Is William Owens The Tea Party’s Designated Black Guy?
Tweet
From a Fox News (of course) article trying to dispute the racial epithets that were used on Sunday by Tea Party activists vs Democratic members of congress:
‘Never did I hear any type of racial slur,’ said William Owens, a black Tea Party activist from Nevada who joined in the D.C. protests Saturday.
Here’s video of Owens & his wife on the “Tea Party Express” tour.
Here’s Owens flying to CPAC for Tea Party Express
From his bio
William Owens is a frequent radio guest on shows across the country, and has been interviewed regarding his stance against the Obama administration, and for his insights as a conservative Black American.
In 2008, before the tea party movement started he – of course – wrote an anti-Obama book.
And here’s an article about Owens and Lloyd Marcus, the guy who sings the Tea Party theme song, aka the other black guy in the tea party movement.
29 Responses to “Is William Owens The Tea Party’s Designated Black Guy?”
GOP Rep. Spencer Bachus Facing House Ethics Probe For Insider Trading
Jennifer Aniston Reportedly Pregnant With Twins
PHOTOS: Tamara Ecclestone At The Langham Hotel
Red Front? “Center For American Freedom” Logo Echoes Communist Style
Romney Calls For Defunding Planned Parenthood, Wife Was A Donor
GOP Fundraising Email Asks Supporters To “Knock Out” Obama
Romney Comes Up Limp In Nevada
Obama Opens Lead On Romney In New Poll
Latest Entries
Why Do Liberals Support Drone Strikes?
Weekly Standard Rolls Out The Iraq Argument For Iran
Equal Polarization, My Ass
Some Crazy Stuff That Happened In World War II
Maryland Republican Campaign Funds Used To Defend Voter Suppression
The Obama Jobs Record In One Graph
Martin O’Malley All In For Marriage Equality
Newt Gingrich, Filled With More Excrement Than Your Average Politician
New Year, Powerline Still Stupid
Thanks Again
Meta
Blogroll
Disclaimer
The views on this site are mine and mine alone, and do not reflect the views of my employer, Media Matters for America
© 2000-2011 Oliver Willis
I miss NATE who the teabaggers used 5 times in the same video to show their diversity
Speaking of DBGs, here’s Michael Steele, quoted in today’s NYT:
I’m really, really glad he’s not on our side.
In that last link, the story of the beginning of Lloyd Marcus’ life, says:
“His family had just moved out of the ‘ghetto’…” (their quotations, not mine) and “the building of welfare-collecting black residents became a den of crime.” I’m not sure why you’d want to put ghetto in quotes as though it isn’t a real word. I’m also not sure why you’d want to infer that the black people were welfare-collecting, or even why “black” needs to appear in that sentence. The whole thing smacks of a right-wing PAC paying a guy to pretend to be a conservative.
I’m not sure he’s not on our side quakie.
Only liberals could find TWO “the black guys”.
It is to laugh.
Actually, it is not terribly important how many black people show up at a Tea Party. Two other things are more important: The fact that all conservatives know that they care more about the problems of Afro-Americans trying to get ahead than liberals do; and secondly, that if Afro-Americans stay home in 2010 and 2012, “There is no downside for Republicans…”
it is not terribly important how many black people show up at a Tea Party
Which is why it can never be a mainstream political movement, but I’m sure that flies right over your head.
Afro-Americans
What is this, 1972?
if Afro-Americans stay home in 2010 and 2012, “There is no downside for Republicans…”
It’s kind of sad/obvious that the GOP’s hopes at the ballot box hinge on no minorities (or women) coming out to vote. Simple math: when those two groups vote, you lose.
There will always be Uncle Toms. And not just black Toms. Homosexual and female right-wingers are Toms as well.
secondly, that if Afro-Americans stay home in 2010 and 2012, “There is no downside for Republicans…”
Ladies and gentlemen: Your Modern Republican Party. Classy as ever.
If you think that conservatives giving florid demonstrations of their racism is going to keep black (or any other non-white) voters home, you really don’t understand anything about actual human beings.
Owens + Steele = Stupid. The only, only time conservatives even acknowledge any minorities – black, Hispanic. Asian, women – is near election time.
Otherwise they should all go back to cleaning tables, working the fields, running their laundries and looking pretty and staying dumb.
