The Tim Tebow Issue Is Complicated ... Favoritism, Football, Race, Religion

Tim Tebow, of the Denver Broncos, is generally either loved or hated by people who are loyal followers of the National Football League.

First and foremost, Tim Tebow is not hated because he is a Christian. That assertion is the biggest bunch of garbage that I have maybe ever heard come out of the media. Turn on pro and college football, watch it for any number of hours, and you're bound to see numerous players (of all races) kneeling in prayer, thanking God and otherwise expressing their faith. It is absolute garbage to say or imply that Tebow is the victim of some anti-religious media bias.

Now, as we know, that doesn't stop the right-wing nuts at Fox News from advancing such an absurdity.

In the video clip the panel of the disgraceful and disgracefully-biased Fox News Watch program tried to turn it into a Christian-Muslim issue on a couple of occasions. Again, this is absolutely absurd. In this clip, the right-wing panelists, either through their ignorance of bias, never talked about the many prayer huddles that happen before and after games, prayers that other players have after touchdowns or how players thank God in post-game interviews.

They could not do that ... you see, it doesn't go with their agenda to portray Tebow as a victim of religious or Christian bias.

Twice in that clip they invoked Muslims and even evoked the black Muslims led by Elijah Muhammad, who was followed by boxing great Muhammad Ali. This was not an accident. It was a subtle injection of race.

Tebow is criticized or disliked for the following reasons:

1. People do not like having stars shoved down their throat before they feel like an individual has truly earned that praise.

2. Defenders of Tebow irrationally shove his modest early success down the throat of people who are either neutral or critical.

3. He is winning with a style that is unorthodox and some people think is unsustainable.

4. He is getting all (or the vast majority) of the credit for the Broncos' success in spite of a strong running game behind Tebow and a strong defense.

5. He is getting praised where black quarterbacks (Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick as examples), historically, have been criticized. For example, University of Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson is "winning" but is roundly criticized while Tebow is "winning" and gets national praised heaped on him. This has caused resentment.

6. Some people tend to want their sports free of religion.

Tebow is having success and I hope it continues for him. I just don't think his style is sustainable, but we will see. History will be the ultimate judge of Tim Tebow.

Mitt Romney vs. Mitt Romney ... Which Mitt Are You Running With In 2012?

Mitt Romney debating Mitt Romney would be the debate I think most people would love to see. Wait no longer as it is in the video clip above this text.

He takes flip flops (not the ones you buy in the store to wear on your feet) to a new level.

Limbaugh Did In Fact Purposely Make The NASCAR Booing Situation Worse With Race-Based Attack

Rush Limbaugh did make this situation worse by using the booing of Michelle Obama and Jill Biden (actually, it sounded like more of a mixed reaction ... granted you can hear the boos). When Limbaugh comes to save you that there is a chance that you did something pretty bad. Limbaugh made it worse.

Limbaugh used this as a race-based attack. He knew what he was doing and he knew it would work well with his audience.

Limbaugh's audience likes these kinds of comments and I find that about as disturbing as the comments themselves.

Limbaugh's Disguised Racial Attacks On Michelle Obama Continue

Rush Limbaugh is at again using race as his weapon of choice against one of the Obamas. And, as you can imagine, his loyal followers are probably in denial and making excuses for their idol.

GOP Presidential Debate ... Meets The Peanuts!

Love this...

Following Megyn Kelly's Pepper Spray 'Logic' Is Difficult

Fox "News" anchor Megyn Kelly referred to pepper spray as a "food product" ... a comment that has, obviously, made national headlines.

I suppose next she will say waterboarding is simply a "shower" or a "bath" for people.

Coulter: Our Blacks Are Better Than Their Blacks

Ann Coulter

Right-wing talking head Ann Coulter has been known to make some bizarre (putting it mildly) statements about a variety of topics.

