FAMU College of Law Professor Jeremy Levitt, one of the nation’s premier public intellectuals, recently debated FOX News host Bill O’Reilly on the question of whether racism is present in the right wing backlash against U.S. President Barack Obama’s healthcare proposals.
O’Reilly asked Levitt to offer proof that racism was a factor in the wave of criticism against Obama. Levitt cited the 400 percent increase in death threats against the president since Obama took office and signs at anti-Obama rallies that depicted the commander-in-chief as an African witch doctor and monkey.
When confronted with those facts, O’Reilly responded that only 10 percent of the country is racist. Levitt shook his head and pointed out that O’Reilly failed to offer any evidence to back up that claim.
Levitt ended with the statement: “Fox News and the far right have a race deck, and they play the ace of spades every day.”
Check out Levitt's recent column on racial animosity against the Obama administration here.
You might also be interested in: Levitt pens book on Katrina Disaster
Levitt takes O’Reilly to task for FOX News’ “race deck”
September 28, 2009
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Pretty good interview. Go get him prof!
ReplyDeleteLevitt did a great job--O'Reilly is a complete and total jerk! This is the type of FAMU representation that truly makes me proud.
ReplyDeleteWhat 1:04PM said. STRIKE RATTLER, STRIKE!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is a good plug for FAMU, but there has to be a more centered debate on this topic. I am glad to see someone from FAMU who claim to be educated. Far cry from the FAMU "lifers" at the main campus who simply show up and teach in the same manner as they were taught 60yrs ago!
ReplyDeleteI concur 4:24 PM. And thanks to Professor Levitt for the great representation and the fact-finding data he supplied to support his argument. He let O'Reilly have it and I absolutely love that last "plug-in". Great job!
ReplyDeleteI concur with 4:37 as well...good observation and so very true! Damn shame...dinosaurs!
ReplyDeleteSome of you MFs complain just on general principle. There are "lifers" as some of you refer to them, in every college, school, government, and business. Get real, clowns.
ReplyDelete2:18pm
ReplyDeleteIf we as a people continue to strive to be the equal of a group of people who have proven to be unworthy of emulation, then we will surely continue to fail....So what if other colleges, schools, etc. have "lifers". Is your argument then that it is okay for FAMU to have people who no longer are able to teach in an effective manner or worst yet do not even care, still at the university? FAMU should strive to be BETTER! This is not a complaint this is a FACT. When FAMU strives to be the best and accepts nothing less than the Best then FAMU will be the BEST.
So, please do not confuse complaining with objective observations of needed improvements to make FAMU Great!
Go sit
ReplyDeleteCan one disagree with the President without being called a racist? If not, then the word has no meaning.
ReplyDelete