Panic has digressed into primal fear within the Republican party and their conservative base as the true nature of their Cerberus-like beast is being revealed more with the passing of each day. Right-wing leaders such as Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly use their influence over their respective media outlets to spread the GOP’s toxic ideology to the masses, with their words often falling on ignorant but willing ears, in the effort to undermine and publicly destroy a man that is nothing less than a grave threat to the causes they believe in.
That man is President Obama, the first Black President of the United States, and their goal seemingly is to halt the progressive movement current flowing within the nation and to bring back institutions of old that bring comfort to those whom pine for the “good ol’ days.” Their method of choice, spreading lies by way of subversive methods, has been even more vicious with the addition of not-so subtle racial undertones, mirrored by those whom have been elected to work on behalf of the people. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins is one such person, and though only an infant by political standards, she has shown a willingness to catch on quickly to the GOP’s mantra of choice.
While speaking to a crowd of her constituents, the freshman congressional member from Kansas spoke on the plight facing the party of conservatism, outlining that the future looks bright for the begrudged party.
“Republicans are struggling right now to find the great white hope,” said Jenkins to an attentive audience at Fisher Community Center in Hiawatha, Kansas. “I suggest any of you who are concerned about that, who are Republican, there are some great young Republican minds in Washington. So don’t, you know, lose faith if you are a conservative.”
Not knowing the kind of attention that would follow the use of her “great white hope” remark, Jenkins press team went into full defensive mode, attempting to quell the situation with an explanation that could only be described as lackluster at best. “There may be some misunderstanding there when she talked about the great white hope,” said Mary Geiger, press secretary for Jenkins. “What she meant by it is they [Republicans] have a bright future. They are bright lights within the party.”
The phrase “Great White Hope” arose from a time of social and racial intolerance, and while it may be a new century, its connotation is still rooted in bigotry. It was created by the racist, white press of the early 1900’s as a term used to describe white America’s search for a “savior” to rescue boxing’s undisputed heavyweight championship from Jack Johnson, the first Black heavyweight boxing champion of the World.
Jim Jeffries, the man who answered the cry of a nation, spoke on his reasoning for accepting the title. “I am going into this fight for the sole purpose of proving that a white man is better than a Negro.” Jeffries lost to Johnson in the “Greatest Fight of the Century” as a ringside band played “All Coons Look Alike To Me.”
