The Topeka Capitol-Journal is reporting that Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) told a town hall meeting that Republicans are searching for the “great white hope.” In the videotape, the newspaper reports that Jenkins says “Republicans are struggling right now to find the great white hope. I suggest to any of you who are concerned about that, who are Republican, there are some great young Republican minds in Washington.”
Jenkins goes on to mention various “hopes” who happened to be white: Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). McCarthy is not even black Irish to improve the situation.
For the video, click here.
Her spokesperson insists that she did not mean this in a racial sense, which may indeed be the case. Of course, Jenkins’ spokeswoman Mary Geiger didn’t make things much better by explaining “There’s no doubt the Republican Party has gone through somedark and challenging times in recent years, but thankfully bright young leaders have stepped up to lead the party into the future and she hopes to be a part of it.”
The origins of the expression is often traced back to James Jackson Jeffries (“The Boilermaker”) who was brought out of retirement to defeat heavyweight champion Jack Johnson on July 4, 1910 in Reno, Nevada. “The Great White Hope” announced “I am going into this fight for the sole purpose of proving that a white man is better than a Negro.” During the fight, the band played “All coons look alike to me.”
What should worry Republicans is not just the racial overtones but Jeffries got whipped. He threw in the towel in the 15th round.
Buddha:
I haven’t yet had a chance to make the grillades and grits, and I think your wrong about a planet being able to have consciousness.
Are you planning on being the sire? Now that would be a tad bit of irony. Can a green anti-conservative talisman father the great white hope?
Only time will tell.
But wait, there’s more . . .
Lynn Jenkins.
Showing single mothers of the world you could give a damn about them and their families. See AY? I wasn’t kidding a bit about what a lovely creature we have in Our Ms. Thing.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/01/rep-lynn-jenkins-laughs-o_n_273863.html
Being a single man and of a certain age where the dating pool contains more than one single mom, I’ll be sure to mention this to every single mother I meet. You do realize I cover the entire KC Metro area and Topeka, don’t you Lynn? And bad news for you. I’m gregarious and I’m told somewhat of a flirt.
See you next election cycle.
Pretty much the whole thing can be seen on youtube for those so inclined.