A Minister of Culture?

posted at 12:21 pm on March 17, 2009 by Ed Morrissey

Perhaps not a Minister of Culture — more like a Deputy Undersecretary for Cultural Affairs — but the Obama administration has decided to appoint someone to oversee culture in America.  Kareem Dale, who ran the outreach to disabled voters during Obama’s presidential campaign, will take a role that has traditionally been part of the First Lady’s unofficial authority:

President Barack Obama has established a staff position in the White House to oversee arts and culture in the Office of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs under Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser, a White House official confirmed. Kareem Dale, right, a lawyer who last month was named special assistant to the president for disability policy, will hold the new position. Mr. Dale, who is partly blind, previously served as national disability director for the Obama campaign. He also served on the arts policy committee and the disability policy committee for Mr. Obama when he was a senator from Illinois.

Bill Ivey, who served as the administration’s transition-team leader for the arts and humanities, said he was encouraged by the appointment and would meet with Mr. Dale next week. “It’s a big step forward in terms of connecting cultural and government with mainstream administration policy,” Mr. Ivey said in an interview on Friday. The White House declined to describe the position in detail, since Mr. Dale’s appointment has yet to be formally announced.

Dale apparently will double up.  The disability policy position was supposedly a full-time job, but either Dale had a lot of free time or he’s decided to leave that position after just a month.   Maybe Obama wants to show efficiency in government by having everyone take two jobs.

But why does America need a Minister of Culture, or even an Assistant Sub-Under Secretary/Receptionist for Cultural Affairs?  Did the Constitution give the executive power to shape culture?  Or did Obama suddenly run out of work and needed to find something to do with his time and energy?

We know the latter isn’t true.  After all, according to the latest at the White House website, Obama still has yet to fill seventeen of eighteen top-level positions at Treasury.  Obama has yet to nominate most of the Senate-confirmation-required positions in his administration, but Obama insists that economics has been his priority in his first two months as President.

Instead of appointing Ministers of Culture, maybe the Obama administration should focus on selecting people to handle economics.  If he did that, perhaps we would get less Deadbeatonomics and more sanity.  We need that a lot more than cultural advisers in this White House.

Update: Commenter RBJ notes that someone has to choose the DVD collections for visiting heads of state.

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I’m willing to guarantee this guy is a nation of islam muslim. He was not born with the name kareem(generous in arabic), I’ll bet you $100.

TTheoLogan on March 17, 2009 at 12:44 PM

Ed would have told us if this guy was muslim (nation of isslam or otherwise), right Ed?

Ed? Taqiyya?

ex-Democrat on March 17, 2009 at 1:02 PM

Not to be disparaging against anyone with vision impairments, but did I really just read that the new person in charge of the arts is partially blind?

darcee on March 17, 2009 at 1:03 PM

This is really strange. You’d think the nominee would have some kind of arts, music, literature, humanities, etc., background.

I found this at an Arts Journal blog. (My bold):

Is this the ‘arts czar’?

I don’t know Mr. Dale, a lawyer from Chicago who is partially blind, but he doesn’t seem to have much of a profile. Searches on Google and Kosmix and in Factiva (which has articles from most major newspapers and many minor ones) turned up very little.

According to published reports, Dale hails from Chicago, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in advertising from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and stayed there to earn a law degree and an MBA, which he received in 1999. He founded and is CEO of The Dale Law Group, which has no website. Campaign finance records show that Dale contributed $2,300 to Obama’s campaign in 2008 (and about the same during the primary season); then he volunteered for it. At some point, he became the campaign’s Disability Vote Director. The only mention of arts I could find was during his campaign volunteer days, when Dale was a member of the campaign Arts Policy Committee.

I can’t help but think this is not what many people in the cultural world had in mind when they asked President Obama to appoint a powerful person in the White House to raise the profile of the arts in the U.S.

Another oddity: in mid-February, the White House announced that it had named Dale to the post of Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. He still seems to hold that post.

Mr. Dale is not qualified and suited to be an advocate for culture. This appears to be par for the course for Obama. Not many appear to be adequate for the challenge and responsibilities of their position. (Attack Dog Axelrod and Rahm-Legislature-Through being notable exceptions).

INC on March 17, 2009 at 1:04 PM

I had no idea who the picture was when I saw it under the blog posting, but my first thought was ‘boy does that guy looked pissed’

Kelligan on March 17, 2009 at 1:04 PM

darcee on March 17, 2009 at 1:03 PM

Yes, the blog I found also mentioned that he is partially blind.

