GOP Congressman Inglis talks about Republicans, racism and Glenn Beck
The Associated Press is out with a fascinating exit interview with S.C. GOPer Bob Inglis, another Republican incumbent who was washed out by the wave of tea party fanaticism. Inglis is no RINO; he helped lead the impeachment of Bill Clinton.
But he does think for himself. In the AP interview, Inglis continues to think for himself, criticizing right wing talk show hosts and acknowledging the racism in the Republican Party:
“I think we have a lot of leaders that are following those (television and talk radio) personalities and not leading,” he said. “What it takes to lead is to say, ‘You know, that’s just not right.’”
Inglis said the rhetoric also distracts from the real problems that politicians should be trying to resolve, such as budget deficits and energy security.
“It’s a real concern, because I think what we’re doing is dividing the country into partisan camps that really look a lot like Shia and Sunni,” he said, referring to the two predominant Islamic denominations that have feuded for centuries. “It’s very difficult to come together to find solutions.”
Inglis’ refusal to join in on the Obama-bashing of the far right played a big role in his landslide defeat on June 22. Leading up to the election, he frequently challenged voters who questioned the president’s citizenship or patriotism. At one town hall meeting, he was jeered for saying that Beck, a Fox News Channel host, is a divisive fearmonger. . . .
Inglis said he was shocked during the health care votes as he watched protesters jeering Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat who was beaten as a leading civil rights activist in the 1960s.Inglis said he was too far away during the jeering incident to hear whether the protesters shouted racial epithets, as Lewis and other black lawmakers have claimed. But Inglis said the behavior was threatening and abusive.
“I caught him at the door and said, ‘John, I guess you’ve been here before,’” Inglis said.
Inglis, 50, who calls himself a Jack Kemp disciple because he has emphasized outreach to minorities as the late Republican congressman did, thinks racism is a part of the vitriol directed at President Barack Obama.
“I love the South. I’m a Southerner. But I can feel it,” he said.
. . .
But it’s worthwhile reading the interview
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122 comments Add your comment
Scout
July 9th, 2010
1:38 pm
The BACKLASH is a booger !
Scout
July 9th, 2010
1:49 pm
Cynthia :
A jury of his peers found the Oakland transit police office guilty of only involuntary manslaughter; meaning it was just a terrible accident caused by his negligence. The San Francisco Chronicle agreed.
Now the Feds are going after him for civil rights violations to appease the mobs.
You can bet if the victim was white and the officer was black the Feds wouldn’t give it a second thought.
Talk about RACISM !
neo-Carlinist
July 9th, 2010
1:49 pm
I guess folks are more interested on what’s on NBC…
JF McNamara
July 9th, 2010
1:51 pm
It was all good when the TV and radio guys just bashed Democrats all day. Now, they have too much power and are biting the hand that feeds them. Its going to end ugly. Either the media personalities or the moderate Republicans will lose. Every Republican had better be rooting for the moderates, or they are going to accelerate their decline.
Owl
July 9th, 2010
1:54 pm
Racist? Too far away? You got those wicked wacist wipublicans on the wun now CT
ctucker
July 9th, 2010
1:57 pm
Owl, I’m guessing you didn’t bother to read the post.
Rafe Hollister
July 9th, 2010
2:00 pm
Sin-thee: You were in such a rush to bash the GOP and Beck you didn’t give us much background on this dude. Who was smart enough to vote him out, what state. He needed to go just like most of those congressman, who think they are so much more intelligent than the rubes back home. Never heard of this guy, but glad he is gone.
Scout
July 9th, 2010
2:00 pm
Cyntia:
Sorry you and Inglis disagree with most of the rest of us but voters want representatives who REPRESENT them instead of arrogantly going off on their own.
Get it ?
master Sergeant
July 9th, 2010
2:01 pm
Just a typical Politician, they jump sides over and over again… Goes to show that the Demopublican party is in full swing!!!
ctucker
July 9th, 2010
2:02 pm
scout, do you even know what Inglis’ policies are? How he voted? What do you mean by “arrogantly going off on their own”?
JohnnyReb
July 9th, 2010
2:02 pm
“–washed out by the wave of rabid fanaticism engulfing the Republican Party.”
What Ms Tucker sees as rabid fanaticisim, the majority that will manifest in November see as Patriotisim.
The core of Republican disagreement with Progressives/the left is opposition to Social Justice, not race. The color of one’s skin has no bearing in the Republican Party. If you are the blackest guy in town and oppose progressives, you will be welcome on the Right.
For those who do not understand the progressive agenda, a/k/a Social Justice, here’s a defintion from Wiki revised for clarity.
