Jack & Jill Politics

That’s basically the question posed by Florida State Committeewoman Carol Carter, Republican. The full version is here:

How can 2,000,000 blacks get into Washington, DC in 1 day in sub zero temps when 200,000 couldn’t get out of New Orleans in 85 degree temps with four days notice?

h/t @fbihop and wonkette, who wrote

One thing Republicans like to do is send racist shit to each other, whether funny black-face minstrel songs about the “magic negro” (the president) or funny newsletters about the watermelon and fried chicken certain black people (the president) always consume, or especially funny racist jokes about how black people are so lazy but they sho’ nuff gets to shufflin’ mighty quickly comes ta pass a colored (the president) becomes the president.

Now pardon me while while I go off.

The original email, in addition to being racist, inhumane and evil, doesn’t even make sense. Let’s try to answer Carol’s questions.

How can two million black folks get to DC in one day?

Easy, black people have been planning this trip for a few hundred years, and because of the institutionalized racism and injustice woven into the very fabric of this country, black people have mad experience rolling to DC in large numbers. However, that’s not something I expect an ignorant ass Florida Republican to consider when posing rhetorical questions to her political colleagues.

Why can’t two hundred thousand black people get out of New Orleans with four days notice?

Why not?? Oh perhaps because despite the tortured racial history of this land, even these black people never thought that the 21st century incarnation of this government fail to plan for the evacutaion of people who didn’t own cars? Even these black people never imagined, in their wildest nightmares that the president would fly right over them and say the head official was doing a heckuva job. Despite slavery, Jim Crow, police brutality and economic apartheid, these black people held out hope that when push came to shove the government would not sponsor an internationally broadcast snuff film in which they were the stars.

That answer your question, Ms. Carol?

Wonkett’s coverage continues and is worth the full read. The article contains the standard disclaimers:

I have been asked to send this apology for my earlier e-mail. I am sorry that it was received in a negative manner. I do hope that we are going to be allowed to keep our sense of humor.

So many problems.

1) Even after sending it, Carol had time to consider, and found nothing wrong with what she did.

Only after being asked to send an apology, did she send one.

2) The non-apology apology.

We all know when folks say, “I’m sorry you were offended,” what they’re really saying is, “It’s not me. It’s you.” Why would an email that mocks the death and displacement of hundreds of thousands of people be received in a negative manner? No idea.

3) Last resort: I was making a funny!

“allowed to keep our senses of humor.” This is a tricky closer. She’s playing the victim and claiming comedic privilege.

As a practicing comedian, I often am placed in the position of having to defend my jokes, but the difference is I’m funny. This woman is not funny. Making jokes about black people getting to DC can be funny (see @ 5min, 22sec). Making jokes about thousands of black people left to die by their government will never be funny. Carol Carter doesn’t know the first thing about comedy or black people, and I’m sick of people hiding their racism behind bad jokes. Just come out and say it. Say, “I hate lazy niggers.” That would be more honest.

The good news, Carol lost her job. Better news would be if her house flooded and she drowned while waiting for emergency services. Cause that would be fucking hilarious.