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Comments

1. #1215
   On July 10th, 2004 at 3:20 pm, Thomas said:

   Only the girl’s mother acted like a true adult in all this. She said the matter was over and that her daughter “let it go.” I liked the mother said she wouldn’t sue for therapy bills, that must be a first.

   And, how could Riordan say such a terrible thing to a little girl in the first place? Terrible.

2. #1216
   On July 10th, 2004 at 3:46 pm, James Rose said:

   ugh come on….Riorden is supposed to be the adult in the situation and he comes off sounding like the class bully. Put your foot in your mouth and keep it there so you won’t repeat any other idiotic remarks.

   on another note…I thought Civil Rights belonged to everyone? hmmm

3. #1217
   On July 10th, 2004 at 3:56 pm, Xrlq said:

   I agree. If I were the Governator, I’d be saying “Hasta La Vista, Baby” to this senile twerp. It’s incidents like this one that remind me why Dick Riordan got trounced in the 2002 primary, in the same state where the similarly moderate Schwarzenegger won handily a year later. Contrary to conventional non-wisdom, it isn’t that Riordan was too “moderate” to survive a Republican primary. Schwarzenegger did fine at the fall 2003 state GOP convention, which was even more partisan than a regular primary, and which served essentially the same purpose. No, Riordan’s problem was that he was too damned stupid to even seek the GOP nomination. He ran his campaign as though he were seeking the Democrat nomination rather than the Republican one.

   Now, our top educator thinks it’s funny to call a young student a “stupid, dirty girl.” Sorry, but that’s not cool. Riordan’s done some good things in the past, but somewhere along the way, he jumped the shark. And I can still say that because Riordan dumped the shark long before the phrase “jump the shark” did.

4. #1218
   On July 10th, 2004 at 4:14 pm, Kevin Gregory said:

   Michelle – great job pointing out the hypocrisy of Mervyn Dymally and the other PC Leftists in California!

5. #1219
   On July 10th, 2004 at 4:14 pm, Jack Burton said:

   I’ll forget you’re black when you quit reminding me

6. #1220
   On July 10th, 2004 at 4:38 pm, James said:

   No it wasn’t “terrible.” Anyone who saw the clip could obviously tell the old boy was teasing. Not a very good joke, but a joke none the less.

   My grandfather used to tease me mercilessly. I was called “Sally” and “little Fort Worth girl”. When I’d bring his ice water to him he’d wait till I turned away and spit a stream of freezing water on my back. He’d tell me I couldn’t have any desert because it was always, “too rich. It’ll make you sick. It wasn’t till years after his death that I realized his teasing was a display of affection. The grandkids he didn’t like to have around got ignored.

   All Riordan was doing was teasing a little girl, the same way my grandfather teased me. The bigger travesty and hypocrisy is Dymally’s racism.

7. #1221
   On July 10th, 2004 at 4:50 pm, Jack Burton said:

   I’ve finally figured out the real reason for “white flight”, and I totally agree with it. When white folks get in a situation where they’re in the minority, they move farther away to be with more white people. Why? Well, who would stay and be represented by idiots like Dymally who could care less about their constituents unless they’re black?

8. #1222
   On July 10th, 2004 at 6:25 pm, Thomas said:

   James, there is no excuse for a man of Riordan’s stature to say such a thing to, of all people, a little girl. Your personal tale is quite a different situation.

   None of us should be surprised by Dymally’s antics. We have grown quite accustomed to left-wing victim mongering for the sake of scoring cheap political points.

   But, I believe us Republicans must hold our fellow party members to a higher standard because we take pride in civility and treating young and old citizens, regardless of race, with respect.

   Giving the left-wing media more fodder is the last thing Republicans should be doing and even Riordan knows that.

9. #1223
   On July 10th, 2004 at 7:30 pm, James said:

   IMO, Riordan merely had the misfortune of making an innocent, teasing comment in public while a camera was rolling. And by the way, he apologized shortly after he said that. There’s where the matter SHOULD have ended. Keeping the moral high ground through civility and respect is one thing. Apologizing for every misstep or misstatement in the face of politically correct, Left wing attack monkeys is quite another.

   What is ironic is that the media will beat the story of Riordan’s actions until it’s a dead horse, while never acknowledging the bigoted, racist hypocrisy of Dymmaly.

   The Left has learned that all they need to do is cry that their feelings are hurt and the Right will apologize for anything, prisoner “abuse” at Abu Ghraib, using vulgar language in the House, or even teasing a little girl. The moral high ground will do us no good when we’re six feet under. It’s time to stop apologizing and start fighting back.

