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OPINION

'Great White Hope' Outcry an Overreaction

Lawmaker's remark clichéd, not racist: Tucker

By Harry Kimball| Posted Aug 28, 09 2:08 PM CDT|

(Newser) – Lynn Jenkins' remark that Republicans are seeking "the great white hope" has been blown far out of proportion, Cynthia Tucker writes in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Sure, the freshman lawmaker welcomed young GOP stars "who are, well, white," but she was just drawing on a cliché. She likely doesn't even know its origin: Writer Jack London coined it when calling for a white boxer to beat black champ Jack Johnson in 1908.

“Jenkins has been harshly criticized for stupidity and insensitivity if not outright racism,” Tucker writes. “Like most politicians, she tends to speak in cliches. She reached for one and it was unfortunate. She has apologized. No harm done.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Lynn Jenkins. (AP Photo)

Lynn Jenkins on the campaign trail last year. (AP Photo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

I know all this not because I’m a fan of boxing but because I’m a big fan of the actor James Earl Jones, who played Johnson in the movie, “Great White Hope.” No reason to think Jenkins knows any of that. - Cynthia Tucker

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32 comments

VIEWING:

Caps
Aug 28, 09 2:16 PM CDT

I still say she is a racist. Reply

+15

IN RESPONSE:

youngblood
Aug 28, 09 2:36 PM CDT

I agree 110% with you Caps, Lynn Jenkins is a racist!

+10

IN RESPONSE:

Spudsy
Aug 28, 09 2:42 PM CDT

But they think it's okay in...hmmm...Atlanta, wasn't that town in the confederacy?

IN RESPONSE:

maryz
Aug 28, 09 3:04 PM CDT

Hang on there, Spudsy ... Cynthia is an African-American woman, and I think she is trying to be fair. I wonder if the freshman Jenkins was just being careless. I am willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. We have to be very careful throwing around these inflated labels. Do we know Jenkins is a racist? If not for sure, how is calling her one any better than calling Obama a Nazi? Sure is a crazy upside-down world when I have to defend a foolish Republican! And, BTW, many of us in Atlanta, like many around the country, proudly stood in long lines to vote for Obama. Jeez, chill-out on finger-pointing!

IN RESPONSE:

AnnieChrist
Aug 28, 09 3:13 PM CDT

Spudsy, obviously you did a great deal of research in uncovering Atlanta's location and historical affiliation, but apparently you need to do more on Cynthia Tucker. She's not exactly what you would call a right wing hack. And, she is correct, this is a non issue. There is enough real racism out there to fight, getting indignant over a harmless cliche uttered by some small potato air head republican, that few people found offensive, is counter productive in the broader fight against real racists.

IN RESPONSE:

UrUndertaker
Aug 28, 09 7:59 PM CDT

Caps she may well have Racist tendencies but speaking as a Black American I will say I would rather be faced with a Freudian Slip than some jerk talking about purchasing a hunting licence for an American President who happens to be black. These ignorant Right Wing jokes are just a bit to far out there and they really should take a reality check all the way around. I could not stand GW Bush but not for one instant did I ever wish the man dead. I remember well the impact of an assignation of an American President and the ramifications it had for many years on our country and I never want this nation to face such a time ever again. No, I honestly think the Republican Party has lost total control at the top and is in the hands of extremists who would love nothing better than Obama to die and given a choice of facing an every day Bigot or an Assignation I would take the Bigot any day

IN RESPONSE:

shonangreg
Aug 28, 09 9:33 PM CDT

Caps and youngblood, a cursory look at Jenkins' history does not show any racism. She seems to be a fairly typical Republican (though she is pro-choice). She even voted last month to urge President Obama to pardon black boxer Jack Johnson. That very resolution, though, mentioned the history of the phrase "Great White Hope". She either doesn't read bills she votes for or she is so intellectually disabled that she can't remember simple things. Still, calling someone a "racist" should be reserved for times in which it is clear. maryz' comparison with the ease with which Republicans call Obama a Nazi is spot-on. http://www.ottawaherald.com/story/082809jenkinsvote

| 0 minutes ago

Nwambe
Aug 28, 09 2:17 PM CDT

Of course, no harm done, but she speaks in clichés, and she didn't think about what she was saying. THAT is what everyone's concerned about. If she can't think about what she's saying when she's in the public eye, and reaches for the comfort of a cliché... Well, I know a recent President who did that. As it turns out, his presidency didn't go so well, either. Reply

+15

IN RESPONSE:

nick
Aug 28, 09 3:07 PM CDT

Their lame, insincere, apologies always gives these political closet racists away. Typically: "I'm sorry that my words were misinterpreted. If anyone was offended by my remarks, I apologize."

