Saturday, July 11, 2009

Huffington Post Right To Remove Nasty Comment Directed At Sarah Palin, But …

I never saw the original post that took a shot at Sarah Palin and her son, Trig. But, by all accounts it was nasty. I found this from the Web site Free Republic (which, of course, found a way to take a cheap shot at President Obama for no apparent reason other than to be stupid and political). Much as Sarah Palin might do, Free Republic had the moral high ground and blew it (in a fashion so moronic it is almost incomprehensible) by taking an irrational shot at President Obama (who has nothing to do with this):

The Huffington Post, an official arm of the Obama administration, published an article a few minutes ago on the resignation of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin with the following headline: Palin Will Run in ‘12 on More Retardation Platform

It just shows how much Republicans hate President Obama and how much they hated him when he was Sen. Obama running for president … back when they only knew a few things about him.

Back to the topic.

Here is what Free Republic captured before writer Erik Sean Nelson’s nasty post was rightly removed.

In Sarah Palin’s resignation announcement she complained about the treatment of her son Trig who always teaches her life lessons. She said that the “world needs more Trigs, not fewer.” That’s a presidential campaign promise we can all get behind. She will be the first politician to actually try to increase the population of retarded people. To me, it’s kinda like saying the world needs more cancer patients because they teach us such personal lessons.

Her first act as President: To introduce a Pre-K lunch buffet that includes lead paint chips. Sort of a Large HEAD-START Program.

She will then encourage women to hold off on pregnancies until their 40’s just to mix up some chromosomes.

She now is in favor of abortion only in case of diploid birth.

Her policies will increase jobs because Wal-Mart is building new stores each day and someone has to be the greeter.

This will lead to smaller government because fewer Americans will have the cognitive ability to hold a government job.

Look, she says she’s resigning as governor because people are making attacks on her and Trig. If she ever did become president, all Osama bin Laden would have to do to defeat the United States is Photoshop a picture of Trig and she’d surrender the country that night. As she said, “That’s not politics as usual.” It isn’t. Politicians don’t usually quit for so stupid of reasons.

Clearly, this is reprehensible and well out of bounds and I think reasonable people have a right to be outraged. It never ceases to amaze me the shots that people take at other people without thinking about what they’re doing. News Hounds, however, correctly points out that Bill O’Reilly, America’s Daddy, unleashed on Huffington Post while remaining silent about hate on Fox Nation (which operates right under his nose).

The writer did sort of make an attempt to apologize, but it’s a day late and a dollar short (as the saying goes):

I wrote a piece making fun of the fact that a Trig Palin joke was given as the reason that Sarah Palin left office. I wrote jokes that were offensive but my intent was for them to be ironic and therefore not offensive. I was wrong. Within ten minutes of my post I received some emails from the loved ones of the retarded and I saw that my piece was hurtful. Therefore, I removed the post right after receiving the first 2 emails.

I removed it immediately because I saw that it did not come across as I intended. I apologize to all of those who were offended.

This is not a particularly moving apology.

Unfortunately for Nelson, the damage was done and you can’t unring the bell … not when the mess is this extensive.

Think Progress Updates On Rep. Steve King’s Inexplicable Vote

Losing 399-1 might change the opinion of some people, but not to pig-headed individuals like Rep. Steve King, a Republican from Iowa.

I blogged earlier about Rep. King’s absurd vote and Think Progress updates on King’s rationale as he tries to spin his idiotic “no” vote.

Here is what King said as he went into damage-control mode:

KING: I would just add that there were about 645,000 slaves that were brought to the United States. And I’m with Martin Luther King, Jr. on this. His documents, his speeches – I’ve read most of them. And I agree with almost every word that came out of him. Slavery was abhorrent, but it was also a fact of life in those centuries where it existed.

And of the 645,000 Africans that were brought here to be forcibly put into slavery in the United States, there were over 600,000 people that gave their lives in the Civil War to put an end to slavery. And I don’t see the monument to that in the Congressional Visitor Center, and I think it’s important that we have a balanced depiction of history.

Here, briefly, is how Think Progress, responded:

The Capitol Visitor Center is simply trying to recognize the work of those who built the Capitol. But King is apparently concerned that slaves are being unduly recognized while Union soldiers who fought for their emancipation are not getting any credit. He simply needs to open his eyes and look around Washington, DC. If he steps right outside the Capitol, he’ll see the Ulysses S. Grant memorial, a monument that commemorates the former general of the Union Army.

This guy is ridiculous.

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/09/king-slave-labor-vote/

Michael Jackson’s Charity Work

Bill O’Reilly committed another attack on Michael Jackson as he whined about the media coverage of the superstar entertainer. O’Reilly then attacked Michael Jackson for spending his own money and accused the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton of making it a racial deal (though he never really offered any evidence of how they made it racial). Actually, O’Reilly has hosted multiple segments bringing race into the Michael Jackson discussion (while slamming Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton for supposedly bringing race into it). The clip he showed to slam Sharpton was not compelling evidence of anything wrong other than the man was signing the entertainer’s praises. This was an O’Reilly cheap shot. O’Reilly’s conclusion that if you criticize Jackson you hate black people is stupid on too many levels to count (as he based it on the comments of two people). I don’t think Rep. Peter King is a racist, but I do think he’s a jackass. O’Reilly has accused others of playing the phantom “race card” when he himself has brought race into the discussion on his own Fox News television show.

Here is some of what O’Reilly said as he trashed Michael Jackson on the day of his funeral (after lying at the beginning of the segment and saying he didn’t want to do that):

O’REILLY: (Jackson’s) incredible selfishness – spending hundreds of millions of dollars on himself while singing “We are the World should make any clear thinking American nauseous.”

First, he can spend his money whatever way he wants to spend it.

Bill O’Reilly’s baseless anger clouds his objectivity (if he has any objectivity).

Here is some documentation of Jackson’s charitable works:

Lets examine the “selfishness” of Michael Jackson that Bill O’Reilly referenced.

Source: IReport

January 10, 1984: Michael visits the unit for burn victims at Brotman-Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles.

April 9, 1984: David Smithee, a 14-year-old boy who suffers from cystic fibrosis is invited to Michael’s home. It was David’s last wish to meet Michael. He dies 7 weeks later.

April 14, 1984: Michael equips a 19-bed-unit at Mount Senai New York Medical Center. This center is part of the T.J. Martell-Foundation for leukemia and cancer research.

July 5, 1984: During the Jackson’s press conference at Tavern On The Green, Michael announces that his part of the earnings from the Victory Tour will be donated to three charitable organizations: The United Negro College Fund, Camp Good Times, and the T.J. Martell-Foundation.

July 14, 1984: After the first concert of the Victory Tour, Michael meets 8 terminally ill children backstage.

December 13, 1984: Michael visits the Brotman Memorial Hospital, where he had been treated when he was burned very badly during the producing of a Pepsi commercial. He donates all the money he receives from Pepsi, $1.5 million, to the Michael Jackson Burn Center for Children.

January 28, 1985: Michael and 44 other artists meet to record “We Are The World”, written by Michael and Lionel Ritchie. The proceeds of this record are donated to the starving people in Africa.

1986: Michael set up the “Michael Jackson UNCF Endowed Scholarship Fund”. This $1.5 million fund is aimed towards students majoring in performance art andcommunications, with money given each year to students attending a UNCF member college or university.

February 28, 1986: After having had a heart-transplant, 14-year-old Donna Ashlock from California gets a call from Michael Jackson. He had heard that she is a big fan of his. Michael invites her to his home as soon as she is feeling better. This visit takes place on March 8th. Donna stays for dinner andwatches a movie together with Michael.

September 13, 1987: Michael supports a campaign against racism. He supports efforts of the NAACP, to fight prejudices against black artists.

October 1987: At the end of his Bad Tour, Michael donates some personal items to the UNESCO for a charitable auction. The proceeds will be for the education of children in developing countries.

February 1, 1988: The Song “Man In the Mirror” enters the charts. The proceeds from the sales of this record goes to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a camp for children who suffer from cancer.

March 1, 1988: At a press conference held by his sponsor Pepsi, Michael presents a $600,000 check to the United Negro College Fund.

April 1988: Free tickets are given away for three concerts in Atlanta, Georgia to the Make A Wish Foundation.

May 22, 1988: Michael visits children who suffer from cancer in the Bambini-Gesu Children’s Hospital in Rome. He signs autographs and gives away sweets and records to the little patients. He promises a check of 100,000 pounds to the hospital.

July 16, 1988: Before a concert at Wembley Stadium Michael meets the Prince of Wales and his wife Diana. He hands over a check of 150,000 pounds for the Prince’s Trust, and a check of 100,000 pounds for the children’s hospital at Great Ormond Street.

July 20, 1988: Michael visits terminally ill children at Great Ormond Street Hospital. At a unit for less critical patients he stays a little bit longer and tells a story.

