Is this a "race card" issue?

**Reba** · 07-29-2011, 10:24 AM

Democrats criticize Haley's checking of 'white' on voter registration application
By Yvonne Wenger
ywenger@postandcourier.com
Friday, July 29, 2011

COLUMBIA -- What box should Gov. Nikki Haley check when it comes to her race?

The South Carolina Democratic Party tried Thursday to make Haley out as a liar for checking "white" as her race on her 2001 Lexington County voter registration application.

But the application had no specific option for "Indian." Her options were "white, black/African-American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American or other."

The governor stayed silent on the matter, although her allies accused the Democrats of the lowest-grade politics: race-baiting. Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, has never emphasized herself as South Carolina's first female and minority governor and the country's second Indian-American governor, but it has earned enormous national notoriety.

Todd Shaw, a political science professor at the University of South Carolina and an expert on African-American studies, said deciding what box to fit a person in is a very Southern concept. To him, race is a matter of self-identification, or allowing a person to check the boxes that may apply.

"I always expect political parties to be political," Shaw said. "I think what is just as interesting is that it draws all of us into the fight: 'This is what we really understand this person to be.' Are you who I say you are or who society says you are?"

Dick Harpootlian, the Democratic Party chairman, said whether Haley listed her race as white or not doesn't matter to him. The point is, he said, that the governor has a pattern of twisting the truth.

"Haley has been appearing on television interviews where she calls herself a minority -- when it suits her," Harpootlian said. "When she registers to vote, she says she is white. She has developed a pattern of saying whatever is beneficial to her at the moment..."

Chris Whitmire, spokesman for the State Election Commission, said he knows of no state election law or a definition by the agency for the term "white."

The commission doesn't attempt to verify a person's race, but that data is used by U.S. Department of Justice to enforce fair voting practices. Collecting the information is a requirement of state law, Whitmire said. If a person checks "other," he or she is asked to specify.

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines "Caucasian" as the "characteristic of a race of humankind native to Europe, North Africa, and southwest Asia and classified according to physical features -- used especially in referring to persons of European descent having usually light skin pigmentation."

Shaw, the USC professor, said a person from southern Asia, where India is located, may more often check the box Asian than white. The issue has been the subject of many studies.

"The governor has the right to project herself however she chooses," Shaw said, noting that her decision may have been politically motivated.

Declaring oneself as white could have political advantages, Shaw said. For example, studies show people are pre-disposed to thinking about President Barack Obama more favorably when he is identified as being multi-racial or bi-racial than black. "Race does matter," he said. "There are advantages and disadvantages."

Haley's voter registration card, first obtained by the Democratic Party, is a public record. The 2001 card was the only one on file in the Lexington County voter registration office, according to the party. The voter registration office in her home county of Bamberg did not have an application on file for her.

It is not clear if Haley had declared her race differently on any earlier voter registration applications.

Democrats criticize Haley's checking of 'white' on voter registration application | The Post and Courier, Charleston SC - News, Sports, Entertainment

**Reba** · 07-29-2011, 10:26 AM

People from India are not of a single race or ethnicity, so there is no "Indian" race. "Indian" is a nationality.

http://www.webindia123.com/india/people/people.htm

jillio · 07-29-2011, 10:34 PM

Why would this be a race card issue?

netrox · 07-31-2011, 06:57 PM

Well, the question is how is she being perceived by most people? She looks fairly white and I am sure is percieved as "white" by most people.

Obama isn't... he's perceived as black even though he's biracial. He has enough black characteristics that he is percieved as "black."

**deafskeptic** · 07-31-2011, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

People from India are not of a single race or ethnicity, so there is no "Indian" race. "Indian" is a nationality.

http://www.webindia123.com/india/people/people.htm

I think the reason why there isn't such a race issue over there has to do with the face that race is a relatively recent concept and India is quite ancient. Any trouble that they have have with each other would prolly be more on ethnic or religious grounds than on racial grounds.

Whites as a group can be split up into ethnics - and not all ethics get along with each other. All I have to do is think of the Irish vs British though I have to admit religion played a part too. Then there's French vs Germans.. I think you get my drift.

