Rep Conyers: "if Members ... can't speak the truth to these wingnuts ..."

[understandinglife]

Defending the Indefensible

57 Co-signatories so far

Members are flocking to sign my letter to Salem Radio Networks demanding an explanation for Bill Bennett's off the wall remarks on Wedensday. By the end of the day Friday, we were up to 57 signatories (see extended entry), but not a single Republican.

In the mean time, the right wing is having a field day criticizing me for critizing Bennett, if you can believe that one -- see this from something called michnews.com. Their arguments don't add up. First they say I am quoting Bennett our of context, by not observing that he later said it would be wrong to abort all Black fetuses. Of course, I included that in my letter. But what they miss is not the abortion "hypothetical" -- as absurd and tasteless as that is -- but Bennett's suggestion that African Americans are synonymous with crime. It is a text book case of sterotyping and racism, and cannot be explained away. Second they say I am a First Amendment hypocrite. I don't think there are many stronger First Amendment supporters in Congress than I am, but all I am suggesting is that those who use the air waves have a tad responsibility to not foment racism. I am not the FCC after all, but if Members of Congress can't speak the truth to these wingnuts, who can?

Adam Smith, Grijalva, Tierney, Sherman, Baldwin, Pallone, Cleaver, Jackson Lee, Crowley, Larson, Lee, Meeks, Tauscher, Holt, Cardin, Schakowsky, Benny Thompson, McCollum, Al Green, Watson, Corrine Brown, Capuano, Farr, Van Hollen, Butterfield, Filner, George Miller, Lantos, Olver, Solis, Jesse Jackson Jr., Christensen, McDermott, Artur Davis, Stark, Julia Carson, Gutierrez, Payne, Fattah, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Towns, Kucinich, Lewis, Wynn, Meek, Bardallo, Honda, Serrano, Maloney, David Scott, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Becerra, Woolsey, Ford, Rangel, Velazquez

Link:

http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000261.htm

Blogged by the Congressman at 1039PM EDT -- defending our Republic day and night.


Peace.

[Independent_Liberal]

1. Kick!

[dooner]

2. Yep, Bennetts remarks wrong for so many reasons. n/t

[O.M.B.inOhio]

20. yet another signal to racists: implies a white "we" vs black "them"

It's not just about stereotyping. It's about power and rights. Bill Bonehead's remark implies that "we" of government and white bigots/real Americans have power over a black "them," who live in "our" country by our good graces, like some distant cousin who's sleeping on the couch... and maybe overstaying their welcome. We tolerate them (teach "tolerance" indeed!) but it's still our house. So if they demand rights, they've forgotten their place.

[Amonester]

3. Nominated. (Must go to Greatest Page e.g. need 1 more) - n/t

And Keep

Please

[Lindsay]

4. I heart the good Congressman.

He fights the good fight every day.

[charlie]

5. Wingnuts!

Keep on calling them what they are, Mr Conyers. That's the kind of talk we need to hear.

[understandinglife]

8. He calls'um out, for sure. And, at 1039PM EDT on a Friday night ...

.... at least 2 hours after gerogie boy has been tucked in with milk and cookies for another long-night slumber while people are dying and being tortured because of his ruthless neoconster imperialism.


Peace.

[FreedomAngel82]

13. The hardest working man in dc

I just adore Mr. Conyers. We're all so lucky to have him in our government.

[charlie]

18. 76 freaking years old

and his blogging is fierce. That he can still do that after putting in a full day battling jihadists(R) makes congresscritters half his age look weak, tepid, shameful, foolish.

[understandinglife]

25. He is amazing! And, you get the sense that he's just getting started!!!

Peace.

[BlueCaliDem]

6. Conyers and Boxer R My Heroes!!! :-) n/t

[Old and In the Way]

7. Sad, not one Republican with a conscience. All a bunch of

drones in the hive. All they can do is rubberstamp whatever legislation DeLay tells them to do. A bunch of cowards with no sense of moralit.

[FreedomAngel82]

14. Maybe they're afraid of speaking out

Maybe they'd be critized and don't want to get all the freepers attacking them. Kind of sad they don't have spines. *sigh*

[yurbud]

22. getting desperate, so they can't afford to chase off racists

You'd probably get a Medal of Freedom if you figured out how to sell a corporate tax break, the Spanish Inquisition, and a lynching in one bumper sticker.

[hiley]

9. Congressman Conyers

never sleeps !

[fooj]

10. I am so lucky my Congressman is Sam Farr! He never disappoints me.

I'm proud of the way he stands with Conyers! I think I'll drop him a note and tell him just that!

Peace.

[understandinglife]

11. Know what you mean. I'm calling McDermott and Adam Smith on ...

.... Monday and thanking both of them (McDermott is our Congressman and Adam Smith is represents the district just south of us)!


Peace.

[FreedomAngel82]

15. McDermott is awesome!

I really like him too. There are so many great guys/girls out there in Congress that should be in the Senate.

[FreedomAngel82]

12. We should all complain to the FCC

It's disgusting what they are saying out there not only about black people but about gay people and liberals too. Ugh. And they are supposivley Christians and more moral then me as a liberal?! Disgusting.

[Sunkiss BlueStar]

16. Hey Boya Boya

I like what Im hearing.
"WingNuts" only want the good side of Bennett showed too the sheeple masses. Well guess what Wingies, he exposed himself. Go getem DEMS.

[EFerrari]

17. Mr. Conyers, my hero.

[Qibing Zero]

19. Exactly,

and if I can't say fuck or shit over the airwaves without repercussion, how on EARTH can he get away with saying THAT fucking shit?


I apologize wholeheartedly, but it fit.

[Rex]

21. Conyers is the man!

Refreshing to hear from someone in Congress that hasn't sold out. This whole argument is stupid beyond belief. The fact that Bennett gave a disclaimer at the end of it being bad gives him NO REASON to mention a race of people or a negative activity. This is the nazi mannerisms so many of us talk about. No wonder they don't help Africa, genocide? They got oil?

[DemReadingDU]

23. Does Conyers ever sleep?

Thanks for all his hard work

[mandyky]

24. It's genocide by abortion

and of course it is reprehensible, as were Bennet's comments. That is not the way you talk about race, by propposing something so sickening.

[lateo]

26. I love Conyers.

[Nothing Without Hope]

27. Recommend for our wonderful Rep. Conyers. Truly a "man of the people"

ALL people, even the GOPs, if they could only see it.

[understandinglife]

31. Truly a "man of the people" --- he certainly is.

Peace.

[evolved Anarchopunk]

28. The reason republicans are getting so upset is that they can all

see themselves saying something like that. You see, none of them have a logical base to their beliefs, and something like this just might slip b/t friends, you know? They are ashamed at themselves, this is the reason for their outrage. It's not like they're putting more energy into this for any noble purpose, like a friend in need, b/c the comments are beyond indefensible. Simple.

No, rethugs are afraid of the direction of our culture alright, and how it is turning degrees away from them EVERY DAY.

[BamaBecky]

29. kick

[goclark]

30. kick again