Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf: “We tend to forget, in the West, that the United States has more Muslim blood on its hands than al Qaida has on its hands of innocent non Muslims. You may remember that the US-led sanctions against Iraq led to the death of over half a million Iraqi children. This has been documented by the United Nations. And when Madeleine Albright, who has become a friend of mine over the last couple of years, when she was Secretary of State and was asked whether this was worth it, said it was worth it.
Pamela Geller has more, and I highly recommend that you read this one. Even I, as a Moderate Conservative, find this most interesting.
Quite bluntly, this guy has ZERO business being at, near or whatever, Ground Zero, New York or anywhere else in the United States.
But, as we know, the liberal media, will not touch this, because it really does not fit the narrative. Nor do I expect President Obama to intervene here either. Because we all know that Muslims don’t cut one another. (I mean, after all, he did have a Muslim daddy AND step-daddy…)
I have spoken with a reliable source telling me that a little over a week ago, Mike Huckabee approached the Rick Scott campaign and made overtures that his endorsement could be had for $250,000 dollars.
A heated exchange occurred between Rick Scott and his campaign staff whether to pay-for-play for Huckabee’s endorsement. Scott made the final call saying that, ‘we’re not going to have that kind of a campaign.’
My source is inside the Scott campaign and cannot be disclosed. Suffice to say they are on the payroll.
Once the offer was rejected, Mike Huckabee obliged establishment candidate Bill McCollum with the endorsement.
Remember: You — Obama and the MFM — went out a limb to vouch for this guy, putting the whole of your credibility and judgment behind the proposition that he is a well-meaning, peaceful moderate and you’d have to be crazy to think otherwise.
[….]
We know the first, second, and last defense that will be screamed by the left: B-b-but Bush said he was moderate….!
Yeah? And? Bush didn’t stake his political future on the man’s purported “moderation,” either.
Thanks to LauraW., who was out looking for actual news while I was jagging off in the comments.
Let Me Repeat: Obama and the MFM staked the entirety of their credibility and judgment on the assertion that this was a moderate man interested only in peace, and of course in no way a supporter of terrorism, and anyone who suspected otherwise was an ignorant bigot with a heart full of hatred.
So let’s see. Let’s see.
Let’s see whose judgment was sound and whose judgment was really full of ignorance and hatred — hatred for the concerns of their fellow Americans.
Headline Credit: Dr. Varno proposed “Unmosqued” and I agree.
The news comes via Pamela Geller, whom I admire for he relentless pursuit of radical Jihad and Radical Islam:
Steve Emerson has unearthed 13 hours of audio tape of Imam Rauf. Emerson and his team of investigators has spent the past four weeks going through the newly found material. Rauf is a “radical extremist cleric who cloaks himself in sheep’s clothing.”
Among the shocking revelations Emerson’s team will reveal next week — they found Rauf:
Defending wahhabism – a puritanical version of Islam that governs Saudi Arabia
Calling for the elimination of Israel by claiming a one-nation state, meaning no more Jewish State.
Defending Bin Laden’s violence
Demonstrating that there is a lot more to this man than merely a cleric.
I am going to be perfectly honest with you. I have been trying to keep an open mind on this subject and trying not demagogue this issue; but try to present all sides, as I am a more moderate classic liberal/Conservative person. But if these allegations are true, then my position will change. Because I do not want a Mosque or whatever the hell this thing is; being ran by someone like this, at all.
I, like many others I’m sure, await to hear these recordings. I cannot wait for them to come out. I should point out, that there is video of this man saying that American basically created Osama Bin Laden. I have seen that; but this is entirely different. Again, I await these recordings.
This is the date when the 14th Amendment was ratified. This amendment codified into law what Lincoln had forced at bayonet point. Until then, people were only deemed citizens of their respective states. The Constitution nowhere referred to people as “US citizens.” It only recognized “the Citizens of each State.” Notice also that citizenship was only recognized among the “several States,” not among people living in non-State territories. Until the 14th Amendment, people were “Citizens of each State.” (Article. IV. Section. 2. Paragraph. 1.) The 14th Amendment created a whole new class of persons: “citizens of the United States.” This false notion of “one nation” overturned the Jeffersonian principle that our nation was a confederated republic, a voluntary union of states.
Notice how he craftily he words that?
This is what actually the 14’th amendment was for: (Source Wikipedia)
Its Citizenship Clause provides a broad definition of citizenship that overruled the decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), which held that blacks could not be citizens of the United States.
The amendment also includes a number of clauses dealing with the Confederacy and its officials.
This is why that I happen to believe that Chuck Baldwin, nor anyone else of the “Old Right” in the Country have ANY business being selected to be the President of the United States of America. Anyone that opposes the 14’th amendment to the United States Constitution is nothing more than a racist bigot. Whether nuanced or blatant, racism as absolutely NO PLACE in the dialog of politics at all. This is why I do not support this man, this is why I do not support Ron Paul or Pat Buchanan; because this sort of idiotic nonsense is nothing more than racist bigotry. As for their legal argument, it is nothing more than constitutional double speak for the feeling that blacks were inferior to whites and did not deserve to be counted among everyone as citizens.
As far as I am concerned, as a Born-Again Christian, as feeble about that as I might be; I just cannot for the life of me, understand how anyone could hold to such a belief system as that, and call themselves a follower of Jesus Christ.
This, along with a few other very good reasons, is why I decided that the Paleo-Conservative circles were not for me. I want to be on the side that views ALL Americans; Black, Jewish, Hispanic, White as ALL equal Americans. That, my friends, is what TRUE Conservatism is about; and not that hate-mongering nonsense of the “Old Right”, which is why William F. Buckley went after well known Paleo-Conservative group named the John Birch Society in 1962. This basically ended their influence within the Republican Party.
