Right-Wing Misrepresentation
April 13th, 2008, 8:24 PM EDT
Hey, Warner at Newsbusters, how about accurately representing what I said? Neither I, nor Obama for that matter, ever said, “Middle America is full of racist, overly religious gun-nuts.” Here are some other things you ought to know before you misrepresent me.
- I have no problem with Obama getting the nomination, but I am on record as a Hillary supporter.
- Defending someone because you feel he is wrongly criticized does not make you an “apologist.”
- I was never “hiding” Liberaland. I started it on a lark and people found out about it. If I wanted to hide it I would have kept it a private blog.
- There are some people who “cling” to guns and religion. Not all. Not most. Some.
- Saying something that happens be true, a truth that is inconvenient and, perhaps, not pretty, does not mean you disdain the people you’re describing.
- Name-calling, ie: “panderer and “liar” proves Michelle Obama right. America can be “downright mean.” And the people posting don’t exactly seem to be sipping the milk of human kindness.
- Obama is not my messiah. I’m Jewish, but not a messianic Jew.
- If you think I should keep my blog a secret, don’t help me publicize it, but thanks for the link, anyway.
- My full statement is as you quoted: “And just where is he wrong? Pointing out why people may be bitter or frustrated, that there is xenophobia, that people sometimes cling to religion or feel paranoid about the government and embrace guns doesn’t mean you hate or disdain a portion of the population.” The rest is your conjecture, and it’s wrong.
Good for you, Alan.
April 13th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Why does Barack Obama consistently get himself in big trouble for addressing controversial dark aspects of America?
Why doesn’t he just play it safe like the other candidates, tell everyone how great things are going to get and how much good he’s going to do.
Tell people how wonderful this country is and how we are going to shine the light of truth and honor into the world.
Tell them all the things they want and need to hear so you’ll never be called unpatriotic, elitest, or out of touch.
Tell them with smiles, and babies, and never with any condemnation. Never point out, or expound on anything that America needs to address. Never hint that we are anything less than blessed and holy.
America will get EXACTLY what we deserve. God Bless.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Hey Alan, let me help you out.
You know what? Middle America is full of racist, overly religious gun-nuts. And not only that: “America” is full of them too. In fact, the whole damn planet is full of them, and they actually believe there’s some difference between themselves and all the other racist, overly religious gun-nuts. And you know what? If they had enough ammunition they could prove it too.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Well, we all know you Obamanauts agree with what he said, and probably that the CIA gave black folks AIDS too. Who cares. What’s relevant is that REGULAR AMERICANS don’t agree with all that garbage. You know, the Americans you people on the Left sneer at and look down your noses at? The Americans you on the Left need to hide your real beliefs from if you ever hope to win the presidency? Yeah, those Americans. That’s why Obama’s backpeddling now. He’s hiding what he really believes because he wants to be president. That’s what the Left does. Hide. It’s a stealth ideology.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:48 am
Alan when Conservatives and Republicans say something you disagree with you distort the truth. A great example of this was you said about the gentleman who introduced John McCain and made the Tiger Woods analogy. Barack Obama is a racist whether you want to accept it or not. He associated with a racist pastor for over twenty years and his wife was only proud of America when he has a chance to become President. Now he puts down people who believe in the second amendment and the constitution along with a belief in god and you want to apologize and explain away what he said. Shame on you Alan
April 14th, 2008 at 2:41 am
Well the government did watch 400 black men die of syphillis while pretending to treat them. This happened when Barack was in school, so when black Americans wonder why the Tuskegee experiments, the suspicious government activity around crack cocaine, Katrina, and other recent astonishingly poor black treatments have been the result of a suspiciously callous government, the stretch to suspect AIDS isn’t as far as “regular Americans” would admit.
April 14th, 2008 at 2:45 am
Postscript: Oh and by the way, Reverend Wright has done more good for white people than all of us put together.
It’s easy to research..you know that thing smart people do. Shelters, drug counseling, marriage counseling, food drives, fundraisers, there are more white people who love Reverend Wright than every negative post.
I’ve seen the entirity (entirity is the word) of Reverend Wright’s controversial sermons and it’s nothing new, surprising, or unhealthy. Pastors have been condemning America’s darker (sometimes shameful) characteristics for centuries, and if Reverend Wright ever said anything worse than the 20 second loop we all know so well, well we’d see it playing on FOX.
