Tea Party Fraud Tangled in a Web of Lies

March 31st, 2010 11:40 PM

With an increasing attempt by the left to paint Tea Party protestors as racist loons, it becomes of great importance to identify those who purport to represent conservative values, but in reality are nothing more than radical individuals. 

As NewsBusters has previously reported, liberal Web sites - particularly Talking Points Memo (TPM) and the Huffington Post - have continually cited the Tea Party links of one Dale Robertson.  Why?  Because he further promotes the concept of the tea partier as racist.  Robertson once demonstrated a level of racial ignorance that boggles the mind by being photographed with a sign reading "Congress = Slaveowner, Taxpayer = N***ar".

But the reality is that Robertson has predominantly self-described links to the Tea Party movement, while legitimate factions of the movement have been trying to distance themselves from the man.  His claims of influence within the Tea Party have turned out to be mildly embellished.  Now, it turns out his web of tales is growing ever more tangled.

Tommy Christopher of Mediaite recently interviewed Robertson, in which he claims that the sign that made him famous for the wrong reasons was simply a fake.  As Mediaite reports:

"The misspelled n-word appears to have been duct-taped over the original sign, which Robertson claims read ‘Congress = Slaveowner, Taxpayer = Slave.' He says he never taped anything over the original sign, nor did anyone else. He says the photo must be a fake."

This account is very different from an e-mail conversation (transcribed below) that I had with Mr. Robertson in early January.  The question of accuracy was posed a couple of different ways, most notably because I had originally believed myself that the image had to be a fake.  After all, I thought, nobody could be stupid enough to hold up a sign like that. 

However, in response to this question:

"Is the picture doctored to make the sign say that, or is it accurate?"

Robertson had this response:

"It is easy to take the mob mentality and make accusations.  This comment was taken from Webster Dictionary, from Ron Dellums a Liberal/Socialist Democrat.  It means politically unrepresented.  However, we are so interested in hating that we can't see this is not referring to a person, but Americans in general.  In particularly, myself."

As you can see, Robertson never mentions that the original sign had supposedly used the alternate word ‘slave.'  While it may very well have been below the taped over sign, he is clearly referring to the more offending phrase.  In fact, he goes out of his way to defend use of the n-word by citing a dictionary reference.  Not to mention, the question clearly asked if the photo was doctored or faked, and Robertson responds in full explanation mode.  Had this image been faked, the response should flatly have been ‘yes, the image was altered' or ‘no, that is not what the sign actually said'.

He further acknowledges the presence of the word on the sign by explaining why it was misspelled:

"The misspelling was intentional for the Educational Elite, who are vexed and gladly jump into the face of the less fortunate to proclaim we are idiots."

Why explain the misspelling at all if the photo was faked, and why have an explanation if someone else put the word there?

As Robertson states early on, "First of all I'm an enemy of both Major political parties."

More accurately, he is an enemy of common sense.

- Please join my page on Facebook.

 

>>> <XXXXXXXXXXXXX> 1/5/2010 12:58 PM >>>

Rusty, 

First of all I?m an enemy of both Major political parties. The submission was from a Republican operative who stole over $500K from the Tea Party Movement. The RNC knows who they are and chooses to enjoy the spoils of what I started. I?m not racist, but you would have to take the time to know me to know that.

It is easy to take the mob mentality and make accusations. This comment was taken from Webster Dictionary, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Nigger, from Ron Dellums a Liberal/Socialist Democrat. It means politically unrepresented. However, we are so interested in hating that we can?t see this is not referring to a person, but Americans in general. In particularly, myself.

I adhere to Dr. Martin Luther King quote, ?Do not judge a man by the depth of his skin, but by the depth of his character.? I abhor racism. However, the political elite will use any method to divide to gain power. Go ahead call me racist, but that is a lie. I expect that my daughter who dates black men, will marry one. I do not look at his color, but his character.

The misspelling was intentional for the Educational Elite, who are vexed and gladly jump into the face of the less fortunate to proclaim we are idiots. Need I say more. We can continue to be manipulated by hate and lose our moral compass or rise above it and begin to listen to one another. We must stop hating and start listening to provide real solutions to our problems.

-----Original Message-----
From: Rusty Weiss
Sent: Tuesday, January 5, 2010 10:27 AM
To: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Subject: Re: Sign

(XXX) XXX-XXXX

>>> <XXXXXXXXXXXXX> 1/5/2010 10:03 AM >>>

Rusty,

 

I'm a strait shooter and do not lie.  I'm curious why the radical right is not held to the same standard.  They can make accusations and attacks, while they reach into our pockets to rob us blindly.  I appreciate you honesty to let me know who you are.  I will discuss this topic with you later.  I have a few things to attend to myself.  Do you have a phone number?

 

Dale

-----Original Message-----
From: Rusty Weiss
Sent: Tuesday, January 5, 2010 09:58 AM
To: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Subject: Re: Sign

Dale,

 

I do but will be in meetings on lunch, and am unable to talk until later this evening.  If you would like to contact me, use my email address at XXXXXXXXXX.  Also, if you're wondering about the clothing I wear, feel free to check out my column on NewsBusters.  And if you don't feel comfortable discussing, that is fine too.  I fully understand.  Thanks!

Rusty

>>> <XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX> 1/5/2010 9:52 AM >>>

Rusty,

 

Do you have a phone number?  You have to realize that I have to be cautious about wolves in sheep clothing.  Not to say that you are a wolf.

 

Dale

-----Original Message-----
From: Rusty Weiss
Sent: Tuesday, January 5, 2010 08:19 AM
To: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Subject: Re: Sign

I fully believe that.  But is the picture doctored to make the sign say that, or is it accurate.  Believe me when I say I am a fan of the Tea Party movement, so if it is inaccurate, I would like to point out how some sites are falsely accusing you of this.


Rusty

>>> <XXXXXXXXXXXXX> 1/4/2010 11:43 PM >>>

 

Rusty,

 

This is driven by a group who wants to be divisive.  My daughter dates black people all the time and I full expect to have a black son-in-law.  I do not see the difference in skin color.  I agree with Dr. Martin Luther King, "Not to Judge a Man by the depth of his skin, but to judge by the depth of his Character".  These people have a reason to cause division and I rather not entertain their attempt to malign this movement.

 

Dale

 

P.S. I have an even amount of white, black and hispanic friends.  I was blessed with a multi-cultural school and never viewed my classmates through the lens of hatred or racism, but look at each other as a brother or sister.

-----Original Message-----
From: Rusty Weiss

Sent: Monday, January 4, 2010 03:27 PM
To: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Subject: Sign

Do you have a picture of the actual sign, as this has clearly been altered.

 

Thanks.


Rusty