Drudge highlighted Financial Times quote echoing false rumor about Obama's religion
SUMMARY: The Drudge Report ran the headline "West Virginia country folk keep distance from Obama: 'I heard he's a Muslim ...' " in linking to a Financial Times article. The article quoted a West Virginia resident stating, "I heard Obama is a Muslim and his wife's an atheist." But Obama is, in fact, not a Muslim. While the article characterized the rumors of Obama's religion as "unfounded," it did so 12 paragraphs after quoting the "I heard he's a Muslim" assertion and did not report that the Obamas are both Christians.
On May 11, the Drudge Report linked to a May 11 Financial Times article (published in the newspaper's May 12 U.S. print edition) with the headline: "West Virginia country folk keep distance from Obama: 'I heard he's a Muslim ...' ." As Media Matters for America has repeatedly documented, Obama is, in fact, not a Muslim. The Financial Times article by reporter Andrew Ward to which Drudge linked stated: "Like most people in Mingo County, West Virginia, Leonard Simpson is a lifelong Democrat. But given a choice between [Sen.] Barack Obama and [Sen.] John McCain in November, the 67-year-old retired coalminer would vote Republican." Ward quoted Simpson stating, "I heard Obama is a Muslim and his wife's an atheist." While the article characterized the rumors of Obama's religion as "unfounded," it did so 12 paragraphs after quoting the "I heard he's a Muslim" assertion and did not report that the Obamas are both Christians.
From the Drudge Report (accessed through DrudgeReportArchives.com):
From the Financial Times article, which bore the headline "W Virginia keeps distance from Obama" on the Financial Times website and "Core Democrats question Obama's love of country" in the May 12 U.S. print edition:
Like most people in Mingo County, West Virginia, Leonard Simpson is a lifelong Democrat. But given a choice between Barack Obama and John McCain in November, the 67-year-old retired coalminer would vote Republican.
"I heard that Obama is a Muslim and his wife's an atheist," said Mr Simpson, drawing on a cigarette outside the fire station in Williamson, a coalmining town of 3,400 people surrounded by lush wooded hillsides.
Mr Simpson's remarks help explain why Mr Obama is trailing Hillary Clinton, his Democratic rival, by 40 percentage points ahead of Tuesday's primary election in the heavily white and rural state, according to recent opinion polls.
A landslide victory for Mrs Clinton in West Virginia will do little to improve her fading hopes of winning the Democratic nomination, because Mr Obama has an almost insurmountable lead in the overall race.
But Tuesday's contest is likely to reinforce Mrs Clinton's argument that she would be the stronger opponent for Mr McCain in November, and raise fresh doubts about whether the US is ready to elect its first black president.
Occupying a swathe of the Appalachian Mountains on the threshold between the Bible Belt and the Rust Belt, West Virginia is a swing state that voted twice for George W. Bush but backed Democrats in six of the eight prior presidential elections.
No Democrat has been elected to the White House without carrying West Virginia since 1916, yet Mr Obama appears to have little chance of winning there in November. Recent opinion polls indicate that Mrs Clinton would narrowly beat Mr McCain in the state but Mr Obama would lose by nearly 20 percentage points.
West Virginia is hostile territory for Mr Obama because it has few of the African-Americans and affluent, college-educated whites who provide his strongest support. The state has the lowest college graduation rate in the US, the second lowest median household income, and one of the highest proportions of white residents, at 96 per cent.
A visit to Mingo County, a Democratic stronghold in the heart of the Appalachian coalfields, reveals the scale of Mr Obama's challenge -- not only in West Virginia but in white, working-class communities across the US. With a gun shop on its main street and churches dotted throughout the town, Williamson is the kind of community evoked by Mr Obama's controversial comments last month about "bitter" small-town voters who "cling to guns or religion".
"If he is the nominee, the Democrats have no chance of winning West Virginia," said Missy Endicott, a 40- year-old school administrator. "He doesn't understand ordinary Americans."
Ms Endicott was among roughly 500 people who crammed into the Williamson Fire Department building on Friday to attend a rally by Bill Clinton, the former president. He told them his wife represented "people like you, in places like this", and urged voters to turn out in record numbers on Tuesday to send a message to the "higher-type people" who were trying to force her out of the race.
Local leaders said Mr Clinton was the most important visitor to Williamson since John F. Kennedy passed through during the 1960 election campaign. Mr Kennedy's victory in the West Virginia primary that year was a crucial step towards proving his electability as the first Catholic president. Nearly five decades later, the state appears less willing to help Mr Obama break down barriers to the White House.
None of the 22 Democrats interviewed by the Financial Times at the Clinton rally would commit themselves to voting for Mr Obama if he became the nominee, and half said they definitely would not. The depth of opposition is particularly striking considering that Mingo County is one of the most Democratic places in West Virginia, having cast about 85 per cent of its votes for the party in the 2006 midterm elections. If Mr Obama cannot win there in November, he has little chance of carrying the state.
Most people questioned said they mistrusted Mr Obama because of doubts about his patriotism and "values", stemming from his cosmopolitan background, his exotic name and the controversy surrounding "anti-American" sermons by Jeremiah Wright, his former pastor. Several people said they believed he was a Muslim -- an unfounded rumour that has circulated on the internet for months -- despite the contradiction with his 20-year membership of Mr Wright's church in Chicago. Others mentioned his refusal to wear a Stars and Stripes badge and controversial remarks by his wife, Michelle, who described America as "mean" and implied that she had never been proud of the US until her husband ran for president.
