We're Moving On Up!
By Keith Boykin, in politics
Friday, January 28 2005, 12:51PM
Watching George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice, for some reason I just can't stop thinking about "The Jeffersons." You remember "The Jeffersons."
Fish don't fry in the kitchen
Beans don't burn on the grill.
Took a whole lotta tryin'
Just to get up that hill.
Now we're up in the big leagues
Gettin' our turn at bat.
As long as we live, it's you and me baby
There ain't nothin wrong with that.
No offense to Laura, but could it be that George and Condi are the Tom and Helen Willis of the 21st century? Not like they're married, of course, but they do have that special bond. Condi can even finish George's sentences. (In fairness to George, he can't finish his own sentences.)
Maybe I'm putting too much value on the interracial connection. Maybe George and Condi are more like George and Louise, the Jeffersons themselves. George could easily be the amoral businessman determined to make a buck as he rips off the little people, and Condi could be the self-righteous do-gooder who keeps George in check.
No matter what crazy scheme George cooks up, he still keeps his wonderful home and he never gets in too much trouble. Remember the hilarious episodes with September 11, weapons of mass destruction and Iraq? And who can forget the Abu Ghraib episode? Ah, didn't we laugh like crazy then?
Yes, George can be racist, sexist, homophobic, small-minded and petty, but we still love him. He's still our George. He is the lovable guy who launched an attack on affirmative action on Martin Luther King's birthday and then launched an attack on the constitution and the civil rights of gays and lesbians to win an election.
Archie Bunker he is not. George is a uniter, not a divider. We're rooting for George because he's a little like us. He's not intellectually curious, he's stubborn and he's fearful, just like us. Only George is different because he made it. Although we're still slumming it with the Bunkers on Hauser Street in Queens, we want the best for George because one day he and his rich friends may hire us. We want to be just like George one day.
Let's not think too much about how a small-time dry cleaner (or a failed Texas oilman) got to the big house. He's there now. It's not good to ask too many questions. "All in the Family" was too deep, too thoughtful. We just want mindless entertainment now.
After a long day's work, we can come home and watch a daily sitcom called the evening news and see what George and Condi are up to. After the deadliest day for Americans in the Iraq War, we can still blindly support our commander-in-chief as he asks for another $80 billion to fight the war. In the same week when the Pentagon announces that the government can't afford to spend a meager $11 billion to protect commercial aircraft from missile attacks, we can still blindly go about our business thinking we're safer.
Why ask questions when we've got well-paid screen writers like Armstrong Williams and Maggie Gallagher to tell us what to think? And whenever a character becomes unpopular, they'll just re-write the script and keep moving them on up. Rumsfeld, Cheney and Rice will have their own spin-offs in the new season.
Then there is Mother Jefferson, the regal matriarch who disdains George's relationship with Louise. In Mother Jefferson's mind, George can do no wrong. All his problems are because of Louise. Could Mother Jefferson be the Republican Party and Louise the Democratic Party?
Me, I guess I'm just like Florence. I'm the sassy maid who won't keep her mouth shut.
Ah, I love the Jeffersons!
Comments conceal
JIMMY WILLIAMS
January 28 2005, 3:03PM
WHAT A GREAT EXAMPLE KEEP UP YOUR GREAT WRITINGS PEACE OUT!!!!!!!! JIMMY
Andrew Caldwell
January 28 2005, 3:38PM
Well, that was a thigh-slappingly fun piece, if not for the fact that it is so tragically true. Who was it who said that the only difference between comedy and tragedy is emphasis? I forget.
Thanks, Keith. Now explain to us all how the C-Plus Augustus' cabinet resembles the characters of WHAT'S HAPPENING?
@ndrew
Bernard Bradshaw
January 28 2005, 5:24PM
BOYKINK,
I woke up this morning to the Condi taking her oath. In my dream I heard the voice of Ruth Bader Ginsburg--and I was thinking, why am I hearing Ruth Bader in my sleep? Why do I know her voice? When I opened my eyes, I was a little surprised to see Ginsburg administering the oath.
Your post is funny. I was thinking more about the theme from Good Times. With the American people singing, and George & Condi keep trying to convince US that these are "Good Times".
US: Temporary lay offs.
G&C: Good Times.
US: Easy credit rip offs.
G&C: Good Times.
US: Scratchin' and surviving.