August 29, 1988: At his 30th birthday Michael performs a concert in Leeds, England for the English charity-organization “Give For Life”. The goal of this organization is the immunization of children. Michael presents a check for 65,000 pounds.

December 1988: Michael visits 12-year-old David Rothenburg. His father had 5 years earlier burned him very badly in an act of revenge against his former wife.

January 1989: The proceeds of one of Michael’s shows in Los Angeles are donated to Childhelp USA, the biggest charity-organization against child-abuse. In appreciation of the contributions of Michael, Childhelp of Southern California is founding the “Michael Jackson International Institute for Research On Child Abuse”.

January 10, 1989: The Bad Tour comes to an end. Under-privileged children are donated tickets for each concert and Michael donates money to hospitals, orphanages and charity-organizations.

February 7, 1989: Michael visits the Cleveland Elementary School in Stockton, California. Some weeks earlier a 25-year-old man had fired at the school’s playground. 5 children had been killed and 39 had been wounded.

March 5, 1989: Michael invites 200 deprived children of the St. Vincent Institute for handicapped children and of the organization Big Brothers and Big Sisters to the Circus Vargas in Santa Barbara. After this event he invites them to his ranch to introduce his private zoo at his Neverland Ranch to them.

November 13, 1989: The organization “Wishes Granted” helps 4-year-old Darian Pagan, who suffers from leukemia to meet Michael. Michael invites the little boy to a performance of Canadian acrobats.

December 28, 1989: Young Ryan White, who suffers from hemophilia, spends his holidays on Michael’s ranch. Ryan had been infected with AIDS by contaminated blood transfusions in 1984. After he was excluded from his school in Kokomo, Ryan fought against the discrimination of AIDS victims.

January 6, 1990: Michael invites 82 abused and neglected children through Childhelp to his Neverland Ranch. There are games, a Barbeque and a movie show provided for them.

July 1990: 45 children from the Project Dream Street, Los Angeles, for children with life-threatening illness are invited to Neverland Valley.

August 18, 1990: Michael invites 130 children of the YMCA summer program of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara to his Neverland Ranch.

May 6, 1991: Michael is invited to the Jane Goodall Charity event. Michael supports her, an advocate of behavioral research concerning chimpanzees in Gombe, Nigeria for more than 30 years.

July 26, 1991: Michael pays a visit to the Youth Sports & Art Foundation in Los Angeles. This Foundation supports families of gang members, andhelps dealing with drug-abuse. Michael talks to the kids andpresents them witha wide-screen TV set and a financial gift.

December 1991: Michael’s office MJJ Productions treats needy families in Los Angeles with more than 200 turkey dinners.

February 1992: Within 11 days Michael covers 30,000 miles in Africa, to visit hospitals, orphanages, schools, churches, and institutions for mentally handicapped children.

February 3, 1992: At a press conference at the New York Radio City Music Hall, Michael announces that he is planning a new world tour, to raise funds for his new “Heal The World” Foundation. This Foundation will support the fight against AIDS, Juvenile Diabetes and will support the Camp Ronald McDonald and the Make A Wish Foundation.

May 6, 1992: Michael defrays the funeral-expenses for Ramon Sanchez, who was killed during the Los Angeles riots.

June 23, 1992: At a press conference in London, Michael makes an announcement about his Heal The World Foundation.

June 26, 1992: Michael presents the Mayor of Munich, Mr. Kronawitter, with a 40,000 DM-check for the needy people of the city.

June 29, 1992: Michael visits the Sophia Children’s Hospital in Rotterdam and presents a check for 100,000 pounds.

July 1992: Michael donated L. 821,477,296 to La Partita del Cuore (The Heart Match) in Rome and donated 120,000 DM to children’s charities in Estonia and Latvia.

July 25, 1992: On the occasion of a concert in Dublin, Ireland, Michael announces that he will give 400,000 pounds of the tour earnings to various charities.

July 29, 1992: Michael visits the Queen Elizabeth Children’s Hospital in London. To the surprise the children, he brings Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from Euro-Disney to the hospital.

July 31, 1992: On the Eve of his second concert at Wembley Stadium, Michael presents Prince Charles with a check of 200,000 pounds for the Prince’s Trust.

August 16, 1992: 6 year old Nicholas Killen, who lost his eyesight caused by a life aiding cancer surgery, meets Michael backstage in Leeds, England.

September 1992: Michael donated 1 million pesetas to charity headed by the Queen of Spain.

September 30, 1992: President Iliescuof Romania inaugurates a playground for 500 orphans which Michael has financed. Michael discusses his Heal The World Foundation.

October 1, 1992: Michael chooses a concert in Bucharest, Romania for worldwide television broadcast. Bucharest is a logical choice due to the numerous orphanages the country is known for.

November 24, 1992: At Kennedy Airport in New York, Michael supervises the loading of 43 tons of medication, blankets, andwinter clothes destined for Sarajevo. The Heal The World Foundation collaborates with AmeriCares to bring resources totaling $2.1 million to Sarajevo. They will be allocated under the supervision of the United Nations.

December 10, 1992: During a press conference at the American Ambassy in Tokyo Michael is presented with a check for $100,000 for the Heal The World Foundation by Tour Sponsor Pepsi.

December 26, 1992: During a broadcast request for donations to the United Negro College Fund, Michael declares: “Black Colleges and Universities are breeding some of the leading personalities of our time. They are on top in business, justice, science and technologies, politics and religion. I am proud, that the Michael Jackson Scholarship Program enabled more than 200 young men and women to get a qualified education.”

January 19, 1993: Michael is one of the stars to perform at the Presidential Inauguration of Bill Clinton. Before he sings “Gone Too Soon” he draws the attention to the plights of the victims of AIDS and mentions his friend Ryan White.

January 26, 1993: At a press conference held at Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, Michael is presented with a $200,000 donation from the National Football League and the Sponsors of the Super Bowl. He gets another $500,000 from the BEST Foundation for his Heal The World Foundation. At this occasion the foundation of “Heal L.A.” is officially announced.

February 1993: In association with Sega, launched an initiative to distribute more than $108,000 of computer games and equipment to children’s hospitals, children’s homes, and children’s charities throughout the U.K.

March 1993: The foundation of an independent film company is announced. They will produce family-oriented movies. A part of the earnings will go to the Heal The World Foundation.

March 27, 1993: At a meeting at Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, Michael gives a 5-minute speech to 1200 teachers and politicians.

April 26, 1993: Within his “Heal LA” tour, Michael visits the Watta Health Foundation, and two schools in Los Angeles South Central.

May 5, 1993: Former President Jimmy Carter and Michael, who are chairmen of the “Heal Our Children/Heal The World” initiative, are in Atlanta to promote their “Atlanta Project Immunization Drive”.

June 1993: Michael has announced that he will donate $1.25 million for children who have suffered from the riots in Los Angeles.

June 1993: 100 children from the Challengers Boys and Girls Club visit Neverland.

June 10, 1993: Michael promotes the new DARE-program. The purpose of the program is to inform children about the dangers of drug abuse.

June 18, 1993: Michael pays a visit to a hospital in Washington. He spends several hours with the young patients and plays chess with some of them.

August 1993: WithPepsi-Cola Thailand, donated $40,000 to Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s charity, the Rural School Children and Youth Development Fund, in support of school lunch programs in rural villages in Thailand.

August 1993: In conjunction with Pepsi-Cola International, donated new ambulances to the Contacts One Independent Living Center for Children in Moscow, Russia and the Hospital de Ninos Dr. Ricardo Gutierrez in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

October 1993: Donated $100,000 to the Children’s Defense Fund, the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, the Atlanta Project, and the Boys and Girl Clubs of Newark, New Jersey.

October 22, 1993: Michael visits a hospital in Santiago.

October 28, 1993: Michael makes it possible for 5000 underprivileged children to visit the Reino Aventura Park, where the whale Keiko (”Free Willy”) is living.

November 5, 1993: Michael is guest at a children’s party at the Hard Rock Cafe in Mexico City.

December 1993: With the Gorbachev Foundation, airlifted 60,000 doses of children’s vaccines to Tblisi, Georgia.

December 16, 1993: The Heal The World Foundation UK supports “Operation Christmas Child” delivering toys, sweets, gifts and food to children in former Yugoslavia.

1994: Michael donates $500,000 to Elizabeth Taylor’s AIDS Foundation.

January 7, 1994: On the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Michael gives a party for more than 100 underprivileged children at his Neverland Ranch.

February 22, 1994: “The Jackson Family Honors” is televised. The earnings of the show are given to their own newly formed charity, “Family Caring for Families”.

August 6, 1994: Michael and his wife Lisa Marie are visiting two children’s hospitals in Budapest. They distribute toys to the ill children.

1995: Michael wants to free dolphins who have been locked up for years. He believes there should be legal guidelines about the way dolphins have to live in zoos and parks.