However, to be fair to the Birch group, they did actually do a huge purge of people that were ID’ed as racists and members of the Klu Klux Klan. This took place in the 1970’s. Many people believe that Buckley’s attacking of the Birch Society was because of his being a “Neo-Con”, but actually it was because of the nonsensical conspiracy theories that were then touted by it’s founder Robert Welch. Also it should be noted that the Society does not promote and usually goes terribly out of it’s way to disprove these silly theories. I will also note, my beef is not with the actual Society itself, the John Birch Society was one of ardent fighters against the uprising of communism in America, after World War II. For that I am very grateful. Further more, I have nothing but respect for the man, of whom the society is named after; John Birch.
In Closing: While the some of the elements of Paleo-Conservative, such as the fiscal aspects of it might be noble; it is the racist and antisemitic undertones that do truly turn me off. Which is why I distanced and do continue to distance myself from them.
As I said in the previous posting, the Democrats are going to be basically running against Bush; while basically wanting him to weigh in on the Mosque issue. Can you say clusterfark?
UPDATED: DNC makes the video Private… HEH! Don’t they realize that once something goes viral, it’s forever?
Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida, said the Democratic Party was showing its desperation by spending so much time focusing on his brother. “It’s a loser issue — they have a big L on their foreheads,” Mr. Bush said in an interview. “If that’s all they’ve got, it’s a pretty good indication of the problems that the Democrats face in 2010.”
Remember, according to the Dems’ own polling, Dubya is six points ahead of our global messiah in frontline House districts. But since they’re going to try to wring one more election cycle out of blaming Bush, I think it’d actually be hilarious if GWB granted their wish and came out in favor of the Ground Zero mosque — eventually. He should wait until their anti-Bush messaging is at fever pitch, then throw them a wicked curveball by weighing in on their side. Imagine the cognitive dissonance as our liberal betters have to segue from Bushitler op-eds to “George Bush, patriot” hosannas literally overnight. Greatest media clusterfark evah.
Heh… Indeed. I do believe that this whole entire idea of running against Bush in the midterms is going to blow up in their faces. I mean, the American people, especially independent voters are just not that stupid. They know what is happening and it is not Bush’s fault. Bush bailed out a few banks and left the rest up to Obama. Obama, in turn, did more of that bailout and then some. Further more, he proceeded to spend like a damned drunken sailor —- but that would be an insult to the sailors, because at least they use their own money. (Yes, I know I swiped that from Ronald Reagan. Mainly because it is so true!)
Further more, Mr. Bambi Teleprompter likes to say that Republicans should not be allowed to have the keys back. Well, to that I say this — Obama is flat out lying as to who created the financial meltdown in the first place. As I have written here, like a million times. The Democrats are the one’s who created the ENTIRE MESS! With the creation of Freddie Mack and Fannie Mae, the community reinvestment act of 1973, the adding of the sub-prime clause in 1994. It all can be traced back to Democrats. Not Republicans, but Democrats.
Now, because I am a honest and non-partisan blogger, but rather just an independent Moderate Conservative Blogger, I will say that the Republicans, who were in the majority, did have a chance to stop the housing crisis and they failed to do so. That is a very valid point. But that does NOT take away from the fact that Democrats DID create the environment that lead to the housing crash or as it is also called, the housing bubble bursting. The very idea of social engineering is fundamentally flawed and should stop. Barney Frank himself is now saying that, as should many other Democrats.
In closing, let me simply say this; as a former Democratic Party voter, and as an independent voter. I will give the Democratic Party a grave warning: Run on this platform and you will be trounced in the Midterms. The American people are just NOT this stupid. You attempted and succeeded to pass a healthcare bill, that even people in your own party said, was horrible. Then you passed a stimulus package that has been, from all accounts, as colossal failure. So, in response, you are going to try running against Bush…again. I got four good words for you: Good Luck With That!
The American people know who created this mess and it was not the Republicans. It was you guys, Democrats. When you lose, you will have no one at to blame — but yourselves. You overreached, you got insanely drunk with power; just like the Bush Administration did in 2000 and 2004 — and now, you will be paying the piper come November, just like the Republicans did in 2006 and in 2008.
Welcome to reality Democrats, it is so nice to see you again.
First off, Let’s not get too cocky guys. We ain’t won….yet. I’m not saying we can’t. I just think we should at least try to be a little realistic.
In other words, let’s not do the happy dance in the end zone; until after the football game.
As far as song is concerned, I suggest this:
Let’s ride this thing out and do what we can; but let’s not get too cocky, until we know for sure that we have won. It will say a ton of heartache later.
Why must I write about insanely stupid things such as this?
I mean, is being a moderate Conservative automatically a mandate to sign on with the stupid now? If it is, I must have not have gotten the memo on this at all. Because this bunch of blatant stupidity, I find to be most distressing — almost to the point of shutting my blog and disappearing from Politics altogether.
What I am griping about, is this incredibly stupid poll out, which says that more and more people believe that President Obama is a Muslim. I mean the man’s Father gives to his kid an Arab middle name, because the man was a Muslim at one time, and everyone freaks and says, “He’s a Muslim!” or in some quarters, “He’s a nigger Muslim!” —- Depending on where you are, north or south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Yes, I went there, you are very welcome. Figure if Dr. Laura can go there, so can I.
Seriously, folks, I am honestly beginning to wonder if some members of the Anglo-Saxon race are not inflicted with some sort of incurable disorder. I like to call it “Negro-Phobia,” White people are honestly frightened by anyone that looks, talks, acts, and even sounds different than they do. This is 2010, I thought we were over such nonsense; after all, we did elect the Nation’s first black President. Nevertheless, this nonsense is still being polled about, talked about and blogged about.