Bachman and Palin fit the bill for being dumb but aren’t realy very pretty.
Has anyone ever met one of these black conservatives in real life? I mean, I see them on tv, I know they exist, but in the 47 years I’ve been a black woman (ok, all my life), I’ve never met one. I’ve lived in several different areas of the country, traveled through Europe, I meet all kinds of people on the job and I’ve never met one. Never had one in my family either. Seriously, anyone out there who’s actually MET a real live black conservative?
During slavery there was a black “overseer” a slave himself, that kept the enslaved controlled. This “overseer” was given special privileges and oftentimes was as or more cruel than the “master”. The “overseer” began to think of himself superior to the enslaved Africans many times elevating himself in status as to be almost the “master”. Historians could condone this behavior during the institution of slavery because of the cruelty and abuse of the system as a whole. Sociologist and Psychologist could surmise that perhaps one would agree to become an “overseer” in order to keep his family together on the plantation and not have their children and mate sold. Or maybe they would be subjected to less beatings. However today absent of slavery, I would assume the incentive for these modern day “overseer” is money. I would also venture to state that they have deeper problems of self esteem, self hating, issues. I come to that conclusion as in my opinion, even if they agreed with the political ideology of the group, they would condemn the racist and homophobic remarks hurled at the Congressmen.
So, an Owens is nothing new in the African American historic Diaspora. They’ve always been around, will continue to be around. Fortunately, their numbers are becoming fewer and fewer. Armstrong Williams, anti-gay-gay disgraced Republican paid commentator; Alan Keys, anti-gay disowned own daughter for coming out as a lesbian, Kenneth Blackwell, former Ohio Secretary of State that worked tirelessly to disenfranchise African American voters in the 2004 elections; *Michael Steele; *Clarence Thomas; (*needs no explanation).
Note: I have not included in my list of modern day “overseer’s” any and all African American Republicans. Although I am hard pressed to understand how any African American would want to be associated with, or join the Republican Party, being a Republican does not automatically mean that one is against the interest of the African American populous. So don’t start responding with “good” African American Republicans like Colin Powell. I know, and I get it!
I am a little uncomfortable using “Uncle Tom”, “Overseer”, etc to describe black teabaggers. The country is big and there are outliers in any group. Remember Dave Chappelle’s skit on the black KKK member?
I prefer to direct my attention to the RNC and teabagger groups, who trump up these useful minorities as if they were typical of the diversity of their party. In fact, the “diversity” begins and ends with these two. It is a cynical version of “Some of my best friends are…”
Yes, I have. I dated a Black Republican once….And Gurl he was FINE!!
Now, having said that I must admit it was difficult for me. Often times he was so naive and uninformed regarding the issues. I would have to have long debates pulling books from my bookshelf in order to make my point, which in the end he would agree. He was sweet and often his personal opinions about situations differed from his political opinions. For instance, he would agree with something or someone politically if it personally affected him or his economic bracket. At the time I was living in an amazing neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. I can remember sunny spring and summer Sunday afternoons after Church when I would bring him to my friends many get-together brunches: mimosa, eggs, home-fries, fried apples, turkey sausages, and corn bread and Sade playing softly in the background (YUMM, anyway I digress). After the initial “kiss, kiss” greetings and elbow nudges from my girlfriends and some guys, we’d sit down to eat and engage in stimulating conversations. After two minutes, the twinkle in their eyes for how FINE he was turned into a mouth dropping, eye widening, “where the fuck is he coming from,” and “you’ve got to be kidding,” kinda of looks. (and everyone that posts on this site knows that feeling.)
So, GURL…..I had to end it. I must admit that from time to time on a sunny afternoon I think of him and a smile crosses my face. Then I look at my husband, get a bigger smile, and thank God!
Frank, a few Republicans like Jack Kemp actually cared for and articulated a message for Black Republicans. I honestly believe he thought deeply about the plight of the poor and ways that Republican, supply side economics could actually aid the poor. He is dead. That message is dead. There is no more emphasis on Enterprise Zones and Public Housing home ownership and the many other actually interesting policies that became part of the Republican agenda in the Reagan years. Today’s Republicans are plutocrats, cynical strategists and anti-intellectuals… and a few old timers who remember what it used to be.
Tea Party theme song? Now that’s funny!
