FUCK POLITICO!

[liberalpragmatist]

As disgusting as this whole manufactured controversy about the "Ground Zero Mosque" is, I find equally disgusting that Politico decides that the whole thing should be covered as a political controversy. Their front page article is all about how the president's statement is going to make vulnerable Dems "skittish," and is filled to the brim with quotes from Republican strategists about how "this won't play in Peoria," and "this is another nail in the Dems' coffin."

POLITICO: Obama's mosque comments put issue in national spotlight

President Barack Obama’s endorsement of the Ground Zero mosque has transformed an emotion-laden local dispute in New York into a nationwide debate overnight, setting nervous Democrats on edge and creating potentially dramatic political implications in the upcoming midterm elections.

Key Republicans think the president bought himself some political trouble by using his White House bully pulpit to announce his support for a controversial plan to build an Islamic center just blocks from nearly 3,000 people died in Manhattan at the hands of Islamic extremists on 9/11.

“Those headlines are not going to play well in Peoria,” said one GOP congressional aide, who called Obama’s remarks “a provocative act.”

FUCK YOU POLITICO. Not everything is about political tactics. This isn't a fucking game. This is about civil rights and the Constitution. Fuck off.

[myrna minx]

1. Politico is toxic. K&R n/t

[Scurrilous]

2. Well said.

:thumbsup:

[boston bean]

3. goodness gracious, do you feel that way about DADT and DOMA and Choice?

I only wish Obama was as concerned about those civil rights?

I agree with you when you say this:

"Not everything is about political tactics."

but it's not very pragmatic is it?

[liberalpragmatist]

4. I agree with you on those things

But why does have to do with him doing the right thing in this case?

[boston bean]

5. I just wondered how YOU felt.

As you have the word pragmatist in your s/n.

Most pragmatists on DU are willing to let those issues continue or delayed out of political strategy.

I'm glad you agree.

:-)

[Whisp]

6. what are your thoughts on hospital visitation rights for gays

that Obama passed recently?

Are you counting the progress as well as what is still to be done?

[boston bean]

7. Well, I think it's great.

How would you feel if Obama didn't say what he said about the mosque.

Would you have been willing to let it slide in knowing it might be harmful to him politically?

[sandnsea]

8. I don't see an executive order on the mosque

Do you?

Yes he feels that strongly on those issues. But like the mosque, there are laws and courts and a process that civil rights and civil rights legislation goes through.

Get it yet?

[boston bean]

13. So, it wasn't really so hard for him to do. Is that what you're saying.

And because there are some obstacles, I don't necessarily agree with that, re DADT (an executive order would come in quite handy) or Choice! It is the law of the land. DOMA, that is more difficult, I will agree.

But anyhoot. Have a good day.

[sandnsea]

28. Is There An Executive Order on the mosque?

That's what you say he should do on DADT and DOMA. Did he write one for the mosque?

If not, then he did the same thing for all of them. Uses the bully pulpit to continue pressing for equal rights.

As for choice, he specifically met with Stupak in order to keep the same reproductive rights women have had through federal health care programs for decades. And he did do that. The high risk pool has the exact same protections as Medicaid.

[Oceansaway]

9. Politico=Human Waste.....nt

[Pirate Smile]

10. This is how the press covers everything. The fact that the President is right and courageous is

completely irrelevant. All that matters is "how will this play politically".

Another example - Mark Halprin:

HALPERINS' TAKE: Leaving aside the substance involved and the president's decision to weigh in on a matter the White House had stayed away from, this move has the potential to impact the midterm elections and even Obama's re-election. And/but as with many such things in our politico-media culture (even moments involving strong emotion and serious issues, as in this case) the ultimate level of impact will depend as much on who controls the semiotics and the image-making over the next 96 hours as on anything else. So put aside your August Frisbee and watch very closely.

http://thepage.time.com/2010/08/14/obama-our-commitment-to-religious-freedom-must-be-unshakeable/


This is why completely wrong BS is what the entire press covers. It is like the Death Panel crap. Who cares that it is a total lie & smear started by Palin - what are the political implications... Oh, hey,it's a winner for her and a loser for the President and Democrats... blah blah blah

What exactly do they think their f#$king jobs are as journalists?

