"Caliendo" calls for truth telling. What a joke.

In the column written under his name in The Courier Caliendo Crier last week, Middletown Democratic chairman Joe Caliendo calls for government to tell the truth.

The column starts,

"The basic problem behind government today is that it cannot be trusted to tell the truth anymore."

and ends with a slam on Middletown Deputy Mayor Pam Brightbill for saying that the best way to help Middletown residents is to lower taxes before she voted for a budget that raises taxes. "Caliendo's" point seems to be that Brightbill wasn't being truthful, yet "he" fails to mention that the cause of the Middletown budget increase was the Democratic/Corzine cut in state funding and state mandated spending.

If that sounds like Jim Purcell's dishonest and convoluted logic, it probably is. I don't know for sure that Purcell wrote that column under Caliendo's name, but I do know for a fact that Purcell often writes for Caliendo.


Purcell and I became acquainted shortly after I started this blog. He was so excited to know the identity of William H. Seward. As an honest "newsman" you might think he'd want to break the story, but no, he thought he had a political ally. A week after we met he called and asked me to drop everything to meet him at the Internet Cafe in Red Bank. He wanted to show off how he was using a computer that couldn't be traced back to him as he sent out Caliendo press releases that he had just written. Purcell, who rails against anonymous writers he doesn't like and can't personally attack, is a ghost writer himself.

Not that there is anything wrong with ghost writing in and of itself. Many leaders legitimately use professional writers. But Purcell has been trying to pass himself off as an honest journalist while really being a political operative in the area he covers. That is not OK. As I told Purcell early on, and as written early on here, he should do one or the other.

The truth in The Courier Caliendo Crier? That's a joke.

For calling for honesty in government while practicing fragrantly dishonest journalism, Jim Purcell and Joe Caliendo are awarded this weeks Obie Award.

Jim Purcell is full of shit

If you don't like the beating Jim Purcell has been taking on this blog, I suggest you don't read this post.

Jim Purcell has taken a great deal of heat since he twisted the racial conversation that has been going on here at MoreMonmouthMusings. He made it front page news for three weeks in a row and stopped publishing my column. He tried to smear me as a racist and tried to destroy my political and professional affiliations. He did this for his own political agenda and to sell newspapers. He sold out his papers for a few weeks, but he sold out his own integrity in the process and his struggling bird cage liner is in deep doo doo.

Purcell has asked several people to approach me about backing off or toning it down. In his column in The Courier Caliendo Crier, he either misses the point of why he is getting such heat, or he is trying to believe his own BS. He again says my objective was to make the use of the word nigger acceptable in the main stream lexicon. He knows I never advocated that and that I don't advocate that. He suggests that I have been trying to re-package 400 years of black experience, which is utter nonsense. He points out that the Bayshore is a place where Confederate flags, White Power T-Shirts and apprehension about blacks and Hispanics can be found, yet fails to point out that I have been a critic of these activities, because he is still trying to demonize me for his own political agenda.

Purcell slams Monmouth County as racist because he's gotten heat and I've gotten support. He's disgraceful. He says,

"Someone who is having such a high old time using the n-word very casually and conversationally in the Bayshore might try using that same speech just as casually in other parts of this state where there is great diversity- and see how it goes for them. In fact, the leaders supporting this "racial discussion" vocally or silently might ask themselves if this support is the kind of thing they want on their resumes. Because outside the small sphere of Monmouth, such nonsense would not be tolerated. Homogeneous communities are not going to be more prolific. And, supporting the use of slurs as common speech is betting on the wrong side of history."

Again, Purcell's premise is faulty because no one in this debate, especially me, is advocating the casual use of slurs. But Purcell can't give that up without realizing what a complete jerk he has been in this process.

I wonder if Purcell knows of any diverse communities in New Jersey. Let me suggest the Hidden Lake development in North Brunswick, or East Orange, on the border of Glen Ridge in Essex County, where I used to live. Purcell has no experience in diverse communities and has no commitment to racial harmony. If he did, he wouldn't be writing about me as if I was the problem.

He doesn't give a hoot about racial harmony. His sole purpose in life is to defeat Middletown Republicans because his bosses didn't get their development and because he would rather blame his former friends for the failure of his career than to look in the mirror.

Purcell complains that he is getting pressure to reinstate my column, as if I would actually give it to him again. I was never attached to the column. I wrote it because Jim asked me too. He promised me syndication and income opportunities which I didn't take seriously and were never forthcoming. Several times over the 10 months I wrote columns for his paper, Purcell told me he was getting heat over the column. Gordon Bishop complained that I was stealing his spotlight. Local Democrats were concerned that my criticism of Trenton Democrats would hurt them electorally. Each time I told Purcell I'd stop writing.

