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You are here: Home / Civil Rights / Racial Justice / Kiss My Black Ass / Romney Surrogate John Sununu Calls Obama ‘Lazy’

Romney Surrogate John Sununu Calls Obama ‘Lazy’

by Imani Gandy (ABL)|  October 4, 20122:56 pm| 123 Comments

This post is in: Kiss My Black Ass, Post-racial America, Assholes

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ni-CLANG!

Former Governor of New Hampshire and Bush appointee John Sununu appeared on MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports and called President Obama lazy.

Yes he did.

And guess what?

It’s a dog whistle and it’s racist.

[read full post at ABLC]

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Previous Post: « Debate? What debate?
Next Post: Mitt Romney Style »

Reader Interactions

123Comments

  1. 1.

    lamh35

    October 4, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    here’s what gonna happen. the Romney camp & it’s surrogates & supporters & conserv bloggers, commentators and the like, will be so “energized” by last nights debate performance, that they will do what they always do…over-reach & cross the line. it happened last night with the KitchenAide tweet about POTUS grandma & it happened already this morning in the form of Romney surrogate Sunnunnu! Even Mrs Greenspan was taken aback and actually asked him if he wanted to take back that is was calling the POTUS “lazy”.

    they just can’t help themselves.

  2. 2.

    lamh35

    October 4, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    duplicate

  3. 3.

    Napoleon

    October 4, 2012 at 3:02 pm

    He also said he isn’t very bright, also a dog whistle.

  4. 4.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    October 4, 2012 at 3:03 pm

    Too lazy to follow the link.

    What has that Ayrab Anchor Baby Sununu done now?

  5. 5.

    General Stuck

    October 4, 2012 at 3:03 pm

    linky bad

  6. 6.

    The Snarxist Formerly Known as Kryptik

    October 4, 2012 at 3:04 pm

    He also said “When you’re not that bright you can’t get better prepared.”

    It’s a continuation of what Sununu’s kept on before since he’s become a surrogate: Obama is really a stupid thug who only got where he was through racism and affirmative action.

  7. 7.

    eric

    October 4, 2012 at 3:05 pm

    “How to Step on Your on Dick.” by Mitt Romney.

  8. 8.

    Lolis

    October 4, 2012 at 3:05 pm

    Yeah, I think Dems need to suck it up and win the post-debate spin. Romney said a lot of dangerous things last night and we need to get people to focus on that.

    Sununu has had quite the string of racist comments. What a prick. Romney has the worst surrogates though. All things we can use to our advantage.

  9. 9.

    schrodinger's cat

    October 4, 2012 at 3:05 pm

    If anyone is lazy its this fatso, too lazy to get on a tread mill once in a while.

  10. 10.

    Jay

    October 4, 2012 at 3:05 pm

    Mr. Sununu is part Palestinian and part Latino. I wonder how Team Romney and the media would react if an Obama surrogate racebaited him as clearly and frequently as Sununu has racebaited this president?

    I hope he notices that the opposition hasn’t done that, but I doubt it.

  11. 11.

    Napoleon

    October 4, 2012 at 3:07 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    Basically that his debate performance shows that he is lazy and not very smart. It is as close as anyone in the Romney camp has come to calling him a n—- on tv. I understand Andrea Mitchell actually gave him a chance to walk it back but he didn’t.

  12. 12.

    The Ancient Randonneur

    October 4, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    As I stated in a previous thread, Mitt Romney is still the candidate. He and his surrogates have managed to make unforced errors at every turn. It started in the spin room last night with his surrogate admitting that EACH state would have to outlaw preexisisting conditions clauses in health care insurance under the Romney plam (if they were able to repeal Obamacare.) Then Sununu came through with another one of his patented dumbass remarks. Give the Romney camp time, they have only begun to destroy any small advantage they may have gained from last nights debate. That’s just how they roll.

  13. 13.

    Enhanced Mooching Techniques

    October 4, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    @schrodinger’s cat: Yes, apparently the obvious isn’t a strong point with these people.

  14. 14.

    ? Martin

    October 4, 2012 at 3:09 pm

    He’s just riffing off of Gingrich who did the same thing the other day. It’s their new meme – Obama is spending too much time playing basketball to be a full-time president.

    Getting desperate.

  15. 15.

    lamh35

    October 4, 2012 at 3:11 pm

    @Napoleon: Romney Campaign Chair On Obama: ‘When You’re Not That Bright You Can’t Get Better Prepared’ http://thkpr.gs/PAMqLC via @thinkprogress

  16. 16.

    lamh35

    October 4, 2012 at 3:11 pm

    damnit note to self don’t tap twice in submit in IPAD…deleted duplicte

  17. 17.

    eric

    October 4, 2012 at 3:11 pm

    To Sununu, saying Obama is lazy and dumb is the same as saying he is black and everybody says that. Sheesh. This is some hardcore race baiting…

  18. 18.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    October 4, 2012 at 3:11 pm

    @Napoleon:

    Basically that his debate performance shows that he is lazy and not very smart. It is as close as anyone in the Romney camp has come to calling him a n——on tv. I understand Andrea Mitchell actually gave him a chance to walk it back but he didn’t.

