Washington Post reporter/columnist Dana Milbank started a fire on page A3 today by claiming Sarah Palin was coming "unhinged" by linking Barack Obama to Bill Ayers and "her attacks on the media have begun to spill into ugliness," with the pro-Palin crowd yelling racist epithets and Death to Ayers. The headline was "Unleashed, Palin Makes a Pit Bull Look Tame." He proclaimed:
Well, the self-identified pit bull has been unleashed -- if not unhinged.
Barack Obama, she told 8,000 fans at a rally here Monday afternoon, "launched his political career in the living room of a domestic terrorist!"
Milbank made no attempt to suggest this link was false -- except for the "unhinged" word. He did not disprove that Obama attended an event at the house of Ayers and his wife Bernadine Dohrn, both Weather Undeground bombers. But "worse" than that were attacks on the media. Milbank omitted the self-deprecating humor, and went for the negative attack:
Worse, Palin's routine attacks on the media have begun to spill into ugliness. In Clearwater, arriving reporters were greeted with shouts and taunts by the crowd of about 3,000. Palin then went on to blame Katie Couric's questions for her "less-than-successful interview with kinda mainstream media." At that, Palin supporters turned on reporters in the press area, waving thunder sticks and shouting abuse. Others hurled obscenities at a camera crew. One Palin supporter shouted a racial epithet at an African American sound man for a network and told him, "Sit down, boy."
It would be nice to actually see video and audio of this "shouting abuse." I bet most of it was just cheering. The media, especially snarky columnists like Milbank, love to hand out the negativity, but when it's directed at them, America's suddenly grown "ugly."
There is no excuse if this tale of the racial epithet is true. But trying to attach every Palin supporter to Palin is like trying to attach every Milbank commenter on the Post website today to Milbank. Let's take this one shouting abuse in print:
I believe Sarah has plans to wear a KKK hood and gown for Halloween, to appeal to her base. I surprised the man who shouted out didn't shout "Lynch Him". The majority of her base are a bunch of "Brown Shirts" and we all remember what happened on the "Night of the Long Knives", to Ernst Rohm and the SA.
Using this scenario, Milbank's criticism are launching the avalanche of ugliness, dragging the old Nazi smears into the arena. But Palin wasn't all about ugliness. In fact, here's the joke Milbank left out of his shock-jock routine. The St. Petersburg Times reported more of Palin's remarks about the MSM:
"What I should have told them was I was just trying to keep Tina Fey in business," she said of the comic who mimics her on Saturday Night Live.
Then Milbank repeated his objection to Palin "trying" to link Obama to the Weather Underground. This is sort of like "trying" to link Obama to Reverend Wright. There is a link. Reporting it as "trying to link" is complaining there's not a link:
The reception had been better in Clearwater, where Palin, speaking to a sea of "Palin Power" and "Sarahcuda" T-shirts, tried to link Obama to the 1960s Weather Underground. "One of his earliest supporters is a man named Bill Ayers," she said. ("Boooo!" said the crowd.) "And, according to the New York Times, he was a domestic terrorist and part of a group that, quote, 'launched a campaign of bombings that would target the Pentagon and our U.S. Capitol,' " she continued. ("Boooo!" the crowd repeated.)
"Kill him!" proposed one man in the audience.
This tilted report led to protests from liberal bloggers about Palin the "demagogue" stirring up Republican haters. See Jeffrey Goldberg at the Atlantic, for example:
Dana Milbank reports from a Palin rally where they didn't seem to like black people so much. You betcha I don't know a lot of hockey moms, but the ones I do know aren't demagogues. Here's an idea: How about a press conference at which Sarah Palin can answer for her attempts to whip her followers into an anti-free speech frenzy?
There they go again. Criticizing the media is "anti-free speech." When, oh when, will media liberals stop arrogantly concluding that they are the dictionary definition of free speech, and anyone who mocks them is opposed to freedom?
