No it isn't
Stepin Fetchit (1902 - 1985)
Posted on 12/31/2005 5:11:20 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
December 31, 2005 - 19:48.
When a few years ago Rush Limbaugh suggested that the media, hoping for a black-quarterback success story, had over-rated Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, ESPN fired him from its Sunday night football show.
Can you imagine what the media would have done to Rush had he dared to employ the classically racial "feets don't fail me now" line?
Yet that is exactly what major ESPN personality Chris Berman did a few minutes ago in introducing coverage of this afternoon's Denver Broncos game.
He apparently said it vis a vis white Denver Broncos QB Jake Plummer.
Berman's co-host, black former Denver linebacker Tom Jackson, gave what seemed a rather forced laugh in response.
Odds that Berman, who has described himself as a "New England Democrat," will face any discipline? Slim, IMO.
Bill Murray: "Larry Bird isn't white. He's clear."
If an older person says a certain expression is offensive, take his word for it. He might have witnessed things that you might find hard to imagine.
Reminds me of Howard Cosell, and how he got a little bit of flack (that's all that would happen back then), when he commented about a Redskins player on Monday Night Football....."Look at that little monkey run!"
Simply by quoting Flip Wilson's famous line, does that make one a racist?
Good grief, what mountains out of molehills!
What a boring thread--feets don't fail me now, I'm outa' here!
I've seen too many of your posts to think you're a yuppie. That's why I knew I could kid you about it. Berman is past it, though. The "cute names for players" gag got old about five years ago.
Thanks, RK. And let us never forget what Berman has described as perhaps his all-time favorite:
Bert "Be Home" Blyleven.
Oh, I understood the meaning for the article and the post, my only point is, some people go out of their way to be offended..
No it isn't
Stepin Fetchit (1902 - 1985)
I agree with you. A prime example of that type of casting can be found in old Shirly Temple movies. I forget the name of the man and woman but a black couple is talking and spelling words so Shirly can't hear and they mispell them badly. In truth both of the actors had college degrees but the best parts they could get were of menials and servants, always subservient to whites( I am white BTW). The blacks of the time had their own movie makers and while they would play in white films and be cast as servants, they would play the main charcters and heros in the black films. It was a racist time, no doubt.
I tell my dog to "Go and Fetch It."
Ar-g-g-g-g-h!!
A number of people on the thread have accused me of making a mountain out of a molehill, of trying to stir up racial animosities, of being over-sensitive, etc.
With all due respect, they ENTIRELY miss my point.
I was NOT, repeat, NOT accusing Berman of racism.
I was simply pointing out the double-standard. Berman, a self-described "New England Democrat," will almost surely skate on this.
If Rush Limbaugh had used the same line, I believe the MSM would have nailed him on it. Do you disagree? That was my only point!
The racial sensitivities are the MSM's: not mine!
As the original poster, please understand that the point of my thread was not that I was offended by Berman's statement. I was merely making the point that if Rush had said it, the MSM would have claimed to have been offended and would have nailed him on it, whereas I believe they will let the liberal Berman off the hook.
Already corrected, but thanks again.
"Feets don't fail me now' has nothing to do with racism. We can ALL smile hearing it spoken.
Please answer this question: if Rush Limbaugh had used the phrase "feets don't fail me now," do you think he would have been taken to task by the PC liberal media?
Yes or no?
I totally agree ... if Rush had said it. But he didn't.
By your description, Berman is a democrat, so nothing will happen, whatever his intent.
Do you think the PC liberal media would have smiled on Rush if he had used the phrase? That was the sole point of my post.
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Fred Sanford: Larry Byrd isn't white. He's a black man "passing".
Please have another look at my original thread. The entire point was the double standard: Berman probably skates because he's a liberal. Rush would have been nailed for saying the same thing.
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