**shel90** · 07-31-2011, 08:50 PM

What about picking "other" for her race?

**Reba** · 07-31-2011, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel90

What about picking "other" for her race?

If she's white, why should she pick "other?"

Indian isn't a race.

**shel90** · 07-31-2011, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

If she's white, why should she pick "other?"

Indian isn't a race.

It really doesnt matter to me. I have known friends from the Middle East put "other". No biggie.

jillio · 07-31-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel90

What about picking "other" for her race?

That is what I choose.

I just don't see this as a race card issue.

jillio · 07-31-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

If she's white, why should she pick "other?"

Indian isn't a race.

If she is white,why doesn't she pick white, then?

**deafskeptic** · 07-31-2011, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reba

If she's white, why should she pick "other?"

Indian isn't a race.

I was going to say it's an ethnicity but when I thought about it, i think ti's closer
to Hispanics because Hispanics can be o any racial background and ethnicities.

**deafskeptic** · 07-31-2011, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel90

What about picking "other" for her race?

"other" would make better sense now that I think about it.

**Jiro** · 07-31-2011, 10:32 PM

some people may feel they are more of white than Indian

jillio · 07-31-2011, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

some people may feel they are more of white than Indian

So use that category, then.

**Jiro** · 07-31-2011, 10:36 PM

and the name... Governor Nikki Haley.... I would never thought that person would be Indian cuz that name sounds more Caucasian. interesting.

Indian last name is impossible for me to pronounce... it's something like Bhatnagar or Mukopadhyay

**deafskeptic** · 07-31-2011, 10:38 PM

i think i may be out o my depth in here.

**shel90** · 07-31-2011, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

and the name... Governor Nikki Haley.... I would never thought that person would be Indian cuz that name sounds more Caucasian. interesting.

Indian last name is impossible for me to pronounce... it's something like Bhatnagar or Mukopadhyay

jillio · 07-31-2011, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

and the name... Governor Nikki Haley.... I would never thought that person would be Indian cuz that name sounds more Caucasian. interesting.

Indian last name is impossible for me to pronounce... it's something like Bhatnagar or Mukopadhyay

My son's 1st speech therapist was Indian. Her name was Prateeba Srinvansin. I figured if we could ever get him to the point that he could say her name, we'd have it made.

**Jiro** · 07-31-2011, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

My son's 1st speech therapist was Indian. Her name was Prateeba Srinvansin. I figured if we could ever get him to the point that he could say her name, we'd have it made.

I'm as dumbfounded as puggy

**deafskeptic** · 07-31-2011, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel90

I think I would much rather learn to pronounce Vietnamese names. Much less room or error.

jillio · 07-31-2011, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

I'm as dumbfounded as puggy

Yep! "Teba" was the best he ever did with that one!

**Dixie** · 07-31-2011, 10:54 PM

I find it ironic that a foreigner is teaching a US-born child how to speak English. Sorry. just something I noticed.

I once had to go to Social Security office for something and the lady at the window had this looooooong last name. I asked her how to pronounce it and she said it and I couldn't wrap my tongue around it. She giggled and said most people can't and that the name is Middle Eastern. Her husband was from Yemen or some place like that.

**deafskeptic** · 07-31-2011, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

My son's 1st speech therapist was Indian. Her name was Prateeba Srinvansin. I figured if we could ever get him to the point that he could say her name, we'd have it made.

I don't even want to think about pronouncing my doctor's first name. Her last name is pronounced something like Colin without the n. Guess where she comes from?

**deafskeptic** · 07-31-2011, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dixie

I find it ironic that a foreigner is teaching a US-born child how to speak English. Sorry. just something I noticed.

I once had to go to Social Security office for something and the lady at the window had this looooooong last name. I asked her how to pronounce it and she said it and I couldn't wrap my tongue around it. She giggled and said most people can't and that the name is Middle Eastern. Her husband was from Yemen or some place like that.

That's hilarious now that I think about it.

**Dixie** · 07-31-2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafskeptic

I don't even want to think about pronouncing my doctor's first name. Her last name is pronounced something like Colin without the n. Guess where she comes from?

