Michelle Malkin » Tea Party Smear Watch: The Race Card

Tea Party Smear Watch: The Race Card

By Michelle Malkin • April 13, 2009 01:23 PM

There’s a famous quotation often attributed to Gandhi that goes like this: “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.” After “then they ridicule you” I would add:

“Then they smear you.”

As I warned last week, the smear campaign against the Tea Party movement has swung into full gear. Desperate always reaps stupid, as Dave Ramsey says. Desperate Tea Party bashers have stupidly lurched from “It’s a CNBC conspiracy” to “It’s a Fox News conspiracy” without batting an eye.

On Fox News, smear merchant Geraldo Rivera bashed the Tea Party movement because he’s “never seen any people of color” at the protests — a line of attack being plied on left-wing blogs (and even by a purported conservative blog). Tea Party organizer and Top Conservatives on Twitter Michael P. Leahy politely laid the smack down on Geraldo (watch here). But it’s not going to stop the reality-challenged Rivera from repeating the attack. (Psst, Geraldo: Meet Lloyd Marcus).

Of course, any people of color Geraldo and his bean-counters do admit to seeing they will dismiss as white.

And then there’s this typical e-mail I got this morning from “sammygeo1@yahoo.com:”

Michelle Malkin, you look like a damn fool. The only Jap at those tea parties. Go somewhere and sit your stupid ass down.

It’s telling how bitterly the self-proclaimed post-racialists keep fixating on the race of Tea Party protesters as some sort of Q.E.D. indictment of the protests.

Do they really want to play that game? Shall we start fixating on the lack of diversity at ACORN foreclosure mob protests?

Shamnesty demonstrations?

Lily-white-dominated Hollywood liberal fund-raisers or MSM boards of directors?

No, we shall not. The only demographic breakdown we shall mention is the one showing that the Left’s protests this year have drawn far more journalists and photographers than actual protesters.

***

Related thoughts from GayPatriot and Legal Insurrection.

Posted in: Tea Party

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#675674

On April 13th, 2009 at 6:26 pm, Dave Turson said:

No one’s life should be reduced to a single magazine article, but the 1998 Geraldo profile in NY Magazine is very revealing. It has many good tidbits about Geraldo, such as the time he had “fat from his ass implanted into his forehead.”
#675679

On April 13th, 2009 at 6:32 pm, happyscrapper said:

Geraldo Rivera…isn’t that the guy who wrote a book “outing” all the women he slept with? I would rather be “outed” as having slept with lgm!!
#675687

On April 13th, 2009 at 6:44 pm, lgm said:

30 pcs of silver said (#70):

Liberals are pathetic. These tea parties are a direct, in-your-face contradiction to their meme that conservatism is dead.

Maybe. Maybe on April 16 we will see that even a month of non-stop 24/7 hyping from every conservative medium (Fox, Limbaugh, blogs, etc.) cannot product more than a dismal gaggle of beer gut losers pretending to be revolutionaries.

(I normally don’t like to make forecasts, but so many posters here feel they know the future, and the coming of Sharia law and direct conquest from Caracas, etc.)
#675691

On April 13th, 2009 at 6:54 pm, TigerChick said:

As for Geraldo, his name may not be Jerry Rivers, but that is what he went by when he attended the University of Arizona. I saw his fraternity picture in a yearbook. I’m black. I’m going to DC. It’ll be interesting if I make it on camera.
#675692

On April 13th, 2009 at 6:55 pm, Special K said:

The Department of Homeland Security issued a warning about “right-wing terror groups”–kind of ironic that it came out just days before the TEA protests.

Think the federal government has grown too large, violating the Constitution?
You are a terrorist!

Think the border should be secure and immigration laws enforced?
You are a terrorist!

Serve in Iraq?
You are a terrorist!

Own a gun and support the Second Amendment?
You are a terrorist!

Support an unborn child’s right to life?
You are a terrorist!

Don’t like the state of the economy and the governments unbridled spending?
You are a terrorist!

