Add Sally Kohn to the list of pundits not happy with references to those rioting in Baltimore as “thugs”:
Can anyone find me an instance in which the media referred to a white person who committed a crime as a "thug"?
— Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) April 29, 2015
Except she’s missing the point. It’s not the media calling the protesters thugs, it’s liberal politicians.
Why isn’t she asking if Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake ever referred to a white criminal as a thug?
Why can't Baltimore's black female mayor stop saying "thug"? http://t.co/Jd8TE07C2R
— Jezebel (@Jezebel) April 28, 2015
More importantly, has President Obama ever referred to a white criminal as a thug?
Pres Obama refers to those in Baltimore who engaged in violence are "criminals and thugs."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 28, 2015
Kohn can be as outraged as she wants, but it’s impossible to make the argument that “thug” is as bad as the n-word when it’s being used by the president:
Baltimore councilman slams media use of “thugs” for protesters: “Just call them n*ggers” http://t.co/DPni1J5mXd pic.twitter.com/agB76FWB3s
— Salon (@Salon) April 29, 2015
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Bonus: The above exchange happened when Erin Burnett was asking if it was appropriate for Mayor Rawlings-Blake to use “thug” to describe rioters.
If Kohn, Salon and others don’t want the media to use “thug,” then they need to tell black politicians to stop using it first.
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Related:
‘DOG WHISTLE TOOT TOOT TOOT’! Obama calls #FreddieGray rioters ‘thugs’
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