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Bachmann: Obama 'Waving a Tar Baby' on Gas Prices

"Tar baby" is not a racist term. It is a legitimate reference to American-- by way of African American-- folklore. If anything, it indicates that she's more multicultural than she lets on.
 
rocket88 said:
Bachmann: Obama 'Waving a Tar Baby' on Gas Prices - Spokesperson insists remark had 'nothing to do with race'

Oh, Michele...I know you probably didn't mean anything racist, but could you just think about terminology before speaking? Just once in a while?
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Here's the definition of "tar baby".

noun
tar babies, plural

A difficult problem that is only aggravated by attempts to solve it
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tar baby - Google Search


I'm sure that's how she meant it, but yeah, she probably shouldn't have used a phrase that's so easily misinterpreted. It's sad, though, that some people want to find a reason to be offended whether it's real or not.
 
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X Factor said:
I'm sure that's how she meant it, but yeah, she probably shouldn't have used a phrase that's so easily misinterpreted. It's sad, though, that some people want to find a reason to be offended whether it's real or not.
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I find it more depressing that she's in public office, but that's just me.
 
Honestly I've only ever heard the phrase used racially. I think more important is who cares what she says? Don't give her any power or before you know it she has a show on tlc.
 
You would like to think that our politicians would be smart enough to think through what they say, so we could hope they think things through before they do. I'm amazed at how often these "leaders" have to explain and apologize for their declarations and their behaviors. Some leadership, huh?
 
"tar baby" is hardly a common term, precisely because it has loaded racial overtones. Frankly, I call bull**** on any excuses that it wasn't meant racially.
 
X Factor said:
Here's the definition of "tar baby".



tar baby - Google Search


I'm sure that's how she meant it, but yeah, she probably shouldn't have used a phrase that's so easily misinterpreted. It's sad, though, that some people want to find a reason to be offended whether it's real or not.
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Funny how you did not mention the relevant definition provided at your link:

(U.K.; U.S.; and N.Z.) a black child.^[122]. Note that this also has acceptable non-slur use. See Tar baby.
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While I am sure she meant it by the definition your provided, it is a painfully stupid thing for any politician to say.
 
ChuckBerry said:
"tar baby" is hardly a common term, precisely because it has loaded racial overtones. Frankly, I call bull**** on any excuses that it wasn't meant racially.
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I'll have to admit, I've never heard the term used in any context. I thought it was something like tar and feathering. You're very unlikely to find any Republican who will agree with you though. Apparently, if Obama says Trayvon could look like his son - it's racial and he hates white people. If Michele Bachman uses an obscure term with racial overtones, we'll find every definition we can in order to distance her from using racially charged terms.
 
This is how a dog whistle works, the phrase is one that can be interpreted blandly
 
megaprogman said:
This is how a dog whistle works, the phrase is one that can be interpreted blandly
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The only thing that will make Republicans believe that their leaders really do use dog whistles regularly is if one of their leaders just gives up all pretence and starts calling Obama an uppity nigger. Fat chance of that happening so we'll just have to settle for threads angry that the Head Negro in Charge got his dirty feet all over the president's desk.
 
Viktyr Korimir said:
"Tar baby" is not a racist term. It is a legitimate reference to American-- by way of African American-- folklore. If anything, it indicates that she's more multicultural than she lets on.
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She is dumb as a brick .. educated at an unaccredited law school and thinks the president controls the oil busines.
 
ChuckBerry said:
"tar baby" is hardly a common term, precisely because it has loaded racial overtones. Frankly, I call bull**** on any excuses that it wasn't meant racially.
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The war in Afghanistan is a "tar baby"... Look at the story from Uncle Remus.

Tar baby - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Tar-Baby is a character in the second of the Uncle Remus stories; it is a doll made of tar and turpentine used to entrap Br'er Rabbit. The more that Br'er Rabbit fights the Tar-Baby, the more entangled he becomes. In modern usage according to Random House, "tar baby" refers to any "sticky situation" that is only aggravated by additional contact.
 
ChuckBerry said:
"queer" means odd or strange.
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So what is your point? That anyone who uses the word queer to describe an odd or strange situation is really using anti-gay code language?
 
If I were a politician, I would be using the term "tar baby" all the time. Not, because i'm a racist, but because I love the fact that it bothers the left so much.
 
sharon said:
The war in Afghanistan is a "tar baby"... Look at the story from Uncle Remus.

Tar baby - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Tar-Baby is a character in the second of the Uncle Remus stories; it is a doll made of tar and turpentine used to entrap Br'er Rabbit. The more that Br'er Rabbit fights the Tar-Baby, the more entangled he becomes. In modern usage according to Random House, "tar baby" refers to any "sticky situation" that is only aggravated by additional contact.
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I first learned that usage as a child in Uncle Remus' story as well. That doesn't mean when I got older I didn't learn the derogatory meaning, too.
 
buck said:
If I were a politician, I would be using the term "tar baby" all the time. Not, because i'm a racist, but because I love the fact that it bothers the left so much.
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utterly brilliant!!!!!! Kudos
 
Crosscheck said:
"fag" a tobacco cigarette in England. Example: you look like you need a fag to suck on.
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Well after a hard days work carrying around faggots, I feel a bit queer, so of course I do.
 
Redress said:
While I am sure she meant it by the definition your provided, it is a painfully stupid thing for any politician to say.
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That's about what I thought. I doubt she meant anything racial...but I mean, wow! Really?
 
Am I horrible for my mind immediately going to this:

TarBaby.jpg
 
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