Kinky says punish criminals with a "Negro talking to himself" -- Video

See post in General Discussion: <http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x733369>.

Kick the GD thread if you agree this is an important message to get out.

Stinky Kinky is a conservative republican, who voted for the bush king, was named "male chauvinist pig" of the year by NOW, and is now exposed as a racist. Oh yeah, a real breath of fresh air.

:grr:

Sonia

end of story. Why anyone takes him seriously is beyond my comprehension.

Lighten up a little - haven't you ever seen Raising Arizona?

"When there was no greens, we ate sand."
"You ate sand?"
"We ate sand."

I believe that this is likely the "Negro talking to himself" reference - pop culture more than racism. Stop with the over-the-top political correctness - there's just an editing issue here.

Bush was a joke. Perry is a joke. Kinky could be the punchline.

You know giving people a pass on being completely insensitive, if not downright racist continues the cycle of this behavior. I take it you're not a person of color, so it's easy for you to dismiss this as "over-the-top political correctness".

That bush joke is responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of lives in Iraq, so excuse us if we don't think Kinky should continue to get a free pass as a punchline. Don't think that his handlers are any more moral or caring than the bushies.

And by the way, welcome to the TX DU forum.

Sonia

Just CONTEXT. (and sorry - I missed the song reference. Just speaking of the remark).

Do you know Kinky? Do you realize that he is in a minority? Why are you so quick to attribute such a condemnation as "racist" based upon one remark? And not even a remark that is "racist" on its face? He's a humorist, among other things, and he's unapologetic. He's not editing his remarks to speak to any "base" of support, so honesty is honesty. It's part of the whole package.

I heard him on Penn Gillette when I was in New York a few weeks ago, and Kinky is a left of moderate populist. He's NOT racist, he's NOT conservative, but he IS silly sometimes. And he's a HUGE defender of civil rights and free speech - which is why he's unapologetic. I feel that "political correctness" has become a HUGE liability for libs - accusing anyone and everyone of being a Klansman at the first use of a non-PC descriptor is just LAME. If you disagree with the guy's policies, then fine. But for one to IMMEDIATELY resort to calling him (and me) "racist" belies a closed mind.

One doesn't have to be "of color" to be sensitive. Or to be offended on someone else's behalf. I am caucasian, but I have been called all sorts of things during my lifetime because of my associations - I have appropriate sensitivity. And I don't dismiss ANYONE on the basis of a few plausibly neutral remarks taken out of context.

We're talking about the TEXAS GOVERNOR - when Bush was Gov, he killed fewer people than Mark White. The point is that the position doesn't warrant anyone with any sense whatsoever, and Kinky in that position proves that point. Hell, Dolph Briscoe proved that point!

I would rather not vote than vote for a soulless Democratic party. Give me someone with vision. Failing that, I'll take a decent sense of humor.

And thanks for the welcome - I look forward to meaningful discussions. Don't judge me quite so harshly yet...!

;-)

Maybe I got sidetracked. Heck, guys, I am just a very disillusioned Texas Dem. I came here for the therapy. Sell me on Chris Bell, please - I am a kink away from non-participation!

And "Yeah, but at LEAST he's a Democrat" isn't a very convincing argument for me these days.

(nor Carole 4n3p, for that matter) can beat Perry if the anyone-but-Perry vote is split three ways.

In a three way race, Bell could take it. There are great bits of election analysis here <http://www.chrisbell.com/newsroom/032306_capitol_inside> and here <http://www.chrisbell.com/files/CBTV/CBTV_032006.html>.

So, since it looks like Kinky is going to be on the ballot, the energy should be put towards making Chris Bell the messiah, and towards assuring Democrats that a vote for Kinky is a fun way to make a joke out of the democratic process, but it's a WASTE.

The tagline is - "Can we really afford to laugh if Rick Perry is in the Governor's Mansion for another 4 years?"

As for the analysis you cited - from a paid Chris Bell consultant? Kind of weak. I really think that once school funding special session kicks into gear, and Perry starts looking more and more foolish, Strayhorn is going to pull support away from Perry. Kinky is pulling a bunch of the Libertarian-leaning Republican vote, as well as new entrants. I don't believe he's going to be a significant threat to Bell's campaign, as long as Bell can get some decent publicity. But Bell has to get out there.

Attacking Kinky's "platform," on one level, just legitimizes him. See my point? HE'S A JOKE!!!!

an initial goal. If Kinky gets on the ballot, then we go to Plan B, but let's first make sure that we don't have good progressive voters who are sitting out of our primary to sign this nutjob's petition.