Conservative commentators have questioned Mr Obama's patriotism for months and the issue is expected to be one of the Republicans' main lines of attack if he wins the nomination. "The American people want a president who loves their country as much as they do," said Whit Ayres, a Republican strategist. Obama supporters believe patriotism is being used as code to harness racist sentiment.
Josh Fry, a 24-year-old ambulance driver from Williamson, insisted he was not racist but said he would feel more comfortable with Mr McCain, the 71-year-old Vietnam war hero, in the White House. "I want someone who is a full-blooded American as president," he said.
Druge just links to websites who actually write and post the articles. Drudge in no way accused or said Obama is a Muslim. His website just provided a link to an articles based on WV people who think he is.
Instead of going after him because hes Drudge, why not just get to the nitty gritty and condem the actual website who wrote and posted the article.
This is about attacking a republican media source, not the actual source of the media.
Quite sad.
Columbus.... you self righteous clown!
"Druge just links to websites who actually write and post the articles. Drudge in no way accused or said Obama is a Muslim. His website just provided a link to an articles based on WV people who think he is."
What is true is that Drudge goes off and claims to be a journalist and the corporate owned media... especially Fox Noise uses him as a legitimate source..... so when he links to an article.... it is used by the right-wing media as a news source....
So MMFA bringing this up here is quite legit..... and the only thing sad, is you!
However, as MM has said, the FT article did state that the beliefs of the WV people were indeed false and that he was not muslim.
So please, tell me what misinformation there is?
Its not a false rumor. Its a direct statement from an uninformed person in WV. Note that it is in quotations, and the article states the persons thoughts to be false.
Stop parsing.
Its not a false rumor. Its a direct statement from an uninformed person in WV. Note that it is in quotations, and the article states the persons thoughts to be false.
Stop parsing.
Tommy, how does my statement that you responded to not have a point? Are you disagreeing that there are a lot of folks out there who picked up on this from tools like savage and coulter who keep repeating that lie ad nauseum?
I think I know where you are trying to go with your statement, but the article lost lots of credibility by not immediately debunking the guy's statement. They may not be perpetuating the lie, but they are being deceitful by seperating the lie and the fact by a significant margin.
Irrespective of the Financial Times', or Drudge's motives, the article clearly sets the record straight regarding Obama's religion. Where is the misinformation then? Is it strictly because of it's placement in the article?
Tommy -
I believe that more than anything, it's because of Drudge's placement of the lie in the title on his web page. It does not appear in the title of the FT article; it's a few paragraphs down, with the correct information buried at the end of the article.
Since many people will skim Drudge's headlines and not follow the link to the actual article, they will not see the correct info - but they will be left with the impression that because so many people keep saying that Obama is a Muslim, than it must be true.
lol - if thats the case, they may also want to contact Webster to get the definition of "misinformation" modified a bit to be a broader general definition.
There is no misinformation, just a group thats mad about someone putting an article in the faces of people to read, regardless that he didnt write it himself.
Again - this is MM vs. Drudge, not MM vs. FT for Obama article.
Columbus, it is widely known in journalism circles that the longer an article is, the more the readership declines in relation to the paragraphs. In other words, most journalists subscribe to the "upside-down triangle" when writing a story. The large part of the triangle being the most important information in the story, and it gradiates in importance from the second paragraph on. IMO, setting the rumor straight is more important than quoting an average citizen, and I think most journalists would agree to that.
However, there are very little journalistic ethics when it comes to election reporting.
Need some better material MMFA.
And YOU need some better material between your ears, Columbus.
However, as MM has said, the FT article did state that the beliefs of the WV people were indeed false and that he was not muslim.
So please, tell me what misinformation there is?
The misinformation is in Drudge's headline, Columbus. Many visitors to his cybersewer will simply glance at that headline and not follow the link. In that way, Drudge's deceptive headline plants a lie in their minds as if it were the truth, which makes Drudge a liar and a purveyor of misinformation.
What's "quite sad" is that the GOP/Media seem to be having some success at influencing this presidential race with BS that's irrelevant to the office of president; religion and displays of patriotism.
A full-blooded American who can pull off some loud-mouthed jingoistic displays of empty patriotism and has the same opinion about the unknowable secrets of the universe as I do.That's all I want in a public servant.
Sorry Snoop...I dont want to be union. I'll pass.
And I checked with all of the unions, Columbus. They all blackballed you, although the Gravdediggers Union offerrred to dig a hole for you that's larter than the hole you find yourself several times each day here at MMFA.
Like that 40-hour week, Chris? Like your health care? Like vacations, sick leave, all that?
Then thank unions. Employers didn't just give you these things out of the goodness of their hearts. Working people banded together and fought for them.
Like that 40-hour week, Chris? Like your health care? Like vacations, sick leave, all that?
Then thank unions. Employers didn't just give you these things out of the goodness of their hearts. Working people banded together and fought for them.
Well said, Sports Guy!!!! :-)
I actually thought Drudge was taking a dig at 'West Virginia country folk'. By this point, most voters with theirs heads not buried in the sand know that Obama is not Muslim. Maybe he was pointing out that there are still voters with no contact with reality, living deep in Appalachia.
Also - note to Josh Fry of Williamson, if you have to preface a statement with "I'm not a racist, but...", well, yes, actually you are.