    Some of the surrogates and rightwing pundits were trying to spin it that way last night, although they were a little more finessed about it.

    At any rate, it’s just dumbdumbdumb. They’ve already got those voters sewn up. The voters they are chasing now are the tell me specifically what you are going to do voters and the Romney campaign ain’t telling.

  19. 19.

    beltane

    October 4, 2012 at 3:12 pm

    @Jay: I guess Sununu’s racebaiting can been seen as being caused by “last seat on the white bus” syndrome. It’s his way of saying “Look at me, I’m white! I am really, really white! And I’ll prove how white I am by using the N-CLANG word. Oh, and did I mention I am white?”

    See also Joe Arpaio.

  20. 20.

    PeakVT

    October 4, 2012 at 3:13 pm

    Why does Rmoney have mean old man Sununu as a surrogate, anyway? Isn’t the younger, less rotten one available?

  21. 21.

    eric

    October 4, 2012 at 3:13 pm

    @? Martin: not only does he play basketball, but he carries the ball and wears tremendously long baggy shorts.

  22. 22.

    Davis X. Machina

    October 4, 2012 at 3:13 pm

    Turkish parliament authorized the use of Turkish military inside Syria today.

    Turkey is a NATO member and we are as obligated to assist them in their defense as they were obligated to assist us in ours in 2001.

    Turkey’s parliament passed a bill on Thursday by 320 to 129 authorising troops to launch cross-border operations against Syria and strikes against Syrian targets for the period of one year.

    Erdogan insists it’s precautionary and gestural….

  23. 23.

    Edmund dantes

    October 4, 2012 at 3:14 pm

    I liked Obama on the stump today. “I met this very spirited individual that claimed to be Mitt Romney”

  24. 24.

    eric

    October 4, 2012 at 3:14 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead: uh, he said what Romney would do: look down at the blahs because they are lazy and dumb. Pretty specific to me ;)

  25. 25.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    October 4, 2012 at 3:15 pm

    This raised my eyebrows

    Maybe the most potentially lethal occurred during a debate over Obama’s claim that there existed tax deductions to move American jobs overseas – a claim that (with a view to blue-collar Midwestern voters) Obama repeated at least twice. After one of those claims, Romney countered that in many years in business, he’d never noticed such a deduction in the tax code. Then he said, “Maybe I need a better accountant.”

    Do you see what Romney just admitted to there?

  26. 26.

    Hungry Joe

    October 4, 2012 at 3:15 pm

    It used to be that those people were called lazy and shiftless. But what ever happened to “shiftless”? Are they no longer shiftless — they’ve gotten over their shiftless-osity? They’re now fully shift?

    It’s like “the lame and the halt” — where have all the halt gone? (Not to mention the shiftless halt … )

  27. 27.

    mingo

    October 4, 2012 at 3:17 pm

    I feel that whenever Sununu’s name is mentioned, Anne Laurie’s highly apropos nickname should be appended, viz:
    John ‘prolapsed pig rectum’ Sununu.

  28. 28.

    quannlace

    October 4, 2012 at 3:17 pm

    “How to Step on Your on Dick.” by Mitt Romney.

    Story on NPR about Rpmney’s little comment about Spain. Seems the Spainiards are none too pleased in having their country be used as a synonym for failure.
    Way to piss off another one of our allies, Mitt.

  29. 29.

    JenJen

    October 4, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    And yet, all of Sununu’s horses and all of Sununu’s men couldn’t put New Hampshire back together for Romney again.

    Fuck him. He’s irrelevant.

  30. 30.

    The Dangerman

    October 4, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    @Davis X. Machina:

    Turkish parliament authorized the use of Turkish military inside Syria today.

    Cue Fred Thompson here (paraphrasing heavily): “This shit will get serious and we’ll be lucky to survive it”

    Hopefully, since Turkey could kick Syria’s ass rather easily (unless Syria goes chemical, in which case, the shit is most definitely on), they won’t invoke the NATO thing.

  31. 31.

    eric

    October 4, 2012 at 3:21 pm

    @quannlace: I am sure the Gop is confused as to how the Spanish understood Romney since he was speaking a variant of english

  32. 32.

    Suffern ACE

    October 4, 2012 at 3:21 pm

    @Davis X. Machina: It’s basically a warning to Syria that it’s pursuit of the rebellion stops at it’s borders and that if it doesn’t want it’s artillery shelled, to knock it off. I would worry when Turkey decides that the only way to protect itself is to enforce a Syrian Army Free Zone.

  33. 33.

