News-Record.com

Mark,

I worked that event today, but I did not personally witness the bearded lugnut assaulting Killian.

Should y'all "scruffy media-types" ever again encounter such a lack of common decency while covering a GOP event in these parts, I encourage you, PLEASE, to alert the campaign staff. We will immediately & dutifully fetch a couple of police officers to throw out anyone (especially if that person threw the first punch - or kick) who physically attacks any other attendee.

I've been to enough football games in my day to know that when somebody behaves like a fool in public to such a degree that his actions threaten the safety of others, all you can really do is pray that he's not wearing your team's jersey as you're summoning law enforcement to haul him out of the stadium.

We're all professionals here - Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, ACC, SEC, Press or Other.

So, Binker, you needn't wonder any longer: Republicans are IN NO WAY WHATSOEVER "giving their supporters license for this sort of crap".

* My name is Maria Barton and I composed & approved this message *
* The contents of this TypeKey post are not authorized by any campaign, campaign committee, FBS or FCS Booster Club *

There were at least four angry confrontations there today. Those four all involved what appeared to be college age kids. Much cursing. Much anger.
One group of young black students? were confrontational to the crowd leaving. The only part of what they were saying that I understood was "you white folks". I'm wondering if the Dems aren't in some respect giving their supporters license for this sort of crap.
I talked to the guy that dropped Killian to the ground. He said he didn't like the Pail porn post.

spelling,sorry. Palin porn post.

"he didn't like the Pail porn post."

So that gives him the right to assault someone?

You would never be happy with a thing a republican did, that why you are a liberal bias reporter. I LOVED the Hank Williams song about you liberals, he right, I do not believe thing you say? As far as you taking heat from the left, that pure BS, the liberals in Raleigh LOVE you. With the crap, that Killian posted, even if I do not agree with it, Killian should expect some trouble. Of course if Killian worked for anything other than a left wing newspaper, he been fired for his blog. in all my years on this planet, that was the most vicious attack on a human, I have ever seen. I wonder if Killian would like it if someone implied that his mother did pron movies? I did not see any problems. Of course the pro abortion women , they only drew, left wing reporters.

Maria: Thanks for your thoughts. That does my heart good.

Tony: If you really talked to the guy, I would expect you to help us bring a criminal to justice. If you're simply using hyperbole, then let's acknowledge that too. In either case, citing something that someone wrote is not a justification for physical violence. Ever.

Doug: You continue your long and consistent track record of commenting on anything but the post at hand. I commend you for your steady leadership.

For those who may be wondering, this:
http://tinyurl.com/5ykrdn is a link to the "Palin porn post."

Joe writes for a blog called "Culture Shock" that surveys the pop media landscape. It's a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and sometimes * shock * talks about sex. In that post, her links to a story about the porn industry moving with its typical alacrity and producing a porn movie featuring a Sarah Palin character. It's not my cup of tea, and you wouldn't read it here or on the Decision 08 blog, but it's definitely something being discussed in the cultural jet stream, so appropriate to Culture Shock.

Tony: Did you really talk to the guy?

Joe the attack on you was reprehensible and cowardly, but you would have be within your rights to fight back. In fact, punks and bullies only understand brute force so I think Marks errs in commending your for restraint. It is certainly up to you on how to respond but laying the jerk out would've ensured that he does not pull this crap again anywhere else.

What is truly interesting is that as I read the N&R coverage of the Elon event early this AM I was struck by how superior it was compared to other campaign stop accounts I'd read in recent days. In short, this lugnut would not know quality reporting if it punched him in the face. Which is not a bad idea.

And Mark, the pool screw job is typical of no-nothing campaign operatives who provide access based perceived rep and the size of the media organization. Their loss.

JAT

Assault is the threat of unwanted physical contact. Battery is actual physical contact.

Your friend was battered, not assaulted.

"But let me say this: the guy who attacked Joe is a criminal, no better that the lunk-head who steels [sic] your car stereo or snatches a purse."

No, this is both an assault on a person, and an assault on the very nature of our government. Both are far, far worse than minor property crimes.

"Joe the attack on you was reprehensible and cowardly, but you would have be within your rights to fight back. "

I don't agree, Jeff. Joe was at work; he was doing his job. It's absolutely not appropriate in that context that he get in a scuffle with someone, especially when he's representing his employer.

It's troglodyte, btw. Sounds like a perfectly apt description in this instance. Sucker punching is all the fight they're capable of. I doubt these people even vote, can't handle their own impatience to wait in line for any length of time, or to grapple with small print on a ballot to make sure they choose properly.

It's never okay to assault anybody doing
their job as this reporter was. That kind of
redneck hatred should be met for what it
is: a crime.

Marcia, you say the campaign isn't
encouraging this, but all you have to do
is listen to the tone and words your
"candidates" are saying and how they
NEVER discourage their supporters from
saying hateful things to know that they
tacitly condone it. If Palin would say
"none of that" at her speeches when some
troglodyte shouts out hate speech, I'd believe
your assertion that the GOP isn't
encouraging this stuff. But she doesn't,
and so i have to assume that she loves it
and so does the GOP.

you know what offends me almost as much as the deliberate incitements to violence at McCain-Palin rallies?

the rampant misspellings in your post.

"peddle" not "pedal"

"ruckus" not "ruckous"

"flack" not "flac" (though it could be a typo, your post is FULL of those as well)

"proper" not "propper" (probably another typo)

"steals" not "steels"

I'm sure there are more, I just don't have the time to go through your post again.

I know things are tough with the newspaper business these days, but can they at least afford to hire people who know how to spell correctly and don't mix up their homynyms? When you deal in the written word, it's not at all pedantic to insist on correct spelling!

Hank Williams Jr. is the greatest fraud perpetrated upon the country music industry since, well, the very beginning. Why is it that the truly awful musicians all support McCain. Ricky Skaggs is the only exception. And I admit I'm shocked that Toby Keith backs Obama.

First, anyone arguing that Joe somehow had it coming losing that argument immediately. Sorry. It's like Godwin's Law.

Second, while I also hate that Joe couldn't pound the guy (you might not know that Joe's also a boxer), he made the right call. Not only would it likely cost him his job, but it would have started a riot and endangered lives. He acted like a responsible adult, not a mouth-breathing chest thumper.

Tony, I also would like to know if you really talked to the guy. You were probably joking, but this isn't a laughing matter.

ok I will dismount my high horse and put my spelling nazi back in the closet.

Mark, one of the most obnoxious things (to me) that McCain has said recently is his incredible eliding of the differences between McCain/Palin rallies and Obama/Biden rallies. McCain tries really hard to draw false equivalency between the two but if you're not a kool-aid drinking Republican you know the two are not the same.

During the debate McCain lamely tried to excuse the cries of 'kill Obama!' at his rallies because he didn't like a t-shirt someone wore at an Obama rally. Huh? And last night on Letterman, he did the same thing more or less and then later in the interview he admitted (after initially starting to deny it) that McCain/Palin rallies are calling Obama a guy who pals around with terrorists. Well when you say things like that, when you are constantly questioning your opponent's patriotism and in fact suggesting he doesn't support our troops, it's only natural that your most fervent supporters are going to get whipped up into a froth.

Pile on top of that the last 8 years of GOP fear-and-smear tactics plus the very real threat that the GOP is going to lose the White House to what some of their troglodyte base view as an 'uppity negro', and it's not hard to predict the results.

Despite the blatant lies of McCain and his supporters, Obama rallies have featured nothing of the kind. Obama has not paid lip service to McCain's patriotism in one breath and then accused him of being a terrorist-coddler before the Democratic base in the next ten breaths. It's high time for McCain and especially Palin to dial back the rhetoric and FORCEFULLY denounce the hatred whenever they hear it, as forcefully as they have been questioning Obama's loyalty to America.

Ignorant Obama Hussein supports. Voting for one reason. Watch, if he loses, they will riot.

say Terry, that was some brilliant haiku.

Re: Spelling: A fair point. It was late and my day had started early. I'm cleaning it up along with some other formatting issues as we speak.

