I officially give up: American political discourse is hopeless

[Boris Godunov]

Considering Brietbart used the precise word "racist" as a moniker for Sherrod in his postings, I think she might have grounds for libel even if he didn't edit the video himself. She'll probably argue that he was under obligation to verify the truth of his claims before posting something which would be read by a wide audience that defamed her character. Whether that is enough, I don't know.

At the very least, hopefully her suit will get to the bottom of who was behind the edited video, which really should be the biggest news story about this situation right now. It doesn't seem any of the major media outlets are trying to find out who did it.

[Drake Tungsten]

Incidentally, I have just learned that the comments section of that Politico article is frightening is so, so many ways.

Almost all comments sections are frightening. Start reading them and you soon realize that there are plenty more Oerdins and Bens out there...

[Guynemer]

Dude, these people make Oerdin and Ben look like, well, me and you. These are zakuDL and Ted Striker-gone-Truther level crazies.

[Drake Tungsten]

Ted Striker...

[Guynemer]

Our fallen compatriot. I'd pour out a forty if I had one.

[Straybow]

You've got to be kidding me. Are you still relying on the edited video? The entire point of her story is that she awoke to the idea that "we'll let their own take care of them" is wrong. That's why she then did all she could to help the white farmer save his farm, because she realized it wasn't about race.

You're grossly misrepresenting what she said. Sweet Jesus, I'd expect BK to be this dishonest...

No, I didn't misrepresent what I quoted and the reaction of the NAACP audience, which was the focus of the story as I understood it.

As for God helping her realize she should help the poor, whether they be black or not, that's her lame some-of-my-friends-are-white defense. This happened 30 years ago, and she's just now speaking out?

This is what defines racism. Does she call Farrakhan a racist, or does he get a pass because he's black? Do the Jeffersons and Rangels for corruption get a pass because they are black? Does she recognize Rev. Jackson's Rainbow Push as racist shakedown, or is he just stickin' it to da man?

[Straybow]

[Q=Boris Godunov;5841324]Considering Brietbart used the precise word "racist" as a moniker for Sherrod in his postings, I think she might have grounds for libel even if he didn't edit the video himself. She'll probably argue that he was under obligation to verify the truth of his claims before posting something which would be read by a wide audience that defamed her character. Whether that is enough, I don't know.

At the very least, hopefully her suit will get to the bottom of who was behind the edited video, which really should be the biggest news story about this situation right now. It doesn't seem any of the major media outlets are trying to find out who did it.[/Q] Oh, yeah, that's the way to build trust between the races. Boo hoo! Somebody called me racist! Waaaa! I'm gonna sue!

So do conservatives get to sue the liberals who call them racists for opposing Obama's idiotic policies?

[Boris Godunov]

No, I didn't misrepresent what I quoted and the reaction of the NAACP audience, which was the focus of the story as I understood it.

Bull****. In the full video, the audience clearly expresses dismay for the white farmer when Sherrod tells them that the lawyer suggested he give up because he's old, which appalled her. That was a reaction the Breitbart version omitted, so you clearly haven't watched the full video.

It's interesting you slavishly repeat the "it was the audience reaction that was the focus!" claim from Breitbart, because that was the lame excuse he trotted out after the video fakery had been exposed. And yet, his follow-up stories in between the initial story and the learning the snippets were misleading don't mention the audience reaction--they focus on the "racist" Sherrod.

Furthermore, the claim that the NAACP audience approved of her not helping the white farmer seems to me to be a lie. I heard only the voice of one woman going "mm-hmm" as Sherrod talked about foisting the farmer off on the white lawyer, and the woman *continues to do so* as she then described helping him. The woman is definitely annoying, as she can be heard "mmm-hmmming" throughout the whole damn speech.

As for God helping her realize she should help the poor, whether they be black or not, that's her lame some-of-my-friends-are-white defense. This happened 30 years ago, and she's just now speaking out?

And how the **** do you know she hasn't spoken out about it before? You didn't know this woman existed until 2 weeks ago, you dip****. This doesn't sound to me like a story she just started telling. And wtf, "some-of-my-friends-are-white" defense? Defense for what? She's not defending anything! She's openly admitting her initial reactions were wrong! Jesus ****ign Christ, if this is the mean-spirited reaction people who held racist views but have recanted them get, that sure as hell doesn't give them as much incentive to turn away from those views.