10. #1224
    On July 10th, 2004 at 8:10 pm, Scaramouche said:

    “Apparently having a senior moment, or a brain fart, or just plain sick and tired of pretending to like rugrats,”

    Probably he had all three, none of which are qualities for a State Education Secretary. The man is plainly an idiot, especially since he got caught on tape.

11. #1225
    On July 10th, 2004 at 8:43 pm, Digger said:

    For anyone who missed the comment and its true intentions (”he was apparently trying to be funny in a kid sort of way and went horribly wrong”) here’s a link to the video on the smoking gun:

    http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0709041riordan1.html

    Sorry, I don’t know how to link it via this comment thingy so you’ll have to copy/paste it in your browser.

    Thanks for following up on this Michelle, I for one am sick of the hypocrisy of the NAACP and organizations like it.

12. #1226
    On July 10th, 2004 at 8:46 pm, kimberley said:

    Riordan was obviously out of line. I can’t imagine making fun of a little kid’s name to the child’s face. Maybe he was just teasing but it wasn’t the time or place.

13. #1227
    On July 10th, 2004 at 8:59 pm, h0mi said:

    Seeing the video, it sounds a lot worse in the news/on a web page than it did in the video, but it’s still indefensible and makes me cringe.

    I wouldn’t care either way if Riordan was gone; if the child’s mother is not interested in pursuing this, I fail to see why anyone else should “on her behalf”. I think Arnold would do better to find a replacement though.

14. #1228
    On July 10th, 2004 at 9:02 pm, h0mi said:

    From worldnet daily

    Lila said her daughter didn’t correct Riordan because “she told me she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. I got the impression she just didn’t think he was very bright.”

    That’s pretty amazing. I’m stunned.

15. #1229
    On July 10th, 2004 at 9:06 pm, James said:

    Digger: For anyone who missed the comment and its true intentions (”he was apparently trying to be funny in a kid sort of way and went horribly wrong”)<<

    Exactly my take on it.

    kimberley: Maybe he was just teasing but it wasn’t the time or place.<<

    Ever said the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time and regretted it? I’ll bet you have. EVer had somebody try to get you fired over it? Probably not.

16. #1230
    On July 10th, 2004 at 9:35 pm, Average Joe said:

    It sounds to me like Isis is acting and thinking in a more mature way than some of the adult politicians in this case. Good for her and good for her mom.

17. #1231
    On July 10th, 2004 at 9:44 pm, Noah said:

    If Riordan’s losing it, which is sad no matter when, or to whom, it happens, he really shouldn’t be put in a position of public influence.

18. #1232
    On July 10th, 2004 at 10:08 pm, James said:

    What is ironic and vexing to me is that, even in this forum, people are making a bigger deal out of what Riordan said (and, by the way, apologized for) than they are out of Dymmally’s blatantly racist and bigoted double standard.

    That’s the real issue here, folks. Not whether some old guy carelessly shouldn’t have said something more or less innocent to a little girl. The issue is, how long will so-called minority leaders continue to perpetuate racism and bigotry. And further, how long will the minorities they purport to represent let them get away with it?

19. #1233
    On July 10th, 2004 at 10:56 pm, KB said:

    And the NAACP is really wondering why Bush recently declined to speak at their convention? Mybe because it’s hard to take them seriously anymore?

    One of the statements Dymally made in a story I read was that “this isn’t about race.” Hmmm. Then why did he call off the protest?

20. #1234
    On July 10th, 2004 at 11:11 pm, Carolus said:

    You have to understand, James, that under leftist dogma (which is quite widespread), Dymmally cannot be classified as a bigot ot a racist. He is a member of the “oppressed” class, while the little girl is a member of the “oppressor” class. Only members of the “oppressor” class are racists. In fact, all members of the “oppressor” class are racists unless they agree with Dymmally and his allies.

    Thus, Ted Rall will not be charged with racism by the NY Times, NAACP, et al. because he is a true believer – even though he is technically a member of the oppressor class who used racial slurs and stereotypes to attack Dr. Rice. Minority conservatives, like Mrs. Malkin, Dr. Rice, Justice Thomas, etc., can be attacked using every slur under the sun with impunity because they have strayed from the true religion and are therefore traitors to the oppressed. Welcome to the new order of things, James. It’s right out of Orwell – or the Soviet Union.