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Milbank is a girlie
October 7, 2008 - 12:01 ET by NewsbusterbrownMilbank is a girlie man.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Lot's of Abuse
October 7, 2008 - 12:06 ET by allanfI for one hope that members of the press face lots of verbal "abuse" in the coming months from citizens. Nothing works better than in person feedback.
Lot's of Abuse
October 7, 2008 - 12:08 ET by allanfI for one hope that members of the press face lots of verbal "abuse" in the coming months from citizens. Nothing works better than in person feedback. Unfortunately, in the rarified air of New York reporters receive nothing but compliments for bashing Republicans.
I for one hope this
October 7, 2008 - 12:11 ET by SeashellI for one hope this continues. It is time that the MSM realizes that approximately 50% of the country are republicans and we are tired of their bias. There are more and more places now to get news besides the big three and CNN and MSNBC.
We're tired and not going to take it anymore!
Yeah, so they all said,
October 7, 2008 - 12:15 ET by sherylsimsYeah, so they all said, "Boooo" when she mentioned the MSM. Poor babies... gotta go back and write a nasty article and say she is trying to inhibit free speech. Sounded a lot like free speech to me.
Wow!
October 7, 2008 - 12:17 ET by Joe C.Out of 8000 people:
1 person says, "Sit down boy." to an unidentified heckler that may have been a boy or standing in someone's way. You hear worse at B. Hussein's church on Sunday.
1 person says, "Kill him!" Not nice, but you hear worse on any MSNBC commentary on any given night.
Sounds like a really unruly crowd.
You hear worse at B.
October 7, 2008 - 14:28 ET by chambodiaYou hear worse at B. Hussein's church on Sunday.
Can I get an AMEN?
conservative icons
See, ITYS
October 7, 2008 - 15:40 ET by Joe C."In yesterday's column, reporter Dana Milbank stated that 'One Palin
supporter shouted a racial epithet at an African American sound man for
a network and told him, "Sit down, boy."'. The sound man in question
wrote to us and reported that the Palin supporter, an octogenarian, was
actually telling his young grandson, standing in front of him, to sit
down so the elder gentleman could see the stage. The use of the word
'boy' was not a racial slur."
One can't assume; unless of course, you're a professional reporter trained to notice things like a 70-year age difference and same race of a grandpa and his grandson.
The Washington Post
October 7, 2008 - 12:19 ET by HockeyKidThe Washington Post Retractions Column, 10/8/08:
"In yesterday's column, reporter Dana Milbank stated that 'One Palin supporter shouted a racial epithet at an African American sound man for a network and told him, "Sit down, boy."'. The sound man in question wrote to us and reported that the Palin supporter, an octogenarian, was actually telling his young grandson, standing in front of him, to sit down so the elder gentleman could see the stage. The use of the word 'boy' was not a racial slur.
"We stand corrected, but agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Milbank that Palin supporters are screaming racial epithets within their hearts, if not out loud, on a minute-to-minute basis. Dan Rather told us so."
My thoughts exactly.
October 7, 2008 - 12:41 ET by JWFIt would be nice to actually see video and audio of this "shouting abuse."
It is not like reporters carry around video cameras or other evidence filming tools now is it?
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
Yea exactly, the guy in
October 7, 2008 - 14:53 ET by general companyYea exactly, the guy in question was a sound man, no doubt the msm have cameras their too. But I guess it is easier to make the smear rather then proove it. Even when that is what you are getting paid to do
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Keep it up WaPo and MSM, the
October 7, 2008 - 12:46 ET by mattmKeep it up WaPo and MSM, the more hysterical your attacks become, the more I feel that McPalin is on the right track....Thanks guys!
Dana-Boy got in a tiff with Olby...
October 7, 2008 - 12:47 ET by TheSterThat's why little Dana is not on Olby's show any more.
Dana- what a wussy name, must explain why he is a wussy; ...but I digress...dared to not repeat and agree with his master. That's why he got stuck on CNN.
Ster.
Dana Milbank - attacks on which part of the media?
