That Smollett is a liar and an Edited and was willing to trade in false racism and false homophobia is not in doubt.
That these “leaders” refuse to be accountable for their hyperbolic reactions and willingnesss to carry that message without an iota of critical analysis is equally not in doubt.
That they have not walked back their comements publicly shows they have feet of clay.
Has to be noted that she posted this response before you made your last post on this subject...
And where is “I was wrong to inflame the situation before I knew he facts”?
She jumped two feet into hate crime and lynching. It was hate crime. Poor Jussie hated his salary and wanted more.
Do you really think she "inflamed" the situation?
How did she make this situation worse by saying the "attack" was a "modern-day lynching" when the person who was attacked stated that a noose was used in the assault?
She did use the incident to promote her Anti-Lynching bill which is a good cause in my view, what are your thoughts?
Smollete should get the book thrown at him both time wise & financially btw...
I'm not familiar with Smollett's work at all nor do I have any conception of the type of person that he seemed to be prior to this, apparently, fabricated incident. I still don't understand what he hoped to gain from making this up. Maybe he'd get a bump in popularity in the short-term or would be able to go on to give talks or something but I don't see much in the way of long-term benefit. The downside, however, is big. For him, I'd imagine he's unemployable at best and I don't have the impression that he was all that in demand to start with.
Having said that, while jumping in with 2 feet could, clearly, end up regrettably, I don't think reacting strongly to the story of a potential victim being attacked for reasons that people in this country actually do get attacked for is the worst initial reaction to have. Real victims often don't report attacks and, often, need someone to believe them. If it turns out the victim was lying, I still don't think supporting the "victim" was the wrong default stance as long as in supporting/believing the victim, you're not going after the alleged attackers. I didn't see much in the way of chastising of the alleged "attackers" but I could be wrong about that. I think defense of a victim (real or professed) is a preferable initial stance to defense of the alleged attackers or immediate discrediting of the accuser. In a perfect world, if one doesn't personally know the victim, I guess the smart play would be to not form any opinion at all until all of the facts have been divulged. But that's not all that realistic, is it? Especially when it comes to the real versions of crimes such as this. As a society, I think we've been far too numb/blind to them and I suppose I prefer an overreaction to an under-reaction.
With regard to being angry that politicians that jumped in without the benefit of a couple of days of investigation not having apologized properly, I guess I'm confused. Since when do politicians fully apologize for anything? There are Republicans that have been indicted and convicted and I don't recall any of them apologizing for anything. The "liberal" news media has reported extensively that their earlier reports on the Smollett attack appear to have been filled with lies. Ms. Harris addressed it though did not apologize.
I don't watch Fox News but I'm sure they're blowing it out of proportion with regard to Democrats but I'm equally sure they didn't report on it much, if at all, when it was first reported as an attack. It was newsworthy as an attack just as it's newsworthy as a sham of an attack. Not because Mr. Smollett is an actor. But because being black and being gay does get people attacked and that needs to be covered and needs to change. And those aren't Democrat/Republican issues. Those are human rights issues. Those are American issues. These are the sorts of things that, in 2019, it should be very easy for us all to agree upon, IMO. Just as it should be easy to agree that Mr. Smollett did a huge disservice to those who have been attacked and those that will be. I wouldn't advocate for an ounce of leniency in whatever penalties are coming his way.
That these “leaders” refuse to be accountable for their hyperbolic reactions and willingnesss to carry that message without an iota of critical analysis is equally not in doubt.
Please explain what was "hyperbolic" about their reactions other than they are Democrats. Smollett made the charge that someone sent him anthrax with a MAGA letter in the mail with a picture of a figure hanging from the tree, and then two guys beat him and put a noose around his neck and threw some sort of chemical on him.
You want to argue that they and Trump (who called it "horrible" on January 31), and whoever else were wrong to bite on this story, fine. The idea that it's hyperbolic to call that description a racial attack or to evoke "lynching imagery" when a guy is saying he got sent a note with a figure hanging from a tree and someone put a noose around his neck? That is a weird, weird, weird take.
