The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Shelby Steele Talks Sense on Trayvon Martin

Clint| 4.5.12 @ 6:46PM

The Liberal Race Hustle Is Runnin' Outta Gas.

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:16PM

Shelby Steele is the only race hustler. He is preaching stuff for conservative consumption.

Clint| 4.5.12 @ 9:27PM

Smith Just Proved That The Liberal Race Hustle Is Runnin' Out Of Gas.

Charie| 4.7.12 @ 8:39PM

What's the matter TS? You no longer believe your lyin' eyes and ears? Who did you see running to the scene of the crime howling "racism" to the tops of their lungs? Was it Shelby Steele? No. The headlines all screamed 'Florida Cops don't Know What The 'Stand your ground law' means!!" Now the Black Panthers put a bounty out on Zimmerman. It's against the law but I'm sure that means nothing to you. Shelby Steele is willing to wait for the decision to come in. You knee-jerk liberal racists make me sick!

Drek| 4.7.12 @ 12:10PM

New information just came to light.

Zimmerman passed his lie/stress test immediately after the incident, which was administered to him by the police back at the station.

Just one more shoe dropping in this "case."

If this is taken to a grand jury, the voters in Florida ought to howl at the obvious injustice of it all.

Oldefarte| 4.8.12 @ 12:55PM

'.....MJ Rosenberg to Leave Media Matters Website Saturday, April 7, 2012 02:47 PMMJ Rosenberg is leaving the liberal activist group Media Matters, Fox News reports. Rosenberg plans start his own blog, saying he doesn't want his criticism of Israel to "harm" Media Matters.
Rosenberg's recent comments have drawn heavy fire. He mistakenly accused the Drudge Report website of racism in its coverage of the Trayvon Martin case, for which he has apologized. He also branded pro-Israel Americans as "Israel-firsters" and verbally attackd a Harvard professor.
Rosenberg announced Friday on the Media Matters website that he was "striking out on my own with a brand new website and blog."
Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz branded Rosenberg an anti-Semite for the “Israel-firsters” comment. When Dershowitz, a lifelong Democrat, urged the Democratic Party to distance itself from Media Matters, Rosenberg responded by telling him to “go to Hell” and urging Dershowitz’s students to boycott his class
"My presence here is being used in an effort to shut Media Matters up," Rosenberg said. He plans to create a new site, MJayRosenberg.com....'

Oldefarte| 4.8.12 @ 3:09PM

'..... Breitbart.com: MJ Rosenberg Sacrificed For Media Matters' Sins by Ben Shapiro Anti-Semitic Senior Foreign Policy Fellow MJ Rosenberg is leaving far-left, Obama-connected Media Matters for America. At the Political Correction page on the Media Matters website, Rosenberg posted a piece explaining that he would be exiting the organization:The reason for this step is that it disturbed me greatly to see an organization to which I am devoted facing possible harm because of my critical writings about Israel. I have no doubt that the crowd that opposes any and all criticism of Israeli government policies will continue to turn its guns on Media Matters if I am associated with it.I could not live with myself if that happened — not only because I care deeply about the organization and my colleagues, but also because Media Matters does such important work confronting the lies that emanate from the far right and especially Fox News.My presence here is being used in an effort to shut Media Matters up. That won't happen, of course. This is an incredibly successful organization. (Just ask Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh — or Rupert Murdoch, for that matter — about its impact). But the last thing I want to do is allow the right to use my support for a reinvigorated Middle East peace process to distract Media Matters from its primary mission: fighting for truth in the media.Rosenberg routinely uses anti-Semitic rhetoric; he has suggested in the past that any Jew who supports Israel is an “Israel firster” – a typical white supremacist slur. He has stated that Israel’s supporters would support Israel no matter what Israel did, and he has especially singled out Jewish Congresspeople for such comments. He recently tweeted, “I wonder if any candidate in either party other than Joe L [Lieberman] would slobber over Israel if it wasn’t for the $. Actually I don’t wonder.” Rosenberg is a big fan of anti-Semitic canard-masters John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, who suggested that the Israel lobby pays its way to power in the United States.The notion that Rosenberg is leaving voluntarily seems quite suspicious. Media Matters is feeling pressure – possibly from the White House – to oust Rosenberg because conservatives have rightly focused on Rosenberg as the tip of the spear of Media Matters anti-Semitism. If Media Matters isn’t firing him, they remain as anti-Semitic as they ever were, and Rosenberg is just taking one for the team. If Media Matters is firing him, the question is: why now? The answer is clear: Obama and Media Matters are coming under severe scrutiny for their anti-Israel and anti-Jewish positions, and they want to disassociate from Rosenberg before American Jews realize with whom they are in bed.It is also worth noting here that Media Matters is claiming credit for boycotts against Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. This shows that Media Matters is a partisan organization dedicated specifically to putting conservatives out of business. They’re not interested in what Beck and Limbaugh say – they’re interested only in shutting them up, in coordination with Democrats and the White House.In any case, this isn’t an ideological break between Media Matters and Rosenberg. As Rosenberg writes:So I am moving on, although my readers won't notice the difference. The twice-a-week email columns will continue to be sent to the same list. (If you aren't on it, just click here). My columns will continue to appear on Huffington Post, Al-Jazeera and dozens, if not hundreds, of other outlets where they tend to be reposted. And then there is my twitter account: @mjayrosenberg.
When you click on the link to sign up for Rosenberg’s email list, it goes to Foreign Policy Matters, a subset of Media Matters. And Rosenberg is keeping his mailing list, which heretofore had likely been the property of Media Matters. Not only that:Additionally, there will be the new blog, which will not be limited to Middle East issues and which will be continuously updated. And there may be a book in the works too. More on that later. A final word of thanks to Media Matters, which is a great organization. I started here at 62 years old, and it's the best job I've ever had.Richard Nixon famously said to the press after his failed attempt to become governor of California, "just think how much you're going to be missing. You don't have Nixon to kick around anymore." I, however, will most definitely be around. More than ever.Media Matters remains a deeply anti-Semitic organization. They’re just not a stupid one. And they realize that having open anti-Semites like Rosenberg on staff is a losing proposition. Nobody, however, should be fooled by the move. It means nothing. It’s just for show. And Media Matters remains just as anti-Israel and anti-Semitic as it ever was......'

Claypoole| 4.5.12 @ 7:12PM

Shelby Steele's essay in today's WSJ is not entirely accurate, according to statements from George Zimmerman and witnesses. Steele says that Trayvon Martin was "--unarmed and committing no crime--"

If, as alleged, Martin jumped Zimmerman and was beating him, Martin was committing a felony.
Let's wait for a complete investigation before deciding innocence, guilt and culpability.

Drek| 4.5.12 @ 8:09PM

Exactly,

Martin was in the midst of a felonious assault and battery against a fellow citizen.

If he was bashing his head against a pavement, then his original felony is compounded.

As for waiting for the evidence, -------- there's no need for that, for this case has no business even being submitted to a grand jury. This is about as open and shut as you get.

We've got a guy, who from his own twitter handle, pictures on the Internet, and stolen goods found in his locker, is obviously less than an ideal citizen, to say the least.

On the other hand we've got a guy who went out of his way to mentor young blacks without father figures in their lives.

And we're supposed to believe that Zimmerman had it in him to stalk and murder, a young black.

The very idea has now become a sick joke.

Martin was on a trajectory towards incarceration, and that's just a rather common sense take on his own Internet posturing and ravings.

I don't even have to note his specific Internet handle.