Social Justice is the objective of Progressives that moves America away from Equal Justice under the law. Social Justice is based on Progressive concepts of human rights and equality where perceived economic inequalities are removed through progressive taxation, income redistribution, or even property redistribution. The policies aim to achieve more equality of opportunity than Progressives believe exists in American society and to manufacture an outcome where equal justice (the law) would not deliver their desired objective.
The above should soundly register regardless of which side you are on. It clearly is the Obama agenda, yet he swore to uphold the Constitution and law of the land. If opposing Obama makes me a fanatic, I am guilty beyond comprehension.
ctucker
July 9th, 2010
2:02 pm
Sorry, Rafe. He’s a Congressman from South Carolina.
ctucker
July 9th, 2010
2:06 pm
JohnnyReb, I take it you didn’t read the post. If you did, you’d know that South Carolina Republican Bob Inglis, a white guy, disagrees with you.
Levity
July 9th, 2010
2:10 pm
I am glad to see another incumbent get voted out. Sucks that people with a voice to so many like CT doesn’t use it for something more than to carry on the dems vs repub bs. Get a clue CT both the party leaders are corrupt. We need fresh voices in office that are not making deals in the back room. I thought Barack fit that bill but after his healthcare back room deals with the drug co’s and etc I found out the hardway more of the same with him. I will continue to look for individuals regardless of the labels you put on them that want to help us all vs the special interest. Hopefully one day you will get a clue and do the same.
JohnnyReb
July 9th, 2010
2:11 pm
Ms Tucker, I read your post. Progressives are not restricted to Democrats. They must go, and so he did. Good for South Carolina. And, the color of his skin is insignificant.
I am not worthy or ignorant enough to believe I know what Dr King would say. However, it is my hope he would oppose what is happening in America. He gave his life for equal treatment, not special treatment.
retiredds
July 9th, 2010
2:11 pm
Cynthia, it is very common that those who rail against you don’t read your post. They revere the wolves in sheep’s clothing (Beck, Rush, Steele, et. al) as they have become the modern day “golden calves”. They look good now but as with most impostors their days are numbered. This great country has overcome much more than these pseudo-patriots offerings over the air waves and in print.
ctucker
July 9th, 2010
2:14 pm
retiredds, there’s much wisdom in your comment.
ctucker
July 9th, 2010
2:15 pm
JohnnyReb, Inglis is no progressive. He’s no moderate. He’s a very conservative Republican. he voted against most of obama’s policies, but he wouldn’t tolerate constituents who claimed Obama wasn’t born in the U.S. Simple as that. This wasn’t about Inglis” voting record (and that’s what I mean by fanaticism.)
ctucker
July 9th, 2010
2:16 pm
Levity, Since you know nothing about Inglis’ votes, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Hayes
July 9th, 2010
2:22 pm
One of the problems this article highlights is the lost art of compromise. The Republican extremists believe they are right and will not budge. The Democratic extremists also believe they are right and are as stubborn as the right. Mr. Inglis is not a sore loser spouting sour grapes. He and other moderates from both parties are being replace by fantics from the left and right who are to focused on spouting rhetoric that supports their political ideology. They are not concerned about the broader population. Comments from Beck, Palin and Limbaugh are just as nutty as those who believe the Bush administration orchestrated 9/11. I disagree with Mr. Inglis’ politics but respect him for have the courage to step away from the herd mentality of the Republican Party when it makes no sense.
JohnnyReb
July 9th, 2010
2:22 pm
Ms Tucker, I don’t know all the details of why Inglis was voted out, but sincerely doubt is was only over the birthing debate. Graham would be out also if he was up for election, nothing to do with birthers.
The unfortunate thing is, Obama has so little credibility on the Right that while most don’t dwell on it, Obama pulling the biggest scam in history (birth place) does not seem completely out of possibility. His lies are so well documented, you can’t believe anything he says.
Blue
July 9th, 2010
2:23 pm
Don’t ever read you any more, and didn’t read this one. But wanted to say “Gosh…what a surprise that Cynthia is reporting something negative on the GOP”. YOU…are a one trick pony.
Scout
July 9th, 2010
2:25 pm
Cynthia:
You know exactly what I mean. Too many politicians run on one thing just to get elected and then do the opposite when they get in because all of a sudden “they know better” than the voters who put them in office.
I have been driving the limo with unamed “big time” politicians/staff in the back seat saying stuff like, “o.k. you answered that question for the V.A. group like this but when we get to the N.E.A. group at the next stop answer it this way.” The hypocrisy stinks.
Your Obama is a perfect example ……….. transparency? ending the war in Afghanistan? HA!
Cynthia is Sexy!!