While it was fun to write and the feedback from the community was gratifying, it was never a big deal and some weeks it was a burden to write. Purcell still wanted it and still wanted to piggy back on the success of this blog. When I indicated here on the blog, and in conversation with him, that I was going to use the space to counter the paper's editorial policy of defeating Middletown Republicans, Purcell chose to attempt to demonize me. Had he simply told me the truth, "Art, I can't run your column because Big Joe and I are doing everything we can to defeat Peter Carton, Gerry Scharfenberger,Joe Kyrillos and Judith Stanley-Coleman and you're in the way of that" he still would have taken some heat, but nothing like what he has been experiencing and will continue to experience until he takes another job.

Purcell reveals his purpose and his alliances at the end of his column whimper over all the heat he has taken. He thanks the Azzolina and Scaduto families, Victor Scudiery, Lorenzo Dangler, Carolyn Schwebel, Joe Caliendo and Pat Walsh for their support and kind words.

What do all those people have in common? They all want to see Democrats take control of Middletown.

Jim Purcell is a horse thief

Not really, as far as I know.

In his column whimper in The Caliendo Crier this week, Purcell said that I am angry and that I am calling him everything except a horse thief.

Neither is true. I am not angry nor have I called him everything except a horse thief.

I called him a yellow journalist and a dishonest political hack posing as a newspaper publisher who sends himself anonymous emails.

More on this over the weekend, as I have a demanding couple of days ahead of me.

Choose Purcell's new masthead, or write your own

Purcell

Show me where the Democrats do it better than the Republicans do it in Monmouth and Middletown

This linked post from June 15 is the reason Jim Purcell pulled the MoreMonmouthMusings column from The Courier Caliendo Crier. Read it and the comments.

The July 17 N-word post was the excuse he used to attempt to smear me, paint the GOP as racist and make this blog a campaign issue. His attempts didn't work and won't work.

It was in the June 15 post that Purcell realized I was not his ally in his obsession to destroy the Middletown and Monmouth GOP, and that he had no argument to counter my assertions that the GOP, while not perfect, is doing a better job in Monmouth County and in Middletown Township than Democrats are doing anywhere else. So long as I was writing critically of Monmouth Republicans, Purcell tolerated my bashing Trenton Democrats. Purcell doesn't follow what happens in Trenton.

Once the Monmouth GOP righted itself and I dared say some nice things about the Middletown GOP and criticise Democrats, I had to be neutralized or silenced.

The video below is brought to you as a publc service. Book mark this post and come back to it when ever you are tempted to read The Courier Caliendo Crier or one of its affiliated blogs.

Someone call the Human Rights Commission

Middletown Democratic operative Middletown Mike Morris has a post that refers a far right wing article that asserts John McCain is the Antichrist. Mike says, "they just maybe onto something here! It seems as though John McCain is the latest politician to fit the mold of the Antichrist. "

Surely this is a bigger scandal than this blog using the N-word. After all, there are more Christian and McCainiac readers in the Courier Caliendo Crier's circulation than there are Blacks.

Will The Courier Caliendo Crier run a front page story on the scandal? Will they attempt to make it a partisan issue, calling leaders and elected officials of both parties to get to try to get them on the record about this? Will they call the NAACP or the United Theological Seminary? Will they call a "special meeting" of the Middletown Human Rights Commission?

Of course not. Quite the contrary. Courier Caliendo Crier publisher has a post on his blog, InsideAirbather, promoting Mike's post and calling it entertaining.

One expert on such matters said, "John McCain does not fit the profile of the AntiChrist. If you read Revelations, Obama fits the profile, but we can't say that because he's Black. Hillary fits the profile too, but she's not running. If Hillary gets the VP slot, we're doomed."

Barack Hussein Obama is not a Muslim but he does like Ludacris. John McCain is not a Muslim either. Nor is he Lucifer.

Click on the headline to go to Middletown Mike's scandalous post.

Jim Purcell's long history of yellow journalism

I just finished perusing The Courier Caliendo Crier.

For the third week in a row this blog is front page news with a full 2 1/2 pages twisting what we're doing here. That's fine with me. Traffic to the blog keeps growing and more importantly, people are talking about race relations, which is what I wanted to accomplish. The feed back I am getting is very positive for the most part.

It is notable, that while one of The Courier Caliendo Crier articles did mention that I asked for another Middletown Human Rights Commission meeting, there was no mention of why I asked for it, i.e. I was not notified of the first meeting because The Courier Caliendo Crier did not inform the public, even though the Township Clerk faxed notice to them in a timely fashion. Rather, the paper Middletown Democrat's flyer only informed their political supporters about it. Even Joe Caliendo wrote in his column about being there.

