Columnist isn't smiling over swastika in rally photo
By David Montero, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published February 19, 2009 at 12:05 a.m.
Conservative columnist Michelle Malkin said Wednesday she was "mobbed" by fans after a rally on Tuesday protesting President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan and didn't realize a man she posed for a photo with was holding a sign with a swastika.
The photo quickly appeared on the Web sites of several left-leaning groups, which claimed that the Fox News contributor endorsed linking the Nazi emblem to the president.
In the photo, a smiling Malkin is looking up while a man crouched next to her cradles a sign with a swastika inside the O in Obama's name.
Malkin said she couldn't see the part of the sign bearing the swastika and questioned whether the man was a "ringer" trying to discredit her.
"People stuffed themselves in front of me. They shoved in front trying to get pictures, and I obliged. And this is the reward for that," Malkin said. "I don't know who this person is. I would really like to know if he was some sort of ringer or he believed in his sign."
One of the groups criticizing Malkin over the photo is Progress Now Colorado. Michael Huttner, who heads the group, said the organizers of Tuesday's rally should condemn the sign and offer an apology. "As for (the man with the sign) being a ringer, that's kind of a fantasy," Huttner said.
Colorado Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry is a vocal critic of the $787 billion stimulus bill and the "swastika guy" as well.
"That particular sign badly crossed the line," the Grand Junction Republican said.
But Penry also condemned what he viewed as a double- standard by people on the left who drew comparisons between President Bush and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. He said both sides are wrong to engage in those kind of comparisons.
Malkin, who lives in Colorado Springs, said she isn't going to start screening everyone who wants her to pose for a photo.
"That's just not how I roll," she said.
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February 19, 2009
12:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
wjrudy writes:
Well, Michelle - When you're a public figure... you have responsibilities. Just because, in your mind, "that's not how you roll" doesn't excuse lack of discernment or poor judgement. It may be wise to reconsider "how you roll" if you don't want to be associated with racist garbage.
February 19, 2009
3:19 a.m.
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Ari writes:
So how many times did somebody from the left call George W. Bush a Nazi, a fascist, or Hitler? My guess is the average was several times per day over the Bush presidency. How often did Michael Huttner condemn his fellow leftists or demand that they apologize? How often did he feel required to take personal responsibility for the statements of other leftists who were complete strangers to him?
I think Bush was a terrible president, but why does the left get a free pass to call Bush names, yet if one random rallier calls Obama names, that's somehow news? Obviously, rally leaders cannot control who shows up at a rally, and that goes for the right and the left. How many left-wing rallies over Bush's presidency featured at least one protester calling Bush nasty names?
Huttner is a hypocrite. Huttner's own web page, ProgressNowColorado.org, features comments equating Bush and other conservatives with Nazis or fascists:
"Is The BushAdmin The Fourth Reich?"
http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/pa...
"the fascist NeoCon, Owens"
http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/pa...
"arch-fascist Peter Boyles"
http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/pa...
"the republicans have become an inchoate fascist enemy."
http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/pa...
"What do you get when you put lipstick on a fascist?" (a Palin reference)
http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/pa...
"is our school a microcosm of conservative fascism?"
http://media.progressnowaction.org/im...
"So what are the issues the right wingers decry? Overland High School instructor Jay Bennish sees some similarities between President Bush and Adolf Hitler. My response: who doesn't?"
http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/pa...
"Great coverage of Dr. Dobson's Nazi comments in the Post this weekend."
http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/pa...
Has Huttner condemned each of these comments and demanded that the people leaving them apologize? Does Huttner feel personally responsible for every comment left at his web page?
So why does the Rocky Mountain News think that David Montero's sensationalist "gotcha" story is real news?
For a real review of the "Pork Roast Rally," please see my articles:
http://tinyurl.com/dx58jv
http://tinyurl.com/bmcehw
Thanks, -Ari Armstrong
http://www.freecolorado.com/
February 19, 2009
3:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
Ari writes:
Correction: The link about "Dr. Dobson's Nazi comments" is apparently referring to Dobson's analogy between the Nazis and abortion, not likening Dobson's comments to those by Nazis. So I withdraw that link from consideration. Thanks, -Ari Armstrong
February 19, 2009
5:12 a.m.
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angka writes:
If Ari's (Independence Institute employee) defense boils down to a couple of anonymous comments on a blog somewhere, compared to a guy who STOOD ON STAGE with Colorado GOP leadership holding his sign for all to see with nobody asking him to remove it...posing for photos...and all of you right wing moron bloggers yucking the sign up until you realized it was offending people...well, that's just impossibly lame. But it's Ari's job so we ought to cut him some slack.