July 9th, 2010
2:26 pm
“But he does think for himself. In the AP interview, Inglis continues to think for himself, criticizing right wing talk show hosts and acknowledging the racism in the Republican Party”
But of course!! Anyone who criticizes Beck, ORielly etc are independent thinkers. But criticize Wolf Blitzer or Anderson Stuper then be criticized and labeled a narrow minded cave dwelling neo-Con.
ctucker
July 9th, 2010
2:26 pm
Scout, When did Obama say he’d end the war in Afghanistan? He ran on ramping it up, and he has — much to the chagrin of his base.
ctucker
July 9th, 2010
2:27 pm
Blue, If you don’t want to read me, why don’t you go to another site? Please?
ctucker
July 9th, 2010
2:28 pm
Hayes, Similarly, I disagree with his policies, but respect him for his integrity
Luckie Daniels
July 9th, 2010
2:29 pm
A few days ago, I took issue with a David Corn article regarding Michael Steele’s comments in respect to the Afghanistan War (http://bit.ly/aa9itC).
My issue was not the subject matter, but David Corn’s inclusion of quotes and references that carried racist undertones — i.e. quoting an unnamed Republican consultant’s reference to Steele as a “buffoon” and referring to Steele’s comments as “keeping it real”.
I’m an intelligent consumer. I can read the facts and draw my own conclusion on Steele and any other topic. The fact David Corn felt the need to “urbanize” his piece is culturally offensive and clouded the issue at hand — were Mr. Steele’s comments inappropriate and should he be asked to step down as the RNC Chair.
With over 11,000 Twitter followers (and God knows how many online readers), how is it that no one took issue with David Corn’s need to make it crystal clear the issue wasn’t just RNC’s Chairman speaking out of turn — it was the behavior of the black man currently in the role?
Permissible (subtle) racism and bias is still vile and equally wrong.
Glenn Beck’s comments are twisted but the Republicans [open] approval is downright alarming.
I’m thankful at least Bob Inglis has been willing to say so and stand by it.
Luckie Daniels
Atlanta, GA
Cynthia is Sexy!!
July 9th, 2010
2:29 pm
PS…sounds as if Inglis has a case of sour grapes…
JohnnyReb
July 9th, 2010
2:32 pm
Ms Tucker, do you agree Obama’s agenda is Social Justice?
I'm here from the government and I'm here to help
July 9th, 2010
2:32 pm
Alvin Greene!!! Who dat?
kayaker 71
July 9th, 2010
2:32 pm
CT,
You continue to call Tea Party activists ” fanatics”. Just like you called Beck some choice names in your last rant. You profess that Inglis follows his own drummer and “thinks for himself”. You could learn a few lessons from Mr. Inglis. The behavior of these “fanatic right wing Tea Party activists” certainly could not match the vitriol of that Black Panther thug which you so conveniently have chosen to ignore. Have you watched the Fox interview with Megan Kelly and Zulu Shabazz? When are you going to run a thread on this monstrosity, CT? Not newsworthy? Not relevant to our DOJ and to Bozo and Holder’s reverse discrimination? You continually harp fairness, objectivity and truth. Isn’t that what journalists are supposed to do? Oh, but I forgot, this is an opinion page and that seems to let you off the hook. You seem to dig pretty deep for what you call relevant threads to prove the points that you feel are important but ignore much bigger issues that shout to be heard. It’s called selective indignation, CT, and you practice it well. It’s pathetic.
Rafe Hollister
July 9th, 2010
2:32 pm
Sin-thee: I looked it up, your boy Inglis only got 29% of the vote in the runoff. Trey Gowdy, a former atty in the US Attorney’s office got 71% of the vote. Sounds like the people of South Carolina were pretty solid in their opposition to brother Inglis. I think the same people will show up in 2014 to unseat Sen Lindsay Graham, another Democrat favorite Republican. Graham is always out of step with his party and the people of South Carolina until election time. He then pulls the Obama move and runs to the right of where he really is politically. I think people have finally been awakened to Lindsay and his deception. Power to the people!
Granny Godzilla
July 9th, 2010
2:34 pm
Just last night my favorite right winger (he is really really staunch) said he was having a big problem with the fact that his cherished republicans have been doing nothing but complaining and obstructing and have offered no real alternatives on any issue facing our nation.
I nearly fell out of bed from the shock.
I'm here from the government and I'm here to help
July 9th, 2010
2:38 pm
Anyone heard about the Democrat’s new poster boy? Alvin Greene! The Democrat’s party choice for U.S. Senate.
neo-Carlinist
July 9th, 2010
2:40 pm
CT, you’re good (Robert DeNiro in Analyze This, which was a horrible movie). You began the day defending Glenn Beck, sequed to gay marriage via NBC (that shameless liberal media outlet) and you have come full circle to once again stand at the corner of political art vs. political commerce. the birthers and the Glenn Becks of the world are carnir barkers and nothing more. their is no substance or anything remotely ideological about their “positions”. their positions? the bottom line (fundraising). Inglis, on the otherhand, like Obama is an ideologue and was OK contesting the President (and previous Presidents) on ideological issues. and therein lies the rub, one can disagree on ideological grounds; for example; I think Obama’s policies are socialist, but to rant and cry (as Beck does) that “Obama is a Marxist, Mulsim sympathizers” does nothing to further the conservative view, it simply enriches Beck and Fox News, and gives simple-minded, talking points-driven lemmings a battle cry.
