Posted on 11/19/2004 7:39:47 PM PST by Paul Atreides
MADISON, Wis. -- A radio talk show host who called Condoleezza Rice an "Aunt Jemima" issued an apology Friday, but not to Rice.
"It is with a heavy heart that I apologize this morning to Aunt Jemima," John "Sly" Sylvester said on WTDY-AM in Madison. "She wasn't a self-serving hack politician who got up in front of Congress and lied. Aunt Jemima didn't kowtow to Don Rumsfeld or Dick Cheney."
Sylvester made his comments in conjunction with a giveaway of Aunt Jemima pancake mix and syrup to listeners. Sylvester, who is white, said he called Rice "Aunt Jemima" on Wednesday's show to describe her and other black officials as having only a subservient role in the Bush administration. He also referred to Secretary of State Colin Powell as an "Uncle Tom" _ a contemptuous term for black people whose behavior toward whites is regarded as fawning or servile.
NAACP president Kweisi Mfume said people who make such remarks "are just as bad as those who hide under sheets and burn crosses." Mfume said Rice is "an example of how far hard work, education and determination can take one to new heights."
Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz called Sylvester's remarks "racially insensitive," while Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold said he joined all Wisconsin residents in rejecting the statements.
Tom Walker, general manager for Mid-West Family Broadcast Group, which owns the station, said he doesn't agree with Sylvester's statements but defended his right to free speech.
"He has the right to do it and say it," Walker said after Friday morning's broadcast. "As long as he isn't hateful and as long as he isn't racist, I'm fine with it."
Sylvester told listeners he would resign if his employer lost advertisers or was hurt by the uproar over his comments.
He said Aunt Jemima was really a "strong, independent black woman" named Nancy Green. Born a slave in Kentucky, Green was hired in the 1890s to advertise the pancake mix.
"Aunt Jemima never lied about yellow cake uranium, she just makes a damn good pancake," Sylvester said.
The incident came after Mark Belling of WISN Radio in Milwaukee had his talk show taken off the air all of last week after using the word "wetback" to refer to undocumented Mexican immigrants. That sparked protests from the Hispanic community.
Uh, I'm waiting for NOW to be screaming about the Aunt Jemima comments.
Hmmmmm. The silence is Deafening!!!Hey Ladies! where are you now, NOW?
Rush Limbaugh got booted from ESPN for less.
Some Black Leaders from a Faith Based group denounced these cartoons today. I suspect they might be conservative but I guess it is a start.
Dems oppose school vouchers thus sentencing minority children to the hell of inner city schools...
Dems oppose social security reform which would allow Black men to actually accumulate something that could be passed on to children when a large number of Black men don't live long enough to collect SS.
Just who is the racist?
Is this a great country, or what?
He's just a nobody trying to make a name for himself. Condi has way too much class to sink to this pondscums level.
Queazy's comments are rather tepid, I must say.
ummm, I'm wondering exactly which person in the Bush administration doesn't have a subservient role to the President?
I wonder: when Bubba (finally) left the White House, how many blacks were there in prominent positions?
They're still getting their message out, and the American people are FED UP with them!
What a concept.
A winsome display of love and tolerance.
You have to understand liberal logic: Bush is the biggest moron on the planet, but he is able to keep all of his cabinet members totally subservient to him.
Ohhhhhhh. So in a roundabout way, he was actually praising Dr. Rice.
I hope that there are some Dim-voting blacks reading this, so that they can see just what they will be facing if they dare to have a differing view on, say, same-sex marriage, abortion, etc.
I've always wondered how a moron could take over the world. Jimmah Carter couldn't even free American hostages.
Anyone have a pic of this maroon?
I haven't.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.