INC on March 17, 2009 at 1:05 PM

Yep. It’s a disaster!

JAM on March 17, 2009 at 1:05 PM

Let me guess…………

The Minister of Culture will constantly highlight how raaaaaaaaaaaaacist this nation is?

Dr.Cwac.Cwac on March 17, 2009 at 1:05 PM

He has a frightening forehead.

radiofreevillage on March 17, 2009 at 12:55 PM

If you refer to the slight indentation on the left temple, that’s where a small amount of tissue was removed to supply capitulus a brain.

DarkCurrent on March 17, 2009 at 1:05 PM

Kareem Dale’s campaign contributions

darwin on March 17, 2009 at 1:02 PM

Wow, only $4950.00 will get you a government job?

carbon_footprint on March 17, 2009 at 1:05 PM

Another couple of items for the “what if Bush did this” file.

Will this clusterfark ever end? And he’s going on Leno tomorrow night.

Minister of Culture and ego stroking on a TV talk show – the rest of the world must be holding their sides from laughing so hard.

tru2tx on March 17, 2009 at 1:06 PM

Didn’t Public Enemy have a Minister of Culture or something? Nice to know Obama has the national interests on the top of his priority list. To heck with those pesky Treasury vacancies.

The Obama’s wouldn’t recognize culture if it bit Michelle on her giant [backside]. J. Crew and Georgian mansions do not equal culture unless you are white east coast prep school types, such as the Bushes. The very type of people the Obamas hypocritically claim to despise.

It is my understanding that Michelle’s staff calls the White House “The House”, no White involved. Maybe the new culture secretary will hang Dashiki fabric drapes in the Red Room. At the very least maybe he will improve their gift giving skills.

ExcessivelyDiverted on March 17, 2009 at 1:06 PM

Are we actually paying all these guys?

MarkTheGreat on March 17, 2009 at 1:07 PM

Minister of Culture = Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Dr.Cwac.Cwac on March 17, 2009 at 1:07 PM

Bread.

Circuses.

Barbarians at the gates.

This story didn’t end well the first time.

crazy_legs on March 17, 2009 at 1:07 PM

If you refer to the slight indentation on the left temple, that’s where a small amount of tissue was removed to supply capitulus a brain.
DarkCurrent on March 17, 2009 at 1:05 PM

Actually no, the brain indentation removal mark is found on the left cheek of his ass.

Now you know why capitulus spews so much crap.

Bishop on March 17, 2009 at 1:08 PM

A blind man to oversee the arts. That goes nicely with the tax cheat to oversee the IRS and the most undiplomatic harridan to be the chief diplomat.

James on March 17, 2009 at 12:40 PM

I just saw your comment. You did the short form of what I said above.

A guy who majored in advertising with a law degree and an MBA! Perhaps this means he’s going to promote an Andy Warhol revival and we’ll see images of Campbell’s Soup hanging from lamp posts in the National Mall?

INC on March 17, 2009 at 1:09 PM

Welcome to the Socialist States of Afrocentronica.

But, look at it this way; your public school children might not be able to find the United States on a map of North America, but they’ll damn sure be able to discuss ad nauseum the trials and tribulations of Rosa Parks.

OhEssYouCowboys on March 17, 2009 at 1:10 PM

What is next, the Minister of Funny Walks?

Vince on March 17, 2009 at 1:11 PM

Someone ought to photoshop Dale’s picture onto an image of a Campbell’s Soup can.

This position is totally superfluous. What a way to waste our hard earned dollars.

INC on March 17, 2009 at 1:12 PM

Partialy blind in charge of the Arts…

Tax cheat in charge of the IRS…

Trend?

Romeo13 on March 17, 2009 at 1:12 PM

So is this clown ‘Minister of Culture’ going to be heading-up the re-education camps programs for right-wing/conservative dolts like myself?

Earlg on March 17, 2009 at 1:12 PM

So that isn’t Gary Coleman?

whitetop on March 17, 2009 at 1:12 PM

I hope he comes out with a program encouraging rural-types to stop watching nascar and start brushing their teeth.

It’s bad enough we NASCAR fans are paying more in taxes for beer and cigarrettes. Now you want government in our mouths?! What’s next, regulating mullets?!

Oops, forgot that one is already in the constitution:

A well-regulated mullet being necessary, the right to bare arms at stock car races cannot be denied.

cackcon on March 17, 2009 at 1:13 PM

How does a partially-blind Minister of Culture know how to appreciate fine art? He might miss the elephant dung on the Virgin Mary in the Brooklyn Museum, for example.

