Michelle Malkin » WaPo Page A1 breaking news: Conservatives are horrible ogres, Part 99,999

WaPo Page A1 breaking news: Conservatives are horrible ogres, Part 99,999

By Michelle Malkin • October 12, 2009 09:22 AM

The Sunday edition of the Washington Post featured a massive, front-page article by Ann Gerhart decrying the “incivility” of conservatives. “The nation’s political discourse seems sour, angry, even dangerous,” Gerhart frets.

The introduction of the article spotlighted an e-mail from yours truly to Obama-philic author and Jamestown Project member Charisse Carney-Nunes.

Does the e-mail contain incivil rhetoric, profanity, or threats?

No.

My message contained….questions:

Late last month, Charisse Carney-Nunes fired up the computer at her home in Northeast Washington to check her e-mail. Her brain already was on morning drive time: breakfast for the kids, her day’s work at a government agency. She glanced down at her screen, then froze.

“Ms. Carney-Nunes,” began the e-mail from Michelle Malkin, a best-selling and often inflammatory conservative writer with a heavily trafficked Web site. “I understand that you uploaded the video of schoolchildren reciting a Barack Obama song/rap at Bernice Young elementary school in June. I have a few quick questions. Did you help write the song/rap and teach it to the children? Are you an educator/guest lecturer at the school? Did you teach about your book, ‘I am Barack Obama’ at the school? Your bio says you are a schoolmate of Obama. How well-acquainted are you with the president?”

Carney-Nunes looked at the time stamp — 6:47 a.m. — and closed the file without replying. She knew Malkin had driven criticism of President Obama’s back-to-school speech, streamed nationwide, as an attempt to indoctrinate students. Now Malkin was asking about a YouTube video of New Jersey public school children singing and enthusiastically chanting about Obama from a Black History Month presentation.

Here was the full message I sent:

Ms. Carney-Nunes,

I understand that you uploaded the video of schoolchildren reciting a Barack Obama song/rap at Bernice Young elementary school in June.

I have a few quick questions.

Did you help write the song/rap and teach it to the children? Are you an educator/guest lecturer at the school? Did you teach about your book, “I am Barack Obama” at the school? Your bio says you are a schoolmate of Obama. How well-acquainted are you with the president?

Thanks for your time.

I had also e-mailed the principal of the Burlington Township elementary school that hosted Carney-Nunes and prominently featured her “I Am Barack Obama” book at the school assembly where the kids sang. The principal did not respond. Neither did Carney-Nunes.

Instead of replying to me, Carney-Nunes ran to the Washington Post a month later to complain about angry e-mails she received in response to the now-infamous “Mmm, Mmm, Mmm” Obama praise video.

The Post dutifully extrapolated from the incident to invoke Rev. Charles Edward Coughlin, smear the Tea Party movement as racist, and deride conservative “ideologues [who] are the millionaire kings and queens of cable and radio ratings and book sales” (see Sweetness and Light for the screen cap).

The Post erroneously asserted that the video was “erroneously linked” to Carney-Nunes:

There was nothing “erroneous” about the link. The video was uploaded on the YouTube channel of Carney-Nunes. She now blames it on an “associate” in the Post article:

Carney-Nunes said an associate of hers videotaped the children’s performance and later uploaded it, along with video and photos from other of her readings, to Carney-Nunes’s YouTube account.

The Post sympathetically quoted Carney-Nunes as she pondered:

“How can I talk to those people?” she said. “These are people who persist in believing that Barack Obama is a Muslim, that he isn’t a citizen of this country. You tell me: Where is the beginning of that conversation?”

Carney-Nunes isn’t interested in talking to me. And she isn’t interested in talking to you. She is interested in promoting the cult of Obama in elementary schools and helping kids “find that inner Obama” without anyone criticizing her.

It’s a telling sign of the Post’s ideological agenda and its insufficient tuned-in-ness (to borrow the NYTimes’ phrase) that the paper doesn’t think parental concerns about left-wing radicalism in the schools are Page A1-newsworthy — but that the complaints of a social justice proselytizer are.

***

Tim Graham at Newsbusters spotlights WaPo priorities: “WaPo Puts Michelle Malkin Attack on Page 1 – ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ Repeal on Page 3.” Make sure to click on Tim’s link for some trademark Berkeley incivility — a teeny, tiny taste of left-wing incivility that never makes it onto the front pages of any newspaper.

Tim also notes some WaPo historical revisionism:

In a nod to reality, the Post acknowledges – at this late date – that this wasn’t exactly different than the Bush years:

It has been nearly a year since Barack Obama, running as a uniter and not a divider, was elected president by the largest margin in 20 years. The loop on cable news of thousands of beaming faces in Chicago’s Grant Park has given way to a summer and fall of thousands of other faces contorting in defiance and fear. A congressman yelled “You lie!” at the president on national TV. A liberal it off the finger of a conservative during a confrontation over public health insurance. On Friday, just hours after Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Republicans and Democrats were at their battle stations again.