Also - note to Josh Fry of Williamson, if you have to preface a statement with "I'm not a racist, but...", well, yes, actually you are.
No it doesnt. It may mean that he is uncomfortable about talking about race because of all the race baiters who purposely take others out on context to further their agenda.
No, it does. It's the same as someone who says, "I'm not racist. I know 10 black people."
If you can count the number of black people you know, or who have been in your home, you're racist as all get out.
The funny thing is that Obama is MORE full blooded American than McCain. Why? Obama was born on American soil, McCain was NOT.
Wait a minute...so let me get this right. I went to an elementary, middle, and highschool about 35 miles NE of Cleveland in a nice community. Our HS had about 1300 people total. There was only one black person in my entire school, and thats the only black person I never knew until I was about 20 and in college.
So that made me a racist?
Get off your high horse and making stupid accusations. Just becuase you dont know many black peopel doesnt mean you are racist.
Maybe some people need to - because they are assumed by liberals (such as the poster above) to automatically be a racist for the sole reason that they dont know many black people.
Some people grow up im small towns that are predominatly, or all, white and never leave. There is no proof that they are racist, just do not have experience with people of different races.
Race baiting at its finest.
Actually, I can agree with you there. I've told the story here before about my 1st experience with a black family. I never saw one in Frankfort until I was in 9th grade selling magazine subscriptions. They lived way out in the country and quite out of the way. So yes, that doesn't make one a racist, it's how you treat them when you do meet them that determines the direction you will be branded.
People just want to be treated with respect regardless of race, creed or sex. If you are able to tread that path, you are probably not a racist.
My whole point, is as others have said, if you claim to be something, or in this case, something you're not, chances are good that you are. Sort of like the guys who feel like they have to tell the world that they're not gay, and the chances are good, that they are (for examples, see certain Congressional members from the GOP).
Look Columbus I live in the South. I know what happens here. Racism is alive, and flourishing. The first thing I think of if someone tells me that they're not a racist, is that they're either about to say something racially insensitive, or that they're just a plain old racist bigot.
You growing up in a small town and only knowing one black person of course does not make you a racist, not in the least. I'm always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt, but when something like "I'm not a racist, but..." tumbles from someone's mouth, chances are good, they're a racist.
I heard a comedy skit once, I think it was Chris Rock. He was talking about the racist comments John Rocker, formerly of the Atlanta Braves had made about black folks, and then Rocker went on to say he's not a racist. He's had 4 or 5 black people over to my house. As the comic said, "If you've got to tell me how many black people you know, or have had over your house. You're racist as a motherf----r."
So that made me a racist?
No. Your racist posts make you a racist.
If you can count the number of black people you know, or who have been in your home, you're racist as all get out.
That could be one of the most ridiculous statements I have ever read. It assumes that one must eagerly seek out black people and have them in your home so you won't be a racist. How many black people must you know and have in your home before your not considered racist any longer Magnolia? What about those rascally over bearing racists on those reservations in this country? Is a black person considered racist if they can count the number of white people they know? Jesus man, your better than this.
I was trying to put something in context that didn't come out so well. I apologize.
If someone prefaces a conversation that they're having about black folks with "I know this many black people" or something like "I'm not a racist, but..." chances are good, they're a racist.
My argument came out stupid, I retract.
"Josh Fry, a 24-year-old ambulance driver from Williamson, insisted he was not racist but said he would feel more comfortable with Mr McCain, the 71-year-old Vietnam war hero, in the White House. "I want someone who is a full-blooded American as president," he said"
How very, very sad that we have fellow citizens that can actually say this! He believes himself not to be a racist and yet claims he wants a full-blooded American as president.....
What I wonder.... did Mr Fry mean by that? Barack was born in Hawaii and grew up in Chicago....... how exactly is this not American enough.....
Oh wait....... it must be that funny sounding name that the race baiting right-wing keeps bringing up to scare people into submission!
the race baiting right-wing
Easy there slugger. If you're going to make an accusation, at least do it correctly. The far left - NAACP, NAN, ACLU, and others such as black theology preachers are the race baiters. The far right - are typicall just racists.
Unless, you are saying that race baiting is the same as being a racist - and that part i will agree. "Race baiting" is just a coined term for social acceptable of black on white racism by accusing "the man" for "holding me down".
There literally is NO such thing as black on white racism.
Why?
Race + power = racism.
African Americans in most situations don't have said power, so they fail to be racists.
Can they say bad things about white people and other groups? Of course, but they hold no sway, and or power over those groups, like white people have since the inception of this country over black people.
The simple fact that you fail to see how minorities are held down "by the man" as you state it tells me you don't know what the heck is going on in the country around you.
You dont need power to be a racist you moron. All you need the hatred for another classification of people due to their skin color or beliefs.
I was commenting on Capt's claim of the "race baiting right", as well as Magnolia's assertion that you cannot be black and be racist against whites.
Both are garbage accusations and carry about as much merit as Puff The Magic Dragon.
But thanks for playing Mary.
Yes, you do.
At least in my opinion. Racism is a lot deeper than just not liking someone because of their skin color, or ethnic make up. It's how you lord power over someone in a minority class that is really insidious. I'm not saying that hating someone because of their skin color is acceptable, it's not, but there is also a big power play in there as well.
I firmly believe that there are plenty of black people who hate white people, but it's not because of the color of their skin. It's because of the things that the white folks have done to the black folks over the years of being in this country, and how they have mis-used and mis-treated the black race, and other minorities as well (seems as though these days, it's better to trash hispanics).
