wafflesatnoon.com » Politics » Did Mitt Romney use a KKK Slogan?
Did Mitt Romney use a KKK Slogan?
Rumors that Mitt Romney re-used the KKK slogan “Keep America American” continue to be circulated online. Some say it has been debunked, while others aren’t so sure. Let’s take a look.
The controversy began when Mitt Romney used the phrase “keep America America” which was misquoted in the press to be “Keep America American.” This is in fact a slogan associated with the KKK. In a campaign ad, Romney can be heard saying:
We will stop these power seekers where they stand. We will keep America America by retaining its character as the land of opportunity.
View this statement in the video below, at about the 15-second mark:
There is more than one side to this argument. Sites such as Americablog.com claim that “Romney used the phrase at least twice, and it is an old Ku Klux Klan slogan.” It further argues that if the GOP can imply that President Obama is a socialist, then they can imply that Romney is a racist. The popular myth-busting site Snopes has claimed this rumor to be false, basing their determination on the difference between “America” and “American” in the quote. Snopes itself has come under fire for being biased toward the political right.
While there are two sides to every argument, what is interesting here is that both sides back up their claims by the same piece of information, that of Romney using the phrase “Keep America America” and not “Keep America American,” which was the KKK slogan in question. Detractors will claim that the sentiment is the same despite the small difference, and perhaps Romney actually used the exact KKK quote and merely denied it later. Those calling it a hoax will point out that Romney’s campaign slogan is not either version of the phrase in question, but “Believe in America.” They also point out that the phrases are in fact different, albeit slightly.
Alas, it comes down to interpretation. People will interpret this however they wish, and both sides will be able to argue their side with some facts. While it appears clear to this writer that Mitt Romney said, “keep America America” it can be debated how close to the KKK theme the sentiment really is, and what that even means in either incarnation. The fact that Romney was raised in Mormonism in a time that is considered a discriminatory era is an issue we predicted nearly a year ago would re-surface, and this appears to be signs of just that.
It’s hard to fathom that Mitt Romney would commit political suicide by knowingly quoting the KKK. That said, accusations of Mormonism being racist along with the fact that he is facing an African-American president only highlights anything that can be construed as racist in this election. Romney has to be very sensitive in how he chooses his words.
I’d also like to point out this excellent article from 2011 which discusses this issue, and takes a look at other groups who have used the “Keep America American” slogan.
Though the story originally flared up at the end of 2011, it has resurfaced again in social media. The following tweet was sent out on a couple of Seth Rogan fan pages in the past few days:
that akward moment you realize Mitt Romney’s Slogan, “Keep America American” was the same slogan used by the KKK in 1922…
“Keep America America”
The Mitt Romney version of “Keep America America” can be found in countless literature, such as the 1949 “New York Legislative Documents, Volume 4″ in which it is written, “But today The American Legion is challenged as it has never been challenged before as a force in our own country to protect America, to protect the basic concepts of America, and to keep America America.” Another example is the Michigan Courthouse Review, volumes 14-15 (1951) in which we read, “As you can easily see, we must participate to keep America, America.”
“Keep America American”
This quote does appear in the KKK publication Why You Should Become a Klansman: Of Interest to White, Protestant, Native-born Americans who Want to Keep America American (1924). But we can go back further and find this in the religious text The Winchester centennial, 1803-1903 in which it is written, “But we who have studied the land of late years must have felt that we come to a greater, a more vital crisis, in these doubtful times in which it is still uncertain whether we can keep America American, true to the principles on which her life was begun, to which it was rededicated when the Union was preserved.”
We have included but a few instances of the above quotes in other literature to demonstrate that they are not exclusive to any individual or organization.
Bottom Line
Neither of these slogans belongs solely to Mitt Romney or the KKK, and in fact both have been used by many people in many situations over many years. Mitt Romney did not use the exact KKK quote, though the meaning of the two slogans side by side are open to interpretation and debate. He used a quote similar to the KKK slogan. The similar KKK slogan “Keep America American” has been used in the past by other organizations, dating back to the 1800s.
We’d like to get your opinion. Do you think Mitt Romney’s use of the phrase “Keep America America” is close enough to the KKK slogan “Keep America American” to warrant a controversy, or is this merely a cheap ploy to cost him votes?
Filed under: Politics
I think it’s a cheap ploy to cost him votes. It’s a sad example of how the culture war has escalated that people are willing to start a political flame war over one lousy letter.