It's just how you right wingers roll, isn't it?
February 19, 2009
7:05 a.m.
Suggest removal
NotSoros writes:
There they go again, Progress Now and Michael Huttner making up stories and taking things out of context to deliberately ruin the lives of conservatives one person at a time.
It must be great to go from being a lawyer/lobbiest to a well paid George Soros/Democratic hatchet man for the left.
The main stream media and idiot Liberals both repeat and believe the propaganda from these dolts. Something about a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth.... wonder which great public figure exploited that approach. There is a special place in Hell for such ...... oh, wait that has been said before.
I knew when I saw Huttner at the rally, smiling smuggly, that he was up to no good. His friend in the photo smiling for one camera while another photographer (Michael perhaps) took the other, looks like a typical dirty trick of the left.
These need repeating:
Huttner is a hypocrite. Huttner's own web page, ProgressNowColorado.org, features comments equating Bush and other conservatives with Nazis or fascists:
"Is The BushAdmin The Fourth Reich?"
http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/pa...
"the fascist NeoCon, Owens"
http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/pa...
"arch-fascist Peter Boyles"
http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/pa...
"the republicans have become an inchoate fascist enemy."
http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/pa...
"What do you get when you put lipstick on a fascist?" (a Palin reference)
http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/pa...
"is our school a microcosm of conservative fascism?"
http://media.progressnowaction.org/im...
"So what are the issues the right wingers decry? Overland High School instructor Jay Bennish sees some similarities between President Bush and Adolf Hitler. My response: who doesn't?"
http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/pa...
February 19, 2009
7:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
jon1836 writes:
Na ah. Yu Huh.
February 19, 2009
7:23 a.m.
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squeakywheel writes:
Geez. I can't believe the lengths some people will go to in order to discredit someone they disagree with. So much for Freedom of Speech under left-wingnut rule.
This whole Hitler reference thing is so pathetic anyway. The only reason they do it is for attention. Pathetic excuses for human beings.
February 19, 2009
7:30 a.m.
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sheepherder writes:
Who cares, what a non-story.
February 19, 2009
7:48 a.m.
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tao41 writes:
Ari, NotSoros, cool down! Use of multiple citations to bolster (or upholster) your position is fairly pathetic on a LOCAL blog. At least one of you is apparently a paid staffer, it is that obvious, and most of us are on these sites merely expressing our OWN opinions. I concede that you also have First Amendment Rights, but please spare us the pedantic, boring, attempts at over the top erudition! Thank you.
February 19, 2009
8:03 a.m.
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angka writes:
LOVING what Colorado Pols just wrote about this:
http://www.coloradopols.com/showDiary...
"Bottom line? There's a difference between a public blog where anybody can anonymously rant and a stage full of highly embarrassable public figures at an event you organize. And if that difference isn't stone-cold obvious to you, for the sake of those same embarrassable public figures you should really consider getting the hell out of the event organizing business."
February 19, 2009
8:35 a.m.
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angka writes:
And yes, Ari Armstrong is an employee of the Independence Institute.
February 19, 2009
8:50 a.m.
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blacksho89 writes:
Ari, you see, it is legitimate political discourse when progressives use comparisons to totalitarian regimes. When we do that, we are doing it to educate. If only you throwbacks were intelligent enough to figure that out!
When you fascist right-wing nut jobs do it, all you are doing is name calling because you have no argument or moral standing. You are trying to disenfranchise potential voters and spread your racist agenda. You lost the election, pig. Now get over it and get back in your mud wallow and sulk.
February 19, 2009
9:48 a.m.
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jersey writes:
wjrudy: Kudos! Could not have said it better myself. Let her chew on that pork!
February 19, 2009
12:13 p.m.
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Rocky253 writes:
"Malkin, who lives in Colorado Springs, said she isn't going to start screening everyone who wants her to pose for a photo. "
Where did this come from??? According to her website, she lives near Washington DC.
http://michellemalkin.com/about/
February 19, 2009
12:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
HDoby writes:
Ms. Malkin seems to be suffering a sudden case of amnesia, since this is what she said on her blog about the Nazi sign-carrying admirer just the day before: "Now, the tables have been turned. Some folks are invoking Nazi allusions against Barack Obama.
...The left-wing blogosphere is suddenly up in arms over the sight of others mimicking their over-the-top rhetoric of the past eight years. A protester who attended the Denver Pig Roast today had such a sign and asked for a picture with me. The nutroots are having vapors about it."
She really needs to either get her story straight, or get medical help.