A lot of the times, there are deep rooted reasons as to WHY black people hate white people, and there are also lots of times there is no reason, except for skin color, as to why white people hate black people.
I'm sure you don't see the difference.
"You dont need power to be a racist you moron. All you need the hatred for another classification of people due to their skin color or beliefs."
I agree you don't need power to be racist...but "hatred for" another group people is bigotry. Racism is bigotry against those of a different race PLUS the belief in the supriority of one's own race AND a corresponding belief in the inferiority of the despised race.
For instance: I'm bigotted agains racists, but I'm not racist because I don't like racism of ANY kind. Plus, I don't think racists are inferior...just sadly and seriously misinformed.
"Josh Fry, a 24-year-old ambulance driver from Williamson, insisted he was not racist but said he would feel more comfortable with Mr McCain, the 71-year-old Vietnam war hero, in the White House. "I want someone who is a full-blooded American as president," he said"
What's really funny about that comment is that since Barack Obama was born on American soil, he was an American at birth. John McCain, OTOH, was born on a Naval Base in the Panama Canal Zone, and there are many web sites out there that are disputing his eligibility for the presidency on that basis.
Let us correct this whole nonsense about Obamas' name right now. I think different groups should claim him as thier own and then he would get 80% of the national vote.
OBamma---Southern guy who went to Alabama (redneck vote is secure)
O'Bama---Irish kid from Chicago (Imagine what St. Pat's Day will be like)
Obama----ends with a vowel (He has my people stomping the grapes )
Hussein Obama---got the Iraq/Mid Eastern American vote tied up
Barry H. Obama---farmer from Iowa (start husking the corn)
B. H. Obama---that should help with the elitist vote.
Barry Bob Obama--he wins West Virgina in a landslide.
For anyone to care what the ever fair-minded people in the hills (have eyes) of West by God Virginia think, they should look in the mirror and repeat to themselves over and over...it is West Virginia where you can get an MBA for a low price. Last time I was in WV, I met a guy who introduced me to his wife and sister but thier was only one woman there. 'nuff said about that bigoted state.
And with comments like that, you wonder why gun-owning, religious people in remote areas of the eastern mountains dont vote for Obama or trust him.
For being against misinformation and parsing of hurtful conservative words, you sure know how to speak them against people who arent there to protect themselves or respond.
How big of you.
I was wondering when the first posts would surface taking swipes at West Virginians.....after all, they are just backwards, gun toting, roadkill eatin', toothless mountain folk who deserve to made fun of, and who needs their votes anyway.
Yeah well us regular, typical, average folks here in Massachusetts refer to Liberals as Moonbats. But hey it's just local humor ;-)
Moonbat (also "barking moonbat" and "moonbat crazy") is a term often used currently in U.S. politics as a political epithet referring to anyone that is believed to be liberal or on the left
My favorite Conservative radio talk show host, Howie Carr [WRKO 680 Boston] uses the term to describe Libs here in Massachusett. But I've heard it used by others to describe the whole bunch of ya nation wide ;-)
You'll have to come up with something else to call the West Virginians.
JJ, I was perty darn sure you called Jeter a "coontard" as in those droppings WV coons leave behind when they relieve themselves! ;)
i"m still mad that I passed out the other day and missed you taking advantage. But you did convince me to stop drinking! ;)
Of course I forgive you, heck everyone knows I'm wrapped around your little finger :-)
I only get "hard headed" when I find myself surrounded by a herd of Libs that won't even consider other possibilities.
You may refer to me as a Masshole if I can call you my little Texass?
Come on folks, aren't Julia & I the cutest political couple since Mary Matalin & James Carville? ;-)
Yeah well us regular, typical, average folks here in Massachusetts refer to Liberals as Moonbats. But hey it's just local humor ;-)
And the liberals in Massachusetts refer to the conservatives there as "freaks of nature".... :-)
What "free handouts"?
Let me rephrase that...free to them, costly to me.
Need I start citing more social programs targetted at low income households who do not pay federal taxes, or pay extremely low amounts of federal taxes?
That claim is only true when you add in Social Security and Medicare. All those other little programs that conservatives always allude to make up only 12% of the total budget.
Here's the pie chart for 2007. Keep in mind that the war budget is not included, the % shown would decrease if you added in Iraq and other supplemental funding.
You have no idea what you are talking about.
Unemployment is not free to the recipients, at least not in my state it's not. You have to earn your benefits by holding down a job and contributing to the unemployment fund until you lose that job through no fault of your own. Then and only then can you claim benefits.
I consider unemployment a free ride because many people, if not the majority of people on it, are very well able to do a job and get a job easily - but it does not encompass the type of work or salary they demand.
I firmly believe that they can get a job making a lower wage, and keep at that, until they get a better job. After all, it would be better than sitting around collecting a check for not going to work at all. I would even be open to letting them collect a check in return for doing something, anything at all. Cleaning up parks, freeways, schools, painting public buildings, anything.
Automotive of course.
"I consider unemployment a free ride..."
This is where your argument falls flat out of the gate. No, it's not a free ride. It's an insurance policy that you purchase that pays out when you lose your job and are looking for another one.
"...because many people, if not the majority of people on it, are very well able to do a job and get a job easily - but it does not encompass the type of work or salary they demand."
