Assange speaks to unmoved Union audience

[struggle4progress]

Story: Stevie Hertz
NOVEMBER 12, 2015

... the Editor-in-Chief of Wikileaks spoke to a chamber with many free seats on the floor and a half-empty balcony above ...

As the floor opened up to questions, one anonymous person asked “Did you rape those women...?’’Assange responded that he was “surprised that <he> didn’t get a trigger warning”, continuing that “no woman has alleged rape against me” and claiming that the woman who made the accusation has since said that “she was rail-roaded and didn’t want to make a complaint.” He said he “found it interesting that no one wants to listen to these women” ...

http://www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/news/0034775-assange-speaks-to-unmoved-union-audience.html

[PatrickforO]

1. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if Assange was COINTELPRO'ed.

Not a bit. That's step two for the establishment after ridiculing someone doesn't work. Accuse them of something and just keep pounding on the lie. Then, if that doesn't work, harassment by federal agencies. Following that, they send in the cops with riot gear. Follow this up with a trumped up charge under, say, the Sedition Act and there you have it! Silence.

[delrem]

3. Of course he was.

Jeez, it's all so out of proportion as to be clear as day.

[delrem]

2. Well, I guess you figure he's a rapist,

and you figure that's the only thing we need know of him.

I guess that's so, because that's all the story Stevie Hertz says, so it's all you say when you forward it.
100% character assassination, 0% on the substance of anything Assange had to say.

[struggle4progress]

5. I gave up ESP decades ago; and I recommend everyone else do the same

The Cambridge Union decided only student journalists would be admitted --- the student society today issued a statement saying only "student press" will be allowed in to the event --- and, so far as I can tell, this is the first-hand coverage that resulted

Whether or not Assange is guilty of rape seems to me a question for the Swedish criminal justice system, though I would add his peculiar behavior includes: fleeing Sweden when the authorities there indicated they wanted a second interview with him; promising to return for an interview but failing to do so; orchestrating an international campaign to attack the complainants in this matter; misrepresenting the European extradition agreements; abandoning his European appeals before they were exhausted; jumping bail in the UK; announcing that he would not leave the embassy even if the Swedish authorities dropped all charges; demanding the Swedish authorities interview him in the embassy but failing to submit to an interview when they agreed ; &c &c. The by-now-quite-impressive level of weirdness seems only to rise regularly with time; and over the years, supporters across the political spectrum seem to have dropped away steadily, alienated by his bizarre ego-centrisms, his anti-feminism, his strange political flirtations with anti-semites and racists, his long-standing indifference (dating from well before the embassy releases) to the well-being of various people endangered by his un-vetted releases, and his opportunistic use of other people. None of that proves he is a rapist, of course, but the totality of evidence so far paints a portrait suggesting a very disturbed and unstable man

[delrem]

6. Yeah, I figure you had him convicted.

I get it.

In my opinion the charges against him don't justify your sustained vitriol, considering the circumstances of Wikileaks.

By that I mean both the idea and the content of the idea.

You don't like the service that Wikileaks did.

[MADem]

9. You're really going out of your way to get personal with everyone who doesn't see things your way.

Why don't you scurry off to Knightsbridge and bring your hero a pizza? I understand he enjoys them.

Off you go, now....

[delrem]

10. I say it how it is, Hillary Clinton fan.

[MADem]

11. No, you lash out at people with foolish little remarks you believe (because you need to believe) are

"insults."



You are darn tootin' I'm a Clinton fan--and I promise I won't gloat when she is inaugurated. How's that, hmmm? Certainly more mature than the attitude you're displaying in this thread!

Petulance is never a good look, delrem. Either discuss the issues, or don't--but snarking, name calling, baiting, etc., all it does is diminish you and make you appear terribly childish and small.

