In Defense Of Paula Deen.....

[nhboy]

Link to original article.

"SAVANNAH, Ga. — The line of Paula Deen fans waiting for her restaurant here to open grew throughout the hot, muggy morning Saturday.

They discussed what they might select from the buffet inside The Lady and Sons, her wildly popular restaurant in the heart of Savannah.

But they also talked of boycotting the Food Network, which dropped their beloved TV chef on Friday after she awkwardly apologized for having used racial slurs and for considering a plantation-themed wedding for her brother, with well-dressed black male servants.

The predicament that Ms. Deen finds herself in began when a former employee — a white woman who is now managing restaurants in Atlanta — filed a discrimination lawsuit in March 2012. She claimed that racial epithets, racist jokes and pornography on office computers were common while she managed Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House, one of the restaurants in Ms. Deen’s empire. Forbes has estimated her net worth at $17 million.

Most of the diners in line on Saturday morning were white and more than ready to defend one of their favorite cooking stars. But at the very front was Nicole T. Green, 36, an African-American who said she had made a detour from a vacation in New Orleans specifically to show up in support of Ms. Deen.

“I get it, believe me,” Ms. Green said. “But what’s hard for people to understand is that she didn’t mean it as racist. It sounds bad, but that’s not what’s in her heart. She’s just from another time.”

The strong reaction to Ms. Deen’s pickle reflects a simple truth: race remains one of the most difficult conversations to have in America. And here, where antiseptic nostalgia for the antebellum South is not uncommon, the conversation is even more complex. "

 

[blazinlow89]

Nope just the bull#### media, making some more bull####, into a bigger pile of bull#### than the pile of bull#### really is.

And people like you follow along like lost little puppy dogs.

 

[Radiant1]

The picture caption should read: Former and Obvious Food Network Supporters and People of Wal-Mart show support for Paula Deen!

 

[HoosierDaddy]

The picture caption should read: Former and Obvious Food Network Supporters and People of Wal-Mart show support for Paula Deen!

or how about this? "People who know good food when the see it line up for down home cookin' at its best."

 

[Radiant1]

or how about this? "People who know good food when the see it line up for down home cookin' at its best."

There's no doubt they REALLY like her food!

 

[HoosierDaddy]

There's no doubt they REALLY like her food!

And I believe they mirror the majority of American adults at this point.

 

[abcxyz]

She's less of a racist than Obama and Holder are.

 

[NextJen]

Maybe Paula knew this family?

 

[BigBlue]

She's less of a racist than Obama and Holder are.

Most ignorant post of the day!!!

 

[Baja28]

Most ignorant post of the day!!!

Yes, you win this award often.

Bill Maher and David Lettermen call women c*nts and tw*ts...because that's FUNNY. To me a man calling a woman those names are as offensive as a white person calling a black person the "N-word." They're just sexism instead of racism. Same thing, just a different "ism."

And we all know why, it's because they're talking about CONSERVATIVE women in that context. And to liberals in this country, conservatives - especially conservative women - are second-class citizens. They're nothing more than the scum on the bottom of a liberal's shoe. Kinda sounds a bit like a familiar civil rights struggle back in the 60s, huh?

I mean, if Lettermen called FLOTUS a tw*t? Or if Maher would've called Hillary Clinton a c*nt? The earth would have imploded.

But when they aimed their sexism toward conservative women?..... Laughter.

No one was reprimanded. No one was fired. In fact, these guys were CELEBRATED by the left.

Unbelievable hypocrisy here.

 

[limblips]

Honky, Kike, Kraut, Spic, ######, Nip, Gook, Camel Jockey, Sand ######, Wetback, Chink, Raghead, Dot head, Frog. Okay, in case I ever get famous, you now know I used the _______ word.

 

[limblips]

Wow, I just found out that ###### is banned but not any of the other words I used. I feel that I, as a honky, have been discriminated against. Where do I file?

 

[PJay]

Well, Bill Maher is saying, in short, leave Paula alone. The N word is just a word.

 

[jazz lady]

 

[vraiblonde]

“I get it, believe me,” Ms. Green said. “But what’s hard for people to understand is that she didn’t mean it as racist. It sounds bad, but that’s not what’s in her heart. She’s just from another time.”

Good for her!

Paula Deen is her own worst enemy. Instead of coming out with that stupid whiny apology, a la Dog the Bounty Hunter, she should have told that little grifter to pack sand. I'm pretty disappointed in Food Network's reaction to this. Way to stand behind your stars, dumb asses.

 

[acommondisaster]

Good for her!

Paula Deen is her own worst enemy. Instead of coming out with that stupid whiny apology, a la Dog the Bounty Hunter, she should have told that little grifter to pack sand. I'm pretty disappointed in Food Network's reaction to this. Way to stand behind your stars, dumb asses.

I can almost completely agree with this post, except to say that PD was just acting the way her section of the country (white, conservative) have been taught they HAVE TO act....contrite and apologetic. Food Network has contributed to the perpetuation of double standards and racism by firing her. No great loss by turning the channel, Food Network has gone the same way as MTV - fewer and fewer shows that made them good and gave them their name and turning into a reality game show channel. Adios, suckers.

 

[MMM_donuts]

There's more to this story than a 20 year old use of the N word by an old, southern woman. This discrimination and harrassment lawsuit is a pretty big deal. She's even been held in contempt of court for refusing to turn over supeonaed outtakes of lewd and vulgar behavior.

It's my understanding that Food Network hasn't actually come out and said their specific reason for not renewing her contract but this isn't her first bout of controversial behavior recently and it's not looking like this lawsuit is going well for her. There was also that whole diabetes debacle. Their job is based on public approval and she is not maintaining a positive public image.

I don't know enough about the situation to label the woman just yet but I will say that I personally do not think being old, being from the south, or having an encounter with a criminal excuses behavior that is derogatory to an entire race of people.

 

[BigBlue]

Yes, you win this award often.

.

Not as long as you and gilligan and others are on this board.

 

[blazinlow89]

Not as long as you and gilligan and others are on this board.

I know you are, but what am I.

 

[vraiblonde]

There was also that whole diabetes debacle.

What diabetes debacle? The woman was diagnosed with diabetes. How is that a debacle?

The media has had it in for her ever since I can remember and looked for stupid things to pick at. And god knows once those jackals decide you're a target you might as well kill yourself. Ask Sarah Palin.

Paula Deen has been a segment judge on The Next Food Network Star and other contests like that and she is so sweet and encouraging to them, finds something nice to say even when they fail with in capital letters. Yes, she's irritating with that "yawl" every other word, but she is one of the few genuinely *nice* food stars. Rachael Ray gets the same crap from these malcontents because she's nice. Apparently the media loathes nice and will do anything to harsh someone's buzz.

This little shakedown bitch has a problem with Paula's brother, not Paula. Paula's ONLY role in this is that "she didn't stop it". But Paula has money and Bubba doesn't, so there you go.

I think it's a damn shame that some panhandler with an ax to grind can find willing media cohorts to ruin someone's career.