Please link to your statistics that back this up. You can't draw this conclusion based upon the experience of a couple people you may know.
Columbus, are you a Christian? then no doubt you've heard the phrase "Whatever you did to the least of these, you did unto me."
Frankly, I'm with Warren Buffett's thinking on this. Those who have benefited the most from our capitalist system should pay more for that privilege than those who have not benefited. If you make a million dollars a year, but pay the same tax rate as someone who makes 30,000 a year, you're going to pay more money, but you won't have to decide between feeding your children or paying the bills. Right now, that's not the case, and that should change. The whole concept of "What's mine is mine" is antithetical to who we are as caring human beings.
Columbus, are you a Christian?
The answer to that question is self-evident. Since Columbus devotes most of his posts to spreading lies and misinformation, false generalizations about groups that either think or look differently than he does, or general nastiness, chances are that he IS a Christian. And probably one of those non-denominational megachurches that devote themselves to spreading hate in Jesus' name.
I would say Sunday Christian. Real Christians try not to act that way.
Precisely. As the late great Ann Landers once said, "Going to church doesn't make a man a Christian any morre than going into a garage makes him an automobile."
Actually I was raised Catholic until about 8th grade, but have not practiced in about 15 years.
However, I dont see what someone's religious, or absence of religion, has to do with their view on unemployment benefits.
He cited a source (Leonard smoking in front of the fire station) that's not credible. That source stated a falsehood about Obama. Obama is a Democrat.
It's false, it's not credible, it targets a Democrat.
It's conservative misinformation.
"I was wondering when the first posts would surface taking swipes at West Virginians.....after all, they are just backwards, gun toting, roadkill eatin', toothless mountain folk who deserve to made fun of, and who needs their votes anyway."
Tommy, actually...they are, for the most part. I'm saying this with direct family connections to West Virginia, and whoo boy, I can tell you some stories.
Like, for instance, Punk Hill. No, that's not a town, it's a man's God given name. He's in his 80's and in jail for the rest of his life for shooting a cop in the face and running off into the woods for three months. The only reason he was caught was because he crawled to the police station...he couldn't walk because he had gangreen up to his knees. This was my uncle's father's best friend.
He was also shot in the liver after his ex-wife wouldn't let him see her kids when he was smashed.
My uncle (my direct connection to WV) was drunk in a bar when he was 12 and saw his best friends dad shot dead right in front of him over a bar tab.
The first time my Aunt visited his family (around '94), they were driving through the mountains and she kept seeing people walking along the side of the road carrying gas cans. After the 3rd or 4th person, she asked my uncle why there were so many people with gas cans. She thought there wasn't many gas stations or this was a particularly bad stretch of road where lots of people run out of gas. Turns out they were huffing it.
And at least as far as my uncle's family is concerned, they really are exactly as you described them. However, I believe they have every right to vote as I do. Of course, most of them are felons, so only a few here and there actually can vote.
Irony, if you get a chance, get the recipe for blackened possum...sorry, just grilled possum.
F*** West Virginia and the dumb, hillbilly racists who live there... Got that? Any Democrat has about as much chance of winning West Virginia as winning the Powerball lottery. Let'em eat 'possum and cling to their pathetic, racist lives... Irony
It's too bad you can't see how pathetic your intolerant, bigoted and hateful anger is, perhaps you'd better work on that instead of spewing it towards an entire state of people, how sad....Tommy
Now now Tommy, we all know that the Libs here only believe Conservatives are capable of intolerant, bigoted, hateful anger....what a hoot when those Liberal masks of alleged tolerance slip off...eh?
Don't ya just love Liberal hypocrisy? ;-)
Yawn.....Yes, we know, AA ...Robert Byrd was in the KKK ... 70 years ago...
Some people change.
Yes Jeter, it is amazing. And what is even more amazing is that those same liberals who hate WV because they are redeck racists usually don't stop their intolerant hatred at just one state's border, whereever they can stereotype another group, or state where people who don't share their "inclusive" big tent ideology, they will find other disparaging insults to further display their elitist attitude. Many people can see right through that.
Intolerance and bigotry have very fluid boundaries.
"...disparaging insults to further display their elitist attitude."
Disparaging insults directed towards ignorant racists (who helped elect George W. Bush) is an elitist attitude? If denouncing ignorant racists is elitist I'm proud to be an elitist.
How anyone can intelligently take a swipe at an entire state is beyond me, and then say if live there but you are not a racist, you should move. Incredible.
Next time someone comes on these boards and makes a similar sweeping, ridiculous and insulting generalization I would hope you tell them how that makes perfect sense, damn straight.......
How anyone can intelligently take a swipe at an entire state is beyond me...
I can understand it, Tommy. I was born in NJ and now live in Texas. People on web boards are always posting stuff about how everyone from New Jersey is in the Mafia, and how everyone from Texas is a redneck hick.
That would be two boobs, right?
Hey, cutie, what are you doin'? ;)
Late shift at IHOP. Just got fired by Hooters.
(2 boobs, 1 leg)
Y'all nevers bein to our state thar Mr Colombus. We don't like black peoples unless they can throw a football or shoots a basketball.
You have got to be kidding me...you can read the hateful comments about Obama above. And try comprehending them. I am surprised nobody used the term "that colored boy". I have in the good old state of WV.