We don’t really need a socialist Minister of Culture. In France, Socialist Prime Ministers have appointed Jack Lang as Minister of Culture, one of the sleaziest, most corrupt men in the entire country. Under his watch, TV stations and French art museums, which were once among the cultural jewels of Europe, have been filling up with obscene rap music, pornography, and recycled garbage masquerading as sculpture. He even built a glass pyramid in front of the Louvre, carefully designed to have 666 panes (the number of the Anti-Christ, for anyone who has read the Book of Revelation).

Who needs Treasury under-secretaries? B. Hussein Obama has his prah-ori-tays: the culture of Chi-town shysters, coming to a lah-bary near you.

Steve Z on March 17, 2009 at 1:15 PM

What is next, the Minister of Funny Walks?

Vince on March 17, 2009 at 1:11 PM

Tee hee hee. You know, that would be appropriate. Python created that skit to mock England’s ridiculously bloated government.

ExcessivelyDiverted on March 17, 2009 at 1:16 PM

I’m willing to guarantee this guy is a nation of islam muslim. He was not born with the name kareem(generous in arabic), I’ll bet you $100.

TTheoLogan on March 17, 2009 at 12:44 PM

Ed would have told us if this guy was muslim (nation of isslam or otherwise), right Ed?

Ed? Taqiyya?

ex-Democrat on March 17, 2009 at 1:02 PM

Kareem Dale = Kareem A. Dale = Kareem Ali Dale

aquaviva on March 17, 2009 at 1:16 PM

I believe the term “culture” now has the same meaning as “propaganda” in our dictionaries. Come on people keep up with the new definitions!

petunia on March 17, 2009 at 1:16 PM

But why does America need a Minister of Culture, or even an Assistant Sub-Under Secretary/Receptionist for Cultural Affairs? Did the Constitution give the executive power to shape culture? Or did Obama suddenly run out of work and needed to find something to do with his time and energy?

I, for one, am looking forward to a revival of the Uptown Comedy Club.

/sarc

Dr.Cwac.Cwac on March 17, 2009 at 1:17 PM

Based upon what the choices of previous custodians of art through the national endowment, he might as well be partially blind. It will probably be an improvement. Art is not for the little people and those in flyover country. Art is for those who eat arugula.

Old Country Boy on March 17, 2009 at 1:17 PM

At some point, he became the campaign’s Disability Vote Director.

So he was responsible for rounding up all those group homes for persons with disabilities and teaching them to say Obama when asked who they wanted to vote for at the polling booth.

Texas Gal on March 17, 2009 at 1:17 PM

Just look at his pic … you KNOW this lover of America is a Black Muslim.

Look at the hate. Look at the scowl. He’s just itching to get started on the re-education of the children.

OhEssYouCowboys on March 17, 2009 at 1:18 PM

Partialy blind in charge of the Arts…

Tax cheat in charge of the IRS…

Trend?

Romeo13 on March 17, 2009 at 1:12 PM

If he puts Ayers in charge of Education, then yes, trend.

ex-Democrat on March 17, 2009 at 1:18 PM

Hip Hop Czar

faraway on March 17, 2009 at 1:19 PM

I have to admit, I was hoping that Flava Flav would get the position.

:O(

OhEssYouCowboys on March 17, 2009 at 1:20 PM

……….hold on……..my phone is ringing……….it’s Blaggo…………he said he “sold” the Minister of Culture job already to The Messiah’s Auntie! She’s superbly qualified: she has 5 (count ‘em) Felony Arrest Warrants for being here illegally, AND, like all Obama staff, she DOES NOT pay taxes! Yea! Hire her now………..that’s HopeNchange!

Cinday Blackburn on March 17, 2009 at 1:20 PM

Don’t they have one of those in Communist China and Russia, too?

albill on March 17, 2009 at 1:21 PM

I thought this position was reserved for Jeremiah Wright?

ObamatheMessiah on March 17, 2009 at 1:21 PM

So is this clown ‘Minister of Culture’ going to be heading-up the re-education camps programs for right-wing/conservative dolts like myself?

Of course. Because you know we’re “basically decent people” but we “listen to the wrong kind of radio and watch the wrong kind of TV.”

crazy_legs on March 17, 2009 at 1:22 PM

who is up for the Ministry of Truth?

