It’s not completely clear why what happened actually happened, but apparently a convention attendee or two started throwing food at a black CNN camera person:
CNN — Two people were removed from the Republican National Convention Tuesday after they threw nuts at an African-American CNN camera operator and said, “This is how we feed animals.” Multiple witnesses observed the exchange and RNC security and police immediately removed the two people from the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
The convention released a statement saying, “Two attendees tonight exhibited deplorable behavior. Their conduct was inexcusable and unacceptable. This kind of behavior will not be tolerated.”
So, two conservatives at a convention full of good ole boy southern racists happened to bully a black person with racially charged slurs, and that race happens to be the same as the democratic opponent they’ve been carefully stoked by racist misinformation to despise. Yeah, nothing to see here, move along folks…
And given the fact that most Republicans would lie about the weather while both of you were under the open sky should tell you how credible that statement really is.
Surprise?…not so much!
What’s really interesting is that CNN was not the first to report the story…
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/08/cnns_exquisitely_awkward_spot.php?ref=fpblg
This is how cowed by the right wing loudmouths the so-called liberal media has become.
…unless it is directed at the President, but more subtly, and by figures of authority.
I believe that the people who run the convention were upset. Whether or not you believe it, you don’t say it. The people who run the convention want to make a profit and draw new conventions. They don’t want bad publicity. The ethics of the situation aren’t important. The money they could lose is.
I wonder why Micheal Steele and Herman Cain didn’t go to the convention? Surely they would have both been given seats of honor for their considerable contributions to the conservative cause. Right?
Makes me think of a song by Kinky Friedman:
“I ain’t a racist, but that Aristitle Onassis is one Greek we don’t need” (Spelling of Aristitle to reflect how Kinky pronounces it)
Sometimes I get the feeling Republicans are parodying themselves. Then I remember the Republicans I grew up with, and I realize that they are no longer the fringe. They are the new normal. (I don’t think my brother went to the RNC, but now I’m not so sure. Throwing nuts at people who don’t look like him would be exactly his idea of funny.)
This is extremely disconcerting and reflects very poorly on CNN that they do not even have enough integrity when dealing with republicans to stand up for one of their own employees.
Evidently, working for CNN requires one to wear a badge of shame.
So, typical Republican behavior. What surprised me is that the two who did this were actually removed.