    JPL

    October 4, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    @Litlebritdifrnt: Nice. When will Obama say the public deserves to know whether or not that’s true.

  34. 34.

    ericblair

    October 4, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    I’m wondering why the hell Romney ever got Sununu on board in the first place; does he owe him one? Sununu’s the drunk loudmouth asshole uncle at Thanksgiving that goes on about what a nice fucking rack your cousin has and it’s a damn shame she married that lazy messican, before throwing up on the pumpkin pie and passing out on the good La-Z-Boy.

  35. 35.

    Disco

    October 4, 2012 at 3:23 pm

    How is that racist? I also thought Obama was lazy last night.

  36. 36.

    Meg

    October 4, 2012 at 3:23 pm

    Here is a post from Wonkette to cheer you up:
    http://wonkette.com/485946/dry-your-eyes-wonkers-here-is-your-precious-fightin-president

  37. 37.

    Davis X. Machina

    October 4, 2012 at 3:23 pm

    @The Dangerman: If borders are crossed in any kind of numbers, in either direction, it can get complicated in a hurry… inside and outside Turkey, inside and outside Syria, in the Kurdish parts of Iraq… if it looks like a push will dislodge Assad…. lots of contingencies.

    Obama, as few people seem to have noticed last night, has a day job. Running is Romney’s only gig.

  38. 38.

    Punchy

    October 4, 2012 at 3:24 pm

    Why is “lazy” a racist term? I dont get it. Cant Obama have been legitimately lazy in his prep? Didn’t he pretty much demonstrate that?

  39. 39.

    Jim

    October 4, 2012 at 3:25 pm

    “Sununu’s the drunk loudmouth asshole uncle at Thanksgiving” Yeah, Uncle Tanus (Sp?) from the Danny Thomas Show.

    BTW, he left out “shiftless.”

  40. 40.

    schrodinger's cat

    October 4, 2012 at 3:25 pm

    @Meg: I think the lefty blogs are overdoing the doom and the gloom. Obama looked and acted Presidential, Romney like he was auditioning for Bill O Reilly’s job.

  41. 41.

    hep kitty

    October 4, 2012 at 3:26 pm

    Again, the McCain campaign looks positively noble by comparison

  42. 42.

    Culture of Truth

    October 4, 2012 at 3:27 pm

    And to think only last weekend Obama was a movie star in love with the sound of his own voice…

  43. 43.

    Meg

    October 4, 2012 at 3:27 pm

    @JPL: In the video included in this Wonkette post, Obama said Romney apparently is doing fine without a new accountant.

  44. 44.

    jwest

    October 4, 2012 at 3:28 pm

    He called Obama lazy? Outrageous!

    The only way he could possibly be more racist is to say that a few years ago, Obama would be getting them coffee.

  45. 45.

    JenJen

    October 4, 2012 at 3:28 pm

    @Meg: Awesome!!

    You are all acting like a Dem parody with your defeat-snatching and your waaah. Now buck the fuck up, you tedious shitstains, and get a little love in your heart.

    Exactly.

  46. 46.

    Short Bus Bully

    October 4, 2012 at 3:29 pm

    Keep going wingnuts! Romney’s on the comeback trail, what he needs now from you all is MOAR WINGNUT!

    /cue Sununu

    Who’s next?

  47. 47.

    The Dangerman

    October 4, 2012 at 3:30 pm

    @Davis X. Machina:

    … it can get complicated in a hurry …

    Yup. The principals are interesting enough, but toss in the wildcards of Iran and Israel into the mix …

    …this is why having Obama as opposed to John “We’re All Georgians Now” McCain was such a good break (actually, McCain probably would have stroked by now, so we’d be looking at a President Palin).

  48. 48.

    Ash Can

    October 4, 2012 at 3:31 pm

    So by just about any measure (other than factual), Romney had a clearly good showing in last night’s debate. Better, in fact, than I think most people expected him to, including far less partisan folks than me.

    So what happens? He leaves himself wide open to dings from fact-checkers, and his campaign manager goes on the tee-vee crowing about our black president being lazy and stupid. It’s as though he’s taken Romney’s debate victory (I use the term loosely; don’t spazz out on me), tossed in the nearest metal trash can, and set fire to it. The only thing I can think of is that since Romney strayed so far off the Tea Party message last night, Sununu feels as though he has to kiss and make up with the base today to get their minds off the things that Romney said. And that involves embracing the bigots.

  49. 49.

    Meg

    October 4, 2012 at 3:31 pm

    @schrodinger’s cat: Sorry, the post was supposed to cheer you up, in which Rebecca said O wasn’t doing so bad and it includes a rousing clip of O from Colorado this morning pounding on the lying Mitt.

  50. 50.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    October 4, 2012 at 3:31 pm

    @Meg: and the news cycle shifts!

