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London Riots: American Far Right Pundits Indulge in the Blood Libel of Which They Accuse Others. Joel Send a noteboard - 16/08/2011 05:03:40 PM
(ADMIN EDIT: Commandment #374: Thou shalt not feed the trolls)

Unlike when these same people baselessly screamed, "BLOOD LIBEL111" at the left, they themselves conveniently provide many examples of it now. Perhaps that explains why Americas far right is so sensitive and preemptive about being held responsible when people who share some of their politics commit violence overseas: Because a lot of them always assume entire sides of the political spectrum are responsible for the violence of a few, and get very nervous when that assumption bites them in the butt. For example, back when we all thought Breiviks attack was Islamic terrorism a good friend told me that "There is too much of this already, Europe should not allow more muslims in". Now he's stopped speaking to me because he still contends Breiviks actions prove him "a Muslim sympathizer" and I won't apologize for saying that's spitting on the graves of the victims. Of course, things like telling supporters "don't retreat, reload" when confronted with political opponents probably don't help. The many links below are in the original article, citing the quoted statements.

Call this a swan song; it's still the same elephant and pony scripted soap opera. However, there's also a little more sneering at the underclass as a whole and dismissing even their legitimate greivances unheard based on the angry violence of some of the youth. I know every problem in history is caused by the evil socialistic welfare state, but people expect public service to actually SERVE the PUBLIC rather than the highest bidder. When people demand government help because they've lost their jobs and homes, telling them they need LESS government involvement and more tax cuts for their erstwhile employers doesn't improve their mood or win their vote.


The Insane Conservative Attempt to Link the London Rioters to Obama
Matthew Zeitlin August 12, 2011

With all the chaos and rioting in the streets of London, it’s proven quite difficult for the media to parse out exactly who is participating in the unrest and what sort of grievances or agenda they might possess. Some have located the cause in the police shooting of Londoner Mark Duggan on Tuesday, August 4. Others have taken a more sociological approach, pointing to issues of race, class, and social alienation in the city’s poorest neighborhoods. But now, thanks to rightwing pundits like Rush Limbaugh and Stanley Kurtz, we have a new, intriguing theory that’s gaining popularity: The rioters are Obama supporters, of course, or, at least, they’re just the sort of people who would support Obama, or, perhaps, they’re being egged on by liberals, or something. Whatever it is, Obama’s to blame:

Rush Limbaugh, “The Rush Limbaugh Show,” August 9, 2011:

Most people have no clue whatsoever what the London riots are really about, and it's not hooliganism. Hooliganism is the result. Hooliganism is what's happening, but it isn't why. I'm gonna play for you why, and what you're about to listen to is the equivalent of Obama voters in this country and we're not far from this. This is last night on the BBC. During the riots, the BBC's Leana Hosea interviewed two unidentified women protesters, and this is how it sounded.

[…]

Conservatives. Rich people. The riots in London. They want you to believe that this is about some out-of-control police action, that the cops did something. It's the corporate jet owners. It's the corporate jet owners and those people not paying their fair share. Specifically, it's rich people, “the people that got businesses.” If you got a business, you are a rich person. Now, this, folks, is what we have in store. We're on this path. We're on this track. I'm glad you're laughing in there, Snerdley. We're on this track. We already have near race riots at the Wisconsin State Fair in a state where that kind of thing is not known for. I'm telling you. These are the equivalent of Obama voters in the United States, people you just heard here on the BBC.

[…]

Clearly the women are funny. They're drunk and they don't know at what they're talking about. It's not a laughing matter. This is, in my estimation, precisely what we're headed for -- and I think if this were to happen, Obama would not be upset. Obama wants it.

Stanley Kurtz, National Review Online, August 9, 2011:

The London riots have already kicked off the latest version of the seemingly never-ending debate over whether such events should be seen primarily as political protests by the powerless, or as out-and-out lawbreaking and vandalism. Back in 1992, Obama clearly leaned toward the former.

I found the press release Obama issued to get Project Vote rolling, in the ACORN archives at the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Obama worked closely with ACORN on this campaign, his later denials notwithstanding.) The release quotes Obama explaining the need for Project Vote by pointing to the rioting in Los Angeles. Said Obama in 1992: “The Los Angeles riots reflect a deep distrust and disaffection with the existing power pattern in our society.” That’s Alinsky-speak for “We’ve got to use the power of the angry underclass to put capitalism in check.”

Naturally, we’ll continue to disagree about whether Obama’s leftist past was a convenient pose, or something that guides his policies to this day. I certainly don’t think President Obama would openly speak about events in London the way he spoke about the L.A. riots nineteen years ago. What he thinks to himself is another matter. Of course, a quick statement like this is much less important than the context provided by a systematic look at Obama’s overall political development. Nonetheless, direct quotes from Obama’s early political past are few and far between. This one is particularly intriguing.

Ann Coulter, Human Events, August 10, 2011:

Inciting violent mobs is the essence of the left's agenda: Promote class warfare, illegitimate children and an utterly debased citizenry. Like the British riot girls interviewed by the BBC, the Democrats tell us “all of this happened because of the rich people.” We're beginning to see the final result of that idea in Britain. The welfare state creates a society of beasts. Meanwhile, nonjudgmental elites don't dare condemn the animals their programs have created.

