by Shannon Williams
If you are a public figure, particularly a political candidate, one should understand that at some point or another, everything they say will be scrutinized. Either by their political counterparts or the American people in general. This is why among many other things, everything candidates say should make sense and never be offensive to a particular individual or demographic.
Such a thing has not been the standard as several Republicans find themselves vying for the party’s presidential nomination.
The most recent gaffe came from Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, who while discussing programs such as Medicaid and food stamps, made a comment that resulted in a rash of fury from all types of people, but Blacks in particular.
“I don’t want to make Black people’s lives better by giving them somebody else’s money. I want to give them the opportunity to go out and earn the money,” said Santorum.
There are a few things wrong with Santorum’s comment:
It’s offensive and insensitive because he singles out Black people.
By specifically mentioning Blacks, one might incorrectly assume that Blacks represent the majority of people on food stamps. The reality is a stark contrast. As a matter of fact, in Iowa, 84 percent of its food stamp recipients are White. Nationally, 70 percent of individuals on food stamps are White.
The inaccuracy of his remark further perpetuates a false stereotype of Blacks, thus increasing racial divisiveness.
Perhaps if Santorum would have said he didn’t want to make the lives of “poor people” or “food stamp and welfare recipients” better by giving them someone else’s money; it would not have been quite so inappropriate. Instead, however, he attempted to please Iowa’s ultra conservatives by making such a crass statement about Blacks.
Santorum isn’t alone. Some of his counterparts have made comments that would be considered highly offensive to minorities, the poor as well as gays and lesbians.
At what cost do these candidates want to secure the presidential nomination? Is it at the cost of the people who they offend?
Anyone seeking the presidency—Republican or Democrat—must be a president for all people, rather than one particular group. If a president isn’t inclusive of Blacks, what other minority group will he/she ostracize?
The thing so puzzling to me is that candidates make such off-the-wall and offensive comments as casually as they say “good morning.” It is as if the candidates don’t consider the perception people will have of them if they are actually elected into office. There’s a level of negativity and offensiveness I have observed in recent campaigns that I have never seen before. What happened to inclusiveness and simply being considerate of others? The negative behavior that some of today’s candidates exhibit further widens the disconnect between citizens and elected officials.
(You can email comments to Shannon Williams at shannonw@indyrecorder.com.)
(Reprinted from the Indianapolis Recorder)
About Post Author
