Dylan Ratigan and Journalistic Integrity 101 or lack there of.
Mark Williams is the founder of the Tea Party Express and a radio talk show host. I don't know what the hell Mark was thinking by accepting to be guest on Dylan Ratigan's MSNBC show. MSNBC has lost any credibility a long time ago as a valid news organziation. This video is going to be shocking for people to watch and just a refresher for others. The term "activist journalism" does have meaning. Tell me if you think that Dylan Ratigan showed any grain of journalist integrity in his "interview" with Mark Williams. To me, the premise for which Dylan had Mark on his show was bogus in the first place. With MSNBC, everything as always revolves around race and conservatism. Dylan invited Mark on his show for the sole purpose of trying to stain the image of the Tea Party movement as being a breeding ground and a magnet for racists. Dylan wasn't a fan of the Tea Party movement before Mark came on his show, and his bias and hatred for the tea party movement came boiling to top and running over for everyone to see in a big way. Dylan's little outburst and hissy fit didn't help in giving people a reason to trust MSNBC as a legitimate news channel. If anything, it just validated the reason why so many people stopped watching it in the first place a long time ago.
I guess Dylan thought that if he just kept talking over Mark that would somehow make Mark look guilty or something. This tactic of talking over guests in order to make the host seem like he or she is right isn't new to MSNBC. Mr. Tingles aka Chris Matthews pulled the same stunt a few years ago with Michelle Malkin.
Bullying and activist journalism doesn't pass for credibility.
I guess Dylan thought that if he just kept talking over Mark that would somehow make Mark look guilty or something. This tactic of talking over guests in order to make the host seem like he or she is right isn't new to MSNBC. Mr. Tingles aka Chris Matthews pulled the same stunt a few years ago with Michelle Malkin.
Bullying and activist journalism doesn't pass for credibility.
posted by Alpha Conservative Male at 12:36 PM
15 Comments:
Indeed Ratigan did not give Williams a chance to vocalize his point of view. However, in this case it probably was a good thing.
Mark Williams makes no bones about his "far-right" contentions. This is the same guy that referred to former President Jimmy Carter as a fagot.
Williams also stated on his blog that President Obama is our half white racist president.
Yet in another attack Williams wrote that President Obama was, "an Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug and a racist in chief."
Ratigan knew of Williams past assertions, and rightfully so questioned Mr. Williams "possible" acceptance of racist types into his organization. Williams attempted to "defend" his position by citing a local news person, who had made remarks similar his own, and received a promotion.
There is no doubt that the vast majority (possibly 95-98%) of Mr. Williams organization are "White Americans." Being a leader in the organization it is Williams who sets the tone.
To have a leader make a public assertion that characterizes the person whom he opposes (the President of the United States) as "an Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug and a racist" set's the tone for "mutual hatred and ill will racism, anti-Muslim enmity, and Welfare antipathy."
During Hurricane Katrina Kanye West made an ill advised and improper assertion when he stated; "George Bush doesn't care about Black people." Fortunately West was not speaking for, or attempting to lead "thousands" of people in protest against Bush.
Conversely, Williams has made such improper assertions, and yet he has thousands (some claim tens of thousands) following his "Tea Party Express." Barring some TOTAL AND COMPLETE RETRACTION OF HIS PREVIOUS REMARKS and strong expression of disapproval of "birthers, Islamophobics, racist and racial stereotypes", I will continue to place Mr. Williams and his followers at the far-right fringe of the Tea Party Movement.
p allen "Indeed Ratigan did not give Williams a chance to vocalize his point of view. However, in this case it probably was a good thing."
So you just advocated the suppression of Mark's freedom of speech allen? Did I read your comment correctly? How intresting that the right is always called "closed minded" by the left, yet the left seems to be the ones who can't handle "opposing viewpoints and want them silenced".
p allen "Mark Williams makes no bones about his "far-right" contentions. This is the same guy that referred to former President Jimmy Carter as a fagot. "
I'll pretend that you didn't post media matters as your "source" allen.
p allen "Williams also stated on his blog that President Obama is our half white racist president."
So what if he said it allen? What does that have to do with how Dylan Ratigan treated him during the interview? I told you so many times allen that deflection doesn't work.
p allen "Yet in another attack Williams wrote that President Obama was, "an Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug and a racist in chief.""
