In today’s New York Times, columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote an op-ed about how Republicans are trying to “otherize” Barack Obama by playing up rumors of him being a secret Muslim or even the anti-Christ. In his column today, Kristof listed Redstate (along with Jerome Corsi) as one of the Republican institutions that was attempting to “otherize” Obama with the secret Muslim/anti-Christ rumors. Kristof even placed a link to the Redstate giftshop on his blog about his column. Well, even though I am really busy with my pediatrics rotation (and I should be studying instead of blogging), I just couldn’t bite my tongue. I responded with a comment of my own. My comment is number 159 on Kristof’s blog about his column (the second of the above links); however, I’m pasting my comment below:
-First of all, I am a Redstate blogger and I can tell you that anyone who remotely insinuates that Senator Obama is a Muslim is automatically banned from the site.
Second of all, I recently wrote a diary for Redstate (that was at the top of the most recommended list for a week) in which I went out of my way to debunk the “Obama is a secret Muslim” rumor, and I called Jerome Corsi a crackpot. The link is below.
Third of all, as I previously stated in my diary, yes, something like twelve percent (you say thirteen) of Americans believe that Obama is a Muslim, but sixteen percent of Americans believe in Bigfoot, and eight percent believe that Bigfoot is a Muslim (OK, I made that last part up). In other words, if Obama loses, it’s not going to be because voters believe the stupid “secret Muslim” rumors–it will be because voters believe that he is an inexperienced neophyte with unsavory friends.
And finally, Nick, you stated that, “Just imagine for a moment if it were the black candidate in this election, rather than the white candidate, who was born in Central America, was an indifferent churchgoer, had graduated near the bottom of his university class, had dumped his first wife, had regularly displayed an explosive and profane temper, and had referred to the Pakistani-Iraqi border”.
OK, well let’s imagine for a moment that there was a hypothetical white candidate that had started running for president after he had less than two years in the Senate (and had no real accomplishments), and he had attended a racist, anti-American church for twenty years. Now, let’s suppose that this white presidential candidate was running against a black opponent who had over twenty very accomplished years in the Senate, and was a war hero to boot. Who do you honestly think would win? I, personally, think that the white candidate would get creamed by the more experienced, more presidential black candidate.
— Posted by Susannah
Anyway, I felt the overwhelming need to speak up, because I thought that Kristof was falsely accusing all of us at Redstate of trying to “otherize” Obama when, if anything, Redstate has been hyper-vigilant about chastising and banning anyone who remotely implies that Senator Obama is a secret Muslim or the anti-Christ (I feel silly just typing that). So in conclusion, I felt that Nicholas Kristof was trying to “otherize” us over here at Redstate by implying that we are a bunch of bigoted racist hicks and conspiracy theorists who believe everything that we read on the interwebs. Again, I just had to speak up.
desperate liberals
ezed533 Sunday, September 21st at 8:06PM EDT (link)**I got this 3rd hand at the water cooler and of course it could be total nonsense…but does present an intriguing scenario….
On or about October 5th, Biden will excuse himself from the ticket, citing health problems, and he will be replaced by Hillary. This is timed to occur after the VP debate on 10/2.
There have been talks all weekend about how to proceed with this info. Generally, the feeling is that we should all go ahead and get it out there to as many blog sites and personal email lists as is possible. I have already seen a few short blurbs about this - the ‘health problem’ cited in those articles was aneurysm. Probably many of you have heard the same rumblings.
However, at this point, with this inside info from the DNC, it looks like this Obama strategy will be a go. Therefore, it seems that the best strategy is to get out in front of this Obama maneuver, spell it out in detail, and thereby expose it for the grand manipulation that it is.
So, let’s start mixing this one up and cut the Obamites off at the pass - send this info out to as many people as you can - post about it on websites and blogs - etc etc
Do not spambot this site, ezed533.
Moe Lane Sunday, September 21st at 8:08PM EDT (link)Only warning.
Check out my new blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (blogging-related) wish list.
It's not about the *truth* Susannah...
stang Sunday, September 21st at 8:27PM EDT (link)it’s about the seriousness of the charge. I doubt if he’s ever been here, nor did he bother to post a link documenting his charges.(I’m sure RS can use the traffic at the gift shop though.) Not suprising for the increasingly panic stricken intellectual frauds on the left.