I am through there quite often. And it just isn't Obama. The dislike for anyone who is not "their kind" is disgusting. You should hear some of the remarks concerning Japanese, Koreans, Muslims etc. Then, no one is permitted to talk about them. Pshaw... Waiting for Colombus to say "What is the difference between your hatred and thiers? I don't hate, they do.
Prince, the funny (?) part is that this is what West Virginia DEOMOCRATS are saying about Obama. Can you imagine what the Republican goobers say about that colored boy?
So you admit it's Democrats, but are suggesting Republicans are saying worse? Nah, I think those racist Democrats have it covered.
You left out the word Democratic.
Ignorant Democratic racists from WEST VIRGINIA.
When MMFA quotes the other side on a thread here, then you can include them :-)
Jeter, you need to get out in the real world more,,,
I can't I'm being held prisoner here in Massachusetts by a bunch of Liberal Moonbats ;-)
Look Irony, I've been to several southern states, but have never traveled through or know a great deal about West Virginia. You have stereotyped an entire state. Heck maybe everyone down there are members of the KKK...but if not, maybe you shouldn't describe the entire population as a bunch of racists. No doubt there are some ignorant folks there, but that could be said about almost every state.
maybe you shouldn't describe the entire population as a bunch of racists.
But that's exactly what you did last week when describing Massachusetts.
No Gov. That was August Heat who generalized about Boston. I agreed with him that Boston had a bad rep way back when, but it had improved. And I never said the entire population was racists.
You are now being sent to your crib. Without your binky.
Tool.
Jeter, I will have to weigh this he said/he said conflict between you and Governor strictly on past credibility.......gotta call this one for you, based on a narrow landslide.
:)
Tommy we gotta stop playing with little kids like Gov. It's just too easy.
You change his diaper, & I'll give him a bottle & put him in his crib ;-)
You call someone a hypocrite and disingenuous for name calling? Gee, how does your "fcuk you" directed at me fit into that, Governor? When you dig yourself into a hole, you even become more of a cartoon.
You have brought my use of "fcuk off" up about 15 times now in 15 different threads. The full quote was "If you're going to continue to insult me, then perhaps you should fcuk off" Please stop being foolish.
You agreed that Boston is racist and added that it’s improving.
Wrong. I agreed it once had that reputation, but it had improved.
Can't see the difference? Have your mommy expain it to you.
And Gov sweetie, Boston did have that reputation. Have your mommy look it up for you.
You have lying issues.
You claimed last week that Boston had improved somewhat over the years and that the bad race relations today were odd because it is so liberal. It's ok to just admit that it's ok when you generalize, but you'd rather that other people not do it.
Did I say the entire state was racist? No.
Did I say the entire city of Boston was racist? No.
I agreed with August Heat that Boston had a bad reputation years ago but race relations had improved. THAT you fool is a fact, not a generalization. Nor is anything else I wrote.
Irony said the entire population of West Virginia was racist.
Seriously Gov you must be numb as a fart if you can distinguish the difference.
Tommy he's all yours.
Agreed, but Jeter and Tommy won.
(they need to hear that)
Hey Tommy, Gov & I were auditioning a comedy act to rival the 3 Stooges ;-)
Gov is our Curley.
So my sweet Julia did we pass the audition? Should we take our show out on the road aka other forums?
P.S. I'd like to read your exchange with Eden, which thread was it on?
Ah, forget it. Eden was using lots of words as usual, I was dumb enough to try and defend Dem02020 because I though his point valid. But Eden uses lots more words than I do and he's exhausting. Unless you are trying to become exhausted, really, don't go there.
As far as yer comdey act, mate, eeeehhhh, it just wasn't that funny. Dirty nappies just aren't that amusing :-0) But I love it when you and T Rex go off your nut :-0 ,just using a Jeterism - did you see my apology for calling you a con turd?
He's still gonna have to loose at least 25 pounds.
Yeah Lady Julia, I agree the diaper & binky humor could use some retooling ;-)
But it's better than referring to Gov as a retard. Which he is.
I usually ignore Eden unless I'm high on caffeine & have nothing to do for several hours...one needs energy & time. I'd rather not waste either on Eden, having been there, done that...with no plans to bother ever doing that again. I usually ignore Gov. But when he posts a fabrication or distortion of something I've written, I find it hard to let that pass.
I didn't see your apology for calling me a Con Turd. Hey sweetie that wasn't a nice thing to say! Was it on one of the old threads? Which one? I was busy all weekend & never got back here till this morning & didn't even go bother to go read Friday threads. Hey I was right about Obama giving old man McCain a dig ...the rest of you were wrong, so what was the point? ;-)
However I'll go check out the old threads to get your heartfelt gracious apology [cough]
Ok Julia I found the post. I left you a love note there :-)
Actually I do occasionally post here on weekends & some weeknights [like now] but I do most of my posting from work. Don't tell my boss :-O
Nothing Heru says matters to me. The guy has a chip on his shoulder.
Leave Gov alone? Nah. When children act up you have to discipline them.
It's Monday Snoop.
I'm always extra cute on Mondays ;-)
But seriously, no I'm not baiting Irony. I like the guy. I'm just pointing out that if West Virginia is full of racists, they are from both parties.
"I'm just pointing out that if West Virginia is full of racists, they are from both parties."
JETER, I'm saying the same thing. Even the Democrats in West Virginia are racists. My point is why should the Democratic Party even bother with West Virginia. The Democrats in West Virginia vote Republican for President. Politically speaking, "F" West Virginia!
You're correct Irony, we do agree.
