Are liberal beliefs racist and sexist?

Question

BOB KERREY CLARIFIES THE LIBERAL VIEWS OF BLACKS AND WOMEN
by Dennis Prager
Townhall
April 13, 2004
This is how Bob Kerrey, a member of the 9-11 Commission and former Democratic senator from Nebraska, opened his questioning of Condoleezza Rice before the Commission last week:

"Thank you, Dr. Rice. Let me say at the beginning I'm very impressed, and indeed I'd go as far as to say moved by your story, the story of your life and what you've accomplished. It's quite extraordinary."

It is widely believed in universities and in the media that conservatives are more likely than liberals to be racist and sexist. I have long believed that the opposite is true, that most Democratic politicians and most liberal activists, at the very least, do not regard black people as they do all others and, at worst, believe that blacks are inferior. I am similarly convinced that many men who most rail against sexism and advocate feminism hold women in lower esteem.

It is almost inconceivable that Sen. Kerrey would have said anything analogous to any other American (with the possible exception of one from Mexico or Puerto Rico) -- a Japanese, a Jew, a Pole, a German, a Uruguayan -- no matter how impressive their rags to power story.

Here's possible proof. Take the example of another minority individual who rose from worse circumstances than Condoleezza Rice to be the head of American foreign policy -- Dr. Henry Kissinger, secretary of state under President Richard Nixon. His Jewish parents fled Nazi Germany for their lives and brought their teenage son, Henry, to America. In addition to having to adjust to an entirely different culture, a new language and the loss of nearly all the property his family owned, Henry Kissinger grew up aware that many if not all of his Jewish relatives and friends back in Germany were being murdered.

Yet, one cannot imagine a senator beginning a hearing with Henry Kissinger noting how impressed he was with Mr. Kissinger's life story. Why not? Because many liberals and most Democratic leaders do not take blacks and women as seriously as they take whites and men. Blacks and women are regarded more as symbols -- of American and male oppression -- than as real people. Also, whereas a white liberal regards a white male as an individual, the white liberal is more likely to regard blacks and women as groups rather than as individuals. And, of course, they are seen as indispensable votes.

In their hearts, many Americans on the left do regard blacks as somewhat inferior, meaning, in other words, that they harbor racist views. That is the only explanation for the nearly universal leftist belief that all whites are racist, a libel that your child has probably been taught at college in some diversity or racial sensitivity seminar.

When a white liberal says or writes this, we presume he is including himself. Unless he is saying "all whites except me" are racist -- a claim so megalomaniacal that the claimant risks dismissal as a crackpot -- he obviously means that this includes himself. And in this he is right. One reason that so many liberals believe that all whites are racist is that they are projecting their racism onto all other whites.

It is probable that belief in black inferiority, or at least in black differentness, also helps to explain white liberal support for the lowering of standards for blacks, i.e., affirmative action and quotas. Conservatives believe that no changing of standards is necessary in order for blacks to succeed.

Likewise, one reason many liberal leaders support the feminist agenda and detect sexism wherever possible is that they know their own record and attitudes vis-a-vis women. As is often the case, two of the leading supporters of women's rights -- former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Ted Kennedy -- are known for their mistreatment of women. The same holds true for Hugh Hefner -- the leading displayer of naked women in history, a man who believes that the primary purpose of a woman is to function as a man's (sexual) playmate -- is a major supporter of feminism and feminist organizations. On the other hand, many of the leading Republican national politicians -- such as Sen. Orrin Hatch and the two Presidents Bush -- are noted for their respectful treatment of the women in their lives.

For all these reasons, Sen. Bob Kerrey, liberal, decided to comment publicly only about Condoleezza Rice's personal story.

Like many people of his political persuasion and in his political party, he saw her as an extraordinary black and female well before he saw her as an extraordinary individual.

Answer 1

Your question is too generalizing so I have to answer with no.But the details are very interesting and there I must agree that it's a flaw of lot of my fellow left wingers.Being extra nice to people is not treating them equal or seeing them as equal.
I believe it's of the greatest importance to see everyone as an individual and hold them to the same standards before qualifying them into groups.Seeing people first as part of a group is always destructive in my view.Also part of the reason I have to answer your question with no because it talks about a whole group.
Good question and I at least am willing to admit on this point a big part of the left wing should do some thinking

Answer 2

That's a long drawn out question. I'm just going to answer the subject. Yes. At least on the racist part. Liberals believe that minorities are unable to make in the world without their help. That's what affirmative action is all about. "You're not good enough. So we'll give you a leg up." They may have good intentions, but the root is pure racism, the belief that someone is inferior based simply on their race.