Good job calling Kristoff out for the POS that he is. Nice job and thanks.
“Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any farther obedience, and are left to the common refuge which God hath provided for all men against force and violence.”
John Locke
You're welcome Stang....
Susannah Sunday, September 21st at 8:33PM EDT (link)You’re welcome Stang. It was my pleasure.
More mercy than I would have shown
gensec Sunday, September 21st at 8:34PM EDT (link)Spamming, tinfoil, and “send this info out to as many people as you can - post about it on websites and blogs” 10 minutes after he joined?? But we already knew Moe’s a soft hearted teddy bear
Nick Kristoff is taking shots at Redstate.
mbecker908 Sunday, September 21st at 8:53PM EDT (link)Heh. Talk about a guy with a squirt gun trying to put out a forest fire…
Susannah, Obama does all of what you
dbecraft Sunday, September 21st at 9:28PM EDT (link)worry about by himself…
With his associations and his leftist views, I would not be so certain about his beliefs or his leanings…
So, if you want to have me banned, have at it, I absolutely do question his religious beliefs. A Christian he is NOT!…
Formally known as Deagle… “Golf is a way of life…”
Susannah, sweetie, it must be racism if Obama loses.
streetwise Monday, September 22nd at 8:52AM EDT (link)I mean, it’s not like Obama ever says anything to turn the voters off, or anything.
You know what g-d America is like.
Nice post Susannah but we know they are just...
JadedByPolitics Monday, September 22nd at 8:59AM EDT (link)projecting their own fears of what Obama is or is not on others….you know same thing they do with race etc….they project because they are the racist’s and muslim haters….if they ever look in a mirror they will be shocked to see they are indeed the devil they fear!
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
All these talks
Rod_Patrick Monday, September 22nd at 10:17AM EDT (link)about Muslim and Christ came from Obama campaign and Obama’s surrogates.
To Kristoff: Nothing more to write? Then give up your bad journalism.
Susannah is Redstate's MVP
Mike gamecock DeVine Monday, September 22nd at 12:10PM EDT (link)for the week
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
Well said susannah
daithi Monday, September 22nd at 4:45PM EDT (link)I for one have been impressed by many of the posters here at Redstate keeping a civil tone and sticking to rational discourse. Are there exceptions? Sure, but those exceptions are a small minority of posters (who are usually chastised or ignored). This is in marked contrast to large leftwing websites, who routinely make vile comments in regards to conservatives.
It also ticks me off to see the MSM make accusations that it is the Republicans behind accusations that Obama is a secret Muslim. I’d love to see a Republican stand up to the media when they make one of these accusations, e.g. “No! Stop right there. Accusations that Obama was a secret Muslim originated during the Democratic primary and nothing to do with the Republicans. You can apologize for slurring the Republican party right now, or this interview comes to an end.”
______________________________
“The truth is not for all men, but only for those who seek it.”
-Ayn Rand
You're right Streetwise.....
Susannah Monday, September 22nd at 6:25PM EDT (link)If Obama loses, it must be because the evil Republicans convinced bitter, gun-clinging, xenophobic, stupid Americans that Obama is the anti-Christ. It can’t possibly be because Obama is inexperienced, unqualified, is a lousy debater, has unsavory friends, and is perpetually sticking his foot in his mouth.
Interestingly enough
Silvurbullitt Monday, September 22nd at 7:58PM EDT (link)Just today I heard Mike Gallagher talking about a recently published study done in cooperation with Stanford wherein the authors purported to report the degree to which racism was hurting Barack Obama. I heard only a very brief part of the whole story, but I gathered that the study basically set forth the premise that, given the state of the country, the only probable cause of Obama not polling better than he currently is has to be racism, nevermind [insert any rational reason support McCain here]. Is anyone familiar with this study? Can you fill in the blanks?
GSC Recommended - 5 stars
George Claghorn Monday, September 22nd at 9:58PM EDT (link)Hey Kristof, as long as we’re on the subject of institutions trying to “otherize” Presidential candidates with baseless rumors, let’s have a little walk & talk about the New York Times…
“Victory comes, though we know not when. We must be happy warriors until the end.
For those of you who struggle with what goes on, who see retreat and capitulation, and who feel like not just your political opponents, but those who hold dear all those things you hold as blasphemous — be cheerful. Be happy. Victory is already yours.
