So Cuomo called Politico to explain his "shuck and jive" comment

[wndycty]

I ain't buying it. But in fairness I will share it:

-snip-
UPDATE: Though the report I link refers specifically to New Hampshire, Cuomo called to play the tape of the interview, in which he says nice things about Obama, and in which the quote above is describing both Iowa and New Hampshire -- meaning it's not a direct reference to Clinton's primary victory, or attempt to explain it.

"Barack Obama is a beautiful symbol. He's a powerful speaker. He's a charismatic figure. And what he has to say is important for the Democrats," Cuomo says in the interview, with the New York Post's Fred Dicker.

"It was never about Obama in the first place," Cuomo told me of the use of the phrase, which he said he was using "as a synonym for 'bob and weave.'"
-snip-

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0108/Dept_of_word_choice.html

[BootinUp]

1. Of course you don't buy it

You are having too much fun calling him a racist.

[Dawgs]

2. Wow!!

"It was never about Obama in the first place"

Does he realize he's just making it worse?

[BringBigDogBack]

5. I don't think so

wow, indeed.

[no name no slogan]

3. How could he NOT know?

It's not like anybody's ever made racist/stereotypical remarks about Italian-Americans or anything

[aquart]

4. Politico is now our source for all true things?

[jefferson_dem]

15. Politico links to another blog, where the Cuomo's remarks were first reported.

Are you saying this is all manufactured?

http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/?p=6127

[H2O Man]

6. I wish he had

said "bob and weave" to begin with. He is a good man, and I think highly of him. But he said something very unfortunate, and he should take full responsibility for it.

[Hello_Kitty]

7. I'm sure he makes that mistake with synonyms all the time.

I've also got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell ya.

[elixir]

8. He's not helping the issue. He should shut up and apologize on all networks.

[AX10]

9. You just want to call Obama critics racists

That seems to be your key to getting Obama the nomination.

Andrew Cuomo is doing a great job fighting corporate corruption. I wish him well on a second term in 2010.

[wndycty]

10. When someone uses language such as "shuck and jive" you have to raise an eyebrow

There are a ton Hillary supporters and/or Obama critics who I wouldn't consider racist.

[BootinUp]

14. Your threads are how you "raise an eyebrow"?

They come off a little stronger than that I think.

[wndycty]

17. Am I upsetting you for calling out racist language?

Very telling.

[BootinUp]

18. I guess I better shut up

I *might* get accused of being a racist. Can you read my middle finger?

[wndycty]

20. No keep talking. . .I enjoy it. . .

:kick:

[Joe the Revelator]

24. Havn't you been running around implying sexism all day today

Just one example

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4023061#4023129

People in glass houses, man, people in glass houses.

[Egnever]

27. kinda funny coming from someone

who just wants to call his supporters homophobes.

[jefferson_dem]

11. This message...brought to you by Hillary's Department of "Move Along, Nothing To See Here."

Y'right.

[Barack_America]

12. So Obama is a "symbol", but not a worthwhile candidate.

Yeah, that makes it much better. Yep, those blacks sure are good at entertaining us white folk, but they're not to be taken seriously. :eyes:

If you're using it "as a synonym for 'bob and weave'", why not just use your freaking head and say "bob and weave". Sorry, Andy, but you said exactly what you meant to say.

And we all know what you meant! :grr:

[Tess99]

21. Exactly

It's ok for them to come to our churches, fish fries, and conventions, but when it's time for one of us to actually get real power, oh, then they show their true colors. Our vote is good enough for them, but we can't be THE leader. Oh, no, that's not gonna happen. And they will use racist tactics to keep it from happening.

And for those of you who don't know, the tide is turning big time with black folks in regard to the Clintons. I hope S. Carolina brothers and sisters put the nail in the coffin and rid of us these two race pimps once and for all.

That said, I think after the primary, there should be a mass exodus amongst black folks from the democratic party. We obviously are neither respected as equals. I'm just waiting for my primary to be over and I'll be an Independent voting for Barack.

[cali]

30. Don't go.

If Obama gets the nomination, he will be the head of the party and we can all together kick those to the curb who disrespect AA dem voters. At least consider helping to remake the party as a member of it.

[Tess99]

35. Nope, I'm out

And I hear a lot of younger black folks my age saying the same thing. We've been taken for granted by this party for far to long to begin with. Now, they're using racist tactics in their campaigns and using them against a man who is not only the future of the party, but could be the firt black president. I refuse to continue to vote Democratic after my primary.

