Nooooooo. She didn’t really. Yesssss? Nooooooo.
A representative from Kansas, Lynn Jenkins (R) used the phrase “Great White Hope” when referring to existing and future leadership talent within the Republican party. And Obama got skewered for saying the Cambridge police acted stupidly?
She says she wasn’t thinking about a white contender against Obama in 2012 [I accept that she wasn’t thinking; but I wondered when she exercises her gray matter]. Also, various Republicans said no offense was meant. How nice for them to say. Charming, really.
Rep. Jenkins, one of 535 who review and pass laws affecting our land, did not know the back story on the unfortunate turn of phrase. Except you don’t have to know any back story to know that it can’t be a good phrase. [That is, if one uses one’s gray matter.]
Let’s sound it out together: Great [not bad so far] White [anyone have a plausible reason for this word other than racial reference?] Hope [as in champion]. Let’s parse it: White Hope. Hmmmm. A champion for whites as opposed to . . . other races?
To review, history books are not necessary to the implications of the statement. But I bet no one intended any offense. Rep. Jenkins and others like her [Herr Glenn “Gestapo” Beck, par exemple] truly are afraid of losing their status as the majority and governing race in America. And they are voicing it. And then, they fear they may face discrimination [retribution?] for their elitism and excusivity and want all of the programs against which they fought so hard when they had the power.
They see an end to THEIR society of whites-only country clubs, privilege and access to power (and not all whites are allowed, so if you have bad dental work, live in a trailer park and wear a sheet on occasion, you don’t belong either).
I am counting on the citizens of this great country (including “whites” like me) looking forward to having leaders and people in positions of power reflect the rich multi-cultural society that is the United States of America. Maybe because I come from the huddled masses who achieved the American Dream. Or maybe because skin color is an irrelevant marker for anything of value.
So these people are really hoping for a great WHITE hope. And, in case you are wondering, yes they’ve inbred so much that someone who can stay idiotic things can still become a Congresswoman.
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From the Associated Press —
OTTAWA, Kan. – A Kansas congresswoman says a recent comment about fellow Republicans seeking a “great white hope” was not a reference to someone who could challenge President Barack Obama‘s political agenda.
Rep. Lynn Jenkins said Thursday that she was making a comment about GOP leaders in the U.S. House. She says she was trying to reassure Republicans that there are bright leaders there.
But Jenkins says she apologizes if anyone was offended by her remarks at the Aug. 19. forum.
She says she was unaware of any negative connotation to the phrase.
The phrase stems from the early 1900s when there was a campaign to find a white boxer who could defeat heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson, who was black.
A spokesman says White House officials will give Jenkins the benefit of the doubt.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A freshman Republican congresswoman apologized Thursday for telling a gathering in her district that the GOPwas still searching for a “great white hope” to stop President Barack Obama’s political agenda.
Rep. Lynn Jenkins used the phrase during an Aug. 19 forum as she discussed the Republican Party‘s future and tried to reassure members that the GOP has promising young leaders. Someone in the crowd recorded video of the event in Hiawatha, about 65 miles northeast of Topeka, and gave it to the Kansas Democratic Party.
“She apologizes if her words have offended anyone,” Jenkins spokeswoman Mary Geiger told The Associated Press. “That was not the intent in any way, shape or form.”
At an event at University of Kansas in Lawrence, Jenkins denied she was speaking in racial terms and said she meant only that the GOP needs “a bright light.”
“I was unaware of any negative connotation, and if I offended anybody, obviously, I apologize,” Jenkins told the Lawrence Journal-World.
At the Hiawatha event, Jenkins was discussing the GOP’s future, with Democrats in control of Congress and Obama elected the nation’s first black president, in response to an audience question. Jenkins is white, as are three House colleagues she mentioned as future party leaders: Eric Cantor of Virginia; Kevin McCarthyof California and Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.
“Republicans are struggling right now to find the great white hope,” Jenkins said last week. “I suggest to any of you who are concerned about that, who are Republican, there are some great young Republican minds in Washington.”
The Democratic National Committee in Washington declined to comment Thursday.
“I saw that report,” White House spokesmanBill Burton said at a briefing on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, where Obama is vacationing. “I also saw that her spokesperson backpeddaled and said that was a poor choice of words. We obviously give congressman Jenkins the benefit of the doubt.”
The National Republican Campaign Committee in Washington didn’t immediately respond to a request for a comment.
Jenkins was not available for comment Thursday morning, but she was to hold an afternoon town hall meeting in Ottawa, about 55 miles southwest of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
The phrase “great white hope” often is associated with pre-civil rights-era racism and is widely believed to have entered usage in the U.S. when boxer Jack Johnson, who was black, captured the heavyweight title in the early 20th century. Many whites reacted to Johnson’s achievement by trying to find white fighters — or a “great white hope” — who could beat him. The boxer’s story inspired a play, then a movie, with that title, both starring James Earl Jones.
Geiger said she doubts Jenkins was aware of the phrase’s connection to the play about Johnson. Geiger said she’s never heard Jenkins use it before.
She said Jenkins simply was discussing how the GOP has faced challenges in recent years but has talented young leaders, adding, “That’s what she was saying, that was it, nothing more, nothing less.”
Tyler Longpine, a spokesman for the Kansas Democratic Party, called Jenkins’ comment “a poor choice of words” but said he doesn’t think it was anything more than that.
He said a Democratic Party supporter shot the video at Jenkins’ forum in Hiawatha and shared it with the state party.
“The thing that kind of strikes me was the partisan tone of it all,” Longpine said. “If she’d stick to talking about policy rather than politics, she could have kept her foot out of her mouth.”
Jenkins, 46, won the 2nd Congressional District seat for eastern Kansas last year by ousting Democratic incumbent Nancy Boyda. She previously served two terms as state treasurer and four years in the Kansas Legislature.
Last night I entered the 42nd Street subway station and I heard someone doing a pitch-perfect rendition of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song. People were singing along.