You must just have the courage to not get discouraged and have the will to fight on.” – Erick Erickson at RightOnline
I am coming in late...like the cavalry....Excellent
$peciallist Monday, September 22nd at 10:12PM EDT (link)n/p
Dude .....EXPLAIN yourself!....or you are done...
$peciallist Monday, September 22nd at 10:16PM EDT (link)i will go off on you…hear me???
Great point George.....
Susannah Monday, September 22nd at 10:22PM EDT (link)Great point! The New York Times totally tried to smear John McCain with baseless rumors, and have tried to “otherize” Sarah Palin and her entire family as a bunch of fundamentalist hicks.
well Silvurbullitt you may find racism in this election...
JadedByPolitics Monday, September 22nd at 10:26PM EDT (link)I can guarantee that you will BUT you will not find it here…I in particular DESPISE that racist anti-Americanism of Obama’s co-horts in Chicago and they come in all colors and I know I am known by the company I keep and Obama should be also……why it’s one of the first things your momma teaches you.
Plus liberalism disgusts this conservative.
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
It's called "pre-defense." In other words, a false explanation for why such a lightweight
spainishirish Monday, September 22nd at 10:34PM EDT (link)justifiably lost an election. This is a particularly pernicious excuse even if highly predictable. The left-wing, by next April, will be in full blame Obama mode nonetheless.
Good on you
Hammer2008 Monday, September 22nd at 10:36PM EDT (link)Susannah, and thanks.
I am another one who has never believed Obama to be a muslim, secret or otherwise. You are right, it is the company that he has kept that calls into question the content of his character.
However, I do find it interesting that Islamists heart Obama, as I blogged on Saturday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Too much noise! “Noise! You’ll have noise enough before long. The Regulars are coming out.” ~ Paul Revere (April 18th, 1775’s eve…)
Hmmm...
scuffs Tuesday, September 23rd at 9:23AM EDT (link)While your defence was on the whole quite compelling, it is undercut by the fact that the Red State shop IS selling Obama/Anti-Christ t-shirts, meaning (I presume) that Red State is making money off these claims.
Yes, I understand irony, and I certainly don’t think that most of the posters here could actually believe such a claim, but the items themselves are not unambiguously ironic - it would be perfectly understandable for a person sincere in their belief that Obama is the anti-christ to happen upon the Red State store and think “hey, cool shirt, good message, i’ll buy it”.
That’s not a huge thing, but I think it makes your “Red State is above this kind of thing” argument a little less tenable.
agree
conservativesoldier83 Tuesday, September 23rd at 9:45AM EDT (link)I agree with most of it, I do not wish to be banned from this site, however we all know the real answer to what Obama’s religious beliefs are.
It is saddening.
John E. Tuesday, September 23rd at 1:47PM EDT (link)Susannah dear, I agree with your smack down but we do have a problem. The reasons he links to the RedState store is because it has the Obama/Anti-Christ iconography that Erick introduced here. A number of RedState denizens objected to Erick’s additions at the time, but there it is in the store anyway giving NK just what he needs to characterize us just as he has. It is saddening.
Kristof, sadly, has a point.
texaskatey Tuesday, September 23rd at 3:17PM EDT (link)And the sad part is that RedState brought it on itself by the completely tasteless O=the AntiChrist material it is selling. While I’m glad to hear it’s not allowed in the diaries, shouldn’t we also not profit from it??? How distressing for an organization that I think highly of to do so something so classless.
katey
Texaskatey, Blame Obama not RS.
Rod_Patrick Tuesday, September 23rd at 4:52PM EDT (link)If Kristof wants to protect his Obama for being one, then let him debunk the following:
Obama spent 20 years in Black Liberation Theology. BLT is the conceptually unchristian to many of us.
Obama’s “Audacity of Hope” represents his experience and success as believer of BLT.
In addition, Kristof fully knows that that the issue came up when a Congressman claimed that “Christ was as community organizer”. Many Christians (me included) believe that Christ is a Son of God (read: true God.) Meaning, the very act of using the word for POLITICAL REASON is blasphemous to them.
We also believe that Christ did not come to earth to organize a community. His main purpose was to fulfil the plan of God and the prophecies. In fact, Christ himself mentioned that his teaching would result to some form of enmity among people and community.
