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Soledad O’Brien’s Fixation On Race Is A Problem For The Daily Caller


On Thursday, Soledad O’Brien made public her plans to leave her CNN morning show Starting Point. News of O’Brien’s departure came on the heels of CNN’s announcement of a new morning show hosted by Chris Cuomo. Yet, while Starting Point is ending after just two years in production, O’Brien won’t be leaving the news channel altogether.

As the New York Times reports, O’Brien will be returning to her pre-CNN career as a “roving documentary reporter,” the only difference being that she now has a production company to call her own. The new head of CNN Worldwide, Jeff Zucker reached a deal to help fund Starfish Media Group, O’Brien’s production company, which will be responsible for producing three documentaries for CNN. Interestingly, the deal does not stipulate any degree of exclusivity so Starfish Media Group is free to shop its programs to other networks and post them online as well. It appears that O’Brien is pleased with the deal; during her appearance on The Wendy Williams Show, the reporter said she is looking forward to “doing stuff I like to do, which is hard-hitting journalism.”

Also, O’Brien will continue to host CNN’s critically acclaimed Black in America documentary which has two new installments forthcoming. The Daily Caller shared some…interesting thoughts on the continuation of the franchise:

That’s a relief. I was worried that people might start to forget that Soledad O’Brien is black. Did you know she’s black? Because she’s black. In America. Where’s she’s black.

She’ll also be able to “take hosting and reporting jobs elsewhere at the same time.” I’m sure she’s in great demand already. Hey, maybe she can co-host a show with Keith Olbermann. He can lob misogynist insults at her, and she can call him a racist. Olbermann/O’Brien! You’re welcome, Al Jazeera America.

It seems that The Daily Caller’s Jim Treacher (the author of this bold commentary) is suggesting that the half Afro-Cuban O’Brien should stop talking about race: we all get that she’s Black and she should just let it go because — hell-ooo — the President is Black and we are living in a post-racial America. But Jim, the thing is — Soledad O’Brien can’t forget that she is Black, because we won’t let her. Our society continually reminds her and all other people of color of their non-whiteness every day.

White people take their race for granted because that’s one of the luxuries of being white — we don’t have to think about race. The people on our television screens are predominantly white, our bosses are predominantly white, our political leaders are predominantly white, our professors are predominantly white, our police force is predominantly white. We are what’s “normal”; we operate on the assumption that the default is white, and so we don’t have to talk about it. Clinical psychologist Beverly Tatum framed the issue best:

If you’re driving on the highway and you are not randomly stopped, you don’t get to the end of your drive and say, “Gee, I wasn’t randomly stopped today.” You just take for granted that you got in your car, drove to your destination, without incident, like you do most days. It’s not something that you think of as a function of being a white person in this society…

What Jim Treacher fails to understand is that not paying attention to race is an advantageous phenomenon exclusive to white people. Anyway, we’re sure Soledad O’Brien has lost exactly zero hours of sleep over Jim Treacher’s concern with her “preoccupation” with race. Maybe he should check out a couple of those Black In America documentary thingies ; it sounds like they might prove illuminating.

[Photo via]

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  • Benny

    “Maybe he should check out a couple of those Black In America documentary thingies ; it sounds like they might prove illuminating.”

    Hmm…I dunno,it’s pretty hard to shed light inside an asshole…I’m just saying.

  • Anonymous

    I destroyed Jim Treacher one time when he was posting on Mediaite.

    Needless to say he ran back to TDC for some more hate pieces and didn’t return for a while.

  • Anonymous

    “That’s racist!”

  • Anonymous

    CNN apparently had a problem with her race fixation too.

  • Anonymous

    Of course you did, dear. Everybody applaud Joe’s achievement.

  • Anonymous

    “Our society continually reminds her and all other people of color of their non-whiteness every day.”
    Really? How so? Some examples would have been nice. It’s impossible for me to believe that every time a person of color leaves their home, they’re stopped by the cops for something. I live in a small neighborhood with many black people, ( and it’s a crust, nasty little town, BTW) and somehow they manage to walk the streets without being arrested. I guess they don’t know they’re black. They need to watch Soledad.