Looks like things got a touch physical inside the rally too: http://www.elon.edu/pendulum/Story.aspx?id=1134

Republicans are very angry. They can not understand why McCain/Palin aren't in the lead. They are venting their anger on anyone that they perceive is on the other side. I am a white woman, and Obama supporter, but all I see is very angry white people at McCain/Palin rallies.

None of their supporters realize just how much the country has changed over the last 8 years. Americans are sick of the Republicans. They want a change.

And if the Republicans do not steal the election (again) we will have a new day come next month. Sen. Obama says it will take all of us working together to work on all the problems we have and make this the great country it use to be.

So you angry white folks who claim to be Christian, what's it going to be? Are you going to let your hate fester or are you going to help the rest of us move our country forward?

It's time to put country before Republican Party.

I know things are tough with the newspaper business these days, but can they at least afford to hire people who know how to spell correctly and don't mix up their homynyms?

Pretty funny when someone berates someone else for misspellings and typos and then lets loose with a misspelling of their own. It's spelled "homonym."

It's no surprise that physical violence has resulted from rhetorical conflation of half truths by Palin, McCain and their surrogates. It's a sorry state for the McCain campaign but only really bespeaks their leadership.

A blog post worth reading:

http://notopalin.wordpress.com/2008/10/14/sarah-palin-the-lowest-common-denominator/

At what point do liberals/progressives "get it"? Do you think that people like this bearded idiot will ever stop? Things like this will escalate until members of the press are killed. Will liberals get it then? It's lovely to be "civilized" in the face of ignorance and hate, quite a different thing to be herded into a cattle car and quietly shipped off to the place of one's demise.

Be vigilant. Pay attention to those around you. Travel in groups. Fight back when necessary.

Here's a tip: if you want to berate someone for misspellings, don't misspell "homonym" while you're doing so.

I always love the people that can't dispute the story so they attack petty things like grammar and spelling errors ... with posts full of grammar and spelling errors.

If you are going to be critical you might want to make the effort to actually capitalize your sentences, use a semi-colon instead of a comma where appropriate, and spell "homynyms" correctly.

Otherwise you just look like a fool on top of being petty.

I agree this incident is reprehensible.

I was also going to point out some errors in the post, which detract from its completeness. This is part of the problem when blogs don't go through copy editors.

ranato already pointed out "peddle" not "pedal"

It's "taking flak" not "tacking flack" (look up the difference between flack and flak in the AP Stylebook).

And First Amendment should be Upcase. It's that important (and AP style agrees).

Elaine,

We have much more serious issues to deal with that you post.

Wake up!

Chris: noted and updated.

MI Dem: I'm wide awake and very aware of the serious issues we are dealing with. However, as a former journalist, it always frustrates me when someone chooses to focus on the errors versus the message. That's why I pointed out the misspelling from the previous post. Chill.

Wow, Terry, that's amazing.

"Ignorant Obama Hussein supports."

That's rich. You're calling others ignorant when you can't even form a sentence.

By the way, dumbass, his first name is Barack, his middle name is Hussein, and his last name is Obama.

Did you notice that this was a story about MCCAIN supporters PHYSICALLY ATTACKING Obama supporters?

"Voting for one reason."

What reason is that? Most people I know that are voting for Obama are voting for him for many reasons, such as:
1. He has better economic policies
2. He will end this misbegotten war in Iraq
3. He will bring some accountability back to our gov't
4. He is a staunch advocate of civil rights
5. He's way classier and more presidential than McSame
6. Having him as president would restore some of the international respect we have lost, which will shore up our position in this world

There are many more.

"Watch, if he loses, they will riot."

It's funny, Terry, but I think the party whose supporters have been physically attacking people, shouting "kill him" and "off with his head" in reference to their opponent will more likely to riot if their candidate loses...

@ r€nato:

"flack" not "flac" (though it could be a typo, your post is FULL of those as well)

...Actually, it's "flak," not "flack." Look it up.

You can't take these Republicans too seriously - deeply racist, they have no idea that there are Americans outside their little white towns who don't think it's patriotic to throw around death threats and whine.

I love how they keep saying there will be riots if Obama loses. Seems to me that there's been only one side calling for violence in this race: the Republicans.

Of course they think that any election they lose was stolen. They think opinion polls can be stolen too - they also believe that the world's flat and that everything that goes wrong in their lives is a conspiracy.

They're dumb. Aggressively stupid.

"My apologies to the English teachers in the audience."

What an odd thing to say. Most journalists wouldn't argue that correct spelling, punctuation and grammar are the province of "English teachers." Decent writing is supposed to be a core skill of yours, dude. Or did you think it was all about the face time and the basic competency stuff is for losers?

"Pretty funny when someone berates someone else for misspellings and typos and then lets loose with a misspelling of their own. It's spelled "homonym."

you're right. I will fire myself from my job working for the newspaper.

This type of behavior embodies the old axiom "Desperate times require desperate measures". Republicans have spent the last 15 years demonizing anyone who is not of their 'ilk' and it's finally turned threatening and physical. I'm politically very young, but remember the foundation of this hatred. In my mind, it began with Newt and ends with Rove. Ken Starr liked to amp it up a bit, too.

Every one of the McCain/Palin rallies reminds me of that assinine display at the Republican convention 4 years ago when the attendees were wearing 'purple band-aids' as if someone John Kerry's bullet wounds weren't worthy of a medal, but George Bush's weekenders were worthy of admiration. Or, John McCain's trail of airplan carnage he left behind when he was held captive. No one I know has denigrated McCain nor his behavior as a POW; but Republicans cannot stand the thought of competition on their plank so they trot out the denigration toolkit. See Max Cleland. See Jim Martin. Saxby Chambliss never served a day outside of his frat hazing, but it was fine to run around conflating real patriots to terrorists. Same holds true for Obama. If you can't beat them at the polls, demonize them, hate on them, threaten them. When these acts of desperation don't seem to get the job done, kick 'em in the knee. You stay classy, America, while I vote for Barack and the country moves past your idle-minded tactics and into the 21st century. Although, I know you won't let me down and continue to make this an ugly fight bringing out only the best in all of your (R) supporters.

Okay folks. Let me acknowledge that the spelling in the original version of this post was atrocious, horrendous, etc… I think most of the errors, at least the egregious ones are clean up and I would like to thank everyone who pointed them out.

My humble little blog typically does not see a lot of traffic outside North Carolina. so for those who do not know me I try to deal with my own foibles in a good humored way. If that is not working for you, sorry.

Welcome to all the new readers. You are more than welcome to keep the discussion going on all fronts.

Scary stuff. McCain/Palin don't acknowledge openly that they are running a campaign based on fear & hate, but that's really about all they've got. What's the platform again?
Economics? Fear the liberal spenders!
Foreign policy? Fear the whole world!
Domestic policy? Fear anybody who doesn't look/think/believe just like you.
First amendment? First what? Isn't that the thing that says you reporters are free to report anything you want as long as it promotes a right wing agenda?
"Liberal bias" has been used way too long as a muzzle to try to scare media into dumbing down the news. Thank you for standing up! (Even with a kicked knee - ouch!)

I would like to take issue with Mr. Binker's disparaging comments about people who steal car stereos and snatch purses. You have to remember we do this because we haven't been given a fair shake at life, most likely because of some greedy Republican bastard and his discriminatory and selfish greedy economic policies.
We are people too. Where's the respect? It's time for things to change. Get out and vote!

This is terrible. I hope this person is pursuing this legally, because no kind of physical assault is justifiable. It sounds like this assaulter has taken Obama's urgings to heart. Recently, Obama told his supporters to "Get in their face!" He taunted McCain after a debate saying, "He brought a knife to a gunfight." Obama supporters physically assaulted GOP delegates with urine during the convention as they walked in and out. Obama still hasn't denounced his fav supporter Ludicris the rapper's song paying homage to him:

"...McCain don't belong in any chair unless he's paralyzed..."

Further, the "Kill him" reference was investigated by the FBI as all of them should be, and was found to have never happened. That was the conclusion of their investigation. Probably the worst thing reported out of the GOP convention was a bus full of 7-8 year old cub scouts being surrounded and rocked back and forth by a crowd of Obama supporters. The terrified boys couldn't get out, and had no defense from these, shall we say, overly-enthusiastic Obama-ites. It's terrible.