Well Obama was a Muslim while in Indonesia, so that isn't no big revelation. So are you saying that Obama wasn't a welfare thug as a community organizer in Chicago. Look up Grove Parc and Obama. So the welfare thug description does fit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnESx4KDeQI
p allen "Ratigan knew of Williams past assertions, and rightfully so questioned Mr. Williams "possible" acceptance of racist types into his organization. Williams attempted to "defend" his position by citing a local news person, who had made remarks similar his own, and received a promotion."
I don't care if Ratigan knew about Mark's first thoughts from birth, it still doesn't give him the right to act unprofessional and basically try and take away a person's ability to respond to his question. Ratigan at one point told someone to cut off Mark's mic. Ratigan only wanted to hear what was acceptable to him. He was trying to perform an interrogation not an interview. He just made himself look like a 14k jack ass in the process.
p allen "There is no doubt that the vast majority (possibly 95-98%) of Mr. Williams organization are "White Americans." Being a leader in the organization it is Williams who sets the tone."
What's your point allen? The nation of Islam is 100% black. The Congressional Black Caucus is 100% black. The New Black Panthers is 100% black. So who set the tones for those groups allen?
p allen "During Hurricane Katrina Kanye West made an ill advised and improper assertion when he stated; "George Bush doesn't care about Black people." Fortunately West was not speaking for, or attempting to lead "thousands" of people in protest against Bush."
Oh really? Kanye's music is mostly listened to by BLACKS. He has a lot of influence among BLACKS. So it wouldn't come as no surprise that many blacks picked up on and shared in Kanye's abstract ignorance.
Ahh..So many radical left wing propaganda sources, so little time. Allen, do you ever seek any research you do based on sources without any radical agenda? Why is it that when Democrats factually and on record state ignorant comments on public, its not anything to be outraged about?
Allen said-There is no doubt that the vast majority (possibly 95-98%) of Mr. Williams organization are "White Americans." Being a leader in the organization it is Williams who sets the tone.
Hopefully you are not trying to make the assumption that these "whites" are an indication that this is a racist movement. The black panthers, black caucus, black liberation movement, and others, could also be assumed as so as well, if thats the case.
Just to clarify something off the topic here, but with merit, Why is it ok for a group of "blacks" to form together in a movement and its ok and supported, yet if a group of "whites" form a group and its automatic racism? Why is it ok and supported to have things like "black voices", "jet", "ebony" and other "black" themed outlets, and wrong for "whites" to have these?
My problem with all of this is the need to define our racial backgrounds and exploit them. My other problem is the blatant hypocrisy of either exploitation and to call the other racist.
Why do we still need to be black only and white only? No wonder there are so many ignorant and bigoted people in our society. It never ends! The need to separate and label never ends.
People continue to buy into their own arrogance, thinking they know someone else just because of perceptions not of their own, but provided by years of distorted thinking and general ignorance.
The whole race game is nothing more than an excuse to ignore personal responsablity, and a way to deflect from an issue.
But again....I guess im just bitching about this!
Sorry about the tirade CB, Allen, and anyone else, but this racial BS is not helping anyone on either side. Its 2010 and way beyond the time for people to get their head outta their Global warmer!
Ratigan is no journalist more like a propagandist if you want my honest opinion!
CB;"So you just advocated the suppression of Mark's freedom of speech allen? Did I read your comment correctly?".
No, you didn't read it, or read "into it" correctly.
What I'm saying is that Radigan was wrong for not allowing Williams to make an ass of himself. Radigan asked him if he accepted the racist images and disparaging epithets displayed by some within his group. Williams response was to "deflect" to a woman who worked for a local NBC affiliate.
Let's see if there's any similarity in Williams response to racist in his group, and your (defensive) response to my assertion.
I stated;
""There is no doubt that the vast majority (possibly 95-98%) of Mr. Williams organization are "White Americans." Being a leader in the organization it is Williams who sets the tone".
This is how you responded to my statement;
"What's your point allen? The nation of Islam is 100% black. The Congressional Black Caucus is 100% black. The New Black Panthers is 100% black. So who set the tones for those groups allen?".
Never mind the deflection....
So, you see no difference between "Tea Party Express" and, The Nation of Islam, The Congressional Black Caucus and The New Black Panthers? You claim that these organizations are racist!! Okay, I'll agree with you. All the above stated organizations (including the Tea Party Express) are racist organizations!