I can see you have zero empathy for other human beings. Otherwise, you might also consider the fact that Sherrod grew up living in a country where her race was historically mistreated by the majority, and members of that same majority murdered her father and uncle, and also terrorized her family with a cross burning. Maybe if you'd try to understand what's that like you might get why she wasn't necessarily as quick as *you* would like her to have been in her epiphany, and why her epiphany is all the more profound.

This is what defines racism. Does she call Farrakhan a racist, or does he get a pass because he's black? Do the Jeffersons and Rangels for corruption get a pass because they are black? Does she recognize Rev. Jackson's Rainbow Push as racist shakedown, or is he just stickin' it to da man?

Yes, because every black person has to apologize for the poor behavior of every other black person who has ever done wrong before they can have any sort of credibility in your eyes. Holy ****, if you don't see how racist you're being, you're pretty much beyond hope.

Oh, yeah, that's the way to build trust between the races. Boo hoo! Somebody called me racist! Waaaa! I'm gonna sue!

You're telling me that someone should roll over when someone who professes to be a journalist engages in rampantly irresponsible behavior that includes outright calling them a "racist" and they end up getting fired over a lie? Yeah right. I'd bet if you found yourself unemployed because a newspaper ran an article about you that was false, you'd sue its ass off. It's not as if Sherrod would be the first person ever to sue a media outlet for libel, now would she?

I don't remember you ever being this bat**** crazy before. When did you hop on the train to wingnutville? Did Obama's election really drive you that far over the edge?

[DaShi]

I like him better this way.

[GePap]

Yes, the national political debate is hopeless. People have spoken about lots of partisanship before, which was correct, but the new media structure utterly saturates everything, to the point that even the most inane things become "news".

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

I think that he deserves to get his ass sued off, but I'm not sure this is a case she can win. Can she prove that he either edited the video, or knew that it had been edited in bad faith by whomever sent it to him? Even if she can prove that, can she prove damages, as she is likely to make more money now (through books or speaking opportunities) than she did before?

I don't think she is hurting for money after winning her $13 million suit against the government.

[Boris Godunov]

I don't think she is hurting for money after winning her $13 million suit against the government.

She didn't collect $13 million personally, that went to the farmers co-op. I think she got $150,000 from the settlement.

[Straybow]

[Q=Boris Godunov;5841885]Bull****. In the full video, the audience clearly expresses dismay for the white farmer when Sherrod tells them that the lawyer suggested he give up because he's old, which appalled her. [/Q] Exactly, the audience was more dismayed at that than at her (initial) refusal to help him. In other words, it would have been fine and dandy had the white lawyer filed the man's papers and his case never came back to Sherrod.

And how the **** do you know she hasn't spoken out about it before? You didn't know this woman existed until 2 weeks ago, you dip****.

I guarantee you, if any black speaker were going around redressing the racism of the likes I mentioned above, we'd know about it. The silence speaks loudly.

I can see you have zero empathy for other human beings. Otherwise, you might also consider the fact that Sherrod grew up living in a country where her race was historically mistreated by the majority, and members of that same majority murdered her father and uncle, and also terrorized her family with a cross burning. Maybe if you'd try to understand what's that like you might get why she wasn't necessarily as quick as *you* would like her to have been in her epiphany, and why her epiphany is all the more profound.

I believe I addressed that already. I didn't say her epiphany was overdue, I said waiting 30 years to speak about it to others who might have suffered in similar ways is overlong.

Yes, because every black person has to apologize for the poor behavior of every other black person who has ever done wrong before they can have any sort of credibility in your eyes. Holy ****, if you don't see how racist you're being, you're pretty much beyond hope.

Only to the same extent every white person is burdened with the necessity of making up for racism of generations past, at least according to the current political climate. I do not consider calling out the Farrakhans as documented racists to be racism. When the Reverends and politicians are quick to attack conservatives as racist for criticizing policies of the President who happens to be black, that is racism. If you see that as racist, you are the one who is unreasonable beyond hope.

[Guynemer]

[Elok]

I refuse to eat black bananas. I think I might be racist. Please help me.