Archive for July 14, 2010

There is some news from Illinois via the American Papist on the Illinois firing scandal. Take a peek at the form letter they are sending out:

I learned of this action on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) campus late last week and immediately asked Chancellor Robert Easter, who oversees the campus, to provide me with a briefing on the matter. I want to assure you that the University administration shares my commitment to the principles of academic freedom. At the same time, we do believe it’s important to fully investigate all of the details related to this situation. As I’m sure you’re aware, it is sometimes the case that public reports may convey only part of the story. I think it important to reserve judgment until I have all of the facts and I hope you’ll agree.

We have asked the UIUC Senate’s standing Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure to immediately review this action. This is the mechanism on the campus through which these matters should be vetted. We expect this review to be completed very soon. By using our channels of shared governance and review, we are in the best position to make informed decisions that afford a fair process for all.

If you don’t think these guys are worried, you’re right:

Chancellor Robert Easter has asked the University of Illinois’ Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure to determine whether the university violated the academic freedom and right to free speech of adjunct professor Dr. Kenneth Howell.

Howell, who has taught in the university’s Department of Religion since 2001, was recently fired for explaining in a class on Catholicism that the Church believes that homosexual behavior violates natural moral law.

University President Michael Hogan addressed faculty senators on Monday, after receiving 100 e-mails about Howell’s case, reported The News-Gazette.

“We want to be able to reassure ourselves there was no infringement on academic freedom here,” Hogan said. “This is a very, very important, not to mention a touchy and sensitive, issue. Did this cross the line somehow?”

Why are they worried? Because they are being noticed.

…at least until he started to get too close to Israel then he buggered off to Egypt.

The Libyan aid ship bound for Gaza has apparently changed course for Egypt’s El Arish port, after seeking and receiving permission to do so.

It’s the Iranians all over again.

Big Government has ’em.

Deneen Borelli

I’m deeply concerned that the NAACP is being used as a political tool to do the dirty work of the progressive movement. I urge blacks concerned about the tea parties to read the Contract from America — a list of policy objectives for Congress that was developed by tea party members nationwide. These objectives are clearly about limited government and liberty. In fact, the NAACP should be very concerned Obama’s cap-and-trade energy policy will lead to higher energy prices and higher unemployment – particularly among poor and minority households.

Kevin Martin:

To label peaceful political dissent as racists is akin to the behavior of the segregationists who once labeled the peaceful dissent lead by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as troublemaking. The founders of the NAACP must be rolling in their graves at the thought that dissent against an unfair system is now considered a reason for NAACP condemnation.

R. Dozier Gray:

I wish I could be surprised that the NAACP has passed a resolution condemning the tea party movement because of alleged racism. Unfortunately, I am not. But I really just don’t get it. It’s as if simply not being totally in the Obama camp makes one automatically anti-black.

Robin Martin:

I condemn the NAACP because they are no longer advancing the cause of freedom and equality. They are instead advancing a sophomoric, short sighted, and reactionary resolution to brand the Tea Party Movement as “racist”. They act as a police group for racial bigotry but only as it pertains to black people — notice the silence of the NAACP regarding the Black Panther member’s call to bash the heads of white babies. It’s unfortunate that the NAACP has become nothing more than a divisive cabal of Black Quasi-Socialist Progressive Fundamentalist Racism Chasers who are more interested in identity politics than they are in a prosperous and free nation.

Lt. Col Allen West:

This NAACP Resolution is consistent with the Obama administration tactic of demonizing and blaming someone else for your own failures and shortcomings, and not take responsibility and accountability.

Cedra Crenshaw:

Chicago Machine Democrats claim to be the party of diversity and inclusion, yet if you are a Black, conservative Republican mother, with a professional background in accounting, supported by the tea party movement, Chicago Machine Democrats do not encourage this type of diversity. Instead they unjustly knock you off the ballot and then talk about the lack of diversity in the Republican party and the tea party movement. The NAACP plays right into this scam.

I encourage NAACP members and convention delegates to attend a tea party event and get first hand knowledge about the true purpose of the tea party movement: limited government, fiscal responsibility, and individual liberty. The NAACP needs to leave the racism where it belongs – with the Chicago Machine Democrats.

and lets finish with Marie Stoughter

What saddens me is that this organization chooses to focus on imaginary slights, while real threats to this country exist in the form of New Black Panther members who have been caught on tape intimidating voters with billy clubs. Rather than condemning this behavior, it is largely ignored by the NAACP and a presidential administration that continues to refuse to prosecute such.

The Tea Party uses “racial epithets?” I soundly condemn the NAACP for failing to rebuke the New Black Panther members for inciting racial hatred (“explicitly racist behavior”) and, yes, actually using racial epithets as evidenced by the ranting of King Samir Shabazz caught on tape.

“We’re deeply concerned about elements that are trying to move the country back, trying to reverse progress that we’ve made,” said NAACP spokeswoman Leila McDowell. “We are asking that the law-abiding members of the Tea Party repudiate those racist elements . . . that are within the Tea Party movement.”

This statement reeks of the hypocrisy that has really held this country back.

You can see on memorandum that the MSM will not talk to any of these people, it doesn’t fit the narrative.

Two connected stories…

Posted: July 14, 2010 by datechguy in media, opinion/news
Tags: , ,

One via Instapundit at Radio Equalizer:

In the face of ominous poll data splashed on the front page of today’s Washington Post, libtalkers were in a tough position today. But only ultra-partisan Democratic Party crony Bill Press could manage to blame voters for Obama’s failure to thrive.

and from yesterday about Newsweek in commentary magazine:

He may have been right about that; within reason, people like to read more of what they like to read. He forgot, though, that readers are different from journalists, with different expectations, tastes, and, often, views of the world and what it should look like. He ignored the truth that the old newsmagazine editors lived by: journalists who write to satisfy people like themselves will soon run out of readers. The magazine that lies dying in Don Graham’s arms violated this rule week by week.

Bill Press, Newsweek and the Democratic party all hemorrhaging paying customers. You’ve gotta remember the rules if you want to stay in business.