I loath Alec Baldwin's political views on most everything, but I consider him one of the greatest actors of our time. I will continue to watch Freeman's movies, because he is good at his craft. As with all other celebrities, that is all I need or want from him, the execution of his craft. I could care less what else he thinks.

 

Agreed. I've never understood the fascination people have with celebrities' views on anything other than what made them a celebrity.

Just as the left attempts to strike fear in the hearts of seniors by perpetuating the lie that republicans are out to take away their social security, Medicare and have them eating cat food sandwiches.

 

You of all people should understand the impact of words, and all the hyperbole about people being racists simply because they do not agree with the policies and agenda of a political leader... be he brown, pink, purple or green with big orange polka dots is a reach at best.

This thread isn't about the Left. It's about whether or not Freeman's comments on the Tea Party are understandable and/or justified.

 

I don't know anyone on this board that claims the Tea Party is inherently racist, but it's ridiculous to act as if there isn't a tinge of bigotry within some parts of the movement.

 

I'm a 40-something mostly WASP, so I don't see the world through the same eyes that Morgan Freeman does. If he sees what he says he does, there is probably a reason for it.

Agreed. I've never understood the fascination people have with celebrities' views on anything other than what made them a celebrity.

I concur. Same goes for athletes and their political views, too.

I recently ate a very mediocre, way overpriced dinner at Mr. Freemans Madidi restaurant in Clarksdale, Mississippi. I was never going to go back anyway, but his over the top comments on racism have sealed the deal.

Agreed. I've never understood the fascination people have with celebrities' views on anything other than what made them a celebrity.

 

Agree 100%.

 

When they run for local office, maybe I'll pay attention.

Get busy voting, or get busy dying.

 

He will be here all week.

I don't know anyone on this board that claims the Tea Party is inherently racist, but it's ridiculous to act as if there isn't a tinge of bigotry within some parts of the movement.

 

This reminds me of a south park episode where the town is split on changing the town flag. The side that wants to keep it the same unwillingly get the KKK's support. If you're watching the show however, anybody with the slightest bit of common sense and intelligence can that the side not wanting to change the flag does so not because they are racist (except for the small group of KKK members) but because its been part of their history.

 

I wish people would do the same with the tea party. I'm not a member or anything but I have the brains to realize this isn't a racist movement. There is only one group of people calling them racist and its on the left and it is nothing more than a political move.

I loath Alec Baldwin's political views on most everything, but I consider him one of the greatest actors of our time. I will continue to watch Freeman's movies, because he is good at his craft. As with all other celebrities, that is all I need or want from him, the execution of his craft. I could care less what else he thinks.

 

This...I can completely respect! :thumb:

I agree with westsider. The views we hold are intensely personal. I may disagree with someone's views without any animosity. I have yet to stop watching an actor's work, listening to a musician's work, reading an author or frequenting a business of someone with whom I disagree, simply because I don't agree with them. Now, if they're a no talent having actor, author or musician, or their business itself doesn't hold any interest for me, then I won't grant them the incredible value of my attention. :lol: But it's not becase I disagree with them. For the record, in the case of authors, I often seek out those with whom I disagree to try and get a sense of where they're coming from. Unless it's Anne Coulter.

I loath Alec Baldwin's political views on most everything, but I consider him one of the greatest actors of our time. I will continue to watch Freeman's movies, because he is good at his craft. As with all other celebrities, that is all I need or want from him, the execution of his craft. I could care less what else he thinks.

 

Agreed, I could care less what John Travolta or Tom Cruise think about politics or religion, but it doesn't mean they aren't both great actors.

This thread isn't about the Left. It's about whether or not Freeman's comments on the Tea Party are understandable and/or justified.

I respect you entirely too much to accept intellectual laziness on this matter. This is entirely a left/right matter. You introduced the notion that "the Tea Party movement plays on people's fears and prejudices in galvanizing opposition to him (Obama)." The Tea Party representing the ultra-right bogeyman, I simply pointed out that the left does EXACTLY the same thing. To go the next step and label it as RACISM is disingenuous, lazy and a feeble cop out to detract from the fact that there is apparently no better argument.

 

I don't know anyone on this board that claims the Tea Party is inherently racist, but it's ridiculous to act as if there isn't a tinge of bigotry within some parts of the movement.

I would be willing to wager that there was FAR MORE legitimate RACISM inherent in the founding of Planned Parenthood than there ever was or will be in the Tea Party. There's a tinge of bigotry in virtually every large organization including GLAAD, ACORN, ACLU, MoveOn, NARAL, People for the American Way, etc., etc. I am a Christian. I believe that the Bible is our most reliable source of truth and instruction for how we should live... and yet there are idiots like the Westboro Baptist Church that go out and spew hatred that I (and a vast majority of true Christians) believe is abhorent. There have been some that have killed abortion doctors in the name of Christianity. There are strippers for Jesus. I cannot find any Biblical support for any of them.