Vashta.Nerada on March 17, 2009 at 12:25 PM

That’s being handled by the Ministry of Bovine Fecal Matter.

sdd on March 17, 2009 at 1:23 PM

You know I read all the comments here and its no wonder black people hate republicans and “conservatives”.

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 1:23 PM

But why does America need a Minister of Culture, or even an Assistant Sub-Under Secretary/Receptionist for Cultural Affairs?

The Great Leap Forward
* Mao 1958-1961
* Obamao 2009-

petefrt on March 17, 2009 at 1:24 PM

Look at the hate. Look at the scowl. He’s just itching to get started on the re-education of the children.

OhEssYouCowboys on March 17, 2009 at 1:18 PM

He doesn’t look hateful to me. Maybe surprised and embarrassed to be interrupted while taking a dump.

DarkCurrent on March 17, 2009 at 1:24 PM

How does a partially-blind Minister of Culture know how to appreciate fine art?

Steve Z on March 17, 2009 at 1:15 PM

The same way the partially blind Prime Minister of Great Britain is going to watch all of those movies that the nice Mister O’bama gave him as a State Gift.

Del Dolemonte on March 17, 2009 at 1:24 PM

Minister of Culture
From the NY Times: “Mr. Dale, who is partly blind…”
Hmmmmm….

albill on March 17, 2009 at 1:25 PM

You know I read all the comments here and its no wonder black people hate republicans and “conservatives”.

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 1:23 PM

You know, I read your comment and it’s no wonder that “republicans and ‘conservatives’” hate cowards who are afraid to type what they think, because misfits like you would label them “racists.”

OhEssYouCowboys on March 17, 2009 at 1:26 PM

Kareem Dale = Kareem A. Dale = Kareem Ali Dale

aquaviva on March 17, 2009 at 1:16 PM

Yes, if you look at his campaign contributions, that’s his name.

Dale is a solid English name. Kareem and Ali not so much.

INC on March 17, 2009 at 1:26 PM

# Barack Obama was an original supporter of the ADA Restoration Act and then co-sponsor of the ADA Amendments Act, which will effectively overturn those Supreme Court decisions that wrongly narrowed the Americans with Disabilities Act.
# To ensure the effectiveness of this new legislation, he will appoint judges who will respect the laws that are designed to protect and empower Americans with disabilities.
# Barack Obama also will increase funding to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency charged with ADA employment discrimination enforcement so that the EEOC can fully prosecute cases of discrimination.

faraway on March 17, 2009 at 1:26 PM

I hope he comes out with a program encouraging rural-types to stop watching nascar and start brushing their teeth.

crapitulus on March 17, 2009 at 12:59 PM

This false and racist Leftist stereotype of Nascar fans has repeatedly been debunked; their demographics are no different than the American population as a whole.

Del Dolemonte on March 17, 2009 at 1:27 PM

Instead of appointing Ministers of Culture, maybe the Obama administration should focus on selecting people to handle economics. If he did that, perhaps we would get less Deadbeatonomics and more sanity. We need that a lot more than cultural advisers in this White House.

But but but but…there’s no PAAAAAARRRTY in economics!

ladyingray on March 17, 2009 at 1:27 PM

Minister of Culture – Liberalspeak for Minister of Propaganda

hadsil on March 17, 2009 at 1:27 PM

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/kareemdale

faraway on March 17, 2009 at 1:23 PM

I’m not going to click there…I’d rather hunt for the mirror site that starts with ‘your.barackobama’ instead of ‘my.barackobama.’

James on March 17, 2009 at 1:29 PM

Kareem Dale, founder and chief executive officer of The Dale Law Group (DLG) in Chicago, has been appointed as the Obama campaign’s Disability Vote Director, effective July 14, 2008. Dale, partially blind, will help broaden the campaign’s reach and involve even more voices in this coalition for change.

faraway on March 17, 2009 at 1:29 PM

You know, I read your comment and it’s no wonder that “republicans and ‘conservatives’” hate cowards who are afraid to type what they think, because misfits like you would label them “racists.”

OhEssYouCowboys on March 17, 2009 at 1:26 PM

Oh no, go ahead and type what you think, I encourage it. Just don’t act surprised when you get only 10% of the black vote because comments like these are what turn off many potential black conservatives.

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 1:30 PM

You know I read all the comments here and its no wonder black people hate republicans and “conservatives”.

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 1:23 PM

??? Exactly what comments have been derogatory to black people?

Geez … think for yourself much?

darwin on March 17, 2009 at 1:33 PM

Oh no, go ahead and type what you think, I encourage it. Just don’t act surprised when you get only 10% of the black vote because comments like these are what turn off many potential black conservatives.

