Is Paul Ryan Racist?

Here's where I found a longer version of his quote:

quote:

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Paul Ryan triggered a firestorm of recrimination this week. Speaking recently on Bill Bennett’s Morning in America radio program, the Wisconsin Republican and self-styled budget wonk linked poverty to this tailspin of culture, in our inner cities in particular, of men not working and just generations of men not even thinking about working or learning the value and the culture of work.

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quote:

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these comments elicited a quick and forceful rebuke from Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), who decried them as a thinly veiled racial attack. She explained: [W]hen Mr. Ryan says ‘inner city,’ when he says, ‘culture,’ these are simply code words for what he really means: ‘black.’

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quote:

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Ryan has since backpedaled, protesting that race was nowhere in his thoughts: This has nothing to do whatsoever with race. It never even occurred to me. This has nothing to do with race whatsoever.

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I don't know if he's racist or not, but he didn't really say anything that was particularly racist, and Lee is just interpreting him into being a racist.

I don't see pointing out a perceived problem as being an attack. I'd like to hear the quote in context. The links say that he linked poverty to a culture tail spinning into not-working.From what I see around me, that doesn't really seem inaccurate. Well, you can lead a horse to water...

Its possible, but I'd bet that the alchemists had the same attitude towards their naysayers as well.I think an honest discussion should include considering new problems that you haven't addressed yet, even if you don't like the sound of them. It should also include considering that everything you've been doing so far isn't working.Bashing your naysayers as "not helping" is also not helping.Did you catch wind of another quote that Bill Maher threw out there?

quote:

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When it comes to getting an education, too many of our young people just can’t be bothered. They’re sitting on couches for hours playing video games, watching TV instead of dreaming of being a teacher or a lawyer or a business leader they’re fantasizing about being a baller or a rapper.

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Now, we all know who they're talking about with "ballers" and "rappers". So, as your argument goes, do you think someone who says that young black people are uneducated because they aren't trying is someone who can have an honest discussion of how to solve the education problem in the US?Because that one came from Michelle Obama.Or is it only a problem when a white guy says it?

Do you have any particular legislation in mind?

Oh, I meant an example of that conservative legislation that is rigging the system.

Yes, you've said that conservatives have caused tuition to spike by lowering the contribution from the state. What legislation did this?

Sigh, I really wanted to read some specific legislation.The left says its all the right's fault, and the right says its all the left's fault, and nobody ever shows me any actual legislation.

I don't care about unions. You were talking about the cost of education and how the conservatives rigged the system so that education would cost too much for poor people. I was looking to find the legislation that did that.

I haven't gotten to your post yet. And I need to get back to work now. But I'll get to it eventually.