My statement to the Middletown Township Committee was not printed despite the fact that it was submitted well before the publication deadline. Nor was I asked for comment any of the articles I was mentioned in.

Is there another newspaper anywhere that would feature a blog as front page news, three weeks in a row?

There is something else missing from The Courier Caliendo Crier this week.

In addition to skewing what is happening on this blog, what happened at the Middletown Human Rights Commission meeting and the Township Committee meeting, The Courier, Caliendo Crier had a story about the proposed Matawan-Aberdeen train station. Litigation recently ended over competing developers. The judge ruled there was no impropriety on the part of Matawan or Senator Joe Kyrillos, as had been alleged by the developer who lost out.

What was missing from the Birdcage Liner story about the train station? Jim Purcell's apology to Rob Clifton.

Back in May of 2006 Purcell made up a story out of thin air that alleged that Clifton was dirty with regard to the Matawan-Aberdeen train station deal.

Or course Rob wasn't dirty, and like so many of Purcell's filthy rants, the story went no where. Yet no apology or retraction.

This post demonstrates two examples of that political hack posing as a publisher's dirty deeds. There are many more. He had me fooled for a while. Like what one of the commenters said when I announced that our relationship was over, it is surprising and disappointing when his true nature is revealed.

Jim Purcell and his paper are a menace to Middletown, the Bayshore, Monmouth County and beyond. It took me a while to realize it. My thanks and apologies to those who warned me. I now realize what he's doing and why he's doing it. It is not about good government. It is about bitter retribution and it will all be spelled out here, in time.

Jim Purcell at the Middletown Township Committee Meeting

Jim Purcell also spoke at the Middletown Township Committee meeting this week.

He bashed Mayor Scharfenberger for the Human Rights Commission having an unnoticed "special meeting" even, though notice had been faxed to his newspaper two days before publication deadline and three days before the meeting. His newspaper, website, nor its 3 blogs mentioned the meeting.

Mr. Purcell was at the Human Rights Commission meeting. He said he received an anonymous email that the meeting would be happening. He publicly thanked the sender of the anonymous email (he's been talking to himself a lot lately I hear).

Miraculously, the Middletown Human Rights Commission meeting was the best attended ever with over 20 people present, according to the Human Rights Commission member who spoke at the Township Committee meeting and affirmed that Scharfenberger did not call the meeting.

Among those present at the "unnoticed" Human Rights Commission meeting were Lorenzo Dangler, president of the Greater Long Branch NAACP, and the leaders of the Red Bank and Bayshore NAACPs. They must of been on the same anonymous email list.

Purcell's boss knew about the Human Rights Commission meeting. He told me about it to my face at a fund raiser, while it was happening.

For his feigned outrage over transparency in government, for his duplicity in rallying his political supporters to attend a public meeting while withholding the information about that meeting from the public, and for setting up the set up, Jim Purcell is the sole recipient of this week's OBIE AWARD.



I wonder if Mellissa Gaffney will post the video of Jim Purcell's remarks to the Middletown Township Committee.

Middletown Township Committee

The meeting was very good.

The best part was six young men being sworn in as police officers. To see the pride and love in their families eyes was very moving. To see the indifference amongst some members of the public was disappointing.

As I arrived at the township complex, the parking lot was almost full and there was a large crowd in the vestibule. I thought to myself, "holy s-word, Dangler brought out his troops!" As soon as I entered the building I realized that the crowd was there to support the new police officers. It was a big event for these young men and their families. Like a graduation or wedding, it marked a major event in their lives.

The other highlight was a presentation by two township employees from the Health Department. It was quite impressive to hear all that the Middletown Health Department does to protect the residents and visitors to Middletown. It is a great deal more than restaurant inspections. I couldn't help but be struck by the dedication of the employees, one of whom has been on the job for thirty years. Didn't he get the memo to retire after 20 years and get another job in the system?

By the time the public portion of the meeting was opened it was after 10 PM. Mr. Dangler wasn't there. Ali vs Frazier and Ali was invited but didn't show*.

I delivered my statement, slightly abridged by constraints of time.

The questions from the committee and other public comments were political gamesmenship, not about my message but around the public notice given for and the validity of the Middletown Human Rights Commission's "special meeting."

Committee member Patrick Short was trying to score points by "blaming" an unnoticed "special" meeting on Mayor Scharfenberger. Scharfenberger admitted that he reached out to the Human Rights Commission secretary in response to communications he received about the July 17 post that generated all the fuss. Scharenberger insisted that he didn't call a special meeting. A Human Rights Commission member backed him up on that.

I really don't care how the meeting happened. It is water under the bridge. I just want them to have another one where I can have my say.

