The War Against Uppity Lying Liar Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Astrophysicist and Cosmos star Neil deGrasse Tyson was already a target of the anti-intellectual right, but a raft of new charges against the nerd-tastic Tyson add lying liarhood to his prior convictions on numerous counts of uppitiness, and they’re trying to get normal people to play along.
I know, the term “uppity” carries a lot of baggage with it, and if you want to argue that right-wing antipathy for Tyson has nothing to do with race, be my guest, but if you doubt that he stands accused of being uppity, with not knowing his place, racial or not, take a look at the art that accompanies the latest attacks on him:
If you believe the caricature that The National Review ran on their cover, in lieu of a photograph, he’s also kinda fat.
So, this guy, who just happens to coincidentally be black, thinks he’s smarter than you, which makes you mad, but not because he’s black. Let’s just get that out of the way. These people would all be equally offended if a white astrophysicist thought he was smarter than them, too, because “blogger” and “astrophysicist” are basically lateral professions, intellectually speaking. No racism is at work here, let’s just get that out of the way.
Neil deGrasse Tyson now also faces a slew of attacks alleging that he is a serial fabricator, and therefore, not to be trusted. The evidence presented in support of this is two powerpoint slides, one apocryphal anecdote, and one completely true statement. From years and years of lectures, hours of television, and reams of printed works, this is the dossier that the right has accumulated against Tyson. I hate to break it to you, but there are more insect parts in your half-empty peanut butter jar than this, as Tyson himself has pointed out.
This flimsy case barely merits the response that Tyson gave it, but more mainstream outlets like The Daily Beast are giving this absurdity the “he said, she said” treatment, and a battle is raging among the nerds at Wikipedia, where a section on the great Quote Fabrication Controversies was added, then deleted and folded into another section. Hence, a brief examination appears to be in order…READ MORE
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By: Tommy Christopher
Tommy Christopher is The Daily Banter's White House Correspondent and Political Analyst. He's been a political reporter and liberal commentator since 2007, and has covered the White House since the beginning of the Obama administration, first for PoliticsDaily, and then for Mediaite. Christopher is a frequent guest on a variety of television, radio, and online programs, and was the villain in the documentaries The Audacity of Democracy and Hating Breitbart. He's also That Guy Who Live-Tweeted His Own Heart Attack, and the only person to have ever received public apologies from both Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
71 responses to The War Against Uppity Lying Liar Neil DeGrasse Tyson
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mea_mark September 19th, 2014 at 17:39
This makes my head hurt. This is the dumb trying to make the dumb dumber by saying the smart isn’t really smart because the dumb says so.
mea_mark September 19th, 2014 at 17:39
This makes my head hurt. This is the dumb trying to make the dumb dumber by saying the smart aren’t really smart because the dumb says so.
juicyfruityyy September 19th, 2014 at 17:41
They are doing their best to delete Science from its place in history.
juicyfruityyy September 19th, 2014 at 17:41
They are doing their best to delete Science from its place in history.
Shades September 19th, 2014 at 17:55
When exactly did the RWNJs decide stupid was good and smart was bad?
jasperjava September 19th, 2014 at 18:55
Conservatism has always thrived with stupidity. Stupidity is its natural manure. Today’s conservative movement in particular is anti-intellectual. The more people are educated, the more likely they will understand that Republicans are a hindrance to progress.
fahvel September 20th, 2014 at 03:29
I don’t know what progress is since I haven’t noticed any in the last, say, 200 years but educated people tend to be less terrified by nothing and tend to avoid the evangelical rational for living.
Dwendt44 September 19th, 2014 at 23:46
they decided that when they realized the nearly everyone WAS smarter than they were.
Candide Thirtythree September 20th, 2014 at 00:37
Their OWN leaders call them stupid and they all cheer and clap… I think it is because they are too stupid to know that being stupid is a bad thing.
mmaynard119 September 20th, 2014 at 21:55
Oprah is a leader by herself and she’s not stupid.