By the way, there’s another wingnut black conservative I know of, AgustusIV is a youtube fixture.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW1JlMMeA20
There are more than two black teabaggers?!?!?!?!?!?
Well that ruins the reworking of that old joke:
The black teabaggers ball was camcelled yesterday as Jesse Lee Peterson had to go to the birth of his abstinance-only believing duaghter’s third child and Lloyd Marcus didn’t want to go on his own!!
Frank, it’s 2010. I think you mean colored people.
OMG–funny . . . .
Poor Frank.
Don’t feel so bad…we’re paying for him to enjoy Medicaid
I refuse to believe Frank’s post is not satire. Either that or he is auditioning for the Dos Equis upcoming campaign, ‘The Most Ridiculous Man in the World’.
He uses the phrase ‘Afro-American’…in 2010.
He thinks that a second token black person in a group thousands strong…is not a second token black person.
He is…the most ridiculous man in the world.
I worked in housing and community development programs at a senior level for Republicans like Jack Kemp. They never bothered me or asked me to tow a party line. They were interested in results and retooling programs that did not work as well as they should have worked. I was even able to secure pre-development funds for cooperative housing out of these folks, which any non-profit housing person knows is virtually impossible. This current gang of Republicans don’t care anything at all about human beings. Nada.
Maybe if Tea Bagger would put some black faces up front closer to the TV cameras and got rid of the signs showing Obama as an Africa Witch doctor they can regain some credibility.
Right now they look like a bunch of white southern segregationalists spitting at black school chldren on their way to class.
Enlightened, isn’t that what the “overseer” did allow themselves to be used? That’s why I always make a reference of the term by using ” ” around it.
Perhaps my point needs clarification and that is, there were always people in the African American experienced that allowed themselves to be “used”. I am so glad that you pointed out the Dave Chappelle “Blind KKK” skit. (which incidentally I tried to youtube it and can’t find it any longer, and I love it). Not only was it one of Chappelle’s masterpieces of profound comedy, but it drove home a deeper point of the ridiculousness of the notion of “race superiority in a way that still has me ROFLMAO whenever I even think about it. The character didn’t know that he was “Black” and not only was he a racist, but he was a Grand Wizard of a KKK chapter who’s members didn’t know he was Black also. If you remember the end of the skit, the Chappelle removes his hooded sheet, much to the chagrin and horror to the other white KKK members. Now here is when I don’t exactly get your reference because, unlike the character in Chappelle’s skit, the so called Black Leaders of the Republican Party, are not blind, nor mistaken about their cultural identity as African Americans. Instead, they identify with the self imposed superiority of the modern day notion of “race superiority” who is yielding power and abuse against their own mothers, sister, brother, daughters and sons. That was my point.
I am in agreement with your analysis that they are “typical” of the diversity within our community as a whole. The entire human community that we are a part of is a mosaic of different cultures, sexual orientations, educational and intellectual levels in other words, it takes all kinds to make up the world. I would even say at a risk that our human diversity includes the, Klans Person, the thief, the murder, who all represent differences in the world community at large. It doesn’t make these social deviants any less dysfunctional, vile, and reprehensible simply because of their humanness. Therefore, I refuse to make any excuses for those that are African American simply because they are African American. I hold them to the same responsibility of ethical behavior as I would anyone from any other cultural background. I only point out how far back the behavior of these African American apologists of the racist behavior displayed within the party with which they identify.
Also, enlightened I don’t understand your “cynical version of ‘some of my best friends are’ comment. Because as an African American woman, some of my best friends indeed are…….
The last ‘reasonable’ Africian-American Republican was J. C. Watts, and his Wikipedia entry is most revealing:
Isn’t a pair of teabaggers called a “scrotum?” Or is that what they call a voting majority at a Tea Party convention?
Forgot. They don’t like that majority rule crap. The party of anarchy has a hard time organizing anything more complicated than a contest to see who can misspell the most words on a protest sign.
“Designated Black Guy:” what used to be called “house nigger.” (Pardon my political incorrectness, but that describes the likes of Steele and Owens perfectly.)
“…teabagger’s BALL”?
Heh…
Like I said, there was once such a force in the Republican party, and it swayed me back then. That was before the southernization of the party. I just can’t listen to them anymore.