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You are here: Home / Civil Rights / Racial Justice / Post-racial America / Stupidity and Racism Cost Money for a Change

Stupidity and Racism Cost Money for a Change

by John Cole|  November 19, 20147:23 pm| 44 Comments

This post is in: Post-racial America, Our Failed Media Experiment

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Good. More of this:

The health insurance company UCare has pulled its advertising from KSTP-TV because of news report that has been dubbed “#pointergate” on social media.

The Twin Cities ABC affiliate aired a report more than a week ago suggesting that Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges flashed a gang sign in a photo with a young black man.

UCare marketing director Dan Ness said the company canceled its contract with the station through the end of the year.

“It would feel wrong to continue advertising with an organization that broadcast something that truly offended, we felt, many of our members, our coworkers, business partners, friends and family members,” Ness said.

The free market works.

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Reader Interactions

44Comments

  1. 1.

    JGabriel

    November 19, 2014 at 7:25 pm

    Occasionally. Not consistently.

  2. 2.

    SP

    November 19, 2014 at 7:25 pm

    It’s only the free market when the Dixie chicks receive death threats. Cancelling a conservative company’s God-given right to your dollars is a violation of the first amendment.

  3. 3.

    ? Martin

    November 19, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    PSA: If you don’t read every word that Ta-Nehisi writes, you suck.

  4. 4.

    skerry

    November 19, 2014 at 7:28 pm

    Did you see this?

    ‘We ain’t taking no n*ggers here’: Kentucky fire chief refuses to help black family in traffic accident

    Welcome to post-racial America

  5. 5.

    BGinCHI

    November 19, 2014 at 7:33 pm

    @skerry: Well, his name is Hatfield. Matter of time until the McCoys get him.

  6. 6.

    Baud

    November 19, 2014 at 7:35 pm

    @skerry:

    I’m sure he opposed that family because of the issues.

  7. 7.

    burnspbesq

    November 19, 2014 at 7:36 pm

    @skerry:

    I’ll bet that fire chief has no qualms about rooting for the UK men’s basketball team, 14 of the 16 members of which are African-American.

    Fucking hypocrite.

  8. 8.

    Morzer

    November 19, 2014 at 7:37 pm

    @skerry:

    Just remember: that white male fire chief is the real victim of black racism.

    At least, that’s what The Party Of Rand Paul keeps telling me.

  9. 9.

    skerry

    November 19, 2014 at 7:39 pm

    @BGinCHI: Friend sent me this Wikipedia entry about Bullitt County, KY

    Visitors should realize though that the fire/rescue protection and public safety services appear to be discretionary based on the race of the individuals in need of said services.

  10. 10.

    PurpleGirl

    November 19, 2014 at 7:39 pm

    JC:

    The free market works.

    One modification:

    Sometimes the free market works.

    Further:

    … canceled its contract with the station through the end of the year.

    What happens in January?

  11. 11.

    Morzer

    November 19, 2014 at 7:41 pm

    @skerry:

    They might as well change the name to Bullshit County. After all, Bullshit seems to be walking and talking in that redneck of the woods.

  12. 12.

    scav

    November 19, 2014 at 7:42 pm

    @Morzer: Poor opressed manly man is being oppressed by those uppity wimminz that don’t shut up when he calls ’em darlin’ and all as well!

  13. 13.

    kc

    November 19, 2014 at 7:44 pm

    @? Martin:

    That’s persuasive.

  14. 14.

    kc

    November 19, 2014 at 7:46 pm

    @skerry:

    He needs to be the ex-fire chief.

  15. 15.

    Mnemosyne

    November 19, 2014 at 7:47 pm

    I’m surprised that the keen minds at KSTP-TV haven’t broadcast the blockbuster news that the Walt Disney Company is encouraging innocent children to flash gang signs. I mean, just look at this! And this! They’re all flashing the gang signs!

    Won’t someone please think of the children!?!

    ETA: And this! Where does it end, Disney? Where does it end?