Shades September 19th, 2014 at 17:55
When exactly did the RWNJs decide stupid was good and smart was bad?
jasperjava September 19th, 2014 at 18:55
Conservatism has always thrived with stupidity. Stupidity is its natural manure. Today’s conservative movement in particular is anti-intellectual. The more people are educated, the more likely they will understand that Republicans are a hindrance to progress.
fahvel September 20th, 2014 at 03:29
I don’t know what progress is since I haven’t noticed any in the last, say, 200 years but educated people tend to be less terrified by nothing and tend to avoid the evangelical rational for living.
Dwendt44 September 19th, 2014 at 23:46
they decided that when they realized the nearly everyone WAS smarter than they were.
Candide Thirtythree September 20th, 2014 at 00:37
Their OWN leaders call them stupid and they all cheer and clap… I think it is because they are too stupid to know that being stupid is a bad thing.
mmaynard119 September 20th, 2014 at 21:55
Oprah is a leader by herself and she’s not stupid.
neworleans878 September 19th, 2014 at 18:02
I don’t dislike the man because he’s smarter than me. Most people are.
I dislike him because he’s got such a great voice…I’m soooooo jealous!
nola878 September 19th, 2014 at 18:02
I don’t dislike the man because he’s smarter than me. Most people are.
I dislike him because he’s got such a great voice…I’m soooooo jealous!
Robert M. Snyder September 19th, 2014 at 18:10
Every time a conservative criticizes a black person, some liberal accuses them of racism. This is getting old. Conservatives also complained loudly about uppity French intellectuals like Jacques Chirac and Dominique de Villepin. Uppity and elitist are not code words for black. Sorry. Not buying it.
tiredoftea September 19th, 2014 at 18:14
Yeah, no, just this time.
Obewon September 19th, 2014 at 18:16
‘The mind once imploded by the teaKlan won’t ever recover.’ Whereas
“A mind, once expanded by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions”―Holmes! (Oliver Wendell)
Mike Butkus Jr. September 19th, 2014 at 18:27
Uppity is a word conservatives like to use when someone has intelligent point of view and it fucks up the conservative agenda.
Jake September 19th, 2014 at 19:00
I guess compared to Conservatives, Jacques Chirac would be considered an uppity intellectual. To the rest of the world he was a rightwing dumbass moron.
fahvel September 20th, 2014 at 03:27
where the hell did you come up with that really stupid conclusion?
Jake September 20th, 2014 at 07:52
Oh I don’t know maybe living in Paris for two years when he was the mayor had something to do with it.
Mike Butkus Jr. September 19th, 2014 at 19:04
You know what I really don’t give a rats ass that you don’t buy it. Lets do this, we will stop calling you angry conservative races when you stop be one. That works for me.
tracey marie September 19th, 2014 at 19:06
lol, spin it and make yourself look foolish
M D Reese September 19th, 2014 at 19:34
I grew up in the 50s and 60s. i hadn’t heard the word “uppity” for years until I heard it used in 2009 to describe the current First Lady. Suddenly words like “uppity” started popping up to use as dog whistles since they can’t use the “n” word anymore. Well, not in public anyway.
Dwendt44 September 20th, 2014 at 12:40
I’ve yet to hear it used for anything but a black person.
raincheck September 20th, 2014 at 12:55
I’ve heard it used for others… once or twice… but that’s about it. I’ve heard it used repeatedly when it’s in reference to a black person… I grew up in Texas
M D Reese September 20th, 2014 at 17:52
I grew up elsewhere and it was used for black people and women who forgot their “place”.
M D Reese September 20th, 2014 at 17:52
It was (is?) also used to describe women who don’t know their “place”. Michelle Obama is both in their eyes.
rg9rts September 20th, 2014 at 04:01
No one really cares WHAT you buy
Obewon September 19th, 2014 at 18:10
“Homescholars for Perry” are taught the Earth & Universe were impossibly born October, 23, 4,004 B.C. until they view Cosmos on FOX and are debunked by Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson! The 95% white teaKlan won’t ever recover from always being bested by black Americans Tyson, POTUS Obama and everyone else using any smartphone, or Google.
mmaynard119 September 20th, 2014 at 21:54
Isn’t that description not needed “Home Scholars For Perry”?