I couldn’t agree more. This is desperation in the extreme sense. The race card is getting really old.
This simple slogan that is being used by the KKK so long ago, and now by Numb nuts Romney, is not just a simply race scheme if you actually think about it. Lets put it this way, if Hitler was was runnin for President would u vote for him!!! Dont be so damn shallow, if you really think your votes matter, keep voting, lets see the next ignorant person that has absolutely no life experience run our country.
It’s sad that people react to tiny issues. They want to find fault so badly. Sad, sad, but true. Let’s keep America America. God bless the USA!
tiny issues? since when is anything having to do with the kkk or racism a “tiny issue”?
The only reason the KKK and racism is still a big deal is because people keep making it a big deal.
“The only reason the KKK and racism is still a big deal is because people are still racist.”
Fixed it for you.
I don’t believe that racism is a tiny issue, however i think that it is blown WAY out of proportion. just like you people saying he is in the kkk off a quote that dates back to 1922. the guy is running for president i don’t think he would intentionally use a racist quote. i think that some of the 460 million obama used on his campaign was directed towards coming up with any type of bullshit on romney to discourage his voters. why are the blacks even complaining? theres a black president and most likely will be re-elected. when will there be a Native American president this was our land but you people stole it from us and forced us on reservations. rarely do you hear an ndn complaining but everytime you turn around a black is accusing someone of being racist. we are all the same people we just have different colored skin i have red you have black COLORED SKIN MOVE ON IN LIFE! GET OVER YOURSELVES! this is PATHETIC. i think that whoever brought the whole quote up is a racist.
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I just heard the video over and over and he strictly says “Keep America American”
The video says America not American. Seriously people…..
Subtle racism is so hard to prove
Anyone who denies this hard fact is not ready for the truth.
I need to correct your statement “The fact that Romney was raised in Mormonism in a time that it did not allow blacks into the church” The statement is false. Blacks were not kept out of the church in Romney’s time. Blacks have been allowed to join the church since 1848. The controversy was not in whether or not they could join, the controversy was that black males were not allowed to be ordained into the priesthood until 1979. Thank you.
Yes, that was not worded correctly, which has been changed. It was, however, an era that is considered to be more discriminatory than now.
The words were said, it can’t be denied. Mitt and his people are smart, enough to keep statements like this out of his speeches unless they are purposely seeing how much they can get away with. Or, it was a slip-up. In my experience though, you’re more likely to learn the truth about someone and/or their ideas when they slip up and give you information without intending to.
Arkayne, which video were you and Fabian listening to? He says America not American.
Hello! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this post to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
It is irrelevant whether or not the Romney’s statement was a slogan of the KKK. It still has xenophobic connotations and demonstrates a poor grasp of the North American genealogy.
What we have here is only an issue that has been going on before all the other black folks were born. I am of Mexican descent and my family has all the races of the nation. People it does not matter who gets the presidental office because whoever wins it whether we like it or not does not really matter. This world is already evil and I believe that is King Jesus was to run for President those that do not believe in His power will not vote for Him…..sooner or later God will make His entrance and then we will all be perished so whatever. Quit all this crap between you all because no one cares.
Think what you like, but in light of the Tea Party, what they stand for and their efforts that were soundly defeated in North Caroline to undo segregation, I wouldn’t doubt he play on the non kkk (lowercaps intended) while meaning to dog whistle the kkk meaning. America is about to reap what it has sown!
Of course race is only an issue when it’s made to be. As a AFRICAN AMERICAN and CAUCASIAN American , race is a issue. Period. Just because we don’t have laws to inact segregation, it will always be an issue when you are groupes or referenced to as only a race. Speak for yourself on the race issue if you’ve grown up in Caucasian America. Personally, I find Romeny unfit for presidency. His policies have loopholes pre proven inaccurate. He is not for middle class. Prodige of a cronie.
To me, keep America America means don’t try to turn it into another country, for instance, China. Whereas, keep America American to me means don’t allow anyone in but Americans. I think the two phrases are totally different. I believe he said, “Keep America, America.” If you listen to the whole speech it isn’t talking about racism. I think he’s too smart for that. I despise racism. I think this is just a ploy to get the undecided vote.
its a silly debate. romney is a fool. but america, american. meh, he has script writers. he just reads them. its irrelevant and the fact that it sparks any sort of debate annoyed me enough to post about it.