  16. 16.

    mai naem mobile

    November 19, 2014 at 7:48 pm

    Raw Story has so many of these racist stories. It makes you wonder if this whole country is full of cra cra crazy crackers. Not only did this Ky fool not help the black family but he then tells the south east asian looking reporter that she doesn’t understand english.

  17. 17.

    Morzer

    November 19, 2014 at 7:48 pm

    @Mnemosyne:

    Little did I know that when I used a scissors this morning – I WAS FLASHING GANG SIGNS! Multiple times, in fact.

  18. 18.

    Morzer

    November 19, 2014 at 7:49 pm

    @mai naem mobile:

    He’s digging that hole all the way to China. God only knows what he’s going to say to them when he gets there.

  19. 19.

    PurpleGirl

    November 19, 2014 at 7:51 pm

    @Mnemosyne: The Giant Evil Corporation is in so much trouble for so many things with the RWNJ that those “gang signs” are a mere drop in the ocean.

  20. 20.

    Roger Moore

    November 19, 2014 at 7:55 pm

    @kc:

    He needs to be the ex-fire chief.

    I’m betting that the only way that happens is if he becomes the new mayor or congresscritter or something.

  21. 21.

    BGinCHI

    November 19, 2014 at 7:56 pm

    @skerry: FTW!

  22. 22.

    Brian R.

    November 19, 2014 at 7:56 pm

    You left out the best part.

    Station owner Stanley Hubbard called UCare’s decision “unbelievable.”

    Right. Almost as unbelievable as the reporting on your “news” station.

  23. 23.

    Schlemazel

    November 19, 2014 at 8:00 pm

    @burnspbesq:
    back in the 70’s Bill Musselman coached the UofM basketball team. He banned the St. Paul newspaper from his locker room after a reporter asked him, “Do you think you can fill the barn (the U’s arena) with 5 spearchuckers in the starting lineup?”

    So I guess this assclown would be sort of progress from there. “Ah likes ’em nuff on the court, longs they don’t wanna use my hospital or murry mah daughter.”

  24. 24.

    BGinCHI

    November 19, 2014 at 8:00 pm

    @Brian R.: I hope Prince goes over there and beats them soundly at basketball.

    h/t Chappelle

  25. 25.

    Mumbles

    November 19, 2014 at 8:00 pm

    Cool. That was the dumbest news story I ever saw (and that’s saying a lot), so racist that you can only point and laugh, so good for UCare!

  26. 26.

    ? Martin

    November 19, 2014 at 8:02 pm

    @kc: I’m constantly accused of being long-winded, so I’m trying to tighten up my writing a bit. Too much?

  27. 27.

    Howard Beale IV

    November 19, 2014 at 8:09 pm

    Old Man Hubbard is like the Honey Badger.

  28. 28.

    Brian R.

    November 19, 2014 at 8:26 pm

    @BGinCHI:

    “Game, blouses.”

  29. 29.

    Elizabelle

    November 19, 2014 at 8:39 pm

    @Howard Beale IV:

    OT: how are Dorothy’s kittens? Six, one with a cleft palate? How is Dorothy, for that matter? If they’re still on livecam, plz share the link again. Thanks!

  30. 30.

    JPL

    November 19, 2014 at 8:43 pm

    @Elizabelle: I’m sure he will share the link, shortly but I bookmarked it the other day. http://new.livestream.com/tinykittens/oz

  31. 31.

    Gin & Tonic

    November 19, 2014 at 8:46 pm

    @Morzer: Whatever it is, he’ll say it loud and slow, because them gooks don’t understand English so good.

  32. 32.

    Mnemosyne

    November 19, 2014 at 8:47 pm

    @Elizabelle:

    I was watching for a while yesterday. Apparently cleft palate kitty is latching on properly (though s/he is still getting some bottle feeding), so will probably be okay and not have any health problems.

  33. 33.