March 1995: Little Bela Farkas received a new liver. Michael and Lisa Marie met this 4-year-old boy during their trip to Hungary in 1994. Michael did everything to help Bela, whose only chance to live was getting a new liver. The Heal The World Foundation covered the surgery and the cost for caring.

June 21, 1996: Michael donated a four-times platinum disc of “HIStory” in aid of the Dunblane appeal at the Royal Oak Hotel, Sevenoaks in England.

July 18, 1996: In Soweto, South Africa Michael is laying down a wreath of flowers for youngsters who have been killed during the fights involving Apartheid.

September 1996: The first Sports Festival “Hope” was held for orphans and disadvantaged children. 3000 children and 600 volunteers took part in the Sports Festival and Michael Jackson was a special guest.

September 6, 1996: Michael visits the children’s unit of a hospital in Prague.

October 1996: Michael visited a hospital for mentally challenged children in Kaoshiung, Taiwan and offered 2,000 free tickets to the sold out performance in Kaoshiung.

October 1, 1996: Michael donated the proceeds of his Tunisia concert to “The National Solidarity Fund”, a charity dedicated to fighting poverty.

October 3, 1996: Michael visits a children’s hospital and brings small gifts for the patients during a HIStorytour visit in Amsterdam. A room in the hospital (for parents who want to be with their children) is named after Michael.

November 1, 1996: Michael donates most of the earnings from a HIStory concert in Bombay, India to the poor people of the country.

November 7, 1996: Before his first concert in Auckland, New Zealand, Michael fulfills the wish of little Emely Smith, who is suffering from cancer, who wants to meet Michael.

November 25, 1996: Michael visited the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, delivering toys, signing autographs, and visiting with children.

December 9, 1996: During a HIStory tour visit in Manila, Michael visits a children’s hospital. He announces that a part of his concert earnings will be donated to the renovation of the hospital.

January 25, 1997: Michael waved his personal fee for his Bombay appearance and donated $1.1 million to a local charity helping to educate children living in slums.

April 4, 1997: British magazine “OK!” is publishing exclusive photos of Michael’s son Prince. The magazine pays about 1 million pounds for the photos. Michael donates the money to charity.

June 18, 1997: Michael signed the “Children in Need” book auctioned by the charity UNESCO.

September 1998: Michael meets 5 year old Aza Woods, who suffers from cancer, at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. Michael introduces Aza to the attraction “Star Trek: The Experience” andspends the rest of the afternoon with the little boy. Finally Michael invites Azato spend some time with him at his Neverland Ranch.

November 16, 1998: Michael arrives in Harare, Zimbabwe. He is a member of the American Delegation invited by the Minister of Defense. The delegation thanks the government of Zimbabwe for helping to keep the peace in this area.

September 4, 1999: Michael presented Nelson Mandela with a check for 1,000,000 South African rand for the “Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.”

January 22, 2000: During Christmas last year a violent storm ravaged the park of the Chateau de Versailles and destroyed 10,000 trees in the park. The estimated cost for rebuilding the park is around $20 million. Some celebrities are supporting the restoration of the park. French officials are reporting that Michael Jackson is one of them. He was one of the first people to donate money to this cause.

October 28, 2000:Michael painted a plate to be auctioned for the “Carousel of Hope Ball” benefiting childhood diabetes research.

March 6, 2001: Michael donated a black hat, a birthday phone-call and a jacket worn at the Monaco Music Awards in 2000 to the Movie Action for Children auction, an event being given by UNICEF with all proceeds will going to UNICEF’s efforts to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in Africa.

March 26, 2001: Michael handed out books to young people at a Newark, NJ theater. The event, which helped to launch the Michael Jackson International Book Club, part of his new Heal the Kids charity, aims to promote childhood reading and encourage parents to return to reading bedtime stories.

September 15, 2002: Michael donated 16 exclusively autographed items consisting of CD’s, videos and 2 cotton napkins to aid in the support of the victims of a severe flood in Germany. These items were auctioned off for charity and managed to raise 3935 Euro (US$ 3,814).

October 12, 2002: Michael Jackson invited more than 200 Team Vandenberg members, who recently returned from overseas deployments, and their families to his Neverland Ranch. This was to show his appreciation for the sacrifices the military in his community make.

November 19-29, 2002: Michael donated an autographed teddy bear dressed in his likeness to Siegfried & Roy’s celebrity teddy bear auction. This auction benefits Opportunity Village which is a non-profit organization based in LasVegas (USA) that enhances the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. Michael’s autographed teddy bear raised $5,000 for the charity.

November 21, 2002: Michael donated a jacket to the The Bambi Charity Event in Berlin which raised $16,000.

April 25, 2002: Michael Jackson performed at a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee at the Apollo Theater in Harlem helping to raise nearly $3 million dollars towards voter registration.

June 2003: The Wolf family, who experienced serious damages to their belongings during the flood in Saxony, Germany last August, was invited to Berlin by Michael Jackson when he was at the Bambi Awards. On that occasion Michael invited them to Neverland. In June, they spent three days at Neverland, meeting Michael and his children.

Charity Awards

May 14, 1984: At a ceremony in the White House President Reagan presents Michael an award for special efforts; he is honored for his participation in a national ad campaign against drunk driving.

January 1989: The “Say Yes To A Youngsters Future” program honors Michael in recognition of his efforts to encourage children to natural sciences and award him with the “National Urban Coalition Artist/Humanitarian Of The Year Award”.

March 1989: At the Universal Amphitheater in Universal City, California, Michael receives the Black Radio Special Award for his humanitarian efforts.

September 22, 1989: The Capital Children’s Museum awards Michael with the Best Of Washington 1989 Humanitarian Award in recognition of his efforts to raise money for the museum, and for his never-ending support of children.

February 3, 1990: From Japan Michael receives a Role Model Award.

April 5, 1990: During a ceremony, where Michael is awarded as “Entertainer Of The Decade”, Michael meets President George Bush, who honors him with the “Point Of Light” award. Michael receives this award for his philanthropic activities. President Bush explains Michael’s humanitarian commitments to the press.

September 14, 1990: The Council of the American Scouts honors Michael with the first “Good Scout Humanitarian Award”. Michael receives this award for his humanitarian activities by supporting the Make A Wish Foundation, the Prince’s Trust, the United Negro College Fund and Childhelp USA.

October 23, 1990: Michael Jackson and Elton John will be the first recipients of the award in memory of Ryan White, which will be handed over in 1991.

May 1, 1992: President George Bush presents Michael with the “Point of Light” award for his continuing support of deprived children. During his stay, Michael visits little Raynal Pope, who had been injured very badly by dogs.

June 3, 1992: The organization “One To One”, who is caring for better living conditions of young people, honors Michael with an award for his commitment to deprived youngsters.

July 1993: The American Friends of Hebrew University honors Michael with the Scopus Award 1993.

August 1993: The Jack The Rapper Awards are presented and Michael is honored with the “Our Children, Our Hope Of Tomorrow” award.

November 17, 1993: Michael rejects the Scopus Award. He was nominated for this award, which was planned to be given him on January 29th, 1994.

April 12, 1994: On occasion of the 2nd Children’s Choice Award ceremony at Cit Center in New York, Michael is presented with the “Caring For Kids” award. This award is to honor celebrities, who take time for young people. 100,000 children and young people from 8 to 18 years old gave Michael their vote of confidence. The Children’s Choice Awards are sponsored by Body Sculpt, a charity organization, that offers drug-prevention programs for young people.

November 2, 1995: Michael receives the award “Diamond of Africa”.

March, 30, 1996: The Ark Trust-Foundation, who wants to draw the attention of the public eye on animal’s problems, presents the 10th Genesis Award. Michael is presented with the 1995 Doris Day Award. He gets this award for the “Earth Song” video, which draws attention to the plight of the animals.

May 1, 1999: At the Bollywoodawards in New York, Michael is presented with an award for his humanitarian activities. The award is signed: “Though he comes from the young American tradition, Michael is the embodiment of an old indian soul. His actions are an expression of the philosophy of Weda, which asked to work for the people – not for one’s own interests.”

Organizations

The Millennium-Issue of the “Guinness Book Of Records” names Michael as the Pop Star who supports the most charity organizations. The following projects are supported by Michael Jackson:

AIDS Project L.A.
American Cancer Society
Angel Food
Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles
BMI Foundation
Brotherhood Crusade
Brothman Burn Center
Camp Ronald McDonald
Childhelp U.S.A.
Children’s Institute International
Cities and Schools Scholarship Fund
Community Youth Sports & Arts Foundation
Congressional Black Caucus
Dakar Foundation
Dreamstreet Kids
Dreams Come True Charity
Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation
Heal The World Foundation
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
Love Match
Make A Wish Foundation
Minority Aids Project
Motown Museum
NAACP
National Rainbow Coalition
Rotary Club of Australia
Society of Singers
Starlight Foundation
The Carter Center’s Atlanta Project
The Sickle Cell Research Foundation
Transafrica
United Negro College Fund
United Negro College Fund Ladder’s of Hope
Volunteers of America
Watts Summer Festival
Wish Granting
YMCA – 28th Street/Crenshaw
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America

This is the oldest mentoring organization serving youth in the USA.
BBBSA has provided one-to-one mentoring relationships between adult volunteers and children at risk since 1904. BBBSA currently serves over 100,000 children and youth in more than 500 agencies throughout all of the United States.