Glenn Beck, “The Glenn Beck Program,” August 8, 2011:

They put a supercommittee together. The Republicans and the Democrats have to come together with the supercommittee who has the -- who have the Democrats put on the supercommittee? John Kerry, who's warning the media that you'd better not tell both sides of the story. Max Baucus from Montana. And of course, what's-her-name Murray -- Patty Murray from Washington. All three, huge, huge on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid.

Let me go back again to Jan Schakowsky. If we're not going to cut taxes, they're laying the groundwork now. If we're not going to raise taxes on the millionaires and create these jobs and instead go after Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, if we do that and that doesn't get people out on the streets, I don't know what will. They are intentionally going for this to make this the case, to get the American people out on the streets, and I'm telling you now: It will be London, it will be Greece, it is coming. They've sown all the seeds they need to. It's a matter of time.”

Nile Gardiner of the Heritage Foundation, “Your World,” August 9, 2011:

[L]et's face it, the left is continually trying to find excuses for violent criminal behavior. We're seeing that today in the United Kingdom, we’ve seen it across Europe, we’re even seeing it in the United States as well, where the left has justified acts of sheer anarchy in the past.

Sean Hannity, “The Sean Hannity Show,” August 10, 2011:

Here's the problem. Now, I'm looking at what is going on in London right now. And the rioting that's taking place here. The rioting is taking place in large part because austerity measures -- because their country is going bankrupt, we should be learning from their mistakes, but we are not. And people are out there, they're blaming conservatives, they're blaming the government. They are blaming, quote, "rich people" that it is their fault. They got 16,000 police officers in London to try and handle this more than they've ever had. And I'm thinking this sounds a lot like, you know America 10, 12, 15, 20 years down the road. Because once those promises can never be fulfilled, is this coming to America? [sic]

Matthew Zeitlin is an intern at The New Republic.

EDIT: Clearly, I should've waited longer between posts; here's hoping someone actually bothered to read the article linked in my other thread anyway, because, IMHO, its exposure of how all this is just so much political theater is a lot bigger deal than anything in this thread (Tea Party Bonus: It slams big name Dems like Chuck Schumer and Hillary without saying a single negative word about Republicans! )
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This message last edited by Joel on 16/08/2011 at 08:59:08 PM
  • Edit 2 by Joel on 16/08/2011 at 08:59:08 PM
  • Edit 1 by Joel on 16/08/2011 at 06:53:59 PM
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London Riots: American Far Right Pundits Indulge in the Blood Libel of Which They Accuse Others. - 16/08/2011 05:03:40 PM 796 Views
Joel, stop posting these threads. - 16/08/2011 05:50:15 PM 329 Views
Agree. *NM* - 16/08/2011 06:01:09 PM 180 Views
That's the plan. - 16/08/2011 06:09:53 PM 265 Views
Re: That's the plan. - 16/08/2011 06:27:24 PM 215 Views
It can only be called a plan if you ever, honestly plan on following through with it. - 16/08/2011 06:52:32 PM 249 Views
Oh, I fully intend to follow through with it. - 16/08/2011 06:58:05 PM 253 Views
Prove it then. *NM* - 16/08/2011 07:00:17 PM 168 Views
Time will tell, eh? - 16/08/2011 07:03:59 PM 192 Views
Posting more political threads then anyone else on the board is not 'a few slips' *NM* - 16/08/2011 07:28:14 PM 167 Views
Well, technically ... - 16/08/2011 07:55:48 PM 240 Views
Actually what's sad is I just counted them - 16/08/2011 09:05:31 PM 208 Views
Today is a new day. - 16/08/2011 07:56:48 PM 202 Views
so are you really to dumb to actually understand what they are saying? - 16/08/2011 05:53:35 PM 271 Views
I understood them perfectly, thanks. - 16/08/2011 06:16:31 PM 223 Views
so you are not stupid just disingenuous? *NM* - 16/08/2011 06:17:50 PM 198 Views
Good lord. Why do you give people like this the time of day? - 16/08/2011 06:00:50 PM 257 Views
good lord why buy into Joel's BS? - 16/08/2011 06:19:38 PM 230 Views
Because they have 60 of the 435 seats in the US House. (EDIT) - 16/08/2011 06:27:21 PM 221 Views
You know, you lost all credit with this statement. - 16/08/2011 07:37:31 PM 203 Views
Read S&Ps statement. - 16/08/2011 07:53:17 PM 288 Views
Even your quotes in this post ought to make it clear that it was because of... - 16/08/2011 08:26:13 PM 191 Views
I haven't edited anyone but myself. - 16/08/2011 08:55:14 PM 203 Views
don't you live in norway now? *NM* - 16/08/2011 08:18:56 PM 208 Views
Yes? - 16/08/2011 08:36:02 PM 221 Views
ah - 16/08/2011 08:58:15 PM 272 Views
Oh for fuck's sake... - 16/08/2011 09:11:22 PM 214 Views
Agreed - 16/08/2011 08:00:04 PM 229 Views
All linking accomplishes is feeding the Troll. - 16/08/2011 06:50:43 PM 234 Views
Fair point; I've argued much the same in the past. - 16/08/2011 06:56:45 PM 292 Views
glad to see you agre with Joels made up BS *NM* - 16/08/2011 07:17:18 PM 197 Views
It may be overstated, but it certainly isn't made up. - 16/08/2011 07:35:09 PM 200 Views
his statement that they are accusing Obama of causing the riots is BS and he has admitted it - 16/08/2011 07:46:46 PM 248 Views
Happy now? - 16/08/2011 08:17:13 PM 202 Views