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 1:30 PM

10% would be an improvement. Black conservatives feel just like most of the commenters here, and say many of the same things.

Vashta.Nerada on March 17, 2009 at 1:33 PM

Maybe Obama wants to show efficiency in government by having everyone take two jobs.

Show us more efficiency in paying only one salary.

Sir Napsalot on March 17, 2009 at 1:33 PM

Kareem Dale, who ran the outreach to disabled voters during Obama’s presidential campaign, will take a role that has traditionally been part of the First Lady’s unofficial authority:

How about an outreach to disabled VETERANS! Obama gives $900M to Hamas and won’t spend $500M for veterans! Outrageous! They should have a special Czar to make sure that they treat our heroes properly!
Hey, Obama, the American People trust our military much more than they trust you and Congress.

Christian Conservative on March 17, 2009 at 1:33 PM

More bio on Dale. It repeats some of the items already mentioned and adds this:

Very active in community work and affairs, Dale served as chairman of the board of directors at Black Ensemble Theater for three and one-half years, and prior to that, served in various other roles at the theater, such as secretary and vice president. Under his direction as chairman, Black Ensemble secured a $6 million TIF from the City of Chicago to purchase the theater’s current building, located at 4440 N. Clark. Also under his chairman leadership, the theater began its $20 million capital campaign.

So that’s his only artistic qualification I’ve seen: a fund raiser

INC on March 17, 2009 at 1:33 PM

I know I’m going to wake up tomorrow morning and this will all have been a dream……please be a dream! Is Monty Python writing this script? Next… Department of redundancy department.

hip shot on March 17, 2009 at 1:34 PM

Dale was founder and chief executive officer of The Dale Law Group (DLG) in Chicago, a firm that specialized in areas of personal injury, products liability, mass tort litigation, contract disputes and other general commercial litigation.
Dale spent eight years in the Litigation Department of Winston and Strawn, where he honed his litigation skills before he founded DLG in 2007.
Very active in community work and affairs, Dale served as chairman of the board of directors at Black Ensemble Theater for three and one-half years, and prior to that, served in various other roles at the theater, such as secretary and vice president. Under his direction as chairman, Black Ensemble secured a $6 million TIF from the City of Chicago to purchase the theater’s current
building, located at 4440 N. Clark. Also under his chairman leadership, the theater began its $20 million capital campaign.
He has received several community recognition awards for his community work and many honors, among them:
— Featured in the 2006 Inaugural Edition of Who’s Who in Black Chicago
— Honored in Ebony Magazine as one of the 30 Leaders of the Future Under 30

faraway on March 17, 2009 at 1:35 PM

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 1:30 PM

Hey, it’s not too much that the guy be qualified for his job you know. This is a nationally profiled position. How about some degrees in fine arts, decades of experience as a museum curator or something similar?

This is just political payoff and a waste of money.

INC on March 17, 2009 at 1:36 PM

I once took an Art History class with an insanely liberal text (BCE not BC). Here is a quote from Janson’s History of Art regarding the artist who created the elephant dung Virgin Mary: “Consequently, [the critics] interpreted the depiction of the dung and genitalia (and probably a black Virgin, although this WAS NEVER MENTIONED) as sacrilegious.” They assume racism was involved even though there was no evidence of it.

Maybe this is what the new Cultural Overlord will perpetuate. If you want to see the dung painting, google The Holy Virgin Mary by Chris Ofili.

ExcessivelyDiverted on March 17, 2009 at 1:39 PM

Makes sense, tax cheats for Treasury, blind man for Arts.
William Ayers for the new office of Police Liason?

pgrossjr on March 17, 2009 at 1:40 PM

William Ayers for the new office of Police Liason?

pgrossjr on March 17, 2009 at 1:40 PM

I thought Ayers was selected for Ministry of Reeducation?

Hmmmmm … maybe that was Ward Churchill …

darwin on March 17, 2009 at 1:42 PM

Oh Come now!

I am sure he is well versed in Classical music, Greek and Roman art and architecture, philosophy, history of the middle ages, European history, the great painting Masters, Early American history, the great battlefields of the East coast, the Constitution and the wars with England and France, the expansion of Americans into the West, the struggles and triumphs in science in the 1800′s, the Industrial revolution, the terrible sacrifices of WWI and WWII, the Space program, the triumph of Reagan in the Cold War; hey all that stuff.

Islam is just a side line.