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:16PM

Felonious assault? If he were white, you would have called it "self-defense."

Head-bashing? If true, sounds like reasonable force to use on someone who has a gun pointed at you!

Went out of his way to mentor black kids? Yes- according to some strange person who suddenly vanished after being exposed as a liar.

Trajectory towards incarceration? Yeah- just like all black men. How racist of you.

Zimmerman not a stalker? Um - he followed a stranger on foot and in his car. That's stalking according to most folks. But with a black male, I guess that's just normal behavior.

You are so racist, you can't even contain it.

Trinacria| 4.5.12 @ 9:01PM

Perhaps you aren't familiar with the concept of Neighborhood Watch. Mr. Zimmerman was ON PATROL! The whole purpose of having a neighborhood WATCH is to WATCH people, particularly those who are unfamiliar and acting suspiciously.

With respect to the plausibility of the scenario you've constructed, how many stalkers in the history stalking have CALLED 911 IN THE MIDST OF COMMITTING THE ACT OF STALKING? Simpleton.

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 6:59PM

Trin,

some have hardened their positions, and won't even examine any facts that suggest Zimmerman was justified.

spike59| 4.6.12 @ 7:13AM

"Head-bashing? If true, sounds like reasonable force to use on someone who has a gun pointed at you!"
---------------------------------------
when, even in the CBC/NAACP accepted (and, likely, scripted) narrative can you find ONE SINGLE account of Zimmerman pulling a gun BEFORE being beaten?

"SO sorry, but your Race Card has been declined due to a lack of intellectual capital in your account"

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 12:51PM

Spike,

concur!

Evidence backs up Zimmerman's account of what went down.

Not the narrative proposed by the race hucksters crying crocodile tears over the demise of Martin.

irish19| 4.7.12 @ 12:52AM

Evidence including the unedited 911 call from Zimmerman. In the actual version, as I understand, Zimmerman stopped following Martin after the police said he didn't need to. That would make Martin the stalker. But I agree that this needs a full and proper investigation, not a trial by MSM.

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 12:48PM

This is just a ridiculous response to a common sense take on what transpired.

The head bashing has been confirmed by eyewitnesses and lacerations on the back of his skull. As for the suggestion that it was "reasonable force" by someone with a gun pointing at you that's just bizarre. IF someone had a gun pointed at you, you would hardly be in a position to do something like that repeatedly.

Martin was SEEN REPEATEDLY bashing his head into the pavement!

Zimmerman asked this large black man what he was doing while he was wandering bizarrely in the neighborhood, a neighborhood that had recently seen robberies.

Martin obviously understood the very question as him being "dissed."

He couldn't take it.

The more he thought about this middle aged guy daring to approach him, the more it rankled, the more it rankled him who styled himself as the "no limit ni#@a."

So he stalked Zimmerman down, asked him if he had "a problem."

Then that idiot who deluded himself he didn't have any limits found out he was quite mortal after all.

Now that is a rather reasonable take on what we know, and what we can likely glean from the situation.

Trajectory towards incarceration is what one can conclude from a young man with stolen goods in his possession, and a device that better served him in his theft.

As for racist, -------------- from the same people who branded the guy who mentored two black kids without father figures in their lives as a racist? ----------------------- GET REAL!

You are the one demanding that the rules of justice be overthrown in this case and that Zimmerman get railroaded regardless of whether he deserved it or not.

You are the one obviously hardened in your opinion on Martin, so much so that you can't even reach common sense conclusions from the evidence we now know about Martin's propensity for theft!

Larry| 4.6.12 @ 7:09PM

The question, Tony Smith, is which came first, the head-bashing or the gun? The evidence appears to show that Martin attacked Zimmerman as Zimmerman was headed back towards his car. Which means Zimmerman was following the request of the dispatcher, as has been his consistent story. The witness to the confrontation, who was interviewed the same night, also confirms Zimmerman's account of the attack. The accounts of the paramedics confirm the type of injuries suffered by Zimmerman. We do not have a full account of the Martin autopsy, but when it comes out I suspect it will show how the shooting happened.

This guy Martin was not a choirboy, like his mother and others are trying to make him out to be. So stop throwing the charge of "racism" around so frequently. We've had enough media distortion of the facts at this point, we don't need your hysteria added to it.

Charie| 4.7.12 @ 8:46PM

You are so blinded by your liberal bias you can't even think. Your stupidity is way out of hand. White men or "white Hispanics" to quote the New York Times, don't kill very many black men. Most young black men are killed by other young black men by a huge percentage.

Your immediate condemnation of this sad event as something like a lynching of Martin is sick and doesn't coincide with facts. You are entitled to your own opinions but not to your own facts.

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:24PM

Apparently, you don't understand the law of self-defense. The law allows for Martin to defend himself. Because he is black, people cannot appreciate the fact that he was not an assailant, but a teen acting in self-defense.

Trinacria| 4.5.12 @ 9:16PM

Aren't we all just a bit tired of the "black man can't [INSERT ANY VERB] in this country" act?

Where's the outrage at the black teens that are shot on a near nightly basis in Oakland or Detroit or Miami or Atlanta? If you truly cared about justice for black teens, you'd be marching in the streets protesting the senseless killings that occur on a daily basis in these communities. Why the radio silence from "advocates" like Sharpton and Jackson when it comes to these crimes? Simple answer: there's no opportunity to run their shakedown racket there....they can't parley those crimes into benefits and favorable treatment for their "constituents". So let's all be honest here and dispense with the fake moral outrage.

Anthony M| 4.5.12 @ 10:11PM

Your racist, anti-hispanic ravings are an affront to civilized people everywhere. A poor, innocent Latino is assaulted in the racist streets of America and you defend the assailant. You are obviously anti-immigrant and risk detention for your hate crime against a protected class of residents. I am forwarding your letters to the proper authorities.

Larry| 4.6.12 @ 7:12PM

The "stand your ground" and "self-defense" excuses ignore what happened. If someone is following you, then turns back and heads the opposite direction, do you think Florida law as it stands allows a guy to go on the offensive? Hardly. I'm a lawyer, and used to do a criminal law practice when I was a young lawyer. I appreciate the delicacy of these types of situations, which is why your going off half-cocked with your race-baiting is neither productive nor instructive.

C Bowen | 4.5.12 @ 7:17PM

I am going to go with the unmentioned D)--there will be rioting, mayhem and looting.

aware| 4.5.12 @ 7:34PM

And worse....

Clint| 4.5.12 @ 8:03PM

Uh Oh !

Ya Mean More Hip Hop.

Drek| 4.5.12 @ 8:13PM

Innocent Caucasians are already being attacked and savagely beaten merely because of their skin colour.

And it's only going to get worse, especially during the long, hot Summer if it appears Obama is going down to the shameful defeat he deserves.

It's obvious that many people desperately need racial bitterness to be at a dizzying intensity.

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:17PM

The largest consumers of hip hop are white.

C Bowen | 4.5.12 @ 8:46PM

"The largest consumers of hip hop are white."

As hip-hop is quite debasing, at least the stuff promoted by the NY Times, it would suggest who the real racists are, no?

Clint| 4.5.12 @ 9:04PM

And The Largest Consumers Of Black Homicides Are Other Blacks.

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 12:39PM

Yes, because of wider cultural pathology, whereby good chunks of our society seem to value and prize the mannerisms and fashions of urban pathology.

Who can ever forget the Academy for Motion Picture Arts and Sciences taking note of "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp?"

Hardly the theme from Gone with the Wind, or Exodus?