[FrenchieCat]

11. Yep.....Politico is demonstrating exactly why it was started up on the web to begin with....

Here's the dirt on the Top Politico Writer....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=8936672

[movonne]

12. I'll give them two fuck yous.....

[jefferson_dem]

14. On twitter, all day, they've been transparently trying to stoke the controversy.

Bottom-feeding fuckers.

Thankfully, many are setting the record straight (not that they will listen).

[jefferson_dem]

15. Their latest ridiculosity....

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – With criticism mounting of his support for the construction of an Islamic center two blocks from Ground Zero in Manhattan, President Barack Obama on Saturday defended his decision to wade into the controversy the night before, but backed off from his previous stance.

"In this country we treat everybody equally and in accordance with the law, regardless of race, regardless of religion,” Obama said when asked about his remarks at a White House dinner Friday marking the start of Ramadan. He did, however, insist that his defense of the organizers' right to build the mosque did not mean he endorsed the project..

“I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there,” Obama continued. “I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country is about. And I think it's very important as difficult as some of these issues are that we stay focused on who we are as a people and what our values are all about."

Families of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as prominent Republicans, have criticized Obama for saying Friday that he supports building a mosque near Ground Zero.

On Friday night Obama took a much sharper stance on the issue.

“Ground Zero is, indeed, hallowed ground,” he said. “But let me be clear: as a citizen and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances.” -- CAROL E. LEE.

http://www.politico.com/politico44/wbarchive/whiteboard08142010.html

[liberalpragmatist]

17. Oy.

What he said today is perfectly consistent with what he said last night.

That being said, I think his wording was poor - he was simply trying to state that they have a legal right to build there, and that's what this country is about, but by saying that he wasn't commenting on the location itself, he should have realized that the press would run with it and spin it as "Obama backtracking."

Political pundits have to be some of the most useless people on the planet.

[Phx_Dem]

16. If vulnerable Dems are "skittish" about religious freedom, fuck them too.

This entire controvery is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. With repect to the families and survivors of 911, NYC is filled with muslims. You can't walk down the street with seeing one. So why does a Community Center stir their ire and make the pain of losing a loved one more pronounced? I don't get it, but I think it has more to do with intolerance and hate than pain of losing a loved one.

[liberalpragmatist]

18. The Daily Show had a great segment showing all the Halal carts around Ground Zero

Seriously, the Halal Cart has completely displaced the hot dog vendors as NYC's street food cart of choice. Why aren't Halal Carts in Lower Manhattan "insensitive" to the feelings of the victims?

[Phx_Dem]

19. Exactly. Muslim cab drivers, Halal carts and middle eastern restaurants

located all over Manhattan aren't insensitive, but a community center is. Go figure. Sounds like an excuse for hate to me.

[jenmito]

20. Yesterday, Alan Grayson called Politico a RW "rag" on Ed Schultz's show. Ed seemed to

disagree, with repeated questions to Grayson if he considers Politico to be "legitimate." Ed obviously DOES think Politico is a legitimate, unbiased news source. :eyes:

[leveymg]

21. They should talk! Politico is owned by Allbritton family - owned banks that funded the 9/11 attack.

See the thread here for details about Allbritton's ties to Bush and a string of Saudi controlled banks: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=495105&mesg_id=495168

[DimplesinMI]

22. Politico is FOX NEWS on the Web..........

The sooner that people get that, the smarter they will be..............

[Turborama]

23. Grayson said something similar

In case you missed it: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x495105

[Turborama]

24. K&R I'm going to repeat it... FUCK YOU POLITICO... Fuck off.

Thanks for posting

[Arkana]

25. Who. Cares.

Obama did the right thing.

And Republicans are never right about anything anyway.

[Odin2005]

26. The elites have to give the Proles another 2-Minute Hate.

[zulchzulu]

27. Politico is Drudge's younger, more handsome straight brother who wears cheap suits

They have been in cahoots for years.

[Ramulux]

29. Agree 100%

"FUCK YOU POLITICO. Not everything is about political tactics. This isn't a fucking game. This is about civil rights and the Constitution. Fuck off. "

This pretty much sums up how I feel about this. Politico is to politics as TMZ is to entertainment. Yet unlike TMZ, politico actually takes itself seriously and pretends to be a legitimate media organization. They are culprit #1 in the wide-ranging attempt to turn our political dialogue in this country into nothing more than easily absorbed and intelectually dishonest narratives.