Juan Williams: Before Obama, NYT Would Have Covered Paterson Differently

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by Glynnis MacNicol | 6:09 pm, March 4th, 2010

» 12 comments

New York has had better weeks, politically speaking. Actually, that’s putting it mildly. Ethics-plagued Charles Rangel “temporarily” gave up his chairmanship of the ways and means committee, and Gov. David Paterson…well, lets just say it remains to be seen whether he will last the week (in the meantime he’s keeping the NYT‘s lights on!).

Perhaps not surprisingly there have been accusations of racism where Paterson and Rangel, both of whom have their political origins deeply embedded in Harlem.

The excellent Juan Williams was on Morning Edition this morning and was asked by Steve Inskeep whether he felt race played a factor involved when it came to the predicaments of either Rangel or Paterson. Why does it matter that they’re African Amercan, how is that part of their ethical trouble here.

Answer: It’s not.

Said Williams: “I think clearly race is always a factor in American politics but in a way this is the story of black politics in the age of Obama.”

Namely, Rangel was pushed out by pressure from the Black Caucus: “That kind of action I don’t think you would have seen in a previous age.” Williams says Rangel’s troubles are “Shakespearean” and must come as a “rude awakening” so late in his career.

Especially interesting to note is that Williams doesn’t think the New York Times would have taken on a black politician in this state before the age of Obama: “In the case of Gov. Paterson, the New York Times, I can’t imagine the New York Times taking on the first black governor of the state in the way that they have been doing at this moment before this age of Obama.”

So, in a sense this does have something to do with race, just not at all in the way people have been speculating. The segment is below.

barack obama, Charles Rangel, Charlie Rangel, David Paterson, Juan Williams, Morning Edition, New York Times, NPR

MichelleF

There will always be cries of Racism, that just life in america now. But if is it Racism, it’s on the left, they are the ones that didn’t want patterson to run. Let’s talk about the coverage that the Rangel scandel has gotten in the last couple YEARS, V the pseudo scandal of Bunning. If you ever want to be taken seriously mediaite, you need to bring the balance you accuse Fox of lacking everday. I won’t hold my breath.
MichelleF

Oh yeah, here is the other one I asked you to cover:

Black Folks We’d Like to Remove From Black History. (via The Root)

Now image if Rush or Beck had said that, I”ll bet you would’ve have covered it very well.
libra blue

Of course race is always a factor and the black community benefits from it. Make no mistake about it, the Sharpton’s of the world wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Dems can throw Paterson under the bus because he is really of no use to them, but, as Beck said today, “Rangel knows where the bodies are buried.”

BTW, when was the last time that a congressman/chairman took a leave of absence for something like this?

@MichelleF, Good points. The Dems and many in the black community know how to use the charge of racism to their benefit. Sharpton is already on the loose about this Rangel business.
libra blue

Correction: “Sharptons”.
the real john t

One thing you can’t accuse Democrats of is using racism against any black Repub in the US Congress. Because there isn’t any. Repubs don’t seem to like the idea of an African American holding a high off in Congress.
the real john t

off > office
sueNaustin

the real john t says:
March 4, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Indeed.

MichelleF says:
March 4, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Why are Dems not wanting Paterson to run because he is not good at the job racist?

libra blue says:
March 4, 2010 at 6:52 pm
You actually wrote “…but, as Beck said today”?
libra blue

@sueNaustin, Hey I give credit where credit is due, and, like it or not, Beck was right about that..
http://www.facebook.com/people/Matteo-Matthew/100000189485233 Matteo Matthew

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/obama_win_causes_obsessive
ImNotBlue

the real john t says:
March 4, 2010 at 7:16 pm

One thing you can’t accuse Democrats of is using racism against any black Repub in the US Congress.

Wow… how very irrelevant of you!

Of course, you can accuse Democrats of using racism against Michael Steele. It’s been going on for years…

But perhaps to the larger point, that’s why they don’t have any Black politicians currently in Congress. Perhaps the left does such a good job of attacking them, racially insulting them, and other assorted nasty things… that they’d rather avoid that specific spotlight. I mean, we all remember how “respectfully” Condoleeza Rice was treated… why would anyone want to go through that again?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Greg-Thrasher/635581836 Greg Thrasher

Glyniss declaration Juan Williams is “excellent” is a joke and offensive..Juan is a classic Black apologist always seeking affirmation and validity from whites at the expense of Black folks..The NYT has never been refuge for Black folks of late is has been as racist as the Washington Times…

The NYT has a legacy of ignoring the lousy leadership of white mayors in dealing with Black citizens of NYV from Koch to now Bloomy( Under his tenure NYPD targets Blacks and the NYFD discriminates in hring Blacks ) to have them now lead the pack in indicting Black leaders is not a surprise at all….
Azarkhan

“I can’t imagine the New York Times taking on the first black governor of the state in the way that they have been doing at this moment before this age of Obama.”

Let’s not go crazy. The New York Times was basically doing Pres. Obama’s dirty work. Obama wanted Patterson out; the NYT kept digging until it found enough dirt to make it happen.

Besides, the white editors and writers at the Times have their lips firmly glued to Pres. Obama’s ass.It’s not like they have finally seen the light and become a news organization with integrity.