Jim Purcell made a statement, wherein he revealed probably more information than he intended to. He revealed himself to be the hapless political hack posing as a publisher that he is. Much more about that in the upcoming series of posts about what I've learned about Purcell and The Courier NAACP DEMOCRAT over the past 31 months.

* It is not entirely surprising to me that Dangler wasn't there. I don't believe he is a regular reader of this blog. I doubt he saw my invitation. I don't believe he reads The Courier NAACP DEMOCRAT regularly either. I believe Dangler is a willing accomplice in Purcell's political witch hunts,when Jim calls, but he is a pawn, not a major player. I believe Purcell created this entire s-word storm about the n-word by calling Dangler and others who don't read this blog regularly, reading one line of the July 17 post and then making a front page issue out of their out of context outrage.

What comes around goes around and Jim Purcell's comeuppance is long past due. Say good night Jim. The rest of the year is going to be very long for you. Nothing personal. Just your politics and punditry.

Setting the Record Straight and Talking about Race Relations

By Eric Sedler

Jim Purcell owes me an apology…and a retraction. So does the Voice of Youth guy, Matthew Morehead, but at least Morehead stated the fact that I was responding to a comment by “Lugar96”.

I guess by now some of those are wondering what I am talking about and why it has taken quite a bit of time for me to respond to this whole racism issue. The reason for the delay was a family vacation I was on. Over the time of two weeks, I barely kept up with all the New Jersey news going on and never even saw the Courier story hit job that featured a quote from me, completely out of context, and a picture of Art and I, until a day or two ago.

Alas, let’s go back to my original quote that somehow got me thrown into this whole race conversion. On Art’s Jim Purcell Weighs in Post, Lugar96” commented saying: ““He used a lot of words to say almost nothing in that post. It seems Jim wants to tiptoe around the issue and treat it with kit gloves so as not to upset the "victims." Treating people as victims will ensure they feel inferior and encourage that inferiority. I think equality is closer than he is willing to think. Look at Barak Obama. Time was only a white double talker could get a major party nomination for the White House. Look at Charles Rangel. Time was only a white man could spend such a long period of time in Congress to reach a chairmanship and take advantage of laws that were designed to help his people. Maybe it's time for leaders in the black community to stop instructing their followers when to be insulted and start leading in a positive direction. If you tell everyone that their problems are due wholly to the members of another race, you can't expect racial harmony. Racism cuts both ways. If you want to cling to it because it serves as an excuse for not making an effort, that's not society's fault. If you want to cling to it because it's the only way you can get on TV or seem relevant, that's just as pathetic. I think it's just as racist to be overly afraid of offending black people because it implies that they are too tempermental, too sensitive to handle "certain words or comments." You know, like children. If that's not treating people as if they were inferior, what is?
Lugar96”

To which I responded, “I really couldn't agree more with Lugar. I think it's absolutely ridiculous that everything has gotten to be overly sensitive these days and somehow a cookie reference by some old white guy was called racist. Rick exemplified this when he complained that your nigger nuts post was right next to the obamanation picture. This is exactly what Lugar was talking about when he said racism works in both ways. Too many people are now over-reacting and over-analyzing everything. Who knew a monkey reference from Japan (or was it China?) could be considered racist?! It's just too much. The over-reaction and over-analyzing will only hurt race relations. Being too careful about what you say will never lead to a relaxed atmosphere with other races. Like you said, respect is key, don't treat them any differently than you treat friends just because of their skin color.”

Now let’s bold and capitalize something for all those who get lost in plain text, I said “I really couldn’t agree more WITH LUGAR”

Nowhere did I say I agreed with what Mr. Gallagher has said about race relations, and yet both Mr. Purcell and Mr. Morehead took the quote out of context to say that I agreed with Art’s “stance on racial slurs”

I guess I should not be surprised, this is politics after all. In politics, taking quotes out of context seems to be a bi-partisan problem, with perhaps the most infamous example being Senator John McCain’s “100 years war” that we see all the time, without mention to that all important part of the quote about casualties.

In the Courier story hit job about Art and I, Mr. Purcell writes, “However, Gallagher has his supporters, including Ocean resident Eric Sedler, chairman of the Monmouth County Young Republicans and founder of the conservative online hub Red Jersey (www.RedJersey.com). In reaction to critics of several of Gallagher's post regarding race, but not speaking for his organization, Sedler posted, "I think it's absolutely ridiculous that everything has gotten to be overly sensitive these days and somehow a cookie reference by some old white guy was called racist.” In addition, Sedler posted, "The over-reaction and over-analyzing will only hurt race relations. Being too careful about what you say will never lead to a relaxed atmosphere with other races." Sedler went on to recommend people "don't treat them (blacks) differently than you treat friends just because of their skin color."