When you see Caucasian kids wandering streets with their pants half way down their ass, unknowingly aping the signal sent out in America's prisons by homos willing to put out, ---- you know something is pathological, absolutely pathological.

Oldefarte| 4.8.12 @ 12:56PM

'.....MJ Rosenberg to Leave Media Matters Website Saturday, April 7, 2012 02:47 PMMJ Rosenberg is leaving the liberal activist group Media Matters, Fox News reports. Rosenberg plans start his own blog, saying he doesn't want his criticism of Israel to "harm" Media Matters.
Rosenberg's recent comments have drawn heavy fire. He mistakenly accused the Drudge Report website of racism in its coverage of the Trayvon Martin case, for which he has apologized. He also branded pro-Israel Americans as "Israel-firsters" and verbally attackd a Harvard professor.
Rosenberg announced Friday on the Media Matters website that he was "striking out on my own with a brand new website and blog."
Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz branded Rosenberg an anti-Semite for the “Israel-firsters” comment. When Dershowitz, a lifelong Democrat, urged the Democratic Party to distance itself from Media Matters, Rosenberg responded by telling him to “go to Hell” and urging Dershowitz’s students to boycott his class
"My presence here is being used in an effort to shut Media Matters up," Rosenberg said. He plans to create a new site, MJayRosenberg.com....'

Oldefarte| 4.8.12 @ 3:10PM

'..... Breitbart.com: MJ Rosenberg Sacrificed For Media Matters' Sins by Ben Shapiro Anti-Semitic Senior Foreign Policy Fellow MJ Rosenberg is leaving far-left, Obama-connected Media Matters for America. At the Political Correction page on the Media Matters website, Rosenberg posted a piece explaining that he would be exiting the organization:The reason for this step is that it disturbed me greatly to see an organization to which I am devoted facing possible harm because of my critical writings about Israel. I have no doubt that the crowd that opposes any and all criticism of Israeli government policies will continue to turn its guns on Media Matters if I am associated with it.I could not live with myself if that happened — not only because I care deeply about the organization and my colleagues, but also because Media Matters does such important work confronting the lies that emanate from the far right and especially Fox News.My presence here is being used in an effort to shut Media Matters up. That won't happen, of course. This is an incredibly successful organization. (Just ask Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh — or Rupert Murdoch, for that matter — about its impact). But the last thing I want to do is allow the right to use my support for a reinvigorated Middle East peace process to distract Media Matters from its primary mission: fighting for truth in the media.Rosenberg routinely uses anti-Semitic rhetoric; he has suggested in the past that any Jew who supports Israel is an “Israel firster” – a typical white supremacist slur. He has stated that Israel’s supporters would support Israel no matter what Israel did, and he has especially singled out Jewish Congresspeople for such comments. He recently tweeted, “I wonder if any candidate in either party other than Joe L [Lieberman] would slobber over Israel if it wasn’t for the $. Actually I don’t wonder.” Rosenberg is a big fan of anti-Semitic canard-masters John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, who suggested that the Israel lobby pays its way to power in the United States.The notion that Rosenberg is leaving voluntarily seems quite suspicious. Media Matters is feeling pressure – possibly from the White House – to oust Rosenberg because conservatives have rightly focused on Rosenberg as the tip of the spear of Media Matters anti-Semitism. If Media Matters isn’t firing him, they remain as anti-Semitic as they ever were, and Rosenberg is just taking one for the team. If Media Matters is firing him, the question is: why now? The answer is clear: Obama and Media Matters are coming under severe scrutiny for their anti-Israel and anti-Jewish positions, and they want to disassociate from Rosenberg before American Jews realize with whom they are in bed.It is also worth noting here that Media Matters is claiming credit for boycotts against Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. This shows that Media Matters is a partisan organization dedicated specifically to putting conservatives out of business. They’re not interested in what Beck and Limbaugh say – they’re interested only in shutting them up, in coordination with Democrats and the White House.In any case, this isn’t an ideological break between Media Matters and Rosenberg. As Rosenberg writes:So I am moving on, although my readers won't notice the difference. The twice-a-week email columns will continue to be sent to the same list. (If you aren't on it, just click here). My columns will continue to appear on Huffington Post, Al-Jazeera and dozens, if not hundreds, of other outlets where they tend to be reposted. And then there is my twitter account: @mjayrosenberg.
When you click on the link to sign up for Rosenberg’s email list, it goes to Foreign Policy Matters, a subset of Media Matters. And Rosenberg is keeping his mailing list, which heretofore had likely been the property of Media Matters. Not only that:Additionally, there will be the new blog, which will not be limited to Middle East issues and which will be continuously updated. And there may be a book in the works too. More on that later. A final word of thanks to Media Matters, which is a great organization. I started here at 62 years old, and it's the best job I've ever had.Richard Nixon famously said to the press after his failed attempt to become governor of California, "just think how much you're going to be missing. You don't have Nixon to kick around anymore." I, however, will most definitely be around. More than ever.Media Matters remains a deeply anti-Semitic organization. They’re just not a stupid one. And they realize that having open anti-Semites like Rosenberg on staff is a losing proposition. Nobody, however, should be fooled by the move. It means nothing. It’s just for show. And Media Matters remains just as anti-Israel and anti-Semitic as it ever was......'

Stab| 4.5.12 @ 7:23PM

The race baiters and the state controlled media (redundant) were actually creaming their jeans two weeks ago, because they finally had another James Bird to bludgeon the Republicans with. Well this time it is not working so well. People are far wiser to the ways that the baiters operate and are not having anything to do with it.

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:12PM

This has nothing to do with Republicans. Was Natalee Holloway directed at blacks? Remarkably, I don't recall Republicans crying about the media attention associated with her death...or Chandra Levy's.

Drek| 4.5.12 @ 8:16PM

One Democrat attacked another Democrat, and the Democrat being attacked shot and killed a future obama supporter.

So one Democrat whacks another and the media rushes out to blame Republicans.

Or to look at it another way, one minority blasts away another minority, and that same media/Democrat axis rushes out to blame whitey!

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:19PM

No one blamed Republicans for this. If you really believe this you are paranoid. What does someone's party affiliation have to do with crime? Murder is nonpartisan.

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 12:35PM

Where have you been dude?

The Democrats piled on this immediately because they saw political gain to be had by doing so.

Besides, it was only a whimsical way of looking at what transpired.

Though admittedly what transpired was a tragedy for all concerned.

Even if Zimmerman is cleared, as he should be, as he ought to be by any society that values justice, he'll be scarred for life.

And as for Martin, he was on a trajectory for something like this for some time now, wasn't he?

Stolen goods in his possession, violent rantings on the Internet, posturings as if he were some gangsta'.

Sick stuff.

Charie| 4.7.12 @ 10:09PM

I am sick to death of all this concentrated media attention on murderers - hmm - except perhaps Hasan Nidal- who seemed to go into a hole of media blackout after murdering 8 and wounding I don't remember how many. Oh, that's correct. He wasn't white.

In the case of Natalee Holloway, I don't recall a posse of white people putting a bounty out on that Dutch man who was thought to have murdered her the way the New Black Panthers did Zimmerman. I still can't get over that and they're still walking around without being jailed themselves. I think that shows who is on the insider side of the law.

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:18PM

Interesting word choice: using James Byrd to "bludgeon" Republicans. Skinheads murdered him. Not the media.

aware| 4.5.12 @ 7:31PM

I'm sure all the bangers and homeys will agree with Steele's cool reasoning as soon as they read their latest copy of the WSJ. So everything's OK, right?