  • Anonymous

    “Soledad O’Brien can’t forget that she is Black, because we won’t let her.” …yep, that’s right. Because she doesn’t own a mirror, I send her a daily email to remind her she’s black… in fact, I send a mass email to every person of color in the US to remind them they are black, even if their Asian, Middle Eastern, Hispanic… because, you know, being the dumb whitey I am, I obviously think they all look alike. I revel in being able to enjoy the “the luxuries of being white”. And let’s ALL be thankful we have a pasty white New Yorker like Colette McIntyre to remind US whiteys that we’re a bunch of racists.

  • Anonymous

    —golf clap—- for “joe the destroyer”

  • http://twitter.com/nagohal Nagohal

    “Soledad O’Brien can’t forget that she is Black, because we won’t let her.”
    So, why don’t you stop reminding her? Why doesn’t she stop reminding herself?
    “Our society continually reminds her and all other people of color of their non-whiteness every day.”
    So, why don’t we stop reminding them?

    I never remind any of my black friends or coworkers that they are black because I never think of them as black. I stopped thinking that way when I grew up and stopped asking my Mommy about chocolate people. I figured it out.
    So, why do you still think that way?
    Don’t bother lecturing me about how I ‘really’ think. Go judge yourself first. And no lectures about ‘It’s not that easy’ either. Growing up and maturing is not easy but we really must try.

  • http://www.facebook.com/markgjudge Mark Judge

    Wait a second. I was born in D.C. The majority of the cops and politicians are black. The teachers are mostly black. Hell, the city is mostly black. It’s not a big deal. What year are you living in?

  • Matt

    *”Our society continually reminds her and all other people of color of their non-whiteness every day.”*

    I know every time I see black folks, I point at them and shout “You’re black!!”. Since I’m in Florida, I have to do that alot with hispanic folks too – I mean, I wouldn’t want anybody to think I was discriminating by not pointing out to any and all non-white folks that they’re ‘Insert Ethic group here”!!

  • Matt

    Uh, yeah, a. I find that people on the internet who claimed they “destroyed” somebody, 99% of the time, didn’t. b. So what? Its the internet. c. Treacher would run circles around you “destroyer.” Even with his bad leg.

  • Finrod Felagund

    I’m sure that’s a leading bullet point on your resume.

  • Finrod Felagund

    Most liberals never made it out of the 1960s.

  • Anonymous

    Well, excuse the hell out of America for being predominately white. It just worked out that way, you know?

  • Anonymous

    I think she said society reminds her by NOT randomly stopping her while she’s driving. Or something like that.

  • Anonymous

    Why don’t you just destroy him here, too?

  • Anonymous

    Is “half Afro Cuban” regarded as black? Who decides these things, and why would they care enough to?

    She just seems pretty to me, but dumb as a stump. A real parrot.

  • http://commentspammersmustdie.blogspot.com/ Kakarot

    Joe is the champion, he says
    And he’ll keep on saying till the end
    Joe is the champion
    Joe is the champion
    No time for Treachers
    ‘Cause Joe is the champion of the World

    (with apologies to Freddie Mercury & Queen)

  • Niko McRonin

    oo oo oo-destroy ME now, joetear! you are such a big mean ol destroyer.

  • http://twitter.com/JacobRBaldwin Jacob Baldwin

    “Soledad O’Brien can’t forget that she is Black, because we won’t let her.” Huh? I just thought she was really tan.

  • http://twitter.com/joliveroconnell Jennifer OO

    The only people that remind me that I’m black are liberals. Otherwise I go through life pretty much unaffected. Soledad is only half black, and has more money and face time than most white, black or blue people. What’s this axe she has to grind? There are so many other topics she could do documentaries on, yet she chooses to fixate. This is a conversation for the psychologist chair…

  • Anonymous

    “The people on our television screens are predominantly white”

    This is flatly wrong – Blacks are over represented and so are Jews.

