Newt and Mandela

by Rishi Mon Dec 09, 2013 12:48 pm

Yesterday I issued a heartfelt and personal statement about the passing of President Nelson Mandela. I said that his family and his country would be in my prayers and Callista’s prayers.

I was surprised by the hostility and vehemence of some of the people who reacted to me saying a kind word about a unique historic figure.

So let me say to those conservatives who don’t want to honor Nelson Mandela, what would you have done? [...]

I would ask of his critics: where were some of these conservatives as allies against tyranny? Where were the masses of conservatives opposing Apartheid? [...]

Finally, if you had been imprisoned for 27 years, 18 of them in a cell eight foot by seven foot, how do you think you would have emerged? Would you have been angry? Would you have been bitter?

Nelson Mandela emerged from 27 years in prison as an astonishingly wise, patient, and compassionate person.

He called for reconciliation among the races. He invited his prison guard to sit in the front row at his inauguration as President. In effect he said to the entire country, “If I can forgive the man who imprisoned me, surely you can forgive your neighbors.”

http://www.salon.com/2013/12/09/right_wing_extremists_new_litmus_test_do_you_hate_mandela_enough/

>>>> Just because Newt Gingrich is against Obama's policies does not mean that the person is a racist.

http://www.salon.com/2013/12/09/right_wing_extremists_new_litmus_test_do_you_hate_mandela_enough/

by Petrichor Mon Dec 09, 2013 12:55 pm

"Really, Newt? You’re “surprised” that your supporters out there in the American conservative wasteland are a bunch of ill-informed, reactionary assholes who can’t see Mandela as anything more than a “commie terrorist?” Seriously? This shocks you? Who the hell do you think perpetuated this kind of thinking among them and who’s profited from their blind, incoherent rage and clueless provincialism? These are your people. This kind of stupidity is your bread-and-butter. Without it — without them — you’d have no career. You exist solely because of them and therefore serve at their pleasure.
As someone who’s both encouraged and benefited from the hate, bile, and rank stupidity of this nation’s dwindling demographic of terrified white conservatives, you don’t even get to pretend to be surprised that this is how it reacts to your praising of Nelson Mandela.
Although maybe there is something to be said for these people’s ferocity in calling you out for such naked hypocrisy."

http://thedailybanter.com/2013/12/quote-of-the-day-newt-gingrich-is-shocked-shocked-i-tell-you/

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Newt and Mandela

Newt and Mandela

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