Comments on: Ask the White Guy: Why Gov. Romney’s ‘47%’ Comment Probably Isn’t Racist

By: deeen

deeen — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 20:43:12 +0000

I never took the comment as being racist. Although I can’t understand how Romney is still in this race after making such a comment. I find it unbelievable that Americans are stupid enough to find him believable or trustworthy.

By: tick

tick — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 19:36:08 +0000

can you say that welfare in this country is in a good place? that it is fairly distributed?

NO!!! You can’t!!

The system that provides for so called “under privileged” is beyond corrupt and needs a change. If that is what he means by entitlement; then i have to agree with Romney. Its easy to see that most welfare recipients (most in my state are white btw, not that i think that matters at all but apparently this article thinks skin color matters) abuse the system when they have a body that is healthy and can work……

OPEN YOUR EYES TAX PAYERS

By: Lee

Lee — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 03:04:13 +0000

Lucia, you couldn’t have said it better!!!!!!

By: Luke Visconti

Luke Visconti — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:45:42 +0000

I don’t think Governor Romney should apologize for his comments for exactly the reason you state: He meant every word. As far as President Reagan—to paraphrase Dr. Cornel West—we are all cracked vessels. By the way—I am not the standard bearer for white men—the title of my column is meant to be ironic. I don’t represent all white men any more than the average Black guy represents all Black men. It’s my way of poking a little fun at stereotypes—kind of like saying “some of my best friends are white men.” (If you’re a baby boomer, you’ll remember that phrase from your youth). Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc

By: JGQ

JGQ — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:39:24 +0000

Mr. Visconti,
I find it unnecessary that you give your stamp, as the standard bearer for “the white guy,” that Romney’s words were “not racist.” Romney has stated that he will not apologize for his words because it is what he meant. He did not need you to interpret his intent for Diversity readers.
Your intent is questionable when, in one paragraph you praise Ronald Reagan for “his handling of the former Soviet Union during the Cold War,” and excuse his actions that blatantly embraced the roots of American racism and his words that openly espoused the stereotypes of American racism. While you acknowledge Reagan’s words and actions as bigotted, you apologize that “he felt it necessary to stoop to that low level.” What in the world does that mean, necessary? Applying your reasoning to Romney it seems you are stating that because a presidential election is at stake, it’s not racist if Romney concludes it is necessary to make not so veiled allusions to racist images, especially because it is evidence of his disdain for many other people as well.

By: Luke Visconti

Luke Visconti — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:46:40 +0000

Thank you for your thoughtful analysis. To further your comments, I’d like to point out that the problem with a purely “objective” approach using “cold hard fact” is that there’s no such thing when you’re dealing with people—facts are subjective. One person’s joke is another person’s insult. One person’s imposition of order is another person’s oppression. (For example, states that force poor people to take time-consuming and costly identification requirements to vote.)

I think understanding this concept of facts being subjective gives you empathy. Empathy does not mean you agree with everyone, empathy does not mean you must surrender your own principles. People can operate in a bubble of self-important lack of empathy successfully if they’re obliviously privileged and never told they’re wrong. However, empathy becomes urgently important when you’re a leader negotiating with people in an unstable government who have nuclear weapons (Iran) or with people who hold trillions of dollars of our debt (China).

It is clear to me from his own statements, taken at face value, that Governor Romney would make for a very dangerous president. Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc

By: Jerry Evans

Jerry Evans — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 02:35:13 +0000

The key to understanding the value of diversity in business, in my opinion, is fully integrated, objective truth, all analyzed within the proper context. That said, Mr. Visconti I think this was a brilliant response to an off the cuff comment being spun out of control during election time. Also, folks, remember that Romney is a absolute business man. He thinks in terms of objective growth, not subjective emotions. His comment was basically cold hard fact, but people are breaking it down based on cold hard emotion. The two do not mix, period.

Like Luke’s response, I agree his comment wasn’t racist. Go ahead and speculate back and forth, it’s a waste of time, because nobody will ever, ever, EVER know the truth except Mr. Romney himself (in fact, the title of this article speaks to that fact). However as leader you must be sensitive to the pulse of the nation, because we are a dynamic, living collective, and this is an important fact to be aware of. So, Romney’s comments do show (but don’t PROVE) that he’s out of touch with that aspect of leadership. Remember his specific audience, and don’t lose context of the setting, because he was pandering to a group of donors.

So, I think both perspectives were objective, fair, and of course left room for alternatives. A healthy way to look at things on a level playing field, which is important when there are an infinite amount of perspectives on the issue. In other words, this article sums up the recent media storm quite nicely, and remember it ‘s only being twisted out of control due to the fact it’s a presidential election.

This was a fair, understandable, but speculative question. Mr. Visconti’e answer was also fair, objective, and understands the speculative nature of the question without lost context of it’s importance in the bigger picutre. Great question, and great response, in my opinion.

By: Constance

Constance — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 20:00:39 +0000

Yes, I agree. This is why the middle class are important to America. I do not believe Romney is openminded of these things. Romney need a diversity class.

By: julie

julie — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 13:16:04 +0000

I agree with Andrea completely, and am only surprised it has not come up in the media more widely. I am white, but even I know that when the GOP starts talking about ‘dependent on govt’ and ‘victim mentality’, they’re not talking about whites.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 23:31:53 +0000

I think you should check your facts, and hope they’re not coming from Fox News, who apparently don’t believe in fact-checking.

Government is of, by and for the people. That is what the founding fathers of this country intended, and I think that the GOP has forgotten this. The people Romney was referring to, the 47%, are the people who have either worked for or defended this country — seniors and veterans — or are the people who we will be looking to to work for and defend this country — children and college students.

And who are “you people”? That seems to be the Romney attitude, the “us” and “them” mentality. As far as I’m concerned, Obama is one of “us” since he started out the same way that many of us did: hard-working parents who worked to allow their children to go to college to better their lives.

That’s how I started. My parents didn’t go to college, but they made sure that I did. I pay taxes; I work hard; I helped my children go to college; and I’m voting for Obama, not only because I believe he can CONTINUE to improve this economy, but also because I’m really fearful of what this country would be like with Romney and those with his values running this country.