Bracklash: Brokaw screws up, gives his opinion

By PeraclesPlease on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 1:51am |

URL:

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5c4e2ed3e4b0287e5b8bd250

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During the broadcast, Todd challenged Hakeem Jeffries over the use of words like “Individual 1” and “Grand Wizard”. to refer to Trump. Todd thought the words were divisive. Jeffries pointed out that he was able to work across the aisle with Republicans on justice reform.

https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/jeffries-i-don-t-regret-the-colorful-language-i-used-about-the-president-1432670275948

Todd did not challenge Brokaw. Yamiche Alcindor offered the different viewpoint. Todd opened the discussion with:

“The problem is in Wyoming and in South Dakota, they think they need a wall. And in Texas and in Arizona, they don’t,” host Chuck Todd said.

“And a lot of this, we don’t want to talk about,” Brokaw said. “But the fact is, on the Republican side, a lot of people see the rise of an extraordinary, important, new constituent in American politics, Hispanics, who will come here and all be Democrats. Also, I hear, when I push people a little harder, ‘Well, I don’t know whether I want brown grandbabies.’ I mean, that’s also a part of it.”

by rmrd0000 on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 8:00am

A fiery comment on Brokaw

Brokaw is representative of a media elite that has no idea what life is like outside of their bubble. He only knows a distorted stereotype of Latinos because he exists in a universe where all of his friends are rich insiders looking out at the hoi polloi and wondering why they’re ruining America. One shudders to imagine what his inside voice has to say about blacks.

Sure, the racism of people saying they don't want "brown grandbabies" is bad enough, but can't we admit that "Hispanics" not assimilating is just as bad? I mean, my goodness! Their kids don't even speak English! I think. I haven't haven't actually met any so I'm just going by what I've heard but it makes sense, right?

This arrogant and privileged mindset is what led the media to obsess over Trump's white nationalist voters for the last two years while blatantly ignoring Obama's for eight. The only time "both sides" are worth giving equal time is when there is guilt to be assigned. Otherwise, the life experiences of the non-white, non-male, non-conservatives just aren't important to people like Brokaw.

https://thedailybanter.com/2019/01/28/f-ck-you-tom-brokaw/

by rmrd0000 on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 11:30am

I'm not at all sure what your problem is with Brokaw's comment. He didn't embrace racism but pointed it out as a problem. That's something you do constantly here to a much greater degree than Brokaw. I'm not sure about the amount of anti-Hispanic racism but I'm sure there are some whites that don't want brown grandkids.

I think assimilation is important. I agree with this link though, in that everything I've read seems to mostly make the case that Hispanics are integrating just fine. All the data seems to say that second generation Hispanics are learning English and assimilating in every way to American culture. Brokaw does seem to be ignorant of that fact. But let's be clear, this article is not attempting to make the case that assimilation is unnecessary. It's making the case that it's proceeding well.

by ocean-kat on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 11:52am

I supplied a link. Obviously, It is is not just my problem, the title of the post is “Bracklash”.

Brokaw apologized for saying that Hispanics need to work harder to assimilate.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/28/tom-brokaw-apologizes-after-saying-hispanics-should-work-harder-assimilation/?utm_term=.1e9a6d618349

by rmrd0000 on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 12:00pm

Why the fuck do you think I need you to supply links. I can find articles and read all on my own. I have a subscription to the WP, NYT, and TPM as well as reading several other sites I can't afford to pay for. I come here to discuss. Links are useful to add support and context to that discussion. Or to spark a discussion. Otherwise they're a waste of time here.

by ocean-kat on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 12:15pm

I really don’t understand your anger. Brokaw made a stupid comment. Hispanics are assimilating. He also suggested that many in his neck of the woods are racists.

by rmrd0000 on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 12:18pm

I'm not angry. What, are you going to play the Hal card and get offended because I said fuck? Fuck that.

by ocean-kat on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 12:39pm

The post is about the backlash Brokaw received for a stupid statement. I posted a link and included a response to Brokaw’s statement. You responded with:

He didn't embrace racism but pointed it out as a problem. That's something you do constantly here to a much greater degree than Brokaw.

I posted Brokaw’s apology and submitted multiple links that saw Brokaw’s comments about Hispanics needing to work harder to assimilate as inflammatory and xenophobic. Sitting at the table, Brokaw got pushback.