21. #1235
    On July 11th, 2004 at 12:12 am, Average Joe said:

    Sorry, I forgot in my comment above to address the initial point of the controversy, namely, what do peoples names mean? Based solely upon this incident, I think that we can make the following dictionary of name meanings:

    Isis : Smart, well-mannered girl
    Dick : Dick
    Mervyn: Race-baiting thug

22. #1236
    On July 11th, 2004 at 9:16 am, beautymrgn said:

    When I first heard the story I thought “omg, how could someone do that?”. Then I saw the clip. What a bunch of malarkey. They took an innocent little give and take between an adult and a kid (all the kids were laughing and knew he was teasing) and tried to blow it up and get the young girl upset. Kudos to her for not allowing other adults to manipulate her into being upset!

23. #1237
    On July 11th, 2004 at 12:05 pm, Roger Snowden said:

    What I want to know is why anyone assumed she was African-American in the first place? The Name Isis? What, then?

    I watched the video. Really nothing at all, a natural jest. The word choice was certainly bizarre, but the intent was clearly harmless, as indicated by the group’s laughter and his following response, “Is that what it means? Hey, that’s nifty!”

    Anyway, the real story is the ridiculous racist response.

24. #1238
    On July 11th, 2004 at 12:15 pm, TXVet said:

    Isn’t Riordan the same guy who addressed
    a group on a hunger strike while eating
    a cheeseburger?

    And Dyamally just shows how the NAACP does as much or more to perpetuate racism as the KKK

    (What she’s NOT black? …nevermind She doesn’t count)

25. #1239
    On July 11th, 2004 at 5:22 pm, memer said:

    Yep, that’s mighty embarrassin. The CNN story is one to make you grin.

    But you can leave it to right-siders like Malkin to be just as eager to overplay a hand as Michael Moore.

    ACLU to sue?! C’mon, Malkin, that’s cheesy even for you. Dymally saw a “crime” first, that was even more heinous because (he thought) it was race-related.

    Police profilers see a race first and then cross fingers hoping to find (or perhaps plant) a crime second.

    Yeah, this’ a funny story, but more open-minded people will see there’s a world of difference.

26. #1240
    On July 11th, 2004 at 5:41 pm, Xrlq said:

    James, there is a simple reason why many of us, myself included, are more upset about Dick Riordan’s non-racist stupidity than about Dymally’s. Riordan is the top educator, representing the entire state. Dymally is one legislator, representing such posh neighborhoods as Compton, Watts and South-Central L.A. Does anyone really expect such God-forsaken areas to elect anyone better?

27. #1241
    On July 11th, 2004 at 9:16 pm, onecent said:

    For God’s sake, Riordan committed a less pardonable sin that Mervyn Dymally, an obvious Jesse Jackson wannabe victim’s pimp, who organizes a protest on a racial assumption then cancels when he finds the victim wasn’t the right race. How transparently racist can one get? Nothing in Riordan’s regrettable comment was racist.

    Hey, memer, Dymally saw an opportunity; “crime” is a ridiculous description. Riordan’s comments broke no law. And Dymally certainly used “racial profiling” in cancelling his indignation.

28. #1242
    On July 12th, 2004 at 1:01 am, glenn said:

    With admirable dexterity, Dymally can simultaneously moonwalk away, emit mantras of forgiveness, and sack a staffer:

    http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-dymally10jul10,1,1306184.story

    ” SACRAMENTO — Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally said Friday that he was suspending a top aide over a canceled news conference that had been called to criticize state education secretary and former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan for a comment made last week to a 6-year-old girl. The Compton Democrat abruptly called off the conference Thursday, the day it was supposed to take place. Dymally said his staff director, Warren Quann, had scheduled the event without his permission and would be suspended for the rest of July….”

    Meanwhile the NAACP bureaucracy has intertia enough to remember Riordan is nevertheless still a Republican.

29. #1243
    On July 12th, 2004 at 5:43 am, memer said:

    glenn said:
    Meanwhile the NAACP bureaucracy has intertia enough to remember Riordan is nevertheless still a Republican.
    —-
    Good point. But, did Dymally “remember” who Riordan was, or did he make another assumption that has not been mentioned, heretofore?

    Super rich white guy with power telling a little child (Black or otherwise) that she’s a stupid, dirty girl? Hmm. Sure fits a stereotypical Republican profile if I ever saw one.

30. #1244
    On July 12th, 2004 at 8:48 am, onecent said:

    “Sure fits a stereotypical Republican profile if I ever saw one.”

    Memer, any chance you see yourself as an inconsistent idiot embracing political stereotypes in one breath and denouncing “racial profiling” in another? I thought not. You’re too stupid.
    Also, birdbrain, Riordan was referring to the kid’s name not the kid as a person. Any idiot reading or viewing the video could grasp that distinction.

31. #1245
    On July 12th, 2004 at 9:28 am, memer said:

    Stupid is as stupid posts, onecent (and we sure got our money’s worth from your last post, didn’t we).

