According to Thread on this term subject... He would qualify as using racist terminology.

I think he was ill advised to use the word, however. But I would invite you check pages like Gawker and Raw Story on Facebook regarding stories about Freddie Gray, and then come back and tell me that the mouthbreathers using the word there aren't using at a substitute for another.

...as an argument against marriage equality.

Are we about to go thru that again?

Besides, I don't think there was ever a consensus that it wasn't an accepted term at DU, just a concerted effort by a few to convince us that it wasn't.

women calling themselves sluts and bitches. it serves none of us.

That should by itself make people pause,

but

then there is the question: more effective to achieve what end?

Even in the black community. People in the "hood" call local gangs and other lowlives that prey on them thugs because that's what they are.

But like all terms, it depends on who and how it's used. I didn't flinch at all when Mayor Rawlings-Blake described the opportunistic looters as "thugs". Now if the mayor were white, then yeah I'd be a bit heated.

I guess Obama thinks he's finally going to be invited over to the cool jock's table.

I agreed with pretty much everything that linguist John McWhorter touched upon.

The Racially-Charged Meaning Behind The Word 'Thug'

"Black people use that word about each other, why can't I use it?"

and if you've ever waded through the shit comments on Facebook pages like Gawker, or Raw Story, you can see every right-wing racist piece of shit using that as an excuse. It's happening as we speak.

Shame on him.

he has to realize what a loaded term that is today.