However, when was the last time the N.O.I. marched on Washington D.C. with protest signs depicting "ANY" president as a Marxist Socialist Islamic Racist Fascist?? When was the last time the leader of the C.B.C. called "ANY" president a racist? When has the New Black Panther called for a state to "secede" from the union?
When was the last time a News Organization (such as FOX did with the Tea Party's) send their employed moderators out to host events of the N.O.I., Black Panther Party of Congressional Black Caucus to protest "ANY" government policy, actions or programs????????
So you defend Tea Party Express's right to spout racist rhetoric by pointing to the N.O.I. and the New Black Panthers...okay, fine by me! As long as you know you're defending (as defined in "YOUR OWN" terms) racist.
Still there is an ironic twist to your written essay in defense of the Tea Party Express and Mark Williams. As a black man you are defending his right to degrade Blacks, while simultaneously stating Blacks shouldn't degrade Whites! That's just strange....
Greg;"Hopefully you are not trying to make the assumption that these "whites" are an indication that this is a racist movement. The black panthers, black caucus, black liberation movement, and others, could also be assumed as so as well, if thats the case".
No! That's not what I'm saying.
I'm looking at Mr. Mark Williams previous remarks, statements and his persona. I used Kanye West's statement's as a point of reference as to how one can (and should) base a persons ideology on his or her statements. It's a very simple concept... If a person publicly espouses, writes, speaks, blogs, and in some cases "sings", about a particular ideology, that person should be able to explain himself, and/or be accountable for what he says.
Ratigan interrogates Williams for accepting people who are Nazis, members of the KKK into the Tea Party.
Hmmm. Let's go at some people whom belonged to the two major parties who had a shady past:
Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. This man was originally a member of the Democratic party who would later secede to the Republican party. Much of his political career, Thurmond was a segregationist. After his death, it was revealed he had a love child with a black maid whom worked for his father.
Gov. George Wallace of Alabama. A member of the Democrat and the American Independent Party. During his political career, he represented the cause for segregation. It wasn't till after he survived an assassination attempt that left him paralyzed that Wallace began changing his tune.
Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia. A member of the Democratic party. He was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina. A Republican. Helms opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and was against making Martin Luther King's birthday a federal holiday.
So if Ratigan can only focus on what kind of people who join the Tea Party, how is it that he, and others, cannot explain or why they would defend others with a shady past?
p allen "Ratigan interrogates Williams for accepting people who are Nazis, members of the KKK into the Tea Party."
So Ratigan told Williams that he going to be interrogated like a criminal when he came on his show? I don't think that was the premise. If anything, it was a pearl harbor job by Ratigan, because nobody would every accept being invited on a show for the sole purpose of being treated like that. Second, Williams said point blank that there are kooks in every group. He never said that Nazis and KKK members were welcomed in the Tea Party. It's common sense that anyone can come to a Tea Party even crazies, racists, disrupters etc, because there is no way to keep these people out. Since Dylan and MSNBC are so hard up on race and the tea party movement, why don't they interview people of different races who are apart of the tea party movement instead allen,hmmm? Oh I know why, MSNBC would no longer be able to use a racial template if they show that the Tea Party isn't a "white movement". I guarantee there would be no way in hell Dylan Ratigan would have pulled his crap if he was interviewing me.
p allen "Hmmm. Let's go at some people whom belonged to the two major parties who had a shady past:Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. This man was originally a member of the Democratic party who would later secede to the Republican party. Much of his political career, Thurmond was a segregationist. After his death, it was revealed he had a love child with a black maid whom worked for his father."
And all of his segregationist past happened when he was a "DEMOCRAT" allen. Why did you leave that out? lol
Also, Thurmond has been dead for how long allen? If you want to talk about a person's racist past, we can always talk about Robert "Sheets" Byrd. Hell at least he is STILL ALIVE and still a Democrat.
p allen "Gov. George Wallace of Alabama. A member of the Democrat and the American Independent Party. During his political career, he represented the cause for segregation. It wasn't till after he survived an assassination attempt that left him paralyzed that Wallace began changing his tune. "
What is this allen, the ghosts of Democrats past? Good thing you do know some history.
p alllen "Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia. A member of the Democratic party. He was a member of the Ku Klux Klan."