There are numerous examples of conservative speakers being physically assaulted while speaking on college campuses, with pies shoved in their faces, and salad dressing thrown on them. None of this is acceptable. I'd suggest frontpaging the results of the FBI look into that comment, just to inform people that it wasn't confirmed, if only for the purposes of social responsibility.

To see real videos of real women discussing their reactions to Sarah Palin
& the misuse of gender issues in this year's presidential race,
please take a look at the following blog:

www.speakoutonpalin.blogspot.com

I was working at the event in Elon too, and Joe you were not the only working media assaulted. The traveling MSNBC sound man had a rock thrown at him that hit him in the head. It was thrown by a Palin supporter. Somehow our standing on a fixed 8 foot high, 10 foot wide riser 50 feet from the podium was blocking this man's view. When the traveling press arrived, which is often right before the guest comes out, and found his reserved riser spot, the Palin supporter who was peering through the riser did not like that his perfect view between 9 people, an 8 foot platform, 50 feet away had now been blocked, so he threw a rock hit the working journalist. Fortunately enough of us in the media saw the rock thrower and the McCain campaign and secret service was alerted. However the man was only reprimanded and allowed to stay.

All due respect to you, Jordan, but you have a few facts that need to be corrected.

He taunted McCain after a debate saying, "He brought a knife to a gunfight."

Wrong. He said, "...if they bring a knife, we bring a gun..." to respond to Republican attacks. Probably not the best choice of words, but he was certainly not 'taunting' McCain.

Obama still hasn't denounced his fav supporter Ludicris

Obama denounced the lyrics as soon as they were brought to his attention. Please use 'The Google'®.

Obama told his supporters to "Get in their face!"

That is called hyperbole. Unlike, say, calling someone treasonous or a terrorist. In context, BO was urging his supporters to not let Republicans slant his policy positions. Stand firm, argue the point. He wasn't suggesting that they physically 'get in someone's face', but then again, Republicans don't to nuance.

Obama supporters physically assaulted GOP delegates with urine during the convention

Please provide evidence that this actually occurred. You cannot. This is one item that was alleged by police in an arrest of 'domestic terrorists'. It is not even know if they were Obama supporters, and they were employed by the RNC. Look up the LA Times article.

I could keep going, but 4 refutes is a start.

Please make a better argument for your case.

When a post is so immediate that there's no time for even a quick Spel-Chek, which doesn't help with homogenised words, man, that's blogging. I make it a practice to ignore all spelling errors unless they make the post unreadable, or can be stretched into dirty puns.

This is exhibit 1349 of why McCain needs to go away. He and his campaign are irresponsible jackasses.

"...Fortunately enough of us in the media saw the rock thrower and the McCain campaign and secret service was alerted. However the man was only reprimanded and allowed to stay."

I see, so they throw out people exercising their first amendment rights, but allow a guy who assaults someone by throwing A ROCK AT THEIR HEAD to stay... typical conservatives. Violence and brute force is all they understand. They think being below par in intelligence and morals qualify you to lead the nation. They make fun of Obama’s education and yet fall all over themselves when Mrs. Palin winks on camera. There is simply no way to defend the actions of this rock-throwing thug as much as there is no reason to vote for this unqualified, mean-spirited and divisive Republican ticket.

Here is video of the arrest, from the Elon University student newspaper.

http://www.elon.edu/pendulum/Story.aspx?id=1134

There is no obvious recognition of the protest or the arrest from the Elon University news office, which I makes me quite disappointed in their lack of objectivity.

R$nato,

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Consider getting a life, and prepare yourself for the Obama presidency; you will probably find that you like it.

Ohhh you libs. First you said that someone at the rally said Kill him in reference to the messiah and well as we know that was proven wrong so now some winebag reporter is saying he was hit.......ohhh please you people will say anything. I think you all are getting desperate.

Speaking of angry mobs, enjoy the top post here:

http://www.tensionbreaker.com/

Please don't get the notion that NC is full of right-wing troglodytes!

Many of us are voting for Obama and respect all people, regardless of their position!

"I talked to the guy that dropped Killian to the ground.
He said he didn't like the Palin porn post."

That was posted by Tony Wilkins, of the http://www.busybeingbornblog.com/

His email address is posted there, if you want to contact him to see if he actually if he was just making it up to puff up his importance, or if he actually spoke with the guy so you could direct the police to him as a witness to the assault. Since he was shooting pictures of the event (posted all over his blog), he might well have a pic of the perp.

Of course, he'll probably claim that he has "first amendment privilege" to withhold them. You can see how much the freedom of the press means to creeps like this.

Was directed to this post via Huffington Post...I think you'll be getting a lot of traffic today.

This incident you report on seems to be a growing trend in this year's campaign. There does seem to be a qualitative difference between the crowds who are turning out for McCain/Palin vs. Obama/Biden. Here is a link to 3 video's that interviews/records the comments from the McCain/Palin supporters. What strikes me is how misinformed, angry, and bigoted these people are. Given what we have all experienced under Republican rule these past 8 years, it boggles my mind that any thinking person would vote against their best interests by voting for more of the same. But maybe the operative qualifier here is "thinking person".

http://www.sadlyno.com/archives/12830.html

Fortunately enough of us in the media saw the rock thrower and the McCain campaign and secret service was alerted. However the man was only reprimanded and allowed to stay.

That's just so awesome that the campaign taking such a firm stance at "repudiating" people who throw things at other people by apparently making them sit in a Time Out for 5 minutes before they're allowed back in the sandbox. Way to go!

By the way, Sara.....while I applaud you for bringing this up, and am glad that the entire incident was not swept under the rug, you didn't mention what happened to the man who actually got hit by the afore-mentioned rockthrower. Was he all right?

Maria Barton said:

I'm not buying what you are trying to sell. If the McCain/Palin campaign people were displeased with their supporters behavior, they would immediately speak up and denounce the behavior immediately. And that isn't happening. Not once, during a campaign event when this behavior has happened, has McCain or Plain said, "Stop, that's enough. We will not tolerate this." Not once have I heard either one of them
say anything to their supporters.

So no, I'm not buying that you're not "giving their supporters license for this sort of crap". That's exactly what you are doing. You know it, I know it and anyone with the ability to sift through the Repub talking points knows it.

My heart goes out to you Mark. I had never heard
of you until this incident. There is no excuse for
violence. I pray that you stay safe while you do
your job. The enemy is hatred, violence and lies
anything else is in the mind of the perpetrator.

"Further, the "Kill him" reference was investigated by the FBI as all of them should be, and was found to have never happened. "

-Jordan-

Well Jordan, I guess the FBI doesn't have any video playback capability because the "kill him" from the crowd is clearly heard on video tape.

If you can please point me to one of these Obama crowd equivalencies you are trying to draw on video tape I would like to see it.

If you want to start bringing up metaphors of rhetoric as incitement we can start talking about how McCain says they will "whip him" or how he gets his crowds into a frenzy shouting "fight with me" or how "country first" implies that anyone not with McCain is a traitor.

How far down the rabbit hole are you ready to go to draw your false equivalencies?

Sara, I believe your comment highlights the contentiousness and level of hate pervading at these rallies at least as much, if not even more so, than the despicable assault committed on Joe Killian.

Joe, I don't mean to take anything away from what you experienced and Mark is completely correct that the assailant should be charged. Anger is dangerous and the article is dead on. McCain/Palin speeches have doused more fuel of anger and hate than I pray that the campaign intended and started a fire that they now can't control.

Sara's comment disturbs me more because any hot head can momentarily loose their cool. It doesn't justify the act or make it right, but I know it does happen and I hope that the man had only a temporary lapse in judgment. Sara addressed the situation of a man throwing a rock. While the event took place outdoors at Latham Stadium, a serious question came to me - Where did the rock thrower get the rock? Baseball fields are meticulously manicured and comprised of grass and dirt. Rocks are not part of a baseball field.