First off, it’s RedJersey.net, and I’m not the founder. I was the managing editor and site administrator of the site for a period of time, though. At least Mr. Purcell wrote I was not speaking on behalf of the Monmouth County Young Republicans.

For those of you looking for an “official” statement from the Young Republicans, here it is: “The Monmouth County Young Republicans condemn the use of any racial slurs, whether they affect African Americans, Italians, or any other race. If a member of the Monmouth County Young Republicans were to use a racial slur, they can be sure to expect a form of punishment, whether it is suspension or even expulsion. The Monmouth County Young Republicans prides itself on being a diverse club that is welcoming of all races, sexual orientations, and creeds”

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s go back to Mr. Purcell’s story hit job. When I was talking about the cookie reference by some old white guy that was called racist, I was referencing talk show host John McLaughlin who used the term “Oreo” when discussing the infamous Jesse Jackson comments about Barack Obama. “Oreo” is not a racial slur, although I would say it is a derogatory term, I certainly do not believe its racist. Maybe some people do, to that I respect their opinion but I have trouble seeing how calling an African American black on the outside and white on the inside is racist. It’s improper and derogatory, but not racist.

That being said, in referencing Jackson’s comments, McLaughlin got called a racist and took major heat. In my view, that’s an example of over-analyzing and over-sensitivity. But it has become a typical trend this year where everything said is put under a microscope times a million and even the slightest perception of racism, even if it is simply referencing a quote someone else said, is skewered to an extreme. This I believe, has only made race relations worse, because now a large majority of people are too scared to even comment, much less even converse for long periods of time about race relations and what exactly constitutes a racial slur. That is what I meant when I said the over-analyzing and over-sensitivity will never lead to a relaxed atmosphere.

The other reference I made was the story about Japanese commercial using a monkey selling a cell phone and using the “change” slogan made famous by Senator Barack Obama. I believe depicting anyone as a monkey is wrong, no matter what race they belong to. I was surprised the commercial was called racist, although I can certainly understand the anger towards it. Now if there was a certain word in front of monkey, the same tern used in the movie Clerks 2 (I don’t have to say it), then it would definitely be a racial slur. I admit, I could be wrong about this since I am not a great expert on the history of whether or not a monkey used to be a symbol for racism towards African Americans.
Further dissecting my comment, I would say that African Americans would agree with my statement that they should not be treated differently than everyone else. I think when we treat one race differently than others, we pigeonhole them.

I do not want to bring this argument to a partisan level, but when Senate and Assembly Republicans unanimously opposed borrowing billions in school construction bonds without voter approval and COAH they were essentially called racist by Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman. That is what I like to call pigeonholing. There are other names for pigeonholing, like categorizing or stereotyping. Of course these comments by Coleman were widely overlooked; possibly because Ms. Coleman is an African American. I think she pigeonholed her own race by using the perception that anyone opposing COAH is perceived as a racist, never mind the fact that the formula is simply bad math and will eventually lead to building on preserved open spaces. By using the perception that African Americans and other minorities are dependent on the government to supply them with taxpayer subsidized housing, Ms. Coleman effectively pigeonholed her own race. As far as Coleman’s remarks regarding being against borrowing billions for school construction without voter approval being perceived as racist, well then we are following the belief that those in need of new schools are those in lower income neighborhoods and those people are all African Americans and minorities. Anyone want to explain to me how that is not pigeonholing? Besides the fact that it is apparently perfectly ok to circumvent the New Jersey Constitution, as long as it is perceived to help one minority or a number of them.

The reason I bring this up is to further demonstrate my agreement with Lugar when he said racism works in both ways. I completely agree with his sentiment. For as many people who will not vote for Barack Obama for the wrong reasons, there will be a number of people voting for him simply because they do not want to be perceived as racist or they simply believe it is time we got away from the old white guy always being President of the United States.

I think African Americans and other minorities are now afforded every opportunity as Caucasians are in America. Is the system perfect? Absolutely not, but in most cases I do not believe the government holds African Americans and other minorities back from succeeding, except when they pigeonhole them. Sure there are racist bosses out there who will not hire certain people for the wrong reasons and sure there are plenty of people out there who are racists. That’s a true shame and they should know better. I would hope that karma teaches them a lesson in the future. But in no way is this issue a partisan matter. I know at least one hardcore Democrat who will not be voting for Obama for the wrong reasons, and I am sure that I am not the only one who knows people like that.

Now we can circle back to what Art is doing on his blog and his method of doing it. Of course it is controversial, because he is openly using the “N-word” and using it as a way to try and have an open discussion about race relations of all things. I do not use the “N-word”, to which I am sure Mr. Purcell and others would point to my comment on the “Jim Purcell Weighs in on Race Relations” post and say I openly used it, no matter if I was just referencing Art’s first post that started this whole controversy. (Very McLaughlin-like, eh?) At this point, I do not think I am in a position to comment about Art’s very interesting methods of getting this discussion started.