My question to my fellow Conservative is this; do you people honestly believe that this sort of idiotic nonsense is going to get the Republicans elected back into office in November? I mean, seriously!
What is fueling this sort of nonsense? Fear —– You know damned well the Republicans are playing that little card for all it is worth.
Look, I know the President is a socialist I get that. However, to accuse a man of lying about what his Religious leanings are, is just plain underhanded tripe. I mean, has all of the damned intellectualism disappeared out of the Conservative side of the Political fence for God’s sake? Have all of the men of wisdom within the ranks of Conservationism been replaced with Hillbilly Mouth breathing idiots, who have no concept of any sort intellectual thought?
I will not try to mislead my readers — at this point, I am seriously beginning to believe that Conservatives have officially jumped the damned shark on this little subject. I am not ready to official change to another political stripe or anything; because I have learned too much about the left, and much of it, I cannot stand. Nevertheless, this nonsense of accusing the first black President of the United States about lying to America, as to what God his subscribes to, is just very ridiculous.
Is this what the Republican Party has become? The President of the United States, who happens to be black and have Arab middle name has a dinner with a group of Muslims. The President tells a group of Arabs that are visiting the White House, that this Park 51 site — has the legal, not the moral, but the legal right to build in New York City and that the United States Government will not interfere with this process — and alone, that makes him a Muslim?
Another example: The economy is not recovering as fast or a well as the Democrats had hoped and that somehow means that President Obama is some sort cryptic-Muslim socialist that wants to overthrow the capitalistic system in America, and introduce us to Sharia law and Communism.
Do not laugh; I have heard such stuff out of the mouth of Glenn Beck himself and from other well-known Conservative Bloggers.
If this all somehow sounds familiar to some of my older readers, it should, the same very thing was said about President John F. Kennedy. There were actually Conservatives and yes, some Democrats who were going around shrieking that Kennedy would be taking orders from Rome. You see, Kennedy was Catholic and back in those days, a Catholic had never served as President of the United States. In fact, the issue got so bad, that Kennedy had to address the Southern Baptist Convention in 1960 to convince them and the rest of America that he would not be taking orders from Rome.
Fortunately, back then, it worked.
What you did not have in 1960 were Conservative Bloggers who were “hell bent” on destroying a President, for the simple fact that he is a Black Democrat. However, today, you do have them and there are many of them.
Look, I am going to make an admission to you all. I did not create this blog to attempt to destroy President Obama. I started this blog to criticize the President of the United States on his policies, when I thought that they were wrong, dumb, and misguided, and I will continue to do so. However, what I will not partake in is the silly idiotic partisan rumormongering that is not based on facts.
Having said all of that let me give an open message to the Conservative and Republican Blogging community:
I will not partake in this stupidity and if this is, what is required to be in with the “Cool Kids” in Conservative blogger, then by all means, count me is an outsider — Because I want nothing to do with this sort of stupidity.
50,000 advisers remain. But, the worse….. Hopefully, is over.
If you served; thank you. 😀 I could never, ever express that in any fashion that is remotely worth a darn. At least not without sounding like some sort of an idiot.
To protect the civilians in a country that is still home to insurgents with Al Qaeda and Iranian-backed militias, the State Department is planning to more than double its private security guards, up to about 7,000, according to administration officials who disclosed new details of the plan. Defending five fortified compounds across the country, the security contractors would operate radars to warn of enemy rocket attacks, search for roadside bombs, fly reconnaissance drones and even staff quick reaction forces to come to the aid of civilians in distress, the officials said…
The department’s plans to rely on 6,000 to 7,000 security contractors, who are also expected to form “quick reaction forces” to rescue civilians in trouble, is a sensitive issue, given Iraqi fury about shootings of civilians by American private guards in recent years. Administration officials said that security contractors would have no special immunity and would be required to register with the Iraqi government. In addition, one of the State Department’s regional security officers, agents who oversee security at diplomatic outposts, will be required to approve and accompany every civilian convoy, providing additional oversight.
MSNBC and WaPo both have some seriously excellent articles on soldiers reflections on coming out.
Blackfive which is a very excellent Milblogger has much to say about this. I will be honest; I am very disappointed that more of the Conservative Bloggers are not covering this. It seems that they are more interested in the Mosque story. Which is highly disappointing. My high kudos to AllahPundit over at HotAir, for at least giving the Military the dignity that they deserve.
And now, for a special comment from me, your humble host, about the ending of this long seven year war.
I think I can speak for the great majority of America — I am just damned glad it is finally done, over, finished. For seven long years, our Nation sat, rent asunder, divided over what could possibly be called the biggest blunder that a Presidential Administration, not to mention a Nation, a Congress, and Country could ever have pulled off — A decision to go to war with a Country based upon now what is now known as horrifically flawed intelligence. Without over simplifying it and at the risk of sounding like a far-leftist Liberal —- Oops, we blew it and blew it bad —– Because of this very idiotic blunder, 4415 of our Nation’s finest young men and woman, ended up going to a damned meat grinder and losing their lives. For a war, that had absolutely nothing, zero, nada to do with the attacks on the World Trade Center, The Pentagon and on Flight 93 that the Government claims was on the way to the White House on September 11, 2001. In short and quite bluntly, we screwed the pooch on that one, and whole bunch of Military people were killed.