Robert M. Snyder September 19th, 2014 at 18:10
Every time a conservative criticizes a black person, some liberal accuses them of racism. This is getting old. Conservatives also complained loudly about uppity French intellectuals like Jacques Chirac and Dominique de Villepin. Uppity and elitist are not code words for black. Sorry. Not buying it.
tiredoftea September 19th, 2014 at 18:14
Yeah, no, just this time.
Obewon September 19th, 2014 at 18:16
‘The mind once imploded by the teaKlan won’t ever recover.’ Whereas
“A mind, once expanded by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions”―Holmes! (Oliver Wendell)
Mike Butkus Jr. September 19th, 2014 at 18:27
Uppity is a word conservatives like to use when someone has intelligent point of view and it fucks up the conservative agenda.
Mike Butkus Jr. September 19th, 2014 at 19:04
You know what I really don’t give a rats ass that you don’t buy it. Lets do this, we will stop calling you angry conservative races when you stop be one. That works for me.
tracey marie September 19th, 2014 at 19:06
lol, spin it and make yourself look foolish
M D Reese September 19th, 2014 at 19:34
I grew up in the 50s and 60s. i hadn’t heard the word “uppity” for years until I heard it used in 2009 to describe the current First Lady. Suddenly words like “uppity” started popping up to use as dog whistles since they can’t use the “n” word anymore. Well, not in public anyway.
Dwendt44 September 20th, 2014 at 12:40
I’ve yet to hear it used for anything but a black person.
raincheck September 20th, 2014 at 12:55
I’ve heard it used for others… once or twice… but that’s about it. I’ve heard it used repeatedly when it’s in reference to a black person… I grew up in Texas
M D Reese September 20th, 2014 at 17:52
I grew up elsewhere and it was used for black people and women who forgot their “place”.
M D Reese September 20th, 2014 at 17:52
It was (is?) also used to describe women who don’t know their “place”. Michelle Obama is both in their eyes.
fahvel September 20th, 2014 at 03:27
where the hell did you come up with that really stupid conclusion?
rg9rts September 20th, 2014 at 04:01
No one really cares WHAT you buy
raincheck September 20th, 2014 at 12:47
Is “Bob” short for “Dick”?
Unless your stupid… uppity means something different to different people. The French ARE often considered “uppity elitists” because of their (stereotypical) self important image they have of themselves….arrogant, snobbish, hoity-toity, snooty, pretentious, bumptious, full of oneself, puffed up, conceited, pompous, self-assertive, overbearing, cocky, cocksure, impertinent, haughty, self-important, superior, presumptuous, overweening, uppish, high and mighty; (Of course this again… is just a “stereotype”)
“Pre 1960’s, the term “Uppity Negroes” (I didn’t want to use the OTHER “N word, which was also widely used to describe “colored” people who had education, intelligence, status, influence, and material wealth; furthermore, had enough self-worth as a human being to attain the same standard of living as well-off White people” When the term is used with gritted teeth and a hard N, It takes on a whole new meaning… I’m pretty sure when French intellectuals heard the term “UPPITY” it just didn’t have the same… ‘STING’ to it.
If a black person was caught being able to read, or write they were often killed… “Cuz we cain’t have no “uppity n*gger” upsetten tha natural balance o thangs.
BUT YOU’RE just not buying it…… are you?
Robert M. Snyder September 21st, 2014 at 17:33
“BUT YOU’RE just not buying it…… are you?”
Actually, I am willing to admit that I may have spoken too soon. I have always lived in rural areas where there were (are) essentially zero blacks. I have often heard people use the word “uppity”, but in every case I can remember, it was used by a working-class white person to describe another working-class white person who thought that their feces didn’t stink. I (incorrectly) assumed that it meant the same thing to everyone.
I have never read Uncle Remus, and I have had very little exposure to southern culture. I probably should have done a quick Google search on “uppity” before I posted. My bad.