BMI Foundation

From jazz to musical theater, from music education for gifted youngsters to support for the work of accomplished concert music composers, the BMI Foundation seeks out the best and most promising of today’s and tomorrow’s musical creators and offers a platform of support that fosters their growth and ensures the continuation of the heritage of American musical ingenuity for generations to come.

Childhelp USA

Childhelp USA is dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused and neglected children focusing efforts and resources upon treatment, prevention.

Children’s Institute International

This is a private, non-profit organization specializing in the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect. Over the past 90 years, CII has evolved from a shelter for single mothers and their babies to an internationally recognized model of comprehensive care and assistance for at-risk children and their families. CII assistance includes child and family assessment supported by 24-hour emergency residential shelter care, family treatment services, therapeutic day care, child health clinic, long-term foster family care, and substance abuse treatment and prevention services.

Make A Wish Foundation fulfills the favorite wish of any child between the age of 2 ½ and 18 who has a diagnosed life-threatening illness.

Camp Ronald McDonald
Camp for children with cancer.

With 750+ Million Records Sold

Michael Jackson Has Given More Than
$300+ Million to Charities!

Michael Jackson’s outstanding charitable works have gone mostly under reported by media who have celebrated him as an entertainer or attacked him based on allegations.

This is from Steve at oreilly-sucks.com:

Neither Peter King, Bernie Goldberg, or Bill O’Reilly ever mentioned all the money Michael Jackson donated to charity, or all the humanitarian work he did. O’Reilly hammers him for spending possibly $500 million dollars in his life, which is his right in a free country, and you dont see O’Reilly hammer rich white Republicans for spending billions in their life, while ignoring the fact that it has been reported Jackson gave $300 million dollars to charity, and possibly raised another $500 million for other charities. O’Reilly ignores all that, and never says a word about it.

Michael Jackson is a true humanitarian. He devoted a lot of time andmoney to a wide range of charities. He loves children and took time out when touring to secretly vist sick children. He also had special rooms at his home for sick and terminally ill children to stay over. And he was listed in the 2000 edition of the Guiness Book Of World Records for breaking the world record for the “Most Charities Supported By a Pop Star”.

And yet dumbass O’Reilly ignored it all, and stated that Michael Jackson was just a guy who could sing and dance well. Then he was outraged that African Americans would claim him as one of their own, and make him and African American Icon. The outrage here is how stupid and biased Bill O’Reilly is, for trashing the man before he is even in the grave. While ignoring all the money he gave to charity, and all the good things he did for America, the kids, and the world, that’s the outrage.

The outrage is when racist a-holes like King, Goldberg, and O’Reilly, all white Republican men btw, trash an American Icon and the king of pop. Then he has the nerve to tell black people who they can make an African American Icon, who the hell does he think he is, God?

And the worst part is that O’Reilly’sracism is so normal to him he does not even understand he is a racist, and denies it. Because if Michael Jackson was white he would not be saying or doing any of this garbage. If Jackson was white, O’Reilly would be defending him, and attacking the people who are saying the bad things about him before he is even in the grave. Just as he did after Jerry Falwell died, instead he has become one of the attackers of Michael Jackson.

O’Reilly claims to report the facts, all the facts, then he totally ignores the fact that Michael Jackson donated hundreds of million of dollars to charity. And he trashes the guy before he is even in the grave, and before the family has had time to get over his death. Which makes O’Reilly a lowlife right-wing racist a-hole in my book.

Whether you agree with Steve or not, O’Reilly’s attack on Jackson certainly makes it reasonable to question the conservative talk show host’s motivation.

What is Brian Kilmeade Thinking?

Those of you who regularly follow this blog know I don’t think too highly of the Fox News show Fox and Friends (mainly because their hosts leave plenty to be desired in my opinion). Brian Kilmeade, probably the most hardcore right wing of them all, offered this head-scratching comment that almost sounds as if it could have been lifted from a white supremacist Web site. Honestly, this truly is disturbing stuff coming from Kilmeade who failed to get the hint that he needed to shut his trap and quickly reflect about how he was throwing himself under the bus.

GRETCHEN CARLSON (co-host): Speaking of spouses –

BRIAN KILMEADE (co-host): Yes.

CARLSON: — did you know that being married is healthy for you? At least when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia or things like that. This group did a study. They first interviewed middle-aged people around 50 in the 1970s and the 1980s, and then they came back to look at them 21 years later. Those who were married at that point in their life, in the midpoint of their life, ended up having much fewer cases of Alzheimer’s than those who were –

DAVE BRIGGS (guest co-host): Yeah.

CARLSON: — divorced, single, widowed, et cetera.

BRIGGS: I’m kind of conflicted on this one. Because on one hand, I think my wife keeps me sane, because I lose everything and she helps me find it. But I leave cabinets open –

CARLSON: You too, huh?

BRIGGS: Does your husband leave cabinets open?

CARLSON: That first thing you said.

BRIGGS: Losing things? Right?

CARLSON: Yeah.

BRIGGS: But I leave these cabinets open all over the house. I come back in the room, and they’re closed. And sometimes I think I’m losing my marbles a little bit. Then I realize she just likes to come behind me and –

CARLSON: She’s just looking out for you, Mr. Briggs.

BRIGGS: — close things and put things away.

KILMEADE: I’m just amazed that they thought about doing this study in the — by interviewing people in the 1970s and the 1980s.

BRIGGS: A little dated, you think?

KILMEADE: The average is 50, and they see that they keep it together. I find this — I find this somewhat –

BRIGGS: Go ahead.

KILMEADE: Different. Leave it to the Finns and Swedes to some up with something. They literally –

CARLSON: Don’t look at me, pal.

KILMEADE: Because that’s a — we are — we’re — we’re a — we’re — we keep marrying other species and other ethnics and other –

CARLSON: Are you sure they’re not suffering from some of the –

KILMEADE: I mean, the Swedes –

CARLSON: — causes of dementia right now?

BRIGGS: What are you getting at?

KILMEADE: See, the problem is, the Swedes have pure genes.

BRIGGS: OK.

KILMEADE: Because they marry other Swedes. Because that’s the rule. Finland — Finns marry other Finns, so they have a pure society. In America, we marry everybody.

BRIGGS: OK.

KILMEADE: So, we’ll marry Italians and Irish.

BRIGGS: So, this study does not apply?

KILMEADE: Does not apply to us.

BRIGGS: Huh. You are a scientist.

CARLSON: Amazing deduction, Kilmeade.

BRIGGS: Scientist.

KILMEADE: That’s a — those are –

BRIGGS: Dr. Kilmeade, it is.

KILMEADE: That’s how I feel.

BRIGGS: All right.

CARLSON: Thank you for filling us in on that –

BRIGGS: Let’s see how he feels –

CARLSON: — Italian-Irish man.

Kilmeade said, “… we keep marrying other species and other ethnics and other –”

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

As that one crook said in the 1983 Dirty Harry movie Sudden Impact, “Who is we, sucka?”

The depth and breadth of Kilmeade’s stupidity (driven by an obsessive right-wing ideology) never ceases to amaze.

You know you’re screwing up when Gretchen Carlson is trying to stop you from looking and sounding like an idiot (or worse).

The look on Carlson’s face says it all and it’s hard to go too far to the right of her.

Check out the video at Media Matters:
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/07/08/qotd/index.html?source=video&aim=/politics/war_room

Daily Kos:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/7/8/751373/-Fox-and-Friends-Host-Argues-for-Racially-Pure-Society

Salon:
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/07/08/qotd/

Rick Santorum’s Comments Are Misguided And One Dimensional

Rick Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, was on Greta Van Susteren’s Fox News show doing what conservatives do: defending Sarah Palin and whining about the mainstream media. Santorum scoffed at the idea that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was roughed up the way so many conservatives feel that Palin has been roughed up. Rick, this is big-time Washington politics. If she can’t fight through it as governor of Alaska then how is she going to fight through it as president of the United States? Clinton fought through all of the attacks against her and her family and, arguably, endured much worse than Palin has had to deal with and she is still a pillar of strength to this day.

