California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman has shown that she has little backbone, distancing herself from and disavowing the endorsement of a local official who - after complaining about being unjustly called a racist - has been the target of a leftwing smear campaign. Think of this as yet another "pre-Arnold" example of how she'd govern: cutting and running and giving the far-left more power rather than taking them on.
The backstory is described here:
(At an event, Santa Clarita councilman Bob Kellar) lamented the financial and public safety burdens he believed to be a result of rampant illegal immigration. Kellar reminisced to the crowd about a time when he quoted Teddy Roosevelt before a Council meeting some years ago. Afterwards, Kellar said that he was approached by a few people who said "Bob, you sound like a racist." Kellar's reply was "That's good. If that's what you think I am because I happen to believe in America, I'm a proud racist, you're darn right I am."
I have trouble believing that anyone could think that he was admitting to being a racist, but just in case consider this: "If liking Cheetos is crazy, then I'm crazy!" Someone who says that isn't admitting to being crazy, they're pointing out that liking Cheetos is not crazy. Even five year olds should be able to get that. That does not mean that what Kellar said was the smart way to do things; the opposite is true. However, it shouldn't been too much to expect some degree of intellectual honesty and a grown-up willingness to understand what someone means.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of even younger people on the internet and those trying to take advantage of them; for instance, see the Associated Press article printed at the Washington Post and elsewhere (link, and if anyone can find the reporter's name leave a comment). That article completely fails to provide the necessary context, and probably does so intentionally. A host of other leftwing sources have done the same. This is only one small step up from heavily editing a video in order to put words into someone's mouth, and no one should support it.
Except, of course, Meg Whitman is.
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 13:41 · Importance: 4
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