Don’t believe me? Look at the document!
http://images.logicsix.com/DHS_RWE.pdf
#675700

On April 13th, 2009 at 7:21 pm, MNUSMCDavid said:

SpecialK

Then, I’m a terrorist…. and for goodness sake can’t believe I’ll say… damn proud… bring it Obama.
#675703

On April 13th, 2009 at 7:27 pm, Mach1Duck said:

In the movie, Charlie Wilson’s War stated by Tom Hanks (aka CW) that politicians do not win by votes, but by contributions. Keep that in mind…We cannot just ‘Throw the Old Bums Out’, we need to ensure that the old way of doing political business is changed. Do I hear the smashing of little acorns?
#675708

On April 13th, 2009 at 7:32 pm, MNUSMCDavid said:

Rebuttal… took the time to print the HSD document that Special K referred to. Were you to look at his list here you’d agree as I did. But, being an official member of HSD I printed his referenced document. Based on what was reported, I’d smack any group like they referenced down , too. Don’t need nimrods going off half cocked.
#675716

On April 13th, 2009 at 8:27 pm, MNUSMCDavid said:

lgm, I’ll compare my gut with yours, maggot.
#675727

On April 13th, 2009 at 9:21 pm, Special K said:

MNUSMCDavid

Smacking down any group like they referenced? Read the bottom of page 2, where attempts to define these groups as “hate groups”–you know, that would be the Catholic Church which believes marriage as being between one man, one woman and that life is sacred.

It includes groups who favor state over federal authority–ever read the 10th Amendment? I guess the Constitutional Party is now also a “hate group” who needs to be watched.

Although, in it’s defense, it also lists anti-Semitic groups who blame the economic situation on Jews–I guess the DailyKos crowd then would be on the list.

On page 3-4, it says “Many rightwing extremists are antagonistic toward the new presidential administration and its perceived stance on a range of issues, including immigration and
citizenship, the expansion of social programs to minorities, and restrictions on firearms ownership and use.” It’s racist to not like Obama’s policies?

Also on page 4, “Antigovernment conspiracy theories and “end times” prophecies could motivate extremist individuals and groups to stockpile food, ammunition, and weapons.
These teachings also have been linked with the radicalization of domestic extremist
individuals and groups in the past, such as violent Christian Identity organizations and
extremist members of the militia movement.” Really? What violent Christian groups would those be? Branch Davidians? As I recall, they were the ones attacked by the government, not vice versa.

I’d also point out, when it trashes veterans pointing to Timothy McVeigh, we had over 500,000 troops deployed for Desert Storm where he served. So one nutcase in 500,000 makes a serious threat? A pattern we need to worry about? Puh-lease!

I cannot believe this document does not disturb you.
#675730

On April 13th, 2009 at 9:29 pm, Pasadena Phil said:

I just got an e-mail from Tom McClintock inviting me to the Sacramento Tea Party featuring among others, Michelle Malkin. Dang! Can’t you come to Glendale instead?

I’ll be at the Glendale Tea Party , shouting out my terrifyingly endearing idioms for a couple of hours before returning to my office to await those last minute IRA contributions from my chronically late clients.

If you happen to be there, you can find me by looking for shrieking women and children fleeing in terror as I arrive. These are my friends. They’ll help you find me.
#675733

On April 13th, 2009 at 9:54 pm, beenthere said:

The best way to deal with the racism smear may be as Mark Steyn suggests (he was speaking only for himself but I see no reason his comment cannot be extended generally): we accept any and all charges of racism. If being for the free market and minimal government is racist, yes, I am proud to be a racist. It criticizing global warming hysteria means I am the moral equivalent of a holocaust denier, than that is what I am.

I will not engage any argument the the Left. It’s over. They will invariably lay the “My sheets don’t have eyeholes” trip on anyone who dares disagree with them and frankly after 40 years it no longer matters. We are in a fight to the finish, not a philosophical discussion.

Why do we fight? For the “Rebirth of a Nation.”

Deal with it.
#675743

On April 13th, 2009 at 10:06 pm, Wellsy said:

As for myself, I’ll be at the Dayton, OH Tea Party, and I’ll be covering the event on my blog, so come by that evening to get a taste of what went down in the Gem City. Event organizers are already saying they’ve received 6,000 RSVPs, and I’m sure many more will still come, as my parents, a few of my friends and I haven’t ourselves RSVP’d and still plan on attending.

If Dayton, OH can get this many folks, I have a feeling Wednesday is going to be absolutely huge across the nation.
#675746

On April 13th, 2009 at 10:09 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

On April 13th, 2009 at 6:44 pm, lgm said:

30 pcs of silver said (#70):

Liberals are pathetic. These tea parties are a direct, in-your-face contradiction to their meme that conservatism is dead.

Maybe. Maybe on April 16 we will see that even a month of non-stop 24/7 hyping from every conservative medium (Fox, Limbaugh, blogs, etc.) cannot product more than a dismal gaggle of beer gut losers pretending to be revolutionaries.

