The American Spectator : Race-Baiting TV

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Race-Baiting TV

By Patrick Howley on 9.12.11 @ 6:08AM

Al Jazeera reporters are ambushing average Americans. And Americans are rightly telling them to get lost.

For the past few weeks, Al Jazeera English correspondent Gabriel Elizondo has been on a very special road trip across America, talking to regular everyday folks about the legacy of 9/11. Last Friday, he went to a high school football game in Booker, Texas to get in on some of that H.G. Bissinger action. Bissinger's seminal book, Friday Night Lights, observed one season in a football-mad middle-class West Texas community. Its depiction of booster rallies and quiet, oil-bust desperation vaulted it to permanent bestseller status and required-reading lists at our finest liberal-arts academies. So Elizondo figured a quick Texas stopover would do the same for his low-rated news network. All he had to do, really, was refrain from publicly summarizing his mission in glib elitist terminology:

What better a setting to immerse one's self into Texas rural life than high school football…I easily imagine sitting in the bleachers, eating a hot dog (or three) and drinking a Coke, talking football (the American kind) with parents and maybe slipping in a little 9/11 if they allow me. It's a no brainer for me. I love this stuff. I'll take this over sitting in a White House press briefing any day of the week.

Hard to argue. After all, who doesn't love that stuff? It's adorable. So Elizondo, apparently, blew off the president to immerse himself in his true love of the American kind of football. But for some reason the hot dog-eating Coke drinkers didn't immediately embrace him as he expected.

According to Elizondo, Booker High School principal Lisa Yauk (upon being ambushed with Elizondo's camera crew and Al Jazeera business card) asked him what his "spin" was on the story. Smart woman.

When Elizondo continued to hang around making noise, school superintendent Mike Lee came over and asked him not to film, take pictures, or interview people at the game. They didn't kick him out or call the police, but Lee allegedly did say, rather firmly, that he "expected" Elizondo to "respect" his wishes. Rather than stick around to watch the charming little Booker High Golden Eagles, Elizondo high-tailed it out of town. And why not? He'd already scored his touchdown.

Previously unknown to Big Media (save for three 2010 Huffington Post blog entries), Elizondo broke down the doors of web exposure on a streak of racial sanctimony, claiming that Booker High rejected his network's presence on Islamophobic grounds. "Ten miles," he wrote on Sunday in a blog post clearly tipping off his intentions. "That's how deep I got into Texas before I was asked to leave." Yahoo News featured his smug headshot and even the usually dignified people at Slate played right into his game, falsely announcing that he had been "Barred from Texas HS Football Game." Wrote Slate:

Al Jazeera -- Aren't they the no-good varmints who bombed us on 9/11?

Um, no. But a connection between the increasingly influential Qatar-based broadcaster and the terrorist group al-Qaida seems to linger, at least in the minds of some Texas public school administrators.

And what of those insular slack-jawed yokels back at Booker High?

According to a wonderful response superintendent Lee wrote for the school's website, he was dealing with "several situations in the few minutes prior to the start of the football game, my conversation with you (Elizondo) being one." The fact that two elementary school children had not yet arrived at home and were technically missing being another. "We did not have prior notice and we certainly did not have time to verify who you were" Lee continued, adding that had Elizondo filmed in the bleachers, the FERPA rights for his students -- especially those whose parents signed papers disallowing photos of their children on the web -- would have been violated.

Or, you know, it might have just been racism.

The liberal media is correct here on one count: this was a shameful display of American culture at its worst. Rather than following our president's once stated goal of breaking down barriers between red states and blue, Al Jazeera English chose to treat Midwesterners like test subjects, and to falsely bersmirch their names for the sake of a headline. In treating Texas like a forbidden planet and his "ten miles" of exposure to it as a bold journey into hostile terrain, Elizondo appealed to all the worst instincts of the coastal media establishment. Is Al Jazeera still clueless as to why DirectTV and Dish Network refused to carry it in the United States? The decision of those two satellite providers was not, as the Huffington Post's Jeff Jarvis bellowed, "un-American." It was just ethically sound.

If Al Jazeera English plans to make a cottage industry out of race-baiting stunts, then its national reputation should reflect that. Elizondo's network is no longer, as Hillary Clinton claimed, an underdog proponent of "real news." Now it's just a ratings-obsessed partisan outlet like all the others.