What we don’t see is the other 20,000 sermons Reverend Wright sells in his church dealing with everything from living today in a world that believes Christians ignorant to life in a nation that has become inflated on self interested niavity.
And when he’s not preaching, building community bridges, helping the poor, and supporting his neighbors, he’s explaining 20 seconds of footage used to characterize his life.
And Obama’s for some strange retarded reason.
April 14th, 2008 at 3:14 am
Entirety! Entirety! I typed that so fast I mispelled it…twice..crap I better sleep now.
Alan get a damn edit button here.
Sheesh. Night.
April 14th, 2008 at 3:17 am
Dueling Blogs– Alan Colmes Responds to NewsBusters
By Warner Todd Huston | April 14, 2008 – 01:33 ET
Git out yer shootin’ irons and settle in for a blog duel, folks, because the inestimable Alan Colmes has answered to NewsBusters on his less than secret blog, LiberalLand.com. Mr. Colmes sent me a little email notice that he has answered to my ribbing of him on the 13th and I have the honor to reply in kind with a fisking of his latest.
Firstly, I will certainly admit that Mr. Colmes’ guns might bark a little louder than your humble NewsBuster’s (that’s me, of course). After all, he has a TV show and a radio show, as well as a well-visited blog. On the other hand, I merely watch TV and have been but a radio show guest speaker… however, I DO blog on one of the most visited conservative sites on the Internet (that would be Newsbusters.org, naturally).
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Mr. Colmes’ reply consists of an opening sentence followed by bulleted talking points. So, what follows is his bulleted points after which my replies to each will appear.
Colmes began with this:
Hey, Warner at Newsbusters, how about accurately representing what I said? Neither I, nor Obama for that matter, ever said, “Middle America is full of racist, overly religious gun-nuts.” Here are some other things you ought to know before you misrepresent me.
Well, Mr. Colmes, I wouldn’t say “misrepresent” so much as clarify. But, let us continue.
I have no problem with Obama getting the nomination, but I am on record as a Hillary supporter.
Let it so be known, then.
Defending someone because you feel he is wrongly criticized does not make you an “apologist.”
Since you are so fond of splitting hairs, Mr. Colmes, I’d like to correct you. Since you are making the disingenuous “some say” argument to explain away Obama’s overheated rhetoric, I’ll add a bit to your talking point number two just so:
“Defending someone because you feel he is wrongly criticized does not necessarily make you an “apologist,” though some are apologists.”
There that seems more in fitting with your style, sir. No, don’t thank me. I’m glad to help.
I was never “hiding” Liberaland. I started it on a lark and people found out about it. If I wanted to hide it I would have kept it a private blog.
Well, then. I was misinformed as to the initial status of your blogging efforts. I only want to say in my defense that “some said” that your blog was a secret in the beginning. But, I see no reason to make this an argument. Consider your word here the last you’ll hear from me on the subject.
There are some people who “cling” to guns and religion. Not all. Not most. Some.
I see. Well, some Democrats despise everything about their country and would love to see it turned into a lesser version of Europe. They’d love to jail every conservative, destroy the sanctity of marriage, censor all speech that they stand against, turn every child into a homosexual, throw away that pesky Constitution and gut our military — that military that they “loath.” Not all. Not most. Some.
Now, the question that comes to my mind is this: were I running for president, would it improve the public weal for me to be making such outlandish statements that are certainly true, but meaningless in the greater scheme of things? More to the point, was it useful for Barack Obama to dwell on the hateful, discontent of that minute “some” you are claiming he was talking about? If that “some” is not most, then what merit does Obama’s point have? After all, he could have said that “some Americans are rapists” and have been 100% correct. But where is the good such a point would have done this country and its political wellbeing? Wasn’t Obama merely wallowing in class warfare rhetoric and pandering to a clientele that would appreciate a slam against the unwashed masses that they despise?
Can you not admit, Mr. Colmes, that Obama’s rhetoric was ill considered and certainly NOT befitting the campaign of a man who claims that he wants a “new tone,” “change,” and a day of “cooperation” in America?
Saying something that happens be true, a truth that is inconvenient and, perhaps, not pretty, does not mean you disdain the people you’re describing.
As a point that is certainly true. The problem here is can we apply this statement to Obama’s comments? While that may require interpretation, it is certainly easy to speculate that he did, indeed, feel disdain for those rubes in the Midwest that he was using to gain the support of the extreme lefties before which he was appearing, begging for campaign money and votes.