    I have no idea how these things play out with “swing voters”, and no question Obama had a bad night, but as several people have pointed out, Frank Rich I think does the best job, what Romney did was put himself in a position to win the election if he runs the table for the next five weeks, and if Plouffe and Axelrod have nothing left in their cache, which I kind of doubt.

  51. 51.

    mechwarrior online

    October 4, 2012 at 3:32 pm

    I’m starting to realize on this blog that any criticism of Obama is racist. That’s something that’s been… odd. Certainly no other president before that had this sort of cover. And the more I think about it, the more that’s a reason for me not to vote for him.

    I don’t want another four years of rampantly blaming Republicans for everything, even if they are often to blame, and refusing to criticize Obama for the things he does wrong. And I certainly don’t want to live through another four years where any attacks on the president are painted as racist.

    This blog post here, for me, sealed the deal. I’m voting for Mitt. Enough is enough.

  52. 52.

    Anya

    October 4, 2012 at 3:33 pm

    @Disco: How was he lazy? Like drunk uncle Sununu, you’re analysis of the debate is lazy and sloppy.

  53. 53.

    Someguy

    October 4, 2012 at 3:33 pm

    @Punchy:

    No way Punchy. You can’t use lazy or “umprepared.” Hell, “unprepared” is a clear racist dog whistle aimed at Obama’s white, anglo saxon relatives, an obvious dig meant to invoke Aethelred the Unready, who was famously defeated in the Danish invasion of Britain from 1013-1016. Sure, you can argue that you were just referring innocently to the President’s apparent lack of preparation for last night’s debate, but in reality, when you use that term, Danes, Goths, Franks, Norse, Samis, Kgdins, Wikings, Angles, Saxons, Picts, Asturians and yes, even those blue dog Ummayads, know exactly what you were getting at with your sly little racist wink. “Unprepared” is totally a High Medieval dog whistle dude. You may be able to pull that sort of shit at Crooked Timber, but it don’t fly here.

  54. 54.

    Davis X. Machina

    October 4, 2012 at 3:33 pm

    @mechwarrior online:

    This blog post here, for me, sealed the deal. I’m voting for Mitt. Enough is enough.

    Oh dear. I guess we’ll just have to win without you.

  55. 55.

    schrodinger's cat

    October 4, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    @Meg: I agree with the post that you linked to completely, I was just commenting on the hand wringing I am seeing on lefty blogs in general and the comments over here in particular. Sorry I was not clear.

  56. 56.

    Tractarian

    October 4, 2012 at 3:36 pm

    POLL ALERT

    SIRENS, FLASHING LIGHTS, etc.

    Looks like there is going to be a debate bump in the polls – for the President!

    Gallup is showing a whopping 12-point bulge for Obama on job performance, his best number this year!

    Seems like Americans aren’t buying into Slick Mitt’s flip-flops and lies! Whoops!

    (What, the poll didn’t include any post-debate sampling? Pshaw. We all could use some shameless cheerleading today.)

  57. 57.

    hildebrand

    October 4, 2012 at 3:37 pm

    @mechwarrior online:

    Certainly no other president before that had this sort of cover.

    The Onion sent you, didn’t they?

  58. 58.

    Davis X. Machina

    October 4, 2012 at 3:38 pm

    @Someguy: Aethelred wasn’t unready, he was unræd, ill-advised, or served by bad counsel.

  59. 59.

    Another Halocene Human

    October 4, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    ABL, I followed the link to ABLC and tried to post there and got another error. :(

  60. 60.

    g

    October 4, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    Way to go, Sununnu! Way to build on the meager bit of statemanlike cred Mitt Romney managed to earn last night. Classy!

  61. 61.

    JenJen

    October 4, 2012 at 3:41 pm

    @mechwarrior online: Awww. You’ll be missed.

  62. 62.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 4, 2012 at 3:42 pm

    @mechwarrior online: Yeah, this was the straw that. Rome the camel’s back? I posit that you never had any intention of voting for Obama.

  63. 63.

    Someguy

    October 4, 2012 at 3:42 pm

    @Davis X. Machina:

    I’m aware of the fact that he was more appropriately redeless. But I needed to use “unready” to make it work. Can’t you just roll with it, or are you another grim, humorless fuck who takes things way too seriously?

  64. 64.

    TooManyJens

    October 4, 2012 at 3:43 pm

    The thing is, they really believe this. They really think Barack Obama, of all people, is too lazy and stupid to be the President. And a lot of them think he only got to the office because of affirmative action and liberals’ white guilt. That’s how out of touch with reality these people are. The bright side is that it causes them to underestimate Obama time and time again.

  65. 65.

    General Stuck

    October 4, 2012 at 3:43 pm

    That was fast: Romney debate remarks in new Obama ad

    Almost like it was already made, with a few tweaks before pumping it out. I have the same feeling I’ve had with other big pol events, such a the debt ceiling deal. Of the O team leading the pundit circus around by their noses. Not to mention the wingnuts/ you all can think what you want.

    http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/04/that-was-fast-romney-debate-remarks-in-new-obama-ad/

  66. 66.

