The FOX story uses a radio talk show host as an authoritative source!

David Neiwert was also posting about this a week or so ago and pretty well debunked the whole claim about MEChA

I found this on three of the four websites I was able to view... you don't consider this racist?

"Aztlán belongs to those who plant the seeds, water the fields, and gather the crops and not to the foreign Europeans. We do not recognize capricious frontiers on the bronze continent."

Actually, I think most Americans would agree that "foreign Europeans" are not welcome. Do "Freedom Fries" ring a bell?

Good one JimTX :)

This week's New Republic reports that Bustamante used the "n" word [actually, it just says racial slur, but the rest of the context strongly suggests it was the "n" word] in a speech to a group of black trade unionists. Any truth to this, you think? Any comments?

Fragen-- It's absolutely true- he was speaking to the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and when he meant to talk about the history of establishing the Negro Labor Congress, he said N------ Labor Congress. He realized his mistake and apologized. And continued to apologize. See here for the story.

Does that show some personal prejudice on Bustamante's part, even an indication he was reaching back to a youth when he might have used the word on the streets? Probably. Bustamante was poor and language is rougher than in the well-educated bastions of white gated communities where racism is done, not spoken.

The point is that Bustamante apologized immediately and profusely. He is not perfect in his soul but recognized his own failing.

Few people are immune from personal prejudice. The question is, especially for politicians, whether they overcome it and enact public policy to address the social results of individual prejucide. And Bustamante has a long history of this.

Agreed. Good one JimTX!

So, Jesse Jackson's "Hymie Town" comment was, er, kosher?

Yes, we all make mistakes but the nature of the mistakes is telling. Reminds me a bit of the senator who referred to Barney Frank as "Barney Fag" and then said it was a mispronunciation.

I'm really not casting stones, but I would be loathe to support someone who made the "n" mistake.

Do read the New Republic piece if you get a chance. I don't have a dog in this fight, nor I am likely to adopt the NR's positions on many issues, but it it did make a compelling case that Bustamante is, at best, underwhelming.

Actually, MEChA-Man didn't apologize until after he'd finished his speech, by which time roughly 100 of the 400 in attendance had left in disgust.

The real point is not whether or when he apologized for the slur, but rather, what possessed him to utter it in the first place. As with Dick Armey's infamous reference to "Barney Fag," the most logical explanation is that he accidentally said it once in public because he routinely says it on purpose private.

Actually, MEChA-Man didn't apologize until after he'd finished his speech, by which time roughly 100 of the 400 in attendance had left in disgust.

The real point is not whether or when he apologized for the slur, but rather, what possessed him to utter it in the first place. As with Dick Armey's infamous reference to "Barney Fag," the most logical explanation is that he accidentally said it once in public because he routinely says it on purpose in private.

"Good one JimTX :)"

Yeah, good one. But, all laughing aside, could you please explain the difference between the statement "Aztlán [doesn't belong] to the foreign Europeans" and, say, the statement "Juden 'raus?" Is there any difference at all?

This page might help understand MEChA. Note the URL.