I say the word “Claims,” because the United States Government has not exactly been very forthcoming about all of the evidence that they have, which supports the claims made by the Government about what really happened on 9/11. Now, before anyone begins to think it; no, I am not a 9/11 “truther.” No more, than I am a far leftist or even a damned Republican. However, I will say to you that I do not trust my Government. Because to blindly trust the Government is to never question what they say to you; and to never question or challenge is to be a slave or a servant; and the last time I checked, I am not, nor have I ever been, a slave to anyone or a servant of anyone, save the Lord Jesus Christ. That even that I readily admit to being quite lousy at doing, at times.
Having said all that let me say this:
We won.
No thanks, of course, to the Democratic Party, The libertarian leftists, The Ron Paul people, The Pat Buchanan types, The Paleo-Conservatives in General, the far-leftists, and the liberal, owned, controlled, and financed media in this God-forsaken Country of ours.
However, all praise, honor and any sort of decree is to be given to the United States Armed Forces. They simply kicked Al-Qaeda’s ass in Iraq. The US Military smoked them damned towel heads from one end of Iraq to the other. Most of their dead bodies are in Iraqi Cemeteries; which is a good place for them, if you ask me.
Personally, I am glad this conflict is over. I am also glad, that we actually won. There was no Vietnam-like ending, we left victorious.
We won.
In the future, we should be much more careful.
We also should remember those who did not make it out alive.
However, today, we dance, we rejoice.
Because tomorrow, we go back to work and we finish the damned job on the war on terror.
Constitutional issues aside, this mosque is just morally wrong. Considering the fact that this developers of Park 51 have refused to meet with Governor Patterson, they just do not care about morals at all. Hell, even Howard Dean is saying move the darn thing! Howard Dean people! Is that not any indication to the Democrats that this just might not be a good idea?!?!?!
Anyhow, Watch this and tell me you support that damn towel-head mall; which is what it really is.
WASHINGTON – Conservative superstar Ann Coulter today was dropped as a keynote speaker for WND’s “Taking America Back National Conference” next month because of her plan to address an event titled “HOMOCON” sponsored by the homosexual Republican group GOProud that promotes same-sex marriage and military service for open homosexuals
Joseph Farah, editor and chief executive officer of WND, said the decision was a gut-wrenching one for his team because of their fondness for Coulter as both a person and writer-speaker.
Ultimately, as a matter of principle, it would not make sense for us to have Ann speak to a conference about ‘taking America back’ when she clearly does not recognize that the ideals to be espoused there simply do not include the radical and very ‘unconservative’ agenda represented by GOProud,” said Farah. “The drift of the conservative movement to a brand of materialistic libertarianism is one of the main reasons we planned this conference from the beginning.”
Joseph Farah is man of Faith. I understand this; but I also happen to know that he likes to sell stuff, stuff like this:
Which links to this page here. It also links to WND’s Store as well. This is but small fraction of the Quasi-scriptural nonsense which comes via e-mail from his website. How any man, can call himself a blood-washed Born-Again Christian and allow which blasphemy be promoted from a website, that claims to promote Conservative Christian values, is much beyond me.
I understand Mr. Farah’s feelings about Homosexuality and I happen to agree with them myself. However, I personally believe that Mr. Farah ought to watch a little closer as to what his website is actually selling or at least pay a bit more attention to what kind of e-mails that his site puts out. Especially the subject lines.
Another little problem is this here:
Ultimately, as a matter of principle, it would not make sense for us to have Ann speak to a conference about ‘taking America back’ when she clearly does not recognize that the ideals to be espoused there simply do not include the radical and very ‘unconservative’ agenda represented by GOProud,” said Farah. “The drift of the conservative movement to a brand of materialistic libertarianism is one of the main reasons we planned this conference from the beginning.”
I mention this because I happen to believe that this crazy idea, that Social Conservatism and Conservative Christian-ism of the era of Ronald Reagan, is going to become a mainstay in the Republican ever again —- is absolutely insane. There is just no way that this will ever happen. Christianity anymore, among the American people, is a damaged brand. There have been just too many scandals in those circles. The powerful Conservative Christian right coalition formed under Ronald Reagan fell apart many, many years ago. There are many theories as to why this happened, and I really do not have the time to expound on this. But I will say, that many of the players of the evangelical world that existed during that time, simply do not exist any longer. Plus, attitudes among many Conservative Christians of today have changed. Gone are the feelings that Conservative Christians must rule the World — They tried that, and they failed.….badly. Most Conservative Christians today simply want to enjoy their Religion in peace, without fear of the Government.
So, while I can appreciate Joseph Farah and his feelings. I simply believe that he is wrong here. I believe Ann Coulter should formally separate herself from this man and request that her column not be published by this site any longer. Because it is quite obvious, that she and Joe Farah are no longer on the same page.
The email, which Coulter prefaced was written “in a rush” reads as follows:
1) farah is doing this for PUBLICITY and publicity alone;
2) this was an email exchange btwn friends and even though I didn’t expressly say “OFF THE RECORD” and I believe everything I said, he’s a swine for using my private emails politely answering him. why would he do such a despicable thing? … for PUBLICITY.
3) but now that he has, I will say that he could give less than two sh-ts about the conservative movement — as demonstrated by his promotion of the birther nonsense (long ago disproved by my newspaper, human events, also sweetness & light, american spectator and national review etc, etc etc). He’s the only allegedly serious conservative pushing the birther thing. for ONE reason: to get hits on his website.
4) his group hadn’t come up for the money to book me for a speech, anyway, so he’s not canceling me from anything.
also, FYI; my fellow evangelicals — and I know lots and lots of ‘em — – all think it’s great that I’m doing this. (of course, they know I’m not changing my mind on gay marriage even though I like gays.) this is total b.s. for PUBLICITY by a publicity whore. Attack ann coulter, get publicity. liberals figured that out a long time ago, so he’s a little late to the party.
