Bush ally dishes the background on Black Panthers ‘story’
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder
Is the recent dust up over the New Black Panthers and their alleged voter intimidation in the 2008 presidential elections the product of “fantasies” by conservatives over how they could use the issue against President Barack Obama?
Yes, says a conservative appointee to the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights, Abilgail Thernstrom.
“This doesn’t have to do with the Black Panthers; this has to do with [conservative] fantasies about how they could use this issue to topple the [Obama] administration,” said Thernstrom, who said members of the commission voiced their political aims “in the initial discussions” of the Panther case last year.
“My fellow conservatives on the commission had this wild notion they could bring Eric Holder down and really damage the president,” Thernstrom said.
. . .The commission chairman, Gerald Reynolds, said Thernstrom is attacking the commission out of pique dating back to a dispute about organizing a conference scheduled for this fall. “The allegation that there’s any interest in bringing down the Obama administration is false — and it’s a lot more; it’s personal and petty.”
Thernstrom, who had openly mocked the commission’s hearing on the case, put her dissent in writing last week in National Review, where she said the incident was “racial theater of very minor importance” and “small potatoes.”
Thernstrom was appointed by President George W. Bush, by the way.
July 19, 2010 - 11:00 AM
I’ve really been wondering about why this “story”/video has been resurrected. I remember seeing the video at the time of the election and then nothing about it till now.
Read the words right-wingers, straight from a right-wing publication:
“Forget about the New Black Panther Party case; it is very small potatoes. Perhaps the Panthers should have been prosecuted under section 11 (b) of the Voting Rights Act for their actions of November 2008, but the legal standards that must be met to prove voter intimidation — the charge — are very high.
In the 45 years since the act was passed, there have been a total of three successful prosecutions. The incident involved only two Panthers at a single majority-black precinct in Philadelphia. So far — after months of hearings, testimony and investigation — no one has produced actual evidence that any voters were too scared to cast their ballots. Too much overheated rhetoric filled with insinuations and unsubstantiated charges has been devoted to this case.
…The two Panthers have been described as “armed” — which suggests guns. One of them was carrying a billy club, and it is alleged that his repeated slapping of the club against his palm constituted brandishing it in a menacing way. They have also been described as wearing “jackboots,” but the boots were no different from a pair my husband owns.
A disaffected former Justice Department attorney has written: “We had indications that polling-place thugs were deployed elsewhere.” “Indications”? Again, evidence has yet to be offered. “
While this article is conjecture, what do we know? The video shows a man brandishing a night stick on the video and clearly intimidating people at a polling place. The government had already essentially won the case. A former Justice official in the Civil Rights Division has said, under oath, that the case was dropped for racial reasons, and that they were instructed not to bring a case against blacks where whites were the victims. He further stated that individuals in the Civil Rights Division would corroborate his statements if allowed to testify. Justice has indicated that they could not testify as long as they were employed by Justice.
If this is a fantasy, why not let them testify? This is not about the Black Panthers, it’s about equal justice under the law. I would think that ideal would interest all of us, regardless of ideology…particularly for an administration that campaigned on transparency.
WD,
The man did not intimidate anyone at a polling place. That was why the Bush Justice Department decided not to prosecute. They couldn’t find anybody who was intimidated.
Doesn’t matter, nothing ever does. Closed minds are made up and neither Liberals with the truth or fellow Republicans with integrity and honesty will change them.
Excuse me Dan – but if I’m not mistaken, I don’t think you were there or witness any of this first hand so how can you make a statement that they couldn’t find anyone who was intimidated…why not read the following and please make sure you get your facts straight before you just assume your readers only see the oneside that you what them to believe….and you call this journalism…..please:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/userletter/?id=48778&letter_id=5485433306
and if you need more examples let me know…they are everywhere on the net only if you take the time to find them!
Another attack on Republicans by the Roanoke Times. Do the Democrats pay for these ads?
“WD, The man did not intimidate anyone at a polling place.”
I can’t wait to see you prove this statement, Dan.
King Smair Shabazz – the man in the video holding the night stick and some what to claim he was not intimating……check out this video for more words of wisdom from this fine upstanding individual and tell us he’s not just a little bit intimidating….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN67KJdd6Mw
Obviously, KSS intimidates Gary M.