When you add this incident to the other incidents where he showed disdain for “white” America as well as the many statements his wife and “spiritual advisor,” Jeremiah Wright, Jr., have made, we can see a pattern where Obama seems as if he at the very least dislikes, if not disdains, the many millions of Americans in the Midwest from whom he is looking to for support.
And, as I said, if he doesn’t disdain them, why would he use them so casually before the lefty crowd in California? At the risk of repeating myself, if he doesn’t dislike those Middle Americans, he was certainly willing to casually use their supposed plight to pander to the far left.
None of this sounds very presidential or very “new toneish” to me.
Name-calling, ie: “panderer and “liar” proves Michelle Obama right. America can be “downright mean.” And the people posting don’t exactly seem to be sipping the milk of human kindness.
Well, if Mr. Obama is so wounded by “panderer” and “liar,” I’d suggest this is the most mild form of political excoriation ever uttered in this Country. I’d ask you to check into some of the comments that the more “civilized,” more “tolerant,” and more “intelligent” folks on your side of the aisle have called President Bush over the last 9 years (yes, 9 including his run for 2000). Further, I’d suggest that if you think that the comments on Newsbusters are somehow over-the-top or outrageous, than you should check out the Daily Kos once in a while. Your own house could use a sweeping, sir.
Obama is not my messiah. I’m Jewish, but not a messianic Jew.
Yes, yes. I most certainly will grant you that. You must give me a little wiggle room for bombast and rhetoric, though, couldn’t you? And please don’t try to tell us that such hyperbole favoring your positions never exited your lips?
If you think I should keep my blog a secret, don’t help me publicize it, but thanks for the link, anyway.
No, I must find myself reversing my initial good-natured jab. I do think your blog should get wider play. After all, the more people who read your work, the more there’ll be that can see you for what you are. That can’t be anything but good in anyone’s book, right?
My full statement is as you quoted: “And just where is he wrong? Pointing out why people may be bitter or frustrated, that there is xenophobia, that people sometimes cling to religion or feel paranoid about the government and embrace guns doesn’t mean you hate or disdain a portion of the population.” The rest is your conjecture, and it’s wrong.
Well, I appreciate your contention that I am wrong. On the other hand, you ill serve Obama to prove that his rhetoric is only aimed at that tiny little some statistic you are so sure he is focusing on. Your elucidation that his points are meaningless to the discussion of where the majority of America stands does not do Obama well. I mean, let’s face it. I could say some about anything and be technically correct. But, if that some is so small that it isn’t most then what value does it have in the greater debate about the state of our country?
Let’s face reality. While the USA has some problems we still have what amounts statistically to full employment with an unemployment rate at under 6%, we have a standard of living where our poor live in as good a condition as the middle class in most countries (even several European countries), and we still have a strong economy, one that has been roaring with but small dips in success since the 1980s.
So, in the end, that some you and Obama are talking about really don’t have a whole lot to complain about in the greater scheme of things.
Now, were I in the Obama camp I’d be quick to ask you not to be so “helpful” in the future. However, I’d like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to exchange ideas. It was fun.
So, I wish you well, Mr. Colmes. I will check out your TV show soon to see if you are being as civil to your TV guests as you seem to be advocating for here.
What’s good for the goose and all that.
Yours, Warner Todd Huston
April 14th, 2008 at 6:27 am
Hey Alan,
“Neither I, nor Obama for that matter, ever said, “Middle America is full of racist, overly religious gun-nuts.”
Gee I wonder how anyone could EVER contsrue that when Obama said:
“it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
He said it and you defended him.
Splitting hairs on what and how something was said is disingenuious to say the least on your part. And typically Liberal.
“Defending someone because you feel he is wrongly criticized does not make you an “apologist.”
Unless of course it’s a Republican defending someone right Alan?
“There are some people who “cling” to guns and religion. Not all. Not most. Some.”
Again you’re trying to distnce yourself from the original statement you defended…not to mention spin it into something it’s not.
Oh and that’s called being an “apologist” too.
“Saying something that happens be true, a truth that is inconvenient and, perhaps, not pretty, does not mean you disdain the people you’re describing.”
Except when in this case it’s a lie wrapped in a standard Liberal stereotype.
And as for “disdain”, you can’t help yourself Alan, you or any other Lib for that matter. It oozes out of your pores, to the point of arrogance. You sniff at “flyover country” as if it’s a bad smell. And then scratch your head and wonder why people say Liberals and the media are out of tourch with America.