October 7, 2008 - 12:50 ET by Gary HallI just love it where Milbank says (my bold):
As If Milbank has not spent almost a career sitting next to Keith Olbermann with their routine attacks on others in the media. No "ugly" there.
What is it with a MSM which has progressed from reporting on pundits who attacked the media, to promoting and sustaining it's own commentators and opinion writers that now attack various elements in the media on a regular basis, to a MSM whose reporters, correspondents and staff writers now freely attack and make snide remarks on various elements in the media?
Who are these various elements in the media, the MSM comfortably attacks on a regular basis? Oh, there's Rush, Coulter, O'Reilly, Hannity.. hang on, I'm trying to think of more.. oh Rich Lowry from the Nat'l Review just joined the links (thanks to the vulgar Olbiedog himself) of the MSM targets. OK.. so there must be one or two more occasionally out there.
In summary, we have bulk of our national MSM (newsprint, news magazines, network TV, NPR, left-wing AM talk radio and most of the cable TV news) all attacking a handful of conservative commentators. Note: Few of these folks are actual news reporters - rather they are commentators - opinion expressing free Americans. And we have hundreds of MSM folks attacking them on a regular basis - with little fear of being called out for it.
Milbank thinks that what his own have been up to is not "ugly?"
Welcome to the battle, Gov. Palin. (;~> gary
Gary, for the MsM
October 7, 2008 - 13:54 ET by BlondeIt falls under the category of "they can dish it out, but they can't take it".
Remember when Diane Sawyer was laughed at on the witness stand about journalists so fair (about a year ago, I searched for it but couldn't find it, I know it's here)? She was just shocked!
The media got caught, in a flat out-and-out attack and attempted take-down of Sarah Palin, the public all gets it, and they don't like it!
So people who weren't really ever aware of media bias are now mad. Hence the booing of the press at the Palin rallies.
Payback's a b****.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
1st Amendment
October 7, 2008 - 12:50 ET by Lee BoggsFree speech? Doesn't Obama ban signs at his rallies?
»→ Right on, Boggs
October 7, 2008 - 13:07 ET by Cool ArrowAnd he says you're gonna mention he's black. And that's why I refuse to mention the consummate racebaiter, Barack Obama, is black.
"We cannot win with eggheads and African-Americans." - Paul Begala, Democrat racebaiter
We need more "journalists"
October 7, 2008 - 12:54 ET by d1carterWe need more "journalists" covering "journalists"...
Anyone want to volunteer to cover Paul Krugman, Jeff Zucker, Steve Capus...The ultimate power in their minds is "journalism"...let's turn the tables on them.
MSM has not heard Americans yelling at their TVs last 8 yrs
October 7, 2008 - 13:00 ET by JayTeeSo the MSM Is surprised if they show up in Person . .and get Screamed At ?
Do NOT sit on the Opposing Teams Side at a Football game . . wearing your cheesehead hat.
MSM AT a Palin ralley is like abunch of BHO Supporters in attendence.
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
Free Speech?
October 7, 2008 - 12:58 ET by Copperhead RidgeI wonder when the left will let Michelle Obama practice her right to free speech again.
Where is she? What's happened to her?
I think we need to mount a "FREE MICHELLE!"movement to get her back on the campaign trail.
I have visions of her bound and gagged in David Axelrod's attic.
FREE MICHELLE! FREE MICHELLE! FREE MICHELLE!
Michelle had fundraiser yesterday
October 7, 2008 - 14:21 ET by Heather RadishShe complained about the lack of "free" (mandatory?) HIV testing for everyone in America. Darn those racists and homophobes who don't want to pay for the consequences of other people's sex and drug adventures...
WaaaaPo, put a pacifier in it
October 7, 2008 - 13:22 ET by Paul AtreidesProfane Palin Hate, Unfit for Publication? WaPo 'Washes In Most Happily'
The Washington Post takes up anger-spewing leftist Sandra Bernhard Friday, and explains the sheer joy of watching her unload venom on Sarah Palin. Theatre reviewer Peter Marks began his review on the front page of the Style section: "No one does angry funnier than Sandra Bernhard. So when she turns her chainsaw wrath on the Republicans' new media magnet, Sarah Palin, the trash talk is so witheringly foul it feels as if it's been fired in a furnace of pure, unadulterated rage."
http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2008/09/12/profane-palin-hate-unfit-publication-wapo-washes-most-happily
You want offensive, Milberg? Look in a mirror.