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:20PM

"Bangers and homeys"? Great. Very telling word choice. FYI: I am a black PhD. Does that make a banger or a homey?

C Bowen | 4.5.12 @ 8:55PM

You tell us, Mr. Smith. You are of course aware that the social critic, Edmund Wilson, said the PHD should have done away with as a German atrocity.

Clint| 4.5.12 @ 9:21PM

Sociology Professor, Dr. Smith, At The Faculty Christmas Party:

http://www.grimmemennesker.dk/.....1/whoa.jpg

He's Not Always Grumpy & Cranky.

Oldefarte| 4.8.12 @ 1:20PM

'.....MJ Rosenberg to Leave Media Matters Website Saturday, April 7, 2012 02:47 PMMJ Rosenberg is leaving the liberal activist group Media Matters, Fox News reports. Rosenberg plans start his own blog, saying he doesn't want his criticism of Israel to "harm" Media Matters.
Rosenberg's recent comments have drawn heavy fire. He mistakenly accused the Drudge Report website of racism in its coverage of the Trayvon Martin case, for which he has apologized. He also branded pro-Israel Americans as "Israel-firsters" and verbally attackd a Harvard professor.
Rosenberg announced Friday on the Media Matters website that he was "striking out on my own with a brand new website and blog."
Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz branded Rosenberg an anti-Semite for the “Israel-firsters” comment. When Dershowitz, a lifelong Democrat, urged the Democratic Party to distance itself from Media Matters, Rosenberg responded by telling him to “go to Hell” and urging Dershowitz’s students to boycott his class
"My presence here is being used in an effort to shut Media Matters up," Rosenberg said. He plans to create a new site, MJayRosenberg.com....'

Oldefarte| 4.8.12 @ 3:11PM

'..... Breitbart.com: MJ Rosenberg Sacrificed For Media Matters' Sins by Ben Shapiro Anti-Semitic Senior Foreign Policy Fellow MJ Rosenberg is leaving far-left, Obama-connected Media Matters for America. At the Political Correction page on the Media Matters website, Rosenberg posted a piece explaining that he would be exiting the organization:The reason for this step is that it disturbed me greatly to see an organization to which I am devoted facing possible harm because of my critical writings about Israel. I have no doubt that the crowd that opposes any and all criticism of Israeli government policies will continue to turn its guns on Media Matters if I am associated with it.I could not live with myself if that happened — not only because I care deeply about the organization and my colleagues, but also because Media Matters does such important work confronting the lies that emanate from the far right and especially Fox News.My presence here is being used in an effort to shut Media Matters up. That won't happen, of course. This is an incredibly successful organization. (Just ask Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh — or Rupert Murdoch, for that matter — about its impact). But the last thing I want to do is allow the right to use my support for a reinvigorated Middle East peace process to distract Media Matters from its primary mission: fighting for truth in the media.Rosenberg routinely uses anti-Semitic rhetoric; he has suggested in the past that any Jew who supports Israel is an “Israel firster” – a typical white supremacist slur. He has stated that Israel’s supporters would support Israel no matter what Israel did, and he has especially singled out Jewish Congresspeople for such comments. He recently tweeted, “I wonder if any candidate in either party other than Joe L [Lieberman] would slobber over Israel if it wasn’t for the $. Actually I don’t wonder.” Rosenberg is a big fan of anti-Semitic canard-masters John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, who suggested that the Israel lobby pays its way to power in the United States.The notion that Rosenberg is leaving voluntarily seems quite suspicious. Media Matters is feeling pressure – possibly from the White House – to oust Rosenberg because conservatives have rightly focused on Rosenberg as the tip of the spear of Media Matters anti-Semitism. If Media Matters isn’t firing him, they remain as anti-Semitic as they ever were, and Rosenberg is just taking one for the team. If Media Matters is firing him, the question is: why now? The answer is clear: Obama and Media Matters are coming under severe scrutiny for their anti-Israel and anti-Jewish positions, and they want to disassociate from Rosenberg before American Jews realize with whom they are in bed.It is also worth noting here that Media Matters is claiming credit for boycotts against Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. This shows that Media Matters is a partisan organization dedicated specifically to putting conservatives out of business. They’re not interested in what Beck and Limbaugh say – they’re interested only in shutting them up, in coordination with Democrats and the White House.In any case, this isn’t an ideological break between Media Matters and Rosenberg. As Rosenberg writes:So I am moving on, although my readers won't notice the difference. The twice-a-week email columns will continue to be sent to the same list. (If you aren't on it, just click here). My columns will continue to appear on Huffington Post, Al-Jazeera and dozens, if not hundreds, of other outlets where they tend to be reposted. And then there is my twitter account: @mjayrosenberg.
When you click on the link to sign up for Rosenberg’s email list, it goes to Foreign Policy Matters, a subset of Media Matters. And Rosenberg is keeping his mailing list, which heretofore had likely been the property of Media Matters. Not only that:Additionally, there will be the new blog, which will not be limited to Middle East issues and which will be continuously updated. And there may be a book in the works too. More on that later. A final word of thanks to Media Matters, which is a great organization. I started here at 62 years old, and it's the best job I've ever had.Richard Nixon famously said to the press after his failed attempt to become governor of California, "just think how much you're going to be missing. You don't have Nixon to kick around anymore." I, however, will most definitely be around. More than ever.Media Matters remains a deeply anti-Semitic organization. They’re just not a stupid one. And they realize that having open anti-Semites like Rosenberg on staff is a losing proposition. Nobody, however, should be fooled by the move. It means nothing. It’s just for show. And Media Matters remains just as anti-Israel and anti-Semitic as it ever was......'

aware| 4.6.12 @ 7:13AM

I stand corrected, Dr. Homey/Banger. And I am an equal opportunity hater with no regard for race. Gamma rats don't care what "rules" you alphas and betas make up for yourselves.

spike59| 4.6.12 @ 7:17AM

I am a black PhD. Does that make a banger or a homey?
==============================
no, that makes you one or the other:

prima facie evidence that a PhD is often not worth the paper upon which it's printed

a typical Internet troll, claiming to be something more than a produce department trainee at Ralph's

btw, I myself am a 'double-naught spy, brain surgeon, and NFL quarterback...when I'm not busy running a major TV network'

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 1:47PM

Are you suggesting that such language, that such terms, don't swirl around in America's black community?

Just because you have probs with such terms, such language, doesn't mean such terms and language aren't common in certain circles.

Charie| 4.7.12 @ 10:14PM

I don't care if you're purple with green polka dots and you should be able to think more clearly than that if you have a PhD. I have heard that colleges and universities no longer teach critical thinking and I believe it. Institutions of higher learning (?) seem to teach nothing but Marxist ideology nowadays.

C Bowen | 4.5.12 @ 8:36PM

This...this was funny, aware.

DRed| 4.5.12 @ 8:04PM

Hispanic is not a racial classification, people. This is simple stuff. Get it right.

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:21PM

But racism is part of US history and culture. Zimmerman's race is irrelevant. This is yet another strawman argument.

DRed| 4.5.12 @ 8:30PM

I'm just pointing out the author of this editorial can't even get very simple facts correct. If don't know what hispanic means, you probably shouldn't be talking about racism.

Larry| 4.6.12 @ 7:15PM

Liberals invented this idea of the Hispanics as a "race," trust me. So stifle.

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 1:49PM

And was this racism you refer to exclusive to the United States, or Anglo-American societies?

Is racism exclusive to Caucasians?

