MSNBC Analyist: North Florida is "Cracker Counties"

This is ridiculous. I cannot seriously believe anyone is trying to argue that the word "cracker" is not racist. Good Lord! Please, who are you trying to convince. Of course it is racist and you know it.

You sooooo need to look at the entymological evidence here man. It is a word with more then one meaning, and basing all your decisions on a word based off just one meaning is rediculous.

And if a word like "cracker" sends you off the deep end, I dare say you have worse problems to address than the color of your own skin.

Which isn't actually white by the way.

I absolutely do not agree that this was meant as a derogatory comment...

I disagree with you. I think this was derogatory.

So this was a white man being racist against whites? Come on now, I know it can happen but the odds aren't in favor of that viewpoint.

It's not about odds.
You're assuming a white person cannot be racist against whites.

No, I am assuming that a politcal analyst is using a commonly used term to denote a geographical region currently involved in a primary race in an appropriate fashion. I really don't think people understand the utmost respect that are shown for Florida Crackers by people in that area.

Point well taken, but you're still "assuming" things.

And, this is part of the reason this is such a controversy, because this wasn't aired to only that Florida area, alone. This video is viewable to the entire world.

It's called "CYA": Consider Your Audience

Did Martin think "outside" of this particular Florida area? We don't know, do we?
I try not to assume anything, but I do question things when something is (supposedly) subject to limitations.

I am assuming nothing more then the flip side of the coin for people that are assuming this was intended as racist, the comments of racism were made in an inflammatory manner long before I even got involved in this and I have been directly refered to with not so mannerly verbage... Not by you of course Tanz. There are others who aren't even willing to consider this NOT being racist.

Agreed that this wasnt broadcast to the Fla area alone, but it FAR from the only source of the term "Cracker Country" to be seen in that last few weeks on national TV. If the assumption that this one is racist leads to enforcement of assumptions that they all have been, and the last thing we need to do at this time is aggravate racial issues based simply on who said something that may or may not have been racially charged when there are real racial issues with equality and treatment that are not a matter of assumptions in either direction.

Since it's not racist (according to you), would it be okay for the President or the Vice President to use the word "cracker" in a future speech even if it was in a non-inflammatory manner?

How do you think people would react?

--posted to reply below-- If we allowed stigmatization of words "homosexual" would still be only spoken in hushed tones, and we would have to rename lakeside reeds to something like "kittywillows", but even kitty is being used in less then possitive ways nowadays.

Yes, the use of "Cracker (as a legiimate demographical label), Florida Cracker, Georgia Cracker, Cracker Country, Cracker Counties" should be completely acceptable. Reaction would be similar to those here.

"should be completely acceptable"

IMO, "should be" does NOT mean that it "would be"; that's your assumption, which is why I believe we'll never see (hear) the President or the Vice President ever using the word "cracker", because it might have the potential to come across as "racist".

Bottom line: It's not racist to you, but it's racist to me. I accept that we'll probably never be able to agree on this, but thank you for your thoughts.

Ahah, but here is the heart of it, it's racist to you and not to me. It is definately racist to me in other circumstances. This is an issue of those with limited prior knowledge of a word and how it is used in various portions of society insisting the way that word is used in thier segment of society is the only way to properly use it...Seems the affects of context get overlooked for some peoples hot button topics.

I appreaciate your thoughts as well, and glad that your still one of those who don't have to resort to vulgarity and personal insult to further your own points.

I've been to and lived in the deep south myself. Whites call themselves "cracker" as much as blacks address one another with the other so-called taboo term.

If words harm you, maybe the issue isn't the words.

Well, there's this to consider:

http://cracker.urbanup.com/5946277

And here's a thought, maybe someone should actually ask the man what definition of "cracker" he intended when he used it and why.

Thank you for the explanation. I took it as an insult and I don't think it is appropriate to slander anyone or any race. This helps clarify why no one on MSNBC seemed shocked by it. You can learn something everyday.

Very well said, just two guys with deep seeded racism and they don't even know it! And you know who I mean:)

Don't believe that spin. You really think some writer from New York on MSNBC knew anything about that. Besides, it's a wikipedia, that could have been written yesterday.

You really expect me to believe a writer from New York on MSNBC knew that? Besides, that's wikipedia, someone could have written that yesterday. You don't want to admit it's racist, fine, but you're a hypocrite if you don't, just so you know.

Good example. That's outright racism.

A black street vendor using this word will undoubtedly use it in a different fashion then a white political commentator discussing what has been known as "Cracker Country" for nearly 200 years.

Yes, this example was outright racism, but does this prove that Martin's comment was racist or is this simply circumstantial or even anecdotal evidence from a completely unrelated event?

And you don't think the white political commentator on a cable news channel might be smart enough to know that some people might take another meaning from it?

