Dan Rather on Health Care Reform: "Obama Couldn't Even Sell Watermelons". Is That A Racist Comment?

Yesterday, liberal former CBS News anchor Dan Rather presented an interesting analogy while discussing U.S. President Barack Obama and health care legislation. Bookeristas weigh in:



Yes: Clifton B.: "Obama Couldn't Sell Watermelons"

The conservative Republican in New Jersey: "Well here is the video of the much talked about quote from Dan Rather. Notice how [host Chris] Mathews immediately begins talking over Dan Rather and never bothers to admonish him. This is the typical way the left plays fast and loose with off colored statements. From what I heard on Rush [Limbaugh's radio show] today, the video clip has been scrubbed from Matthew’s site. Had this been a conservative or a Republican who made this analogy, it would have been blasted on every single network in America. That old double standard is firmly in effect. When ObamaCare finally crashes and burns, expect a lot more of these off colored remarks to slip past the lips of the compassion people."

Neutral: Bob Parks: "Rather: Obama 'Couldn't Sell Watermelons"

The conservative Republican blogger in Virginia writes: "Imagine a Republican saying this in front of black-race-protector Chris Matthews… which is why fellow black guardian David Schuster won’t say a damn thing about this either....This video was sanitized [from Matthews' website] quicker than the Katie Couric library card video."

Yes: Andre Harper: "Obama - The Failed Watermelon Salesman"

The conservative blogger writes: "Historically, so-called black leaders and groups like the national NAACP pounce on white people that make these kinds of comments. To mention black folks and watermelon in the same sentence, was looking for trouble. Loud leaders would call for their jobs, their careers and their heads. They would threaten boycotts and marches unless something was done. That something is usually some sort of payoff to them and their organization. We learned this with Don Imus, Rush Limbaugh and the NFL (even though he never made the comments in question) and Trent Lott. However, don't expect that to happen this time. Conservatives like to use these opportunities to point out the double standard in how unfair the media covers them. At this point, this has become an exercise in futility. As a proud black man, student of history and critical thinker I expect the NAACP either ignore the situation entirely or come to Rather's defense like they did Harry Reid a few weeks ago. They will defend his 'civil rights' record and you can expect him to get some type of award down the road."

Mr. Harper continues his commentary about white liberals: "All Rather did, as Harry Reid and so many liberals throughout history but most importantly during the age of Obama, was voice his true feelings towards black people and our struggle here in America. His comments revealed his disregard towards people of color. His racist buddy Matthew's attempt to silence him revealed his desire to keep those sentiments private so that they don't jeopardize the liberal agenda. The truth is that liberals do not care about the plight of black people. They don't care that so many black children don't have two parents at home or don't graduate from high school. They don't care that so many black boys are being incarcerated or that so many young black girls have no respect for their own bodies. They have an agenda that's heavily dependent upon the perpetuation of these events. They don't care about the damage slavery did and continues to do to the black community. They like to callously mention this sensitive topic in order to score political points against conservatives."

Unsure: The Greyfalcon: "Dan Rather" 

The conservative Republican blogger writes: "On Matthews' Sunday morning program he said Obama was a 'nice and articulate guy' but that 'he couldn’t sell watermelons'. This sounds really bad. But as with the Reid comment, The Greyfalcon sees the coverage of this statement as more troubling than the statement itself. Actually, it is entirely possible that Rather simply made an unfortunate choice, or maybe he had watermelon at his country club. We are not advocates of political correctness, and we cannot read Rather’s mind. People make mistakes. The problem even goes beyond the obvious, 'what if a conservative had said this'. We have already been down that road thousands of times. The problem is that the ENTIRE media establishment somehow has been directed to sweep this under the rug. Rush Limbaugh said the Rather statement ended with 'if highway patrolmen were flagging down cars.' But it is difficult to check that because as of now the comment is not up anywhere the way it would have been if Rush himself would have made the remark. How do they get EVERYONE to ignore this?"

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