Doesn't it feel good allen to tell the truth? lol The truth shall set you free.lol
p allen Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina. A Republican. Helms opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and was against making Martin Luther King's birthday a federal holiday."
And the Republican President Ronald Reagan was the person who signed into law making King's birthday a federal holiday. I just thought I would throw that in. Also wasn't it Democrat Robert Byrd who lead a 14 hour fillibuster of the 1964 Civil Rights Bill allen? You know, the man who is still alive.
p allen "So if Ratigan can only focus on what kind of people who join the Tea Party, how is it that he, and others, cannot explain or why they would defend others with a shady past?
The people you mention couldn't be apart of the Tea Party movement even if they wanted to. The reason why is because they are all DEAD with the exception of sheets byrd.
So, what happens now that Blacks are left to "pick-up the pieces"?? The reality is this;
Whether you care, or not to accept my explanation and conclusions, this is what i believe. So read it carefully and try to understand.
At no time in history has an oppressed people, (people that have been oppressed for centuries) have they prospered using the same system that oppressed them. From the Israelites of Egypt, to the Kurds of Iraq, to the Iranians under the Shah, to Blacks in the America's, economic, political, spiritual and social prosperity can only be achieved if we use and develop our own economic, political, spiritual and social rules!
By no means am I professing or advocating a "separation" of the races in America. What I am professing is a positive method of cleaning up our own act in this country. There are several examples of how "minority" ethnic groups have come together (based on ethnicity alone) and have built economically, spiritually, educationally, and politically prosperous communities. Arabs, Asian, Hispanic, Jewish, and even various European cultures have built thriving viable communities (based on race or culture alone).
Blacks have become to concerned with "integrating" into other communities rather than trying to build our own. What happens, is that when we attempt to "integrate"a community, others view us as a threat, thus departing and leaving us with an entire culture and way of living that we know absolutely nothing about! Basically, we're left the the scraps and crumbs! Subsequently, these once prosperous and viable area's become what we see in most "urban" area's today.
As Blacks we need to build our own communities based on our own culture, political idea's, educational idea's, spiritual direction and build our own economic base. THAT'S NOT RACIST...IT JUST COMMON SENSE!
I hope that has given you some insight into what I believe are the problems with race relations...and what I believe can solve them.
Greg;"Just to clarify something off the topic here, but with merit, Why is it ok for a group of "blacks" to form together in a movement and its ok and supported, yet if a group of "whites" form a group and its automatic racism?".
Very pertinent question, and always worth asking!
First we must agree that Blacks as a "minority group" are, for the most part are the economically poorest, least likely to finish high school, highest percentage of out-of-wed-lock birth, highest incarceration rate, highest neighborhood crime rate, highest rate of stroke, HIV...the list goes on... Agreed?
With all of these problems in the Black community, who do you think should solve the problems?? The government? Large American corporations and businesses? White people? Jewish people?
No! The answer is "BLACK PEOPLE" must come together to solve these problems themselves! Now, my question to you is, why or how is that RACIST????
As far as "Whites" coming together to solve "internal" problems affecting their communities and/or families, I have no problem with Whites banning together at all. If there's something I can do to help, I'd be more than willing. However, historically White organizations such as the KKK, Nazi's, Skinheads, Council of Conservative Citizens, etc., did not focus on "internal" problems. These groups typically focused on "perceived external" problems which they viewed as threats to their sovereignty and racial purity.
Here's the rub...
When Blacks make demands to equal access to jobs, education, economic opportunities, etc.. to area's that we once all White occupied and owned, Whites see it as a threat to their rights, and to the efforts which they've worked hard to build and attain. Guess what Greg?? I AGREE WITH THE WHITES to a certain degree.
Forced integration was the worse thing that could have ever happened to Blacks. What has happened is that Whites have rebelled against it in the cities, schools, businesses and other institutions. Affirmative Action is in itself a form of "forced integration." It's negative effects on many "conservative" Whites is evident. Many Whites say that A.A. is "reverse discrimination", but I believe there's a bit more to it than that.
"White Flight" is not merely a hollow term...it's a FACT. Whites left the cities in droves as law makers pushed through equal housing bills, forced school busing and Affirmative Action. The fact is those who left did not like being "forced" to integrate, and they have the right not to!! So, they moved out.
Allen Stated-First we must agree that Blacks as a "minority group" are, for the most part are the economically poorest, least likely to finish high school, highest percentage of out-of-wed-lock birth, highest incarceration rate, highest neighborhood crime rate, highest rate of stroke, HIV...the list goes on... Agreed?
