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Was MSNBC wrong to classify the demographic of Northern Florida as anything but "Cracker Counties"?
MSNBC/Politico Bigots Call Florida Panhandle 'Cracker Counties' | Western Journalism.com
Seeded on Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:27 PM EST
Article Source: The Western Center For Journalism- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (28)
Wouldn't you agree that MSNBC nailed it with this description?
- 4 votes
#1 - Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:27 PM ESTThis is a perfect example of how a racial connotation is applauded when used by the left.
- 4 votes
Jesse..... Democrats tend to believe in racial equality at a much greater rate than Republicans. Need I remind you that there are always a W.A.S.P or two at the door of the Republican tent deciding whome is allowed, in and whom is not?
- 2 votes
Cra*ker is no different than Nig*er. Both are disparaging and offensive to some people.
- 1 vote
FLYNAVY,
What a load of bull. Republicans encompass the entire spectrum of our diverse country. Nobody "decides" who is allowed in, because everyone is allowed to be part of the party that doesn't spend it's time trying to classify people into hate groups.... that task is one left to the Democrats.
- 2 votes
JC... Since you can't back up your post... I'll back up mine. Here are the demographic breakdowns from the 2000, 2004, and 2008 presidential elections. The GOP has over the course of those three elections averaged to attract 29.4% of the non-white voters. That's barely over one in four of those minorities that did vote.
http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/elections/how_groups_voted/voted_08.html
http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/elections/how_groups_voted/voted_04.html
http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/elections/how_groups_voted/voted_00.html
We won't go into the problem of the GOP being made up of old white people, but the data on that is there too.
- 1 vote
Let me get this straight. You're saying that since only 29.4% of non-white voters cast votes for Republican candidates, it means that whites are "deciding" who is allowed in? Do you honestly think anyone is really stupid enough to fall for that type of nonsensical logic? Really? I guess that in theory we could probably find out that only 29.4% of BMW owners voted for the Democrat candidate, which would obviously mean that the Democrats were "deciding" not to allow BMW owners into the party. What a joke.
Why don't you just admit that you like to demagogue the issues and make over-the-top statements about Republicans every chance you get. That, at least, would be believable.
- 1 vote
The Urban Dictionary defines a cracker as: “Slang word used to refer to those of European ancestry. The word is thought to have either derived from the sound of a whip being cracked by slave owners, or because crackers are generally white in color.”
Well, what's wrong then with this interpretation of the origin of the term "Cracker"?
By this description, Northern Florida was described to a "tee".
- 2 votes
#2 - Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:30 PM ESTAre you actually trying to justify the use of this term? Really?
- 1 vote
I think the headline nailed it. Doesn't matter if every single person that lives there is white, its still a derogatory term. Wiping out bigotry should happen across the board, none of it should ever be excused.
- 2 votes
#3 - Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:56 PM ESTI think the headline nailed it.
I'm not sure the label "Cracker Counties" is inaccurate.
Tell me why the statement is wrong ...
Why its wrong? I already did. Bigotry is wrong, no excuse. Its a derogatory term. Even if Urban Dictionary doesn't say so.
- 1 vote
Hali O.... I agree with your sentiments. I state it using the following...
"Racism and Bigotry don't belong in my America."
- 2 votes
Then I want to hear the screaming when a Republican uses similar terminology - call it on your own.
- 2 votes
Give me a scenario where a Republican says the same type of thing, and I will answer it the exact same way, every time.
It seems like you are implying that it is justified, Shelby, because "they do it too." Is that so?
"Cracker" is not a derogatory term. It denotes the use of a whip to drive cattle not slaves. It is however, inaccurate in describing the Panhandle region as there are not a lot of cattle ranches there. A more fitting description would be "Red Neck."
#4 - Tue Jan 31, 2012 4:38 PM ESTSlang: Disparaging and Offensive . a poor white person living in some rural parts of the southeastern U.S.
There's another definition for ya.
- 1 vote
I am a native Floridian and was taught this meaning in Florida history classes. But I guess it's just a matter of perception.
Cracker Cowboys
The Florida "cowhunter" or "cracker cowboy" of the 19th and early 20th centuries was distinct from the Spanish vaquero and the Western cowboy. Florida cowboys did not use lassos to herd or capture cattle. Their primary tools were bullwhips and dogs. Florida cattle and horses were small. The "cracker cow", also known as the "native" or "scrub" cow averaged about 600 pounds (270 kg) and had large horns and large feet.
Modern usage
The term is used as a proud or jocular self-description. Since the huge influx of new residents into Florida from the northern parts of the United States and from Mexico and Latin America in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the term "Florida Cracker" is used informally by some Floridians to indicate that their families have lived in the state for many generations. It is considered a source of pride to be descended from "frontier people who did not just live but flourished in a time before air conditioning, mosquito repellent, and screens."
What a load of bull. Republicans encompass the entire spectrum of our diverse country. Nobody "decides" who is allowed in, because everyone is allowed to be part of the party that doesn't spend it's time trying to classify people into hate groups.... that task is one left to the Democrats.
Then why don't Blacks and Latinos join in the Republican Party's causes?
#5 - Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:07 PM ESTUVA,
Then why don't Blacks and Latinos join in the Republican Party's causes?
You dont think there's Black's and Latino's in the Rpublican party? That's like saying there's no employed people in the Democratic party.
- 2 votes
WOW!!! Are you kidding me! You cannot honestly believe that there are no blacks or hispanics that back Republican causes.
- 1 vote
Then I want to hear the screaming when a Republican uses similar terminology - call it on your own.
And this is the key to the issue!
Republicans want to play the race-baiting game, but they suddenly become overly anti-racism when a term disparaging to them is used as a matter of normal course in the mainstream media.
#6 - Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:09 PM ESTAnd this is the key to the issue!
No it isn't. Justifying something wrong because "they do it too" just doesn't fly. It takes you down to their level. If you call someone a jerk, that may just be a jerk, that makes you a jerk too. There is no justifying bigotry.
No, the Right is mostly anti-racism all the time, this @!$%# isn't all black and white (not skin color), it's a lot of the far left people repeating that all Republicans are racist and unfortunately people that cant think for themselves believe it.
What about the racist people on the left? You think because some outspoken Liberals scream about racism all the time that there's no possible way anybody that's Liberal is racist? Come on.
Here's an experiment I would really love to see tried out, everyone quit throwing race out there and see what happens, I'm thinking it wont be an issue anymore. On second thought, a lot of people would be bored when they aren't allowed to stir the @!$%# up and would just make something else up.
It is however, inaccurate in describing the Panhandle region as there are not a lot of cattle ranches there. A more fitting description would be "Red Neck."
The term can be used to describe one who "cracks" a whip to message ANY animal, I would offer ...
#7 - Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:11 PM ESTNo it isn't. Justifying something wrong because "they do it too" just doesn't fly
I'm not trying to justify it. I'm simply saying the use of the term is not only accurately descriptive, but that the "Right" has no argument in its use, because they do exactly the same thing.
The point is you have no standing unless you condemn it when your side does it.
- 1 vote
#8 - Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:07 PM ESTAfter watching the video this was simply an off-the-cuff statement by a Politico analyst. I was by no means a classification that was promoted or otherwise endorsed by MSNBC. To suggest it was, based solely on this video, is outright dishonesty.
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