GunRunner on March 17, 2009 at 1:44 PM

William Ayers for the new office of Police Liason?

pgrossjr on March 17, 2009 at 1:40 PM

Or…. head of Homeland Security?

Romeo13 on March 17, 2009 at 1:44 PM

Who’s who in black Chicago?

Black Ensemble Theater?

idiotic

funky chicken on March 17, 2009 at 1:45 PM

A LITTLE GUN HISTORY

In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
——————————

In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
——————————

Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
——————————

China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated
——————————

Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
—- ————- ————-

Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated..
——————————

Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
—————————–

Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.

1st ammendment under assault under the Obama Administration.

2nd ammendment under assault under the Obama Administration.

Capitalism under under the Obama Administration.

The very firms that employ hundreds of thousands of Americans being forced off shore due to over regulation and tax burdens brought about by the likes of Carbon Taxation under the Obama Administration.

Private citizens under attack by the potus under the Obama Administration.

National Defense to be drastically cut under the Obama Administration.

And to think, the only story the MSM is willing to report on is the “Rush Limbaugh wants the president to fail” story.

Very telling indeed…

Keemo on March 17, 2009 at 1:45 PM

Cronyism at it’s finest.

Is there a Guinness record for the most cronies appointed?

darwin on March 17, 2009 at 1:45 PM

ammendment should read amendment… My bad.

Keemo on March 17, 2009 at 1:46 PM

Fabulous.

Whose culture?

drjohn on March 17, 2009 at 1:47 PM

So, he has filled the Ministry of Culture position, who is up for the Ministry of Truth?

Vashta.Nerada on March 17, 2009 at 12:25 PM

How about ministry of the “Current Truth”…

Anyone who opposes Kareem Dale is a class enemy because you think that Western society has had a positive effect on civilization!

Kuffar on March 17, 2009 at 1:47 PM

Keemo on March 17, 2009 at 1:45 PM

Very telling …

darwin on March 17, 2009 at 1:48 PM

I have to admit, I was hoping that Flava Flav would get the position.

:O(

OhEssYouCowboys on March 17, 2009 at 1:20 PM

ROFLMAO

Branch Rickey on March 17, 2009 at 1:48 PM

Do bitter folk have culture?

tomas on March 17, 2009 at 1:49 PM

All government support will now go to those trumpeting the anti-American line. I expect the first will be a movie entitled “Jefferson, Sexual Slave Maniac.”

PattyJ on March 17, 2009 at 1:51 PM

Oh no, go ahead and type what you think, I encourage it. Just don’t act surprised when you get only 10% of the black vote because comments like these are what turn off many potential black conservatives.

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 1:30 PM

The problem that blacks have with conservatives has absolutely nothing to do with comments on this board. The problem is that many blacks have bought into the crapola spewed by people like you that conservatives are racist because they are the only ones who will speak the truth about the failure of every government run program to “help” blacks since Lyndon Johnson. Failed inner city schools that leave black children so far behind educationally that they can never compete. Failed anti-poverty programs that actually promote poverty rather than work to prevent it. Failed welfare programs that have destroyed the black family. Failed anti-drug programs. Failed government give-away programs. Every rotten thing liberals like you propose fails…but the liberals have convinced blacks they can’t survive without them or the government. Conservatives are the ones who truly believe “yes you can” and you don’t need the government to do it for you. you can do it yourself. You sir are the REAL RACIST and you ought to be flogged for perpetuating the trauma that continues to affect the black Americans.

sdd on March 17, 2009 at 1:51 PM

sdd on March 17, 2009 at 1:51 PM

Good job. Well said.

carbon_footprint on March 17, 2009 at 1:52 PM

He’ll be America’s Community Organizer in Chief: Cultural Division

econavenger on March 17, 2009 at 1:53 PM

You know I read all the comments here and its no wonder black people hate republicans and “conservatives”.

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 1:23 PM

But the republicans and ‘conservatives’ love, love, LOVE their Lord. Funny bunch of simpletons, aren’t they?

capitulus on March 17, 2009 at 1:54 PM

Obama probably doesn’t like the solemnity of the honor guard marching at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery.

http://www.tombguard.org/general.html

He’s going to have this clown book hip-hop artists to take the place of the sentinels.