I think the guy is just like Bill White — a loudmouth bigot. The difference is, he hasn’t done any prosecutable — yet.
Isn’t Bill White in jail?
Henry, not ads. Just the more summer pr campaigning. It’s easy when someone else writes the words for you.
PLEEEZ! Dan’s comments and this article just go to show the level of ignorance and denial that is the trademark of the Liberals! I’ll bet if Mr. Shabazz parted Dan’s hair with that nighstick, he would redefine his interpretation of “armed”. Dan – I knew you were an idiot before, now you have truly proven it to everyone.
And Sandi Shabazz – I knew you wouldn’t criticize your Brother King – blood really is thicker than water!
http://ww2.cox.com/myconnection/roanoke/today/news/national/article.cox?articleId=D9H27P1G0&moduleType=apNews
Why would a person who wants “transparency” care who looked at his student loan records? Wonder how many man hours were tied up on this “crime?”
Whew Dan, good thing you weren’t talking about obama there. I may have had to suggest you need ‘batteries for your keyboard’ OR even worse, the SS may have sent the Typo Gestapo out for you!!
And Dan – you say he hasn’t done anything prosecutable yet – yeah, let’s wait until he kills somebody. Typical Lib thinking. Ever heard of threats by intimidation?
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/06/justice-thwarts-black-panther-subpoenas/
Of course Dan may reply that the “Washington Times” isn’t real news……
DD,
Can you (or Henry) name anybody KSS has threatened or intimidated?
I thought not.
“Do the Democrats pay for these ads?” I don’t think so, do you think Republicans pay for the “ads” on FlimFlambaugh, Unstable Beck, or Faux News Network in general? The Wall Street Journal? The Richmond Times Dispatch? The World Nuts Daily? The Heritage Foundation?
Gary, do you think you need evidence OF intimidation or is the fact that two or three black guys standing around “looking” scary is an act of intimidation itself all the “proof” you need?
But on gun threads THAT IS EXACTLY what you tell us Dublin Dawg #16!
Dan, if he was anti-obama, would you think this was threatening?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neGbKHyGuHU
Dublin Dillweed, I would be proud to be related to Obama or Eric Holder. BTW, I am on record agreeing that they should have been criminally prosecuted under the original Bush Justice Administration who decided not to! Whether a conviction could have been won is not for me to say, but their conduct needed to be answered for, explained and made certain it does not happen again. Blaming Obama is simply crybaby tactics. Throw it up on the wall and see that sticks. What a brilliant strategy to “take back your country”. You don’t freakin’ deserve your country!
I mean, what’s worse? I guess they could have police round up people that spoke a mistruth about obama…
Sorry, Dan but there was no one at the polling place with a notepad and pencil taking names. But the lady (Democtrat by the way) who wrote the documentary on how Obama stiole the election interviewed an 80 year old black lady who was wearing a Hillary Clinton button, who was told “Old lady, if you ain’t voting for Obama, turn around and go home ’cause you ain’t voting here today”. Guy was wearing fatigues and holding a billy club.
I’ll see if I can get that name for you hot shot!
Stu,
The Washington Times is (or, at least was) a failed newspaper. It has never made a profit. Since its inception it has been subsidized (to the tune of more than $1.7 billion) by a right-wing leader of a cult who, btw, is a convicted felon. The cult leader’s son has recently pulled the plug on TWT and put it up for sale, but nobody is lining up to buy the thing.
I realize how popular it became among conservatives during its run. Isn’t it odd, though, that it could never, ever earn a profit, even in ONE of its years of operation? Doesn’t that say a lot about the tiny minority who support it.
Henry:
Bill White has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for threatening people. His case was different. If you recall, Bill White was threatening INDIVIDUALS by sending them e-mails and making phone calls directly to them. He didn’t just stand on the street and shout that all blacks should die. If that were the case, he’d not be in jail today.
We all know the case didn’t go anywhere because he is black…If he were white then he would be thrown in prison with no second thoughts…
#19
Kinda like Liberal Air America….
But I thought Liberals wanted a fair radio voice…Why couldn’t it survive with all the Libs clamoring for it???
#17 TWT is even more slanted and biased (toward conservatives) than conservatives accuse the TRT of being, Stu.