But the label of Anti-Christ started in 2006 by Obama himself when Obama mocked Christ’s Sermont of the Mount by refering to the sermon as too RADICAL.
No! People will only recant such accusation if Obama makes a public apology to all Christians about his statement against the Sermont of the Mount by Christ as way TOO RADICAL!
I agree
Silvurbullitt Tuesday, September 23rd at 5:07PM EDT (link)Look, I know racism exists - as you pointed out, we’ve seen it in Rev. Wright’s “theology” - and it will continue to be a reality for as long as there are different races to harbor those feelings. However, I don’t think it’s even on the map with regard to why Barack Obama isn’t doing as well as his supporters would like.
My main point was this though: there seems to be a real sentiment on the left that it is an impossibility for a thinking person to have a rational opposition to the man’s policies and politics. No, according to them, if you oppose Barack Obama you either have sinister motives (e.g. racism) or you’re an idiot (e.g. “clinging to guns and religion”). And it is this idea that drives me bananas.
The study is real
JustLeaveMeAlone Tuesday, September 23rd at 5:51PM EDT (link)It was conducted by The Institute for Research in the Social Sciences at Stanford University, and it includes results of an AP-Yahoo! News poll.
The racist conclusion of the study derives from the fact that only 7 in 10 Democrats support Obama. The study went on to analyze racial attitudes among various groups (i.e, white Dems, black Dems, white Republicans, etc.), and the conclusion of the study was that Obama would be polling up to 6 points higher if he were white, not black.
The study does not address Obama’s theoretical results if, say, the moon was magenta and the sky was puce. Or if Obama were Asian, but running for President of France.
Nor was anything else, such as religion, socioeconomic, or educational level, factored in. You are left to draw your own conclusions about such circumstances.
“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” Thomas Jefferson
I agree with you John.....
Susannah Tuesday, September 23rd at 7:44PM EDT (link)I agree with you John that the stuff in the Redstate store is way over-the-top. However, I still think that it’s totally uncool for Kristof to characterize this entire site (and by extension everyone who blogs here) as part of some subversive plot to “otherize” Obama as a secret Muslim/anti-Christ, because of some mugs sold in the RS store–especially since, in reality, we have such a zero-tolerance approach to that here.
On a side note, if Kristof really wanted to focus on a hateful website, he would save his ire for The Daily Kos, which started the whole rumor about Bristol Palin being the “real” mother of Trig Palin, and had bloggers “otherizing” Hillary Clinton with pictures of the wicked witch of the west from “The Wizard of Oz”. However, I seriously doubt that Kristof would do that, because The Daily Kos is a pro-Obama site.
Nice job, Susannah.
Flagstaff Tuesday, September 23rd at 8:15PM EDT (link)But it was also nice of him to send us new readers.
Heh heh.
Pluto, the Ninth Planet - Forever!
The racist/xenophobe element here...
Pleases Wednesday, September 24th at 3:21AM EDT (link)is chasing this conservative away. I was hoping to talk to fellow believers, but too many here are wacked out on color or religion.
If you're a conservative in any way shape or form, then I'm a ham sandwich.
Martin Knight Wednesday, September 24th at 4:25AM EDT (link)You astroturfers are really pathetic. How many of you fakes do we need to ban everyday before you idiots get the message?
We can fool you. You can’t fool us.
To me, “consensus” seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects … There are still people in my party who believe in “consensus” politics. I regard them as Quislings, as traitors … I mean it.
- Margaret Thatcher
NOTE: “consensus” = “Bipartisanship™”/”Centrism™”
It was Obama campaign that compared BO to Jesus
GregInFla Wednesday, September 24th at 10:50PM EDT (link)Not the GOP. You jump into the pool, you might get wet… or get bitten by the sharks.
– A true evolutionist would let endangered species die off. Anyone care to change sides?