That being said, I think we all need to ask ourselves this question: Do you think Art Gallagher is a racist? Maybe for those who do not know him, or those of you who do not know him well, it is a hard question to answer. I would say I do not know Art too well, but I do not think he is a racist. I think even some of his most vocal opponents would agree with me that he is not a racist. Sure, one may disagree with his methods, but for the most part we all agree that an open discussion about race is a great thing that can only advance relations between different races, regardless of the method used to get there.

Let’s keep this discussion going, tonight, tomorrow, and so on. The worst thing we could do is suddenly stop talking about it out of fear of being labeled a racist and go back to hiding under our perspective rocks because God forbid we upset someone or say something that can be considered controversial.

Oh no, I just used the lord’s name in vein. At least I might divert some of those people outside of Art’s door with pitchforks to my door now.

Blog comments

The comments on this blog haven't been as fun and insightful as they are lately since Courier NAACP DEMOCRAT publisher Jim Purcell challenged William H. Seward to a fight way back in January of 2006.

Jim chickened out back then. As Barry Goldwater points out, he is still a P-Word.

This morning, former congressional candidate James Hogan has a great comment in the How is the race inquiry impacting you? post in response to a snarky anonymous poster.

Here is the very funny, yet thoughtful exchange:

Anonymous said...
Oh yawn, Art, get over yourself. If you can't see what is wrong with using the n-word, try using it to someones face. Thanx for pointing out how great you are, and how wonderfully diverse we are.
\sarcasm off

James Hogan said...
Mrs. Anonymous #2 says... "try using it to someones face"

This is a great example of a racist comment; let us review how and why.

Suppose I call Art a "fatso", ie "Hey Art! You're a fatso!" and Art, having a sense a humor, will go "Hey James! You're ugly!".

We'll both be *VERY* offended over being called these words and go cry in our respective corners and wait until the next round, or we'll make some jokes about the words used, high five each other and go about our day as normal, civilized people. In fact, in some way, we may have helped each other, ie, Art might go on a diet and I might start wearing a mask, ie, we'll stop acting like fat/ugly people.

Now, suppose Art calls the rapper who goes by the name "Ludacris" "the n-word" as you challenge Art to do. Your suspicion, and the reason you challenge Art to say "the n-word" to someone's face is because you believe that all blacks are so uncivilized that Art will be physically assaulted, if not even murdered, over the mere use of the word. There could be almost no other reason you would challenge Art to say "the n-word" to someone's face unless this is the response you expect. (Unless of course you expect Art to engage in a rap battle maybe? Care to give us a sample rap Art? HAH!)

So which is more racist, Art - a relative no-one (no offense Art) - repeating the word in a civil discussion, Jesse Jackson (a well known, prominent global figure) saying the word (about a presidential candidate) in a hateful and derogatory manner, and/or you having the belief that all black people must be so uncivilized and violent that we should expect a black person to commit some felony assault as a result of hearing the word, from Art?

Of course, it is possible that Mr. Jackson was as accurate about Mr. Obama as Art is accurate in his assessment of me being ugly. Just as I take Art's comment about me being ugly to improve my appearance, maybe Mr. Obama needs to take Mr. Jackson's criticism and improve himself as well?

In any case, I'm offended that you imply black people are violent and would harm Art and I expect you to apologize to all black people for being racist.

Ali vs Frazer. Frazier not invited

Tommy DeSeno weighs in on the Middletown Human Rights Commission

JustifiedRight.com said...
So Art,

Why in the world does Middletown have a "Human Right's Commission?"

I mean, I'm aware of the Human Rights tragedies occurring in Darfur that need our attention, but I was truly in the dark about the spreading Middletown atrocities.

Shall I notify Amnesty International? The Red Cross? Sean Penn?

Last time I checked, the Census said Middletown was 93% white and had a middle class median income.

Was a commission formed because middle class white people are under attack?

Oh wait! What am I thinking? Of course they're under attack.

Obama's up 5 points in the polls. Now I want to join that Commission.

So, I understand the Middletown Human Rights Commission met last night, because they wanted to confront you on the issues.

Using unparalleled courage, in an act saluting the concept of due process not seen since the passage of the 14th Amendment itself, they made sure not to invite you.

Let me see if I can write a similar headline:

"Prize fight tonight. Ali vs Frazier. Mr. Frazier will not be invited."

Good grief.

Now, If I understand correctly, the Human Rights Commission wanted to to look racism right in the eye and confront the racists.

They only invited one another.

Apparently they've narrowed down the identity of the racists.