FM is right about Air America. It couldn’t survive because it didn’t have the revenue to keep going — unlike the Washington Times, which was subsidized by a crook and a cult leader.
And how about the Washington Post?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/16/AR2010071604081_pf.html
#27 Oh no, not another “white people are so put upon and at such a disadvantage in America” type.
#27 BTW, FM, if you really think whites get thrown willy-nilly into jail while blacks get off all the time, why don’t you google stats about the race of people in prison?
gdad – did it ever occur to anyone that if there are more blacks in jail than whites, maybe their is a higher incidence of crimes being committed by blacks? A novel idea, I know but perhaps some truth to it?
27.”We all know the case didn’t go anywhere because he is black…If he were white then he would be thrown in prison with no second thoughts”
If he were white hed be under the jail.
“Can you (or Henry) name anybody KSS has threatened or intimidated?
I thought not”
They lost the case,they are guilty or responsible for the offense as proven in Civil Court.Then Obama(or his justice Dept.) threw it out AFTER they(The New Black Panthers) lost the case.
Even YOU should smell a rat,and I think you do,just too partisan to admit it.
#30
So, why couldn’t good, old law-abiding liberals find a way to subsidize Air America? Help out with revenue perhaps?
34.”gdad – did it ever occur to anyone that if there are more blacks in jail than whites, maybe their is a higher incidence of crimes being committed by blacks? A novel idea, I know but perhaps some truth to it?”
Blacks at 12% of the population commit 37% of the violent crime.
You can’t begin a discussion about black crime in America without going deeper… Do you think blacks cause more violent crimes because they are inherently “bad”? I’d love to hear your answers to this…
@gdad, do those stats include numbers for the ‘yellows’ and the ‘reds’ in prison too?
When you consider that Rachel Maddow and Ed Shultz have both gone from Air America to MSNBC with successful shows and followings, I think the problem was being shut out of markets that Conservative Radio Owners control. In the markets where they were not shut out they did well. People like me even paid to have Satellite Radio to hear them. Would Conservatives do the same? The “free” airwaves are where the money is and Air America was shouldered out in much of it. Right Wing talk (you know, the people who can’t get their message out for the Liberal MSM) radio owns the airwaves in many towns by plan and they also have a very successful TV Network and MAJOR newspaper, no need to even mention the right wing blog-o-sphere, but no they can never get their message out because of Liberals. Wah! Wahh! Crybaby!
Many years ago one of Indiana’s congressmen was a man named Earl Landgrebe. He was a republican and he was an avid supporter of then President Nixon. During the entire affair regarding Watergate he was among Pres. Nixon’s most ardent defenders. Subsequent to Pres. Nixon’s resignation Rep. Landgrebe held a news conference. During the news conference someone asked the congressman if he had any second thoughts on his support of the former president. His response was “Don’t confuse me with the facts. My mind is already made up.” Sorta sounds like some of the comments we are hearing on this thread today.
#38
No Lynda it is because they have been held down by “the man” for so long they have to release their frustrations somehow….
I know many good, decent law-abiding black people…And I know many good, decent, law-abiding white people….I know many good, decent, law-abiding hispanic people…And so on….So why is it that some figure it out and some don’t?
I think taking ownership and personal responsibility plays role. And I think going through life playing the victim, blaming others, plays a role. I think having people feed you propoganda and half truths plays a role in it.
It does go deeper but it isn’t as complicated as some will lead us to believe.
Lynda K – nice try. No one is accusing Blacks/African Americans/ etc of being inherently “bad”. We all know they are victims of their environment, broken homes, slavery etc. But I do believe when we look at race in America, we would be lying if we did not admit that there are often cultural differences that influence our environments and therefore the choices that we make in our lives – good and bad.
MSNBC is still on the air?
“People like me even paid to have Satellite Radio to hear them.”
You should try to get your money back and stop your daily ripping and crying about the limbaugh/hannity/beck, etc. crowd. It’s the same difference.
38.… Do you think blacks cause more violent crimes because they are inherently “bad”?
Lets see,its because evil ole massa was mean to their great,great,great granddaddy so their going to take it out on everyone,including and especially their own race.