If my assumption of Latham Field is correct then the rock thrower must have brought the rock with him. Now we are dealing with a premeditated act. Do you walk around with a rock in your pocket? I don't. The act of bringing a rock to a rally leads to only one conclusion - the thrower intended to use it as a weapon. This planning and premeditation highlights the escalating tension and hate at McCain/Palin political rallies. I hope this is the worst and brighter days are ahead. Thank God this election will soon be over.

"The leftwing liberal media have always been a real close-knit family, but most of the American people, don't believe them anyway you see."

Thanks, Hank, for invalidating the idea that Obama absolutely smoking McCain has anything to do with the media. That still leaves issues as a possible reason!

So, someone got a little roughed up. Too bad.
And you'll just keep letting it happen. Right up to the possibility of someone getting killed at one of those McCain/Palin rallys.
Why?
Because it's a 'horserace' to the nose finish'.
And if you stop reporting on Palin and McCain, you're on "Obama's side".
Don't want that, now do you?
Good puppies. Just keep doing your job and taking your hits. The public doesn't care enough to say stop, except to prove that this isn't going to be a close race.
Then, maybe the Obama camp will give you all a nice place in the White House Press Room.
Or they'll remember all the crap the media has laid on them from day one over "Ayers" and "ACORN" and the fact that you really didn't like him from the get go, because Hillary would've brought in more readers for the melodrama of her campaign.
Heh, just can't win can you?
At least the Democrats just give you cold shoulders for most part.

"Liberal Media Bias" is a great tool for conservatives, they get to have their cake and eat it too. For example, the NY Times reported for years on the violence in Iraq and conservatives could just shrug it off as "liberal media bias, things are going great there and they won't report that!" (in fact I recall Ann Coulter saying things were "going swimmingly" in Iraq during the height of the violence). Of course when the violence finally subsided this year and the Times reported so, conservatives could claim "SEE!? even the NY Times has to admit things are going well in Iraq!"-- it's the same NY Times as before, but they will only believe the news when it's acceptable to them. Like John Stewart said "sometimes the truth has a liberal bias." So when things aren't going their way in the campaign, it must be the fault of the media, not the candidates or their policies, and when the party faithful believe that Obama is a threat on par with Hitler or Stalin it's no surprise that a reporter get's kicked (in fact I would expect more).

This idea that Democrats are in league with communists is not new-- one of the reasons for Watergate was John Mitchell's assertion that it was more important to defeat McGovern than to do his job enforcing the laws of the US, because he was convinced McGovern would "hand the US over to the Soviets." Some things never change.

Republiscum are clearly getting desperate. Their little flea brains are just freaking out at one of "THEM" becoming president. HAHA they just can't handle it. I'm loving every minute of this. I just pray that one of these idiots doesn't think
Jesus is telling him to go on a rampage and start shooting the "TERRORISTS" they keep screaming about at their rallies.

I saw footage of Obama talking about McCain, the crowd boos and Obama immediately interrupts them and says thats not appropriate.

McCain and Palin revel in the hatred of their opponent, and they are responsible for the resulting whirlwind.

Jesus, people, this is a blog post, not a newspaper article.

To the person who said the reporter would not have been witin his rights to fight back after he was kicked because he was "on the job:"

Bullshit. When a person physically assaults another person, the victim is entitled to defend him or herself in proportion to the attack. No one is anyone's punching bag. The thought that a reporter should just "take it" because they're working is ludicrous.

What happened to Joe is reprehensible and should not be tolerated. I agree that the GOP and McCain should take responsibility for repudiating that behavior. McCain has started to do so, to a degree. I give him some credit for that. Palin seems to be morally bankrupt on this issue.

But the point I would like to make to those of us on the 'blue' side is that the necessary ingredient for the mind set that precedes violent and hateful behavior is "otherness". "Those people" are bad.

BO has said that one of the principles he will use to govern is unification. The conservative elements of our society, whether they are Republiscum or not, will be part of America Nov 5th. We should give that some thought before we vilify people instead their behavior.

"One reason"? "One reason" to vote for Barack Obama? Well, for me, that would be getting back the right of every American to have his/her Constitutionally-guaranteed right of habeas corpus, which was taken away by the Bush Administration, and will certainly NOT be returned under the McCain Administration -- a continuation of the Bush Administration. That's "one reason" enough for me.

I have voted early because I'll be out of the country. I voted for Obama and Biden. That makes me a liberal. This report concerns me , not just because a reporter, biased or not, was, from his perspective, assaulted or battered. I do not believe that McCain or Palin would tolerate this IF they had any control over their crowds. Neither party has candidates who overtly encourage violations of the spirit or the letter of the law. Both are inherently decent men who are risking their lives, their families and their reputations because they want to make this country great and restore the US to its position of decency and authority. They chose running mates who could help advance their positions and fill in areas where they felt they needed more balance. For McCain, it was warmth and accessibility. For Obama, it was international politics. McCain and Obama simply disagree on the best way to restore our society, environment, military power and economy.
What is disturbing to me is that Americans are so frightened and so angry that they no longer trust the basic system of government set up by our founding fathers. People see that there is only one way to accomplish the mighty goals of a democracy - their way. People are whipped into a frenzy and act in ways that would make their parents or their children ashamed of them.
Grow up people. We have enough enemies out there without making enemies of each other. Behave. When you have a point to make, use words, not fists. Quit acting like children. Vote. In the United States, that's how we make our wishes known - with words, with votes and not with physical aggression. Your mothers would be ashamed of you.

By listening to the conservative media and reading posts by conservatives, it's plain to see the stupidity and ignorance in the conservative movement.Understand that I'm not saying that most conservatives are stupid and ignorant. I'm saying that most stupid and ignorant people are conservatives. The truly sad thing here is that most conseratives wont know the difference between the two.

Uhhh, the SECOND incident of someone at a rally yelling "Kill him!" was proven to be false. This instance was merely reported in a blog and found to be inaccurate. However, the FIRST reported incident of someone yelling "Kill him!" at a McCain-Palin rally was CAUGHT ON CAMERA. The audio is plain as day and no one can deny it happened.

We all know now that supporters of the Palin-McCain ticket are basically brownshirt racists thugs. Palin, like George Wallace and Hitler, is simply channeling their anger over their economic distress and projecting it out on her scapegoat target: the uppity black terrorist traitor, "that one." This is a terrifying time in America. Our democracy hangs in the balance. If Palin-Mccain win, we are in for an all-out push for theocratic fascism fueled by lunatic right, witch-doctor Christian Evangelicals and their former lynching victims, but now bosom buddies, the equally loony, far right neocon Jews. Both groups are complete self-righteous fanatics for whom anything is justified in the service of their "holy" cause. These people are the mirror image of Bin Laden himself. Let's do all we can to stop this fascist wave, knowing that they may simply have the raw numbers of idiot white voters to win.

These are people who voted for George W. Bush twice and who think Sarah Palin is the greatest thing since... George W. Bush. Read the comments here from right-wingers and you can see what you're up against. They feel perfectly justified about kicking a reporter in the leg if they see something on the TV that makes them angry.

On the stump today, Palin expressed her joy at being in parts of the country that "truly love America." If that is not an invitation to divisiveness and righteous anger, I don't know what is. For Maria Barton to suggest that this is not supported or condoned by the McCain campaign is clearly false and more than a tad disingenuous.

I understand that McCain supporters are angry, but do they think they have cornered the market in that department? Much of the rest of the country is pretty darn angry, too. Angry about the gutting of our Constitution and the profligate spending of our money and being lied into a war without end. Adults channel that anger into the legally appropriate means to express it--the voting booth. This bullying and threatened violence is both juvenile and ineffective--terms that pretty much also describe the past eight years of Bush/Cheney Republican rule. Obama's success is just the consequence for bad behavior on the other side. We live in a society that suffers from "consequence understanding disorder," and people are understandbly shocked when the chickens come home to roost because they've been convinced, by ugly example, that there are no consequences to living above your means, lying, cheating, etc.

The bad behavior pendulum will swing, as it always does, back to whoever is in office when the populace is scared or angry. Given too much power, neither side seems to be able to stop itself from abusing it. This very phenomenon is what brought the Republican revolution in the 1980s. Maybe instead of trying to literally 'beat' the other guys, the right should make a concerted effort to beat the left by being better at governance. That way, we all win.