BuckeyeSam on March 17, 2009 at 1:55 PM

The problem that blacks have with conservatives has absolutely nothing to do with comments on this board. The problem is that many blacks have bought into the crapola spewed by people like you that conservatives are racist because they are the only ones who will speak the truth about the failure of every government run program to “help” blacks since Lyndon Johnson. Failed inner city schools that leave black children so far behind educationally that they can never compete. Failed anti-poverty programs that actually promote poverty rather than work to prevent it. Failed welfare programs that have destroyed the black family. Failed anti-drug programs. Failed government give-away programs. Every rotten thing liberals like you propose fails…but the liberals have convinced blacks they can’t survive without them or the government. Conservatives are the ones who truly believe “yes you can” and you don’t need the government to do it for you. you can do it yourself. You sir are the REAL RACIST and you ought to be flogged for perpetuating the trauma that continues to affect the black Americans.

sdd on March 17, 2009 at 1:51 PM

B.S. I don’t see the people on this board referring to real sources to black problems like you claim. I see references to Flava Flav and black muslims. I don’t know what black America you see on TV but most Black people in this country are hard working law abiding people and it seems that the commenters of hotair like to lump us all in with the negative caricatures of black people they see on TV.

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 1:57 PM

Oh no, go ahead and type what you think, I encourage it. Just don’t act surprised when you get only 10% of the black vote because comments like these are what turn off many potential black conservatives.

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 1:30 PM

Yes, all FIVE PERCENT of them, as per the last election. I’m sure that your little tots either are, or will be, acting just like the savages and thugs that you allow them to emulate, in the name of diversity. Just watch MTV, E! Entertainment, VH1, et al.

I’m 50 years old, and I’ve seen this Afro-Centrism crap before, in the early 70s. I was in the public schools when it began. If “Black Conseratives” don’t like what is said about their own culture, then they are free to make things moot and change said culture.

Until such time, instead of fearing ThoughtCrime, as you would have us do, I’ll say what I think, because I’ve seen all of this before, and I know where it’s headed.

As for you, make sure that your little tots are dressed in their ghetto gear, and listening to the latest rap hatred of women, morality, whites and America.

Oh, and stay silent, and disregard the truth. That always works.

OhEssYouCowboys on March 17, 2009 at 1:58 PM

B.S. I don’t see the people on this board referring to real sources to black problems like you claim. I see references to Flava Flav and black muslims.
Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 1:57 PM

Those are real sources of black problems. Not all, mind you, but two of them nonetheless.

PBoilermaker on March 17, 2009 at 2:00 PM

Uh oh.

Rolling Rains Report: Precipitating Dialogue on Travel, Disability, and Universal Design

November 08, 2008

Advocating for American Leadership on Inclusive Tourism

But we as the disability community have another channel. It is the Obama Disability Policy Committee. Obama has promised to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – and Article 30 deals explicitly with tourism.

…..

Second, we should tell Obama and Kareem Dale that we are aware of Obama’s disability platform. He promised Americans with disabilities that he would:

Increase educational opportunities
End discrimination
Increase employment opportunities
Support independent, community-based living

And he promised to sign the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the first international, legally-binding human rights treaty for people with disabilities. Article 30 of the CRPD is the section that all my focus is on – tourism and disability.

Think about it.

Partially blind lawyer.

Are you ready for more infrastructure as part of the economic stimulus?

Dr.Cwac.Cwac on March 17, 2009 at 2:01 PM

Capitalus, what is the purpose of your presence here? It is to share your miserable personality with the rest of us?
Why don’t you return to Huffington Post where your enormous mental capabilities will be truly appreciated. And while you’re there, you can pick up the Obama Inaugural plate set very cheaply. Its’ value is dropping every day.

kingsjester on March 17, 2009 at 2:02 PM

Let’s see:

Dale is a native Chicagoan and received his bachelor’s degree in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He graduated Cum Laude with a law degree and an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in May, 1999.

Seems smart enough to me. I guess the GOP base who live in trailers think differently. Oh well…

capitulus on March 17, 2009 at 2:02 PM

…most Black people in this country are hard working law abiding people…

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 1:57 PM

We’re talking about an Obama nominee here. So far we have a group riddled with tax cheats and political thugs.

With a name like Kareem Ali Dale, I’d really like to know his political/religious leanings. I’d also like to know what his attitude on race is and if he is free from prejudice and welcomes equal opportunities for other races besides his own.

INC on March 17, 2009 at 2:04 PM

Yes, all FIVE PERCENT of them, as per the last election. I’m sure that your little tots either are, or will be, acting just like the savages and thugs that you allow them to emulate, in the name of diversity. Just watch MTV, E! Entertainment, VH1, et al.