No clue. So it's pronounced like Koh-l-ee?

jillio · 07-31-2011, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafskeptic

That's hilarious now that I think about it.

Yeah, when it was put that way it was kind of funny. But since we were living in TN at the time, there was a choice of an Indian accent or a very heavy Southern drawl. I found the slight Indian accent much easier to understand.

**deafskeptic** · 07-31-2011, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dixie

No clue. So it's pronounced like Koh-l-ee?

Yes quite similar to that.

**deafskeptic** · 07-31-2011, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

Yeah, when it was put that way it was kind of funny. But since we were living in TN at the time, there was a choice of an Indian accent or a very heavy Southern drawl. I found the slight Indian accent much easier to understand.

I'd pick Southen anytime.

**Jiro** · 07-31-2011, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dixie

I find it ironic that a foreigner is teaching a US-born child how to speak English. Sorry. just something I noticed.

I once had to go to Social Security office for something and the lady at the window had this looooooong last name. I asked her how to pronounce it and she said it and I couldn't wrap my tongue around it. She giggled and said most people can't and that the name is Middle Eastern. Her husband was from Yemen or some place like that.

India was once ruled by England, ya know... so they do know English

**saywhatkid** · 07-31-2011, 11:11 PM

What is the point of this article; to point out that Democrats will sink to new lows looking for anything negative about Republicans, or that there is a woman of Indian descent in the Republican party? After all, Republicans will do the same thing; finding anything, no matter how trivial, to paint Democrats in a negative way; and there are certainly women of Indian descent on the Democrat side.

Why can't we simply accept that both parties are flawed because they contain humans? Humans fail to stay honest when there is big money floating around, they fail to keep their pants on when sexual opportunity presents itself, and they fail to speak truthfully when they might gain advantages by not doing so. Do we all need to be convinced that one party is somehow more moral/honest/faithful than another? Really?

07-29-2011, 10:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
Reba Granny Terp Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 39,130	Is this a "race card" issue? Democrats criticize Haley's checking of 'white' on voter registration application By Yvonne Wenger ywenger@postandcourier.com Friday, July 29, 2011 COLUMBIA -- What box should Gov. Nikki Haley check when it comes to her race? The South Carolina Democratic Party tried Thursday to make Haley out as a liar for checking "white" as her race on her 2001 Lexington County voter registration application. But the application had no specific option for "Indian." Her options were "white, black/African-American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American or other." The governor stayed silent on the matter, although her allies accused the Democrats of the lowest-grade politics: race-baiting. Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, has never emphasized herself as South Carolina's first female and minority governor and the country's second Indian-American governor, but it has earned enormous national notoriety. Todd Shaw, a political science professor at the University of South Carolina and an expert on African-American studies, said deciding what box to fit a person in is a very Southern concept. To him, race is a matter of self-identification, or allowing a person to check the boxes that may apply. "I always expect political parties to be political," Shaw said. "I think what is just as interesting is that it draws all of us into the fight: 'This is what we really understand this person to be.' Are you who I say you are or who society says you are?" Dick Harpootlian, the Democratic Party chairman, said whether Haley listed her race as white or not doesn't matter to him. The point is, he said, that the governor has a pattern of twisting the truth. "Haley has been appearing on television interviews where she calls herself a minority -- when it suits her," Harpootlian said. "When she registers to vote, she says she is white. She has developed a pattern of saying whatever is beneficial to her at the moment..." Chris Whitmire, spokesman for the State Election Commission, said he knows of no state election law or a definition by the agency for the term "white." The commission doesn't attempt to verify a person's race, but that data is used by U.S. Department of Justice to enforce fair voting practices. Collecting the information is a requirement of state law, Whitmire said. If a person checks "other," he or she is asked to specify. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines "Caucasian" as the "characteristic of a race of humankind native to Europe, North Africa, and southwest Asia and classified according to physical features -- used especially in referring to persons of European descent having usually light skin pigmentation." Shaw, the USC professor, said a person from southern Asia, where India is located, may more often check the box Asian than white. The issue has been the subject of many studies. "The governor has the right to project herself however she chooses," Shaw said, noting that her decision may have been politically motivated. Declaring oneself as white could have political advantages, Shaw said. For example, studies show people are pre-disposed to thinking about President Barack Obama more favorably when he is identified as being multi-racial or bi-racial than black. "Race does matter," he said. "There are advantages and disadvantages." Haley's voter registration card, first obtained by the Democratic Party, is a public record. The 2001 card was the only one on file in the Lexington County voter registration office, according to the party. The voter registration office in her home county of Bamberg did not have an application on file for her. It is not clear if Haley had declared her race differently on any earlier voter registration applications. Democrats criticize Haley's checking of 'white' on voter registration application \| The Post and Courier, Charleston SC - News, Sports, Entertainment Last edited by Reba; 07-29-2011 at 11:28 PM.