I've always believed that she mostly made some of her insane comments for the shock value that helps her gain notoriety from outlets like Fox News. Still, one particular comment, with respect to Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain (one of her blacks),is one that makes me shake my head. Cain has gained an increasing level of popularity among Republicans ... mostly due to pressure that has been created by their treatment of President Obama and other black politicians during the last 30 or so years.

That makes it all the more interesting to see right wingers coming to the rescue of Herman Cain the way that they did(presumably another one of Coulter's blacks) Clarence Thomas, years ago.

I found this quoted on Your Black World:

"Our blacks are so much better than their blacks," Coulter went on to say, referring to the Democrats. "To become a black Republican, you don't just roll into it. You're not going with the flow...and that's why we have very impressive blacks in the Republican party."

It's a disturbing comment at best and a disgusting comment at worst. What in the world does she mean by this "our blacks" and "their blacks" comment?

Who is Coulter to make such an assessment about black people as if she is examining them like they are some kind of commodity?

She seems to rate black people like others would rate cats, cattle, lawns, houses, cars. Hidden in her apparent like for her blacks (people like Cain, Thomas, Allen West and others) is an inherent general lack of respect for black people.

Right-Wing Fox News Attacks Obama As 'Buying' American Youth

Eric Bolling is a complete moron, but he fits in so nicely at Fox News he's almost lost in a sea of far-right extremists.

It's no surprise his anti-Obama messages are embraced on Fox News. In this clip, it's another example of class warfare as the right wingers portray lazy and undeserving young people as trying to take from the government (a government Fox News viewers and most officials believe is pretty much solely funded by the rich).

Some Halloween Costumes Are Flat-Out Inappropriate

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

But, if a mere picture is worth a thousand words; then what is a costume worth?

Some college students have started a movement to speak out about what they see as costumes based on negative stereotypes. Some of these costumes, critics believe, are outright racist.

So, the message is clear this Halloween: Be thoughtful about your costumers and the message that they may send.

Check out the story, here:
http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/10/in_the_immortal_words_of.html

Buchanan Goes On The Attack Against President Obama's Mother

Far-right bigot Pat Buchanan goes into the gutter for a pathetic attack of President Obama's mother.

Buchanan is disgraceful.

Are You On Facebook Too Much?

Fox News White House Correspondent Goes All In As GOP Mouthpiece

The Fox News public relations team was back at it working on behalf of the Republican Party as White House correspondent became a mouthpiece for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and earned his keep at the network conservatives trust.

This is from Huffington Post:

Fox News Chief White House Correspondent Ed Henry experienced a tense moment with President Obama during a Thursday press conference. The President held a joint press conference with Lee Myung-Bak, President of South Korea. Ed Henry had the first question of the conference and asked Obama if he considered the alleged Iranian assassination plot to be "an act of war."

Henry decided to quote a Mitt Romney statement from last week when asking for the President's plans to address Iran's alleged terror plot. Henry asked the President "what specific steps will you take to hold Iran accountable? Especially when Mitt Romney charged last week, quote, 'If you do not want America to be the strongest nation on Earth, I am not your President. You have that president today.'"

Obama paused and answered, "Well I did not know you were the spokesman for Romney," and smiled down at Henry.

He may not be completely a spokesman for Romney, but it's clear that the network is speaking on behalf of the GOP and all who oppose Democrats.

Henry, who framed his question in a way that was disrespectful at best and unprofessional at worst, is beginning to buy into that philosophy.

Hank Williams Jr. Fiasco Is A Byproduct Of Fox News Bias

Hank Williams Jr.

You never invoke "Hitler" in an attack if (especially) you're on television and you're some kind of celebrity, and that includes you Hank Williams Jr.

Of course, I am sure that Williams more than realizes that now, even as he tries to make all of the usual excuses.

I can imagine the thinking in the Fox and Friends pre-production meeting (relative to the ill-fated decision to bring on Hank Williams Jr.) going a little something like this:

We can bring on Hank Williams Jr., we'll all have a few Republican laughs before Monday Night Football, we'll have him take a few right-wing shots at President Obama and live happily ever after on Fox and Friends and Fox News ... business as usual in the name of our leader, Rupert Murdoch.

