"Blacks don't study hard because the government takes care of them"

[minionofmidas]

Kern also noted, as the Tulsa World reports, that women don't earn as much money as men because "they tend to spend more time at home with their families."

Fun fact: There's a lot of truth in that.

[HAnnA MArin County]

Why doesn't she go after all the whites and say how they don't wanna stop cooking meth because the government just slaps them on the wrist and says "Don't do it again," and they do, 100 more times? Moron.

The sad part is that these kinds of racist statements will actually help her and build her political future in Oklahoma. For a state with such cute boys, that sure is one backwards state politically.

[Sbane]

Back when I was a political reporter, I actually took some time touring some charter schools in Newark, and learned a lot about urban education and its problems. Kern's comments aside, there is a serious culture issue in the African American community with regard to education. Making a serious effort to study is often seen as a "white thing," and blacks who work hard and are knowledgeable are often ostracized by their peers as not being black enough.

Maybe you guys don't all live in supermajority black cities, but the above is just like saying that Asian students do well in school and their parents put a lot of pressure on them to outperform their peers. It goes without saying.

Yes there is definitely some truth to that...but let's make clear that it's a cultural thing. It's not surprising you see so many African immigrants as opposed to African Americans in US colleges, especially in science majors as well as in grad school.

[anvi]

Back when I was a political reporter, I actually took some time touring some charter schools in Newark, and learned a lot about urban education and its problems. Kern's comments aside, there is a serious culture issue in the African American community with regard to education. Making a serious effort to study is often seen as a "white thing," and blacks who work hard and are knowledgeable are often ostracized by their peers as not being black enough.

I think affirmative action is counter productive, but I don't think it's to blame for the problems in education. The problems are much harder to solve, and probably can't be done through legislating.

I know it's uncomfortable to think about and it's easier to write Kern off as a dumb bigot (which she may very well be deep down, I can't speak to that). But the problem here is real; sweeping it under the rug for sake of political correctness doesn't do anyone any good.

I think if Kern had put it the way you do, I would have taken her to be serious and ernest about the problem.  It's not for me about political correctness, but about accurately identifying the challenge.  Creating a culture that values education in the African-American community is a real challenge, and one whose solution is complex and social, and not, just as you say, only legislative.  So, I agree with what you're saying.  Based on what I've heard him say to African-American audiences, as far as I can tell, Obama does too.

But I also think creating a culture that really values education at large, for the whole nation, is also important.  Teachers in classrooms fight an uphill battle every day to get students of all backgrounds to study, and it's not just because the students have lots of other classes, or chaotic home lives, or work in addition to school; it's also because there is a lot of apathy out there about the value and rewards of learning, and it's a struggle for even the best teachers to inspire students to work hard, whether they're from Evanston or from the west side.  

[Joe Biden 2020]

Oklahoma Democrats, along with the NAACP and the ACLU, are calling for Rep. Kern to resign.  I sure hope she does, but reality tells me that ain't gonna happen.

[Stranger in a strange land]

Kern says that people who don't want to study hard will end up in prison?  Damn, that means about 80% of my students are headed for the can!  Kern would doubtless be surprised to learn how many of them are white. 

Those White parents who spend $24k+ in sending their kids to the right preschool should have them live with Asian immigrant families instead.

The point of an elite preschool isn't academic quality (that would be absurd). It's all about bragging rights and forming connections, more for the parents than for the children.

[politicalchick20]

Oklahoma Democrats, along with the NAACP and the ACLU, are calling for Rep. Kern to resign.  I sure hope she does, but reality tells me that ain't gonna happen.

It would be nice to see her go. Weird things can happen, though. You never know when enough is enough.

PS: Bushie, I've only been to Oklahoma a few times (my grandparents live near the border in Fort Smith, AR), but my family connections to the area alone make it a weakness for me. I feel for all the more liberal/progressive/moderate/saner people (Democrats or otherwise) down there (while understanding the attitudes of the more misguided among them).

[Badger]

Back when I was a political reporter, I actually took some time touring some charter schools in Newark, and learned a lot about urban education and its problems. Kern's comments aside, there is a serious culture issue in the African American community with regard to education. Making a serious effort to study is often seen as a "white thing," and blacks who work hard and are knowledgeable are often ostracized by their peers as not being black enough.

I think affirmative action is counter productive, but I don't think it's to blame for the problems in education. The problems are much harder to solve, and probably can't be done through legislating.

I know it's uncomfortable to think about and it's easier to write Kern off as a dumb bigot (which she may very well be deep down, I can't speak to that). But the problem here is real; sweeping it under the rug for sake of political correctness doesn't do anyone any good.