If I were Farah I would doing some serious derriere kissing, if it were me!
There’s a new argument emerging among supporters of the Ground Zero mosque. Distressed by President Obama’s waffling on the issue, they’re calling on former President George W. Bush to announce his support for the project, because in this case Bush understands better than Obama the connection between the war on terror and the larger question of America’s relationship with Islam. It’s an extraordinary change of position for commentators who long argued that Bush had done grievous harm to America’s image in the Muslim world and that Obama represented a fresh start for the United States. Nevertheless, they are now seeing a different side of the former president.
“It’s time for W. to weigh in,” writes the New York Times’ Maureen Dowd. Bush, Dowd explains, understands that “you can’t have an effective war against the terrorists if it is a war on Islam.” Dowd finds it “odd” that Obama seems less sure on that matter. But to set things back on the right course, she says, “W. needs to get his bullhorn back out” — a reference to Bush’s famous “the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!” speech at Ground Zero on September 14, 2001.
I have in front of me, the official George W. Bush response to this situation and here it is:
You assholes did not want me in office the whole entire time that I was there; and now you want me to come bail you out, because your wonderful "Magic Negro" President cannot articulate a damn simple thought correctly? You morons are out of your damned minds!
Actually, President Bush’s office had no comment on the matter. But YOU KNOW darned well that is what President Bush is thinking right about now.
Dr. Laura Schlessinger, the conservative talk radio commentator under fire for repeatedly using a racial epithet, announced on Tuesday that she was ending her long-running radio show.
Dr. Schlessinger made the announcement on Tuesday night on “Larry King Live,” saying she made a decision not to renew her contract when it expires at the end of the year and suggesting that she did not want her opinions and language, however provocative, to be muzzled.
But she stressed that she was not retiring, only ending her show, and would continue to write books and appear at speaking engagements.“I want to regain my First Amendment rights,” she said. “I want to be able to say what’s on my mind and in my heart and what I think is helpful and useful without somebody getting angry, some special interest group deciding this is the time to silence a voice of dissent and attack affiliates, attack sponsors. I’m sort of done with that.”
“I’m not quitting,” she told Larry King. “I feel energized actually — stronger and freer to say the things that I believe need to be said for people in this country.”
The end of her radio career (in January when her contract concludes) is the result of her own ugliness on-air with a caller last week who asked “Dr. Laura” about the use of racially charged language. Schlessinger used the N-word 11 repeatedly in her answer, and listening to the tape, I was shocked by the aggression that I could hear building in Schlessinger’s voice. She was using the word as a weapon.
Some of my colleagues have used the glib phrase “she lost it” to describe Schlessinger’s comments in that exchange, but I think it was almost the opposite: I think perhaps she was letting her speech connect to some deep seated feelings she had, and that is what made her words all the more troubling to me.
Ed Morrissey, while not so personally critical, does point out the obvious:
If Schlessinger feels that getting paid to talk puts too much restriction on her broadcast content, that may well be a legitimate point, but as noted above, broadcasting is only one of several means available to her in commercializing her speech. Besides, the First Amendment doesn’t confer the right to profit from speech, only the right to speak. It isn’t an entitlement to publication. It also means that people can speak out and disagree with what Schlessinger says, even if she sees that speech as an “attack” on her, her sponsors, and her affiliates. It’s a little late in the game to suddenly get sensitive about criticism, and just a little hypocritical to cast it as an “attack” while demanding the supposed return of her First Amendment rights.
Schlessinger offered a full apology for her remarks, calling them “wrong.” She didn’t evade responsibility for them, nor did she offer the “I’m sorry if anyone was offended” non-apology apology. Schlessinger should have stopped there, instead of making herself into a First Amendment martyr when she has never had an issue of being “silenced” or having those rights taken from her. Even those of us who work daily in the First Amendment space seem to need reminders that the Constitution does not give people the right to be free from criticism after their own exercise of free speech.
I have to agree with all of the above. I am going to be quite blunt and honest with you. I do not like this woman at all. Why? Well, I have to say, that I have problem with people who try an articulate family values, who come from basically broken families; further more, I have a problem with people who are not exactly honest about their personal history. The truth is, Dr. Laura has repeatedly lied about her family, her previous marriages and a host of other things. That is, until people, who were concerned that she was not telling the truth, did some investigative work on her and found out the truth. This forced her to admit that she had not been exactly telling the truth. This to me, ruins any credibility that you might have; I’m sorry, but if I am going to take advice from anyone, it is going to be from someone, who’s actually coming from a background of ideal family values.
Lastly, there is the issue of religion. I am sorry, but Religion, to me, is not like trying on pair of socks. How any person, can sit on a radio show and give Conservative Traditional and yes, even Christian values; all the while not even being a practicing Christian or any other religion for that matter, is quite beyond me. First, Dr. Laura was a Jew, then she was not; the lady needs to pick a Religion and stick with it.
I am sorry if this sounds like I am being overly critical of Dr. Laura; I know she most likely means to do well. But I believe the she could do and be much better; if she would just be more honest and open about who she is. Plus, find a religion that she can handle and stick with it.
If you know a little history about Catholics in America, you will recognize that they were saying much the same thing 160 years ago with the first great influx of Irish immigrants. The myth that America is tolerant of other religions is belied by the historical treatment of Catholics and Jews in this country. While lip service is paid to constitutional protections, as late as 50 years ago, there were serious conversations carried out by serious people about whether electing a Catholic president would doom us to rule from Rome.
