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Identity politics: Halperin interviews Ted Cruz, expects Ricky Ricardo

WARNING: The following is a rant.

I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and, if I had $5 for every liberal idiot who looks at me and says “You don’t look Puerto Rican”, etc., because I don’t fit the Liberal template of what a Lateeeno/Lateeena should be like, this blog wouldn’t need to carry ads.

Frankly, by now I expect to consistently encounter discrimination and bigotry from Liberals. It’s in their mindset – identity politics is their lifeblood.

Ruben Navarrete describes one instance:
Ruben Navarrette: Halperin interview of Ted Cruz was painful

. . . Halperin made it personal, and the interview careened into a ditch. He told Cruz that people are curious about his “identity.” Then, the host asked a series of questions intended to establish his guest’s Hispanic bona fides. What kind of Cuban food did Cruz like to eat growing up? And what sort of Cuban music does Cruz listen to even now?

The interview starts at the 9:00 point in this video,

Update: Louder With Crowder has the clip of the interview by itself:

Halperin was likely expecting Desi Arnaz as Ricky Ricardo singing Texas Pete,

Or perhaps Halperin was disappointed Ted didn’t invite him over for cortadito and pastelitos de guayaba. Halperin capped it all off by asking Cruz to “say something in Spanish.”

Cruz is much too polite, but I’m not. Here’s something in Spanish, Halperin,

Bésame el culo.

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UPDATE:
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Linked to by Ed Driscoll. Thank you! BTW, Ed reminds us that

As Matt Drudge wrote in October of 2004, Halperin, who then held the title of Political Director with ABC, wrote an internal memo that “admonishes ABC staff: During coverage of Democrat Kerry and Republican Bush not to ‘reflexively and artificially hold both sides ‘equally’ accountable.’” As if there was any chance that the House of Stephanopoulos would ever treat both sides fairly:

The controversial internal memo obtained by DRUDGE, captures Halperin stating how “Kerry distorts, takes out of context, and mistakes all the time, but these are not central to his efforts to win.”

But Halperin claims that Bush is hoping to “win the election by destroying Senator Kerry at least partly through distortions.”

Whoot! Memeorandum thread!

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A note on my choice of Bésame el culo over other similar phrases:
Bésame el culo is a grammatically correct, literal translation of an English-language sentiment that does not require cultural explanation to an English-language native speaker like Halperin. Indeed, it’s such a well known phrase, that, here in America, it’s usually the first complete Spanish-language sentence most middle-school students learn.

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Comments

  5. Mark Halperin is an infamous insectoid brain-dead Clinton-hunting CONSERVATIVE. You weasel. But on behalf of liberal America and the reality-centered community, let me say welcome to political blogging, our fascinating blue planet and reality in general. You don’t remember Mark calling Obama “a dick” on TV? You don’t remember the month he spent banished at home? For offering his personal opinion? And your first video is of him mocking not Ted Cruz but Bernie Sanders. As the crazy kids say, Duh.

    And living here in Southern California, I never heard a liberal call anybody a “spic”. But every patriot that I came across certainly did, as quickly and as often as he could. Nice try, Sparky.

  6. One of the nice things about being a melanin-impaired American is that people don’t assume things about your background & experiences based on your appearance. They don’t assume you have “white privilege”, or look down on other races, or mock you for not speaking the way they expect.

    On an unrelated note, my doctor told me that they should be able to fix my memory & perception problems with medication and therapy.

  9. Apparently, if an immigrant family assimilates into mainstream America then the next generation immediately lose “diversity” status and corresponding brownie points.

  10. Nunca sabía que las puertoriqueñas son tan malhabladas, pero en esta circunstancia lo merece.

  11. Maybe Ted should have whipped out his maracas and done a quick “Cuba Pete” send up

  12. So called liberals are not liberals.

    Actual liberals do exist, but they are usually called conservatives and libertarians.

    The people who self-describe as liberals are anti-liberals. They do not believe in liberty. They do not believe in equality before the law. They are Marxist fascist who believe they are fit to rule over the lives of others.

    Calling them liberals only helps them hide behind that name.

    Here’s something in Irish for the Marxist fascists who call themselves “liberals,” in the spirit of your message in Spanish:

    Pog mo thoin

  13. …and here I was, thinking that you genuinely loved our Constitution and its First Amendment.

  16. Progressives are unable to see beyond identity politics, which is why ethnics should shun them, along with their socialist policies that do not work.

  17. Speaking from the left, I can assure you, Halperin’s not one of ours. We thought he was one of yours,frankly. We despise him.

    Sounds like nobody likes that no-talent doofus.

  18. His classy response clearly set him above his tormentor.

    Your outrage is justified. The double-standard is alive and well. Hypocrisy is a defining trait of the common leftist.

  19. Why does Fausta assume media hack/purveyor of received wisdom/longtime moron Mark Halperin is a liberal? Could it be she’s inhaled a few too many conservocrud rants about the “liberal media”?

    In any case, I’m a lib and I disavow any connection whatsoever to that Beltway village idiot.

  20. Today’s liberals just get soooo nervous when a member of the “protected classes” gets a bad case of JamesMadisonitis and begins to act as if the Constitution and Declaration of Indepence apply to him or her, too. Unfortunately, both documents have been translated into Spanish.
    Ricky Ricardo just got tired on one episode of his friend Fred constantly shouting English at him so he said: “…..just because I speak with an accent doesn’t mean I listen with an accent.” Put Fred and the rest of us right in our place ( haha).

  21. I am white male stockbroker. People are astounded when I have opinions other than those liberals ascribe to the Republican Party.

  22. that’s the first Spanish phrase I learned and I grew up in Ohio! Come on, help me increase my vocabulary – he deserves something mucho más fuerte.

  23. Halperin is not a liberal. Never has been. Other than that I’ve got no criticism of this piece.

  25. I think some may be confusing Halperin with Helprin? Halperin may be an ass, but he is also a Liberal. Helprin is neither.

  26. You’ve never had a non-liberal say “you don’t look Puerto Rican?” I think badly informed stereotypes tend to cross political boundaries, sadly.

  28. Been a long time since I lived in Toonerville–is “usted debe comer mierda” what I am trying to remember? Doesn’t sound quite right.

  30. No, Duane, no one’s confusing Mark Halperin, the simpering conservative media clown and moron, with writer Mark Helprin. :rolleyes: