For reporting that is an embarrassment to the profession
of journalism, and for being beholden to corporate paymasters rather than
the citizens of America.
We never could stand the guy, although a lot of people enjoy his heavy
metal style of D.C. insider cable TV scrimmages. Frankly, John McLaughlin
is a
crass bore.
But he outdid himself last week with what could best be described as a bigoted
racial stereotyping of Obama. According to the CNN
Ticker:
The veteran Washington journalist [McLaughlin] was discussing the recent
comments from the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was caught last week by an open
microphone on Fox News saying the Illinois senator is "talking down
to black people" as he campaigns for the White House. Those remarks
were largely seen in reference to Obama's recent admonishment at a Chicago
church of some black men who he said were not living up to their responsibilities
as parents.
Referencing Jackson's comments, McLaughlin said Obama "fits the stereotype
blacks once labeled as an Oreo — a black on the outside, a white on
the inside."
"Does it frost Jackson, Jesse Jackson, that…an Oreo should be
the beneficiary of the long civil rights struggle which Jesse Jackson spent
his lifetime fighting for?" McLaughlin asked his panelists.
First of
all, we would beg to differ with CNN in describing McLaughlin as a "veteran
Washington journalist." He's
a Jesuit turned Nixon speech writer turned right-wing editor turned talk
show shout fest host.
How does McLaughlin know what is on Obama’s inside, and what it means
to be "white" on the inside? This is such glib trafficking in stereotyping
language, particularly when McLaughlin states as assumed fact that Obama
is an "Oreo," whatever that connotes to the listener.
McLaughlin, who like Bill O'Reilly had his own run in with a sexual
harassment lawsuit is one of those pundits who is a celebrity pundit because
-- well he's a celebrity pundit because he's got his own pulpit
of punditry.
But in reality, McLaughlin is nothing more than the BuzzFlash Media Putz
of the Week for trafficking in stereotypes and insulting a damn good cookie.
|