What in God's name makes you think Kinky's going to get on the petition?

Let me remind you: Ralph Nader couldn't do it and Carole 4n3p -- who has more than 5 times as much money as Kinky and ten times the political base in Texas -- is obviously having a hard time or she wouldn't be suing the Secretary of State.

I have spoken with about a dozen people who have signed Kinky's petition and -- guess what -- two claim to have voted in the Democratic primary, another one said she plans on voting in the Democratic runoff, and four couldn't say for sure whether or not they were registered to vote and hadn't ever voted at their current address (which means their signatures are likely not any good).

Kinky's got his work cut out for him, and I'd like to make sure he's not getting any help from people who wouldn't be helping him if they knew what a Republican stooge he is.

I believe that he has enough of a base to get real close. I've heard much more about his drive than Carol KMRS, and I've seen his petitions.

And again - he's not a Republican Stooge. In Texas, that title is reserved for the True Believers. A stooge, maybe....

Personally, I held out of a MEANINGLESS Democratic primary to be eligible to sign a petition for an independent. I haven't decided which one, but I know Carol personally, and I would have a darned hard time not throwing up on her petition. But you may sway me - I haven't decided. Give me some more info on Bell. Tell me why he's worth supporting on his merits, and not jsu because he's ABP.

I call 'em as I see 'em.

What was she, besides state party chair? Didn't she gloat about being a former Republican?

Kinky toyed with the idea of running as a Democrat, but he did not, despite some overtures (apparently) from the state Democratic party.

"No question he's a real smart guy; people like him," Soechting said. "A lot of people would like to see a candidate for governor appear to have a little wild man like Kinky in him. There's something to be said about being a little wild, a little unpredictable. I've been accused of that myself."

This from our CURRENT state party chair. As quoted in the American Statesman.

http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/stories/08/5kinky.html

Again, you should be working to support YOUR candidate - demonizing Kinky only adds to his "wild man" mystique. We should just be dismissing him as a joke, and not speaking as if anything he says actually represents a political position. Kinky might actually bring in some new Democrats as registered voters. If Democrats are flocking to him, even with awareness of his public statements, it would seem to me the problem is we don't have a candidate with sufficient charisma to challenge him. Is that what you are suggesting?

You said that you didn't VOTE, but you still feel free to whine. Please explain why anyone should give a flying fig about the opinions of a NON-VOTER.

Democracy requires participation. The MINIMUM participation required is casting a ballot. If you are not willing to participate in the minimal way required, you don't count. Vote or get off the soap box. Run off April 11.

cd

Texas has stupid, archaic ballot rules. To take advantage of them, one must AVOID voting in the party primary. Since Lampson was unopposed in my District, and since neither Chris Bell nor Bob Gammage either excited or repulsed me, plus very few county or other races offered Dem candidates whom I felt could make a difference, I opted to participate by reserving my right to sign a petition for an independent candidate.

You may characterize that as "non-participation," but I would argue that it was more participative than voting in a MEANINGLESS Democratic primary in my district. It's the first election I have missed since 1978, and I did it thoughtfully and with intent. Can you say the same for everybody that VOTED in the primary? I don't think so.

What soapbox am I supposedly on? I didn't ask a narrow-minded yellow-dog like your apparent self to care anything about my opinion. You are certainly quick to dismiss me. Tell me whom exactly you elected by voting in the primary, and then let's compare participative credentials.

There's no need to get your panties in a wad - if I wasn't on your side, I wouldn't be here!

even discuss signing a petition to get a weasel on the ballot.

When you say that the election was meaningless you insult everyone who participated or contributed to that democratic process. Things are accomplished by people who vote and the people for whom they vote. People who sit on the sidelines accomplish nothing.

And yes, I was quick to dismiss you. The typical poster in this forum is an activist and a Democrat. Your earlier post indicated that you are not active (you don't vote) and you are not a Democrat. (Well, a part-time Democrat at best) When that is added to the denigration of all who participated in the process, it seems only natural to dismiss you.

Hey, look-

I tried to make it clear that I am somewhat disenfranchised with the Texas Democratic Party, for little things like, oh, electing Molly Beth Malcolm, for caving on redistricting, for failing to recruit candidates for judges, and for allowing the GOP to take over EVERY FRIGGING STATEWIDE POSITION. Or did you notice? I have been an activist my entire life (and I mean since the age of 5, when I campaigned against George H W Bush in a door-to-door canvassing operation - a Congressional campaign).