Unfortunately, the goofballs at Fox and Friends were sorely misguided and, ironically, sort of threw Williams, who sort of behaved as if he might have struggled to pass a field sobriety test, under the bus in their effort to take shots at President Obama and other liberals.

Williams should be more mad at Fox News and the dummies in charge of Fox and Friends than at anyone else.

It was Fox and Friends that really threw him under the bus ... not ESPN (which cut his famous... or is it now infamous opening this week).

Williams has "apologized" as apologies go these days. I don't care for his politics, but I am willing to give this dope a second chance if he keeps his nose clean.

Frankly, Williams was a willing pawn in the blatant right-wing bias of Fox News. It almost cost him dearly (if it hasn't ... we'll see how ESPN handles it).

Buchanan And Cain Seem To Think Little Of Blacks

When I first read a story with a headline about alleged presidential candidate Herman Cain saying that blacks voters have been brainwashed (into essentially not considering conservative/Republican perspectives) I shook my head.

Then, of course, it was no surprise that MSNBC's Pat Buchanan jumped to the defense of Cain to imply that blacks voters are being brainwashed (translation: not smart enough to make rational, fact-based decisions).

Does this mean that black voters not smart enough to make decisions as much as white voters are smart enough?

Apparently, to Cain and Buchanan, black voters can be brainwashed, but white voters vote based on what they believe is the right thing to do.

This Is A Perfect Example Of Why 'We' Struggle

Maxine Waters

Frankly, I have never been much of a fan of Rep. Maxine Waters and, I must confess, I doubt I ever will become a fan of the California democratic congresswoman.

One of the many reasons I have never been impressed with her is best exemplified by her silly whining about President Obama's strong comments to the Congressional Black Caucus. Basically, the president challenged the CBC to stop complaining about things, roll up their sleeves and get to work to help him shape this country for the better. If you want the specifics of what he said, you can go find it, here and here.

While Waters is whining about being challenged she is missing the point. She is engaging in the kind of politics that shows why Democrats are often weakened and why Tea Party Republicans are so strong. See, the Tea Party folks are ideologically strong and will stand by their beliefs through thick and thin while thin-skinned folks like Maxine Waters crumble like stale graham crackers and become defensive the minute they are called out. Like them or not, the Tea Party folks stand by their people through the tough times and work hard together while people like Maxine Waters jump off the bandwagon when things get rough.

See, Waters has whined and challenged the president and she thinks that is OK, but when the president challenges her back ... she wonders who in the "H" he thinks he is.

Instead of crying and taking shots at each other, folks need to work together, but that is not the way for Maxine Waters. It never has been and perhaps never will be the way for Rep. Waters.

If she is tired of supporting the president, then let her try on Mitt Romney or Rick Perry.

Superman ... the 'Illegal' Immigrant ... WHAT?!?!?!?!

Oh, those "illegal" immigrants.

I guess we pick and choose the good "illegal" immigrants from the bad "illegal" immigrants.

It's Scary Where This Country Is Headed

When Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry are potentially legitimate candidates to become president of the United States, that is a frightening sign of where our country is headed.

But, this should be taken as a signal that the extremists are finding a place in our society as proven by the platform the tea party folks received at the pathetic debate aired on CNN. The extremists may not be winning ... yet ... but their voices are louder than the silent majority.

That is the scary part.

Mr. West ... You're No Harriet Tubman

As usual, when Fox News needs to attack black folks, one of its favorite people to call upon is Rep. Allen West, who absurdly likens himself (I can't even make this up) to a modern-day Harrien Tubman ... LOL.

You can visit the link and read about his delusions of grandeur (only on Fox News). It honestly sort of destroys all future credibility, but we'll proceed anyway.

