BIG GULP BIAS

Is NYC's Big-Size Soda Ban Racist?

The NAACP and assorted Hispanic groups are against it

Jan 25, 2013 by Dain Fitzgerald

Staff Writer t

New York City's ban on large sodas has been called an infringement on individual liberties and an affront to consumer sovereignty - but is it racist too?

That's the accusation made by the NAACP and Hispanic advocacy groups. They hope to block enforcement of the ban on the grounds that it discriminates against smaller, minority-owned businesses that are less able to absorb the revenue loss.

"The NAACP and the Hispanic Federation, an organization of 100 Northeastern groups, say their concern is that minority-owned delis and corner stores will end up at a disadvantage compared with grocery chains," writes the Associated Press.

But The American Conservative's Rod Dreher thinks it's all a case of money talking, and points to the hefty sums given the NAACP and Hispanic Federation by the likes of Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

"If it's a racial issue, then the black and Hispanic activists ought to be on the city's side, given that minorities are more likely to be obese than whites," Dreher writes. " But no, these groups are bought and paid for."

Via The American Conservative and AP.

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?	Is the NAACP right to oppose the big soda ban?

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Yes, absolutely

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Right move, wrong reason

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Comments (view in Forum)

Jan '13

justapirate

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What does it take to play the race card? Any damn thing under the sun.
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Jan '13

Rocker

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Only if the drink is served in a black, brown, red, or tan cup. Jeez Louise, can it get any more irrelevant.
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Jan '13

RobertJHarsh

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Exactly. I am sick of the race card. It's like "we don't like <insert that here>, you hate black people! We're suing!". I understand that alleged racism is a key to their agenda, but use it for some practical. I am not happy about Nanny Bloomberg but we need to find ways to solve the obesity problem.
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Jan '13

Rocker

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Onliest thing I can say is... if coffee is ever judged to be racist then I'm wayyyyy screwed.
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Jan '13

Blessed

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@RobertJHarsh I agree! One way to solve the obesity problem is not allowing junk food to be bought with foodstamps. The NAACP would likely scream 'racist' if folks were told which food could be bought with the foodstamps you and I pay for. A bag of dried beans and a sack of potatoes would be a good replacement for a bag of chips and a 2-liter.
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Jan '13

OhWiseOne

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@Blessed In Atlanta they buy strippers and alcohol with their food stamps.
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Jan '13

Dan_Tien

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Not only that, but banning cocaine is discriminatory against South Americans.
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Jan '13

Jlope

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Actually...that kind of is. History is some interesting stuff if you take the time to learn about it.
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Jan '13

DARSB

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Obesity isn't race-specific, and neither is heart disease or diabetes. I note there was no equivalent protest when taxes on cigarettes raised the prices and cut demand.
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Jan '13

MongoAPillager

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can't find the story at the moment,but the use didn,t get cut noticeably,they just bought them at cheaper states,like NH,they make cig runs up here all the time
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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@MongoAPillager You are wrong on this. I know of people that quit smoking, and lots of kids don't bother to start because the price is too high compared to other things they want to do with the money. Also a percentage of smokers have taken to rolling there own, which may not be good for their health, but reduces impulse smoking, thus cutting the number of cigerattes consumed, and deprives big cigeratte companies of revenue...
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Jan '13

MongoAPillager

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@PoliticalSpice Wrong,Sir how dare you!Wrong indeed!I still know the same crowd I went to school with,most were smokers then as are they now,I live right on the border of Maine and the state loses so much tax money to us they actually spy on our liquer stores to get the tax evaders when they cross back over,we have whole caravans on the weekend come up for the smoke runs,flatlanders,new Yorkers etc,,,nope,PC laws do not stop smoking,just messes up their latter's a little
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Jan '13

MongoAPillager

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@MongoAPillager just messes up their patterns a little
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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@MongoAPillager I dare again. High cigerrate prices prevent a lot of kids from starting in the first place, and I know people who quit and two people who roll their own cause of high prices. These rules may not apply so much in rural areas where ther is less to do, but in urban areas people would rather spend the money going out.
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Jan '13

texas_cutie75

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HUH?? How can the city ban Big Gulps? Exactly what is that going to accomplish? Other than folks are going to have to buy more sodas....ahh, I get it!! I was once upon a time considered obese, when my family tried to hinder my access to sodas, junk food, and sweets, I just made other arrangements. The chunky, hefty, or overweight...pick your term, will not change their habits until THEY, themselves, are ready.
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Jan '13

KarenCJackson

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Right move ...wrong reason.
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Jan '13

TheJimmy

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If 40 ounce bottles of malt liquor would be banned then yes, it would definitely be racist. Soda on the other hand, well, not so much.
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Jan '13