So congratulations, Al Jazeera English. Welcome to media.

About the Author

Patrick Howley is a staff writer for the Washington Free Beacon.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (44) | Leave a comment

Darin| 9.12.11 @ 7:05AM

What Texas did here was spot-on correct. The fact that this attempt at slander got zero coverage in American media speaks volumes to which side they support (yes, silence is consent).

If an American media outlet were to interview Muslims in the Middle East and have they express their hatred of the west, Al Jazeera would scream (and probably try to kill the offending reporters). The vast majority of Americans have no problem with Muslims. What they do have a problem with is Islam in that it is a religion that commands its followers to kill non-Muslims (references in the Koran are too numerous to list).

The Clintidote| 9.13.11 @ 2:17PM

Yep, the Moos can take their death cult and shove it up their butts. It's time for Allah to die.

POST American| 9.12.11 @ 7:40AM

----Putting the phoney capstone race
dialectic aside for a moment.

"WHY isn't the entire world rushing to
help that poor country? ---WHY? The
ONLY reason I can come up with is they
want to cook us ALL (ie DEPOP OP).
That's the ONLY reason I can find why
the Globalist media across the world has
been covering this MASSIVE situation
up."
-Jay Weidener
( latest Veritas interview )

----Further, as that fallout from those 5 flawed,
melted down GE reactors rains across North America,
and the northern hemisphere, ---and as
GE's Jeff I-Melt-down isn't so much
as queried about the situation
------IF you yourself have NOT been let in
on the latest collation therapies
--you are NO kind of 'innie'.

------------------------REALLY!--------------------------

POST American| 9.12.11 @ 7:42AM

-------------------I.E--------------------

-------------------FUKISHIMA----------------------

Doctor Right| 9.12.11 @ 8:03AM

Texas is NOT the "Midwest", and Texans are NOT "midwesterners".

Texans are Texans. And loyal Americans.

Skippy| 9.12.11 @ 1:40PM

When I lived in The Lone Star State, someone told me that,"the US can't survive without Texas. The inverse is not true."
It ain't in the Midwest, or the West, or the South.
It is where and what it is.
Texas.

Deborah D| 9.12.11 @ 8:24AM

I find it interesting that members of media, regardless of whether they're with Al Jazeera or CNN, look at Texas and Texans as creatures from another planet. They really do need to get out of D.C. and NYC more often. Even Atlanta-based CNN hasn't got the rest of the country figured out.

I suggest moving the capital of the United States to the middle of the country, somewhere around Southern Missouri or Arkansas. Then, let's see how many of those media schmucks would want to cover politics! Or how many of those lifetime politicians would stay past one term! The normal part of the country might actually run them out of town on a rail or the politicians might actually learn how to be good citizens themselves...nah! I'm dreaming.

C. S. P. Schofield| 9.12.11 @ 9:01AM

What on Earth have Missouri and Arkansas done to you that you would wish the walking pustules of the Nation's Capitol on them?

Al Adab| 9.12.11 @ 4:05PM

Deborah:
I have often thought that relocation of the capitol; city to a former Army or Air Force base would make the most sense. Congressmen, both Reps and Sens. could live in the barracks, dine in the mess hall and be restricted to base until the budget was done each year. They might get some work done instead of posturing for a press which would not be allowed on base. South Africa has each branch located in a different city so that too would be a potential change. As always good to hear from you.

JimH| 9.12.11 @ 8:25AM

I guess someone at Al Jazeera saw Borat.

Louis Jenkins| 9.12.11 @ 8:36AM

All Al Jawzeera was doing was "driving by." They knew that their brand of liberalism would not get them anywhere except back east in the District of Crimminals or in NY city. Look at Murfeesboro, Tenn. The earth moving machines were torched. Fortunately for Al Jawzeera, their cameras nor personnel weren't torched.

John786| 9.12.11 @ 9:44AM

"low rated news channel ". A bit disingenuous since no network will carry al- jazeera. Al- jazeera gives a balanced news especially when compared to the racist islamophobic output of fox news and other well known American news networks. If there is critiscm is that aljazeera is not critical of the gulf states less it upset it's patron. Having said that aljazeera Arabic is definyy many decibels much louder and better for that. The land of the free- free only to agree with us. For those interested aljazeera can be found on the web. Yes, you too can watch a news channel watched by most American foreign policy wonks.