Please offer my congratulations to Mr. Dangler for confirming that white people such as yourself are forbidden from discussing race.

Senator Obama and MSNBC were having great difficulty getting that message out, despite continuous attempts.

I just thank Jesus that the NAACP kept their focus on you, who asked to start a dialogue, and didn't get distracted by that small matter of a Bar in Asbury Park violating the 1964 Civil Rights Act by excluding two black people from the place (some people will complain about any old small potatoes, won't they)?

Good job, Dangler.

Oh and tell the Mayor of Middletown I said if he wants to be a Civil Right's hero, there is a High School in Asbury Park that the state segregated by race.

Can I interest him in a cross busing relationship between Middletown and Asbury Park, so we can desegregate both town's High Schools?

Now that's a real issue. That would be a real world test of his commitment to Civil Rights.

Middletown Human Rights Commission

There are unconfirmed reports that Middletown Mayor Gerald Scharfenberger has called on the Middletown Human Rights Commission to have a special meeting about the controversy this blog has generated by having a conversation about race.

I spoke face to face with Scharfenberger for about 5 minutes last night and he didn't mention it, but that doesn't mean it isn't happening.

I would welcome the opportunity to appear before the Middletown Human Rights Commission about this issue. I hope it will be the best attended meeting of the commission ever and that there are many black, white, hispanic and asian residents present.

UPDATE: CourierNAACP DEMOCRAT writer Melissa Gaffney reports on her blog that the special meeting of the Middletown Human Rights Commission was held last night and that I was not invited. I wonder if there was proper public notice about this meeting.

Gaffney reports that NAACP representatives Lorenzo Dangler, president of the Greater Long Branch chapter; Pastor Henry P. Davis, of the Greater Red Bank chapter; and Lionel Wilson, of the Bayshore chapter, were in attendance. They must have gotten notice.

Funny that none of The Courier NAACP DEMOCRAT blogs reported that this meeting was happening. They publish announcements and previews of public meetings regularly. Yet, they had a reporter there to cover it.

Looks like I was set up.

I call on Mayor Scharfenberger to compel another meeting of the Middletown Human Rights Commission on this issue with proper notice.

I will also be consulting with my attorneys regarding taking action against the Township of Middletown, the NAACP and the owners of The Courier NAACP DEMOCRAT.

Pundits, Pussies and Politicians

Barry Goldwater hits a grand slam.

My apologies to the NAACP

Lesson learned. Always verify what you read in The Courier, that local weekly that was very briefly known on this blog and the NAACP DEMOCRAT, and that will hereafter be known here as the BAYSHORE DEMOCRAT.

I just took Jim Purcell's word for it that Mr. Lorenzo Dangler was the President of the Greater Long Branch NAACP. Well, it seems the NAACP doesn't know that, as there is no Greater Long Branch NAACP and no Lorenzo Dangler mentioned on their website.

Don't take my word for it, go see for yourself here: NAACP Find your local unit.

This is how the National site lists its NJ units:

New Jersey Top

Elizabeth Branch
Phone: (908)965-1009
Address: P.O. Box 2387 Elizabeth, NJ 07207
Elizabeth Youth Council
Phone: (908)251-3706
Address: 52 Hope Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ 07206
NAACP Metuchen-Edison Area Branch
Phone:(732)549-7936
Fax: (732)205- 1773
Address: P.O. Box 86,Edison, NJ 08818-0086
Web Site: www.naacpmeab.org
Jersey City Branch
Phone: (201)333-3697
Maplewood and Oranges Branch
Phone: (973)675-5325
Address: P.O. Box 1127 East Orange, NJ 07019
Morris County Branch
Phone: (973)267-5261
Address:P.O. Box 2256 Morristown, NJ 07960
New Brunswick NJ Branch
Phone: (732)828-5363
Newark Branch
Phone: (973)624-6400
Plainfield Area Branch #2100
Phone: (908)753-7073
Rahway Branch
Phone: (732)340-9477
Montclair Branch
Phone: (973)746-9315
Address: P.O. Box 353, Montclair, NJ 07042
Trenton Branch
Phone: (609)392-6772
Fax: (609)392-7742
Address: P.O. Box 1355 Trenton, NJ 08608
Trenton Branch Youth Council
Phone: (609)392-6772
Fax: (609)392-7742
Address: P.O. Box 1355 Trenton, NJ 08608
Tri-Sity New Jersey Branch
Phone: (973)624-1174

So to the real NAACP, my apologies for assuming what I read in the paper was true and for besmearching their good name.

Thanks to the alert reader who brought this to my attention.

I don't know why Dangler is giving me such a hard time anyway. With a name like Lorenzo, he should be going after Pringle.