“Name-calling, ie: “panderer and “liar” proves Michelle Obama right. America can be “downright mean.” And the people posting don’t exactly seem to be sipping the milk of human kindness.”
Carry much “white guilt” there Alan? Cause with that statement you just verified in the minds of certain parts of America every racist stereotype that Jerimiah Wright and Michelle Obama have acciused this country of having.
Remind me again who you’re endorsing for President?
Oh and you ask where exactly is Obama wrong in what he said? The better quesiton for you to try and answer is where is he correct in that statement.
April 14th, 2008 at 7:42 am
ALAN ,YOU ARE FULL OF CACA MI FRIEND
April 14th, 2008 at 8:40 am
So.. What keeps Obama’s “bitter…they” comments from being bigotry? Think about it. Other than the vile act of labeling (Nigger, Neo-con, Libtard, Gun-nut,etc.) there is little that separates his “negative generalizations” to bigotry. The left have just as many bigots as the right, ya know.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:03 am
What’s wrong with being downright mean?
It’s high time conservatives and libertarians in this country got downright mean and took our country back. We’ve been intimidated by the Church of Political Correctness and it’s time we put a stop to this and acted like Americans, not like Russian subjects.
When a public official wants to take away my rights and make me an economic slave, I get downright mean.
When elected Congressmen/women continually call my President (whom I voted for) every name in the book and then preach tolerance, I get downright mean.
When a public official and that official’s wife continually call me a racist for objecting to our country being overrun by another nation, I get downright mean.
We still have the First Amendment. I can say what I want and if they don’t like it, tough crap. And since I still am protected by the 2nd Amendment (for now), what are ya gonna do about it?
April 14th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Someone draw a cartoon of a homeless family beside a republican, let the republican say “Well atleast you’re not bitter” I wish I could draw :(
April 14th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Someone draw a cartoon of a welfare family laying on the couch watching TV while outside a Democrat is using a gun to hold up a middle class family. Let the Democrat say “Well at least your not bitter”.
I wish I could draw.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Noel you sound pretty simplistic. You really should read up on how conservatives are more charitable in general than liberals. Might do you some good
Oh and ALAN sometimes I wonder how you sleep at night. Your favorite responses when a liberal is attacked for wrongdoing are often something like “What about the time when _______(insert your favorite republican” did it?”. Alan GROW UP.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
[...] because the inestimable Alan Colmes has answered to my poking at him on his less than secret blog, LiberalLand.com. Mr. Colmes sent me a little email notice that he has answered to my ribbing of him on the 13th and [...]
April 15th, 2008 at 7:06 am
[...] because the inestimable Alan Colmes has answered to my poking at him on his less than secret blog, LiberalLand.com. Mr. Colmes sent me a little email notice that he has answered to my ribbing of him on the 13th and [...]
April 15th, 2008 at 7:16 am
I would love to vote for Obama but, being a typical white person, I am far too busy taking my gun to church to keep those immigrants and african-americans out. PS-it’s now 25 black school kids in Chicago shot/killed so far this year (and one baseball bat…so quiet on the gun control thing)…thanks for your help senator.
April 15th, 2008 at 11:47 am
ALAN, WHAT IS IT ABOUT REPUBLICANS THAT CAN,T SEE THE DAMAGE THAT, THAT PARTY HAS DONE TO OUR COUNTRIE AND OTHER COUNTRIES, LOOK AT THE “NIXON AND BUSH” YEARS MY (GOD) GET REAL, HOW LONG COULD THIS CONTINUE….YET LIVING IN “LA-LA” LAND LIKE HANNITY, AND A MINUTE FEW-WHO FINALLY GOT EMBARRESED BY THE LIKES OF WHICH THEY STOOD FOR-FINALLY OUR PRECIOUS AMERICA HAS A TRUE HERO IN PRESIDENT ELECT “OBAMA” AND HIS VERY THOUGHTFUL NEW CABINET, WHAT A SMART MOVE TO BRING IN SOME REPUBLICANS TO CLEAN UP THE MESS, WHICH WILL BE **ASTRONOMICAL** THANKS TO THE NOW GONE GOP, MAY WE OVER COME WHAT HAS BEEN DONE–IT,S A GREAT DAY !!! ALAN YOUR A HERO, YOU STOOD BY YOUR HONOR, AT A VERY UGLY TIME IN HISTORY.
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:45 pm