We know that the Nazis had one of the most effective propaganda machines of the twentieth century. To compare their methods and success to other groups is neither insensitive or racist -- and calls for firing those who do are absurd.

A Jewish group is calling for the firing of an outspoken CNN anchor, Lou Dobbs, after he accused advocates for illegal immigrants of using propaganda techniques employed by Nazi Germany.

"Comparisons to Nazis — especially in this day and age — are abhorrent," the president and CEO of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Gideon Aronoff, said in a statement yesterday. " Mr. Dobbs has crossed the line between responsible television commentary and hate-speech propaganda of his own. Keeping him on the air is essentially sanctioning by CNN — which is why we're asking CNN to remove Dobbs from his very public platform."

In a broadcast last week, Mr. Dobbs denounced immigrant-rights groups for portraying a crackdown on illegal immigration as a threat to foreigners who live in America legally.

"They might as well work for Herman Göring," Mr. Dobbs said. "I mean, they're running so much propaganda, trying to confuse the debate, the national dialogue, by talking about immigrants rather than illegal aliens and legal immigrants. It's mindless beyond belief."

Now I do see one issue of concern -- Dobbs' historical ignorance. Herman Göring was the head of the German air force, not its propaganda arm. The latter role was filled by Joseph Goebbels. Get your facts straight, Lou!

And if the Hebrew Immigrant Aid society wants to combat Nazi abuse, might I suggest that they go after the real culprits -- the Bush=Hitler leftists.

Posted by: Greg at 10:35 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 290 words, total size 2 kb.

I'll be the first to concede that the raw numbers are troubling. That minorities are more likely than whites to be arrested if pulled over by the police appears problematic.

But I wonder how many folks will consider the disclaimer in the report.

Like the 2002 report, this one contained a warning that the racial disparities uncovered "do not constitute proof that police treat people differently along demographic lines" because the differences could be explained by circumstances not analyzed by the survey. The 2002 report said such circumstances might include driver conduct or whether drugs were in plain view.

And that is precisely the problem with the report -- until we look at the circumstances that led to the arrests, we cannot know for sure what the reason for the disparity is. As I see at school, there is a cultural difference in how different ethnic groups respond to being confronted by authority figures. That could go a long way towards explaining the differences. So could questions of immigration status or, heaven forbid, obvious actual evidence of criminal behavior. For that matter, so could the socio-economic status of the drivers or the neighborhoods where they were pulled over. And until we manage to quantify and control for such things, does the data really tell us anything useful at all?

Posted by: Greg at 10:27 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 233 words, total size 2 kb.

Why do we let these men sit in moral judgment of anyone on matters of race relations -- or anything else?

Sharpton never apologized for falsely accusing a former assistant district attorney in 1987 of sexually assaulting black teenager Tawana Brawley. A New York grand jury determined the whole Brawley affair a hoax, and the assistant DA successfully sued Sharpton and two other defendants for defamation. A unanimous, multiracial jury awarded the assistant DA $65,000 from Sharpton. No apology.

In 1989, after the "Central Park Jogger" was viciously attacked and left for dead, Sharpton called the jogger a "whore" and accused her boyfriend of committing the crime. No apology.

Jesse Jackson also criticized Imus. But in 1984, when the Washington Post's Milton Coleman reported Jesse Jackson called Jews "Hymies" and New York "Hymie-Town," the reverend initially denied the statement. Days later, Jackson apologized for his anti-Semitic remark, thus taking longer to apologize than did Imus for his racist, sexist remark. Jackson's friend and confidant, the Nation of Islam's Minister Louis Farrakhan -- publicly threatened black reporter Coleman on radio and warned the Jews, "If you harm this brother [Jackson], I warn you in the name of Allah this will be the last one you harm." Jackson refused to condemn Farrakhan's remarks.

Being a "civil rights leader" means never having to say you're sorry. And it also means you get a pass on viciously racist words and deeds that far surpass the misdeeds of Don Imus -- who deserved to be fired.

Posted by: Greg at 10:41 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 271 words, total size 2 kb.

But wait -- they are going to let him finish out the week before starting the "punishment" for his racial slur.

MSNBC and CBS have decided to suspend Don Imus for two weeks following his reference last week to members of the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos."

MSNBC first announced it would suspend telecasting Imus' radio program for two weeks, beginning next Monday.

A short time later, CBS announced it will suspend its broadcast of Imus' radio program for two weeks.

MSNBC said Imus' regret at making the inappropriate comment and his stated dedication to changing the show's discourse made it believe this was the appropriate response.

"Our future relationship with Imus is contingent on his ability to live up to his word," the network said.

Imus, who has made a career of cranky insults in the morning, was fighting for his job Monday following the joke that by his own admission went "way too far."

Excuse me, but I can't help but ask where the joke was -- there was nothing remotely funny about the comment that was both racist and misogynistic. But then again, very little is amusing about Imus' show -- though certain politicians are more than willing to appear despite the host's history of insensitive remarks. Even yesterday, Harold Ford, Jr. was willing to appear in an attempt to rehabilitate Imus.

But let me raise this question -- if MSNBC and CBS radio are really trying to punish Imus, why the delay in implementing the suspension? If they really disapprove, why not act swiftly?

And to the members of the black community who were offended by the comments made by Don Imus, I ask this -- why are you willing to accept members of your won community insulting women as "hos", or accept them spewing the most vile of racial epithets as a part of the rap/hip-hop culture?

Posted by: Greg at 10:37 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 318 words, total size 2 kb.