Support Marco Rubio for US Senate.
new title, the Obama BinBiden ticket
JLenardDetroit Wednesday, September 24th at 11:21PM EDT (link)To add to the long list of wonderful plays on names/slogans…
The best our enemies could hope for - lol
As my sister pointed out, from things she’s hearing… How wonderfully silly the Conspiracy crowd can say there is something to how you can just add/change a few letters to the ticket to get OSAMA BIN LADEN… lol… Kinda like the Nostradamus “Hister” to “Hitler”…
Obama Biden — change “b” add “NLA”…
oSama biN LAden
too funny
(RS:Help) (JLD) (Hollyweird) (Brain-deads) (SPIN-cycle) (Obamaocare) (Party of kNOw) (Conservatism) (TEApeats) (respectful) (Reco) (Quotes) (removeRINOs.com)
+ 0bama Lies & your Bank acct will Die! (4/15 Truthers)
+ Heil “O” Hell No Obamao is NOT MY PRESIDENT! “No U won’t”
+ I want “O” to FAIL (here, here, & whole Diary (Ofail) here, is why)
“The first Liberal was Satan” - a Rush caller (other Quotes)
My point, far more eloquently made <NT>
scuffs Thursday, September 25th at 6:42AM EDT (link)Thanks Scuffs....
Susannah Thursday, September 25th at 11:15AM EDT (link)One other point that I forgot to make is that it has been Obama, throughout this entire election season, who has tried to “otherize” his opponents using sexist or ageist codewords and false accusations of racism. I previously wrote about this in a blog titled, Barack Obama–the Master of Illusion. (Oh, and I wrote this blog even before all of the foolishness towards Sarah Palin, from the Obama campaign, started.) However, members of the MSM, like Nicholas Kristof, seem to ignore Obama’s actual words, and instead focus on a couple of mugs sold in the Redstate store. Go figure.
Dems suck Lemons
OccamsRazor Thursday, September 25th at 11:56PM EDT (link)I believe (sp) in Free Will, personally.
"fellow believers"?
JSobieski Thursday, September 25th at 11:59PM EDT (link)Your inflitration manual needs to be upgraded with better terminology.
Mercy... which color are we suppose to dislike?
dbecraft Friday, September 26th at 12:12AM EDT (link)Heh, and I thought that all of those crayons were needed to color the world…
Formally known as Deagle… “Golf is a way of life…”
I know, don't let the door hit me on the way out.
Slightly_Askew Friday, September 26th at 10:10AM EDT (link)I never look at the RedState shop so I was surprised to see these items for sale. I’m not going to make a big deal out of leaving, but I won’t be posting here any more while they remain in the store/until the election is over. I know I won’t be missed, and there will be plenty of “don’t let the door hit you on the way out” type comments. That’s fine, I can live with that.
I’ve been burned by this type of thing before (posting to a discussion on Libertarianism I found in google, only to discover later that they sold “Jewish Conspiracy” items in their shop). It doesn’t matter what 90% of your contributors feel; the items you choose to sell in your store are the public face of what the belief structure of your site is.
Now that you've taken Frank Rich and Nicholas Kristof to task
George Claghorn Saturday, September 27th at 9:36AM EDT (link)do you think that you could do something about Maureen Dowd next?
“Victory comes, though we know not when. We must be happy warriors until the end.
For those of you who struggle with what goes on, who see retreat and capitulation, and who feel like not just your political opponents, but those who hold dear all those things you hold as blasphemous — be cheerful. Be happy. Victory is already yours.
You must just have the courage to not get discouraged and have the will to fight on.” – Erick Erickson at RightOnline
OK George.....
Susannah Saturday, September 27th at 10:07AM EDT (link)I promise that, when I have the time, if (or should I say when) Dowd writes a ridiculous column that irks me, I will write a diary taking her to task.
Dowd writes ridiculous columns at least three times a week
George Claghorn Saturday, September 27th at 10:17AM EDT (link)So don’t worry, there won’t be a shortage of those.
“Victory comes, though we know not when. We must be happy warriors until the end.
For those of you who struggle with what goes on, who see retreat and capitulation, and who feel like not just your political opponents, but those who hold dear all those things you hold as blasphemous — be cheerful. Be happy. Victory is already yours.
You must just have the courage to not get discouraged and have the will to fight on.” – Erick Erickson at RightOnline
Liberal Racism
Harod Saturday, September 27th at 5:46PM EDT (link)Ive had liberal freinds and it always amazes me how liberal will so easily go into a Micheal Richards tirade..
Thanks Gamecock.....
Susannah Saturday, September 27th at 6:43PM EDT (link)That means a lot coming from you.