah…”
back it up with evidence.
10:00 pm [ Quote ]
Hmmm….names like George Wallace and Bull Conner come to mind when recalling real honest to goodness racists. What were they again? Democrats. Point is that neither party is “the” party of racists, but the dishonesty and irony of democrats calling republicans racist is truly amazing. What Romney said is NOT racist in any way, shape or form. And if you think it is, than you’re truly nothing more than a hypersensitive dishonest ignorant asshole.
10:08 pm [ Quote ]
The Democrat Party and the Left love to use terms like racism, because they have succeeded, falsely to paint the Right as being racist. In matter of simple fact, it is the Left that have pursued racist policies for many decades, but on this subject they are the masters of spin!
“blah, blah, blah…”
back it up with evidence.
Oh, there will be no evidence from the kool-aid drinkers on this website.
10:28 pm [ Quote ]
So now a conservative saying, “tar baby” has become a tar baby.
That’s funny.
(Ya gotta point out humor to lefties, they don’t get it. )
11:45 pm [ Quote ]
Tar baby is a racial term?
Holy crap… can somebody tell me what isn’t a racist term nowadays?
Ok… I’m gonna stop typing now because I may inadvertantly say something racist without even realizing it.
Damn Tar-babies… (it’s ok, I’m takin’ it back.)
People are two damn sensitive.
1:16 am [ Quote ]
(cough)Robert(cough)C(cough)Byrd(cough)
2:00 pm [ Quote ]
And to the idiot Egg-
Calling a Jew a “Kike”
An Hispanic a “Spic”
An Italian a “WAP”
An Oriental a “Chink”
or
A Black Person a “Nigger” is OK in your book.
It’s your complete lack of compassion & sensitivity that allows these nasty words to fester & linger, rather than be resolved.
You Republicans are the biggest hypocrites: Cherish life on one hand (anti abortion), but the hell with those that are living. Be they a minority or people in a foreign land. And no I do not infer the terrorist
!!
3:42 pm [ Quote ]
And to the idiot Egg-
Calling a Jew a “Kike”
An Hispanic a “Spic”
An Italian a “WAP”
An Oriental a “Chink”
or
A Black Person a “Nigger” is OK in your book.
It’s your complete lack of compassion & sensitivity that allows these nasty words to fester & linger, rather than be resolved.
You Republicans are the biggest hypocrites: Cherish life on one hand (anti abortion), but the hell with those that are living. Be they a minority or people in a foreign land. And no I do not infer the terrorist
!!
No… it’s not right to call people those names in that context and I never said it was. But calling a project a “tar baby,” a project that has nothing to do with race, saying that that was a racist statement is just purely retarded.
Here is the definition of tar baby: A situation or problem for which it is virtually impossible to disentangle oneself.
Used in that context, which it was, it is not a racist statement whatsoever. And for people to say it is racist are just looking for something to cry about, and yes… are way tooooooo sensitive.
Hmmmm… you may want to re-examine who the real idiot here is. Moron.
5:27 pm [ Quote ]
Egghead –
Maybe it’s just me, but try this on for size:
“The bldg. being erected was finely detailed, but there was no WOP in sight.”
Not “WOP” in this instance refers to “Writ on Paper” (common term, look it up in a legal dict.)
Now imagine a politican saying such a thing, be it in a speech or whatever. Don’t you think someone in that position should have chosen their word(s) more carefully?
A point of view can be argued one way versus another, but in the end good judgement and taste should prevail.
5:38 pm [ Quote ]
Egghead –
Maybe it’s just me, but try this on for size:
“The bldg. being erected was finely detailed, but there was no WOP in sight.”
Not “WOP” in this instance refers to “Writ on Paper” (common term, look it up in a legal dict.)
Now imagine a politican saying such a thing, be it in a speech or whatever. Don’t you think someone in that position should have chosen their word(s) more carefully?
A point of view can be argued one way versus another, but in the end good judgement and taste should prevail.
Yes… choose their words more carefully because people are always looking for something to cry about. Tar baby… it’s in the dictionary… The only people offended are morons looking for somthing to whine about.
WOP… is an acrynom and if said would have been said as “W-O-P.” Spelled out. And even if it was said as WOP… I’m italian and the last thing I’d do is cry about racism. But then again… I’m not looking for racism in every statement either.
Once again… people are waaaaaaaaay tooooo sensitive.
Tar baby is in the dictionary… (check dictionary.com) the only people who apply it as racist term are racists themselves. The term was used correctly in context and those who are trying to apply racism to it are morons.
Yep… you’re still an idiot. Is “idiot” a racist term? I don’t know… race-baiters come up with new racist terms all the time.