Answer 3

First of all, let’s look at the context of Bob Kerrey’s comments, who he is and who he is directing them to. These people are professional politicians. Every time either one of them opens his or her mouth, whether privately or publicly but especially publicly, they are working. Their job is to push the political agenda of those they represent. That can be their constituency, their party, and/or special interest groups, etc. And their job is to gain favor from a group or that group’s representative.

Bob Kerrey, in addressing Dr. Rice, is trying to gain favor. I know this sounds simple, but keep all intelligent discussion in perspective without idealizing about what is really going on. From my perspective, it is myopic and silly to take this example and say that liberals are racist because of it.

The easiest way to deal with people is in groups. People live in groups and work in groups, no matter how much individualism we espouse. Most of us have no idea how to survive outside of society, obtain food, housing, etc. on our own. We are social beings.

Liberalism espouses individuality. That means it’s all about me for me, and you for you. (If you disagree, you can look it up yourself in the dictionary, just to start.) You can be a liberal and champion the cause of this oppressed group and that oppressed group, but ultimately, the person who is most in tune to what is right and the way you see it is you. Liberals are known for taking on the fight of the underdog. Well, that’s fine, but the approach is patronizing, given where they are starting from. (Personally, I don’t see this approach as progressive, but regressing back before even before people figured out that it was better for everybody if some of us hunted and some of us gathered and then we shared.)

Fundamentally, a liberal takes on the cause of the “oppressed” because there is no one else that has been capable of bringing that person or group out of that condition, but the liberal believes he can. There is a pretentiousness and idealism in the view, even if they do work together through a party. But you can see again and again that there is a lack of cohesion enough to keep them from dominating politically.

That is why I can understand an argument that liberals are racist. But racism is a political device above all. Most parties use it in one way or another. It serves to keep groups divided, keeping them clinging to their differences rather than their similarities. The main groups are those with less than adequate political power. Dr. Rice and President Bush can work together because they belong to the same group. That is a group with enough wealth and power to work it so events benefit more than harm their interests.

Answer 4

I believe in freedom of conscience, but not in unlimited freedom of speech in the public sphere. This is what I mean: If people want to get together at home or in their private club or social hall and discuss why they hate Jews, blacks, Mexicans, whites, Christians, atheists, whoever, let them. What happens in the public sphere is my business, because it affects me (and those I care for and my neighbors). What happens in private among consenting adults (speech, sex, whatever) is not my business, or anyone else's business. When they leave that home or social club and try to hurt me, then it's my business and I or the police should stop them from violence when they initiate trouble.

Answer 5

Telling a race or gender that the only way they can get ahead is if it is handed to them, is racist and sexist. Telling Black Republicans they are traitors to their race for being Republicans is definitely racist. So I would have to say Liberals who are pro affirmative action, are racist and sexist. Liberals who believe a black person is a traitor to their race for being a Republican, in my opinion are racists.

Answer 6

good post I absolutely agree with you. Libreals feel that minorites are people who need to be constantly nursed and cared for. They feel that minorites can not make it in the world because of
A.all white people are inherently racist
b.The crimes commited against them in the past do not allow the to function properly in the future
c.There feeling that they owe minorites something because of there ancestors possible misstreatment to them.

Republicans on the other hand feels EVERYONE deserves and EQUAL chance. and your race has nothing to do with weather or not you succeed in life.

Answer 7

I don't care what a pork-eater like Dennis Prager has to say. Don't you have any opinions of your own, that you have to quote him at length? And if being patronizing to blacks and women is the worst you can come up with, then liberals are a lot better than right-wing morons.

Answer 8

well things like affirmative action and minority exclusive scholarships seem racist to me.

Answer 9

I'll read the entire article before I answer.

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Wow... full of accusations that the left employs sweeping generalizations and prejudices in regards to women and minorities while AT THE SAME TIME assuming that "all liberals must think this way" and "most liberals act that way".

Pot... kettle.... black.

Answer 10

that Dennis Prager, that wrote this article wouldn't happen to be the same Dennis Prager that is just another Rush Limbaugh clone would it?