Is Ray Nagin a Racist?

[yeartolate]

Stuck on stupid just about says it.

Racist, I am not sure - I have not followed him enough to figure out where I think his heart is.

He seems to be opposing the gentrification of the area, but it certainly comes off racist. And I agree, his attempts to explain himself didn't make it better.


By the way, I wish folks would stop saying what God is punishing us for......

 

[Honeibee]

I'm starting to wonder if he's doing more harm then good.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

I'm starting to wonder if he's doing more harm then good.

That was my thoughts. Some people need to think about the things they say before they say them. Very sad situation...

 

[ead79]

I find his comments to be unbelievably insensitive. Goodness gracious, what was he thinking?

I am also outraged about his comments about God being angry. He’s no better than Pat Robertson. I would love to know how these two got their direct line to God.

 

[mickeyfan2]

cajun cultures, music

Cajun's are mostly white and decendents from French Canadian. That will not be lost with the loss of black NOLA. Many Cajun (remember Justin Wilson??) live in the bayous of LA and are still there.

 

[Barqs]

I am sorry, but he is an idiot... can't wait until he is out of office

 

[kydisneyfans]

The entire problem with this situation is we have no true leader-Nagan blames everyone but himself-the governor is lackluster and depends on someone else to take care of the problem. Bush is well.......Bush.

Rudy G took charge after 9-11, both as a figurehead and commander. Things will never be the same in NYC-but he said what needed to be said and did what he could to improve the situation. None of this is happening in New Orleans. I also feel for those in Mississippi-or the "forgotten ones". They were hit even worse and nobdy talks about them anymore.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Although I do think the comment was a little off the mark. I think New Orleans captured an amazing cultural, religious and historical mix of Americans of whom happen to be a majority black. I for one (as white as they come) would really hate to see that piece of America lost, those traditions, cajun cultures, music, etc. To rebuild without the people that made it that special place in the first place would be an absolute shame.

The culture will not be lost, however, it will probably end up being shared with many other areas of the country and not centralized in N.O. -- which I see as a good thing.

In rethinking this, I wonder if this was one of those times when something sounds better in one's head than it does when it's actually spoken. It's a rare politician who is able to think and speak quickly on their feet. I would hope that Nagin is not a racist despite how his original comment and subsequent "clarifications" sound.

I imagine that like most "mis-speaks", this will be forgotten in a few days or sooner if someone else inserts their foot into their mouth.

 

[vettechick99]

I've had problems with Nagin from the get go. He's accusatory, inflamatory and according to this, racist. Everyone in NOLA needs an advocate, not just the poor and/or blacks.

 

[Bob Slydell]

In rethinking this, I wonder if this was one of those times when something sounds better in one's head than it does when it's actually spoken. It's a rare politician who is able to think and speak quickly on their feet. I would hope that Nagin is not a racist despite how his original comment and subsequent "clarifications" sound.

The problem with Nagin is that this seems to be an ongoing trend. How often does he have to stick his foot in his mouth before he stops being able to use the whole "he means well, but he doesn't speak well" excuse?

 

[tarmand]

I've had problems with Nagin from the get go. He's accusatory, inflamatory and according to this, racist. Everyone in NOLA needs an advocate, not just the poor and/or blacks.

The problem here is where was Nagin when the poor and/or blacks were left in the city. I think he says what he thinks the particular group he is speaking to wants to hear. If you listen to the speech, you will hear that the people there are in complete agreement with him. I don't know if he is racist or not. I really don't think he was there for the black community during the hurricane and feel like he's trying to play Jesse Jackson to this community now in a desperate effort to regain his black following.

 

[mtblujeans]

He seems to say the weirdest stuff when he is under pressure. That poor man just needs to move off that office as soon as he can!

 

[Tigger_Magic]

The problem with Nagin is that this seems to be an ongoing trend. How often does he have to stick his foot in his mouth before he stops being able to use the whole "he means well, but he doesn't speak well" excuse?

You're correct, of course. This comment, like others, doesn't deserve a pass. I guess I've just fallen victim to the "it sounded a lot better in my head" problem more than I care to admit lately.

 

[castlegazer]

YES! And I wonder how Harry Connick Jr. feels about his comments, or how Anne Rice feels about it - or many of the other white residents of this very racially mixed city.

It totally ticked me off. I was further incensed by his God is mad comment. What an idiot!

 

[Southern4sure]

Does he think he is Willy Wonka?

I do think think he is racist and just because he holds a public office he seems to think it is ok to openly say racist remarks without being called on it. It would not surprise me to see revenue drop due to his remarks. He needs to worry about rebuilding New Orleans as a city not by what race makes up the majority.

 

[Ziva]

I'm going against the grain here and saying I don't think he's a racist. I just think that he's a passionate man who's worried about the people that he see's as having "no voice" in the "new" New Orleans and he wants to be that voice. The more controversial he is, the more coverage he'll get and he knows it.

Please don't hurt me..........

 

[DawnCt1]

I don't think Nagin is as racist as he is stupid! He is out there, asking the American people, some of whom are indeed white, for donations, tax dollars, etc and then he starts hurling the insults. "God is mad at America". Well, he could be but it won't be just over New Orleans. My guess is that Ray Nagin doesn't have anymore insight into God than Pat Robertson does. The majority of victims who lost their lives in NOLA were white. I have heard it said that "blacks can't be racist because they are the minority". Well that's one line I'm not buying.

 

[DawnCt1]

RE: "A Chocolate City";
Dark, Milk or White Chocolate??

I would think that the goal of any city planner would be to have a city that includes people of all colors. I guess not for NOLA.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I have heard it said that "blacks can't be racist because they are the minority". Well that's one line I'm not buying.

According to my black friends just being a minority does not negate being racist. The other day my best friend (a black man) called another black man we both know a racist since he makes racist remarks about whites. He even shows some distain that a black man and a white women could be best friends but we are. We are friends due to similar (dsyfuntional) upbringing, jobs, work ethics, how we treat out families,... and the list goes on and on.

 

[DawnCt1]

According to my black friends just being a minority does not negate being racist. The other day my best friend (a black man) called another black man we both know a racist since he makes racist remarks about whites. He even shows some distain that a black man and a white women could be best friends but we are. We are friends due to similar (dsyfuntional) upbringing, jobs, work ethics, how we treat out families,... and the list goes on and on.

Your friend is right.