Reporter Fired for 'White Folks' Comments Could Be Right

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BlackAmericaWeb's Michael H. Cottman says while Joe Williams may have overstepped his journalistic boundaries, the former Politico reporter's commentary about Mitt Romney being more comfortable around white folks wasn't too far off. 

… "Romney is very, very comfortable, it seems, with people who are like him," Williams told MSNBC's Martin Bashir. "That's one of the reasons why he seems so stiff and awkward in some town hall settings, why he can't relate to people other than that."

"But when he comes on 'Fox and Friends,' they're like him, they're white folks who are very much relaxed in their own company," Williams added.

So what's the problem?

The editors at POLITICO insist that Williams — a reporter, not an opinion writer — overstepped his journalistic boundaries and should have kept his mouth shut …

What's lost in the debate about Williams' journalistic judgment is this: Williams could be right.

Read Michael H. Cottman's entire piece at BlackAmericaWeb.

The Root aims to foster and advance conversations about issues relevant to the black Diaspora by presenting a variety of opinions from all perspectives, whether or not those opinions are shared by our editorial staff.

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