Lesson learned: If you go to a Palin rally, you absolutely will be rubbing elbows with Neanderthals.

I only wish I lived down there. That would be the day that some redneck anti-American punk would kick me.

I am sorry that you guys were attacked; I hope you guys are doing okay now. You were just trying to do your job and were assaulted. I wish that there was a police officer around to arrest they guy. Thugs like that should be locked up. Bullies like that assaulter will find that America is tired of intimidation and that they have lost on Nov 5.

Not all Republicans endorse the bulling tactics that Palin evokes at her rallies; in fact I am one of three Neighborhood captains for the South County 4 Obama and my other two co-captains are Republicans.

Actually, in response to the post about the difference b/w assault and battery, the reporter was subjected to both, since the threat of imminent harm happened just before the unwelcome physical contact.
Speaking of assault and battery, how about the assault and battery perpetrated upon the English language by people who reply to these posts - seems to be disproportionately from the right. If your small-minded, bigoted opinions did not telegraph your ignorance, your writing shouts it loud and clear.

Soccer teams worldwide are known for their aggressive fans, up in the stands itching to bash an opponent just to relieve their frustrations. The fans of both teams jeer and taunt each other until they start a rumble, when mob psychology can take over. Sound familiar?

This isn't the tradition in the United States, but perhaps Alaska has a more international sport ethos than the rest of us. Another example, perhaps, of Palin's international qualifications.

Is this why she pushes the "Soccer Mom" meme?

I'm saddened by the downward spiral that the campaigns have taken, but seriously concerned about the way McCain and Palin supporters have been acting out.

As a proud Elon graduate, I remember being allowed to protest Bill Clinton's visit in the early 90's. I remember Margaret Thatcher being protested. But now, in a crucial election, protests are being tamped down, and this fringe of the right wing is creating an insulary fear machine that leads to violence. Does it sound like fascism to you? Allow me to point you to the definition - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism.

I hope that the campaigns can find a way to rachet back the attacks and talk issues, and that November 4th and the days after aren't the tipping point for our great nation and that both men, and parties, will work to reunify our people.

This is exactly the way the Nazi party came to power in Germany, turning on group that they di despised, Which included the media at that time.

Correction: apology to the English "speakers," not "teachers."

To prevent a black man, ANY non-white, from becoming president, murder is fine with ALL the republicans.

Their true colors are showing, but they were never really hidden.

PLEASE fix your grammar at the very top of the page:

Newspaper stories from Palin's rally from Joe Killian and me.

Why can't anybody get personal pronouns right?

When I was a kid, the conservatives dressed nicely, behaved nicely, and were the Buckley-esque sort of Republicans I can respect. At least the ones my family knew were.

I never met any who behaved like troglodytes until I was 30.

Thanks for sharing your experience of what happened to you at the Palin rally. I am concerned, even afraid, of the levels of anger I am hearing about these rallies. Left unchecked , by the leadership from the McCain campaign, I am worried about the increasing escalation and consequences that could follow.

I was listening to Countdown last night and the person being interviewed talked about the importance of a peaceful transfer of power for our country resulting from this election. I hadn't thought about it in the way this person talked about it. But it makes lots of sense that if the US is promoting democracy around the world, we need to be able to model what it looks like to be able to exercise our choices and disagreements without being prone to violence and aggression.

McCain said he didn't approve of this criminal activity, yet he turn around the very next day
and promoted the same type of lies , deceit
and racial overtone..
Republican have already purged 2.7 million
democratic voters from the register...
The republican party has turn into a criminal
mob , with no respect for law or concern for
people's rights...

As someone looking in from the outside, I am disturbed by the number and frequency of incidents like this at McCain/Palin rallies. But what bothers me more is hearing mainstream McCain supporters playing down the violence.

Read Naomi Wolf. She'll scare you to death, but she's right. We live in a closing society.

Liberals dominate the media….this has been announced by Rush Limbaugh. And Thomas Sowell. And Ann Coulter. And Rich Lowry. Bill O’Reilly. And Robert Novak. And George Will.

And John Gibson. And Michelle Malkin. And David Brooks. And Anne Coulter. And Tony Blankely. And Fred Barnes. And Britt Hume. And Larry Kudlow. And Sean Hannity. And David Horowitz. And William Kristol. And Hugh Hewitt. And William Buckley.

And Oliver North. And Joe Scarborough. And Pat Buchanan. And John McLaughlin. And Cal Thomas. And Joe Klein. And James Kilpatrick. And Tucker Carlson. And Deroy Murdock. And Michael Savage. And Charles Krauthammer. And Stephen Moore. And Alan Keyes.

And Gary Bauer. And Mort Kondracke. And Andrew Sullivan. And Nicholas von Hoffman. And Neil Cavuto. And Matt Drudge. And Mike Rosen. And Dave Kopel. And John Caldara. And Deborah Howell. And Richard Morin. And John Harris. And Gordon Liddy. And Laura Ingraham.

And Larry Elder. And Tammy Bruce. And Neal Boortz. And FOX DJ ManPal. And Rusty Humphrey. And Laura Schlessinger. And Glen Beck

Where is the police report? Jesus, I'm getting tired of the press... put up or shut up with the anecdotes...

Do you journalists realize you can't be trusted anymore?

We're all professionals here - Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, ACC, SEC, Press or Other.

No way. I draw the line. The SEC deserves getting kicked.

Palin's supporters have no idea why they support
someone who's hero is Dick Cheney. Not really. They apparently have been out of the loop for eight years and haven't a clue about the neo conservative fascists running the McCain campaign and calling the shots for the defunct Republican Party. Nor do they understand the tenets of the neo conservative ideology, which is entirely immiscible in a democracy.

What we see at these rallies is the result of constant propaganda flowing from sources like Fox Noise and the intentional hate speech contrived by homegrown terrorists in the flesh. Palin wants anarchy. That's why she was brought in; to activate and unify fundamentalist crackpots like herself against evil Liberals and Democrats.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/sarah_cheney.html

No one likes a Republican sore loser. And losers they have become. No one likes pit bulls either, even Michael Vick.

Hank Williams Jr, thanks for the laugh.

Just suppose Obama had an unmarried pregnant daughter.

What if Obama was under investigation for abuse of power in a personal vendetta.

Imagine that Obama had been one of the “Keating Five, directly involved in a huge financial scandal.

Imagine that his primary financial advisor had legislated deregulation of bankers and brokers, and this man (Graham) said the American public is "a nation of whiners" complaining about a "mental recession."

Of course, since this list of dirt could be slung at McCain and not Obama, the so-called “Liberal media” will not touch it.

Imagine what the media would do for McCain if Obama had anything valid to criticize.

Instead, McCain’s handlers, in desperation, fabricate lies. They know that if people don’t care enough, they don’t question what they hear.

This year, though, the people DO care enough, and they aren’t buying the smears.

I really fear what is going on at the mccain rallys lately. What I don't understand is why they allow it to turn into a screaming match. Obama's are respectful, and when they have hecklers they are handled with dignity and allowed to stay as long as they tone it down. It's the talk of terrorist, and those nasty phone ads they put out that make people feel like any thing goes at mccain/palin rally's. If he can't keep his rallys under control with His own stance, how can he coherently handle the whole U.S.A and it people, and people around the world who wants to kill us? It's palin/mccain own words that whips these people into a angry frinzzy, than they say they don't understand why people at their rally's get so heated up.

You should have shot the knuckledragger.

Sad to say this "trend" has been going
on for MANY decades. A dear friend of mine was pulled out of line while quietly standing, with his duly purchased ticket, to hear Richard Nixon speak. A Nixon line watcher pulled him out. His crime? He had a neatly trimmed beard.
Witnessing this, a family encouraged my friend to stand with them. He was pulled out again.
The family said, "This young man has a ticket and the right to enter." The Nixon watcher took my friend's ticket and tore it up. "Not anymore he doesn't." This kind of abuse and far worse has long been more than a "trend." The day turned violent.
Thankfully, my friend had gone home.
His wasn't the big story of the day.

You should have shot the knuckledragger.