Thanks, Jeter...I'm glad someone else shares my "F" West Virginia sentiment. Now, let's get to work on Tommy. ;>)
PrinceOfWheels, you have something there... I think it's true, that the derivation of Sen. Obama's name does truly come from "O'Bama"...
He is, he's an O'Bama... his heritage traces back to Ireland (I believe), to the small villiage of Bama (hence, his ancestors are "Of Bama", or simply O'Bama)...
That's the truth! (I believe)
And of course, those folks from the small villiage of Bama, Ireland, are themselves from somewhere else, and named their villiage from that place: Alabama...
...having left the United States (and Alabama) when Paul "Bear" Bryant passed... having left because they believed that upon Bear's passing, The Tide would never Roll again... but everything that ebbs, flows again (the tide demonstrating this truth, twice daily), and Alabama football looks really good right now, in Coach Saban's second year... it's enough to bring the clan from Bama, Ireland, back to Alabama (where they truly belong), and to make Sen. Obama fess up, and admit, that he is truly one of them...
He is truly O'Bama.
As far as this nonsense goes about the man's first middle or last name... and about the foolishness of a tiny fraction of the Nation, whispering ignorantly to one another that "he's a Muslim, I think, I heard, maybe, I don't really know"...
We're seeing some part of the hack media echo and comment on this stuff, but purely out of a small-minded malice... and as nothing more than trying to get under the skin of Sen. Obama's supporters (and perhaps under the skin of him and his campaign), and distract and annoy, and maybe even provoke them in this thing...
But wait... stop... it's nothing really... it's just the ignorant whisperings of a tiny fraction of people, who in truth probably don't even believe it themselves, but just like to shuck and annoy folks, for the reason that they might be so shuckable and easily annoyed...
It's a small thing, better made fun of, than taken seriously.
So few actually think the man is a Muslim, or think the sound of his name is anything important... so few are this way now, as to say hardly any... and as to say none at all, by the time of November... maybe none by late August, when Mr. Obama addresses us from Denver...
In the mean time, we be cool, and have fun.
We have fun with the tide.
All things come back to us, by way of it... even Mr. Obama may come clean with the ebb and flow of the tide, and admit the truth to us: His real name is O'Bama, and he (or his kin really) is from Ireland...
And the Alabama Crimson Tide might be the best damned football team in the nation, this fall.
Ahhh, the traitor Saban!
I think for sure you are from the bayou, but who can say, since Saint Nick left them behind in Miami (of the NFL) and East Lansing (MSU) too...
It's a business, for sure, big-time college football coaching is... and Nick Saban has a demonstrated success in that business (as you all know in Baton Rouge, having won a National Championship with him... but also having just won one without him!)...
And besides, as good as Saint Nick has it right now in Tuscaloosa (with a lot of returning starters on defense, and four starters returning on the offensive line, and a returning QB who's good, and a TB who's great), with all that, he and the Tide still have to go through LSU, they still have to go through Baton Rouge... on November 8, right around election week.
The Tigers (the ones from Baton Rouge) have a lot of reloading to do, but they have the ammo to do it... and Coach Miles is maybe the top head Coach, in a Conference that has the best coaches (especially the best Defensive Coordinators) by far... and who knows what's up with that kid from Texas, getting kicked off the team like that... what a waste, he had so much going for him, and now who knows where he's going (maybe Jacksonville State I hear: not exactly "NFL Track" for that Texas kid... what a waste).
As far as the other Tigers, the ones in Auburn, I don't know, we see... several of the guys they lost on defense were really good (the NFL thought so too), and they also have a new (sort of) QB to try and get behind, fast, in the way competitive SEC... yep, the Gators and the Dawgs are right there too (Georgia will probably even be annointed pre-season #1: that's an awful cozy headstart on everybody else)... there's a lot of good teams this year... Gamecocks and Rebels are going to have their say too, before it's all over.
Well, if we are to believe the polling numbers that say over 90% of this country believes in, and worships some form of Christianity, then even the "ULTRA" liberal people that you believe are tree hugging atheists are indeed Christian.
Conservatives aren't the only ones who can be Christian by the way. The issue is that most liberals that I know keep their religion to themselves, and we want government to not be influenced by religion as well. It's really that simple. I know it's hard for you to wrap your mind around that.
"...and all the people in the government at that time were religious."
What, like Thomas Jefferson who didn't belive in the divinity of Christ? Where were you educated Coumbus, Jerry Falwell's school?
Prince,
Why would you refer to Catholics in that way? Do you have something against them?
Our founding fathers wanted freedom FROM religion as much as they wanted freedom OF religion.
Carn, no, there's hardly anybody who even gives it a thought, truly. Religion and Faith are, right now, as irrelevant and unimportant in National Policy and politics in America, as they have ever been (as they have ever been in my memory, or anyone else's really: please see the recent Louisiana election, where Mr. Cazayoux won a U.S. House seat in a special election, in which his Republican opponent tried to make Religion and Faith the focus of the campaign). Hardly anybody's thinking that way... hardly at all is anybody thinking about Sen. Obama's Religion and Faith, with the way that IRAQ and BUSH and MCCAIN are dominating their thoughts about National Policy... dominating their thoughts to the extent of driving record numbers of voters to vote in the Democratic Primaries... what does Religion and Faith have to do with why record numbers of people participated in the Democratic Primaries so far?
Nothing.
