Sarah Palin Invokes Governor Cuomo and Eskimos to Deflect From Shuck and Jive Controversy

Sarah Palin (Photo: Getty)

Former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin sparked a controversy yesterday when she posted a note on her Facebook page accusing President Barack Obama of engaging in a shuck and jive shtick with lies about the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya last month. The term shuck and jive originated in the Deep South and has been used as a derogatory description of African-Americans. After Ms. Palin faced accusations her use of the phrase was racist, she fired back with another Facebook note that pointed to past uses of the term by Governor Andrew Cuomo, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, and MSNBCs Chris Matthews.

For the record, there was nothing remotely racist in my use of the phrase shuck and jivea phrase which many people have used, including Chris Matthews, Andrew Cuomo, and White House Press Secretary Jay Carney to name a few off the top of my head, Ms. Palin wrote. In fact, Andrew Cuomo also used the phrase in reference to Barack Obama, and the fac! t that Mr. Cuomo and I used the phrase in relation to President Obama signifies nothing out of the ordinary.

Mr. Cuomo, who supported Hillary Clintons presidential bid in 2008, used the phrase to describe her opponents (including Mr. Obama) during that years presidential primary.

You cant shuck and jive at a press conference. All those moves you can make with the press dont work when youre in someones living room, Mr. Cuomo said.

Politicker reached out to Mr. Cuomos office to see if they have a comment on Ms. Palins note. As of this writing, we have yet to receive a response.

Mr. Matthews used the phrase in 2010 to describe his MSNBC colleague, Rachel Maddow. Mr. Carney used the phrase at a White House press briefing last year to describe himself.

After listing other high-profile figures who have used the phrase, Ms. Palin went on to defend herself by pointing out that many people use phrases she has deemed potentially offensive to Eskimos.

Ive been known to use the phrase most often when chastising my daughter Piper to stop procrastinating and do her homework. As she is part Yupik Eskimo, Im not sure if this term would be deemed offensive when its directed at her or if it would be considered benign as in the case of Chris Matthews use ! of it in ! reference to Rachel Maddow, Ms. Palin wrote. Just to be careful, from now on Ill avoid using it with Piper, and I would appreciate it if the media refrained from using words and phrases like igloo, Eskimo Pie, and when hell freezes over, as they might be considered offensive by my extended Alaska Native family.

Ms. Palins husband, Todd, is one-quarter Yupik Eskimo and her children are one-eighth Eskimo.

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