Dan Rather a racist?

[Defense54]

Wow. What was this guy thinking? One of the most respected journalists in the biz and he doesn't have the common sense not to make a Water melon comment about the President?

I'm not saying it was racially motivated or not,  but man was it a poor choice of words:   

And the Republicans will make a case and a lot of independents will buy this argument. "Listen he just hasn't been, look at the health care bill. It was his number one priority. It took him forever to get it through and he had to compromise it to death." And a version of, "Listen he's a nice person, he's very articulate" this is what's been used against him, "but he couldn't sell watermelons if it, you gave him the state troopers to flag down the traffic."(

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978091067

I heard the live statement and you can hear everyone trying to stop him as soon as he said the word "Watermelon". That was kinda funny , that everyone realized it as soon as it left his lips, but he didn't.  I bet Howard Cosell is laughing his ass off right now where ever he is..........

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I think the people who are making a big deal out of this are the racists. Every white person I know likes watermelon just as much as blacks. 

Sound and fury....

[Defense54]

I think the people who are making a big deal out of this are the racists. Every white person I know likes watermelon just as much as blacks. 

Sound and fury....

Oh absolutely. I agree with you. But common sense as a police officer is I'm not going there  you know? Someone at his level of his profession has to know the way some people are going to recieve a comment like that no?

[Dave Gray]

I don't even understand the comment.  What's he trying to say?  Why is he talking about selling watermelons.  I just don't understand the relevancy of it.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I don't even understand the comment.  What's he trying to say?  Why is he talking about selling watermelons.  I just don't understand the relevancy of it.

It is a some what archaic expression.  I have heard it a couple of times before, basically claim someone has no salesmanship.  Akin to saying, "he couldn't sell water to a dying man in the desert."  Opposite expression as has been used to describe Bill Clinton or Ronald Regan, "could sell snow to an eskimo"

[Dave Gray]

Is anyone actually upset about this?  Or is this just a case of some media organizations making a story?

The racial stereotype is that blacks like to eat watermelon.  It's not about selling them by flagging down state troopers, or whatever.  It's probably a poor choice of words just for this reason, but I don't see anything insensitive about the comment.

[Defense54]

Is anyone actually upset about this?  Or is this just a case of some media organizations making a story?

The racial stereotype is that blacks like to eat watermelon.  It's not about selling them by flagging down state troopers, or whatever.  It's probably a poor choice of words just for this reason, but I don't see anything insensitive about the comment.

Oh I agree. Dan Rather will probably get some leway after an apology.   

[Phishfan]

I don't see Rather as being a racisit for the comment. He should have had come up with a better example than watermelon just for his own sake though.

[Defense54]

I don't see Rather as being a racisit for the comment. He should have had come up with a better example than watermelon just for his own sake though.

Right!?  He couldn't see that coming? Try to listen to the original recording. Its hysterical to hear his people jumping in and not even letting him finish his sentence . I'd love to see a video of their eyes the second the word "Watermelon' reached thier senses! 

(slow motion.......NOOOOOOOOOOO!)  Lol!

[bsmooth]

I just think it is one of his old time quotes he is notorious for uttering, such as " this race is tighter than the lugnuts on a 54 Ford pickup" during the 2000 election.

[Defense54]

I just think it is one of his old time quotes he is notorious for uttering, such as " this race is tighter than the lugnuts on a 54 Ford pickup" during the 2000 election.

True. he is probably so unracist that the connection didn't even come to him. But can you imagine the same thing being uttered by say.....Imus/ They would be picketing as we speak. 

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

True. he is probably so unracist that the connection didn't even come to him. But can you imagine the same thing being uttered by say.....Imus/ They would be picketing as we speak. 

Here is the difference....Imus is a racist. 

Defense....consider this....a fellow Jew tell you a "Jewish joke" vs. a Muslim or someone of German decent tells you the same off color joke is your reaction going to be the same?  It wouldn't be for me.  The character and nature of the speaker maters when judging if the comment was meant to be racist or malicious instead of harmless. 

[JVides]

I have zero problems with the comment.  It's not like you can never say the word "watermelon" in the same sentence as  a black person's name.  And if it is like that, then this country's over the edge.

He didn't use the word in the way a derogatory statement usually would be used.  You want bad, check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb9Qfp_3Sfo