UPDATE: BAYSHORE DEMOCRAT writer Melissa Gaffney reports on her blog that she called the NAACP, that they said that there is a Greater Long Branch Chapter, and that Dangler is the President. I'll have to verify that and I hope it is true, because I'd really rather use NAACP DEMOCRAT when referring to the tabloid in question.

What is Dangler really up to?

I was just in the midst of researching the alleged bias incident in Asbury Park last Friday night when I got a call from Courier reporter Alyssa Passeggio.

Passeggio told me that Greater Long Branch President Lorenzo Dangler will be issuing a statement later today condemning me and my writing about race on this blog. She wanted to know if I had a comment.

How can I comment on a statement that hasn't been issued yet?

So rather than give the Courier a comment on Dangler's statement that hasn't been issued, the quote I gave Passeggio was, "Why would Dangler issue a statement about me when there was an alleged bias incident happening in Asbury Park?"

Passeggio was unaware of the incident.

Dangler had nothing to say about Jesse Jackson calling Barack Obama a fucking half breed nigger until I started writing about it.

More on the alleged bias incident tomorrow, as well as comments on Dangler's statement, if he makes it.

UPDATE: Justified Right Steps Up Again:

In 1996 the State segregated Asbury Park's school district by race.

I've never heard Dangler say a Sharpton-esque word about it.

Or the Asbury Park dePressed, or the Coaster, or the Courier, or any other paper.

What the hell is wrong with liberals these days? MLK, RFK, they fought for people. They fought for civil rights.

Today's liberals only want to save polar bears and trees and stuff like that.

If this were the 1960's, liberal activists would be parachuting into Asbury Park to protest a school the government segregated by race.

Today liberals say, "Well, they get $60 million a year in Abbott money, so I guess it's ok to be segregated. Save the whales?"

Good grief.

More voices enter the race conversation:

AMERICA'S GLORIOUS HISTORY AGAINST SLAVERY

One man cannot hold another man down in the ditch without remaining down in the ditch with him. ~ Booker T Washington

Tom DeSeno at JustifiedRight.Com has the answer, he says from his personal experience, to the cause of racial tensions in The United States of America. Tommy's answer, that our history is being falsely taught to Black Americans in our school systems is a good one. But it begs the question, Why is that happening?

Jim Purcell at InsideClamDigger is adding to the conversation with his "Monmouth County is part of the American mosaic" post.

Purcell surrenders editorial control to the NAACP and Democrats

Let's shut that white boy up

At the behest of Greater Long Branch NAACP President Lorenzo Dangler, Courier publisher Jim Purcell has chosen to discontinue the More Monmouth Musings column which has appeared regularly in the weekly since last September. The editorial space will be filled with a column by Middletown Democratic Chairman Joe Caliendo. Earlier this month Purcell informed me that he was getting heat over the popularity of the More Monmouth Musings column and asked if I would alternate weeks with Caliendo. I agreed and Caliendo's column first column appeared in the most recent issue.

The More Monmouth Musing column never addressed the race issue.

Ironically, Caliendo's column was a slam on Judith Stanley-Coleman and her "farmers" property tax break, which this blog wrote about and satired last fall. Stanley-Coleman is the Middletown Republican who is funding Highlands Democrats.

Purcell admitted that he had not consulted his paper's owner, former Senator Joe Azzolina about this decision. He also admitted that Dangler and Caliendo had discussed my writing. Dangler turned down a request to talk with me, conveyed through Purcell, last week.

Dangler's only public remarks condemning Jesse Jackson's use of the N-word in reference to Barack Obama was in a Courier article last week about this blog.

Jim Purcell weighs in on race relations

Read his post here.

UPDATE: Lugar96 weighs in:

He used a lot of words to say almost nothing in that post.

It seems Jim wants to tiptoe around the issue and treat it with kit gloves so as not to upset the "victims." Treating people as victims will ensure they feel inferior and encourage that inferiority.

I think equality is closer than he is willing to think. Look at Barak Obama. Time was only a white double talker could get a major party nomination for the WHite House. Look at Charles Rangel. Time was only a white man could spend such a long period of time in Congress to reach a chairmanship and take advantage of laws that were designed to help his people.

Maybe it's time for leaders in the black community to stop instructing their followers when to be insulted and start leading in a positive direction. If you tell everyone that their problems are due wholly to the members of another race, you can't expect racial harmony.

Racism cuts both ways. If you want to cling to it because it serves as an excuse for not making an effort, that's not society's fault. If you want to cling to it because it's the only way you can get on TV or seem relevant, that's just as pathetic.

I think it's just as racist to be overly afraid of offending black people because it implies that they are too tempermental, too sensitive to handle "certain words or comments." You know, like children. If that's not treating people as if they were inferior, what is?

Lugar96