"it's the way God wants it to be"

[bell]

ok i don't know what to think of this one...............

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060117/ap_on_re_us/new_orleans_mayor

if it was a white mayor saying the city should be all white he would be strung up by his balls and would've had to immediately resign reguardless of any apology..........right?
or am i missing something here?
i normally let morons be morons as it's the american way, but this bothers me for some reason.
your thoughts?


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NEW ORLEANS - Mayor Ray Nagin apologized Tuesday for a Martin Luther King Day speech in which he predicted that New Orleans would be a "chocolate" city once more and asserted that "God was mad at America."
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"I said some things that were totally inappropriate. ... It shouldn't have happened," Nagin said, explaining he was caught up in the moment as he spoke to mostly black spectators, many of them fearful of being shut out of the city's rebuilding.

During the speech Monday, Nagin, who is black, said that the hurricanes that hit the nation in quick succession were a sign of God's anger toward the United States and toward black communities, too, for their violence and infighting. He also said New Orleans has to be a mostly black city again because "it's the way God wants it to be."

On Tuesday, Nagin said his comments about God were inappropriate and stemmed from a private conversation he had with a minister earlier. "I need to be more sensitive and more aware of what I'm saying," he said.

The mayor said his speech was really meant to convey that blacks were a vital part of New Orleans' history and culture and should be encouraged to return. "I want everyone to be welcome in New Orleans — black, white, Asian, everybody," he said.

Nagin said the other main point he had hoped to make Monday was that when blacks do return, they must work to stamp out the crime and political infighting that have held them back.

New Orleans was more than 65 percent black before Hurricane Katrina. The storm displaced about three-quarters of the city's population. Most of the estimated 125,000 residents who have been able to return are white.

Nagin, a former cable company executive and political novice, was elected in 2002 with about 90 percent of the white vote, according to polls conducted by Ed Renwick, the director of Loyola University's Institute of Politics.

Nagin received less than half the black vote, Renwick said Tuesday, and the mayor's heaviest criticism since taking office has come from rival political factions in the black community, many of whom have portrayed him as an "Uncle Tom" who caters to the interests of white businessmen.

Nagin has been trying harder to gain the trust of black residents, Renwick said.

"But some of the remarks he made Monday will possibly dampen enthusiasm among some whites," Renwick said. "It seemed to be another Nagin-being-Nagin. He has a penchant for just speaking off the cuff and not thinking it through."

The political analyst added: "He also tends to speak to the literal audience he's with at the time instead of the whole world he reaches through the TV, radio and print media."

[singpilot]

He's angling for the second seat on Hillary's campaign.

[Flatbutt1]

Clearly he's a racist moron . Or maybe just an opportunistic moron. Either way he's a moron and an embarrassment. He was no better at handling the crisis than anyone else was and now he starts spewing tripe such as this. Geez what a dope.

[slakjaw]

Yes, I am bothered by what he said.

[Tervuren]

Not realy bothered, what he said about stopping all the fighting is true. They would be a lot better off if they did. What bothers me more is his taking back words like that then his saying them in the first place.

[RSBob]

He acknowledged after the speach he went way overboard and apologized. Not to make an excuse for his behavior, because it was inexcusable, but I believe he was caught up in MLK fervor and just got carried away by his own rhetotic and pride.

As for, "He's angling for the second seat on Hillary's campaign." I find the comment baseless and mean spirited. But we are all entitled to our opinions.

It beats the heck out of me why on a basically automotive forum (even if this is OT) why people feel the need to drag politics into it. Why not go to the many extremist political forums (on both sides) and rant and rave?

[bell]

Originally posted by RSBob

It beats the heck out of me why on a basically automotive forum (even if this is OT) why people feel the need to drag politics into it. Why not go to the many extremist political forums (on both sides) and rant and rave?

i never get involved with political threads here in OT.......this wasn't started as a political thread.......
and knowing how OT works here it's expected, reminds me of the south park episode with "rabble rabble rabble" because that's all they know how to do

anyway.....yes nagin makes good points about stopping the violence etc, it's just the concern was placed on "what god wants" rather than the blatant racism.......all we ever seem to hear is racism based on white against black.......this was a public display of racism by a black elected official.

martin luther king was all about equal rights, mayor nagin broke a trust ON martin luther king day........where's his resignation letter?

[1967 R50/2]

Funny...I heard his speech on the radio and wasn't offended in the least. Tone of voice conveys a lot more than just words alone.

That said...he is still a moron for his ineptitude with Katrina.

[Jim Richards]

Nagin has shown himself to be a complete idiot in the run up to and the aftermath of Katrina. I look forward to hearing that he's booted out of office when they hold elections in April. Hopefully, his successor will provide some serious leadership.

[bell]

Originally posted by 1967 R50/2
Funny...I heard his speech on the radio and wasn't offended in the least. Tone of voice conveys a lot more than just words alone.

That said...he is still a moron for his ineptitude with Katrina.

didn't hear it on the radio.........possible valid point.

[DaveE]

Sounds like he was blasting his own for crime and violence. So what am I missing..............

[Dixie]

I heard it on the radio. Tone of voice left me to conclude he's a racist moron, I can think of no other explination.

[Racerbvd]

Turns out he didn't turn crazy until he switched from being a successful Republican businessman to a dem politician.

https://secure.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=35&tabid=7

And then when you look at who he has advise his people.

quote:
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Nagin's Cops Trained by Farrakhan Deputy

When New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin briefed Nation of Islam chief Louis Farrakhan about damage to the city's levees in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, it wasn't the first time the Louisiana Democrat had reached out to the racially polarizing black leader.

In June, the Bayou Buzz reported that Nagin's police department hired Farrakhan deputy Dennis Muhammad to conduct "sensitivity training" sessions for New Orleans' cops after a rise in "anti-police" sentiment in the city.

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I still say he is sharing a crack pipe with Marian Barry

[cegerer]

I saw the 'Chocolate City' clip on TV and Cocoa Puff Daddy Nagin came across as a very sincere racist. You don't say things like that unless you believe it deep down. But why is he still in office after failing to evacuate those poor people from his city? He should be on trial.