I’d advise you to go read the rest of that. Rick is one of the more saner voices on the right — well, outside of me, of course. 😉 His point is VERY valid. There was a time, when the right wing hated on Catholics, Jews and anyone else, who wasn’t Christian White American. In fact, there are places on the web, where stuff like that can be seen now. Like HERE for instance.
I never thought that in a million years that I would be siding with this Blogger. But damn it; he is right.
Guess where this quote is from:
President Obama came out Friday evening in favor of the Islamic supremacist mega-mosque at the hallowed ground of the 9/11 attack.
Obama told the ummah (at an Iftar dinner on the third night of Ramadan) that he supports a triumphal mosque on the cherished site where Islamic jihadists attacked.
If you had any doubt who Obama stood with on 9/11, there can be no doubt in our minds now.
There is something eerily familiar about this quote:
“This is not about freedom of religion,” Cornyn said. “I do think it’s unwise to build a mosque in the site where 3,000 Americans lost their lives as the result of a terrorist attack.”
Voters “sense that they’re being lectured to, not listened to” by Democrats, he said. “The American people will render their verdict.”
Is it just me, or does that that sound much like:
Today I have stood, where once Jefferson Davis stood, and took an oath to my people. It is very appropriate then that from this Cradle of the Confederacy, this very Heart of the Great Anglo-Saxon Southland, that today we sound the drum for freedom as have our generations of forebears before us done, time and time again through history. Let us rise to the call of freedom-loving blood that is in us and send our answer to the tyranny that clanks its chains upon the South. In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny . . . and I say . . . segregation today . . . segregation tomorrow . . . segregation forever.
I am just saying….
This issue will be the death the Republican Party, if they are not very careful. They are giving the Democrats the talking point that they need to defeat them in 2010…and 2012. At this point, as much as it pains me to say it —-They deserve it.
Update: Seeing that no one seems to get what I am trying to say. I will explain it. What is happening here is this; the Republican Party is pandering to the irrational fears of the general public towards Muslims. Just like George Wallace did with the southern Democrats, when they pandered to the White people in the South and their irrational fears of black people back in 1963. It is the same hate, the same pandering and the exact same bigotry. The only difference is, one was directed at blacks and this one is directed at Muslims and more broadly toward Arabs.
I have seen all of the rationalizations for all of this nonsense, and it is nothing more than vary nuanced bigotry. Only difference is that we did not use Arabs for slaves and did not lynch any of them. At least not yet. But I believe if the Republicans had their way; we would be lynching them, all of them, for what happened on 9/11.
Now this is not to say that I am not aware of the danger of Islamic terrorism or unaware or unwilling to accept the fact that there are Muslims who wish to impose Sharia Law in this Country. I am quite aware of that. But there is a big difference between awareness and bigotry; and this nonsense here is nothing more than nuanced bigotry. Period.
This is an editorial Blog posting that I detest having to write; I detest having to say that someone that I am opposed to ideologically — is right. As you know, President Barack Obama has literally been at war with the far right politically since he took office. The President, so far, really has not been fighting back, as far as this writer is concerned — against the attacks of the far right.
That changed tonight.
As some of you know, I and many other bloggers have been soundingthealarm against this so-called “Ground Zero” Mosque and Cultural center that is going to be built two blocks away from ground zero in Manhattan.Please, believe me when I tell you, that I happen to think that this is one of the most tone-deaf things; if not, the MOST tone-deaf thing, that anyone, of any Religious stripe, could possibly want to do.
However, we as Americans must look at the most paramount issue, that we as freedom loving Americans enjoy as citizens of this great Country of ours; the first amendment. As I was saying, Barack Obama has been at war with the far right, and as I said, he has not been firing back at the far right.Well, tonight he did a little more than just fire back.
He lobbed a damn hand grenade into the far right’s green zone.
President Obama gave, in this writer’s opinion, one of the best Constitutional smack downs that I have ever read in my life. I will not quote the entire speech as most of it I totally disagree with.However, President Obama did say one thing, which even I, as someone who disagrees with much of what the President says and does — cannot even remotely begin to argue.He said the following:
But let me be clear: as a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country.That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances.This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable.The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are.The writ of our Founders must endure.
Ouch.
The man might not be able to throw a baseball worth a damn.But his constitutional grenade tossing is very good.
In short, President Obama said, what I blogged recently, in response to some Religious Right nut job who wants to see all Mosque building stopped and that is that the Government cannot regulate religion at all.Although the President said it much better than I did.But, I digress.
As much as I know, that it makes many of my friends on the right flank of me angry; the President has a very good point and yes, he is, for once, absolutely correct.September 11, 2001 was, and still is, to me, a horrific tragedy; but if the United States Government enacts policies that restrict religion, which is on par with Nazi fascism or communism. We run the risk of becoming the Christian equivalent of a Muslim theocracy; and that my friend is bad, no matter how you slice it.
We cannot allow this nation to be bigoted toward any religion based upon cultural or Zionistic impulses.Because once we open that Pandora’s Box, we open the door for horrors that I really do not want to think about.
Disclaimer: The following newsletter is published by a Fundamentalist Baptist Missionary. While I do agree overall with the doctrines presented by this man. It should not be assumed that I agree 100% with his stance on issues. I present this newsletter, because I believe in full discourse within the spectrum of Conservatism.
The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this does not imply an endorsement. For instructions on how to unsubscribe to this list or to change mailing addresses, please consult the information paragraph at the end.