  • Anonymous

    But she furrows her brow really well when discussing issues. That scores well with the sheeple.

  • Anonymous

    I thought she was Ann Curry. I bet most people would fail a quiz on which is which.

  • Anonymous

    Yeah, funny how predominantly non-White areas seem to end up as backward hell-holes.

  • Anonymous

    Corruption and high-crime is all just a coincidence there, right?

  • Anonymous

    “Why doesn’t she stop reminding herself?”

    Because in this Negrophilic society there is a lot of money in it.

  • Anonymous

    Blacks complain about it when cops are in their neighborhood and when they are not in their neighborhood. Generally, they complain until someone gives them money….then they complain some more.

  • Anonymous

    “Maybe he should check out a couple of those Black In America documentary thingies…”

    I will check them out when they have a “White in America” documentary.

  • http://twitter.com/Nietzschean John Smith

    Right after Coffee and Sushi, but before Jon Stewart and Private Schools, on that hipster list of “stuff white people like” should be:

    #3. Accusing other White People of Racism.

    Those mandatory racial awareness classes they made us take in college have paid huge dividends. Huge! Afterall, we get to enjoy the insights of something that calls itself “Collette McIntyre”. Lucky us!

  • Super Genius

    “Soledad O’Brien can’t forget that she is Black, because we won’t let her.”

    I’m glad that someone of your ilk finally had the courage to confess.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks for the laugh. And I really did laugh out loud when I read this comment. I’ve been following Treacher ever since the early days of Hot Air when he commented there. Trust me. NO ONE, least of all YOU, has ever managed to even a cause a flesh wound on Jim Treacher. Not even close. You poor pathetic fool.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1071946980 Cherry Walker

    Something must be wrong with me! I keep forgetting someone is “different from me” until they point it out!

  • http://commentspammersmustdie.blogspot.com/ Kakarot

    Be nice now, Ray. Maybe the guy who said that only watches MSNBC.

  • http://twitter.com/archerbmeadow Archer Broadmeadow

    I’m ashamed that I’m white and that I don’t have to think about being white–except for the being ashamed part.

    I think about that.

    A lot.

  • http://twitter.com/schwingcat Crabby Bitch
  • http://twitter.com/schwingcat Crabby Bitch
  • http://commentspammersmustdie.blogspot.com/ Kakarot

    Archer, maybe you need a hobby.

    Or at least, a new hobby.

  • Anonymous

    I have friends who are Chinese, Mexican, Canadian, Russian, Indigenous Australian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Swedish . . . let’s just say the have varied backgrounds and ancestries.

    Our day-to-day interactions have never dealt with issues pertaining to our races. Never. Just hasn’t come up. It wouldn’t be uncomfortable to discuss such topics with them; no one seems to have intentionally avoided them; it violates no rules where we interact.

    It just hasn’t come up.

    We’ve not discussed the different forms of knitting, either. No real reason, except it hasn’t come up.

    And things appear to be going well with everyone. People are happy, promotions are had by one and all, good actions are valued, bad ones are noticed and critiqued, and no one has ever complained that their race has been a factor in . . . anything.

    Now, if you put someone in there who blames their misfortunes on someone else’s attitudes about their race, THEN race is going to become a major issue.

    Not because there is any validity to their blaming – but because everyone else realizes that you cannot fight against an irrational movement. Race becomes an issue when it is used to bludgeon you.

  • Anonymous

    You are my current hero! (Or heroine, if you prefer….) YOU are the kind of person that will eventually move us to “post-racial America.” Bless you.

  • Anonymous

    Yes. Sean Medlock is a racist POS. Everyone knows this.

  • Anonymous

    Lol @ at your army coming to help fight your battles for you. You got rocked.

    Sit.

  • Anonymous

    I don’t have an army, hon. But your tough talk is very appealing. Please tell me more about how I “got rocked.”