Is not racism found elsewhere on the planet, among societies that are not Caucasian?

Charie| 4.7.12 @ 10:23PM

Racism isn't simply a part of U.S. history. Racism is endemic on this planet and always has been. You also seem to buying into the meme, like AG Holder that racism can only be committed by white people on black people. Look back into the dim and dark past and look into the Middle East and parts of Africa now. Racism and slavery of all kinds abounds and you come here and berate those here about racism. Why don't you stop living in the past and look for real racism and slavery! Racism is not part of our culture. It may have been in part of the south many years ago but it wasn't in the rest of the country and certainly isn't now.

I'll leave you with this thought: People who go around looking for racism are likely to find it.

Clint| 4.5.12 @ 8:29PM

That's What The Cholos In Their Low Riders Keep Tellin' Us Tell Us All The Time.

Thank You For Sharing.

Oldefarte| 4.8.12 @ 1:20PM

'.....MJ Rosenberg to Leave Media Matters Website Saturday, April 7, 2012 02:47 PMMJ Rosenberg is leaving the liberal activist group Media Matters, Fox News reports. Rosenberg plans start his own blog, saying he doesn't want his criticism of Israel to "harm" Media Matters.
Rosenberg's recent comments have drawn heavy fire. He mistakenly accused the Drudge Report website of racism in its coverage of the Trayvon Martin case, for which he has apologized. He also branded pro-Israel Americans as "Israel-firsters" and verbally attackd a Harvard professor.
Rosenberg announced Friday on the Media Matters website that he was "striking out on my own with a brand new website and blog."
Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz branded Rosenberg an anti-Semite for the “Israel-firsters” comment. When Dershowitz, a lifelong Democrat, urged the Democratic Party to distance itself from Media Matters, Rosenberg responded by telling him to “go to Hell” and urging Dershowitz’s students to boycott his class
"My presence here is being used in an effort to shut Media Matters up," Rosenberg said. He plans to create a new site, MJayRosenberg.com....'

Nick| 4.5.12 @ 8:37PM

DRed,

Okay, so Mr. Zimmerman is Latino. Is that better?
It still makes you a racist.

DRed| 4.5.12 @ 9:29PM

Latino is another non-racial categorization, my dear St. Nick. Not sure how that makes me a racist. You do so love to play that card, though.

Nick| 4.6.12 @ 1:31AM

DRed,

"Latino is another non-racial categorization, my dear St. Nick."

According to whom? You?
Latino/Hispanic are racial minorities in this country. (I am far from a saint, by the way. Quite far, actually. You must be projecting, again.)

"Not sure how that makes me a racist."

I've explained it to you many times, already. All that pot smoking is affecting your memory. What a shock!
Mr. Zimmerman belongs to a racial minority. You have practically convicted him based on little evidence. This makes you a racist, in Liberal-land. Own it!

"You do so love to play that card, though."

Well, I learned it from you stinking liberal race hustlers, DRed.

p.s. Are you still convinced that Mr. Zimmerman is guilty of a crime? You liberals have been very quiet recently, as more facts have emerged.

DRed| 4.6.12 @ 1:41AM

No, no they're not. Broadly speaking, a hispanic person is one who traces their ancestry to a spanish (or portugese, I suppose) speaking part of the new world. You can be white as the driven snow and be hispanic.

Have I ever said that Zimmerman is guilty of a crime? Have I talked about his race at all? I don't recall. You should ask my amanuensis skip

Nick| 4.6.12 @ 3:02AM

DRed,

Then why is "Hispanic" a category on the census? And, what about Latino? You claimed that was "another non-racial categorization," remember? So, what is it?

"Have I ever said that Zimmerman is guilty of a crime?"

Didn't you say that Mr. Zimmerman should be arrested and tried in a court of law? Maybe you didn't. I can't keep the rantings of all of you liberals straight.

"Have I talked about his race at all?"

No, you ignore it. Because it interferes with your narrative: White man kills black teenager.
All you liberal race baiters have done, from day one, is focus on Mr. Martin's race. Why is Trayvon's race relevant, and Mr. Zimmerman's not?

I'm only playing by the rules you lefties set up. Mr. Zimmerman belongs to a racial minority and you liberals are only interested in railroading him into prison. Like the KKK of yesteryear.

DRed| 4.6.12 @ 11:46AM

Hispanic Origin. Persons of Hispanic origin were identified by a question that asked for self-identification of the person's origin or descent. Respondents were asked to select their origin (and the origin of other household members) from a "flash card" listing ethnic origins. Persons of Hispanic origin, in particular, were those who indicated that their origin was Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or some other Hispanic origin. It should be noted that persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

You'll have to ask the census people why it's on the census. I don't know. As far as I know, Latino and Hispanic mean pretty much the same thing. Sorry, St. Nick, it's not a race.

As for Trayvon's race, why did this incident occur? Zimmerman called the police to report seeing someone suspicious. That sounds fine. So what was suspicious? He's a 17 year old kid walking to his soon to be step mom's house, carrying some candy and an ice tea. He's talking on his cellphone. It's 7 pm. Anything particularly suspicious about that? Now, he is wearing a hoodie. But on the other hand, it's raining. So what's so suspicious?

Nick| 4.7.12 @ 5:34PM

DRed,

"Sorry, St. Nick, it's not a race."

From Dictionary.com:

race 2 [reys]
noun
1.
a group of persons related by common descent or heredity.
2.
a population so related.

So, Hispanic certainly qualifies as a race. And a racist is some who thinks that they are superior to another racial group. Therefore, those who want to railroad Mr. Zimmerman, a Hispanic, into jail, are racists. According to liberal ideology.

" So what was suspicious?"

You forgot to mention the recent string of robberies in the neighborhood. I regularly keep my eye on kids when I see them walking by my house at night. In the off chance they are up to no good.

In the past, on Devil's Night, I have followed punks who looked suspicious. If there had been a rash of robberies in my neighborhood, I would have no problem following someone walking at night. No matter what race they happen to have been.

I'll state this again, since you bleeding hearts don't seem to get it:
Mr. Zimmerman broke NO laws by following Mr. Martin.

The question is what happened right before the shooting occurred. Who attacked whom first? We don't know the answer, yet.

I ask again, DRed, why have you liberals been so quiet this past week?

What happened to, "Zimmerman had no blood, or signs of injury, on that police video tape"?
Or, "Zimmerman clearly uses a racial slur on the 9-1-1 tape"?

What about NBC News' disgusting and malicious editing of the that 9-1-1 tape? Why aren't you outraged about this example of Stalinist journalism, DRed?

Charie| 4.7.12 @ 10:29PM

Technically there are only 3 races branching off the main which is Homo Sapiens and they are Caucasoid, Negroid, and Mongoloid. All others are ethnic groups.

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:11PM

Shelby Steele calls others a "race pimp," but he should look in the mirror. All he is doing is pulling the conservative "race-card" that racism doesn't exist. It is as old as racism itself. Immediately after the Civil War, whites started blaming blacks for their own unequal status - and they have never stopped. Along the way, they have always had tokens like Shelby Steele to assist. For real "sense" on this subject, read someone who actually cares about and writes about black crime victims all the time (unlike Shelby Steele). http://dissentingjustice.blogs.....acial.html

Drek| 4.5.12 @ 8:17PM

You might want to take a gander at the incidence of black on white crime.

It doesn't make for pleasant examination.