Your petty little "part-time Democrat" comment is PRECISELY the type of CRAP that drove me to consider signing a petition for an independent candidate. Note that I have not yet DONE that - I have here only suggested that a) Kinky is a candidate of the FRUSTRATED, and b) For Chris Bell to be truly viable, he has to have some proven merits.

I didn't condemn the Texas Democratic process - I said I made a conscious decision, based upon the ballot choices available to me, in MY PRECINCT, in a PRIMARY, to reserve my ability to sign a petition. I didn't condemn the process - for you to state that reminds me of the same GOP tactics, painting with a broad brush to generalize what was a reasoned - and reasonable - choice, based upon the options avaiable to ME. It's a part of the "process" under Texas law, like it or not.

Even those here suggest to have Carol KMRS on the ballot would be a good thing, but you guys didn't make the argument tat I could help more there, or show me why Bell is a superior candidate. You just slam Kinky on some stupid charges of racism WHEN HE DOESN'T STAND FOR ANYTHING. He's a joke - do you get that?

I am obviously NOT on your side if you are so quick to condemn me. If you are representative of the majority here, maybe I am in the wrong place - I thought perhaps liberals could engage in meaningful, open-minded debate.

You could have very easily become a delegate to your precinct and county conventions and then state convention. And you would have had a voice in WHO THE NEXT TDP CHAIR WILL be. As well as some interesting rule changes that will be under consideration. Also, you could have run for SDEC and had a real voice in managing the TDP.

To run over your points briefly:
- electing Molly Beth -- again, by becoming a delegate, which is easy, that kind of thing you can affect.
- caving on redistricting -- that's not the TDP, that's our elected Democrats in the state legislature. They of course do their best, but being a minority, quite often their best isn't good enough.
- recruiting judge candidates --- that's a county party thing. Can you get involved with your county party? We have something like 60 judges on the ballot this year.

And, yeah, I hear you about every statewide position. I think that things will start shifting soon, though.

I think she's a GREAT Senatorial candidate and I can't believe that that no-good POS joke candidate Gene Kelly forced her into a runoff. I'm really excited about BAR. She's a thoughtful, intelligent, well spoken, interesting candidate who I think might have a pretty good shot at knocking off KBH. She's certainly going to give it the ol' college try anyway, and I have to honor and respect that.

Sorry about the slight frostiness of your reception. We're not big fans of Kinky around here because if he doesn't get on the ballot, Perry and KBH will split the Republican vote and Bell would have a pretty good chance to win. As it is, in a four way, I can't see anything other than Perry getting re-elected.

I like Bell, he's a solid respectable candidate, with decent ideas and good legislative credentials, but he's not all that exciting. It's very sad, because I think he would be a great gov. but he's going to get out-fireworked in the melee between Gov. Goodhair, One Tough Grandma, and Stinky Kinky, all of whom have built-in angles for the media spotlight.

I just think it's sad that good ideas and good programs aren't enough; you have to turn yourself into a clown of some sort in order to get attention. And I apply that to Carole and Goodhair as well.

I honestly don't think he has (or had) a snowball's chance, since he's been around since we offered up Jesse James and Warren G. Harding for state office on the same ballot. Or Don Yarbrough (ouch). I hate novelty candidates with a famous name (George Bush, e.g.). That's why I GET (not necessarily support) the Kinky joke.

I grew up in the Congressional district where Ron Paul and Bob Gammage traded places for a few cycles, and I have always personally liked Bob. I knew the Killer Bees, Bob Eckhardt, and may others from a very young age, courtesy of my activist parents. I was a county coordinator for both Ann Richards campaigns, and I used to live in Travis Heights in Austin, where Molly Ivins and Jim Hightower were neighbors whom I saw regularly. I got tired of Austin politics, though, because the liberals and neo-cons made any moderate statement tantamount to treason. And too many Lollapalooza sideshow acts (horn implants, e.g.) showed up at the 7-11 on Sunday mornings.

The old-school Dems were firebrands. That's the ONLY way we'll win elections in Texas. We gotta have someone with personality - Chris Bell has the cajones, but I wanna see some SPARK.

I will likely vote for him in the fall, but I don't want to "settle" for any candidate. Is that too much too ask?

remember? He beat a real (but a not very known) candidate.

I guess I am just worried that people will vote for him. :mad:

Ann Richards! There were the days. Sound like you've been around for awhile. Bet you have some stories to tell. I agree with you about the SPARK. I personally don't have any so until we manage to root us up some good leaders I'm just going to continue down here in the trenches trying to make the little Democratic grassroots grow. 10 years from now maybe Katy Huebner or Rafael Anchia or Allen Vaught will make good statewide candidates. Right now we just gotta get 'em elected.