Santorum claimed that people rough up women and blacks who are conservatives and cited U.S. Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas as an example. The objection to Thomas is less about being a black conservative and more about his policies which many consider to be anti-black (policies that some people feel he benefited from and now wants to pull the ladder up with him since he has made it to the top). That is why some considered (and still consider) Clarence Thomas an “Uncle Tom.” As one counter example, many blacks still appreciated Gen. Colin Powell even as he voted for Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush (something many Republicans don’t talk about when they try to ridiculously portray him as a closet liberal who only supported Barack Obama for the presidency because he was black).

There are many women conservatives who have not been beat up as conservatives claim Sarah Palin is being beaten up.

Here is a list from the National Federation of Republican Women.

I see only two women who get negative media attention (as Santorum and other conservatives might see it): Palin and Rep. Michele Bachmann. Palin and Bachmann have provided (all well documented … especially Bachmann, who is the gift that keeps giving) their opponents with all kinds of ammunition. Hey, as off the wall as Bachmann can be, she somehow managed to get herself reelected in Minnesota. In other words, their criticism is self-created criticism.

Hater Rep. Peter King Finds A Safe Haven On O’Reilly’s Show

Bill O’Reilly had an “O’Reilly Exclusive” on his Fox News show, The O’Reilly Factor last night. It seems reasonable it’s an exclusive. Why would he want to share an opportunity to host Republican Rep. Peter King, a hater who has viciously trashed Michael Jackson since his death.

It seems conservatives typically turn to Fox News when they get in trouble or need to get their message out.

This is from Huffington Post:

New York Congressman Peter King (R) came under fire for his extremely harsh comments about Michael Jackson, calling him a “child molester,” a “pervert,” and a “pedophile.” However, he’s doubling down on his statement with his appearance tonight on “The O’Reilly Factor.”

It seems fairly natural, Rep. King went for this “exclusive” where he would feel comfortable: on Fox News and with O’Reilly (though Sean Hannity would likely have offered even more comfort).

Rep. King seems to have a dark, dark soul to come out with that kind of hatred against Michael Jackson.

As I said, he may not be racist, but he clearly is a jackass for trashing a dead man who was a phenomenal entertainer and who did great humanitarian work around the world.

Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/08/peter-king-on-calling-mic_n_228337.html

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Rep. Steve King Not Interested In Recognizing Work Of Slaves In Building Capitol

Rep. Steve King, an infamous Iowa Republican, was the lone member of the House of Representatives to vote against (399-1) a resolution designed to recognize (with a marker) the role that slaves played in the construction of the United States Capitol Building. The resolution’s text hardly comes across as something that should in any way be offensive or controversial.

Whereas enslaved African-Americans performed the backbreaking work of quarrying the stone which comprised many of the floors, walls, and columns of the Capitol…

Whereas recognition of the contributions of enslaved African-Americans brings to all Americans an understanding of the continuing evolution of our representative democracy; and

Whereas a marker dedicated to the enslaved African-Americans who helped to build the Capitol will reflect the charge of the Capitol Visitor Center to teach visitors about Congress and its development…

Here is what Rep. King said the following as an explanation:

In the Capitol Visitor’s Center, we agreed to change the name of the Great Hall – which honored the immigrants that came legally to America – to Emancipation Hall to honor the 645,000 slaves and their descendants who were brought to the United States more than two centuries ago.

Last night I opposed yet another bill to erect another monument to slavery because it was used as a bargaining chip to allow for the actual depiction of ‘In God We Trust’ in the CVC. The Architect of the Capitol and liberal activists opposed every reference to America’s Christian heritage, even to the extent of scrubbing ‘In God We Trust’ from the depiction of the actual Speaker’s chair in the U.S. House of Representatives.

This is just the latest example of a several year effort by liberals in Congress to scrub references to America’s Christian heritage from our nation’s Capitol. Liberals want to amend our country’s history to eradicate the role of Christianity in America and chisel references to God or faith from our historical buildings.

Our Judeo-Christian heritage is an essential foundation stone of our great nation and should not be held hostage to yet another effort to place guilt on future Americans for the sins of some of their ancestors. Christian abolitionists gave their lives by the hundreds of thousands to end slavery. Great American leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. worshipped God just as our Founding Fathers did. We must never forget this important aspect of our heritage or use it as a political bargaining chip.

Isn’t Rep. King using it as a political bargaining chip? It kind of seems like it. At 399-1, his vote was insignificant in terms of the final outcome, yet fairly symbolic in the statement it makes.

This vote kind of gives a glimpse into what darkness exists in the heart and soul of Steve King. It’s sad Rep. King would spit in the face of hard-working slaves who made such an important contribution to building the U.S. Capitol Building. He then smears liberals by saying they “want to amend our country’s history to eradicate the role of Christianity in America and chisel references to God or faith from our historical buildings.” That’s just plain stupid. He then tries to help his own futile cause by invoking the name of Dr. Martin Luther King. If Rep. King feels so strongly about the religious aspect then he should speak up, but to spit on the hard work that slaves put in to help build a historical part of this country (to play partisan politics) is disgraceful.

Here is an update from Talking Points Memo:

DCCC national press secretary Ryan Rudominer gives us this statement: “Steve King’s lone vote against acknowledging the role slaves played in the construction of the United States Capitol is a slap in the face to the very sacrifices and contributions African Americans made to our nation. This is the latest in a long line of erratic behavior from King that has made him an embarrassment to Iowans and to the Republican Party.”

Talking Points Memo:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/steve-king-i-opposed-yet-another-bill-to-commemorate-slavery-in-order-to-protect-judeo-christian-her.php

Check out the Think Progress story that documents some of Rep. Steve King’s history: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/08/steve-king-slavery-capitol/

Puzzling Post From Victoria Jackson On Big Hollywood

When Victoria Jackson speaks I am reminded of an exchange between characters played by Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan in the movie Rush Hour 2:

DETECTIVE LEE: “Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?”
DETECTIVE CARTER: “Don’t nobody understand the words that are comin outta your mouth man.”

With that established, here is what Huffington Post cited from Jackson’s bizarre rant on Big Hollywood:

I woke up in the middle of the night and realized the trick.

You see, evil doesn’t just show up. It disguises itself as something nice; so you’ll let it in. It tricks you. [...]

Social Security and Medicare are broke. Baby boomers, like me, are getting old and will soon be asking for it. Socialized medicine makes people die. You stand in a long, long line with a breast lump, clogged artery, or sharp pencil stuck in your eye, and someone like the DMV person, who can’t speak English, has chewing gum, an attitiude [sic], really long fake nails that curl up at the end, and is talking on a cell phone, enjoying their power trip moment, is finally face to face with you. They mumble something incoherent about paperwork. You die. One less person in line for Social Security and Medicare!

Obama legally kills babies and now he can legally kill Grandmas!

Hitler did this. He killed the weak, the sick, the old, and babies and races/religions he didn’t like. Hitler also controlled the media. (Where’s the public debate between scientists on “Climate Change/Global Warming?”) Hitler had the VW bug invented as the state car. What will O’s nationalized car be? So… kill off the weak. That’s the plan. Tax the workers to death. Erase the middle class. Sounds like the evil governments we studied in high school long ago. The evil governments were : kings, oligarchies, facist [sic], socialist, and communist. Now it’s called the Obama Administration. Sounds like candy or a rock band.

You see, evil doesn’t just show up. It disguises itself as something nice; so you’ll let it in. It tricks you. [...]

Social Security and Medicare are broke. Baby boomers, like me, are getting old and will soon be asking for it. Socialized medicine makes people die.You stand in a long, long line with a breast lump, clogged artery, or sharp pencil stuck in your eye, and someone like the DMV person, who can’t speak English, has chewing gum, an attitiude [sic], really long fake nails that curl up at the end, and is talking on a cell phone, enjoying their power trip moment, is finally face to face with you. They mumble something incoherent about paperwork. You die. One less person in line for Social Security and Medicare!

Obama legally kills babies and now he can legally kill Grandmas!

Hitler did this. He killed the weak, the sick, the old, and babies and races/religions he didn’t like. Hitler also controlled the media. (Where’s the public debate between scientists on “Climate Change/Global Warming?”) Hitler had the VW bug invented as the state car. What will O’s nationalized car be? So… kill off the weak. That’s the plan. Tax the workers to death. Erase the middle class. Sounds like the evil governments we studied in high school long ago. The evil governments were : kings, oligarchies, facist [sic], socialist, and communist. Now it’s called the Obama Administration. Sounds like candy or a rock band.

Did she really right this? Was this a joke? How dark and morbid is that rant from Jackson?

If not, Victoria Jackson has gone nuts. This is too laughable and nutty to even attack, but not too laughable to point out. It would take way too much time to smash every irrational statement in her writing.

Jackson states ”Obama legally kills babies and now he can legally kill Grandmas!”

Jackson is a less stable and more irrational version of Sarah Palin.

Let Planters know Victoria Jackson may be the perfect spouse for Mr. Peanut to give up bachelor status. They’re both nutty.