(I normally don’t like to make forecasts, but so many posters here feel they know the future, and the coming of Sharia law and direct conquest from Caracas, etc.)

Thanks for proving my point!

You’ll never admit that these parties were anything but a gathering for aa “dismal gaggle of beer gut losers” no matter if thousands show up in support. So, you’ll forgive me if I am not convinced that you have an ounce of objectivity concerning this or any conservative grassroots movement.

At least with the other predictions they are somewhat grounded in reality. You, on the other hand, deny what’s right in front of you.
#675765

On April 13th, 2009 at 10:23 pm, Glamchild said:

Yeah, remember the 2007 Actor’s Strike….that was the whitest bunch of people I’ve ever seen !

Hollywood doesn’t do diversity too well. Those studio chiefs and their minions are lily white !
#675767

On April 13th, 2009 at 10:27 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

From the comment section at HotAir:

Are the tea parties ‘a sham and fraud’?”

Premise rejected.

These tea parties are not designed to be “just conservatives”, but from just an American viewpoint. The fact that many who are participating in these tea parties are conservative is secondary to the point of these tea parties.

I stand corrected as well.

Godspeed to all who are attending. I will be with you in spirit. I’m on Nyquil right now so I’ll log back on tomorrow and I hope that my posts make sense.
#675768

On April 13th, 2009 at 10:33 pm, jangar said:

I thought the hard left claims to hate war…

…unless it’s war against their fellow man (who don’t agree with them).

Hypocrites!
#675791

On April 13th, 2009 at 11:30 pm, Alan K. Henderson said:

Is it too late to talk someone into showing up at one of these protests wearing a Captain Jack Sparrow costume and an Obama mask? The ol’ Pirates of the Potomac motif…

FYI, I was hawking that idea before the recent spate of Somali piracy.

Maybe someone else could dress up as that carnivorous plant from “Little Shop of Horrors.”

I have to work that day, so I can’t make it.
#675795

On April 13th, 2009 at 11:44 pm, thefoundingfathers said:

In the spirit of The Tea Parties, a very Happy Birthday to Thomas Jefferson born on April 13, 1743.
#675796

On April 13th, 2009 at 11:58 pm, happy2behere said:

Geraldo is a serial adulteror. He’s lied to those he professed to love forever, why should anyone believe anything he says?

Geraldo, lgm, Krugman, MSNBC, et al are trying to intimidate you into staying home from the tea parties by calling you/us racists.

Lgm – Stereotyping is a nasty habit and you should quit.
#675836

On April 14th, 2009 at 12:51 am, Living in the PSRK said:

Liberal Teaparty was “Epic Fail”
#675842

On April 14th, 2009 at 12:58 am, mytake said:

I personally would like to see more minorities at the tea parties. Then I would know we are all in this together. Taxing the rich until they are poor doesn’t help anyone: black, white, male, female,shemale, young, old, gay, straight, Latino or Martian, for that matter.
#675932

On April 14th, 2009 at 7:11 am, beachmom said:

Our local rag, the Portland Press Herald is already publishing negative articles about the tea parties.
They don’t even pretend to have an interest in covering anything fairly.
If it doesn’t go along with the lap dog media’s liberal agenda, it is a joke and they will tell everyone they can.

Traditional journalism is indeed dead.
#675960

On April 14th, 2009 at 7:58 am, AlturaCt said:

I personally would like to see more minorities at the tea parties.

Minority? I guess what you mean is non whites. So what if it is 99% white? SO WHAT? Are you racist against whites? Are whites evil? I am tired of this sh*t! People either come to this or they don’t. Conservatives are always playing this BS game that it is ideology not race. “I would vote for(name a black “conservative” here)in minute” is the mantra of many so called “conservatives” to show their “non-racist” bonafides. Of course most “people of color” don’t want to be “conservative” unless we change completely what it means(Orwell anyone?). Well if “people of color” are so conservative there is not a damn thing in the world stopping them from coming.

If they don’t it is their problem…
#677593

On April 15th, 2009 at 1:24 pm, sbw999 said:

98% of blacks voted for this *bleeping* socialist!!! Therefore, what makes anybody think blacks will be at Tea Parties that protest his policies??? Ditto for Hispanics, who want their cultural brethren to be allowed to stay in this Country after they break its immigaration laws. Of course these protests will be almost all white. But that says more about the minorities not participating, than the protestors standing up for the America we see going down the drain.