Scout
July 9th, 2010
2:48 pm
Cynthia:
As I recall he said he was going to get us out of that quagmire by sitting down and “talking” to those folks. In any case, you make my point ………. the BASE who put him in there voted for him to do that and now he has ignored them.
Here is a list of his other broken pledges.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/rulings/promise-broken/
You also ignored my point about transparency ………….. he has totally reversed on that one. What a hypocrite !
JohnnyReb
July 9th, 2010
2:49 pm
“–republicans have been doing nothing but complaining and obstructing”
Granny, you are so deep into the left tank there is no hope. The Republicans have offered bill after bill, amendment after amendment only to be defeated by the majority or ignored by the leadership. One does not compromise just because you loose, not when the stakes are this high.
ctucker
July 9th, 2010
2:49 pm
Scout, I see that you are eager to discuss Obama, but the post is about Bob Inglis, South Carolina Republican Congressman.
Bawney Fwank
July 9th, 2010
2:49 pm
Cynthia you would make a perfect Psychology 101 case study of a perfect example of psychological projection! You just can’t go a week without pulling the race card and projecting your racial hatred. Are you a nightstick carrying member of the NBPP?
Al Greene...Procrastinator at Large
July 9th, 2010
2:53 pm
When asked to pontificate on Senator Inglis defeat Mr Greene stated: I was born and raised in South Carolina. I love this State and plan to do everything possible to help Barack Obama win the seat from this nasty ole tea partyin fish eyed fool. Now gimme back muh cheetos Byah!
Scout
July 9th, 2010
2:54 pm
Cynthia:
And my point is most of them do it ……….. Dems. and Repubs. I used to hear both sides in that limo. A politician is a politician.
I would for once like to see someone elected who would do (or at least vote) just the way the promised.
Remember ………. politicians and journalists are fighting for last place among respected careers.
ken R
July 9th, 2010
2:55 pm
Sounds like a sore LOSER to me.
The Teaparty are fanatics, but the Black Panthers are not?
Cynthia, the only loser and left wing fanatic on this blog is you.
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
July 9th, 2010
2:55 pm
Cynthia, it would be funny if it weren’t so sad. You write about something and lots of folks post “rebuttals” that have less than nothing to do with what you wrote.
Al Greene...Procrastinator at Large
July 9th, 2010
2:56 pm
When asked about illegals in the U.S. Mr Greene stated…Huh? Illegals in us? Who is us? Lemme tell ya something right now. You seen my green card so that proves I won the contest and am in it as a legal green card carrying citizen. Now gimme back muh cheetos Byah!
Granny Godzilla
July 9th, 2010
2:56 pm
johnnyreb
yes I’m in the tank for the left….swan dived in and very proud.
are you tanked?
Al Greene...Procrastinator at Large
July 9th, 2010
2:58 pm
When asked about illegals gaming the system Mr Greene stated…I know what ya mean I just wish SC had a professional baseball team. Why just the other night me and muh boys were watching Americas Teams and them two younguns uh mine kept eatin up all the cheetos. I had to whoop their behinds.
If I told em once I told hundrets uh times…STAY OUTA MAY CHEETOS BYAH!
Mr Charlie
July 9th, 2010
3:01 pm
Glenn Beck is really in your mind, isn’t he?
We have the Black Panther voting intimidation case, and Oakland BART cop Jury verdict and consequential riot. Yet, Cynthia writes yet another Glen Beck related article. Yawn.
Al Greene...Procrastinator at Large
July 9th, 2010
3:01 pm
When asked about the economy Mr Greene stated…Yup I done heard all about it but the thing is those cheetos leave muh hands all ernge and sticky. And when I pick up my frosty can of Hawaiian punch my hands get all wet with ernge running all down my hands. All I can say is…STIMULATE THE ECONOMY…BUY MORE CHEETOS, AMERICA!!
The Nerve
July 9th, 2010
3:05 pm
Sigh. Another “if you don’t like Obama then you’re a racist” blurp.
Pathetic.
Inglis does make an excellent point. Rhetoric does distract from solving the real problems. And just about everyone in DC with a (D) or an (R) next to their name is guilty of it and doesn’t have gall to do anything about it.