John Harwood just became my new favorite journalist.  I’ve been waiting for someone to just fucking tell it like it is.  If you have a problem with the president addressing school children and telling them to stay in school, you are a stupid person.  I’ll concede that it may be racism and not stupidity to blame, but let’s be honest, racism is a form of stupidity.

The telling thing about this video is the anchor’s reaction to hearing Harwood tell the truth.  She snickers “ouch” and says he’s “showing no mercy on this one.”  No, what he’s doing is being an honest, sane, rational person, and he’s not trying to kick up dirt about a NON-ISSUE like you are.  In fact if you are treating this story as a “controversy” rather than a story about insane racist idiots, you’re being stupid as well.  And let’s keep in mind it the only reason it’s a controversy is that you’re giving it the time of day by reporting on it.

Here’s the transcript:

Novotny: John, what about this controversy over opposition to Obama’s speech to school children?

Harwood: I’ve got to tell you Monica, I’ve been watching politics for a long time and this is, this one is really over the top. What it shows you is there are a lot of cynical people who try to fan controversy and let’s face it, in a country of three hundred million people there are a lot of stupid people too, because if you believe that’s it’s somehow unhealthy for kids for the President to say work hard and stay in school, you’re stupid.

Novotny: Ouch.

Harwood: In fact, I’m worried for some of those kids, I’m worried for some of those kids of those parents who are upset. I’m not sure they’re smart enough to raise those kids.

UPDATE - Just watched Meet The Press and have to give it up to Thomas Friedman for even more passionately calling these people stupid.