The nation’s political discourse seems sour, angry, even dangerous; “uglier than it’s ever been” is a phrase often volunteered — as if President George W. Bush had never been depicted as Hitler, declared a dunce and heckled by Code Pink during his second inaugural address.

But the Post didn’t find that “dangerous” during those years. They wrote syrupy Style section profiles of Code Pink, like this one, headlined “Protesting for Peace With A Vivid Hue and Cry / Code Pink’s Tactics: Often Theatrical, Always Colorful.”

Bingo.

***

WaPo reporter Ann Gerhart writes near the very end of her opus that “An e-mail to Malkin Saturday seeking comment was not answered.” I was offline most of the weekend and didn’t see her e-mail — sent Saturday October 10 at 11:50am — until the article ran. But it’s obvious her hit piece was well in the bag and that any comment I would have provided would have been buried and incidental. Here is Gerhart’s message. Note especially the word “briefly.”

from Ann Gerhart
to writemalkin@gmail.com
date Sat, Oct 10, 2009 at 11:50 AM
subject re: washpost reporter interview request
mailed-by washpost.com

Dear Ms. Malkin,

For a piece that is running in tomorrow’s Washington Post, I am hoping to speak with you briefly this afternoon. The piece is an exploration of civility in the public political discourse, or lack thereof — some historical context, some examples, the role of the Internet, the right to free speech and right to engage as a citizen, fairly wide-ranging.

Part of the piece concerns thhe experiences of Charisse Carney-Nunes, after the video of New Jersey schoolchildren singing about Barack Obama was linked to her.

I wanted to confirm that you had attempted to contact her via email and get some questions answered. And more broadly, I wanted to ask you for some reaction and hear from you what you think the current tenor of the discourse is.

Thank you very much for your time,

Ann Gerhart

And here are just a few e-mails that came in after the WaPo article ran:

Priscilla Cortez
to writemalkin@gmail.com
date Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 1:40 PM
subject TIP

I feel bad for your kids; to be raised in such a hate-filled household must be devastating.

I wish somebody could call CPS on your Asian ass before your children develop the same hatred running through your Filipino veins.

***

Ed Rittershausen
to writemalkin@gmail.com
date Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 10:31 AM
subject Charisse Carney-Nunes

Michelle Malkin, she’s just a brainless tit. Instead of pissing in the toilet, she pisses in the media. She’s Rush Limbaugh’s girlfriend on the side.

***

Barbara Norwood
to writemalkin@gmail.com
date Sun, Oct 11, 2009 at 9:22 AM
subject your lineage

I reviewed your image this am and I noticed your thick lips. Please tell me you’re not BLACK. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.

Posted in: Education, Washington Post

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#822237

On October 12th, 2009 at 5:56 pm, Republicanvet said:

Oooooh. That was quick.

See the nice response I got from Mr. Ombudsman?

Subject: The ombudsman is out of the office.

I will be out of the office starting 10/09/2009 and will not return until
10/20/2009.

If you have a complaint, please send to the appropriate desk. I will see
your messages when I come back on 10/20.

I’m sure he is looking into my comments while he is out.
#822239

On October 12th, 2009 at 6:13 pm, corona said:

Coughlin was a socialist.
#822240

On October 12th, 2009 at 6:24 pm, Republicanvet said:

Interesting that Gerhart doesn’t mention Rush anywhere in the article since he has been playing audio from this video for awhile now.

…and generally having fun with the whole thing by throwing it back at them.

Gerhart=lazy hack.
#822241

On October 12th, 2009 at 6:28 pm, Republicanvet said:

On October 12th, 2009 at 2:24 pm, graysonret said:

I wonder how long before Congress and Obama, flex their muscles, and, like all other power-hungry leaders, nationalize the newspapers…in the interest of national security, of course, bailouts, and/or “fairness”. They are already looking at “fairness doctrines” so don’t think it is absurb. I wonder then how the MSM will take having censors; probably think it’s grand being from the “messiah”.

They have already been floating this idea in the guise of a bailout since they are performing so poorly.

I believe it was John eFing Kerry who put together some crap bill about news organizations becoming non-profits.

Not a word from the clueless jackals about why their bottom line might be so bad.
#822242

On October 12th, 2009 at 6:30 pm, Laree said:

Most of that hate male was racist, I thought the tolerant loving progressive left was against racism/sarc
#822243

On October 12th, 2009 at 6:35 pm, Republicanvet said:

On October 12th, 2009 at 3:51 pm, karenhasfreedom said:

That “reporter” who tried to contact Michelle on Saturday morning can’t have school aged kids. Anyone with a brain knows that any parent with kids is ALWAYS busy on Saturday carting kids around to their activities. Why would she expect to find a busy, working mom hanging by her email/phone for a short 3 hour window mid-day on a Saturday to answer her inane questions?