I am only MODERATELY long in the tooth (I just started young). I really want to move on beyond an agenda that is merely anti-GOP.

Gene Kelly has been running for statewide offices since about 1990, to my recollection - he tends to start at the top, rather than working his way up. That he won the nomination in 2000 kind of speaks to the utter hopelessness we had then.

I am currently testing the waters again (after a few years of abject disillusionment, which included having my car and yard damaged because I DARED to show support for a Democrat). I am not a huge fan of Chris Bell, having seen him in action on the city council, but he most certainly a better option than the other three potentials. He's gotta run a smart, out-there, campaign to have a decent shot. Right now, he seems to be The Invisible Man. He should be attacking Perry on tax breaks for the wealthy in school finance reform, attacking the GOP for its FAILURE to address school finance, even after 4 sessions and for the inability of Perry even to work with members of his own party.

Chris can capitalize on the criticism that the other guys level against Perry, and then present himself as the ONLY choice. Kinky is a joke. Perry is a crook. Grandma is a hateful troll.

defend the comment as a "Pop culture" reference when you hear it in context. There's a link to the video clip at the Stop Kinky! blog, here: <http://stopkinky.blogspot.com/>, and another link here: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9mXTxEQI3A&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eburntorangereport%2Ecom%2FfrontPage%2Edo>.

The CNBC interview comment where Kinky proposes to punish criminals we ought to "throw 'em in prison and throw away the key, and make 'em listen to a Negro talking to himself" is a bit of a retread of a line from one of Kinky's books (you'll find that Kinky quotes himself A LOT -- he thinks he's very funny); here's the line from his book, "A Case of Lone Star": "As a general rule of thumb, however, if you thought of New York as a Negro talking to himself and of California as a VCR with nothing to put in, you wouldn't be too far off the mark." As you can see, neither the quote from Kinky's book nor from his CNBC interview where Kinky shared his "enlightened" view on criminal punishment is a "pop culture" reference.

It wouldn't run for me at first. But as you say, he quotes from himself and his writings. Since I got about 10 seconds of video, out of context, it's hard for me to make a judgement as to intent. I never claimed Kinky was enlightened - I claimed that Kinky is, well....Kinky.

I agree with you that his use is less humorous the reference I assumed, but, either way, it's still pretty innocuous. And, if it quotes from one of Kinky's books, as you say, it's a "pop culture" reference. I didn't see his pointy white hood. There's no reason to DEMONIZE this guy. He's no different from Jesse the Body or my favorite perennial Democrat, Gene Kelly.

If you guys keep taking him seriously, you are missing the point. He's running WITHOUT A PLATFORM. He has NO PLAN. He spouts off meaningless rhetoric for it's own sake. But unlike the other candidates, he's in your face with his ridiculousness. He voted Republican. Once. Big deal. A bunch of former Democrats switched parties for GOOD (and a lot of those were moderates who belong in the state Democratic party).

The tactics you use to try to diminish the other candidates has FAILURE written all over it. If you want people to vote for Chris Bell, talk him up. There is a reason a bunch of Dems are supporting Kinky - they are DISENFRANCHISED. How about spending some energy bringing liberals back into the fold, instead of insulting them by pretending that Kinky is anything more than a joke?

Kinky is no more conservative than Chris Bell (he is Jewish, the family business is a camp for the underpriveleged, and he's an animal rights activist). He's a member of arguably the most persecuted minority EVER. And the drugs and alcohol have OBVIOUSLY taken a few brain cells as casualties through the years.

Come on - Lighten UP!

winning are much longer if he has to go into the election with Kinky siphoning off animal-rights voters and alternative-energy voters from a traditional Democratic base. Hopefully, the animal-rights and alternative-energy voters will see that Kinky is worse on just about every other issue.

Kinky's AWFUL on immigration and border security.

Kinky's fine on identifying that the education system is broken -- I'll grant him the "no shit" award for recognizing what the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court has already recognized -- but he's AWFUL on ways to fix it.

Kinky's AWFUL on dealing with governmental cronysim because he's already said that he wants to appoint his biggest campaign contributor to the office of Secretary of State.

Kinky's AWFUL on politicians' "double-speak" because he wouldn't give a straight answer on the issue of a woman's reproductive freedom for some time, but now he claims to be pro-choice. That initial waffling followed by a nicely executed flip-flop is nothing if not political.