Michael Crites| 9.12.11 @ 11:47AM

Ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ...

You're a funny guy!

John786| 9.12.11 @ 5:24PM

Yeh. All this racism is really really funny-Not.

Riff Raff| 9.12.11 @ 7:15PM

What racism? Your accusations of "racism" are false and your opinions are ridiculous. You have no audience here. You will find no converts.

John786| 9.12.11 @ 8:34PM

Are you a dalek.

Riff Raff| 9.13.11 @ 10:34AM

Are you a Klingon?

Von| 9.13.11 @ 11:56AM

Exactly what race is muslim exactly? Please, enlighten me. A phobia is an IRRATIONAL fear of something. Islamophobia is an oxymoron. You sir are an ordinary moron.

DG in GA| 9.15.11 @ 12:37PM

My comment EXACTLY? When did Muslim become a race? I thought people of Arabic descent were, for the purposes of racial classification, considered Caucasian. Or at least some form of Asian. They are certainly not black. And not all Muslims are Middle Eastern. Islam appears to cut across races.

Now, if you want to accuse me of being Islamophobic, I will confess right here. I am afraid of Muslims. But it is not an irrational fear, like agoraphobia, because Muslims all over the world have been blowing up non-Muslims. Read the news, for heaven's sake. If Dutch people were running around with suicide bombs, I'd be afraid of blondes too.

Ground Control| 9.12.11 @ 12:35PM

Attaching "-phobic" to a word like "islam" or some other description of an alleged "underpriviledged minority" is a race baiting tactic. It is not an accurate description of Fox News or anything else for that matter. furthermore, the Historical record of "Islam" speaks for itself. And it speaks violence and oppression.

As for "the land of the free-free only if you agree with us," well, yes. Of course. We expect people who live in these United States to agree to abide by our laws, which do NOT include Shari'a or the Quran. We expect people who live here, even if native to other countries, to respect the rights of OUR citizens, and to not foment insurrection and sedition. Aside from that, you can think pretty much what you want and NO ONE CARES! No one forces Muslims to come to the USA and abide by our laws. If you don't like the USA, you need not come over here. Your choice. It is Muslims rather who foist THEIR "laws" on everyone else; Islamic "laws" of Shari'a which are in direct conflict with US Law and the rights of American Citizens. It is Muslims who seek conformance to their way of life, and they do it by violence and have done it by violence since the 6th Century.

J.C.Eaton| 9.12.11 @ 10:06AM

If by "most American foreign policy wonks," you refer to the open-sored, pus-ridden lesion commonly known as our State Department, then I take your point.

martin j smith| 9.12.11 @ 10:20AM

If Al -Jazeera can TV crews what about Tea Party TV ? That would be a hoot !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sean| 9.12.11 @ 10:32AM

I have seen plenty of Texas high school football games on TV. I am quite sure when the camera shows people in the stands they are not checking who has signed the waver to allow recording or images on the web.

LiveFreeOrDie| 9.12.11 @ 11:13AM

Televised games are known to be televised, in advance. You can't film school kids without their parents and the school's consent. This is nothing new.

Michael Crites| 9.12.11 @ 11:51AM

At televised games and events there will be a very obvious sign at the entrance letting patrons know that their attendance gives permission for them to be photographed and videotaped. Common stuff.

Petronius| 9.12.11 @ 11:59AM

Doth Elizondo protest too much because the ACLU has not yet elevated him to the status of "protected minority?" If that's what he wants, he'd better show 'em the money.

Riff Raff| 9.12.11 @ 12:37PM

I'm pretty sure "Elizondo" is a true believer and is doing his small part to bring about the "return of the 12th Imam."

Maddox| 9.12.11 @ 12:36PM

I don't see much difference in this act by Al Jazeera's hack and what members of our MSM do everyday in spinning and out right lying about what Americans say and do if they don't love the liberal liars.

Riff Raff| 9.12.11 @ 12:41PM

I'm pretty sure Katie Couric, Brian Williams, et.al. are true believers and are doing their small part to bring about the supremacy of King Barack and the Royal Democrats.