Obewon September 19th, 2014 at 18:10
“Homescholars for Perry” are taught the Earth & Universe were impossibly born Sunday October 23, 4,004 B.C. until they view Cosmos on FOX and are debunked by Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson! The 95% white teaKlan won’t ever recover from always being bested by black Americans Tyson, POTUS Obama and everyone else using any smartphone, or Google.
mmaynard119 September 20th, 2014 at 21:54
Isn’t that description not needed “Home Scholars For Perry”?
tiredoftea September 19th, 2014 at 18:13
I don’t recall a fringe right freakout when Ben Stein invited people to “Take Ben Stein’s Money” because he flat out assumed he was smarter than you, me, everyone.
raincheck September 20th, 2014 at 11:17
“Ben Stein invited people to “Take Ben Stein’s Money”
Where can I find this guy?
Dwendt44 September 20th, 2014 at 12:40
There’s a test involved.
raincheck September 20th, 2014 at 12:48
I was joking…
tiredoftea September 20th, 2014 at 14:08
Taking money from Fraud Spews now.
mmaynard119 September 20th, 2014 at 21:52
T2 – you know who was the announcer on Take Ben Stein’s Money? ………….
Jimmy Kimmel.
tiredoftea September 20th, 2014 at 21:56
No kidding? I don’t remember him there. I first saw him from the “Man Show”
tiredoftea September 19th, 2014 at 18:13
I don’t recall a fringe right freakout when Ben Stein invited people to “Take Ben Stein’s Money” because he flat out assumed he was smarter than you, me, everyone.
raincheck September 20th, 2014 at 11:17
“Ben Stein invited people to “Take Ben Stein’s Money”
Where can I find this guy?
Dwendt44 September 20th, 2014 at 12:40
There’s a test involved.
raincheck September 20th, 2014 at 12:48
I was joking…
tiredoftea September 20th, 2014 at 14:08
Taking money from Fraud Spews now.
mmaynard119 September 20th, 2014 at 21:52
T2 – you know who was the announcer on Take Ben Stein’s Money? ………….
Jimmy Kimmel.
tiredoftea September 20th, 2014 at 21:56
No kidding? I don’t remember him there. I first saw him from the “Man Show”
rg9rts September 20th, 2014 at 04:00
The 21st century version of the ugly american
rg9rts September 20th, 2014 at 04:00
The 21st century version of the ugly american
Spirit of America September 20th, 2014 at 08:58
Criticism doesn’t equate racism; a proponent of Tyson brings up some of the very same points of possible errors, as well as others, Tyson may have made and the proponent has never struck me as racist in his previous writings.
The article this author links to and writes about doesn’t contain half of the wording this author attributes to the article, the author inserts them himself. And even his ‘look at the art’ portion doesn’t bear out anything on its own.
If someone made fun of Rep Johnson for thinking Guam could tip over for stationing another 8k marine troops, would that to be racist if done by a white man or woman? Not in my view, it really was just a stupid thing to say, regardless of the one speaking.
Spirit of America September 20th, 2014 at 08:58
Criticism doesn’t equate racism; a proponent of Tyson brings up some of the very same points of possible errors, as well as others, Tyson may have made and the proponent has never struck me as racist in his previous writings.
The article this author links to and writes about doesn’t contain half of the wording this author attributes to the article, the author inserts them himself. And even his ‘look at the art’ portion doesn’t bear out anything on its own.
If someone made fun of Rep Johnson for thinking Guam could tip over for stationing another 8k marine troops, would that to be racist if done by a white man or woman? Not in my view, it really was just a stupid thing to say, regardless of the one speaking.
Robert M. Snyder September 21st, 2014 at 17:33
“BUT YOU’RE just not buying it…… are you?”
Actually, I am willing to admit that I may have spoken too soon. I have always lived in rural areas where there were (are) essentially zero blacks. I have often heard people use the word “uppity”, but in every case I can remember, it was used by a working-class white person to describe another working-class white person who thought that their feces didn’t stink. I (incorrectly) assumed that it meant the same thing to everyone.
I have never read Uncle Remus, and I have had very little exposure to southern culture. I probably should have done a quick Google search on “uppity” before I posted. My bad.