Sandi:
Here are the ratings for Friday:
6PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Special Report w/ Bret Baier – 1,833,000 viewers (361,000) (746,000)
Ed Show —661,000 viewers (136,000) (298,000)
9 PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Hannity– 1,717,000 viewers (422,000) (816,000)
Rachel Maddow Show —572,000 viewers (165,000) (273,000)
11 PM P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The O’Reilly Factor– 1,048,000 viewers (319,000) (505,000)
Rachel Maddow Show —453,000 viewers (249,000) (232,000)
In each time slot, they are getting beat at least two to one, and in some cases, three to one. The truth is that if there was a profitable market for it, it would be on the air.
40
Air America to MSNBC. LOL. Is that supposed to step up?
Airhead America wasn’t “shut out of conservative markets”. It failed because it couldn’t sell advertising, because nobody wanted to listen to the bleeping crap. Even a giant infusion of Soros cash couldn’t save it.
#46 Jack writes: “Lets see,its because evil ole massa was mean to their great,great,great granddaddy so their going to take it out on everyone,including and especially their own race.”
You do realize, don’t you, that it was only 40 years ago that a black person could not eat at a restaurant counter with whites… only 35 years ago that literacy tests, poll taxes, etc for blacks were made illegal… and only 30 years ago that busing was declared by the Supreme Court as a legitimate way to integrate our public schools?
You act as if the inequalities ended with slavery. Maybe you should crack open a history book.
Video Shows USDA Official Saying She Didn’t Give ‘Full Force’ of Help to White Farmer
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/07/19/clip-shows-usda-official-admitting-withheld-help-white-farmer/
and I’m sure this will never be reported in the Roanoke Times!
#34 Why that has indeed occurred to me, DD and Jack/Tony.
However, the person I was addressing was complaining that white people get thrown in prison for almost no reason at all while inferring that black people get off easy. Which is not the same thing you’re talking about — and also is not true. Maybe both of you should read a little more carefully in the future.
#39 Why those stats include whites, blacks, yellows, reds AND browns, MMM. Look ‘em up!
But it was just blacks and whites FM was talking about in his/her post.
#50 And the USDA did the same thing to black farmers for many years, including a number of them in Southside Virginia. The farmers sued and won.
It’s wrong either way.
Don’t really think that’s voter intimidation Dan? Don’t think it went away because they’re black? Here’s an easy test.
Come November, dress your ass up in some surplus gear, grab a nightstick and hang around a polling place looking tough. See how fast YOU get rolled.
On second thought, this won’t work. We’d need to use a white guy capable of looking tough and scary. You wouldn’t look scary if you were holding a bazooka. No offense.
Realist, welcome back!
Don’t I owe you a book?
Gary M
It was on cnn and msnbc tonight and the woman was immediately fired by
the Obama administration and a statement released that there was zero
tolerance for any kind of racial discrimination in administering
federal programs. Did faux news happen to mention any of that?
40. “In the markets where they were not shut out they did well.”
Like on Sirrus? Where they could’t sell advertising because the numbers were so bad? Or is it your contention that Sirrus/XM are somehow biased toward right wing talk radio, or that sat radio has a majority conservative subscriber base? Because for some reason they can sell the hell out of advertising on Patriot, and afford to pay the talent.
“People like me even paid to have Satellite Radio to hear them. Would Conservatives do the same?”
LOL, there’s money well spent! But to answer your question, yes. There are several shows on Sirrus Patriot that are exclusive, ie not broadcast on antique radio. In particular The Wilkow Majority, whose ratings murdered Air America…you know, back when they were still on the air. Wilkow was one of two reasons that I decided to keep sattelite radio after the merger when Cross Country and the punk stations disappeared.
“they also have a very successful TV Network”
Why doesn’t the left? They have a TV network after all, or two or three depending on how you want to look at it. Could be that maybe, just maybe, the programming sucks? It does, a lot. Well, that and the fact that the country is still center right, and most folks would rather club that angry little boy Maddow like a baby seal than they would listen to him.
Dan. Technically, yes. However, I didn’t see anything on the list that I thought would hold my interest at this time. I do not mean to be ungrateful, but I thought that rather than selecting something just for the sake of it I would leave the the shelf with one more volume so others would have more choice.
And OH GOD, you’d have my address!