I think all of us Black folk need to leave and become independent. That way, we can be courted, just like white people are. I'm tired of white liberals expecting our vote and not standing with us when we need them. Where were white liberals for Jena, where were they at the march of for that young black woman who was tortured some months ago? Where were white liberals right now as this happens, calling Obama a drug dealer, using minsrtrel terms like "shuck and jive" of all things?

Black people deserve better than to be taken for granted and disrespected. We need to get a clue, for real.

[cali]

38. Lots of whie liberals spoke out against Jena and what happened

to the young woman in W. VA, and alot of us are disgusted by the "dog whistle" dems. We fight back against them because it's so wrong as to be intolerable. And if Obama is the nominee how are you not going to be voting democratic? I understand your decision to leave the party, but I'm not sure it will work to your advantage.

[Tess99]

41. If Obama is the nominee

I will vote democratic. If not, I won't. I believe that blacks need to leave the democratic party and call themselves independent so that we can free ourselves up as a voting "block" and be courted on issues from both parties. We need to stop being beholden to a party who does not respect us or black politicians.

[BeyondGeography]

13. "A beautiful symbol"...stop it, Andrew

Take the left foot out, put the right foot in.

[BringBigDogBack]

16. hmm..

appears someone may be crashing and burning in the south states

[Liberal Dose]

19. Holy Cow!

Did you see the video at the link? The one posted in comments directly below the quote that was pasted. At the end, it has the word "Clintons" with a noose for the "O"

Edited to add "in comments"

[The Night Owl]

22. Ben Smith again. What a surprise!

About Politico...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Politico

Frederick J. Ryan Jr., former Assistant to U.S. President Ronald Reagan<2>, and currently chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation, is president and CEO of The Politico.<3>

The Politico has also been accused by some, especially those in the left-wing blogosphere, of a right-wing or pro-Republican bias. <12> According to Media Matters for America, The Drudge Report linked to The Politico 45 times in The Politico's first 58 days.<13>

About Ben Smith...

http://mediamatters.org/items/200703230001

[Joe the Revelator]

26. Are you saying that Mr. Cumo DIDN'T say what politico is reporting

Because that would be foolish.

But carry right a long Hillary people, attack the source, instead of the racist message.

[Occam Bandage]

23. When I called him "a shiftless no-account Negro," I really meant he was a symbol of hope.

It wasn't supposed to mean anything other than that.

[killbotfactory]

28. ...

:spray:

[bicentennial_baby]

25. "A beautiful symbol"? Oh jeez....

Keep digging, Cuomo.... :eyes:

[wndycty]

31. A beautiful symbol who offers false hope

These guys know no bounds.

ON EDIT I added the "who offers false hope" for sarcasm.

[bicentennial_baby]

34. This explanation is more appalling than the original comment

Wow... :wow:

[City Lights]

29. "Barack Obama is a beautiful symbol"

:wow:

Oh my.

[bunnies]

32. Oh give me a fucking break.

Racists could argue that the N word can be used as a synonym for African-American too.

He "accidentally" used an antiquated racial slur? Right. Fuck him.

:nuke:

[Seabiscuit]

33. Bullshit - He knows what it means, if he meant "Bob and Weave" he would have said it.

That's his way of trying to draw all the Republican racists out of the woodwork to attack Obama for having that "negro" gene. Cuomo is no better than Rove, when Rove called Obama "lazy" this morning.

[Thrill]

36. BS

Cuomo, you my friend are full of shit

[returnable]

37. Hmmmm... Cuomo calls to explain his comment, but offers no apology...

Figures. :kick:

[alcibiades_mystery]

40. His explanation is preposterous...it doesn't even make sense

[alcibiades_mystery]

39. That's ridiculous...Bob and Weave doesn't even make sense in the context

Nor is it a synonym for "Shuck n' Jive." However, "shuck n' jive" is certainly another way of saying "all style and no substance," which has been the Clinton talking point since Iowa.

It's a ridiculous defense because it's not even a synonym.

[FrenchieCat]

42. Andrew Cuomo Digs Deep!

Barack is not a symbol, he is a leader. The voters that he attracts are the symbol.

and, Barack is not simply a powerful charismatic speaker.
Cuomo using more code words that now fits neatly the description of a preacher....which is the only image that they want to use to define Obama).


Carry on, Mr. Cuomo, .........

Here's something to help you, although you seem to be doing well on your own!