  • Anonymous

    Yawn.

    You bore me, Jim Treacher. It is the egotistical self righteousness? Who knows. For someone that can write articles like, John Kerry explains his career: “In American, you have the right to be stupid” you are always the FIRST one to try to take the high road approach. Oh look at you projecting! Are you angry? Why so angry? Your smug condescending disposition sure gets your hillbilly followers all excited. Just look at them flowing to your defense. The funny part is I’m sure you’d be looking for a noose if you had to be in the company of the general pop of TDC for any period of time. Done with you until you can somehow prove that you believe what you do has a positive impact on the people that make you what you are.

    And you’ve just been rocked again.

    Sit.

  • Anonymous

    No, you’re a racist.

  • Anonymous

    Please type a few hundred more words about how little I matter.

  • Anonymous

    Ouch. Poor Jim has nothing. I never mentioned how little you matter. Your opinion, not mine.

    Done with you until you can somehow prove that you believe what you do
    has a positive impact on the people that make you what you are.

  • Anonymous

    More.

  • Anonymous

    Coward.

  • Anonymous

    That’s the way. Go.

  • Anonymous

    Done with you until you can somehow prove that you believe what you do
    has a positive impact on the people that make you what you are.

  • Anonymous

    Keep telling me how you’re done with me.

  • Anonymous

    Waiting for you to somehow prove that you believe what you do
    has a positive impact on the people that make you what you are.

  • Anonymous

    That’s why you’re done with me.

  • Anonymous

    Waiting for you to somehow prove that you believe what you do
    has a positive impact on the people that make you what you are.

  • Anonymous

    Pay attention, everyone. This is how Joe “rocks” his opponents.

  • Anonymous

    Look at me now! I’m a complete coward who thinks if I just evade everything I’m somehow proving something!

    Good game!

  • Anonymous

    Hey, look, it’s a picture of somebody with the same name as me.

    Now, let’s get back to you being done with me.

  • Anonymous

    Hmm what about this one?

    Being known for pretending to get hit by a car… my my google is fun.

  • Anonymous

    Hahah please tell me this one is you.

    I will seriously be done and you won’t have to waste your time on me.

  • Anonymous

    Yeah, that’s a picture from the night I “pretended to get hit by a car.” Don’t stop the “rocking” now, Joe.

  • Anonymous

    Waste my time? It’s never a waste of time to get “rocked” by an expert such as yourself, Joe. You’re doing just fine, hon.

  • http://commentspammersmustdie.blogspot.com/ Kakarot

    Joe_tears – It took you five days to come up with that?

    What’s really puzzling is you seem to be PROUD of ‘you got rocked’.

    to laugh, it is…

  • Anonymous

    Hahahahahahahah thank you. I have to admit I didn’t think you would look like this but it all makes sense now. I often wonder if the people I argue with online look like fat basement dwellers. Right on the money! Sadly your smug words have no meaning to me anymore when I know they are coming from that face… so I will keep my word this time (finally) and be done with you.

    I can’t wait for random people to make fun of “me” as I post around. It’s my little inside joke… you!

    Hhahah see ya. Hit the gym or something so as you spend your days bashing politicians you don’t look so…… pathetic.

  • http://commentspammersmustdie.blogspot.com/ Kakarot

    Joe, good buddy. If there was supposed to be a photo (or a link) somewhere in your post, it seems not to have worked.

    FWIW, try HTML Tutorial, or just search the web for a cheat sheet. Might help.

  • Anonymous

    It’s my avatar, smart one.

  • Anonymous

    And the pathetic excuse for a human being in my avatar is the one you so vehemently ball ride.

    Hilarious.

  • Anonymous

    You’re welcome.

    Now: a few hundred more words about how you’re done with me.

  • Anonymous

    You poor thing.

  • Anonymous

    Mirror check, yikes.

  • Anonymous

    You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Anything to keep your name out there.

    Don’t worry, my new JimTreacher disqus profile is coming, I am going to live on the internets through you! Good times.