News Hounds Documents Bill O’Reilly And Bernard Goldberg’s Attacks On Michael Jackson And Black People

Conservatives Bill O’Reilly and Bernard Goldberg were on Fox News jumping all over the black people while slamming Michael Jackson (after his death) … it was kind of an all-you-can-eat buffet of hate for the two men. News Hounds has documented so much of the angry comments from Goldberg (nothing like a clearly-biased media critic) including defending Rep. Peter King’s reprehensible comments, bringing up the unproven child molestation charges against Michael Jackson to invoking the name O.J. Simpson to smear black people, in general, and Michael Jackson, specifically.

Here is one excerpt from the News Hounds blog:

Then Goldberg added, “What makes this thing with Michael Jackson so sad… is that it’s not enough for the elites to simply… honor him as a great American entertainer. They have to make him a black hero.”

So what, exactly is wrong with that? And what gives Goldberg the right to decide who should be a hero for anyone else? Sure, there are very troubling aspects of Michael Jackson’s life, especially in his later years, but over his 40+ year career, there was lots to admire. It wasn’t just African Americans who thought so. Who could listen to Brooke Shields’ heartfelt eulogy and not feel that there was plenty to love in Jackson’s character?

On the other hand, Goldberg, who, unlike Shields, did not seem to know Jackson, sneered, “A black hero of a man who bleached his skin to the point that at the end he was as white as you and me? It’s one thing to honor him as an entertainer. But as a civil rights hero? That just strikes me as ridiculous.” The truth is, Jackson wassomething of a civil rights here. As Rev. Al Sharpton explained, Jackson fans “grew up from being teenage comfortable fans of Michael to being 40 years old and being comfortable to vote for a person of color to be the president of the United States of America.” Also, Jackson broke an extremely important color barrier when his videos were played on MTV.

But “fair and balanced” O’Reilly did not point out those positive aspects of Jackson’s career. Instead, he allowed Goldberg to further and gratuitously malign the black community as he said, “Then again, to many black people, if you remember the reaction after he was acquitted, O.J. Simpson was a hero.”

“Here’s the sad part, Bill. Race in this country is the wound that never seems to heal,” Goldberg added. Yeah, and we can guess at whose feet Goldberg lays most of the blame.

The anger coming from Goldberg is the elephant in the room.

Here are a few takes I will leave you with:

I doubt many people are thinking of Rep. King as racist. He may or may not be racist, but he clearly is a crass jackass with little class.

Lastly, I will leave you with this from the same News Hounds blog:

Palin was, in fact, up next in the discussion. But unlike Jackson, Palin’s bizarre behavior was not to be mentioned, much less criticized. O’Reilly complained about “the glee” that CNN’s Rick Sanchez, whom he referred to as “that clown,” supposedly exhibited by asking reporter Candy Crowley whether Palin might have resigned from the governorship because she’s pregnant again. Maybe I missed it but I didn’t see any glee from Sanchez. But whatever it was, it paled in comparison to the kinds of attacks on Jackson made by Goldberg and O’Reilly right on that very show.

“You don’t have to express every thought that pops into your head and certainly not on national television,” Goldberg said, by way of “friendly advice” to Sanchez. Goldberg then ran through his list of “legitimate” kinds of speculation over Palin’s resignation: whether she quit to run for president or to make money in the private sector. “But it is not legitimate speculation to wonder out loud… if she’s pregnant.”

The reason I am citing this is because it is classic O’Reilly. Notice he singled out Rick Sanchez of CNN? In classic O’Reilly fashion, if you call him out he will use his platform to get you back at some point (if not repeatedly). If you recall, Sanchez lit into O’Reilly for lying about CNN’s coverage of the death of Pvt. William Long. Even when O’Reilly apologized for his falsehood he attacked Sanchez and is back on the attack again.

This was another case of paybacks from O’Reilly, who again abuses his Fox News platform to wage his personal battles against many who dare criticize him.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Nutrition And Fitness Expert Jason Whitlock Slams Serena Williams

While Serena Williams was basking in the glow of yet another dominating performance in winning the 2009 Wimbledon women’s tennis championship, someone was plotting against her: Enter columnist Jason Whitlock with this gem: “Serena could be the best ever, but ….”

At age 27 — the same age as Federer — Serena owns just half as many major titles (11) as Steffi Graf, the greatest women’s player of all time. That’s a terrible shame.

With a reduction in glut, a little less butt and a smidgen more guts, Serena Williams would easily be as big as Michael Jackson, dwarf Tiger Woods and take a run at Rosa Parks.

You can call me unfair. You can even scream that I’m sexist.

But there’s an inescapable truth about Serena Williams: She’s an underachiever.

And all the people making excuses for Serena and rationalizing her failure to totally dominate women’s tennis are the very people uninterested in seeing women rise to a level of equality with men.

Those are quite the strong statements to make in trashing Serena Williams after a strong performance to win yet another Wimbledon title. Attacking Serena for her build seems inappropriate and ignorant considering the way she has stood atop the sport of tennis during her career.

It takes guts and conditioning to win a championship of that magnitude. Hell, look at the guts Andy Roddick showed as he fell to Roger Federer in the men’s final.

More from Whitlock:

Serena Williams has all the ingredients to be Michael Jordan, Jim Brown and Muhammad Ali rolled into one made-for-TV package. She is quite possibly the most gifted female athlete in our lifetime.

Unfortunately for us, she lacks the courage to fulfill her destiny.

She’d rather eat, half-ass her way through non-major tournaments and complain she’s not getting the respect her 11-major-championships résumé demands.

She complains about being ranked No. 2 in the world when she’s not bitching on Twitter or her blog about new rules that forbid Wimbledon players from eating in the locker room.

Seriously, how else can Serena fill out her size 16 shorts without grazing at her stall between matches?

I know, you think I’m a hypocrite. No, I’m not. Sports writers are supposed to be plump and lazy. I’m fulfilling my destiny.

And you probably think I don’t like Serena. You’re wrong. I love her. She’s the main reason I watch tennis. She’s fascinating. Her power and skill are breathtaking. And when she’s in shape, she’s every bit as sexy as Beyonce.

Again, these attacks on Serena Williams’ build strike me as wrong in addition to being misguided. Whitlock appears to be smearing Serena Williams in an effort simply to be controversial … you know … just because.

But, the main thrust of his column stinks.

Here is a argument counter to Whitlock from Carmen Dixon as published on Black Voices:

Leave it to sports columnist Jason Whitlock to take a glorious moment of athletic achievement and pervert into an overly simplistic and degrading evaluation of appropriate female booty size. Just two days after Serena Williams triumphed in her third Wimbledon win, this time over her big sister Venus, Whitlock comes out with a column slamming her body and athletic accomplishments.

I would encourage you to read Dixon’s column (and Whitlock’s) as she makes some compelling points.

Look, Serena Williams is high athletic and very muscular – a combination rarely seen in women’s athletics.

Not all great athletes have to be thin as a pencil to be in good shape or to be in great shape.

Serena Williams is getting it done and has been a dominant player during long stretches of her career.

She doesn’t have to apologize for her great professional sports record and she sure as hell should not have to apologize for her physical build.

I will apologize for my build, but Serena doesn’t have to apologize for her’s.

Here is another thought about Whitlock’s attack on Serena Williams: http://www.examiner.com/x-2892-Faith–Media-Examiner~y2009m7d6-Columnist-Jason-Whitlock-goes-too-far-in-attacks-on-Serena-Williams

Remember this: Whitlock is playing the game. He is utilizing shock-and-awe columnist journalism by purposely running counter to mainstream opinion (with a healthy dose of shock value) to allow himself to stand out (the way he did in the Don Imus controversy).

Michelle Malkin Exemplifies What’s Wrong With Conservatives

Michelle Malkin is one of the biggest player haters out there in politics. But, her hate-producing skills are not limited to politics.

Check this garbage out as the wicked Malkin smears Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee for no good reason on a day when most people (even those with differing views) recognize the time to pay respect to Michael Jackson:

Oh, no, she didn’t.

Oh, yes, she did.

Democrat Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee just pimped the stupidest House resolution ever on stage at the Jacko memorial at Staples Center. She held up a big, framed copy of it as the crowd cheered. That was after she extolled “The King,” painted him as the world’s greatest humanitarian, and demagogued the child molestation cases by proclaiming that members of Congress “understand the Constitution” and “we understand laws” and we know that “people are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE!”

Yes, she did. Right there in front of Jacko’s three children.

I thought Al Sharpton’s memorial rant (“There was nothing strange about your daddy!”) was the low point for American culture.

Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, you win.

This is the kind of heartless attitude that is far to prevalent on the far-right of the political spectrum and why conservatives are so out of touch and moving toward extinction in a world that is becoming increasingly multicultural and diverse. The close-minded society that is the Republican Party continues to show the kind of mean-spirited and hateful attitude that turns so many good Americans off.