Peter| 9.12.11 @ 1:07PM

Two words - Daniel Pearl

Perhaps Mr. Elizondo should be rejoicing that in the "redneck" state of Texas being asked to stop filming was all that he was subjected to.

Bill| 9.12.11 @ 1:36PM

"Ten miles," he wrote on Sunday in a blog post clearly tipping off his intentions. "That's how deep I got into Texas before I was asked to leave."

Hey, those Texans ain't stupid, you know! AND they have good taste in journalists, too!

Bill| 9.12.11 @ 1:38PM

"Al Jazeera -- Aren't they the no-good varmints who bombed us on 9/11?"

No, they're just the ones who cheered it!

Long Ben| 9.12.11 @ 2:04PM

People in Booker Texas are the salt of the earth . Al Jazeera is more like a corrupting defecant.

Supreme_Galooty| 9.12.11 @ 2:24PM

Al Jazero is the official propaganda arm of all Jolly Musselmen. It should be as equally tolerated (or shunned) as the official propaganda arm all Jolly Marxists - MSNBC; CBS; ABC; et alia.

Al Adab| 9.12.11 @ 4:09PM

I would be thrilled to meet with Al-Jareeza anytime. We could discuss the relative merits of Islamic and Western Civilization.

attila the hun| 9.12.11 @ 6:38PM

Why even allow Al-Jareeza get in the cable system? Isn't time for a la carte channel selection instead prepackage rubbish ?

L. Severus Pertinax| 9.12.11 @ 9:11PM

If you chance to run into Al Jazeera's minions; please introduce them to a word I invented and am quite fond of:
Islamopithecene

It says so much, in so little space!

POST American| 9.13.11 @ 12:28AM

--------------------BOTTOM LINE----------------------

"The ONLY reason I can find WHY
the entire world is NOT running to
help that poor country (ie Japan), and
why the media's been told to bury the entire
story, is that they want to cook us
all as we head into the next phase.
--That's the ONLY reason I can
come up with."
-Jay Wiedener
(director Kubrick's Odyssey)
Latest Vertias interview pt3

The HAARP-esque 3/11, 4/11 Fukishima
quake/tsunamis --following on the 1/11
Haiti quake last year -----and
the 2005 unprecedented SE Asian
mega-tsunami on Mao tse Tung's Birthday.

And meanwhile, you stroll under CHEM-trail
knitted, HAARP enabling, (and now fallout
filled) skies every day without notice or complaint.

AGAIN, if you're not being let in on thsoe
latest collation technologies, we don't care
who you are, ---you're NOT an 'innie'.

---SO ---keep a goin'

-----------tumors, sterility and death

--------------'O'Reilly's watchin' out for me'

-----------------JUST KEEP A GOIN'-------------------

-------------------BAH ---BAH ------HA ------HA!

Dipesto| 9.13.11 @ 2:07AM

An odd thing about Elizondo's article was his desire to eat an American hotdog. Did he really expect to get halal meat in rural Texas? And, discussing Texas as a unique entity, remember Bill Mauldin's cartoon of a bunch of dogfaces sitting in a cafe in Italy c. 1944; one guy says, "You Irishmen would be loosing this war without allies like Texas and Russia." RIP Bill.

JimH| 9.13.11 @ 7:57AM

Don't know if they sell Hebrew National in Texas. Is Kosher close enough to Halal?

WilfredT| 9.13.11 @ 5:54AM

Booker High School sports teams are The Kiowas--a Native American nation. Interesting that Mr. Elizondo wanted to "slip in a little talk about 9-11" with the local people. I wonder if he wanted to twist anything about 9-11 said to him into a "these redneck cowboy infidels want to kill all of Us the Faithful." for his Jazeera viewers. He didn't go to the game just for the pop and hotdogs on a Friday evening.

Dipesto| 9.13.11 @ 2:40PM

Halal is the Moslem version of Kosher. Someone reading TAS who is familiar with Moslem customs could inform us of what similarities there are between Torah and Koran dietary rules, as to the butchering rules and eating rules.

Long Ben| 9.14.11 @ 1:19AM

Read something about it a while back , something was said about certain incantations about whats his name and his phrophet and etc , the slaughter & butchering otherwise sounded about the same as kosher . Halal is not permisible for Christians or Jews , as meats sacrificed to Idols is proscribed in both Old and New testaments .