    Hal

    November 19, 2014 at 8:48 pm

    Let’s also remember that this was retaliation from the police department for the mayor’s comments on police brutality. One thing I will say about Ferguson and pointergate is that it gives you a front row view of how police department conspire to protect their own at all costs. This kind of stuff is why I side eye comments about how there are only a few bad cops and they shouldn’t ruin for the rest of the police out there. It’s hard to hold that view when there always seems to be some kind of under handed smear campaign going on.

  34. 34.

    Schlemazel

    November 19, 2014 at 8:49 pm

    @Howard Beale IV:
    Old man Hibbard is the inheritor of his grandfathers business and fortune who built a home for wingnut radio in Minneapolis/St. Paul until sports became more profitable & Clear CHannel (now IFartRadio) had to take it into their operation to keep the market at all.

    He is the epitome of the born on third believes himself to be a strong triples hitter frame of mind.

  35. 35.

    burnspbesq

    November 19, 2014 at 8:50 pm

    @Schlemazel:

    So I guess this assclown would be sort of progress from there. “Ah likes ‘em nuff on the court, longs they don’t wanna use my hospital or murry mah daughter.”

    I can tell you exactly what this cracker would say, because I’ve heard it, verbatim, from other old-time UK fans:

    “Once th’ ball’s in th’ air, they ain’t no whaat or black, jest blue.”

    It was UK, not Bama or Ole Miss, that was the last basketball program in the SEC to integrate, and it was probably UK that was the last to move away from the informal quota system: “two at home, three on the road, and four if you’re losing.” I would have to do some research in order to be sure, but I think Rick Pitino was the first UK coach to start five African-American players in a home game.

    Of course , if he’s a true UK fan, all his hate is–still–reserved for Christian Laettner.

  36. 36.

    Elizabelle

    November 19, 2014 at 8:51 pm

    @JPL:
    @Mnemosyne:

    Thank you both much. The kittens’ birth was fascinating. Was wondering how Dorothy would have managed without her midwife present!

    ETA: a few of the kits are in collars. How cute!

  37. 37.

    Howard Beale IV

    November 19, 2014 at 8:56 pm

    @Elizabelle: http://new.livestream.com/tinykittens/oz

    Looks like we haz six kittehs.

  38. 38.

    Elizabelle

    November 19, 2014 at 8:57 pm

    @Howard Beale IV:

    Thank you much. How is everyone in the household faring, humans included?

  39. 39.

    Howard Beale IV

    November 19, 2014 at 9:03 pm

    @Elizabelle: There’s been a naming contest, to be posted shortly on Facebook.

  40. 40.

    Elizabelle

    November 19, 2014 at 9:08 pm

    @Howard Beale IV: Orson would be a good cat name.

  41. 41.

    Howard Beale IV

    November 19, 2014 at 9:11 pm

    @Elizabelle: So far, the names are Marvel, Munchkin, and Nikko. The squeaks are just killing me.

  42. 42.

    Jacks mom

    November 19, 2014 at 9:38 pm

    @Elizabelle: @Howard Beale IV: Careful you’re going to turn this into a Shelly site.

  43. 43.

    Mnemosyne

    November 19, 2014 at 9:47 pm

    @Howard Beale IV:

    One of the girls needs to be Ozma. But I’m not on Facebook, so I won’t be able to vote.

    Bettina is another Oz name (she was Dorothy’s talking chicken. No, I’m not sure what L. Frank Baum smoked while he wrote hte books.)

  44. 44.

    PurpleGirl

    November 19, 2014 at 10:39 pm

    @Mnemosyne, Elizabelle, and Howard Beale:

    Munchkin’s status: Dr. F. (the Vet) stopped by yesterday to check all the kittens and Dorothy. She took pictures of Munchkin and today sent them to some feline experts. Munchkin does not have a cleft palate but a cleft lip and nose. She/he will be okay and today was able to latch onto mommy for eating. The 6 kittens are 5 boys and 1 girl. Everybody’s gaining weight, although Munchkin had lost a bit but has gained it back. Dorothy is doing fine. She still seems a bit stunned by it all, but is slowly showing instinctive mommy behaviors.

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