Michael Jackson’s Daughter Produces An Incredibly Moving Moment

abc_7-7

The most powerful moment of the public memorial service for Michael Jackson was when his 11-year-old daughter, Paris Katherine Jackson, offered a moving and heartfelt tribute to her father at Stapes Center in Los Angeles.

Paris Katherine Jackson said, “the best father you could ever imagine. Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him so much.”

What a magnificent and emotional statement from a child that Michael Jackson cared for and protected his children as only a parent could.

CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/07/michael.jackson.wrap/index.html

O’Reilly Wonders Why Blacks Are So Interested In Michael Jackson Coverage

Fox News conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly appeared a little puzzled as to why black Americans are so interested in coverage of Michael Jackson. Again, this illustrates O’Reilly’s lack of knowledge, lack of appreciation for and lack of respect for the so-called black community. O’Reilly miserably fails to appreciate that black people see more than skin color when they looked at Michael Jackson. Now, that is not to say that some people may not have been disappointed by some things Jackson did during his life, but that doesn’t mean they turned their backs on him. O’Reilly fails, also, to appreciate the huge impact that Jackson had on pop culture, the black community and on the world. Contrary to what O’Reilly may content, Michael Jackson was a trailblazer and was the first to cross over on such a large scale to appeal to people from all races, as an entertainer.

Were there a lot of black entertainers on MTV prior to Michael Jackson blowing up? Uh, no. Unlike O’Reilly, I am not going to get into one of these deals pitting black entertainers who came before Michael Jackson against Michael Jackson. There were some great male and female performers who helped set the stage for Michael Jackson, but what Jackson did for the entertainers of today is virtually immeasurable.

Excuse me, I digress a bit.

Here is what O’Reilly said citing the results of a Pew Research poll:

O’REILLY: Black Americans are much more engaged in watching this stuff than white Americans, even though Michael Jackson has white children – and he chose to have white children — and the face deal, don’t even want to get into … So what’s that racial thing all about?

Black people can appreciate him (and the impact he had on so many people through his abilities as an entertainer). The fact that he had white children and his skin mysteriously ligthened does not mean that black people can no longer appreciate him and his contributions any more than white people would appreciate him more because of that.

Are having white kids and lighter skin color disqualifying factors (in terms of black appreciation)?

Here is a Pew Research Poll that talks about interest in the deaths of celebrities. Note that Michael Jackson is not even at the top of the list.

Source: Pew Research Center

Source: Pew Research Center

It seems some of us have forgotten the intense media coverage surrounding the 2008 death of television anchor Tim Russert. The death of Princess Diana and John F. Kennedy are off the charts. I had actually forgotten how intense media coverage was of the death of Steve Irwin.
Maybe we should not act as though the coverage of Michael Jackson’s death is somehow unprecedented or ridiculously out of the ordinary.

Bill O’Reilly Brings On John Ziegler To Talk About Sarah Palin

Bill O’Reilly returned to the plantation (also known as The O’Reilly Factor) and hosted the far-right John Ziegler to discussSarah Palin’s decision to resign as governor of Alaska. The problem is … O’Reilly, a definite right winger posing as an impartial talk show host, clearly was not up front about John Ziegler’s very strong pro-Palin, blind-rage bias. O’Reilly seemed to try and portray Ziegler as some random radio talk show host who happened to have an opinion about Sarah Palin.

By the way, he just had Karl Rove (one of George W Bush’s right-hand men) on the show with no balance and he is bringing on Mary K. Ham and Juan Williams to probably try and portray President Obama as bankrupting the country.

Bill O’Reilly is definitely back and sitting comfortably to the far right of the political mainstream.

Fox News Analyst Liz Trotta Stuns With Harsh Criticism Of Sarah Palin

I watched (with absolute stunned disbelief), live, Fox News media analyst Liz Trotta as she ripped into Sarah Palin. Trotta, a true Fox News conservative shredded Palin so badly I was beginning to wonder if perhaps she was being too tough on the outgoing Alaska governor and should perhaps give Palin what boxing fans know as a standing eight count. Actually, I wasn’t going to blog anything about it. My approach, originally, was going to be to wait and see what others had to say and to see if anyone else came away with the same impression I had of the segment. Huffington Post writer Rachel Weiner had the same impression of the segment I had as I viewed it.

I got the impression the host felt Trotta had gone horribly off script with her criticisms of Palin. The host opened a segment by highlighting all of these criticisms of Palin and, from time to time, rolled up his sleeves and went to work in Palin’s defense.

Trotta certainly is no friend to liberals as she has shown repeatedly with jokes made in poor taste about Barack Obama and one-sided slams of figures who are not conservative and Republican.

In this case, however, she certainly took off the gloves and bloodied Sarah Palin before a national television audience on Fox News.

Here is part of what Huffington Post transcribed from the segment as Trotta lit into Palin:

“The woman is inarticulate, undereducated,” Trotta said, arguing that for once liberal criticism was “well-deserved.”

“I think all the liberal stylists … really have a case. She just begs for adjectives like flaky and wacky.” When pressed, she added, “We’re talking about somebody who, right from the get-go, has been a flashy person who gets into a lot of trouble and really has no credentials for any job.”

OUCH! Actually, I think Trotta was a little too harsh on Palin … especially bashing her education.

Fox Nation Cleverly Piling On Michael Jackson

This is one of the oldest partisan tricks in the book.

You want to use a headline to attack someone (in this case Michael Jackson) so what you do is you take something that someone else said, put single quote marks around it and run with it. Then, if someone calls you out on it, you say you were quoting someone else (when you could have simply said that in the first place and avoided the controversy.

But, if you’re Fox Nation, you thrive on controversy and partisan attacks on anything that is not (basically) ultra conservative.

Notice the headline does not read: “Congressman calls Michael Jackson a pervert”

Whoever posted this story was posting it to show how he or she feels about Jackson.

FOX NATION

Rep. Peter King Shows How Out Of Touch He Is … Not To Mention Vile And Disrespectful

Fox News, once again showing its tabloid tendencies by utilizing the name “Jacko” to describe Michael Jackson, has a story about some angry and hate-filled comments from angry New York Republican Rep. Peter King. Increasingly, Republicans show how out of touch they are with everyday citizens. While millions upon millions of people mourn the loss of Michael Jackson (while certainly flawed), who was one of the great entertainers this world has ever seen, haters like King are coming out in full attack mode – perpetuating the image of the Republican party that is a little too uncaring, demonizes people it does not like and coming across as far too insensitive for many people in mainstream America.

Here are parts of the Fox News story read along with some comments of mine:

A New York congressman says Michael Jackson was a “pervert” and calls on society to stop “glorifying” the late entertainer in a YouTube video.

Rep. Peter King said Jackson – whom he called a “low-life” – is being glorified in the days after his death while society ignores the efforts, of teachers, police officers, firefighters and veterans. In the two-minute video, King claims the “day in and day out” coverage of Jackson’s death is “too politically correct.”

It’s debatable whether the coverage has been “too politically correct:” as King asserts. Many news outlets have been reporting the good as well as the bad since Jackson’s death (as responsible journalists should). But, going overboard reporting on the negatives, when covering a dead person, is unseemly (particularly when the allegations are just that – allegations). King calling Jackson a “low-life” is a sad comment and makes you wonder if King was perhaps following a Michael Jackson song and talking about “The Man in the Mirror.” And, yes, we get that teachers, police officers and firefighters and veterans are under appreciated. Hopefully King remembers that the next time he is asked to go on the air to comment about something when teachers, police officers, firefighters and veterans are not given the same opportunities.

“Let’s knock out the psychobabble,” King said in the video taped outside an American Legion Hall on Long Island, New York. “He was a pervert, a child molester; he was a pedophile. And to be giving this much coverage to him, day in and day out, what does it say about us as a country? I just think we’re too politically correct.”

The allegations against Jackson are well documented (including his unhealthy desire to spend so much time around children - which doesn’t necessarily equate to child molestation as some angry anti-Jackson people would like you to believe), but not proven. You would think a Congressman would have just a little more respect for the law and the presumption of innocence. Strange behavior does not equal illegal activity. You also would think someone who is a Congressman would have more respect for someone who has died and the people who mourn him.

King, a Republican who is among the possible contenders for the seat held by Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, said Jackson “may have been a good singer” and “did some dancing” but blasted the singer as someone who could not be trusted around children.

Wow, King is reluctant even to give Michael his props as a singer and dancer. Also, King is assuming that people would trust their kids around him. That is quite an assumption on his part.

In 2005, Jackson was acquitted of molesting a boy who spent time at his Neverland ranch and appeared with him in the 2003 British documentary, “Living With Michael Jackson.”

“There’s nothing good to say about this guy,” King continued. “But the bottom line is, would you let your child or grandchild be in the same room as Michael Jackson?”