RobertJHarsh

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LOL.
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Jan '13

Cheenoguy

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Go back to your PBR and moon pie while all of us grown ups speak.
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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@Cheenoguy I hate to say it but Jimmy is right for once. I had stores in the "urban areas" and I never saw a single person with a "forty" except for black guys. It's the cheap drink of choice along with "Old English" among wanna be black thugs. Of course those with money drink Hennessy.
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Jan '13

TheJimmy

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@jessejaymes
Correction. TheJimmy is always Right.
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Jan '13

TheJimmy

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@Cheenoguy
Right after you go back to your Newport Menthols and Popeye's Chicken.
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Jan '13

Buckfan4life2

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When will this racecard crap ever stop. Hell the only race that should be able to use the race card today are white,white, and whites.
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Jan '13

falco_alba

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Why?
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Jan '13

Rocker

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@falco_alba - I just looked at my Race Card. It read........... human.
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Jan '13

falco_alba

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@Rocker

I am a triple minority...I wish it was that easy...
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Jan '13

Rocker

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@falco_alba - It really IS that easy to some of us. I have friends. I don't have friends who just happen to be............ wealthy. (wasn't expecting that one were you - LOL)
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Jan '13

falco_alba

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@Rocker

LOL - what are you, richophobic? Shame on you! Corporations are people, too!
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Jan '13

DerivePI

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Only if they discriminate between the colas and the sprites.
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Jan '13

DerivePI

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Next thing you know, the NAACP will be saying that Social Security is racist because black people don't live as long and don't get to recoup as much of their money...
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Jan '13

Tralee

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@DerivePI Sorry to have to mention this, but I've already heard that line of reasoning starting a few years ago.
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Jan '13

Politicskid

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Proof the NAACP is no longer needed:
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Jan '13

WilliamWallace

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Best bumper sticker ever: NAACP the klan with a tan!
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Jan '13

hwyangel

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@WilliamWallace
LOL
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Jan '13

russ

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Then it's affirmative action incognito right? After all, the ban is more beneficial to blacks and hispanics and their greater obesity problem. hhmmm....reverse discrimination.....
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Jan '13

Politicskid

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But it is total overreach for NYC to ban big sodas, and they have a point, it will hurt small business.
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Jan '13

Tralee

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I'm sure I'm not the only one sick and tired of the "Race Card" being tossed out for just anything at all. The constant fraudulent use in the past 4 years has basically rendered the phrase meaningless. As to the big soda ban, well, it apparently only affects small corner stores, the big 7-11 type stores are not included for some reason. Also, if denied a large soda, what's to stop someone from buying two of the "correct" size? It may disproportionally effect the owners of the corner stores, most of whom are minorities, but that's a close to racism that it gets. What a silly ban, but NYC Mayor Bloomberg seems to be going through a mid-life crisis and wants to be a Mommy rather than the Mayor of one of America's largest cities.
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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If the "corner store" is dependent on big gulps to survive then it's only a matter of time before they go under any how.
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Jan '13

woodtick57

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how will not selling a certain size soda hurt a small business, or any business for that matter?
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Jan '13

MongoAPillager

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Wow if i were black or latino i would be pissed as these studies are so racist,they make them look like whining little crybabies
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Jan '13

tomincali

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its way past time of all raced based groups be removed from politics. it has become more of a way to keep races divided instead of all be treated as equal.
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Jan '13

bsking

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It's impossible. it cannot be racist. it is a liberal idea. although was brought about by white man, who does have a superiority complex , and I'm not sure but I think is also gay.
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Jan '13

Hireman

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It's bad for all business, not only businesses with owners of a certain color. The race-card really needs to be removed from the deck.
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Jan '13

Brownie

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What the hell is this? So... Stupid. Why even r write about this? I'm black, in the south and 5'2 and weight 125. So, I'm not fat. I don't give a care. Stop eating so damn much. Get your behind outside and run. They need to shut the front door, on this topic.
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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YEAH BROWNIE!!!!!!!!!!
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Jan '13

ConserveUSA

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Agreed! Whoever came up with this needs a life. LOL!!!
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Jan '13

SomethinsFishy

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Don't know whether it is racist or not, but it definitely smacks of the NANNY GOVERNMENT that Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Entremanure George Soros, establishment apparatchiks like Senators Feinstein and Bloomberg, and President Obama and Vice-President Obama want to force down our throats whether we are for it or not. Wait till the November 2014 elections!!!
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Jan '13

Brownie

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I can't choose. You need to add another choice for people like me. Maybe, stop the nonsense. I'll choose that. Totally stupid, even better. What a waste of a read.
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Is the NAACP right to oppose the big soda ban?

Is the NAACP right to oppose the big soda ban?