Sad to say this "trend" has been going
on for MANY decades. A dear friend of mine was pulled out of line while quietly standing, with his duly purchased ticket, to hear Richard Nixon speak. A Nixon line watcher pulled him out. His crime? He had a neatly trimmed beard.
Witnessing this, a family encouraged my friend to stand with them. He was pulled out again.
The family said, "This young man has a ticket and the right to enter." The Nixon watcher took my friend's ticket and tore it up. "Not anymore he doesn't." This kind of abuse and far worse has long been more than a "trend." The day turned violent.
Thankfully, my friend had gone home.
His wasn't the big story of the day.

Doesn't pass the smell test. I doubt any of this ever occurred. At least Dan Rather went through the trouble of faking some documents... couldn't you have found a fake Palin supporter?

Sad to say this "trend" has been going
on for MANY decades. A dear friend of mine was pulled out of line while quietly standing, with his duly purchased ticket, to hear Richard Nixon speak. A Nixon line watcher pulled him out. His crime? He had a neatly trimmed beard.
Witnessing this, a family encouraged my friend to stand with them. He was pulled out again.
The family said, "This young man has a ticket and the right to enter." The Nixon watcher took my friend's ticket and tore it up. "Not anymore he doesn't." This kind of abuse and far worse has long been more than a "trend." The day turned violent.
Thankfully, my friend had gone home.
His wasn't the big story of the day.

Today it was revealed that Palin's handlers are keeping the awful polling news from her so she won't be depressed.

Would they also keep bad news from her if she were to become president too? Easily being depressed is certainly not a temperament I would want in any kind of leader. Take a Xanax and go back to Wasilla, babe. Your kids need you.

Here is another example of leftist :

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/obama-supporter-assaults-female-mccain-volunteer-in-new-york/

I'm sorry for the attack on Joe - straight-up that is not acceptable behavior.

As for the "kill him" claim at a Palin rally that was investigated and found baseless other than one journalist - the record should be corrected. But, this blog perpetuates a putative falsehood and you should know better. The most obvious conclusion is that you knowingly repeat it for partisan purposes. Note: the journalist "brand" is tanking. You had one quality - objectivity - and now you don't, so you're just another partisan trying to dishonestly portray yourselves as the arbiter of truth.

In large part the partisanship is not the problem - it's your patent dishonesty about it.

Stan

Geez, have republicans always been this angry?

welcome to how minorities have felt for the past 8 years. It's no coincidence that when populations are continously villainized by a political leader / administration, violent attacks also go on the rise. McCain knows this by now.

Even with corrections and edits, I found this article nearly unreadable. This is my first time reading anything of yours, so maybe this is a fluke. But it's vitally important that news be related clearly and that the style of the writing not get in the way of the news in any way whatsoever.

This is the same reason I cringe when progressive radio hosts stumble and stutter or digress or get cutesy. I don't care about the messenger impressing me (beyond being competent and clear), I care about the message. Get your ego or your humor or whatever it's supposed to be out of the way, get your skills sharpened, and just tell me what's going on, please.

Sorry letter got multi posted. Don't know why.
B

The only somewhat positive thing to come out of this: Joe Killian will most likely become a little famous tonight on Keith Olbermann's Countdown. If anyone in the media covers this story, it would be Keith.

In response to Maria Barton who claims that the GOP is "in no way whatsoever giving license to their supporters for this kind of crap," I beg to differ. It's truly disgusting to watch Republicans and others try to make a case that the Republican party and McCain campaign has done NOTHING to incite hate. Everybody who has a pulse and has been paying attention knows better.

What's Palin's function again? "Rallying the base" right? It doesn't say much for "the base" when the way to "rally it" is to make "that one" and his supporters out to be terrorist sympathizers, who in all of their anti-American-ness, want such things as to see the US military fail in war. Palin says that Obama is "not like you and I"; he "doesn't value what we do"; she implies that he doesn't support our troops of their families; she says that he is part of the ACORN "conspiracy" that threatens our most sacred right...the right to vote. It's obvious what the campaign and the GOP is doing in their efforts to ghettoize, smear, and lie about what's going on with ACORN, to lie about and smear Obama, to claim that McCain supporters are "the true patriots"--as McCain pretty much said the other night in the debate. Palin, today, talked about visiting the "pro-American parts of the country." The RNC/McCain campaign are sending out horrendous fliers that question Barack's patriotism and say that "you don't know who he is." They're fear-mongering with their robocalls. They're telling supporters to link Obama to Osama bin laden, tell everyone they know that Barack is a Muslim who wasn't born in the US, etc., etc.

Where does this lead, Maria? Are you and others completely incapable of comprehending how such rhetoric serves to stir up hate and racist sentiments? Sentiments that don't end when rallies end? Sentiments that increase the potential of violence?

Notice how everybody that either doesn't buy the garbage being peddled by the ShitTalkExpress or questions it is demonized? The media. Obama surrogates and supporters. Rational conservatives, who are rightly disappointed and ashamed of their party and the choices being made on its behalf? Everyone who doesn't go along with the McCampaign is subjected to criticism and ridicule by the loudest elements of the GOP. The campaign has fostered an "us" against "them" mentality. And it's not the same "us" vs. "them" that we're used to--it's far worse than that.

What is most unfortunate is that we don't have any leaders who are willing to step-up and put an end to it. In a best-case scenario, our current President would do that. The next-best case scenario, both candidates would do that...including their running-mates. Religious leaders could step-up, too--maybe even take Palin aside and tell her that she acting in an non-Christian manner, and creating a toxic, dangerous situation for all Americans.

I wish Joe the best and am sorry to learn about this act of atrocity committed against him for doing nothing but his job.

Whoever claims that the Republicans' rhetoric isn't at least passively inciting violence hasn't read Naomi Wolf's Letter to a Young Republican. How many despots have consolidated their power by inciting violence against the press, the intelligencia, and artists? How many do I need to name here?

We have the chance to stop this evil now, and I am glad to see the majority of Americans are waking up to this fact. I pray we wake up on November 5th to see these thugs finally throw out of office by democratic VOTE - while we still have it.

This is very disturbing news.

Sarah Palin's divisive rhetoric no doubt contributed to this assault. In her speech at that event, she made a hostile, combative comment about 'teaching the protestors a lesson.'

Sarah Palin's behavior is beyond reckless. It is dangerous and could well incite a mob riot.

The last thing our country needs at this time of insecurity and fear of our future, is a cultural warrior like Sarah Palin stirring up hate and division.

John McCain made a very poor decision putting this woman on the national stage with a megaphone. Clearly, she is not qualified to lead in a national capacity, as many conservative Republicans agree.

Ultimately, John McCain is responsible for what goes on in his campaign. He needs to get control now, before something worse happens.

The point is ASSAULT! Everyone here who posts personal attacks to the person who was assaulted or one who reports on such a thing are clearly emotionally immature. Palin is using SECRET SERVICE to obstruct journalism as well. This has been verified, and is not only a clear violation of their duty, but also a blatant violation of the first amendment. Sorry, but I like the Constitution much more than the cartoon character that is currently Governor of Alaska (one who violates ethics laws at that).

As some have been noting of late, there is an almost two-decade-long background of right-wing hate programs creating the climate for this kind of violence, starting in the early 90s soon after Reagan's 1987 rescinding of the Fairness Doctrine. Examples include shows hosted by Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Ann Coulter, etc. Most of the time, when these people were accused of fomenting violence, they claimed they were "only joking." They and their supporters were indeed joking; the problem is, they think attacking, harming, and killing people is funny. Injury and death are just punch lines in their minds.

I also think the US military's blatant targeting of journalists during the most recent attacks on Iraq and Afghanistan has colored the right-wing public's attitude toward journalists even at home.

And remember too that bellicosity is one of the characteristics of the right wing, so this is also an expression of that.

ha...i wish a republican would kick me at one of these events much less touch me ...people are too nice...you're looking for the police?? the police would've been looking for me.... bald angry black man...lol...5'10' 180lbs...

Remember that anger is ALWAYS a "cover emotion" for fear.

That's what needs to be addressed first.

Idiots are on both sides of the spectrum....