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:23PM

Actually, I am a PhD in sociology. My focus is exactly on black homicide victims. I care more about the subject than YOU or Shelby Steele. Steele is only using this issue to bash antiracist activists. You are only happy that he is raising the issue because you despise antiracist activists. I have written and developed policies on this issue for decades. So I don't need your instruction on the subject.

Trinacria| 4.5.12 @ 9:27PM

Ah, yes...the highly esteemed PhD in sociology, and a policy maker at that! Well, sport, that makes you damn near as impressive as the best downhill skier in Mexico.

AVCurmudgeon| 4.8.12 @ 6:41PM

Sociologists always get in trouble when they talk to anybody but themselves.

albert constantine jr.| 4.5.12 @ 10:01PM

Mr. Smith;

I am unfamiliar with your published work, Doctor, and haven’t seen you post at this site before today. As such, all I really have to judge of your scholarship is what you have written here today.

As one who has also conducted extensive research on homicide victims (and perpetrators, where known) in order to deploy resources to reduce the incidence of victimization, it would have been interesting to see what hypotheses you might have developed from your work.

Your remarks here, though, seem to suggest that you are an intolerant and virulent racist and racialist.

Perhaps you could publish some links to some of what you have managed to publish beyond your posts today, so that I could review it to have a more thorough and rounded viewpoint in support of or at odds with that conclusion.

Trinacria| 4.5.12 @ 11:08PM

AC,
Don't hold your breath; I rather suspect that "PhD in sociology" translates to "PhD in African American studies", another made-up nonsense field of study like "women's studies" or "human sexuality", which serves the sole purpose of providing a career path for self absorbed mopes whose breadth of intellectual curiosity is limited by the boundaries of their own physical traits.

spike59| 4.6.12 @ 7:38AM

this IS the Internet; don't we ALL have PhD's?
all we have to do is make the claim

wally| 4.6.12 @ 10:58AM

He is a Doctor of Thinkology, degree conferred upon him by Oz the First....

Bruce| 4.5.12 @ 10:20PM

newspeak
"antiracist" -> anti-white

Bob| 4.6.12 @ 2:46AM

"PhD in sociology"

All I needed to know to realize you don't have two functioning brain cells.

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 12:31PM

Why not extend your gander beyond merely homicide?

Dennis Prager makes short work of lefty complaints about the incidence of black men getting the death penalty.

Larry| 4.6.12 @ 7:20PM

Ah, so we can blame YOU for the nonsense that Shelby Steele is talking about! I despise antiracist activists who only play the race card for their own paternalistic, power-hungry purposes (e.g. Barack the Usurper is the most notorious example), and fail to understand the true nature of race relations in this country and put them into proper perspective. I wonder how much of a stand you've taken in your own community about and against black-on-black crime and the destructive welfare culture that Charles Murray has discussed. You stand to benefit from those; I haven't seen any of your so-called "policies," but I suspect that your policy prescriptions are as dumb as the logic you have used in this thread.

C Bowen | 4.5.12 @ 8:42PM

Mr. (Tony) Smith;

Racism does exist--it is a Trotskite term. People do feel a natural kinship with their genetic cousins and cannot be faulted for that.

You are, after all, essentially correct. Republican striped anti-racists are the real evil. They openly, on their blogs/sites, have people calling for the genocide of the Arabs or the Iranians and so on but these people are never banned from the site.

But, Zimmerman is not a white-man, and yet the actual racialist Right blogs (certainly not this site) and sites defended the man, Zimmerman from the Lynch Mob.

What does that tells us about our time?

spike59| 4.6.12 @ 7:36AM

name ONE 'Republican site' where anyone is calling for the genocide of Arabs or Iranians...

you can't. none exist.

but, for the sake of the racialist/Leftist agenda, lying is considered part of 'by any means necessary'

it doesn't tell us much about 'our time', but it speaks VOLUMES about 'race card dealers' like you and Tony

C Bowen| 4.6.12 @ 2:31PM

For example, on this site, I was referring to posters like Occam's Razor who have called for genocide to settle the Arab question and are still allowed to post.

There are plenty of others like him--would you like so more names?

irish19| 4.7.12 @ 1:07AM

It's Occam's Tool, and I don't recall any of his posts calling for genocide against Arabs.

C Bowen | 4.7.12 @ 8:36AM

Yes--of course, Occam's Tool.

Yes--he called for genocide and to force them into slavery to build the Mexican Wall.

He was not banned for this.

Link: http://spectator.org/blog/2011.....tcontainer

Quote:

"They should be suffering and inconvenienced---not us. Without pity, remorse, or mercy. At minimal cost in American dollars and lives. Leave them poisoned, deformed, crying, and broken in spirit, soul, and mind. Make their survivors build the Mexican wall for us, without pay, under the lash. Let their future be a boot crashing down on a human face, forever."

Occam's Tool 6/18/11"

JmsA| 4.5.12 @ 10:08PM

Racism in one form or another will always exist. What appears difficult to figure out, to some at least, is that it cames in all shades and types--but I guess for the sake of argument, such should not figure much in the current discussion.

Charie| 4.7.12 @ 10:31PM

You can hug your beliefs as tight to yourself as you wish T.S. and I hope they keep you comfy but I do wish you'd unlock that intolerant liberal brain a bit. You might find yourself more comfy in the wide world.

Clint| 4.5.12 @ 8:59PM

"The Tragedy in Florida and the National Tragedy

By Jim Darlington · Monday, March 26, 2012

"There is a Black on Black Race War that accounts for about 95% of the Blacks being slaughtered. Say between 14-18,000 a year. The other 5% are killed by Hispanics, Whites and an occasional "Other".

Paul McGrath| 4.5.12 @ 11:59PM

"You are only happy that he is raising the issue because you despise antiracist activists."

Wow. That's quite a mouthful Tony. I think it is safe to say that most of us here on AmSpec despise racists, but that we despise "antiracist activists" is a comment that approaches the level of, well, insanity.

If I dislike you because of your illogical anti-conservative, anti-racist, pro-anti-racist, pro-race-mongering, pro-bashing anti-liberal conservative, pro-anti-establishment contraceptive users, than what does that make me?

I would tell you straight-forward, but using labels is so much more fun.

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 12:57PM

The guy came out and accused me of racism.

So I suppose it's not a stretch to accuse me of despising antiracist activists.

Smith appears morbidly fixated on race issues. He's not the only one out there, for now there's a whole cottage industry in academia devoted thereto.

Bob| 4.6.12 @ 2:43AM

Aaron Goldstein continues to refuse to call it what it is. This is just more campaigning. The day they put Obama's face on it, saying that his son would look like Trayvon, is the day it became obvious. Even while Sharpton's goons put a bounty on Obama, Obama is inviting Sharpton to the White House. Sharpton scratches Obama's back, Obama scratches Sharpton's back. Send black voters who have been disillusioned by Obama's utter mishandling of the economy into a frenzy for Obama, and you too can get an invitation to the White House.

It's bad, but it's a lot worse than what WSJ and Aaron Goldstein are willing to admit.

Aaron Goldstein| 4.6.12 @ 9:29AM

I have no idea what you mean when you say that I "continue to refuse to call it what it is." What exactly have I refused?

In any case, I wrote about President Obama's part in this whole sordid affair last week:

http://spectator.org/archives/.....snt-look-l

spike59| 4.6.12 @ 7:32AM

so it seems that, one by one, the ‘articles of faith’ in the ‘narrative’ presented by the MSM are beginning to fall apart:

1-Zimmerman used a racial slur to refer to blacks-FALSE-as (grudgingly) shown by CNN

2-Zimmerman told the dispatcher that Martin looked suspicious BECAUSE he ‘looked black’-FALSE-as NBC was forced to admit.