I’m 50 years old, and I’ve seen this Afro-Centrism crap before, in the early 70s. I was in the public schools when it began. If “Black Conseratives” don’t like what is said about their own culture, then they are free to make things moot and change said culture.

Until such time, instead of fearing ThoughtCrime, as you would have us do, I’ll say what I think, because I’ve seen all of this before, and I know where it’s headed.

As for you, make sure that your little tots are dressed in their ghetto gear, and listening to the latest rap hatred of women, morality, whites and America.

Oh, and stay silent, and disregard the truth. That always works.

OhEssYouCowboys on March 17, 2009 at 1:58 PM

You see this is exactly what I am talking about. First of all I thought that “conservatives” want everybody to think of themselves as Americans and not hypenated Americans. So why is it the responsibility of conservative black folk to change other black folk. Second, do you only know black people in the hood or something? You know must of us aren’t thugs right? You know we almost all have jobs riiight? I don’t disregard the truth that black people, especially men are more susceptible than say white people to crime or poverty, I just don’t go around lumping every person of a racial group in with a minority of that group.

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 2:04 PM

these are what turn off many potential black conservatives.

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 1:30 PM

LOL.. what exactly is a potential black conservative? Is that something like .. what is the GOP going to DO FOR BLACK PEOPLE? That’s really the issue isn’t it? Republican principle of “hand up” and Democrat principle of “hand out”. Class warfare and racial divide is the purview of the Democrats. Obama made that clear throughout his entire campaign and has not strayed off that path since.

See above:

sdd on March 17, 2009 at 1:51 PM

Well said.

Texas Gal on March 17, 2009 at 2:04 PM

capitulus on March 17, 2009 at 2:02 PM

Straw man. There’s not a discussion of intelligence. There a discussion of a lack of any artistic or humanities training or experience (a few years of fund raising for one very specialized theatre group really is not enough).

INC on March 17, 2009 at 2:05 PM

With a name like Kareem Ali Dale, I’d really like to know his political/religious leanings. I’d also like to know what his attitude on race is and if he is free from prejudice and welcomes equal opportunities for other races besides his own.

INC on March 17, 2009 at 2:04 PM

Kareem is actually a pretty common name in the black community amongst Christians. In fact I have a friend named Kareem. He’s a methodist. But I guess the only black person named Kareem you know goes by the last name Jabbar.

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 2:07 PM

I just don’t go around lumping every person of a racial group in with a minority of that group.

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 2:04 PM

So, we should disregard your blanket statements about conservatives and whites, or do you typically contradict your own rantings?

According to your ideological buddy, we are all in trailers anyway. I guess we just don’t know any better.

PBoilermaker on March 17, 2009 at 2:07 PM

LOL.. what exactly is a potential black conservative? Is that something like .. what is the GOP going to DO FOR BLACK PEOPLE? That’s really the issue isn’t it? Republican principle of “hand up” and Democrat principle of “hand out”. Class warfare and racial divide is the purview of the Democrats. Obama made that clear throughout his entire campaign and has not strayed off that path since.

Whats a potential black conservative? I don’t know, maybe a person who espouses conservative ideals but hates when conservatives compare him to Flava Flav after they see his picture.

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 2:08 PM

I’ve wondered whatever happened to actor Peter Mayhew…

LadinPlaid on March 17, 2009 at 2:09 PM

Instead of appointing Ministers of Culture, maybe the Obama administration should focus on selecting people to handle economics. If he did that, perhaps we would get less Deadbeatonomics and more sanity. We need that a lot more than cultural advisers in this White House.

I strongly disagree with Ed. More Obama “economic” advisors just means more socialism. Let Obama instead appoint a special liaison to cats, parakeets, and iguanas.

thuja on March 17, 2009 at 2:09 PM

Update: Commenter RBJ notes that someone has to choose the DVD collections for visiting heads of state.

EX-ACTLY!!!

I was sitting here thinking…”WTF? Culture? An ART CZAR?”
But now it all makes sense! Somebody to send on endless trips to BestBuy, Target, Spencer’s, and the White House gift shop to select and purchase trinkets, baubles, and assorted tchotchkes for visiting dignitaries. Somebody to make sure the DVD collection will work in said dignitary’s player. Somebody to pick up the chips and dip for the weekly White House party.
Brilliant. I wish I had though of it myself.

uncivilized on March 17, 2009 at 2:09 PM

I never said anything about trailers or white, just about the bigoted postings of hotair commenters.

Terry Silver on March 17, 2009 at 2:09 PM

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