Not to mention a month later….

So this nitwit at WaPo expects someone to hang around daily expecting email at any minute demanding a response to the drivel they will write?

…as if Michelle has a crystal ball to gaze into to determine when some hack might email her.
#822245

On October 12th, 2009 at 6:44 pm, Republicanvet said:

On October 12th, 2009 at 5:23 pm, BadIdeaGuy said:

Her brain already was on morning drive time: breakfast for the kids, her day’s work at a government agency.

Which .gov agency? Is that a state secret? Lemme guess… Department of Education?

Using the search terms “”Charisse Carney-Nunes” federal”, not sure if this is her current position given the date:

[Federal Register: May 23, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 99)]
[Notices]
[Page 29003-29004]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23my07-98]

———————————————————————–

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

U.S. Chief Financial Officer Council; Grants Policy Committee

ACTION: Notice of open stakeholder Webcast meeting.

———————————————————————–

SUMMARY: This notice announces the third of a series of open
stakeholder webcast meetings sponsored by the Grants Policy Committee
(GPC) of the U.S. Chief Financial Officers Council.

DATES: The GPC will hold a webcast meeting on Tuesday, June 19, 2007
from 2-3:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time. The Webcast will be
broadcasted live.

ADDRESSES: The GPC June 19 Webcast meeting will be broadcasted from and
held in Room B-180 of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD), 451 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410. Seating
is limited–the first 50 people to respond and receive confirmation of
the response can be part of the live audience. Both federal and non-
federal employees must R.S.V.P. to reserve your seat by contacting
Charisse Carney-Nunes at GPCWebcast@nsf.gov.

But the date on this notice seems to suggest she still works there:

http://www.cfoc.gov/Documents/WebcastFRNApril09.pdf
#822246

On October 12th, 2009 at 6:49 pm, alwaysright43 said:

You won’t find a more hateful, bitter, racist bunch than the left. I can’t bear to watch this country absolutely destroyed by progressives, but that is where we’re at today. They twist, distort, lie and obfuscate so much I can’t believe anyone with half a brain would vote democrat at this point. I’m certainly not saying the republicans are a wonderful alternative, but the left is truly repulsive.
#822247

On October 12th, 2009 at 6:50 pm, rightwingrocker said:

Actually, I think Michelle’s lips are lovely…as is the rest of her.

Indeed …

MMM MMM MMM!

This brings up another question …

Why are prominent conservative women largely super-gorgeous, and their liberal counterparts are sporting Botox and cankles?

RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
#822250

On October 12th, 2009 at 6:59 pm, T-Bone said:

By any means neccesary. For liberals, the ends justify the means. They have convinced themselves that they are right in their thinking (which they haven’t thought through to it’s logical conclusion).

They have been down for 8 years and will do anything to get power to push their agenda. Anything.
#822253

On October 12th, 2009 at 7:09 pm, Papa Louie said:

It’s very telling that the MSM can’t recall the sour and angry discourse that took place during the Bush years even though they reported on it daily.
In those days the MSM deemed it patriotic for sour, angry protestors to condemn America and threaten violence against republicans. But now, during the reign of the One, just asking questions of Obama supporters is considered the height of “incivility”.

The MSM’s facade of fairness has fallen to the ground from disrepair because all desire to maintain even an appearance of neutrality has been lost.
#822256

On October 12th, 2009 at 7:37 pm, tbear44 said:

Hyphenated name= Lib. 95+ percent of the time?
#822310

On October 13th, 2009 at 12:44 am, cabrerski said:

On October 12th, 2009 at 6:50 pm, rightwingrocker said:
Why are prominent conservative women largely super-gorgeous, and their liberal counterparts are sporting Botox and cankles?

As for me, most liberal women cause an instant case of flurge.
#822482

On October 13th, 2009 at 10:12 am, MarkD said:

I won, and any opinion against mine is a hate crime.

Yeah, that’ll work.
#822840

On October 13th, 2009 at 3:29 pm, spaceycakes said:

righwingrocker, and cabrerski…

thank you;

I think.
#839017

On November 8th, 2009 at 6:05 am, GraniteMan said:

On October 12th, 2009 at 3:51 pm, karenhasfreedom said:… with a brain knows that any parent with kids is ALWAYS busy on Saturday carting kids around to their activities.

As an older person this sentence sums up the biggest change in society since the turn of the 19th century and even before that. Children created their own activities and left the adults alone. My memories of kids umpiring their own sandlot baseball is gone replaced by an SUV, go, go, go and hurry up.