    Enhanced Mooching Techniques

    October 4, 2012 at 3:44 pm

    @schrodinger’s cat: Hand wringing isn’t word, out right emmo wrist slashing.

  67. 67.

    Davis X. Machina

    October 4, 2012 at 3:44 pm

    @Someguy: If by ‘humorless fuck’ you mean ‘care about getting things right’, yeah.

    I’ve been called a pedant before.

    It didn’t make me cry.

  68. 68.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    October 4, 2012 at 3:45 pm

    @Someguy:

    But I needed to use “unready” to make it work

    I think you needed something else.

  69. 69.

    TooManyJens

    October 4, 2012 at 3:46 pm

    @mechwarrior online:

    I’m starting to realize on this blog that any criticism of Obama is racist.

    No, but neither is it the case that no criticism of Obama is racist. Just because somebody does not go around pointing out “Hey, that was a non-racist attack on Obama! Nice job!” doesn’t mean we don’t acknowledge that they exist.

    Calling a black man lazy and stupid when he is neither of those things plays hard on racial stereotypes. That’s just the world we live in. Are you not aware of those stereotypes, or do you actually think that it’s accurate to call Obama lazy and stupid, or what?

    But why am I replying?

  70. 70.

    KXB

    October 4, 2012 at 3:46 pm

    Does anyone speak Farsi, Turkish, or Hebrew? Cause they have some expressions about Arab work ethics and intellect that might get a rise out of Mr. Sununu.

    For a fictional peek into what Iranians often think about their Arab neighbors, I give you Ben Kinglsey as Col. Behrani in “House of Sand and Fog“

  71. 71.

    g

    October 4, 2012 at 3:47 pm

    @mechwarrior online: So you’re casting your presidential vote because you’re pissed at what anonymous commenters on a blog say. As if that has anything to do with either candidate’s strength or weakenesses.

    I’m surprised you didn’t base your choice on something more important to you, like what color tie they wore.

    What a prime example of a low information voter.

  72. 72.

    Dennis G.

    October 4, 2012 at 3:47 pm

    I thought about posting this. Glad to see that you got there first. I expect team Mitt to fuck this chicken harder in the coming days and weeks to the point that Sununu’s racist comment will seem tame.

    Cheers

  73. 73.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 4, 2012 at 3:48 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Fucking autocorrect.

  74. 74.

    Higgs Boson's Mate

    October 4, 2012 at 3:48 pm

    Since when is it wrong to point out that the Democrat party is buying the votes of every lazy black and Hispanic by keeping them on the government dole?

    /wingnuts /shortly, Villagers

  75. 75.

    eric

    October 4, 2012 at 3:48 pm

    @Davis X. Machina: Sir, i knew humorless fuck and you are no humorless fuck!

  76. 76.

    Enhanced Mooching Techniques

    October 4, 2012 at 3:48 pm

    @Davis X. Machina:

    @Someguy: Aethelred wasn’t unready, he was unræd, ill-advised, or served by bad counsel.

    Oh, so like as a German-American I won’t see you little shell game there. Germans are just *cough**cough ill-advised. Stick us in Lederhosen and crank up the umpah band while your at it.

  77. 77.

    Someguy

    October 4, 2012 at 3:49 pm

    @Davis X. Machina:

    Right… because humor that isn’t completely factually accurate isn’t humor…it’s… AN ATROCITY.

  78. 78.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    October 4, 2012 at 3:49 pm

    @g:

    What a prime example of a low information voter.

    Or a dishonest troll.

    My favorite “I’m not a racist, but…” line from ’08 was “I don’t care that he’s half black, but why is he so ashamed to be half white?”

  79. 79.

    Chyron HR

    October 4, 2012 at 3:51 pm

    Racist? Why, I never! Just look at all the times the GOP called John Kerry a “lazy stupid welfare thug rapist hip-hop gangsta pimp baby daddy”.

  80. 80.

    Napoleon

    October 4, 2012 at 3:51 pm

    @Punchy:

    Why is “lazy” a racist term? I dont get it. Cant Obama have been legitimately lazy in his prep? Didn’t he pretty much demonstrate that?

    Lets take your 3 questions in turn.

    1) yes it is racist when applied to blacks. There are hundreds of years of history in this county of smearing blacks with the lazy label.
    2) This is actually nonsensical and where your comment goes off the track. Lazy is a personal attribute, like brave, smart, personable, etc. It says nothing about what you may have actually done in a situation. A lazy person could for one of the only times in his life show up prepared. Likewise someone who is hard working could show up unprepared for whatever reason (say, up all night concentrating on Turkey). The tell that Sannunu was going for the racist dog whistle is that he used a phrase attributing a negative personal attribute to Obama when just saying “he seemed unprepared” would have done.
    3) No, see #2 above. Obama had had academic and career success in the past which my understanding is because he is in fact hard working. If he was in fact poorly or unprepared last night there is no evidence it is because he personally is lazy.

