WASHINGTON (CNN) - America is "a nation of cowards" when discussing race. That sentiment from the country's first African-American attorney general, Eric Holder, has stirred up pundits, bloggers and readers.
"Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial, we have always been and we - I believe continue to be in too many ways essentially a nation of cowards," Holder told Department of Justice employees at an event Wednesday celebrating Black History Month.
Watch: Holder says America is a "nation of cowards"
And that impression of race in America has set off a firestorm of criticism.
"Holder doesn't want an honest dialogue about race. In the Age of [President] Obama, 'talking enough with each other about race' means the rest of us shutting up while being subjected to lectures about our insensitivity and insufficient integration on the weekends," conservative blogger Michelle Malkin wrote.
Stephan Tawney, writing on the American Pundit blog, said a glimpse at the national political landscape - namely the country's first black president - suggests otherwise.
From CNN Politics
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How about THAT,
What a great attorney general:
With one comment he has the country engaged in conversation.
WHICH WAS THE POINT!!!
WAY TO GO Counselor Holder Way to go!!!!
Excellent work, Sir.
Which bloggers are those? I agree with Mr. Holder 100%. We are a nation of cowards for the racisim issues and others as well. The problem with americans is that we don't like others to tell us the truth and the truth will always hurt.
Seriously... is CNN reduced to quoting Michelle Malkin? Sure you can do better than that.
Holder was out of line and stupid with these remarks. This sounds more like an empowerment speech and reprisal against being grilled by the G.O.P. than it does one of mending fences. Looking so subjective hurts his credibility as an interpreter of justice, especially when we're coming off the heels of a man with such biased vision as Alito.
He should go bury his hand in the sand.
From what I have read of the CNN blogs there is a solid crew of malcontents that post negative remarks at every opportunity. The Attorney General said "race" which would equally apply to blacks, whites, Latinos, Muslims, Asians....To jump to the conclusion that he was speaking about whites treatment of blacks is ridiculous.
Holder is right. maybe he should not have use the word coward but what he says is the truth.
This is absurd. How can you guys pick and choose which racist remark to pcover and which one to discard? Two things happened yesterday. Eric Holdre's remark and the NY Post's catoon. The media chose to go after Eric Holder but not NY Post. If that is not racism I don't know what is. You all hide under the umbrella of freedom of speech on NY Post's issue but not Eric's.
The greatest lie ever told:
"All men are created equal...."
You guys have an article about what bloggers wrote about an article.
I listened to Mr. Holder, and I came away feeling that he has an agenda that does not include most Americans. I thought the Attorney General was supposed to have ALL Americans on his agenda.
A racist Attorney General, on either side of the black/white issue is a little scary. We've had our share of white racists in that job, but I don't think the answer is to bring in a black racist.
From the Government book on proper etiquette:Open mouth,Insert foot........
I tend to agree with Holder. Obama did all he could to avoid the race issue during the election because it is taboo. People would rather ignore it than talk about it. It's not going away so people might as well have a constructive conversation about it. Bill Cosby has been doing it and he's getting heat from "some" black people but he is right on point.
looks to me like the truth hurts...and who listen to that shill Malkin anyway
Whatever Michael Malkin........ the fact is he is right, and its hard for people to admit it.
A serious conversation about the past present and future...........
The bloggers blasting are the same people Holder's addressing....they prove Holder right !! We ARE a nation of cowards that get nervous when talking race....still expressing, "I'm not racist" in public, all the while talking smack at home.
He said the work place is more integrated now, but on sundays, whites and blacks stay together in their own groups.
Granted that the race issue will always be something for the nation to work on improving, but the ethnic affinity is voluntary, on both sides.
Does he mean cowardice for not venturing beyond the group? How about both sides?
Leave him alone! He is entitled to his opinion just like Rush Limbaugh.
Holder missed this last election when Obama brought race up in some form or another in most of his speeches. And his followers talked of little else but the historic (race) election.
The only people cowardly about race right now are those afraid to express any criticism of our president for fear of being called racist.
This is going to get ugly – no politician can keep all their promises and Obama has made it clear he will blame race to avoid the image of failure. And he has his surrogates ready to whine.
Questioning Authority is not racist.
When I was in school, they taught us that America was a 'melting pot', whereas Canada was a "mosaic" ~ each individual, race, gender and culture making up a unique part of the picture that is Canada, each contributing something special to the whole.
How would things change if America thought itself a 'mosaic' and started celebrating each of the unique and valuable contributions that every culture brings to the big picture ~ rather than attempting to get each individual part to conform to one standard of ideal?
Comming from one of the most powerful people on the planet... yea... that makes sense.
Seems to me that the only racist here is Holder and his fellow democrats who keep trying to beat us over the head with this issue.
One other thing. AG Holder makes a good arguement in light of the Post's cartoon yesterday.
I don't recall every seeing a picture of our former President depicted as a crazed animal shot in the chest with blood coming out.
Say what you will but that cartoon was racist. We still have a very long way to go.
I think it's unfortunate that we can't get past that quote. There is more to what he said than just that quote and if we don't address the rest of what he said, then yes, we are cowards. Just because Obama is POTUS does not mean we openly and effectively address racial issues in this country. Many people don't want to be seen as racist/politically incorrect/insensitive. On the other side, we need to be able to talk about it while understanding where the other side is coming from and calmly discuss our perceptions. This doesn't usually happen. Once something is said, one person gets called a name and the other gets defensive and it blows up. One side does not stop and at least try to understand the other side. We all want to be heard, but can't offer an ear to another.
I am sooooo tired of politicians talking down the United States and its citizens. STOP THE NEGATIVITY AND HATE!!! We pay you to represent us, not insult and demean.