Later in the broadcast, “PBS NewsHour” White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor addressed Brokaw’s remarks.

“I would just say that we also need to adjust what we think of as America,” Alcindor said. “You’re talking about assimilation. I grew up in Miami, where people speak Spanish, but their kids speak English. And the idea that we think Americans can only speak English, as if Spanish and other languages wasn’t always part of America, is, in some ways, troubling.”

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tom-brokaw-hispanics-should-work-harder-at-assimilation_us_5c4e2ed3e4b0287e5b8bd250

Brokaw accepted a racist stereotype by stating that Hispanics needed to work harder to assimilate. That is why he received backlash and that is why he is apologizing.

by rmrd0000 on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 12:57pm

USA Today

Brokaw's offensive comments don't show much understanding of what is happening with Hispanics in America. We're assimilating just fine, thank you.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/01/28/tom-brokaw-assimilation-meet-press-racism-apology-hispanics-latinos-column/2700595002/

Newsweek

'I ASSIMILATED PRETTY WELL': BROKAW'S COMMENTS ABOUT HISPANICS DRAW CRITICISM FROM ARIZONA HISPANIC LAWMAKER, GEORGE P. BUSH

https://www.newsweek.com/assimilated-hispanic-lawmaker-george-p-bush-tom-brokaw-comments-1307930

cnn

Some journalists on social media quickly criticized Brokaw's comments. Aura Bogado, an investigative immigration reporter at Reveal, said Brokaw was "arguing classic white supremacist talking points in a deeply racist rant on national television."

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/27/media/tom-brokaw-nbc-meet-the-press/index.html

by rmrd0000 on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 12:15pm

I don't see anything racist in Brokaw's comments. He didn't know or incorrectly interpreted the data, but that doesn't make it "white supremacist" or a "deeply racist rant."

by ocean-kat on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 12:43pm

Obviously, others disagree.

by rmrd0000 on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 12:56pm

I find the story interesting only in the phenomenon of the ridiculous overreaction and misinterpretation. About something said by an aged former anchorperson that has little power to influence anyone anymore. Here from his Twitter feed, his attempts to rectify:

22 hrs. ago

i feel terrible a part of my comments on Hispanics offended some members of that proud culture

from my days reporting on cesar chavez to documenting the many contributions of hispanics in all parts of our culture

i’ve worked hard to knock down false stereo types. in my final comment in Meet i said ALL sides hv to work harder

at finding common ground - which i strongly believe dialogue not division

19 hrs ago, apparently in reply to some replies

my twitter acct failed me at the worst time. i am sorry, truly sorry, my comments were offensive to many. the great enduring american tradition of diversity is to be celebrated and cherished. yamiche, thank u for your comments. let’s go forward together.

finally, i am sorry - i never intended to disparage any segment of our rich, diverse society which defines who we are.

finally,i am sorry I failed to convey my strong belief that diversity - dynamic and inclusive is what makes America

my tweet portal is whack i hv been trying to say i am sorry i offended and i so appreciate my colleague

great Yamiche is a wonderful colleague and an important voice

17 hrs. ago

it worked! i got your attention. ‘night

My takeaway about him: he is amazed that anyone is seriously listening to what he says anymore and thinking that when he's on TV he better be more careful about how he words things. My takeaway about what it says about our current elite media culture: the p.c. police are everywhere and won't even give an ancient babbling liberal media person a break, this confirms all the caricatures by the right about the p.c. police and current hyper sensitivity and outrage fests. Russian trolls are watching and have learned a thing or two about how to break down coalitions of the simpatico and sow chaos instead.

Edit to add: The "yamiche" he refers to is Yamiche Alcindor, here on Twitter, with picture and bio, I didn't get into looking at her comments.

by artappraiser on Mon, 01/28/2019 - 4:20pm

the only
aliens
we like
are the ones
on star trek
'cause
they all
speak
english

-- martin espada

by NCD on Tue, 01/29/2019 - 12:05am

The take away message from Brokaw is that his best buds are racists. They trot Brokaw out for important events like the midterms, so you can’t say that NBC doesn’t expect people to take him seriously.

by rmrd0000 on Tue, 01/29/2019 - 8:20am

Bracklash: Brokaw screws up, gives his opinion

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