West made a stop on Bill O'Reilly's Fox News show to take some shots at the Congressional Black Caucus. It was mainly so he could attack Rep. Andre Carson for some strong words he used in going after the so-called tea party when he said some of them would "love to see you and me ... hanging on a tree." Obviously, those are strong words and over the top, but I think it's fairly clear that the tea party has a fairly Republican agenda that is out of step with the way most black people tend to feel.

O'Reilly had to love having West on to attack the CBC. It was sort of black-on-black crime.

It's ironic, as News Hounds points out, that O'Reilly would welcome Rep. West as a guest on the show to attach the CBC. West is the same one who launched a vicious attach against rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (largely applauded by O'Reilly and numerous others on the far right of the political spectrum). You may recall, the thin-skinned West was lightly challenged by Wasserman Schultz and, with his ego bruised, called her:

This was how Crooks and Liars quoted Politico:

Florida GOP Congressman Allen West this afternoon dispatched a scathing personal email to Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, calling her "vile, unprofessional ,and despicable," "a coward," "characterless," and "not a Lady," and demanding that she "shut the heck up."

I thought I would add a bit of that reminder of what O'Reilly's pal Mr. West said to attack Wasserman Schultz.

Apparently, O'Reilly has no problem with that kind of rhetoric against a liberal woman, but there is a problem when he sees someone from the CBC attack the so-called tea party.

Strange ... he likes to verbally attack some women, but yet he thinks he is Harriet Tubman. If he starts dressing like Harriet Tubman then things really get scary.

NOTE: (In reference to the photo) I am not necessarily calling West a raging psychopath based on this photo I found on the Internet. But I did think there was some satirical value to the contrast the person who put this photo illustration together saw.

Bachmann Photo Can't Make Her Look Crazy Without Her Own Contribution

It has been interesting to listen to some of the commentary about the Michele Bachmann cover photo that Newsweek selected.

I watched CNN's Reliable Sources as panelists whined about how unflattering the photo is and even (brace yourself) how it was some continuing conspiracy on the part of Newsweek to make conservatives look bad. Cry me a river.

If people think Michele Bachmann has a crazed look in her eyes then I think one has to begin by investigating her words and her record. Perhaps that is more indicative of the interpretations people have of this photo than anything else.

Perhaps people should look at it from a journalistic perspective and ask if the photo is appropriate for the person and the story. Judge it that way.

Tavis Smiley's Criticism Comes Across As Petty

Tavis Smiley

It seems clear now ... the ego has landed.

Tavis Smiley may have some legitimate beefs with President Obama and his policies, but his arguments are lost in a storm of egomania.

Smiley, in his media tour with noted scholar Cornell West taking shots at President Obama, offered this beauty during criticism of President Obama:

“Once he got elected and my critique of him about holding him accountable to various things didn’t sit so well with him or the people around him, he has not at this point come on my TV or radio programs one time since he’s been in the White House. This is the first president in my professional career that hasn’t invited me to the White House.”

Smiley, who has a long history of taking shots of Barack Obama, has to be better than this kind of seemingly petty criticism. One of the reasons he has to be better is that one of the primary criticisms of Tavis Smiley is that he is an egomaniac who is in it for himself. If he is truly interested in the bigger picture then he can't look like he is whining about not getting an invitation to the White House ... as if he is some kind of a big shot.

Sure, there is room to legitimately criticize President Obama (pandering too much to the far right, continuing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, continuing tax policies that benefit the rich, not doing enough for people who are hurting, etc.).

Smiley's message, however, gets lost in a vast sea of what appears to be self promotion on his part.

One gets the feeling there is a little haterism in Tavis Smiley ... coveting the kind of spotlight that President Obama enjoys (not unlike what some people believe the Rev. Jesse Jackson suffered from back in 2008).

Tavis could be doing so much more in a positive way if he could cut down on the hate and turn it into some kind of a positive.

Tavis is a hate addict when it comes to Barack Obama. Tavis, you're an addict, jack.