I think this incident with Martin may be more of an example of ignorance on his part. Obviously, I cannot speak for him, but he may not have realized that this word may be interpreted as "racist". However, in his profession, he should know better.

fwiw, I do know that in my *own* life, whenever I've been called a "cracker", it was racist.

Yes, lets stop using words with more then one meaning altogether in public forum? So no more "run", "play", "jump", "work", or even "truth". Just because a word has a negative conotation in one instance is no reason to throw it out of usage. Your argument that one negative should equate to deletion from the lexicon is astoundingly narrowminded, especially considering the breadth of the spoken language.

He may have been igorant to the racist potential for the word, but I sorta doubt it. He should have known there was a racial charge to the word "cracker" before he used it here, and he most likely did. But it also has legitimate usages that should override the stigma. If we allowed stigmatization of words "homosexual" would still be only spoken in hushed tones, and we would have to rename lakeside reeds to something like "kittywillows", but even kitty is being used in less then possitive ways nowadays.

Bro you need decaf, love and a little more of a life.

You're pretending to be offended by a comment made by a Liberal political analyst in an effort to say that Liberals are the truly racist people in the world of politics. A comment mind you, that is in no way representative of what you claim it to be. Moreover, you're trying to imply that the afore mentioned analyst was maliciously denigrating HIS OWN people, because as we all know, white on white bigotry is rampant in politics. I think you should find something a little more real to rant about.

By the way this link is bush league Bro... You're trying to turn this into something it's not, so you go to the well and pull out your best example of a lunatic (who by the way was being taken as seriously by the passersby as you should be) BLACK bigot to further spur on the Hate.

Momma always told me: "you can not try to be rational with a person who is obviously irrational".
But, what the Hell, I'll give it a try... No... on second thought.... I'm just going to accept that you will never accept anything that does not suit your perspective or serve your needs... so... I'm just going to let you live in your little fantasy world and I'll be done with you...

I hope you grow up... and when you do I hope you have as much wisdom as you have passion. It's cool to want to go to the mat for something you believe in, but if you are unwilling to grow no one will ever take you seriously and all your passion will be wasted.

Be well... I hope you find your light.

Bro as usual yours is the voice of reason... someone has to see this as what it is.

My light is the truth, you seem to be the one unwilling to see it.

That spin made me dizzy. Nice rationalization of a blatently racist comment there, but I'm not buying it. You seriously believe that was what this tool was talking about? You know exactly what he meant and so does everyone else, hypocrite.

Very well said!

I didn't watch the video, now I did.I stand by what I said. Maybe it "sounds" racist to you but to the people who CALL THEMSELVES crackers, Your barking up the wrong tree. Come to Florida and visit the state fair and the CRACKER COUNTRY exhibit. If anyone is spinning things it's you. It's like saying the term yankee is racist.

A lot of blacks call themselves a certain word too, what if someone had described certain counties with that word. If you want to overlook racism, that is fine, but I will not.

You made too much sense for his Cracker brain, it may explode! :)

.....good to know. And btw....it may be politically incorrect but I am from FL...it IS cracker country. Don't forget people there is a chain called "Cracker Barrel"

Loses his pass? He needs to be very publicly thrown out on the streets. If he isn't, then MSNBC will have lost whatever little shred of credibility they might have had left.

It's racist Kenny, no two ways about it. And if are going to seriously try to defend it, you my friend, are a hypocrite.

totally agreed john, kenny has often ruffled his hypocritical feathers. and he even considers himself a journalist, funny

wow

I won't flag it, I want everyone to see your bigotry and hypocrisy.

same group-think.

unlike you i believe in freedom of expression even when it opposes mine. ive never flagged and never will. i leave that up to the left wing hypocrites

hey we're just offering up some diversity and fair and balanced commentary on this blatantly closed minded leftest site.

sorry kenny, although i would consider it an honor if john were my brother. go ahead and do your paranoid delusional search, john and i are two different people. it amazes me that the same kind of shit youd quickly jump the right for you give a pass if done by leadership or pundits of your own persuasion.

Ok, John! :)

OK John :)

Hey, thanks for the compliment, Congo. Amazing that a conspiracy is easier for them to believe than the truth.

I disagree with you, kenny. I do not believe that those are the same two people.

I wonder what would happen if he had said south Florida were "Wetback Counties".

nope, its rampant and in the closet on the left wing media. its revoting

So one racial epithet is not accectable, but another one is?

"racial epithet" ????

Cultural observation more like. As bad as my Fly-over-Red state is {and it is full to the brim of idiots} Martin's correct observation is why my family and I will not reside in the South.

Well if that is as deep as your family was able to think and judge people, I'm perhaps glad you don't reside in the south. You seriously want to pretend that "cracker" is a cultural observation? You know what it means, just like I do. Don't pretend you don't.

and of course the left once again conveniently ignores racism within their own ranks. youre pathetic