ANN COULTER TO SPEAK AT “GAY” CONVENTION (Friday Church News Notes, August 13, 2010, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – Ann Coulter, a political commentator who is often held forth as one of the bright stars of the conservative movement in America, will be the featured speaker at Homocon 2010 in New York City. The meeting is staged by GOProud, the only national organization of “gay conservatives.” (GOP usually stands for the Republican Party, though we do not know if it has that meaning in this context.) This highlights the extreme weakness of the “conservative” movement for the Bible believer. What good does it do to fight for constitutional conservatism when the root problem of America’s ills is moral and spiritual? It’s like putting a bandaid on a cancer. The U.S. Constitution could not have been created in this wicked, apostate generation, and it will not be preserved in this generation. The only hope is for true spiritual revival in the churches, and that would require separation from the things that God hates. Many Independent Baptists and fundamentalists are yoked together with unbelievers and immoral people for the sake of “saving America.” That is disobedience to the Bible, which says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness” (2 Corinthians 6:14). We are never going to get God’s power and blessing by disobeying Him. Furthermore, Bible believers are already being persecuted and harassed by homosexuals across the land, and this persecution is increasing each year. Will these “gay conservatives” speak out against the so-called hate crimes laws and the persecution of Christians who believe that homosexuality is a sin?
MEGACHURCH PASTOR SLAMS “NORMAL” CHURCHES (Friday Church News Notes, August 13, 2010, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – In a recent sermon, Perry Noble, pastor of the four-campus NewSpring Church in South Carolina, slammed traditional churches mercilessly. Responding to criticisms that his church is too loud and resembles a concert, Noble said, “I don’t want to be normal when it comes to church in America because normal is dehydrated, normal is dead, normal is predictable, normal is boring, normal is lifeless, and when the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive and I’ve crossed over from death to life, praise God, I don’t want to be normal!” (“S.C. Pastor,” Christian Post, Aug. 4, 2010). By Noble’s strange thinking, before rock & roll was brought into the house of God a few years ago every church was dehydrated, dead, predictable, boring, and lifeless. Until a bare 40 years ago, there were NO churches like NewSpring, and there had not been any for 2,000 years. No Sunday morning rock & roll parties. None. Nowhere. All of the churches then were “normal” and “traditional” in that respect. Noble is confusing a worldly rock & roll party with godly spiritual excitement, but they are not the same. Rock & roll is definitely spiritual, but it is the spirit of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Any man that confuses rock & roll with godly spiritual excitement is far too blind to lead God’s people.
I am not going to be like the left and call Dr. Laura a racist. I do not know that to be a fact. However, I will say that she has a good knack for putting her foot in her mouth. It appears that Dr. Laura was trying to make a point; and in the process of making that point, used some language that is not acceptable in this “Politically Correct” World we live in today.
CALLER: I’m having an issue with my husband where I’m starting to grow very resentful of him. I’m black, and he’s white. We’ve been around some of his friends and family members who start making racist comments as if I’m not there or if I’m not black. And my husband ignores those comments, and it hurts my feelings. And he acts like —
SCHLESSINGER: Well, can you give me an example of a racist comment? ‘Cause sometimes people are hypersensitive. So tell me what’s — give me two good examples of racist comments.
CALLER: OK. Last night — good example — we had a neighbor come over, and this neighbor — when every time he comes over, it’s always a black comment. It’s, "Oh, well, how do you black people like doing this?" And, "Do black people really like doing that?" And for a long time, I would ignore it. But last night, I got to the point where it —
SCHLESSINGER: I don’t think that’s racist.
CALLER: Well, the stereotype —
SCHLESSINGER: I don’t think that’s racist. No, I think that —
CALLER: [unintelligible]
SCHLESSINGER: No, no, no. I think that’s — well, listen, without giving much thought, a lot of blacks voted for Obama simply ’cause he was half-black. Didn’t matter what he was gonna do in office, it was a black thing. You gotta know that. That’s not a surprise. Not everything that somebody says — we had friends over the other day; we got about 35 people here — the guys who were gonna start playing basketball. I was going to go out and play basketball. My bodyguard and my dear friend is a black man. And I said, "White men can’t jump; I want you on my team." That was racist? That was funny.
CALLER: How about the N-word? So, the N-word’s been thrown around —
SCHLESSINGER: Black guys use it all the time. Turn on HBO, listen to a black comic, and all you hear is nigger, nigger, nigger.
CALLER: That isn’t —
SCHLESSINGER: I don’t get it. If anybody without enough melanin says it, it’s a horrible thing; but when black people say it, it’s affectionate. It’s very confusing. Don’t hang up, I want to talk to you some more. Don’t go away.
I’m Dr. Laura Schlessinger. I’ll be right back.
and after the break, it got worse…:
SCHLESSINGER: I’m Dr. Laura Schlessinger, talking to Jade. What did you think about during the break, by the way?
CALLER: I was a little caught back by the N-word that you spewed out, I have to be honest with you. But my point is, race relations —
SCHLESSINGER: Oh, then I guess you don’t watch HBO or listen to any black comedians.
CALLER: But that doesn’t make it right. I mean, race is a [unintelligible] —
SCHLESSINGER: My dear, my dear —
CALLER: — since Obama’s been in office —
SCHLESSINGER: — the point I’m trying to make —
CALLER: — racism has come to another level that’s unacceptable.
SCHLESSINGER: Yeah. We’ve got a black man as president, and we have more complaining about racism than ever. I mean, I think that’s hilarious.
CALLER: But I think, honestly, because there’s more white people afraid of a black man taking over the nation.
SCHLESSINGER: They’re afraid.
CALLER: If you want to be honest about it [unintelligible]
SCHLESSINGER: Dear, they voted him in. Only 12 percent of the population’s black. Whites voted him in.
CALLER: It was the younger generation that did it. It wasn’t the older white people who did it.
SCHLESSINGER: Oh, OK.