    I’m your #1 fan!

  • Anonymous

    No wonder you’re done with me.

  • Anonymous

    I want you to do whatever you think you need to do, sweetie.

  • Anonymous

    Hahha I will buddy.

    What shall I put in the little description when someone hovers over your ugly mug? You should have a say.

    This is going to be one awesome full on parody profile.

  • Anonymous

    How about “I’m done with you”? That seems to be a favorite of yours.

  • Jim_Treacher

    It’s not about me anymore! It’s all about you!

    Ugly writing = ugly person? That’s what I thought summed you up pretty well.

  • http://commentspammersmustdie.blogspot.com/ Kakarot

    Your avator. OK.

    So, a “92px × 92px (scaled to 24px × 24px)” image (per the image info I got), or if you prefer, a picture about a quarter inch on a side, is your grand response to all criticism? THAT is your grand putdown for the ages? giggle….

    Gotta give you credit, joe, good buddy. What a powerful picture. What detail. What an image. Of something…

    Let me guess: It’s a photoshop of your mother, right?

  • Jim_Treacher

    Lol. It’s Jim Treacher. It’s me!

    I know.. it burns to look at. Thank god it’s so small!

  • Anonymous

    It’s all part of you being done with me.

  • Anonymous

    Let us know when you’re done with being done with me. So far so good! ;)

  • Jim_Treacher

    Hey look at that pretty girl over there. Yeah. That one. Keep dreamin’.

    Hhahahahha.

  • Anonymous

    Okay, hon. It’ll be okay.

  • Jim_Treacher

    Aw! Maybe one day another fatty will let you say little cutesy things to her!

  • Anonymous

    Try “I’m done with you.”

  • http://commentspammersmustdie.blogspot.com/ Kakarot

    Hey, joe. You better contact Disqus. Some has changed your screen name to look almost exactly like the real Jim Treacher.

    WEIRD.

    Looks almost like you want people to get confused. But if you’re winning as much as you claim you are, you’d never make a change like that, right?

  • Jim_Treacher

    Is this like your second attempt at a reply? You already tried once. Lol.

  • Anonymous

    That’s because you’re done with me.

  • Jim_Treacher

    Hhahahahhaha you mad bro?

  • Anonymous

    You done with me, bro? ;)

  • Jim_Treacher

    Too bad you’re a coward and have to ban me from TDC so I can show you how awesome all your followers are! Grow a pair, unban me. Let’s see how intelligent TDC people are.

    I’m done with you! I mean me! LOL.

  • Jim_Treacher

    HOLD up, finishing this twinkie.

    Then I’m done with you!

  • Anonymous

    Oh no, was the bad man mean to you? :(

    You should tell him you’re done with him. Again. ;)

  • Jim_Treacher

    I’m done with me.

  • Anonymous

    Take as long as you need to be done with me. But just in case, don’t forget to remind me that you’re done with me.

  • Anonymous

    You can say that again. Oh wait, you did. :)

  • Jim_Treacher

    Done with me!

  • Anonymous

    That’s the way. Again.

  • Jim_Treacher

    !em htiw enoD

  • Anonymous

    That’s how you know it’s working.

  • Anonymous

    JimTreacher, the Daily crawler?

    How’s your retarded leg? I heared you lied about hit and run.

  • Anonymous

    Well said.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Frank-Burns/100003668877874 Frank Burns

    It would be easy to forget that she’s “black,” since she looks pretty damn white to me. That’s why she has to constantly remind everybody how “black” she is. Must be at LEAST 3.125% black, and don’t you forget it!

  • http://twitter.com/anti_romney i am the antiromney

    medlock’s too inane to be racist. he’s more of a half witted child who says stupid things to get attention.

  • http://twitter.com/anti_romney i am the antiromney

    in defense of mr. medlock, he’s more of a petulant moron than a racist. but he’s perfectly willing to say racist things to get people to like him. and, from the comments below, it looks like it’s working.

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