Its not changing anyones perspective by debating the negative issues about a race. I wont buy the victimization play here. There are many issues that have a negative impact on all races, and to believe that my racial background or yours is getting the poorest deal, or has the greatest struggles is not helping anything!
You said, for the most part are the economically poorest, least likely to finish high school, highest percentage of out-of-wed-lock birth, highest incarceration rate, highest neighborhood crime rate, highest rate of stroke, HIV
Are we not all individuals here responsible for our own actions? No one is forcing people to make these choices! Are there some instances where any one of these issues is not of their own doing? Im sure there is, as with all.
So how the hell is the black panther party directing a positive note? There not! They thrive off keeping the victim role well played.
Allen stated-With all of these problems in the Black community, who do you think should solve the problems?? The government? Large American corporations and businesses? White people? Jewish people?
How about giving the individual the strength and courage to solve their own problems, and not rely on ANYONE but themselves. How about educating the youth that they can accomplish anything, instead of grinding about how bad the world treats them.
No one is responsible for changing anyone else, you can guide, but that is the individuals job, not government, not special interest groups, no one!
Allen? When Blacks make demands to equal access to jobs, education, economic opportunities, etc.. to area's that we once all White occupied and owned, Whites see it as a threat to their rights, and to the efforts which they've worked hard to build and attain
Ok Allen, this is crazy. I feel like I have gone back in time and its 1968 again. WTH? I live in the 2010 era, and EVERYONE I know, from all different racial backgrounds never make a peep about "feeling threatened". Maybe this is so back east.
IN LA, since were bringing the threat phenom into the debate, are you saying that whites are comparably acting in a simular way that blacks acted when Koreans moved into black communities?
Ill stop here, because this is not going anywhere. Allen, there are problems within all cultures. No one is more oppressed than the other. Its not a game to see who gets the worst rap.
My ultimate point is that we need to empower the individual. Accept the fact we are all different because of our personality and nothing else, and loose the perception of negativity instead of feeding it.
Greg;"Its not changing anyones perspective by debating the negative issues about a race. I wont buy the victimization play here".
Really? You are the one that asked me;""Why is it ok for a group of "blacks" to form together in a
movement and its ok and supported, yet if a group of "whites" form a group and its automatic racism?". I gave you an answer, and you claim I'm playing a "victimization" game??
Without going into my entire response, I'll briefly summarize.
Why is it okay for Blacks to have
"Black oriented" organizations?? Because it's Blacks who are suffering the most economically, educationally, politically, spiritually. Perhaps you don't see these as issue's that need tending to, but I do. I see a long running breakdown in most Black communities, that seems to be getting worse.
Look Greg, you say that the individual must me responsible for himself...right? Then why is it that many conservatives despise Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, The NAACP and the Congressional Black Caucus? These groups and individuals DO JUST THAT! They look out for themselves, and have well in doing so!
What has happened is that some individuals and groups have used the despair to further there own agenda's, and to fatten their own pockets.
I've see far to many of these "individual" problem solvers. Detroit Public Schools C.F.O., Robert Bobb, is an "individual problem solver." With all the problems facing the school system here, Bobb has secured another pay raise and will earn $425,000 under a renewed 1 year contract.
His contract extension and raise comes on the heels of deep concessions given by the Teachers Union, mass layoffs, mass school closings and educational program cutbacks. All this, and Robert Bobb presided over the worst test scores in the history of the district, and the worse scores in the country.
Read the Times article I linked to. The author, Darrell Dawsey, makes quite a few good points.
Particularity the story about how his sons school was offering a "high-tech learning program for its third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students." When the parents were told that every student could not participate, and a "lottery" would be used to select the students, THE PARENTS BANNED "TOGETHER" and demanded that every student be allowed to participate.
Here in Detroit (as it is in many Black communities) the people DO NOT COME TOGETHER TO SOLVE SUCH PROBLEMS. The people are far to "INDIVIDUALISTIC"!!! They only care about themselves, which has led to a complete breakdown of communities and the family!
Robert Bobb is a perfect example of the idea of the "individual" who only cares about his own. If asked in a private setting, Bobb more than likely would respond with the same notion as you! The irony is that, when using your proposed methodology would yield the same negative results.
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