Let's do the converse - of someone in a position of leadership who should say something but doesn't. Trump, the malignant narcissist, remains silent as a plot to decapitate the Democratic leadership and journalists is disclosed. He did the same thing when the pipe bomber was arrested. We are one step away from Trump encouraging violence against the press and his political opposition via his white nationalist base/2nd Amendment base. I am not joking about that. I think Trump is that malignant. And crickets from the so-called Republican leadership, McConnell, McCarthy et al. Remember when Scalise was shot by a crazed liberal??? Everyone did unite behind opposition to such violence. Here, crickets from the cowards known as Republicans for fear of offending their white supremacist base.
Can't offend the white nationalist base of the Republican Party!!
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT is not usually shy about publicizing alleged terrorism plots that it uncovers in the United States. This week, however, news broke of a violent extremist plot in the United States that court documents chillingly noted would have led to the “murder of innocent civilians on a scale rarely seen in this country.” Outside of the court filings, however, the Justice Department did not say a word.
The administration’s silence fits a pattern. A study published last year by the Washington-based Institute for Social Policy and Understanding showed that the Justice Department was six times more likely to issue press releases in alleged plots that involved Muslims than non-Muslims. The press releases are particularly important since they tend to trigger news coverage and public awareness of cases.
Back in 2009, DHS Secretary Napolitano took heat for an intel assessment on right wing extremism. Seems that she was more right than anyone could have imagined.
The most enduring scandal in and around the White House might not be corruption, but rather the administration’s constant embrace of bigotry from white-supremacist and far-right groups.
Good to see Kamala getting some lessons on how to handle tough questions about hoaxes from Reverend Al.
If anyone would know, it would be Al.
Can you point to any time in recent history that Trump has apologized or walked back his comments on any subject? Despite knowing all the facts does Trump regularly dismiss them in order to pursue his preferred narrative?
Hard to believe this is a genuine complaint when you support Trump who does this type of thing regularly. Maybe it is, but Idk bro, It just doesn't add up.
Last Edit: Feb 22, 2019 11:26:40 GMT -5 by Deleted
A bombshell Miami Herald report revealed how Epstein—who has been accused of molesting more than 100 underage girls—was granted the sweetheart plea deal by Acosta and other DOJ attorneys after mounting pressure by Epstein’s defense lawyers.
“When the Government gives information to victims, it cannot be misleading,” the judge wrote. “While the Government spent untold hours negotiating the terms and implications of the NPA with Epstein’s attorneys, scant information was shared with victims. Instead, the victims were told to be ‘patient’ while the investigation proceeded.”
Those lawyers, including Sexgate prosecutor Ken Starr and celebrity attorney Alan Dershowitz, created the secret 2008 plea deal with Acosta, who was then Miami’s top federal prosecutor, and other attorneys unbeknownst to the billionaire’s alleged victims, the Herald investigation found.
“Particularly problematic was the Government’s decision to conceal the existence of the NPA and mislead the victims to believe that federal prosecution was still a possibility,” the judge wrote on Thursday about the secret plan that effectively buried dozens of sexual-abuse claims.
Epstein, instead of facing life in prison for sex trafficking, only pleaded guilty to two minor charges of solicitation of prostitution and procurement of minors for prostitution. He ultimately served 13 months of an 18-month prison sentence.
Thursday’s decision concluded an 11-year investigation into Epstein’s plea agreement, which revealed hundreds of emails showing how Acosta and other prosecutors worked with Epstein’s legal team to conceal the deal from victims and the public.
Jake Tapper:
One of the ugly facts laid bare in the Epstein plea deal is that many powerful people feel zero shame helping a billionaire who has molested girls as young as 14. Zero consequences. Crimes against kids happen not only because of the criminals but their support networks.
More of the "best people" I assume?
OT but I didn't know the venerable Ken Starr defended serial sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.. I mean...
Last Edit: Feb 22, 2019 11:53:21 GMT -5 by Deleted
A bombshell Miami Herald report revealed how Epstein—who has been accused of molesting more than 100 underage girls—was granted the sweetheart plea deal by Acosta and other DOJ attorneys after mounting pressure by Epstein’s defense lawyers.
“When the Government gives information to victims, it cannot be misleading,” the judge wrote. “While the Government spent untold hours negotiating the terms and implications of the NPA with Epstein’s attorneys, scant information was shared with victims. Instead, the victims were told to be ‘patient’ while the investigation proceeded.”
