The GOP's racism and sexism problem rears its ugly head again (and Maxine Waters isn't having it)

For a while many of us have been watching the racist and sexist antics of the GOP and asking ourselves if it can get any worse. Sadly—the answer seems to be yes. During the last decade we’ve watched them work themselves into a frenzy over the changing demographics of the country, a black president and his family and have watched as their out of control fear of an imaginary world in which straight white men suddenly lose all their power takes root in strange and deeply destructive ways. It was bad enough when their fear and hatred of the other was limited to fake Fox News stories and Obama memes but now they’ve “taken back” their government for all the world to see. And it ain’t pretty.

On Tuesday, Fox News provocateur and serial sexual harasser, Bill O’Reilly offered an incredibly lame, non-apology (or fauxpology) after insulting the brilliant and incomparable Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), not on the basis of her arguments or on her opinions, not about her astute political analysis, but instead about her hair. Then again, because we know that misogyny and sexual assault are not job disqualifiers among this crowd, the fact that O’Reilly couldn’t be bothered to remark on substance isn’t all that surprising. Waters, who remains completely undeterred and focused on the big picture (which is keeping laser focused on the Trump administration), responded as only she could in epic brilliance on All In with Chris Hayes. 

"I'm a strong black woman. And I cannot be intimidated. I cannot be undermined. I cannot be thought to be afraid of Bill O'Reilly or anybody." [...]

“I’d like to say to women out there everywhere, don’t allow these right-wing talking heads, these dishonorable people, to intimidate you or scare you. Be who you are! Do what you do! And let us get on with discussing the real issues of this country!”

Check out the entirety of Maxine’s full glory.