In respect of 'balanced' reporting....

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/obama-supporter-assaults-female-mccain-volunteer-in-new-york/

It saddens me to see what this campaign has been brought to by a desperate collegue in the sense we are both vetrans of the same war. This is not what I was fighting for then, and although the "supposed reasons" I was there turned out to be false, to see those who carried the weight come back and turn into the same creatures we were supposedly "defending freedom" from angers me more then anything else I have encountered.

As for Sarah Palin, her behavior is no surprise to me as "violence" in part seems to be a way of life for her (i.e. hunting wolves from a plane). Hey Sarah I used to hunt people for the government as an Army sniper that was no fun, but if you truly want to make hunting a sport, arm the animals too. I read an interesting article or letter I suppose from a clinical psychologist and former fundamentalist to Sarah Palin on a blog called idealthoughts the other day. This psychologist lays out beautifully the kind of person she is and it is truly frightening. It also gives us a good insight why violence is prone to happen around her and why the only thing she will know is hate.

Wilkins story to what we have found is not true! We are asking the Police and FBI to get involved. Being a Dutiful liar will not work this time.

To add a racial component to give your STORY fodder is not wise. All accusations will be investigated!

We have reported accusations here in Waukesha WI. that have panned out but are yet to be reported on CNN, MSNBCTV or any paper nationwide. These accusations were from women and men of the African Americans community that were attacked and cars were vandalized at a McCain Palin event.

unedumacated hillbillies..

Republicans have been giving license to their supporters to express themselves thru anger violence for years. Remember those brownshirt thugs that attacked the election office in Florida during the recounts? Those guys were downright hostile and scary.

Palin, McCain and the RNC have ginned up the lunatic fringe with their inciteful language at rallies about terrorists, comments referencing Sen. Obama to Bin Ladin, and their over-the-top hate ads and robocalls.

If there was any doubt that the GOP is the party fo racists, thugs and lunatics, the behavior in this election should erase it.

Palin, McCain and the RNC have ginned up the lunatic fringe with their inciteful language at rallies about terrorists, comments referencing Sen. Obama to Bin Ladin, and their over-the-top hate ads and robocalls.

If there was any doubt that the GOP is the party fo racists, thugs and lunatics, the behavior in this election should erase it.

The funny thing is that the "liberal" mainstream media is a complete myth. The mainstream media generally are careerist, corporatist, status quo, don't rock the vote, cower before the right-wing noise machine, right-of-center free traders, just like the business wing of the Republican Party. Maybe these friends of Palin and other assorted yahoos ought to go kick a multimillion dollar CEO in the shins instead of a reporter.

Republicans have been giving license to their supporters to express themselves thru anger violence for years. Remember those brownshirt thugs that attacked the election office in Florida during the recounts? Those guys were downright hostile and scary.

Palin, McCain and the RNC have ginned up the lunatic fringe with their inciteful language at rallies about terrorists, comments referencing Sen. Obama to Bin Ladin, and their over-the-top hate ads and robocalls.

If there was any doubt that the GOP is the party fo racists, thugs and lunatics, the behavior in this election should erase it.

As anticipated - I post a link to a story where a GOP volunteer is assaulted by a liberal, and no one makes a peep here.... just a continuation of how bad the Republican's are and how the GOP supports and encourages such actions ....

The opposing story could say the same about the Democratic Party - but no one is willing to admit it.

No surprise.... blinders must be part of the liberal gift-pack set when you register with the party.

Hank W Jr said:
Liberals dominate the media….this has been announced by Rush Limbaugh. And Thomas Sowell. And Ann Coulter. And Rich Lowry. Bill O’Reilly. And Robert Novak. And George Will.

And John Gibson. And Michelle Malkin. And David Brooks. And Anne Coulter. And Tony Blankely. And Fred Barnes. And Britt Hume. And Larry Kudlow. And Sean Hannity. And David Horowitz. And William Kristol. And Hugh Hewitt. And William Buckley.

And Oliver North. And Joe Scarborough. And Pat Buchanan. And John McLaughlin. And Cal Thomas. And Joe Klein. And James Kilpatrick. And Tucker Carlson. And Deroy Murdock. And Michael Savage. And Charles Krauthammer. And Stephen Moore. And Alan Keyes.

And Gary Bauer. And Mort Kondracke. And Andrew Sullivan. And Nicholas von Hoffman. And Neil Cavuto. And Matt Drudge. And Mike Rosen. And Dave Kopel. And John Caldara. And Deborah Howell. And Richard Morin. And John Harris. And Gordon Liddy. And Laura Ingraham.

And Larry Elder. And Tammy Bruce. And Neal Boortz. And FOX DJ ManPal. And Rusty Humphrey. And Laura Schlessinger. And Glen Beck
LOL absolutely well said Hank W Jr!

I agree with the Jade. I think that all Americans, including thinking Republicans who have become disillusioned with McCain and Palin, need to to denounce McCain and Palin for encouraging and accepting the hateful and racist behavior of some of their supporters. Our democracy cannot survive without freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

Ten years ago, I was in much the same position as many conservatives are today. I had been conservative since my teen years, but the drive to punish Bill & Hillary Clinton as symbols of the '60s, culminating in an absurd impeachment trial, unmasked the gutter nature of the movement; and I had to recognize my own complicity over the years in extenuating my own behavior & that of others.

This is the true face of the conservative movement, which William F. Buckley & his editors & staff worked very hard to cover up from 1955 to 1995. The effectives of the "think tanks," the thievery & toxification of the public airwaves by Clear Channel and FOX News, gave them such confidence that they thought they could finally let it all hang out.

The few people left saying "Oh, that's really not the way we are", have to wake up & take stock of just how much they've rationalized their behavior.

B.S. I don't believe this story at all!!! And if it did happen you sissy little lib don't act like a little kick in the back of your leg sent you sprawling to the ground

MsMike, and the rest....

You talk about the "need to to denounce McCain and Palin for encouraging and accepting the hateful and racist behavior of some of their supporters."

Perhaps you didn't see the pro-McCain march that took place in Manhatten & the 'tolerance' that was so openly displayed by your liberal brothers & sisters....

Let me help you out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQalRPQ8stI

Is THIS the liberal tolerance you proudly profess?

Check your pockets - do your coins only have one side as well?

"he didn't like the Pail porn post."

Way to defend her honor...

(And people wonder why we southerners get labeled as rednecks.)

Hey folks:

I appreciate the good conversation. All of us, however, probably could do without some of the more incendiary stuff and name calling. The lack of civil discourse was the cause for this post, and I think it would be ironic in a bad sort of way to have it get out of hand here.

I'm a reporter, and that jackass better thank his walking upright God that it wasn't me he kicked. He'd be walking home on his elbows.

grow up you bunch of liberal cry babies good lord this is what we need to expect with Obama in the whitehouse .....

I would sue that guy and not let up until I owned his house, his retirement fund, his kids' college funds (if, indeed, his offspring are college-bound) and any other assets; then I would donate all my winnings to the ACLU.

Jade said: "The only somewhat positive thing to come out of this: Joe Killian will most likely become a little famous tonight on Keith Olbermann's Countdown. If anyone in the media covers this story, it would be Keith."

Man, wouldn't it be a little famous for something other than getting my leg kicked out from under me?

The Repubs are getting more and more angry, frustrated and scared. Look for the violence to escalate.

I have attended two of Barack's local rallies, and an informal meeting with Michelle. Not once have I heard a chant of : "OBAMA, BUMAYE!"

(even though it might be well deserved)

Assalamu alaikum, Shalom, and Peace!

Yikes. I've been sorta out of the 'did so!' 'did not!' 'did so!' 'did not!' 'oh, so's yer old lady!' fray for several years, but I see not much has changed. And I thought I was about as pedantic a proofreader as ever came down the pike, but some of you have me waaaaayyyy beat.

It's sad when the argument moves past content and deteriorates into spelling, grammar and the other small stuff. If you make your living in print, in my opinion, your content should be as close to flawless as possible. I consider blogs as conversation, and so I'm much more forgiving.