And… what race is tar-baby insulting? I don’t even know… so, if I used that term, not even knowing it was a racist term, just using in its proper context, is that still racist on my part? Should I, as a non-racist person, read up on all racist terms in order to never accidentally offend some overly sensitive idiot? Hmmmm…
5:51 pm [ Quote ]
Egghead –
Your rationalizations & your endless rhetoric does not disguise the “ignorant fool” you truly are. If anything, it reinforces it.
As I said before: “A point of view can be argued one way versus another, but in the end good judgement and taste should prevail.” Gov. Mitt Romney should have known better – And, really it’s that simple…..What’s not to get? Why don’t you get it?
God Bless Those Who Don’t See What’s Right Before Them….
6:29 pm [ Quote ]
Egghead –
Your rationalizations & your endless rhetoric does not disguise the “ignorant fool” you truly are. If anything, it reinforces it.
As I said before: “A point of view can be argued one way versus another, but in the end good judgement and taste should prevail.” Gov. Mitt Romney should have known better – And, really it’s that simple…..What’s not to get? Why don’t you get it?
God Bless Those Who Don’t See What’s Right Before Them….
Ignorant fool? Me? lol… that’s a good one. Instead of addressing my argument… you just defend your position by calling me an ignorant fool. Great debating tactic there, O great one.
Actual my rationalization is spot on… which of course is why you choose to ignore it. Oh crap… I just said “spot” is that racist against dalmations? I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to offend them, I swear.
Once again… check the dictionary and don’t take things out of the context they were meant and we wouldn’t have these problems.
Yet you failed to answer my other question though. Should a non-racist person learn every racist word in order to never offend anyone?
The word “monkey” can be used as a racist term for a black person. But if a politician went to the zoo and told reporters that his favorite exhibit was the monkeys and people got offended by that, by your logic… he should have known better?
See… I keep destroying your logic… yet fail to attempt to even damage mine.
Good job Winner.
7:17 pm [ Quote ]
Egghead –
You make no point.
1. Monkey is a common word – Hell it’s an animal. Hence, its usuage at a zoo.
2. Some words need no clarification. Most people with a scintilla of common sense know the legacy of hateful words in this country. How many people need a dictionary to find out the meaning of words like: Spic, Chink, Nigger or even tar Baby. This applies even more so for an elected politician who should have a least this most BASIC understanding.
Gov. Mitt Romney utterance of the “tar baby” may not have come from a racist place, but at the very least it came from an insensitive & thoughtless one – THIS IS MY POINT
No matter if I pulled out every persuasive and “logical to a fault” answer – You would still keep your inane position. This is ultimate meaning of insanity…
PS - Try looking at things from another perspective, it won’t hurt.
8:01 pm [ Quote ]
Egghead –
You make no point.
1. Monkey is a common word – Hell it’s an animal. Hence, its usuage at a zoo.
2. Some words need no clarification. Most people with a scintilla of common sense know the legacy of hateful words in this country. How many people need a dictionary to find out the meaning of words like: Spic, Chink, Nigger or even tar Baby. This applies even more so for an elected politician who should have a least this most BASIC understanding.
Gov. Mitt Romney utterance of the “tar baby” may not have come from a racist place, but at the very least it came from an insensitive & thoughtless one – THIS IS MY POINT
No matter if I pulled out every persuasive and “logical to a fault” answer – You would still keep your inane position. This is ultimate meaning of insanity…
PS - Try looking at things from another perspective, it won’t hurt.
Tar Baby: A situation or problem from which it is virtually impossible to disentangle oneself.
The big dig is a situation or problem from which it is virtually impossible to disentangle ourself.
Hmmmmm…. yep… nothing about that. Like I said, its all about context. Nothing at all racist about that. Unless of course, you’re looking for it.
And yes… monkey is a common word, but it can also be a racial slur. Once again… context. That’s my point. You fail to see context… you only see “tar baby.”
Using you logic… a politician could never use the word “chink” to describe a slight metallic sound or a narrow opening… for fear of offending the chinese. Hmmm… chink in the armor could be seen as “thoughtless and insensitive” to you.
The word kyke also means: to gaze, to look steadfastly. (Check the dictionary) But… regardless of its context it will always be insensitive and thoughtless? So… ok… kyke as a word and not as a racial term will always be off-limits. Someone notify Webster’s.
So yeah.. there’s my point. People should see the word as is used in its context before crying racism and “oh my, I’m so offended… waaaahahhh.”
He said nothing at all racist…
And hell… I still don’t even know what ethnicity “tar-baby” is used to refer to… Perhaps you could enlighten me… I’m not as well-versed in racial slurs as you are.
Hmmmm… and you’ve still failed to objectively debunk my logic. All you can say is, “its insensitive” which, of course, is a purely subjective matter.
Once again… look up “context” in the dictionary. I’m pretty sure its not a racial slur… but you obviously don’t know what it means.