3-Zimmerman lied about being assaulted by Martin, sustaining several injuries-FALSE-as ABC was forced to admit

The first 2 lies are the most important, because they are what ginned up the RAGE in the public-and the MSM knowingly, and deliberately told these lies in order to turn a crime story into a 'MAJOR RACIAL INCIDENT', thereby boosting ratings, and allow the Democrats to use the outrage to their political advantage (ObaMao campaign selling hoodies on its website, the DNC running voter registration drives at 'Treyvon Memorials')

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 12:30PM

Exactly.

The narrative is collapsing.

If anyone was actually stalked, it was Zimmerman, by the obviously pathological Martin.

Obviously pathological by the way by virtue of his twitter/Internet handle, which is so vulgar and sick, that it can't be specified even here.

This case has no business whatsoever even being presented to a grand jury!

Pete| 4.6.12 @ 10:27AM

I hope Latinos take note at how quickly they were cast aside by the Great Divider and act appropriately at the polls in November.

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 1:45PM

The only people who seem to be rising to defend Zimmerman aren't his fellow Democrats, but his political opponents, Republicans.

If it weren't for people like Hannity, Zimmerman's version wouldn't have been revealed at all. And CNN and NBC would still be able to do their best at railroading this guy who went out of his way to mentor black kids without father figures in their lives.

JonInVa| 4.6.12 @ 10:48AM

The Al Sharptons of this world can't be "discredited" because the only people who give him credit to begin with are other blacks who also claim aggrieved victim status. They will never turn their back on him, so it doesn't matter what the establishment or the media does to tell the truth about him (which at this point, is very little with a few notable exceptions).

Bill| 4.6.12 @ 12:13PM

I don't give a f**********about Trayvon Martin.

tresor paris jewellery | 4.6.12 @ 1:06PM

Exactly.

The narrative is collapsing.

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 1:52PM

Why not expand on your comment?

If you're making some observation about the jewelry found in Martin's possession, ------- let's hear it.

james gore| 4.6.12 @ 8:41PM

When I lived in Berkeley and went to UC, we joked about the black-brown shirts The implied comparison to Hitlers brown shirts. We joked the militant blacks were the brown shirts for the Liberal whites. Well, it isn't a joke anymore; the symbolism has become reality. The militant blacks (Sharpton, Jackson, etc.) really are the black-brown shirts for the Liberals.

Marc Jeric| 4.7.12 @ 4:04AM

There is the case these days of a young black male killed by a neighborhood watch guard in a gated community in Florida. The TV and newspapers show the black fellow by a photograph when the victim was a 12-year old youngster; the watchman is a half-Hispanic whom the papers call a white man. The victim in reality was a 17-year old hooded “gangsta” casing the joint for any empty houses; he is 6’-3” tall fellow walking at night in a strange gated neighborhood, where he gained access by jumping the fence. When challenged by the guard he attacked him and beat him to the ground, and then proceeded to break his nose and left him there all bloodied, according to a witness. The watchman called 911 to ask for police help, and then got his gun and killed “the young man” who was trying to walk away while the police was taking their time in arriving there. All TV’s and newspapers are in racial panic, accusing the police there of racial bigotry; all the usual racebaiters are there to organize protests – Sharpton, Jackson, Farakhan; the Black Panthers issued a reward of $10,000 to whomever would kill the guard. Black churches are in mourning with vigils for the “young victim” of racism. The Attorney General Holder promises a federal hate crime prosecution unless the local authorities act expeditiously. President Obama expressed his condolences to the family of “the young boy who could have well been his own son” if he had one. Well – “the young boy” shown in that old photograph by all TV’s and newspapers is in reality is a huge hooded gangster with a history of school suspensions for vandalism, jewelry theft, and drug dealing. He was dealt with rather mildly – because he was black! Any white hoodlum would have been sent to a correction facility. The young criminal left him there on the ground and tried to walk away, but the guard got his gun and shot him dead. A grand jury will take up the case in a couple of weeks. The local police chief, a white man, left his place in favor of a black officer while the case is going through the legal paces. Demonstrations in many cities are continuing, clamoring for immediate action and justice.

Mary Wilbur| 4.7.12 @ 6:56AM

Sen. Dick Durbin is getting into the act. After the holiday weekend, he will hold hearings on racial profiling with the object of producing legislation banning it. I am sure I don't know how this can be done. Racial profiling is pretty vague.

Arch| 4.7.12 @ 7:03AM

The story took too long to develop and had too many political strings attached - race, swing state, hand guns.

Martin was killed at about 7:30 PM Feb 26th. Zimmerman surrendered his weapon, was treated for his injuries and taken into custody. His account was confirmed by several witnesses. Police had no evidence on which to arrest him.

On Mar 8th, Martin's parents had lawyered up and appeared on CBS news in Atlanta. The following day CNN and the other Networks picked up the story. On Mar 17th, after being accused of a cover up, Sanford police released the 911 tapes. Trayvon's Facebook page was sanitized, replacing his hoodie gangster photo with one taken when he was 12. The media suppressed this story long enough for Zimmerman's injuries to heal, crafting this narrative:

Sinister, white, vigilante in a rich, gated community stalked and murdered an innocent, unarmed, little black boy returning from the store with skittles and sweet iced tea. Police covered it up and protected the killer under a new Florida stand and fight law. 911 tapes were incorrectly transcribed and audio deliberately altered, appearing to confirm the allegation that the watchman was a racist.

The governor called for a special investigation. On Mar 20th, DoJ entered the investigation as a civil rights case. On Mar 26th Obama issues his usual uninformed opinion. Congressional Black Caucus acted with exceptional buffoonery even for them. Enter the race pimps and anti-gun groups. The Lynch mobs form. Wanted, Dead or Alive; $10,000 bounty for Zimmerman's "arrest."

The narrative disintegrates. Trayvon is thuggish 6'2" football player who attacked the watchman. Zimmerman is a Latino, known by the NAACP as a supporter of a black man beaten by local police. The gated community is poor and only 46% white. Stand and fight did not apply. The fake tapes and transcripts are exposed.

There is still no evidence that Zimmerman broke the law.

Drek| 4.7.12 @ 11:08AM

Exactly, there is no reason whatsoever that this case should be presented to any grand jury.

Nothing exists that suggests Zimmerman acted out of malice, let alone malice aforethought.

Nor is there any reason to suggest any other motive than self-defense. Zimmerman had patrolled many, many times. No one before had ever been shot by him.

So why now?

What was different?

And the answer was the Martin, who can only reasonably be described as a young punk, who from his Internet stylings was much, much worse than a young punk.

GenEarly| 4.7.12 @ 11:27AM

This isn't really about Travon or Zimmerman. It is much bigger, about rolling back Florida's Citizens Rights to have and carry guns. Florida was a leader among the States and is going to come under "attack' for it's "extremist" gun laws. Hillary and Obama are poised to initiate the UN Gun Ban in the USSA after the election. Obama is already making promises to Russia and the UN of his actions following re-election. The Fix is In. Ammo is the first point of attack, taxed, scarcity, and registered. Buy Now.

Drek| 4.7.12 @ 12:13PM

Ultimately, they're not about to allow you to retain weaponry and ammunition.

They're just biding their time; waiting for the appropriate moment, and the media will be cheerleading the gun-grabbers all the while.