 

My point is, regardless of what a handful of idiots do in the name of whatever organization they claim to support, it boils down to "Are their actions in line with or approved by the factual foundational beliefs of that organization?" If not, this argument is nothing more than a convenient straw man.

 

I'm a 40-something mostly WASP, so I don't see the world through the same eyes that Morgan Freeman does. If he sees what he says he does, there is probably a reason for it.

I have no doubt there's a reason for it... I'm sure I can't imagine the garbage he has had to endure from idiots giving him grief for no other reason than the shade of his skin. I would not be shocked to learn that he has faced genuine racism in his life... but that doesn't automatically validate his assertions about the Tea Party.

 

Westy, you're too smart for this. Our country is TRILLIONS of dollars further in debt and economically worse off than it was three years ago... and this is with a House and Senate controlled by Democrats for two of the past three years. I would be unhappy with whoever was in charge, regardless of their flavor.

 

If you genuinely belive the Tea Party is filled with legitimate RACISTS out to condemn Obama simply because he is half African and half Caucasian, then do some research, dig up the incontrovertable facts, win a Pulitzer prize. If it's as bad as you suggest, it shouldn't be that hard to do. Make a positive difference through journalism and make a name for yourself in the process. :thumb:

 

As for me, there is one race... the human race. We all bleed the same blood. We may marry and have children together in any combination. There are only two subcategories IMO... the saved and the rebellious. I love and pray for members of both. The color of our wrappers has nothing to do with any of it. :thumb:

Fastbreak, I'm not supporting or validating Freeman's comments. I'm simply saying that, give his background, I can see where he would believe there is some bigotry behind the Tea Party movement.

I respect you entirely too much to accept intellectual laziness on this matter. This is entirely a left/right matter. You introduced the notion that "the Tea Party movement plays on people's fears and prejudices in galvanizing opposition to him (Obama)." The Tea Party representing the ultra-right bogeyman, I simply pointed out that the left does EXACTLY the same thing. To go the next step and label it as RACISM is disingenuous, lazy and a feeble cop out to detract from the fact that there is apparently no better argument.

Freeman's comments are the topic of discussion, and those comments were about the Tea Party. I don't like the method of defending one side by claiming the other side is just as guilty, and as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't hold water.

 

It has nothing to do with "intellectual laziness." In my view, the topic at hand is whether or not Freeman's assertions about the Tea Party are justified. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

I have no doubt there's a reason for it... I'm sure I can't imagine the garbage he has had to endure from idiots giving him grief for no other reason than the shade of his skin. I would not be shocked to learn that he has faced genuine racism in his life... but that doesn't automatically validate his assertions about the Tea Party.

That is my point exactly. At the same time, however, his background is one possible contributing reason to why he believes what he does.

 

Our country is TRILLIONS of dollars further in debt and economically worse off than it was three years ago... and this is with a House and Senate controlled by Democrats for two of the past three years. I would be unhappy with whoever was in charge, regardless of their flavor.

 

If you genuinely belive the Tea Party is filled with legitimate RACISTS out to condemn Obama simply because he is half African and half Caucasian, then do some research, dig up the incontrovertable facts, win a Pulitzer prize. If it's as bad as you suggest, it shouldn't be that hard to do.

Fastbreak, please go back and read my statements on the issue. They seem to be misinterpreted frequently in this forum.

 

I've never claimed the Tea Party is inherently racist and bigoted or that the majority of its supporters are racists and/or bigots. I simply maintain that there are elements of the movement that have those beliefs.

 

It's not expressed overtly ... it's much more subtle. That's what I mean about playing on the fears of Obama's detractors, especially when it comes to the Muslim issue.

 

The Tea Party is a big umbrella. It's an entirely defendable position that some of those who claim to be under the umbrella have beliefs that you and I would find abhorrent.

Fastbreak, I'm not supporting or validating Freeman's comments. I'm simply saying that, give his background, I can see where he would believe there is some bigotry behind the Tea Party movement.

From my POV, Mr. Freeman asserting that a group of people are racists based upon nothing more than his background/beliefs/suspicions about them... no matter how sincere those beliefs may be... is no better than the racism he is accusing them of. Slandering an entire group of people because it just stands to reason that statisically at least a few of them are bound to be racists is wrong. It also weakens the impact of legitimate claims of racism.

 

What some seem to forget in the story of the boy who cried "Wolf"... the wolf does in fact eventually show up and eat the boy.

 

All these hollow claims of racism are doing nothing but innoculating people to the genuine article.

This appears to be part of the overall campaign targeting the Tea Party function. The words are scripted. You can find similar attacks over the last couple of weeks by many on the internet. The words are read by an actor on a show that is targeted at a liberal audience. With Morgan Piers ratings all of 5 people saw this live.

 

It is a shame this administration is using the race card so blatantly. It does appears they are smart enough to know that broadcasting their socialist policies and running on their record will not work.

 

When it comes to race this administration knows how to use it....

 

http://dailycaller.com/2011/09/25/obama-gaffe-president-says-billionaires-should-pay-the-jew-tax-rate/#ixzz1Z1x92BBp

 

Who are the real racist?