Editor’s note: This week’s edition of “Office Hours” comes in 140-character bits on Twitter, where Melissa wrote them earlier this evening. After Melissa’s appearance today on “Politics Nation with Al Sharpton,” some critics tweeted at her, taking issue with her quote:
“Although race is the main strategy being used as the criticism of President Obama, I actually don’t think that racism is the reason that Republicans are criticizing the President.”
The tweets below are presented in order, and her full segment tonight on “Politics Nation” embedded after the jump. You can view Melissa’s Twitter feed here. — JS
So Twitter is mad because I said the strategies used by GOP are racially biased but the motivation is political? #uhmOK
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 10, 2012
While talking w/ @TheRevAl on #PoliticsNation I apparently irritated folks because I refuse to say “they hate POTUS because he is black”
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 10, 2012
So just in case I was misunderstood here is my mini-Twitter rant.Apologies for the coming 140 character flood.
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 10, 2012
Battling racism & sexism is some of the most important work we must do *unceasingly* if we are to make America a fully democratic nation.
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 10, 2012
But flailing our arms at every shadow danger is NOT engaging in the fight.Racism & sexism are complicated multi-layered systemic powerful.
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 10, 2012
The work @TheRevAl is doing this week with his march is a perfect example of focusing on complex, interlocking systems of discrimination.
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 10, 2012
The activism of @TheRevAl is focused on the *policies* that disenfranchise people of color and oppress immigrants.
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 10, 2012
Difference bet. Limbaugh & Maher is *not* that one is sexist & the other isn’t. The difference is that only would strip women’s basic rights
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 10, 2012
The racial bias that matters on the Right is not the names they call POTUS. It is the laws they pass that limit equality & opportunity.
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 10, 2012
As for questioning my authenticity, my struggle or my commitment to black people & our progress. Well, it is getting old. Seriously tired.
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 10, 2012
Melissa Harris-Perry