  81. 81.

    ? Martin

    October 4, 2012 at 3:51 pm

    @Punchy:

    Why is “lazy” a racist term?

    It’s racist when Republicans only ever call black people or latinos lazy. Find us a case in the last 20 years of a Republican spokesperson calling a white person lazy. You always need to consider the context and relationship of the usage. Can you recall a time when Republicans ever connected white people and welfare? No – it’s always black people and welfare – to the degree that they don’t need to say ‘black people’ any more. They can just say ‘welfare’ and everyone knows the context. That’s why Mitt’s secret tape is so damaging – he stepped out of the code. Instead of just calling them ‘people who don’t pay income tax’ he called them lazy, unwilling to take responsibility for their lives, and accused them of feeling entitled to free food and medical care.

    Out of context, you’re right, lazy can mean anything. But Republican spokespeople are very disciplined about how they use words. Democrats aren’t immune from this either, but they’re less disciplined about it. Obama is trying to land ‘economic patriot’ as a term to describe people that don’t try to dodge taxes. It won’t work, because nobody is going to really hit the fainting couch if you say ‘tax dodger’.

  82. 82.

    Higgs Boson's Mate

    October 4, 2012 at 3:53 pm

    @mechwarrior online:

    Certainly no other president before that had this sort of cover.

    That’s because no president before this was black, Einstein.

  83. 83.

    dmsilev

    October 4, 2012 at 3:54 pm

    Speaking of Republicans gone bug-fuck insane, check out this:

    The Republican Party of Maine has revealed that Democratic State Senate candidate Colleen Lachowicz has a secret life that she’s been hiding from voters. Drug use? A Swiss bank account? No, sadly, even worse: she has a scary-looking World of Warcraft character.
    __
    “Colleen Lachowicz spends hundreds of hours playing in her online world Azeroth, as an Orc Assassination Rogue named Santiaga,” reads a flyer sent to voters in the district. It’s identified as funded by the Maine Republican Party.

    (from the usually non-political Ars Technica)

  84. 84.

    Enhanced Mooching Techniques

    October 4, 2012 at 3:55 pm

    Here is the clue for the willfully clueless

    Saying

    “Barrack Obama is lazy, but I DIDN’T say he was black” is racist

    saying

    “Barrack Obama was lazy about preparing for this debate” isn’t

    You see the difference; one is dealing with an specific issue and the other is a fact free, general statement? Personally speaking I wouldn’t even go there with the second one.

  85. 85.

    aimai

    October 4, 2012 at 3:55 pm

    @Davis X. Machina:

    I thought “rede” was word/spoken–that he was the “un-rede-y” because he was “ill spoken.”

    aimai

  86. 86.

    trollhattan

    October 4, 2012 at 3:57 pm

    @? Martin:
    If Andrea freaking Mitchell picks up on the vibe, you can rest assured there’s something there.

    Sununu was then pressed by Mitchell on whether he really meant to use the word “lazy” to describe the president’s performance. Sununu defended his use of the word, noting that Obama had said on Monday that debate preparation was a “drag.”
    __
    “Yes. I think — think you saw him admit it the night before when he delivered the pizzas,” Sununu said. “He said, you know, ‘they’re making me do this work.’ He didn’t want to prepare for this debate. He’s lazy and disengaged.”

  87. 87.

    TooManyJens

    October 4, 2012 at 3:58 pm

    @? Martin: And as you mentioned above, it’s not just Sununu — they’re trying to spread this impression of Obama as someone who’s lazy, stupid, and just wants to play basketball.

    Hell, this is what the whole teleprompter nonsense has been about for the last four years. Obama can’t possibly be smart enough to speak without a teleprompter. That’s why they want to see his grades from Occidental, too — he can’t possibly be smart enough to have gotten into Harvard Law on his own merits. Despite all evidence to the contrary, he can’t be smart. It’s not possible. You do have to ask why at some point.

  88. 88.

    bemused

    October 4, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    @Meg:

    Love it. This is going to a couple of Demy Downer friends. They panic at a drop of a hat and are deeply depressed after last night’s debate. I’m afraid they don’t take my advice to turn off the pundits before and after.

  89. 89.

    Aji

    October 4, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    @mechwarrior online:

    Uh-huh. We know. Your deal was sealed long before you ever showed up here.

    [Waves at everyone] refugee from the chicken-little GOS today. Mnem and taylormatt both know and can vouch for me. Dennis G. too, maybe. Oh, and I’ve commented at ABL’s digs a few times.

  90. 90.

    Bobby Thomson

    October 4, 2012 at 4:04 pm

    @g: What a prime example of a low information voter. Republican troll masquerading as a concern troll.