    Lookit, I was just being snarky-funny (I said, “sterotypical” profile, mr. namecaller. do any of you guys have a frickin sense of humour? sheesh.). If anything, I was supposing that Dymally could be a DOUBLE-profiler in this case. Get it? Relax, awready. Don’t bang your keyboard so hard.

32. #1246
    On July 12th, 2004 at 11:33 am, Chris said:

    Isis: do you know what my name means?
    DR: ummm, silly little girl?
    Isis: (giggle) No Silly! Guess again!
    DR: hmmm, one who watches Nicolodean all day?
    Isis: Nope, it’s Egyptian Goddess!
    DR: Wow, that’s nifty!

    I don’t know the guy, but this is probably what was in the guys mind when he went for the joke, just a funny exchange like we have all had with children. But, as sometimes happens when going for a joke off the cuff, something un-funny comes out.

    But the sound bite dogs are always there to use the moment to get a little free press. They wait and they watch and when someone makes a comment they can possible use, they attack. Just like the people jumping on Lindsay Lohan because she called something “retarded”. She is a teen age girl that dropped a common teen phrase. These people knew that, it was just their excuse to get their group a little coverage.

    I do not see why anyone should get sued or lose their job. Christ, do we really want to be in a place where no matter how much we achieved over a lifetime of work, one single comment should be worthy of destroying a career? What happened to the punishment fitting the crime?

33. #1248
    On July 12th, 2004 at 1:25 pm, memer said:

    Jack: Don’t miss the point. White girl or purple, Isis’ race only colors the DEGREE to which Riordan’s comment was objectionable.

    If you mean to say calling ANY little child, “stupid, dirty girl” (going by Michelle’s initial post here) is no “crime” (and, no, kids, I don’t mean that in it’s literal sense. oi.), then you strike me as the type of person who’d never in a zillion years understand why (say) police racial profiling just ain’t cool.

    Just curious, do you have a mental “profile” of what Mervyn D looks like? What if Michelle had forgotten to mention which political party Merv belonged to. Would you have added Democrat to that profile? or Republican?

    Would you have reacted with the same pique if he was one or the other?

    Don’t kid yourself, Jack-o, the WHO matters as much as the WHAT.

34. #1249
    On July 12th, 2004 at 1:58 pm, Jack Tanner said:

    memer -

    If you think it’s worse to say something stupid to a little black girl than a little white girl you’re part of the problem not part of the solution.The girls race only matters to racebaiters and as soon as the bigot Mervyn found out she wasn’t black then he decided he didn’t care who said what to her. It’s ignorant bigots like Mervyn and fools who defend them that do more harm to the people they lie about trying to help than anyone else ever could by trivializing racism. What Mervyn looks like or what political party he belongs to or whether he favors one group or the other or likes ckicken or steak doesn’t matter, he’s just a dumbass racist and if he were a different color he’d just be doing the same stupid things only to different people.

35. #1250
    On July 12th, 2004 at 2:32 pm, memer said:

    There’re none so blind and all that rot. It’s all about CONTEXT, people (which always includes a Who AND a What). It seems a common strategy around here is to take things out of context and place it in something else more comfy, if completely incorrect.

    Riordan didn’t say just any old, “something wrong,” Jack. It was a something that in one context delivers more hurt than in another. Do you really think the average Black girl in Isis’ place would have felt about the same about Riordan’s comments? I think not. And if you can’t figure out why that would be, there’s no hope for you. Newsflash JT: context matters.

    I know your head doesn’t hurt as much when you put EVERYTHING in terms of black and white, but imho life is mostly about degrees and shades of gray. This just in: context matters.

    Merv thought the comment was said in one context, one which he’s particularly sensitive to. He responded AS IF IT WERE in that context, so when he realized he was wrong about the context (surely, hopefully, embarrassed to no end), he withdrew his objection as it didn’t have the implications he thought it did.

    You do have an interesting definition of racist, tho. You seem to be implying that the mere “ability” to SEE racial differences (and societal treatment of each?) makes one a racist (as in there’s no such thing as “race” anyway, so if someone claims to see one, then that person is a bloody “racist”), and/or perhaps it’s defending a “race” (if they exist) against (apparent) bigotry that makes one a racist. I’m not sure which. I’ll have to think about that (hard) before I can respond to that bit.

36. #1251
    On July 12th, 2004 at 3:58 pm, memer said:

    Oooh! Pithy (or is that “pity”). Now, go find your thinking cap. I’ll wait.

37. #1252
    On July 13th, 2004 at 2:44 am, Mike H. said:

    I’m on James side, the little girl and her classmates were having fun. You all aren’t having fun, case closed.