October 7, 2008 - 13:28 ET by needleMilbank made no attempt to suggest this link (i.e., between Obama and his association with domestic terrorists via launching his political career in Bill Ayers’s living room) was false -- except for the "unhinged" word.
I love it! The media has become so accustomed to spewing out garbage and propaganda that being presented with an inconvenient fact is offensive. You want offensive, Milberg? Look in a mirror.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
The left has already come unhinged with lies about this...
October 7, 2008 - 13:32 ET by geoksterI was just at the "Human Events" site which was loaded with hate-filled posts by the leftist trolls claiming that not just one man, but entire mobs were shouting "Kill Him" not towards Ayers, but towards Obama. Outright lies, but that what "community organizers" and their trolls do.
And they of course are all playing up the "boy" comment as well as proof that the repubs are all racists.
Sick bastards.
Love it
October 7, 2008 - 13:37 ET by BluegillReminds me of the women who scolded the press a week or so ago, makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside, Go Sarah
if Ayers Bombs Pentagon AGAIN, Courts might say DEATH to Ayers
October 7, 2008 - 13:54 ET by JayTeeWas Ayers ever arrested back in the 60s ? ?
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
Ayers was not convicted because...
October 7, 2008 - 14:19 ET by wnaegele..the courts ruled FBI wiretaps nailing him were "improper."
I'm only surprised the crowd didn't shout...
October 7, 2008 - 14:16 ET by wnaegele"Death to the media!"
Hey Milblank
October 7, 2008 - 15:18 ET by Dan DiegoIf you and your MSM buddies took off your Obama buttons at GOP events you wouldn't get your feelings hurt when people booed at you.
Clearwater Fl., rally
October 7, 2008 - 15:32 ET by Lisa SpearsI was there right in the front row at the rally. We shouted at AP and NBC when they came out. We shouted that they SUCKED! And Fox was there and we cheered them. The guys from the press were standing in our way so you're darn right people who had been standing there for a few hours were upset and yelling at the press to sit down or get out of the way. The gentlemen, who looked bi-racial, who was right behind me did say sit down boy, but he was talking to one of the black secret service guys or maybe the guy was a part of the campaign. He was NOT talking to the press. Those guys were all white, excpet the microphone guy, he was black, but he was already siting down. I don't recall anyone saying Ayers should be shot or dead, but I wouldn't have a problem with that. I was the loudest shouter there. I shouted that Barney Frank should be in jail! And booed at lot. So anyone who needs more information can contact me for the TRUE story.
Go shopping @ 316Christianstore.biz
Potentially new liberal tactic to watch out for
October 7, 2008 - 17:05 ET by Ascended ConservativeHey all!
i just have this to say. we (conservatives) need to watch out for a potentially new, damning tactic the left may throw at us. here it is:
i am afraid the left will insert plants into the crowds attending Gov. Palin's speeches to insight hatred and bigotry. they may try to chant disturbing things just so the media can say “see! conservatives are evil!”. i don’t trust large crowds and their ability to rationalize when catalyzed into a blind frenzy by such hate. don't get me wrong, i am not naive by any means. i know that there are those on the right whose hearts are dark just like the left. the last thing i want as a Palin supporter is for her messages to be perverted by the left. the family is the most basic and yet most important component of American culture. due to progressivism, American culture is coming unraveled.
on a side note, i find it hilarious how the left cannot understand the concept of “tough love.” that’s how i was raised, and that’s how i will raise my children.
-ascended conservative
Polite free speech Obama supperts
October 7, 2008 - 17:15 ET by jm1890Look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQalRPQ8stI
to see how true free supportrs act.