G&C: Good Times.
US: Hangin in a chow(job?) line
G&C: Good Times.
G&C: Ain't we lucky we got 'em? Good Times!
Bernard Bradshaw
www.SexandtheSecondCity.com
Kola Boof
January 29 2005, 2:25AM
I have such mixed feelings about Condi Rice, because although I totally DISAGREE with her politics....there is something very charismatic about her as a person that I admire and feel a "secret" pride in.
FOR THE RECORD---Condaleeza Rice does have a man (a lover).
He is a Black Conservative Republican in Washington, D.C., 2 years older than Condi--he loves to play Golf, and that's all I'll say.
Well. OK. I'll say a little bit more.
Radio Host Tom Pope could probably tell people exactly who the guy is--but he probably won't.
Jaymillionaire
January 29 2005, 4:34AM
Keith,
Your attacks on Bush are getting increasingly more personal and hostile. Read your own column and you will see why the left is being fleed by any politician who wishes to get elected -- even your beloved Dean.
Sharif
January 29 2005, 10:32AM
Keith,
I am so happy and glad you brought up the matter about Bush attacking affirmative action on Martin Luther King's birthday and attacking the civil rights on gays and lesibans. Bush knew by launching a attack on gays and lesibans would get him the votes especially from black conservative church goers ( but it is amazing that black people forgot that back in slavery they weren't so grand they had so many bastard children, wasn't even allowed to read, got to church, etc. but all of a sudden everyone is pure.). Keith don't forget about Bush not responding to the NAACP for 4 years when they invited him. Don't forget about Bush not responding to an invitation from BET as well. Don't forget about when the illegal immigrants came from Haiti they was sent back but when the other races came they wasn't. I find it amazing that as soon as black people get money they seem to want to become republicans and act grand all of a sudden (Donnie McClurkin"Fake, Fake Fake", Don King, Oprah, Omarosa, etc. all whom are sell outs.) , but they seem to forget while there sittting in those grand colleges, jobs and tv shows, the struggle blacks had to overcome in this country and still overcome in this country to get to this point. I find it amazing that Bush can help Arabs, Hispanics and Mexicans but not blacks. I will never give a vote or support to anyone that would attack the civil rights of blacks, gays and lesibans. Keith, you keep right on writing your comments because if anyone doesn't like your comment as well as mine they can always go to another website.
Kola Boof
January 29 2005, 1:40PM
CLARIFICATION:
I did not say that TOM POPE is Condaleeza's man.
I said that Tom Pope, who lives in D.C. and does his syndicated radio show there-----KNOWS who Condaleeza's boyfriend is.
Again, her boyfriend is a BLACK Conservative Republican who plays golf, is 2 years older than her and is of the "Clarence Thomas" ILK.
Thass all I can say.
Laura
January 29 2005, 10:01PM
"Gettin’ our turn at bat."
So THAT'S what that says! Cripes, I've been trying to figure out that line for 30 years lol.
ozwald boateng
January 29 2005, 10:15PM
oooooooo: you so *shady*
why you gotta take Condi to 227 like that?
you turned huh, ok?
you turned huh *out*
cmoney
January 29 2005, 11:57PM
Hee-hee!! Just one look at that hair and you knew this show had to be a comedy. Can we pass the hat, collect some money and take her to a black hairstylist? Better yet, why don't we just give her the hat!!
Franz Freeman
January 31 2005, 3:47AM
So, we're movin on up? Well in the immortal words of Richard Pryor -- "Which way is up?" ... Arguendo, Miss Condoleezza has certainly studied to show herself approved. Unfortunately, what she has studied (Pre-Cold War Russian History) is of no value anymore. The USSR and its corresponding threat to Democracy no longer exist. But hey? Who says one has to discard an entire world view just because it's obsolete? All you have to do is write history over enough until you've made history look "right." Even our dear Miss Condoleeza, eyes glistening with fond memories, passionately speaks of "study on the impact of those very issues in the academy." But as Senator Obama rightfully reminds Madame Provost, "It's not academic. People's lives hang in the balance." I have one question: Is the good Senator the only one "left" courageous enough to remind her of that fact? Like anyone else, I'd take GREAT pride in seeing an African-American female eruditiously innunciate and elocute Black intellect to the world. But no matter how poised the diction ... what she's sayin is fiction.