[elias49]

16. Pot, meet kettle. nt

[MADem]

25. You're the one doing all the cooking up in here. nt

[struggle4progress]

20. OP is a short excerpt from a student reporter's story, that I posted without comment

If you dislike the content, you are free to provide evidence that it is somehow unfair or misleading

What strikes me, of course, is Assange saying “no woman has alleged rape against me” and claiming that the woman who made the accusation has since said that “she was rail-roaded and didn’t want to make a complaint” -- which rather closely resembles talking out of both sides of his mouth at once

And it apparently does not to occur to him that his version of history falls flat from its own dead weight: if Assange had a friendly witness in this woman, trying to tell everyone (as he alleges) that she was somehow railroaded into a complaint against him, but is now somehow universally ignored, except by Assange himself, who chivalrously pleads that everyone should listen to her --- then why? oh, why? has she never appeared in court on his behalf? He crossed back and forth through the UK courts, and did the same in the Swedish courts, and never was there any report that either complainant was standing for his side, claiming some misunderstanding or some undue influence. Sweden is hardly a police state: one would think a woman who thought her version of an encounter had somehow unaccountably and unfairly become a tale of international misunderstandings could easily resolve the whole matter

But there's a simple enough explanation which does not require us to wander confusedly through some dark woods of interminably forking paths that lead us in hopeless circles: it is just to guess that Assange, who has a extensive record of blowing smoke, is doing so once again

[MADem]

4. Uh oh...he's being IGNORED!!!!!

Everyone had better do a bunny inventory...because Julian, I suspect, doesn't like being IGNORED....

Despite vigorous opposition to Assange’s invitation, the large amount of private security personnel hired by the Union were left idle, as no protests or commotion appeared.

He's a has-been grifter, I wonder how long Putin will continue to give him money?

[delrem]

7. You see, I just knew you'd be a supporter of Hillary Clinton.

How could I have known that?

[MADem]

8. Are you confused?

The topic is Assange.

Try to stay on topic, do. This isn't about me.

Going 'personal' as an opening salvo is a poor strategy. Suggests you've got nothing in your arsenal.

I'm not a supporter of rapists, I'll tell you that much about me--since you're so interested, apparently.

[delrem]

12. The topic is you, the person initiating the allegations, or perpetuating them

without further comment.

Because it's what you do.

[MADem]

13. No, the topic is ASSANGE.

How interesting that you misread the OP so mightily to think that the topic was me.

Keep digging! You reveal yourself with every word--funny how you use the term "without further comment" because it's obvious that's a talent you haven't developed to this point.

[elias49]

17. You've been outed!

Oh dear.

[MADem]

24. The nerve! Supporting the favored Democratic candidate on a Democratic message board!

What a situation!!!! Oh, dear, indeed....!

[struggle4progress]

22. Quelle horreur!

A someone who -- how coulds we say it? -- on the Democratic site might being to support a front-runnering Democrat! The mind it bogglings at the thinking of it!

[randome]

14. .

[hr][font color="blue"][center]"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen, Anthem (1992)[/center][/font][hr]

[MADem]

26. Ha ha ha!

Now that's a picture no artist could paint....

[Nye Bevan]

15. "Media banned from attending Julian Assange talk at Cambridge Union"

http://m.cambridge-news.co.uk/Media-banned-attending-Julian-Assange-talk/story-28148565-detail/story.html

Whatever happened to openness and transparency?

[elias49]

18. Thanks for this.

There will be no refutation from the haters.

[struggle4progress]

21. '... the student society today issued a statement saying only "student press" will be allowed

into the event. Asked whether this decision had been made at Mr Assange's request, union press officer Timothy Adelani said: "We don't comment on individual arrangements with our speakers." Mr Assange previously addressed the Cambridge Union in 2011 when journalists were also barred ...'
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Media-banned-attending-Julian-Assange-talk/story-28148565-detail/story.html

It rather sounds as if Assange imposed this restriction

[elias49]

19. Bravo Julian Assange. nt

[SidDithers]

23. ...

Sid