CALLER: It was the younger generation —
SCHLESSINGER: All right. All right.
CALLER: — that did it.
SCHLESSINGER: Chip on your shoulder. I can’t do much about that.
CALLER: It’s not like that.
SCHLESSINGER: Yeah. I think you have too much sensitivity —
CALLER: So it’s OK to say "nigger"?
SCHLESSINGER: — and not enough sense of humor.
CALLER: It’s OK to say that word?
SCHLESSINGER: It depends how it’s said.
CALLER: Is it OK to say that word? Is it ever OK to say that word?
SCHLESSINGER: It’s — it depends how it’s said. Black guys talking to each other seem to think it’s OK.
CALLER: But you’re not black. They’re not black. My husband is white.
SCHLESSINGER: Oh, I see. So, a word is restricted to race. Got it. Can’t do much about that.
CALLER: I can’t believe someone like you is on the radio spewing out the "nigger" word, and I hope everybody heard it.
SCHLESSINGER: I didn’t spew out the "nigger" word.
CALLER: You said, "Nigger, nigger, nigger."
SCHLESSINGER: Right, I said that’s what you hear.
CALLER: Everybody heard it.
SCHLESSINGER: Yes, they did.
CALLER: I hope everybody heard it.
SCHLESSINGER: They did, and I’ll say it again —
CALLER: So what makes it OK for you to say the word?
SCHLESSINGER: — nigger, nigger, nigger is what you hear on HB —
CALLER: So what makes it —
SCHLESSINGER: Why don’t you let me finish a sentence?
CALLER: OK.
SCHLESSINGER: Don’t take things out of context. Don’t double N — NAACP me. Tape the —
CALLER: I know what the NAACP —
SCHLESSINGER: Leave them in context.
CALLER: I know what the N-word means and I know it came from a white person. And I know the white person made it bad.
SCHLESSINGER: All right. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Can’t have this argument. You know what? If you’re that hypersensitive about color and don’t have a sense of humor, don’t marry out of your race. If you’re going to marry out of your race, people are going to say, "OK, what do blacks think? What do whites think? What do Jews think? What do Catholics think?" Of course there isn’t a one-think per se. But in general there’s "think."
And what I just heard from Jade is a lot of what I hear from black-think — and it’s really distressing [sic] and disturbing. And to put it in its context, she said the N-word, and I said, on HBO, listening to black comics, you hear "nigger, nigger, nigger." I didn’t call anybody a nigger. Nice try, Jade. Actually, sucky try.
Need a sense of humor, sense of humor — and answer the question. When somebody says, "What do blacks think?" say, "This is what I think. This is what I read that if you take a poll the majority of blacks think this." Answer the question and discuss the issue. It’s like we can’t discuss anything without saying there’s -isms?
We have to be able to discuss these things. We’re people — goodness gracious me. Ah — hypersensitivity, OK, which is being bred by black activists. I really thought that once we had a black president, the attempt to demonize whites hating blacks would stop, but it seems to have grown, and I don’t get it. Yes, I do. It’s all about power. I do get it. It’s all about power and that’s sad because what should be in power is not power or righteousness to do good — that should be the greatest power.
I talk every day about doing the right thing. And yesterday, I did the wrong thing.
I didn’t intend to hurt people, but I did. And that makes it the wrong thing to have done.
I was attempting to make a philosophical point, and I articulated the “n” word all the way out – more than one time. And that was wrong. I’ll say it again – that was wrong.
She goes on to say:
I ended up, I’m sure, with many of you losing the point I was trying to make, because you were shocked by the fact that I said the word. I, myself, realized I had made a horrible mistake, and was so upset I could not finish the show. I pulled myself off the air at the end of the hour. I had to finish the hour, because 20 minutes of dead air doesn’t work. I am very sorry. And it just won’t happen again.
[….]
One last note – The caller in question (her name is Jade), called for help from me, and didn’t get it, because we got embroiled in the “n” word, and I’m really sorry about that, because I’m here for only one reason and that’s to be helpful, so I hope Jade or somebody who knows her is listening, and hope she will call me back and I will try my best to be helpful, which is what she wanted from me in the first place and what she did not get.
I am willing to take that at face value. I do not know this woman personally; I will not call her something that I do not know her to be personally. She blew it, she admitted that. However, the racist baiting twits on the left will never be happy, until Dr. Laura and those who believe like her are off of the air for good.
As a rule, I usually do not link to stories presented by WND. But this here; is a load of crap! 😡 — (H/T to WorldNetDaily)
There is widespread shock following the news that Duke Amachree has lost his case, having been sacked for mentioning God in the workplace. An employment tribunal has ruled that it was reasonable for Wandsworth Council to dismiss Duke, after he was sacked for gross misconduct for suggesting to a client with an incurable illness not to give up hope and to try putting her faith in God. The tribunal also found that the Council had not discriminated against Mr Amachree on the basis of his religion. In addition, the tribunal took the view that Duke had breached confidentiality by publicizing his case. The decision has come as a huge surprise to Duke and to his legal team.
Duke, a father of two and committed Christian, had worked for Wandsworth Council for 18 years and had an unblemished record. Yet, as a result of the comments he made in one 45 minute housing interview, he was subject to 6 months of investigations and three interviews with the Council. His solicitor was even told by the Council that saying “God bless” to a client would require an investigation if the client complained.
Gross misconduct usually covers such behaviour as violence in the workplace, theft or other such serious conduct. Yet the client herself expressly stated that she did not want Duke to be dismissed for what he had said and Duke had never been told that such small talk in a housing interview was prohibited. The Council have always accepted that Duke’s motivation in speaking to the client was purely one of compassion
