And while it's not blatantly racist, it certainly is uncomfortable to watch.
Um, huh? (You can watch David Bellavia's entire introduction after the jump.) What does Tiger Woods have to do with Senator Obama? You know, other than the fact that they're both part African-American. But maybe we're too quick to judge Bellavia; I mean, he could've said, "you can have your Pacman Jones and/or Chris Henry." At least he gave Democrats the upstanding young black man. So thanks for that. Jerk.
Whatever, the Golf Blog makes a good point:
[This is] just because Tiger's black, his name is thrown out there as associated with Barack Obama, all in a disparaging way ... Earl Woods, of course, was a Green Beret and Vietnam veteran, so to have his son's name invoked in an insulting fashion at a war rally apparently by another military man is appalling.Yes, and John Kerry agrees with this message.
In related news, Fuzzy Zoeller will be introducing Senator McCain at a campaign stop at Rose Ridge Golf Course later this summer. Should be fun.
Hat tip: The Golf Blog
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. It's clear that what he was saying is that he wants his kids to idolize someone like McCain. A person that Bellavia considers a hero. Not, for instance, a sports star like a Tiger Woods. The whole point was about heroes. It had nothing to do with race.
The "jerk" as you describe him is also a highly decorated Iraq vet who has been nominated for the Medal of Honor. Would Olberman have jumped all over the guy if he was anti-war? I think we know the answer.
Posted at 12:14PM on Apr 9th 2008 by John
2. I thought it was a crappy analogy that sounded like it came out of a high school book report, but you can see more racist behavior at the nearest 7-11 than in this video...
The jerkish part his the implication that all of Obama's good work in the streets of Chicago, the Illinois legislature and the US senate are equivalent to having played golf.
You can do great things for your nation without being a soldier. Also, you can be the greatest soldier to ever live and still be a jerk. Nobody on either side gets a free pass.
Posted at 1:08PM on Apr 9th 2008 by August West
3. Some of you can get up and deny it all you want, but if Tiger had been caucasion, he would not have been used in this speech.
Race is not always a factor in the decisions people make, and the language they use. But, I am sick of people automatically denying it has anything to do with anything.
So I guess that makes me the new definition of "racist": Anyone who brings attention to bigoted or racially motivated behavior by white people in this country.
Somehow you people have trained yourselves into believing that it's worse to point out racist behavior than to actually blatantly commit it.
Pathetic.
Posted at 1:40PM on Apr 9th 2008 by NOT IN DENIAL
4. "...Obama's good work in the streets of Chicago, the Illinois legislature and the US senate are equivalent to having played golf."
The benefit of seeing someone offer this is that I'll never have to ask whether they ever had a mind to lose.
Barack Hussein Obama
Posted at 2:01PM on Apr 9th 2008 by Winghunter
5. "The whole point was about heroes. It had nothing to do with race. "
No, it's not clear at all about this. If it was, he would have said something along the lines of 'not a sports star, like Tiger Woods'.
The 2 cheers in the video was for that statement, and when he brought out Audacity of Hope. The linking of Obama and Woods has been around for a while, as Obama's stature has risen. The idea that race did not play a factor is a bit silly.
"The "jerk" as you describe him is also a highly decorated Iraq vet who has been nominated for the Medal of Honor. Would Olberman have jumped all over the guy if he was anti-war? I think we know the answer."
First, you can go above and beyond the call of duty, and still be a jerk.
And second, how on earth does that even matter? The action remains, regardless of which talking head on TV you see.
Posted at 5:07PM on Apr 9th 2008 by dave
6. Are you guys kidding me? I was there. Bellavia was saying that his kids will grow up to admire real heroes who serve their country and not sports figures who make millions of dollars. This has nothing to do with race. NOTHING. Furthermore, he was not comparing Tiger Woods to Obama. Why does everything have to be about race? I assure Bellavia is not a racist.
Posted at 5:08PM on Apr 9th 2008 by karl
7. Racist? I dunno about that. Terrible public speaker? Fark yeah!
Posted at 5:35PM on Apr 9th 2008 by nickstoli