THE ROOT recently ran a story about why failed, racist Republican politician turned commentator, Pat Buchanan—the devil we know—is better than the devil we don’t. Adam Serwer argued:
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His rants, while offensive, aren’t persuasive to anyone who doesn’t already agree with him. But they discredit the notion that the Republican Party has entirely moved on from its regressive views on race.
I think Buchanan, the racist uncle who sits by the door, is odious yet entertaining. And like the Republican Senators that disgrace themselves and their party by asking patronizing, closed-minded, race-obsessed questions of the Latina woman whom they accuse of being arrogant, closed-minded and race-obsessed, Buchanan isn’t exactly the best recruiting ad for the GOP.
But after watching the footage below, Ta-Nehisi has an entirely different take:
It’s absolutely amazing that this dude has a job on a job [sic], and ultimately, it says a lot about his employers and the people who enjoy his company. After watching the video, it’s worth looking into some of Pat’s other views. Among them these choice words for black folks:
“…no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans. Untold trillions have been spent since the ’60s on welfare, food stamps, rent supplements, Section 8 housing, Pell grants, student loans, legal services, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credits and poverty programs designed to bring the African-American community into the mainstream. Governments, businesses and colleges have engaged in discrimination against white folks—with affirmative action, contract set-asides and quotas—to advance black applicants over white applicants.”
It’s amazing to me that people actually sit next to this cat, and have the balls to let the word “postracial” pass across their lips.
—DAYO OLOPADE
UPDATE: Pat reprises his schtick on Rachel Maddow’s television show after President Obama’s NAACP speech:
Covers the White House and Washington for The Root. Follow her on Twitter.
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