Hillary’s ‘off the reservation’ remark angers Native Americans

[brendablethyn 536]

Hillary Clinton drew ire from Native Americans on Saturday over her use of the phrase “off the reservation” in a CNN interview.

Activists pointed to the saying’s dark origins in late-19th-century laws restricting Native Americans to reservation lands.

“When reservations were first established, going #OffTheReservation meant you were going to be hunted down and killed,” Ruth Hopkins tweeted.

The social-media firestorm forced Clinton’s campaign to apologize — also on Twitter.

“Divisive language has no place in our politics,” tweeted Amanda Renteria, Clinton’s national political director. “Hillary Clinton meant no disrespect to Native Americans. She wants this election to be about lifting people up, not tearing them down.”

Clinton employed the idiom in reference to her husband Bill’s bad behavior in an interview Friday with CNN’s Jake Tapper.

“I have a lot of experience dealing with men who sometimes get off the reservation in the way they behave,” she said, dismissing a question about Donald Trump’s boorish attacks on the Democratic front-runner.

http://nypost.com/2016/05/01/hillarys-off-the-reservation-remark-angers-native-americans/

[Morphine Prince 109,645]

What a mess  Yup... some phrases come from an ugly place.

It's interesting to note that if Trump had said this there would be national outcry and CNN and CNBC would not stop reporting about it. I had not even heard about this and it happened two days ago. 

[Himeros26 1,688]

But the HilLiary bots will say "BUT THE POLLS FROM (insert HilLiary Donor PAC here) SAY SHE HAD 99% OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN VOTE!!!!!1!1!1!11!!"

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

*snort*

The context of her quote clearly does not have any racist or divisive undertones. 

What a stupid thing to complain about. People don't own phrases. Stop perpetuating this SJW notion  

It's unfortunate she had to make a statement about the usage, although if it does offend people it would be better to stay clear of it to avoid a mess.

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

2 minutes ago, Morphine Prince said:

What a mess  Yup... some phrases come from an ugly place.

It's interesting to note that if Trump had said this there would be national outcry and CNN and CNBC would not stop reporting about it. I had not even heard about this and it happened two days ago. 

Because the context clearly isn't racist. Not everything is a result of media corruption.

[Didymus 34,380]

She apologized, so. Nothing to see here. Great that people now know such a term is to be avoided through this.

[Himeros26 1,688]

Just now, LebaneseDude said:

*snort*

The context of her quote clearly does not have any racist or divisive undertones. 

What a stupid thing to complain about. People don't own phrases. Stop perpetuating this SJW notion  

It's unfortunate she had to make a statement about the usage, although if it does offend people it would be better to stay clear of it to avoid a mess.

Of course, blame people for being offended by a racial joke.

Throwback to her distasteful "CP time" Joke

[Morphine Prince 109,645]

Just now, LebaneseDude said:

Because the context clearly isn't racist. Not everything is a result of media corruption.

If Trump had said it the context would not matter  

And clearly some Natives have taken offense on social media even if it wasn't meant to be racist. 

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

2 minutes ago, Morphine Prince said:

If Trump had said it the context would not matter  

And clearly some Natives have taken offense on social media even if it wasn't meant to be racist. 

Well they should let go of their pearl clutching because Hillary was not directing the statement at them or in any relevant context they were referring to.

In fact judging from the context I'm sure Hillary was comparing people like Donald to animals that run away from farm reservations and go running wild. 

-----

Also I don't get why you have to inject Trump into it. Trump's statements are almost always offensive to someone.

[Morphine Prince 109,645]

Just now, LebaneseDude said:

Well they should let go of their pearl clutching because Hillary was not directing the statement at them or in any relevant context they were referring to.

In fact judging from the context I'm sure Hillary was comparing men like Donald to animals that run away from farm reservations and go running wild. How is that relevant to the context the Native Americans used?

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Also I don't get why you have to inject Trump into it. Trump's statements are almost always offensive to someone.

Because the way the media treats these candidates fascinates me.

Anyway... I don't think we should tell people how to feel about phrases that have been used to dehumanize them for ages. Even if it wasn't used in a discriminatory context if they don't want it to be used that's their right and we should refrain from using a phrase rooted in genocide. 

[MJHolland 12,725]

6 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

*snort*

The context of her quote clearly does not have any racist or divisive undertones. 

What a stupid thing to complain about. People don't own phrases. Stop perpetuating this SJW notion  

It's unfortunate she had to make a statement about the usage, although if it does offend people it would be better to stay clear of it to avoid a mess.

But if Trump jokes with a female who he's been friends with for years he's automatically a woman-hating idiot. 

Your hypocrisy is showing hunT

[Americano 31,061]

That's clearly not what she was referencing.

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

14 minutes ago, Morphine Prince said:

Because the way the media treats these candidates fascinates me.

Anyway... I don't think we should tell people how to feel about phrases that have been used to dehumanize them for ages. Even if it wasn't used in a discriminatory context if they don't want it to be used that's their right and we should refrain from using a phrase rooted in genocide. 

Trump is a media hog. He brings ratings. 

I'm not telling people what to feel. I'm telling them they should get over it.

I believe that this minefield of potential offenses, vehemently exaggerated by the online social justice movement, is stifling human expression and this is one such example.

Anyway people aren't going to change today so I agree it's best to just stay away from using such language for the time being.

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

6 minutes ago, MJHolland said:

But if Trump jokes with a female who he's been friends with for years he's automatically a woman-hating idiot. 

Your hypocrisy is showing hunT

Which woman? I sincerely hoping you're not referring to Megyn Kelly  

People call Trump a misogynist because he has consistently made statements about women that are blatantly offensive. I mean he literally brought up periods to try to dismiss Megyn  

How is this situation comparable? She wasn't even talking about Native Americans or referring to genocide 

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

17 minutes ago, Americano said:

That's clearly not what she was referencing.

Nope she wasn't

The definition of "off the reservation" is different in US politics according to Oxford.

It means: To break with one's party or group, usually temporarily.

http://bit.ly/23gX9QU

So this is what she meant. People taking offense because she used a similar phrase with wildly different context should take a seat.

I'm glad Hillary is reinforcing her position as someone who wants to unify rather than divide, so good on her.