So you see how little the matter of Mr. Obama's Religion and Faith truly mean in the presidential campaign so far... and by consequence, voter's true thoughts of his wife's Religion and Faith are reduced to less than nothing (if that were possible).
Then why the hack media's fascination with Religion and Faith, whether Sen. Obama's or his wife's?
Because you are witnessing the hack media's full-blown attempt to dictate and steer the Public Discourse in this presidential campaign, and perhaps dictate and steer the campaign it self.
But why would they do that? Do they think by dictating and steering the campaign towards Religion and Faith, they will dictate the outcome of the election?
Yes. But rather than say they were dictating and steering Public Discourse, and the campaign, towards Religion and Faith, it's more accurate to describe the hack media as dictating and steering Public Discourse away from IRAQ and BUSH and MCCAIN.
And why are they steering Public Discourse away from IRAQ and BUSH and MCCAIN?
Becasue those are the things (IRAQ BUSH MCCAIN) that have driven so many voters to the Democratic Primaries, and are the things that truly count in this campaign, and are the things that will decide the election in November...
...unless they can steer you away from those things (IRAQ BUSH MCCAIN), by dictating and distracting you with talk about Religion and Faith.
Dem,
I disagree completely with your contention that Bush McCain are driving people to Dem's primaries.
Rather it is the Democrats two challengers. One a woman and the other half African American. Because the Democrats and liberals for so long have practiced the politics of victimization, people feel that these two candidates because of their gender or race can speak to the issues confronting women and African Americans. However having both representations in the same election have pitted one group against another. Those identifying with percieved gender discrimination are mobilized to help Hillary. Those identifying with race discrimination feel they have a spokesperson in Obama.
Both sides bring out very strong passions and because of that, both sides have successfully appealed to many voters during the primaries. Right now the Democratic Party voters could care less about McCain. They simply care about their particular candidates.
We should call this the Demographic Primaries. :-)
Heck yeah they do. Recall not long ago they were accusing the court system & public of "hanging" michael vick because hes black, not because of what he did to dogs.
ACLU - a-1 corrupt liberal union.
Umm, you had better go back, and check your facts. The ACLU never made any sort of brief, or fronted ANYTHING for Michael Vick. Why? Because it wasn't a Constitutional issue.
I dare you to show us WHERE the ACLU came out in support of Michael Vick, and said he was getting a raw deal just because he was black. I'm willing to bet that you can't show us any of that. Why? Because it never happened.
Nope. The ACLU never made any comments about the Vick case, and they never made any comment about the Duke case either.
Give me a link where the ACLU waded into either case and I'll concede. But as I said before, you can't do it.
You might be confused about the ACLU and NAACP, which are NOT the same group at all. In both of the cases you cited, there was not a constitutional issue, which if you were paying attention, you'd know that constitutional issues is where the ACLU gets involved. As in, when someone impedes, or takes away someone's constitutional rights, or if a law is made that abridges someone's constitutional rights.
Show me the information about the ACLU and Vick and Duke. Again, you can't. Why? They never weighed in on other case.
Thanks for the confirmation, Mag. I tried googling myself but couldn't find any link between the ACLU and Vicks. I think Columbo got ACLU mixed up with the NAACP, since they're both left-wing radicals.
The strict sociological definition of racism is the belief that one's own race is inherently superior to another. That means you can be racist to group B and still have a beer with them or hang out at the mall. The more colloqial definition fluctuates between that and a hatred or strong dislike for a particular group based on steretypes and preconceived notions (a.k.a prejudice).
I believe all groups can be prejudiced (e.g. all whites are racist rednecks), but racism tends to be circumstancial and as such, it isn't an equal opportunity offender that cuts evenly along color lines. And that concludes MMFA's semantics lesson for today. ;D
The problem with answering his posts is that he isn't serious and concerned about the country; he thinks it's all a gotcha game; he doesn't really think about the questions posed to him, and changes subjects when he doesn't want to answer something.
"The Loons, the loons".......wasn't that in On Golden Pond? What are loonz?
The loonz makes me swoonz.
I love balloonz and full moonz.
Mary lampoonz the farcical Columbo.
Columbus calls his right wing loonz
He honks and hoots, come play! he croonz
ignore the horrid BushCo ruinz
Columbo and his band of loonz
Like to play with the baboonz
On afternoonz, they watch cartoonz
Of incurious Georgie and his oil tycoonz
Dumb sexist guys and racist goonz
All love war mongering tunz
Sung by incurious George and the oil tycoonz
Mary & JJ, are y'all trying to make me "write" another song? ;)
Message pass on for Columbus:
From the Fleet, Re, Neener, Punter, and St Fredda Esq.
What's the hold up on the Salsa run?
They're not gonna let us double park here much longer!
Turn on your cell phone..... D*mit!
If your not back before the navaguessor flames on again.
We'll be.
Not responsible!
Josh Fry, a 24-year-old ambulance driver from Williamson, insisted he was not racist but said he would feel more comfortable with Mr McCain, the 71-year-old Vietnam war hero, in the White House. "I want someone who is a full-blooded American as president," he said....
====================================================
I'm going to have to make a note never to find myself in Williamson.
I don't want anyone this stupid driving my ambulance.
I told her to really check the snopes site, sent her a link to it and mentioned, "didn't Jesus say not to bear false witness?" I also e-mailed the person who originally forwarded the e-mail from a chain of forwards and said the same thing. My friend apologised and I hope learned something.