Elisabeth Hasselbeck was on Survivor but most know her from her years on the popular ABC show The View.However, Elisabeth left that successful show for the chance to be another bright, blonde, pretty, and dumb host on Fox News.
Recently, she had on Democratic Strategist, Reverend Jacques Degraff, who certainly did not hold back his sentiments about what Elisabeth was saying.
It started because Hasselbeck was commenting on recent stories where the Obamas described their personal experiences with racism. In summary, Michelle Obama said that she was treated like “the help” by a shopper at Target. Elisabeth didn’t understand why the Obamas were coming forward with this information now and even stated that it seemed like Mrs. Obama “enjoyed” the experience.“How stupid. Black people, especially someone in the position of Michelle’s, do not get pleasure in being asked to get a white person something at a store.”
Degraff said to Elisabeth that he believed the Obamas were discussing racial matters in America and things that a lot of people of color endure. With these experiences, he added that we have learned to smile though degrading situations.
Hasselbeck adds the annoying question:
“So, you’re saying that she’s had some time to think about it and realize that it’s racist?”
First, what does this even mean? Racist experiences happen all the time. Should the Obamas, or anyone, go to People Magazine and talk about it every time it occurs?”
Hasselbeck concedes that life in America for racial minorities is “challenging” but said that President Obama has made it more challenging. She notes that the unemployment rate for African-Americans is higher than whites to which I say, “OF COURSE IT IS!” It always has been. And our racist history has helped cause this. But most at Fox News would probably rather bang their knees with hammers than admit that.
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When Elisabeth quipped that some would say Obama has made it more difficult for Black Americans, Degraff replied in a cunning, authentic moment that provided great glee for me:
“Someone white would make that argument.”
Ok. The pure unabashed nature of this remark is rare on national television. Secondly, many white, mostly Conservative Americans do like to point blame at Obama, in general, for everything. But they really love trying to make blacks feel guilty for supporting Obama by saying how he has made life so awful for them. However, they will not discuss how no one has been great for black people. This is because our country was founded upon the ideals of oppression and inequality and we created structures and systems so those ideals would become public practices.
To completely get rid of this structure and provide real equal opportunity for all, there would need to be larger sweeping changes in our nation’s foundations. But, Obama can’t even do something as objectively mild like the Affordable Healthcare Act without Republicans screaming tyranny. So please. The audacity of these Conservatives to bring up black issues as if they actually want a public policy to help blacks is laughable if not so tragic in consequence.
Degraff goes on to say that being black in America is difficult and oppressive and that the Obamas were just trying to humanize their roles as political royalty by discussing how their race has also caused them problems. Elisabeth agrees that they have a right to do this, but still asserts that Obama’s policies have made things worse. Hasselbeck also had to say that while she is a white American, she believes this conversation on race is an important one to have. Well thank you Elisabeth. I guess.
I am just happy to see a black man on Fox News who isn’t the epitome of an Uncle Tom. So often, Fox will bring on African-Americans who have a view on race that is microscopic within the minority community. They have these people on to show their mainly white audience at home that: “look! These blackies agree with us too, so see! We are right.”
While Twitter goes nuts and Facebook statuses blow up and my minority friends text me about how crazy these people on Fox look and how they don’t represent the majority of black and brown people at all. So I applaud the reverend for standing up and putting Elisabeth in her place on her own show.