There are two things that have to be eradicated before their full agenda can be implemented, they are:

1} the Electoral College; and

2} those rights reserved to the people under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Marc Jeric| 4.8.12 @ 1:57PM

There is the case these days of a young black male killed by a neighborhood watch guard in a gated community in Florida. The TV and newspapers show the black fellow by a photograph when the victim was a 12-year old youngster; the watchman is a half-Hispanic whom the papers call a white man. The victim in reality was a 17-year old hooded “gangsta” casing the joint for any empty houses; he is 6’-3” tall fellow walking at night in a strange gated neighborhood, where he gained access by jumping the fence. When challenged by the guard he attacked him and beat him to the ground, and then proceeded to break his nose and left him there all bloodied, according to a witness. The watchman called 911 to ask for police help, and then got his gun and killed “the young man” who was trying to walk away while the police was taking their time in arriving there. All TV’s and newspapers are in racial panic, accusing the police there of racial bigotry; all the usual racebaiters are there to organize protests – Sharpton, Jackson, Farakhan; the Black Panthers issued a reward of $10,000 to whomever would kill the guard. Black churches are in mourning with vigils for the “young victim” of racism. The Attorney General Holder promises a federal hate crime prosecution unless the local authorities act expeditiously. President Obama expressed his condolences to the family of “the young boy who could have well been his own son” if he had one. Well – “the young boy” shown in that old photograph by all TV’s and newspapers is in reality is a huge hooded gangster with a history of school suspensions for vandalism, jewelry theft, and drug dealing. He was dealt with rather mildly – because he was black! Any white hoodlum would have been sent to a correction facility. The young criminal left him there on the ground and tried to walk away, but the guard got his gun and shot him dead. A grand jury will take up the case in a couple of weeks. The local police chief, a white man, left his place in favor of a black officer while the case is going through the legal paces. Demonstrations in many cities are continuing, clamoring for immediate action and justice.

AVCurmudgeon| 4.8.12 @ 6:37PM

Very nice speculative recap. The simple fact is that we don't really know what happened beyond the fact that Zimmerman killed Martin consequent to some sort of altercation. You are correct that there will be a grand jury hearing, and perhaps at that point something like probative evidence will emerge. In the meantime, the best everyone can do is let the system work.

Florida Floyd| 4.8.12 @ 7:08PM

Hooray! Thanks for finally composing and publishing an article stating the truth on this whole sordid mess. The "Reverend" Jessie Jackson AND "Dr." Al Sharpton should at long last be exposed and recognized for the bigots and racists that they are, and denied a pulpit from which to spew their venom. They should both cease using MLK's name in vane- I am quite certain Reverend King would be appalled at both of these instigators. The media, especially NBC & MSNBC should also be dicredited and hang their heads in shame for what they have both manufactured and allowed to be broadcast in the name of journalism. It disgusts me and my family and friends, as it should all true Americans, no matter their ethnicity. The "news" indeed. One need not wonder why this country is going down the toilet when solid waste like the two above mentioned swirl around the bowl in waters provided by the likes of NBC.

Occam's Tool| 4.8.12 @ 9:44PM

You know what I'm really interested in: the facts as they come out in court.

Yup, the old fashioned assumption of innocence before Proof of Guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This story bores me. I'm sad a kid got killed, but there are zillions of Black on Black homicides that don't rate an article, caused by the family destroying policies of Barack Obama and his cronies. Those are not reported. Black women who are intelligent and educated have extreme difficulty finding Black Men who are intelligent and educated, because of the Black child destroying policies of Barack Obama and his cronies. This goes unreported.

But this one unfortunate incident, which is COMPLETELY untypical of how the normal Black Killing death goes down, an overall death rate that is horrific and is directly related to the Murder-supporting policies of Barack Obama and his despicable cronies, this ATYPICAL death is trumpeted to the skies.

Please. I'm a guy who has to deal with minority killings and abuse and violence every goshdarned day. Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining.

By the way, Mr. Bowen: the Iranians should be broken if they proceed with a nuke. I fight to win. Much better than being corn-holed every day by an Arab terrorist, or, in this case, a Persian one, you "C."

The American Spectator

View all comments (112) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Clint| 4.5.12 @ 6:46PM

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:16PM

Clint| 4.5.12 @ 9:27PM

Charie| 4.7.12 @ 8:39PM

Drek| 4.7.12 @ 12:10PM

Oldefarte| 4.8.12 @ 12:55PM

Oldefarte| 4.8.12 @ 3:09PM

Claypoole| 4.5.12 @ 7:12PM

Drek| 4.5.12 @ 8:09PM

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:16PM

Trinacria| 4.5.12 @ 9:01PM

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 6:59PM

spike59| 4.6.12 @ 7:13AM

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 12:51PM

irish19| 4.7.12 @ 12:52AM

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 12:48PM

Larry| 4.6.12 @ 7:09PM

Charie| 4.7.12 @ 8:46PM

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:24PM

Trinacria| 4.5.12 @ 9:16PM

Anthony M| 4.5.12 @ 10:11PM

Larry| 4.6.12 @ 7:12PM

C Bowen | 4.5.12 @ 7:17PM

aware| 4.5.12 @ 7:34PM

Clint| 4.5.12 @ 8:03PM

Drek| 4.5.12 @ 8:13PM

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:17PM

C Bowen | 4.5.12 @ 8:46PM

Clint| 4.5.12 @ 9:04PM

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 12:39PM

Oldefarte| 4.8.12 @ 12:56PM

Oldefarte| 4.8.12 @ 3:10PM

Stab| 4.5.12 @ 7:23PM

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:12PM

Drek| 4.5.12 @ 8:16PM

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:19PM

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 12:35PM

Charie| 4.7.12 @ 10:09PM

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:18PM

aware| 4.5.12 @ 7:31PM

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:20PM

C Bowen | 4.5.12 @ 8:55PM

Clint| 4.5.12 @ 9:21PM

Oldefarte| 4.8.12 @ 1:20PM

Oldefarte| 4.8.12 @ 3:11PM

aware| 4.6.12 @ 7:13AM

spike59| 4.6.12 @ 7:17AM

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 1:47PM

Charie| 4.7.12 @ 10:14PM

C Bowen | 4.5.12 @ 8:36PM

DRed| 4.5.12 @ 8:04PM

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:21PM

DRed| 4.5.12 @ 8:30PM

Larry| 4.6.12 @ 7:15PM

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 1:49PM

Charie| 4.7.12 @ 10:23PM

Clint| 4.5.12 @ 8:29PM

Oldefarte| 4.8.12 @ 1:20PM

Nick| 4.5.12 @ 8:37PM

DRed| 4.5.12 @ 9:29PM

Nick| 4.6.12 @ 1:31AM

DRed| 4.6.12 @ 1:41AM

Nick| 4.6.12 @ 3:02AM

DRed| 4.6.12 @ 11:46AM

Nick| 4.7.12 @ 5:34PM

Charie| 4.7.12 @ 10:29PM

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:11PM

Drek| 4.5.12 @ 8:17PM

Tony Smith| 4.5.12 @ 8:23PM

Trinacria| 4.5.12 @ 9:27PM

AVCurmudgeon| 4.8.12 @ 6:41PM

albert constantine jr.| 4.5.12 @ 10:01PM

Trinacria| 4.5.12 @ 11:08PM

spike59| 4.6.12 @ 7:38AM

wally| 4.6.12 @ 10:58AM

Bruce| 4.5.12 @ 10:20PM

Bob| 4.6.12 @ 2:46AM

Drek| 4.6.12 @ 12:31PM