07-31-2011, 08:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
shel90 Let It Snow!!!! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: A place where crabs are popular Posts: 40,290 Blog Entries: 3	What about picking "other" for her race? __________________ "Wine improves with age. The older I get, the better I like it." --- Anonymous

07-31-2011, 10:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
Jiro Aparecium Deletrius Legil Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Soprano State Posts: 60,502	some people may feel they are more of white than Indian __________________ - Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

07-31-2011, 10:36 PM	#15 (permalink)
Jiro Aparecium Deletrius Legil Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Soprano State Posts: 60,502	and the name... Governor Nikki Haley.... I would never thought that person would be Indian cuz that name sounds more Caucasian. interesting. Indian last name is impossible for me to pronounce... it's something like Bhatnagar or Mukopadhyay netrox likes this. __________________ - Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

07-31-2011, 10:38 PM	#16 (permalink)
deafskeptic Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 14,512	i think i may be out o my depth in here. __________________ Left ear implanted with Med-El on April 24 2007. Activated on May 9th. Upgraded to Opus 2 9/10/2010 Think Pink. FREE JILLIO!

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07-29-2011, 10:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
Reba Granny Terp Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 39,130	People from India are not of a single race or ethnicity, so there is no "Indian" race. "Indian" is a nationality. http://www.webindia123.com/india/people/people.htm

07-29-2011, 10:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
jillio Banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 60,296	Why would this be a race card issue?

07-31-2011, 06:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
netrox Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,780	Well, the question is how is she being perceived by most people? She looks fairly white and I am sure is percieved as "white" by most people. Obama isn't... he's perceived as black even though he's biracial. He has enough black characteristics that he is percieved as "black."

07-31-2011, 10:54 PM	#22 (permalink)
Dixie May I be found in Him Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 13,266	I find it ironic that a foreigner is teaching a US-born child how to speak English. Sorry. just something I noticed. I once had to go to Social Security office for something and the lady at the window had this looooooong last name. I asked her how to pronounce it and she said it and I couldn't wrap my tongue around it. She giggled and said most people can't and that the name is Middle Eastern. Her husband was from Yemen or some place like that. __________________ Oh, you will. It is all a dream and since matter cannot be created nor destroyed, the dreams must be real in all their myriad forms. -Beowulf This Delicate Thing God Has Made *The world is measured in peasants; smaller than a unicorn but, bigger than a tidbit!*

07-31-2011, 11:11 PM	#30 (permalink)
saywhatkid Emerging from the sun Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: In space Posts: 7,242 Blog Entries: 2	What is the point of this article; to point out that Democrats will sink to new lows looking for anything negative about Republicans, or that there is a woman of Indian descent in the Republican party? After all, Republicans will do the same thing; finding anything, no matter how trivial, to paint Democrats in a negative way; and there are certainly women of Indian descent on the Democrat side. Why can't we simply accept that both parties are flawed because they contain humans? Humans fail to stay honest when there is big money floating around, they fail to keep their pants on when sexual opportunity presents itself, and they fail to speak truthfully when they might gain advantages by not doing so. Do we all need to be convinced that one party is somehow more moral/honest/faithful than another? Really? jillio, Berry and LoveBlue like this. __________________ "Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." ~ Mother Teresa

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