Gunny Bob guest host Rima stated whites now the “minority” in California, omitted that non-Hispanic whites are still the largest ethnic group

Guest host Sean Rima stated on Newsradio 850 KOA's The Gunny Bob Show that “there's something to be said for the folks who are getting upset Caucasians might be the minority in this country at some point -- they certainly are already in California.” In fact, at 43.8 percent, non-Hispanic “white persons” remain the largest single ethnic group in California, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics.

On the September 20 broadcast of Newsradio 850 KOA's The Gunny Bob Show, guest host Sean Rima told a caller, "[T]here's something to be said for the folks who are getting upset that the Caucasians might be the minority in this country at some point -- they certainly are already in California." Despite saying that “you could argue ... there's some racist sentiment involved there,” Rima later echoed his assertion by stating that “it's quite possible the Caucasian category could become the minority in this country,” adding, "[I]t's not the majority any more" in California.

However, Rima did not mention the fact that, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, non-Hispanic “white persons” remain California's largest single ethnic group. Census figures show that “White persons not Hispanic” constituted 43.8 percent of California's population in 2005; the next largest ethnic demographic -- “Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin” -- comprised 35.2 percent of the population. Furthermore, “White persons” -- which the Census Bureau defines as "[a] person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa," including “people who indicate their race as 'White' or report entries such as Irish, German, Italian, Lebanese, Near Easterner, Arab, or Polish” -- make up 77 percent of California's population, according to the census figures.

During the broadcast, the same caller told Rima, “I always wonder about when, as the white person -- what is the NAACP [National Association for the Advancement of Colored People] going to do when the white is the minority? ... Are they going to stand up for me as a minority when the, when the time comes?" Rima responded, “No, because white people suck and they're brutal and they're violent and they're awful. And we've just been, you know, just ravaging the surface of the planet since we came into existence.”

Later, Rima said that “if you're looking, like, a hundred years down the road, or even 50 years down the road, it's quite possible the Caucasian category could become the minority in this country. In certain urban areas it already is. State of California it's a minority -- it's not the majority any more, which I don't really think about or give a damn about, but, you know, what if?” He then added, “You know, would anybody support, like, a white caucus? [laughs] Could you imagine? I would like to propose a white caucus, you know, or a channel, White Entertainment TV. You know, you wouldn't be able to pull that off. If you're Caucasian, you can't talk about being white, 'cause if you talk about being a white dude, you're being a racist -- in any way, shape, or form.”

Contrary to Rima's statement that Caucasians are a “minority” in California, U.S. Census Bureau data show that “White persons” comprise the largest percentage of the state's population:


California
USA

White persons, percent, 2005 (a)

77.0%

80.2%

Black persons, percent, 2005 (a)

6.7%

12.8%

American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2005 (a)

1.2%

1.0%

Asian persons, percent, 2005 (a)

12.2%

4.3%

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2005 (a)

0.4%

0.2%

Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2005

2.4%

1.5%

Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2005 (b)

35.2%

14.4%

White persons not Hispanic, percent, 2005

43.8%

66.9%

Moreover, the Census Bureau stated that "[p]eople who identify their origin as Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino may be of any race. Thus, the percent Hispanic should not be added to percentages for racial categories. NonHispanic White persons are those who responded 'No, not Spanish/Hispanic/Latino' and who reported 'White' as their only entry in the race question."

While serving as guest host on the March 12 broadcast of “Gunny Bob” Newman's program, Rima agreed with a caller's assertion that African-Americans “like” former President Bill Clinton because he “was a smooth womanizer,” as Colorado Media Matters noted. Rima also asked his listeners during that broadcast, “Exactly how long do you think it's going to take before Hillary Clinton actually claims to be a black woman?”

From the September 20 broadcast of Newsradio 850 KOA's The Gunny Bob Show, with guest host Sean Rima:

SEAN RIMA: I don't think many immigration issues are racial in nature.

CALLER: No, they're not.

RIMA: I mean, you know, when you get into the business of, you know, some people don't like all the Spanish being spoken in America, some people don't like to see Español, you know, on the stop lights or the traffic signs or anywhere. And, you know, there's something to be said for the folks who are getting upset that the Caucasians might be the minority in this country at some point -- they certainly are already in California. And you could argue, OK, well, there's some racist sentiment involved there. But if you're just somebody who wants the borders shorn up, and if you're somebody who, you know, is upset or unhappy with the economic burden of 8 million illegals in this country, you know, it's dramatically unfair to call you a racist. It's a cheap shot.

CALLER: Well, and I always wonder about when, as the white person -- what is the NAACP going to do when the white is the minority? Now I am -- now I am classified as a color? Are they going to stand up for me as a minority when the, when the time comes?

RIMA: No, because white people suck and they're brutal and they're violent and they're awful. And we've just been, you know, just ravaging the surface of the planet since we came into existence --

CALLER: Well --

RIMA: And --

CALLER: The basis of a hypocrisy in place, you know?

RIMA: Well, you know what? I've always said this, yeah -- is there Caucasian violence? Yeah, is there, you know -- but human beings in general, no matter what the color their skin is, are all fairly capable of violence.

CALLER: Exactly. Well, I'm just looking out for my aunt's cows down there in Arizona.

RIMA: Well, I appreciate the call, man.

CALLER: You bet. Thanks, Sean.

RIMA: Thanks a lot; thanks a lot. 303-713-8585; 303-713-8585. You think -- that is kind of an interesting point, though. What if, like, seriously, if you're looking, like, a hundred years down the road, or even 50 years down the road, it's quite possible the Caucasian category could become the minority in this country. In certain urban areas it already is. State of California it's a minority -- it's not the majority any more, which I don't really think about or give a damn about, but, you know, what if? You know, would anybody support, like, a white caucus? [laughs] Could you imagine? I would like to propose a white caucus, you know, or a channel, White Entertainment TV. You know, you wouldn't be able to pull that off. If you're Caucasian, you can't talk about being white, 'cause if you talk about being a white dude, you're being a racist -- in any way, shape, or form. Is there -- really, that's where we are. Now obviously, we're not that many decades away from the original civil rights movement, so, you know, I can understand the sensitivity to a certain extent. But that doesn't mean that white folks should be completely and utterly edited out of the dialogue, because that's what I hear very often. Whenever I bring up racial issues, I always get at least one person that calls up and it's one person of color, or whatever the hell, who call up and say, “You have no business talking about this issue because you're white; you've never experienced racism.”