Those lawyers, including Sexgate prosecutor Ken Starr and celebrity attorney Alan Dershowitz, created the secret 2008 plea deal with Acosta, who was then Miami’s top federal prosecutor, and other attorneys unbeknownst to the billionaire’s alleged victims, the Herald investigation found.
“Particularly problematic was the Government’s decision to conceal the existence of the NPA and mislead the victims to believe that federal prosecution was still a possibility,” the judge wrote on Thursday about the secret plan that effectively buried dozens of sexual-abuse claims.
Epstein, instead of facing life in prison for sex trafficking, only pleaded guilty to two minor charges of solicitation of prostitution and procurement of minors for prostitution. He ultimately served 13 months of an 18-month prison sentence.
Thursday’s decision concluded an 11-year investigation into Epstein’s plea agreement, which revealed hundreds of emails showing how Acosta and other prosecutors worked with Epstein’s legal team to conceal the deal from victims and the public.
Jake Tapper:
One of the ugly facts laid bare in the Epstein plea deal is that many powerful people feel zero shame helping a billionaire who has molested girls as young as 14. Zero consequences. Crimes against kids happen not only because of the criminals but their support networks.
More of the "best people" I assume?
OT but I didn't know the venerable Ken Starr defended serial sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.. I mean...
Yah - if you want to get a little nauseated about our justice system, read the whole Miami Herald piece. Everything you know already about how $$ buys you freedom... but with the added twist that only Florida can provide.
Well, a successful law enforcement operation snagged a suspect allegedly bent on mass murder. President Trump surely would take credit for this, right? Actually, as of Friday morning, there has been deafening silence from the White House. Why so mum?
Maybe the subject of mass murderers and the caches of weapons they are allowed to amass makes the National Rifle Association’s pet president a wee bit nervous. Call attention to the ease with which unbalanced and extremist figures get vast numbers of weapons and before you know it, Democrats will be calling for reasonable gun laws.
Too cynical an explanation? Well, perhaps Hasson is not the “right” kind of terrorist. Trump has been obsessed and willing to mislead the public over and over again with the risk from foreign terrorists. Coming over the border from Mexico! (Not really.) The result of chain migration! (Actually, not.)
Good to see Kamala getting some lessons on how to handle tough questions about hoaxes from Reverend Al.
If anyone would know, it would be Al.
Can you point to any time in recent history that Trump has apologized or walked back his comments on any subject? Despite knowing all the facts does Trump regularly dismiss them in order to pursue his preferred narrative?
Hard to believe this is a genuine complaint when you support Trump who does this type of thing regularly. Maybe it is, but Idk bro, It just doesn't add up.
I have long since given up on Trump acting responsibly.
Can you point to any time in recent history that Trump has apologized or walked back his comments on any subject? Despite knowing all the facts does Trump regularly dismiss them in order to pursue his preferred narrative?
Hard to believe this is a genuine complaint when you support Trump who does this type of thing regularly. Maybe it is, but Idk bro, It just doesn't add up.
I have long since given up on Trump acting responsibly.
Trump’s buffoonery does not absolve others.
All that tells me is there's a Trump standard and a different standard for everyone else.
You can't spend a week ranting about the petty thief across the street when you have Jesse James living in your house. Well, I guess you can, but it looks disingenuous.
Last Edit: Feb 22, 2019 12:57:31 GMT -5 by Deleted
I have long since given up on Trump acting responsibly.
Trump’s buffoonery does not absolve others.
All that tells me is there's a Trump standard and a different standard for everyone else.
You can't spend a week ranting about the petty thief across the street when you have Jesse James living in your house. Well, I guess you can, but it looks disingenuous.
Not to worry.
There are plenty of people ranting about Trump non stop.
Many of those same people become mute on the topics I have ranted about.
All that tells me is there's a Trump standard and a different standard for everyone else.
You can't spend a week ranting about the petty thief across the street when you have Jesse James living in your house. Well, I guess you can, but it looks disingenuous.
Not to worry.
There are plenty of people ranting about Trump non stop.
Many of those same people become mute on the topics I have ranted about.
What you're ranting about doesn't even register as news in the Trump orbit...
You're not leveling the playing field, your'e trying to make what are considered Trump misdemeanors into Democratic felonies...
Last Edit: Feb 22, 2019 13:04:11 GMT -5 by Deleted