    FTFY

  91. 91.

    shortstop

    October 4, 2012 at 4:06 pm

    @Davis X. Machina: No tears, because you were Davis the Unwetty.

  92. 92.

    Patricia Kayden

    October 4, 2012 at 4:06 pm

    @Lolis: I agree that Democrats need to focus on winning the war and not worry so much about last night’s battle. There are many reasons to vote for President Obama and to not vote for Romneybot 2.0.

    And who cares about Sununu? Thought the Repubs hated Arabs.

  93. 93.

    karl

    October 4, 2012 at 4:07 pm

    @Hungry Joe:

    There’s no such word as “shiftless-osity” — it’s “shiftlessliness”. Not being a scold, just trying to help.

  94. 94.

    Higgs Boson's Mate

    October 4, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    @karl:

    Next you’ll be telling us that “ain’t” ain’t a real word, ya’ ivory-tower-liburul-moocher.

  95. 95.

    shortstop

    October 4, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    @TooManyJens:

    it’s not just Sununu—they’re trying to spread this impression of Obama as someone who’s lazy, stupid, and just wants to play basketball.</blockquote

    Plus, he keeps listening to that hippety hop music.

  96. 96.

    Chyron HR

    October 4, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    Also, when the McCain campaign said that Obama was “chucking spears” at them, that wasn’t racist either.

  97. 97.

    McJulie

    October 4, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    To the trolls:

    Just stop it, you’re not fooling anyone. First you go all wide-eyed innocent with the claim that you literally have no idea why anybody would find “lazy” a racist dog whistle, then you claim that it can’t possibly be racist because Obama was obviously in fact lazy with his debate prep.

    Which is a ridiculous claim on the face of it. He might have been ill-prepared in any number of ways — for example, I thought he was a little thrown by the fact that Romney wouldn’t stand by a single position he had previously expressed, and I thought he was also thrown because Romney was royally pissing him off and he was trying not to show that.

    But “lazy” suggests he just didn’t care, couldn’t be bothered, thought it didn’t matter, thought he could coast. Sweet Flying Spaghetti Monster, NOBODY who gets to the point of debating for POTUS could possibly be that kind of lazy. Especially not the guy who’s busy already doing that job, thank you very much.

    That’s part of why things come across as racism — when they are a patently absurd interpretation of the obvious facts.

  98. 98.

    karl

    October 4, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    @Enhanced Mooching Techniques:
    At least you aren’t lazy.

  99. 99.

    dr. bloor

    October 4, 2012 at 4:18 pm

    @dmsilev:

    Bug-fuck insane, as in locking up a block of voters for her who otherwise wouldn’t have bothered moving off their screens on election day.

  100. 100.

    Ruckus

    October 4, 2012 at 4:22 pm

    And I’m calling Sununu a racist asshole.

    Course he falls into a pretty big group of flaming fucking racist assholes, that being the entire Greasy Old Poop party.

  101. 101.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 4, 2012 at 4:24 pm

    @dmsilev: So she’s a witch, right?

  102. 102.

    The Klown

    October 4, 2012 at 4:33 pm

    I love this place.

  103. 103.

    ? Martin

    October 4, 2012 at 4:37 pm

    @mechwarrior online:

    I’m starting to realize on this blog that any criticism of Obama is racist.

    Really? There’s been zillions of angles of criticism against Obama (from us and from Republicans) that nobody has even hinted was racist. Job creation, taxation, wars, drones, health care, contraception and abortion, campaign spending, debt limits, bipartisanship, and so on. Every day is filled with examples, and those angles of criticism usually have at least some evidence attached to them. The evidence might be bullshit, but at least the criticism is constructed on *something* that you can see or measure.

    The ‘lazy’ thing started a few days ago with Gingrich:

    I’m assuming there’s some rhythm to Barack Obama that the rest of us don’t understand — whether he needs large amounts of rest, whether he needs to go play basketball for awhile. I don’t watch ESPN–I don’t quite know what his rhythms are. But this is a guy who is a brilliant performer as an orator who may well get reelected at the present date. And who, frankly, happens to be a partial, part-time president. I mean he really is a lot like the substitute referees in the sense that he’s not a real president.

    Large amounts of rest? Basketball? Rhythms? Not a real president? Where the fuck does that come from? What evidence, fake or real, is Gingrich looking at here?

    Sununu is just building off of this. Obama is lazy. Same narrative.

    This criticism isn’t like the other criticism. You seem to be under the impression that it’s impossible for this to be racial. There’s some fairly clear evidence you might want to consult:

    http://newsone.com/121301/california-mayor-emails-white-house-watermelon-picture/
    http://newsone.com/2049167/mecklenbur-county-virginia-barack-obama/

    Vote for who you want, but if you can’t see any racism here, I think the problem is you and not us.

  104. 104.