49.”You do realize, don’t you, that it was only 40 years ago that a black person could not eat at a restaurant counter with whites… only 35 years ago that literacy tests, poll taxes, etc for blacks were made illegal… and only 30 years ago that busing was declared by the Supreme Court as a legitimate way to integrate our public schools?
You act as if the inequalities ended with slavery. Maybe you should crack open a history book.”
All of which is a good excuse for some good old black on black crime, huh? Hopefully soon black people will be able to use the “retroactive mental damage from Jim Crow laws” defense. Dumbest. Argument. Of. All. Time.
And by the way, you oughtta update everything in your nonsense by say 10 years or so. Maybe YOU need to crack a history book, or at the least a calender? It’s 2010 y0.
Dave:
This story was mentioned during Hannity’s interview with Newt Gingrich. Hannity said that he had called Ben Jealous for a comment, but no response. Newt responded that he expected them to renounce her comments, which it sounds like they have done…although I haven’t seen that yet.
Yes Realist, you proved once again what a fine and shining example of humanity you are. America should be so proud to have you!
Funny how you are so conveniently (as per usual) ignored my point and went for the easy pickings. It is hard to start something from nothing and sometimes it fails but Air America DID produce several “left wing” celebrities who have gone on to have their own TV shows on MSNBC and while you can indeed brag about the Fixed News ratings (proving only that a vast majority of Republicans and Conservatives only want to hear what they want to hear; way to go!!), the actual networks still beat them like a boxer.
MY POINT was that even when we had to pay extra to have it, people were still willing to do that rather than listen to the right wing dominated “free” radio. MY POINT was that you all whine and cry about the MSM not letting your message be heard and “if people only knew” while simultaneously bragging about your high ratings in all three mediums! You may not get the joke, again per usual, but I certainly do. You cannot have it both ways. Either you are wildly successful and 20 million people a day listen to the drivel or your message is shut out by MSM. America is so stupid they fell for Obama’s “lies” but they are so smart they will believe your “truth”.
You cannot pretend dominance from a submissive position.
By the way, I only caught this item because I was flipping and saw Newt…stopped to hear his comments…not a Hannity fan.
#61
Sandi Saunders: “… you all whine and cry about the MSM not letting your message be heard and ‘if people only knew’ while simultaneously bragging about your high ratings in all three mediums! … You cannot have it both ways. Either you are wildly successful … or your message is shut out by MSM. America is so stupid they fell for Obama’s ‘lies’ but they are so smart they will believe your ‘truth.’ …”
Sandi, I just wanted to congratulate you on one of the most concise and incisive bits I’ve read on this blog. You made your point and you made it well. I appreciate it! (And I agree with it.)
Realist… You are correct about my dates… I counted to 2000 and left off 10 years!
I never gave ANY reasons for black crime. I was merely responding to what I garnered from Henry’s comment… that blacks should get over the inequalities of slavery.
Okay, conservatives, you win. A.M. radio bandwidth is just not going to be competitive for us. It was your sand box all along; we were just playing in it. Didn’t work for us anyhow, what with our full time jobs and whatnot.
You guys take a.m. radio, cable news, and Wal-Mart. We’ll take collage campuses, Libraries and Barnes and Nobles. Going forward, let’s just agree to act like kids and make sure your peas don’t intermingle with our mashed potatoes.
This work for you guys? Enjoy life in the cave, kids.
‘You do realize, don’t you, that it was only 40 years ago that a black person could not eat at a restaurant counter with whites… only 35 years ago that literacy tests, poll taxes, etc for blacks were made illegal… and only 30 years ago that busing was declared by the Supreme Court as a legitimate way to integrate our public schools”
So that is a reason for blacks to commit 37% of the crime in America.And for black on black crime? Is that what your saying.
Conservatives can have it both ways. Talk radio IS highly effective for the self-starters who seek it out. But for the dumba$$es which comprise the bread-and-butter of Democrat voting blocs, they are still under the illusion that the MSM is like the Cronkite 60s, to be taken as gospel. These ignoramuses aren’t smart enough to know they’re getting duped.
And you, Suzie, are smart enough to have figured out that Rush isn’t duping anyone… Pure Genius!
Jack… I didn’t give any reasons why blacks commit crimes. I was merely pointing out that Henry’s logic was flawed.