If you can look at someone like Michael Jackson and say that there is nothing good that can be said about him then it is evidence of a person who is disconnected from the public. It’s the kind of elitist attitude that shows that some conservatives simply are out of touch with the things that impact the lives of real people. It also shows an anger that boils within a number of these hardcore conservatives who use (in this case) uses Michael Jackson as a way to express some of the anger boiling within. King’s anger shows a one-dimensional tabloid view of Michael Jackson without the depth to take a deeper look beyond the tabloid headlines and the sensational stories that surrounded Jackson during his life. In fact, King’s extremist view of Jackson is reminiscent of the way some radical Muslims view the United States of America … having nothing good to say about our country.

It’s a shame Rep. Peter King lets the anger within him lead him down a path of reckless disregard for the pain of those who are mourning the death of Michael Jackson … including his kids and other members of his family.

Detroit News Editorial Page Editor Calls Rush Limbaugh A Welcome Counterweight To Media Favorable To President Obama

Detroit News Editorial Page Editor Nolan Finley had this comment in a column published online today:

Sarah Palin is not what the Republican Party needs as it struggles to come back from oblivion.

The Alaska governor is resigning her post two years early, fueling speculation that she will devote herself full-time to campaigning for the 2012 presidential election.

In doing so, she’s expected to fill a role that’s been vacant in the GOP since the departure of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney — figurehead of the party, someone to give voice to the Republican opposition and serve as a standard bearer to rally the dispirited troops.

Democrats have tried to assign that role to conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh, hoping to cement an image of Republicans as divisive and reactionary. Limbaugh is a welcome counterweight to a media under the spell of President Barack Obama, but he’s not the leader of the GOP or of the conservative movement, no matter how hard Rahm Emanuel tries to wedge him into the job.

So, Rush Limbaugh “is a welcome counterweight to a media under the spell of President Barack Obama …”

Here are some comments from Rush Limbaugh,who is described by Nolan Finley as a “welcome counterweight,” as presented on News One For Black America (the comments from Limbaugh are followed by the writer’s rebuttal):

1. I mean, let’s face it, we didn’t have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I’m not saying we should bring it back; I’m just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark.

Okay Rush, slavery was not a good thing for the millions of African Americans who were enslaved, raped and beaten. The streets weren’t at all safe for African Americans. Slavery not a bad thing? Someone should put Rush on a plantation for him to see how great it is. Keep on fear and race mongering Rush, you might get to Goebels status.

2. You know who deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor? James Earl Ray [the confessed assassin of Martin Luther King]. We miss you, James. Godspeed.

Martin Luther King is a national hero, not a black hero. Everybody in the United States celebrates his birthday, children are taught to look up to him as a hero in school. He’s earned the respect and admiration of the world and you believe the man who killed him was a hero? This is beyond racist. This is evil, mean spirited, subhuman. Praising the assassin of one of our great American heroes is beyond the scope of regular racism.

3. Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?

No but I’ve noticed that all racist bigots think like Rush Limbaugh. Comparing a respected black politician and minister to common criminals is Jim Crow racism. Maybe all black people look alike to him, but I’ve never seen a picture of a wanted criminal that looks like Jesse Jackson. A serial killer that looks like Rush Limbaugh on the other hand.

John Wayne Gacy

4. Right. So you go into Darfur and you go into South Africa, you get rid of the white government there. You put sanctions on them. You stand behind Nelson Mandela — who was bankrolled by communists for a time, had the support of certain communist leaders. You go to Ethiopia. You do the same thing.

The communist connection is an old way of dealing with black leaders. They used it on Martin Luther King, they’re using it on Barack Obama and Limbaugh used it on Nelson Mandela. By siding with the racist apartheid regime over a world-wide symbol of peace and freedom, Limbaugh has shown he’s a global racist.

5. Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.

Limbaugh is once again fear mongering and race baiting by associating professional black athletes with criminals and gangmembers. He continues the fear mongering association of good, decent, hard working African Americans as criminals.

6. The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies.

Now Limbaugh is saying that an organization with a storied tradition of representing the positive black people for change in their communities are criminals and rioters. An organization that has been represented by intelligent professional African Americans, that has played a part in the Civil Rights movement and continues to be an intelligent, concerned voice for the African American community is degraded to common criminals. There you go Rush. Keep racism alive!!!!

7. They’re 12 percent of the population. Who the hell cares?

Decent human beings care Rush. Someone out of that 12% may just become President of the United States. Not caring about black people? Even George Bush wouldn’t admit to that.

8. Take that bone out of your nose and call me back(to an African American female caller).

Okay Rush that’s classy. The old African bone in the nose stereotype. Wasn’t funny when the racist white school kids called the black kids that and it’s definitely not funny when a grown man with audience of millions of easily influenced dittoheads says it either.

9. I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They’re interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well. I think there’s a little hope invested in McNabb and he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he really didn’t deserve.

I wasn’t super offended by this, the whole black quarterback/coach thing has been going on for years in sports, but the quote was so offensive that Retired General Wesley Clarke said:

There can be no excuse for such statements. Mr. Limbaugh has the right to say whatever he wants, but ABC and ESPN have no obligation to sponsor such hateful and ignorant speech. Mr. Limbaugh should be fired immediately.

When a respected, retired general condemns the statement of a sportscaster, you know he’s gone too far.

10. Limbaugh attacks on Obama. Limbaugh has called Obama a ‘halfrican American’ has said that Obama was not black but Arab because Kenya is an Arab region, even though Arabs are less than one percent of Kenya. Since mainstream America has become more accepting of African-Americans, Limbaugh has decided to play against its new racial fears, Arabs and Muslims. Despite the fact Obama graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law school, Limbaugh has called him an ‘affirmative action candidate.’ Limbaugh even has repeatedly played a song on his radio show ‘Barack the Magic Negro’ using an antiquated Jim Crow era term for black a man who many Americans are supporting for president. Way to go Rush.

So, Finley believes “Limbaugh is a welcome counterweight to a media under the spell of President Barack Obama.”

Maybe he is welcomed by Republicans, but he is not welcomed by mainstream Americans who embrace an increasingly culturally-diverse world.

Crooks And Liars Points Out Sarah Palin’s Words Directed At Hillary Clinton

In March of 2008, at a during a Women and Leadership event, Sarah Palin had these words directed at then presidential candidate and U.S. Senator, Hillary Clinton (who now is Secretary of State), who had talked about some of the media scrutiny she had been enduring during her historic run toward the White House:

This is pointed out by Crooks and Liars:

PALIN: Fair or unfair, I think she does herself a disservice to even mention it… When I hear a statement like that coming from a woman candidate with any kind of perceived whine about that excess criticism or, you know, maybe a sharper microscope put on her, I think, man, that doesn’t do us any good. Women in politics, women in general wanting to progress this country. I don’t think it’s, it bodes well for her – a statement like that. … It bothers me a little bit hearing her bring that attention to herself on that level.

I wonder if Sarah Palin now bothers herself. Now, it seems Palin is the woman out front complaining about the media, complaining about her treatment, complaining about the treatment of her kids and her family at every turn. This is after she took a shot (probably politically motivated) at Hillary Clinton.

Great point made by Crooks and Liars (there is video there, too):
http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/after-calling-hillary-whiner-palin

Sarah Palin, Lawyers Threatening The Media

On this Fourth of July holiday weekend, when Americans celebrate the birth of our country and freedoms won, here comes thin-skinned Sarah Palin and her lawyer threatening members of the media.

This is an excerpt from Crooks and Liars:

On the Fourth of July of all days, Palin’s lawyer Thomas Van Flein issued a warning that his client would bring defamation claims against bloggers and media alike speculating on rumors of a criminal investigation involving the Governor:

To the extent several websites, most notably liberal Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore, are now claiming as “fact” that Governor Palin resigned because she is “under federal investigation” for embezzlement or other criminal wrongdoing, we will be exploring legal options this week to address such defamation. This is to provide notice to Ms. Moore, and those who re-publish the defamation, such as Huffington Post, MSNBC, the New York Times and The Washington Post, that the Palins will not allow them to propagate defamatory material without answering to this in a court of law. The Alaska Constitution protects the right of free speech, while simultaneously holding those “responsible for the abuse of that right.” Alaska Constitution Art. I, Sec. 5. http://ltgov.state.ak.us/… These falsehoods abuse the right to free speech; continuing to publish these falsehoods of criminal activity is reckless, done without any regard for the truth, and is actionable.

When will Palin learn? She is not looking presidential in any way, shape or form. She is leaving her post as Alaska governor prior to the end of her first term, she is still whining about the media and now (through a lawyer) is beginning to threaten the media.

If Palin is this shaken up by so-called liberal blogger Shannyn Moore then what would she do if (as president she is) confronted by North Korea’s Kim Jong-Il, Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Argentina’s Hugo Chavez and others around the world?

I think there are challenges in the world that pose more of a threat than Shannyn Moore and other so-called liberal bloggers.

Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/jon-perr/palins-lawyer-threatens-bloggers-media