    Jamie

    October 4, 2012 at 4:39 pm

    As White House Chief of Staff, Sununu reportedly took personal trips, for skiing and other purposes, and classified them as official, for purposes such as conservation or promoting the Thousand Points of Light.[17] The Washington Post wrote that Sununu’s jets “took him to fat-cat Republican fund-raisers, ski lodges, golf resorts and even his dentist in Boston.”[17] Sununu had paid the government only $892 for his more than $615,000 worth of military jet travel.[18] Sununu said that his use of the jets was necessary because he had to be near a telephone at all times for reasons of national security.[19] Sununu became the subject of much late-night television humor over the incident.[17] Sununu worsened the situation shortly afterwards when, after leaking rumors of financial difficulties in his family, he traveled to a rare stamp auction at Christie’s auction house in New York City from Washington in a government limousine, spending $5,000 on rare stamps.[20] Sununu then sent the car and driver back to Washington unoccupied while he returned on a corporate jet.[20] In the course of one week, 45 newspapers ran editorials on Sununu, nearly all of them critical of his actions.[21]

  105. 105.

    dmsilev

    October 4, 2012 at 4:42 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Depends. Does she weigh the same as a duck?

  106. 106.

    Jamie

    October 4, 2012 at 4:43 pm

    that John Sununu?

  107. 107.

    Jamie

    October 4, 2012 at 4:44 pm

    He’s a really smart guy;-)

  108. 108.

    Hungry Joe

    October 4, 2012 at 4:45 pm

    The idea of anyone — anyone, much less the President — being too lazy to prepare for a presidential debate is ludicrous.

    “Sir, here’s list of some points we’d like to go over before — ”
    (Waves her away) “Maybe after the game. Or not.”
    [ ]
    “Hope you enjoyed your nap, Mr. President. Now, if Romney says … ”
    “You know what I’d like? A nice tall glass of lemonade. Is the hammock still up in the Rose Garden?”

    I mean, come on. Lazy? Every racist dog in a 12-state radius heard that whistle.

  109. 109.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    October 4, 2012 at 4:45 pm

    First you go all wide-eyed innocent with the claim that you literally have no idea why anybody would find “lazy” a racist dog whistle, then you claim that it can’t possibly be racist because Obama was obviously in fact lazy with his debate prep.

    Yup, and showing up in packs and posting it all at the same time isn’t even a tiny bit suspicious either.

  110. 110.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 4, 2012 at 4:49 pm

    @dmsilev: We could burn her to find out.

  111. 111.

    Jamie

    October 4, 2012 at 4:49 pm

    always reassuring to see Romney reaching out for the moderates.

  112. 112.

    gocart mozart

    October 4, 2012 at 4:51 pm

    @mechwarrior online:
    Grow the fuck up.

  113. 113.

    daverave

    October 4, 2012 at 5:25 pm

    @eric:

    And like that total Eurodoosh, Vlade Divac, he’s a blatant flopper!

  114. 114.

    Jay

    October 4, 2012 at 5:35 pm

    @KXB:

    “they have some expressions about Arab work ethics and intellect that might get a rise out of Mr. Sununu.”

    Or, someone could send Mr. S. a folder full of Marty Peretz’s columns.

  115. 115.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    October 4, 2012 at 5:49 pm

    @Davis X. Machina: I thought pedant was a compliment. Was I wrong?

  116. 116.

    LAC

    October 4, 2012 at 5:57 pm

    @mechwarrior online: OMG!! NOOOOOOOoooone fucking cares…

  117. 117.

    Shinobi

    October 4, 2012 at 6:03 pm

    Even if Obama was ill prepared, I think he has some things besides debate prep to occupy his time. Where is the pundit pointing out that while all Romney is doing is running around on a bus, Obama still has his day job, which is, by the way, being the president.

  118. 118.

    ruemara

    October 4, 2012 at 6:33 pm

    @mechwarrior online: I’ve realized you’re a moron.

  119. 119.

    Mnemosyne

    October 4, 2012 at 7:37 pm

    @mechwarrior online:

    Newsflash: guy who never planned to vote for Obama is still not voting for him! Film at 11!

  120. 120.

    Matt McIrvin

    October 4, 2012 at 10:01 pm

    @? Martin: holy crap, that is more blatant than I thought even Newt Gingrich would do. Some kind of rhythm the rest of us don’t understand? Which “rest of us” would this be?

  121. 121.

    9heaven2street

    October 5, 2012 at 7:49 am

    @mingo: Absolutely perfect nickname for such a horrible ugly beast. George ‘Dubbers’ Bush was truly stupid and practically destroyed this country in eight years. Where was that prolapsed pig rectum’s big mouth, then?

  122. 122.

    Will

    October 5, 2012 at 10:00 am

    Boy, am I slow. I, for weeks, just didn’t understand the ni-clang bit until after I watched Blazing Saddles the other day.

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