The cultural problem's existance and blaming it conviniently on the GOP bugbear of welfare is a serious disconnect though. Methinks if welfare disappeared tomorrow (its already largely gone as we once knew it) and this cultural problem would continue.

[Dgov]

Back when I was a political reporter, I actually took some time touring some charter schools in Newark, and learned a lot about urban education and its problems. Kern's comments aside, there is a serious culture issue in the African American community with regard to education. Making a serious effort to study is often seen as a "white thing," and blacks who work hard and are knowledgeable are often ostracized by their peers as not being black enough.

Maybe you guys don't all live in supermajority black cities, but the above is just like saying that Asian students do well in school and their parents put a lot of pressure on them to outperform their peers. It goes without saying.

Really?  I always assumed it was more of a hopelessness/why bother sort of thing rather than a cultural/racial thing.

[krazen1211]

Good lord man, talk about sweeping the problem under the rug - you accuse blacks of being lazy, and you fail completely to lay the blame where it belongs: upon whites and the capitalist/slavery system.  Of course people will be reluctant to apply efforts when they are trapped in a system where effort is never rewarded, like capitalism.

How are whites to blame for the attitude depicted in this video?

http://uppitywoman08.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/woman-barack-obama-will-pay-my-mortgage-and-fill-my-gas-tank/

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Uh, so an overenthusiastic supporter said some stupid things? So what? I could bring up that scene in Jesus Camp where the kids are basically told to pray to a cardboard cutout of Bush.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

The cultural problem's existance and blaming it conviniently on the GOP bugbear of welfare is a serious disconnect though. Methinks if welfare disappeared tomorrow (its already largely gone as we once knew it) and this cultural problem would continue.

Certainly, though, the something-for-nothing Welfare culture isn't doing the African American community any favors. It creates a complacency where one should not exist; as if to say it's okay to settle for being trapped in the lower class.

While I think you're right -- the cultural problem would continue if Welfare was eliminated overnight -- I don't think you should entirely discount a link. There has to be a reason why a culture would be okay settling for a lack of eduction and opportunity, and assuming rational actors, it's because there's government-provided assistance.

Of course, if Welfare is the problem, simply ending it overnight is not the solution. There are people who genuinely need it. Instead, the solution involves a cultural shift in which the African American community is taught to firmly believe that they, as a whole, deserve better than what many of them get.

[politicalchick20]

Uh, so an overenthusiastic supporter said some stupid things? So what? I could bring up that scene in Jesus Camp where the kids are basically told to pray to a cardboard cutout of Bush.

Seriously? I've actually never watched that documentary. Talk about upping the creepy factor by ten trillion.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Uh, so an overenthusiastic supporter said some stupid things? So what? I could bring up that scene in Jesus Camp where the kids are basically told to pray to a cardboard cutout of Bush.

Seriously? I've actually never watched that documentary. Talk about upping the creepy factor by ten trillion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxdt_f0hwUg

[King]

Uh, so an overenthusiastic supporter said some stupid things? So what? I could bring up that scene in Jesus Camp where the kids are basically told to pray to a cardboard cutout of Bush.

Touching a Bush cutout?  Big deal.  Naso actually penetrated one.

[krazen1211]

Uh, so an overenthusiastic supporter said some stupid things? So what? I could bring up that scene in Jesus Camp where the kids are basically told to pray to a cardboard cutout of Bush.

Kids typically do what they are told by adults. What reason is there for an adult to hold the views spoken in the video?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

The issue is not the kids doing it but that they being directed to do so by adults.

[courts]

Kern says that people who don't want to study hard will end up in prison?  Damn, that means about 80% of my students are headed for the can!  Kern would doubtless be surprised to learn how many of them are white. 

Those White parents who spend $24k+ in sending their kids to the right preschool should have them live with Asian immigrant families instead.

The point of an elite preschool isn't academic quality (that would be absurd). It's all about bragging rights and forming connections, more for the parents than for the children.

At times I almost pity not having the opportunity to go through a crude marxist phase. Somebody post some vintage Rocket quotes.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Has there been a recall petition put forth against this ignorant bitch?

[Landslide Lyndon]

Has there been a recall petition put forth against this ignorant bitch?

Is there such a process in Oklahoma?

[krazen1211]

The issue is not the kids doing it but that they being directed to do so by adults.

Relevance? What does the expressed desire to collect welfare benefits as a result of Barack Obama's election have to do with someone's religious faith?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Has there been a recall petition put forth against this ignorant bitch?

Is there such a process in Oklahoma?

I don't know........but lord I hope so.

[Associate Justice PiT]

Has there been a recall petition put forth against this ignorant bitch?

Is there such a process in Oklahoma?

I don't know........but lord I hope so.

     Even if she were to be recalled, she'd probably be replaced by someone with essentially the same views. This is Oklahoma, after all.