-1

| 0 minutes ago

Snarfeh
Aug 28, 09 2:18 PM CDT

Sorry, Cynthia, as usual, you are off the mark. She was not using the phrase as in "we need a champion to take the next election" and if our current President were not legally an african american, the phrase would never have entered her mind. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

jamerican
Aug 28, 09 4:09 PM CDT

I prefer the term American to let people know that he is an American and not an African American which is stupid as hell and says what...that he is an African first and American second...lets change this whole stupid terminology to American African or Black American.

| 0 minutes ago

odowd80
Aug 28, 09 2:26 PM CDT

She spoke off the cuff and grabbed a blatantly racist phrase. Now she's backpedaling by basically saying she "grabbed a cliche." That's code for, "I said what I really felt, but forgot to run it through my PC filter. Had I been thinking straight, I would have censored my true thoughts." Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Thinker
Aug 28, 09 5:46 PM CDT

Although I've heard the phrase, I can't imagine using it in a cavalier manner myself. It screams racism to me, no matter how it is being used.

IN RESPONSE:

Rocket448
Aug 28, 09 6:07 PM CDT

That's what I said yesterday. GMTA.

-2

| 0 minutes ago

Cat-Lover
Aug 28, 09 2:30 PM CDT

People who speak in cliches are people who draw on the words and/or ideas of others which shows that people who draw on cliches are not original thinkers and should not be the people who make our laws or vote for us in Congress. She's just another idiot. I would imagine that even in the case of cliche thieves, the word "white" should have set off alarms and if it didn't we know more about here inner beliefs. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

ryderbackside
Aug 28, 09 2:39 PM CDT

Yea but the reaching for cliches, which we all do, not just politicians, reveals something of how our mind works. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

dax
Aug 28, 09 2:49 PM CDT

Intentional or not, the Republican party has already become over populated with people who have such a superficial grasp of language, conceptual thinking, historical context, etc., more of the same is not going to help their cause ---- unless they continue to work at "dumbing down" their constituency. (See Glenn Beck article). Reply

| 0 minutes ago

edjoe
Aug 28, 09 3:01 PM CDT

With the internet the origin of the phrase can easily show its racist derivation. For the record, an argument can also be made that the phrase beyond the pale is anti Irish. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

timeandagain
Aug 28, 09 3:12 PM CDT

At least she is not as racist as Obama! Reply

-9

IN RESPONSE:

AnnieChrist
Aug 28, 09 3:20 PM CDT

nor as stupid as you.

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Aug 28, 09 5:27 PM CDT

At least she's not as racist as Glenn Beck.

| 0 minutes ago

jamerican
Aug 28, 09 4:04 PM CDT

Oh my God don't tell me the liberal idiots on the left overacted again. And let me tell you blacks that overracted...all you make white people think is that you are stupid victims that also overract and play the race card like a bunch of irrational 3 year old children. Do you understand that whites have no respect for those of you that overract to irrevelant issues? It certainly makes us think you are so overractionary that you do not live in the real world and only creates more resentment. Wise up...and sometimes shut up. Reply

-10

IN RESPONSE:

odowd80
Aug 28, 09 4:22 PM CDT

This is funny. The right saying the LEFT overreacts? After all the recent hyperbole coming from the radical right? Socialism, Death Panels, Mandatory Circumcision, Hitler, Fascism, Kill Granny...all over an optional government insurance option? Please.

IN RESPONSE:

Thinker
Aug 28, 09 5:49 PM CDT

Jamerican, what is wrong with you? Respect and consideration for others is not a bad thing, but ignoring racism and racist overtones (or undertones) has led us to the crazy, rude, offensive and threatening discourse we see happening in public arenas everywhere today. It has to stop and it won't get better until thoughtful people start speaking up. It is wrong to say racist comments and wrong to use racist terms. Period.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

skeptik
Aug 28, 09 11:45 PM CDT

Perhaps you should consider taking your own advice jayster

IN RESPONSE:

Shannonals
Aug 29, 09 12:45 AM CDT

Jamerican what are you even talking about? I'm Black, I'm not overreacting to anything, I think it's hilarious everyone jumps on little incidents like this and makes mountains out of mole hills. Your wording in your comments are offensive, because you seem to think you are above everyone else and that you speak for all America

| 0 minutes ago

Rob
Aug 28, 09 4:42 PM CDT

I wonder how many of you bent over backwards for excuses around Obama's church. Reply

-2

IN RESPONSE:

Alexandria
Aug 28, 09 6:17 PM CDT

Uh, no one needed to. It was the priests thoughts and personal opinions, no one elses.

IN RESPONSE:

rajanKazhmin
Aug 28, 09 6:37 PM CDT

I am offended to the limit by the fact that Obama goes to church at all. I know he's too smart for that stuff. As an atheist I am offended that he hasn't come out of the closet yet.

-1

| 0 minutes ago

BlahBlahBlah
Aug 28, 09 6:33 PM CDT

When you are a Senator or any Politician for that matter you need to know and understand that your words echo everywhere. You need to be very calculated in how you use any form of speech, no matter how innocent it may be. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

kansas1946
Aug 28, 09 7:04 PM CDT

No harm done, except that we in Kanas have another representative that has a low IQ, no tact, and no politcal savvy. That is harm enough. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

DarkFrancis
Aug 28, 09 7:22 PM CDT

If these idiots are goofy enough and politically naive enough to think they can get away with arrant stupidity, then I have no sympathy. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 32 comments »

Kansas • Republican Party • gaffe • Jack Johnson • racist remark • Jack London • Lynn Jenkins • Cynthia Tucker

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'Great White Hope' Outcry an Overreaction