The Family Research Council pulled a prank on Max Blumenthal and The Huffington Post. Apparently, the latter had hotlinked an image from the FRC's website. So the FRC changed the image of some people to one that included text claiming that Max Blumenthal was an "Image Thief" and a "Kitty Poisoner." It also included an image of a dead cat. You can read the details and see the images here.
This is a pretty funny prank, though I worry about the intent. This was not innocent fun among friends. Instead, the FRC was taking on one of its biggest critic and this is likely only to add to the bad blood. After all, Blumenthal has previously exposed the problems with the FRC's leader, Tony Perkins, when it comes to issues of race. The FRC might be pulling pranks, but Blumenthal's piece on them is no laughing matter.
This is a pretty funny prank, though I worry about the intent. This was not innocent fun among friends. Instead, the FRC was taking on one of its biggest critic and this is likely only to add to the bad blood. After all, Blumenthal has previously exposed the problems with the FRC's leader, Tony Perkins, when it comes to issues of race. The FRC might be pulling pranks, but Blumenthal's piece on them is no laughing matter.
The FRC might be pulling pranks, but Blumenthal’s piece on them is no laughing matter.
ReplyDeleteWe agree completely. We tried to get Blumenthal to issue a correction after it was proven that he was misinformed about his facts (see here, for an example: http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=LH05F09) but he isn't much interested in being honest. Blumenthal wants to be the next Michael Moore.
True, it's not a prank between friends but we tried to keep it light-hearted. It's a silly thing to do but it's meant in a spirit of good-humor.
Joe: I really appreciate you stopping by and offering your comment. I do truly hope it was done solely “in a spirit of good-humor.”
ReplyDeleteI checked out the correction you pointed out. However, I must say that it ignored the part of Blumenthal’s article that I found most troubling—the speech by Tony Perkins at a meeting of the Council of Conservative Citizens. Then I noticed that Blumenthal has linked to your comment right here on my blog. He offers this response:
"(The FRC’s “correction” contains no mention of Perkins’ speech at a Council of Conservative Citizens fundraiser for some reason. And I was never contacted by Carter or anyone else to issue a correction of facts confirmed years prior by members of the Louisiana media. There simply was nothing to correct.)"
Thus, I am still quite troubled by Perkins when it comes to racial issues.
I checked out the correction you pointed out. However, I must say that it ignored the part of Blumenthal’s article that I found most troubling—the speech by Tony Perkins at a meeting of the Council of Conservative Citizens.
ReplyDeleteWhile a state legislator in Louisiana, Perkins gave a speech at a luncheon for the CCC. At the time, he did not know the group was a neo-confederate racist organization. I don’t find that surprising. The first I ever heard of the group was when I read about it in Max B.'s article. Had you ever heard of them before?
It would be rather odd for Perkins to speak in black churches on Sunday and to knowingly speak to a racist group in the same time period.
Then I noticed that Blumenthal has linked to your comment right here on my blog. He offers this response:
Let's examine what Max B. wrote:
"(The FRC’s “correction” contains no mention of Perkins’ speech at a Council of Conservative Citizens fundraiser for some reason. And I was never contacted by Carter or anyone else to issue a correction of facts confirmed years prior by members of the Louisiana media. There simply was nothing to correct.)"
That is simply not true. When the first article appeared the editors of The Nation were contacted and notified about points of error. The refused to correct the story-- which isn't all that surprising. The Nation has still never issued a correction for supporting communism and the Stalinists so it's not too surprising that they wouldn’t correct an error that was about a conservative. ; )
Thus, I am still quite troubled by Perkins when it comes to racial issues.
I would challenge anyone to present a single bit of evidence that Perkins is a racist. He's been a national figure for over a decade. Why hasn't any of the media ever picked up on his racial views if they are troubling? Why are the only stories that accuse him of being a racist written by Max B?
Joe: I had actually heard of the C of CC before Blumenthal’s article, which is why I was so stunned by it. A few seconds on their website would have made it very clear that this group has serious problems. Why did he go speak to a group without knowing who they were?
ReplyDeleteWhat I think would really help in this case would be if Perkins had publicly apologized for this. Once he figured out who they were, he should have come out against their beliefs. And after Blumenthal's article he should have made that clear. He should set the record straight.