To the point, though, is this: When backed into a corner, frightened animals do whatever it takes to survive. I think the past 8 years had the conservative extremists convinced that the country was on a trajectory that would not be interrupted. Now that belief is being threatened, and they're fearful of losing power.

Much as I'd like to see non-partisan (NOT bi-partisan) progress in my lifetime, each election pushes me farther away from that dream.

Peace.

This is directed at everyone, together.... How much of this negativity is perpetuated by us? Would things really 'change' if we all moved our energies in a positive direction. Regardless of who you endorse, don't you think we would be better off if we tolerated and respected each others opinion as the true expression of freedom. We WILL disagree, and if you think that will not happen you can't see the forest through the trees, but only through understanding the opposing position can you make a true compromise for the Good of All.

I encourage everyone to take a day and resign yourself to be positive. Deliberately turn the negative around into the positive whenever it arises. Then at the end of the day think over how many times you were assaulted by negativity regardless of the source. And finally, see how good you feel from fostering a positive position.

Just a suggestion.

If McCain and Palin are really interested in saving the taxpayers money, why would they just concede right now? We all know that as ignorant as the US population may be, it is not ignorant enough to put these two in the White House. They could use the money maybe to build a bridge instead of campaign. Or maybe, Palin could use some of the money to hire high priced attorneys to help Alaska succede from the US(or is that just what her husband wants?). Maybe if they run short on funds, they could ask Charles Keating for some more money. Doesn't Cindy McCain still have a relationship with him? Or, worst case scenario, they could use it to bail out their good friend G. Gordon Libby the next time he is in prison. Afterall, McCain said he is SOOOO proud of him.

Anyone else think Tony Wilkins is making it up that he "talked to the guy that dropped Killian to the ground. He said he didn't like the Palin porn post."

How did the guy who kicked Joe know who Joe was and what he had written? It's not like he's a big celebrity.

Totally strains credibility.

Okay, John, I'll bite. I watched the video. I'd say I'm a liberal. Here's what I would have done if I were at that march: ignore the McCain supporters, or maybe smirk at them. It makes you look like an idiot when you give people the finger and boo and do the thumbs down thing. But here's the difference between the stuff in that video and the stuff being said at McCain rallies: eliminationist rhetoric versus just booing. When someone yells "kill him" about someone, that's eliminationist. When someone boos you or gives you the finger, they are being rude and childish but they aren't expressing the desire to eliminate you. See the difference? And of course, physical violence is another thing entirely.

I also love that in that video it's a "fact" that Islamic radicals would be more welcome on the upper west side than "American patriots." Because the definition of an American patriot is someone who happens to agree with your politics, right. And how comfortable some ill-defined group of people would feel in a part of a city that is comprised of lots of different people, yep, that's something that is measurable and could be reported as a "fact."

Lastly, if all those people were so committed to elimination of dissent, wouldn't it stand to reason that they would literally bind together to physically remove the marchers? But no, they just boo them and give them the finger. That's a pretty pitiful commitment to eliminating dissent, don't you think?

No....I talked to Tony Wilkins. He said he is sorry, but he does support the Republican ticket. Therefore, he thought it was his duty as a republican to tell lies.

Ah yes, that "left wing liberal media" BS again. I guess if your only source of information is Fox News and the wingnut talk-radio hosts, everything else *does* look "liberal" by comparison.

As for the campaign's part in this, of course they bear some responsibility. You don't accuse someone of "palling around with terrorists", or the media of being biased against you, then act all surprised when your more extreme supporters start acting out against your "enemies" (because, ya know, yer either for us or agin' us)

Hey Renato -

It's homonym, not homynym.
Throwing rocks in glass houses and all of that...

Hi--ever read Zimbardo's new book on "situationalism"? Zimbardo is the guy who ran the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment.

A handful of students, carefully vetted for psychological issues, turned the experiment area into Abu Ghraib in about three days.

John McCain and Sarah Palin are for sure responsible for the violence at their rallies. They are responsible, as leaders always are, for a situation that is inducing people to be violent. Sure they don't verbally advocate it. That would be politically damaging. And they don't have to. The situation takes care of itself. And I'm betting they don't put their fans through a psych. evaluation before they let them in.

Kudos Maria. So glad to hear some civility from the right. When this election is over we will all have to come together. United we stand and all that.

Anyone ever take a really close look at the people at McCain/Palin rallies? A true picture of diversity. I've counted ten non-whites in the last week of tv coverage. Granted it usually shows only a few angles of a given rally but seriously, ten? IDoes anyone really imagine it gets more diverse in any other area of the crowd?

This doesn't mean the McCain Campaign is sending a message of outright racism but come on, ten?

What does that say when the only people of color attending your rallies are there to protest?

I am a white college educated male and I don't believe anyone with my level of education could possibly see that as saying a good thing about a campaign. Unless you are a true Machiavellian, win at all costs kind of person.

And yes without a doubt, no denying it, whatever happens at a rally you hold is a reflection of YOU. There is a direct line between the campaign and any less than moral acts or rhetoric spewing from them. Especially if said campaign supports them by not repudiating them immediately and fevorently.

Someone needs to call McCain out immediately the next time he calls himself a Goldwater conservative. Goldwater would never stand for this madness, not for a second. And he would slap the melanoma off McCain for using his name.

"If McCain and Palin are really interested in saving the taxpayers money, why would they just concede right now? '

Amazing.

Simply amazing.

Alleged reporters like you are a disgrace to America and in a real GOP administration you would all be barking the praises of a White America storming the frontiers of the Muslim culture of death worldwide or be stuffed into a camp with the rest of the terrorists. Your guy should have been dismembered and eaten by the crowd to remind people what spreading lies and transmitting the propaganda of terrorists (people who cheer for Obama) is a crime against American and the White Race.

Maria,

You can say all you want that you don't condone this kind of violent behavior...but then your campaigns are based in large on there being a good vs. evil conflict where you are the true authentic Americans and the media, liberals, democrats are the "other" are clearly the enemy...in war terms.

I'm sorry, but you seem to miss the point that when you make it a tool of political expediency to villify and dehumanize your opponents to energize your supporters, this is a natural result.

I could go into more detail, but I think the situation is crystal clear. There are a lot of very unsavory elements in the public who you are actively trying to court the vote of. You can't have it both ways. You can't say we're all professionals here and denounce violence and the occasional crazy who resorts to it when at the same time you pander to these sentiments and encourage the racism and fear and "us as patriots against them as terrorists" thinking.

If you haven't realized how intellectually dishonest that approach is, please let me be the first to inform you on that one.

You can't court scorpions to your side and then say you deplore poisonous stinging, and make sure you tell us if it's happening so we can deal with it.

If John McCain had run a honorable campaign he'd likely be doing much better than he is now. And you can't blame the media for not covering you when you did have integrity, so you had to switch. That's a complete moral cop-out.

This truely honorable man (certainly flawed as all humans are, but I have no qualms about speaking of him as honorable before this campaign) is now shamed by this campaign to the core.

Instead of wasting time trying to defend the indefensible, you and other Republicans should really be taking a long hard look in the mirror and trying to find your humanity again. Because let me tell you, you lost it when you started questioning the humanity of your opponents as a political strategy.

-Dean James Bushik

This rabid anti-media crap coming from the extreme element of the GOP needs to stop. I'm a reporter and I'm a Republican. Members of the media are Republican and they will, I guarantee you, report b.s. coming from both parties. Now get a grip! Oh, and if somebody kicks me in the leg when I'm covering an event- I'm breaking somebody's nose. Any questions?

I think the kicker was aiming for his ass.

mrgoodbar: assault is threat only in tort law - in criminal law assault is physical attack.

The angry tone of the Republican campaign is controlled at the top, both Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are responsible for inciting mob rule. Violence in politics by jack-booted, Nazi black shirts or “a large, bearded man in full McCain-Palin campaign regalia” is really no difference. Sen. McCain, you should know better, Gov. Palin, I fear, uses this as SOP.

Folks: I'm beginning to see some repetition in the comments here, and I think some of the less-than-civil discourse might be on the verge of getting out of hand. So let me thank everyone for dropping by and wish you a pleasant weekend. After this comment posts, I'll be closing off the comments. Thanks.