February 19, 2009
1:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
enough321 writes:
Why is everyone so surprised? Associating with swastika bearing types is consistent with her endorsement of concentration camps. She wrote an entire book about it.
The fact that she is backtracking and claiming that he's a "ringer" is hilarious. He was on stage!
http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/...
February 19, 2009
2:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
LockNLoad writes:
Ok, so what is a national socialist?
Someone who believes the government should control all business, healthcare, financial institutions, and media forums.
Isn't that the Liberal Nobama's aspirations? He's made comments to that effect throughout his campaign, and he has been supported by the liberal democrats in Congress.
BTW, National Socialists is another name for Nazis.
February 19, 2009
2:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
GoldenKid writes:
You have to be a moron or a leftwinger(same thing) to believe that columnist Michele Malkin would intentionally have taken a picture with a person holding a swastika. This was obviously a set up by some idiot on the left. This reeks of leftwing smear tactics. Karl Marx, Lenin and Stalin would be proud and so would that other socialist Adolf Hitler.
February 19, 2009
2:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
enough321 writes:
Why so defensive emp? If Malkin really want to take the shoulder shrugging no-big-deal position, why does she claim it was a ringer? Why didn't someone remove him from the stage?
Wow, first "it doesn't matter!", then "you're a bunch of hypocrites!", then "it's a left wing conspiracy!". Great excuses. Hmm, where have I heard this before?....oh yeah, McCain/Palin '08 campaign. And these excuses are just as successful.
February 19, 2009
2:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
Cowboy63 writes:
blacksho89 writes: If only you throwbacks were intelligent enough to figure that out! When you fascist right-wing nut jobs do it, all you are doing is name calling...
blacksho89 - do you even read what you post? Name calling is the last resort of someone who doesn't have a point, but to go off on a string of insults and then accuse someone else of name calling is flat out dumb!
Are you capable of making a coherent point or do you just need to vent?
Make an appointment and get that condition looked at!
February 19, 2009
2:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
timeandagain writes:
Boo Hoo... Quit your whining you babies!!
February 19, 2009
3:08 p.m.
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Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:
So What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The guy with the symbol in the O had every right to his freedom of expression.
The way things are headed I think he might be on to something.
February 19, 2009
3:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
Triumph writes:
enough321
Like I said only a moron would believe she would be caught dead with someone holding a swastika. I guess you and the left have to be true to yourselves in your M.O.s and no class tactics. We will leave the conspiracy theories to you and Hillary Clinton. The difference between the left and the right concerning these matters is that with the left they are always usually true.
This a pathetic attempt to divert attention from the paste messiahs pork filled blunder along with the rest of his mistakes in his Cabinet appointments of Clinton retreads, D.C insiders and tax evaders. No change yet!
I guess I can't blame you and the rest of neo-Dems for grasping at straws if my superstar turned out to be a fraud.
In reality it's quite comical seeing you squirm with egg on your face! :)
February 19, 2009
3:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
MaxPlanck writes:
"A measure of an individual is the quality of the company he/she keeps."
The GOP's not dead; it just smells funny.
February 19, 2009
3:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
O_TRAIN writes:
I always thought it was bad form to use others bad behavior to justify your own bad behavior.
Maybe Malkin is the ringer?
February 19, 2009
3:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
stuckiniowa writes:
Cowboy63 --- I could be wrong -- but take a breath and read blacksho89's comment again. He was making a point . . . for you.
February 19, 2009
3:26 p.m.
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Barron writes:
hdoby, thanks for pointing out that hypocrisy, not that I would expect anything else. Unbelievable.
February 19, 2009
3:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
INC writes:
LockNLoad,
hitler hijacked the socialist party and then assassinated all of its leaders to gain control. then utilizing the swastika renamed his party the Nazi party... no socialism about it.
the rest of your post is echo chamber fear mongering.
Michelle Malkin should read the posters she endorses.
She should pay more attention to the world around her.
better yet pay attention to the hate she herself preaches.
February 19, 2009
3:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:
Are you all saying this individual does not have first amendment rights? Help me understand?
February 19, 2009
3:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
Slimjim_800 writes:
This is an excellent lesson in politics. Each party has it's usual tactics, but we have two good examples here. Suggest a conspiracy theory and then suggest a double standard. Remember offense is the best defense.
February 19, 2009
4:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
enough321 writes:
Ah, I see, Imp (is it North, or NotH?). Blame the messenger. No, only a moron would try to justify her swastika bearing friends, because that moron hasn't read her book! The right wing nut-jobs LOVE her, because she is of asian descent and argues to justify America's use of concentration camps for asians during World War II. I guess that makes you both a right wing nut-job and a moron. Sorry for the redundancy.
She has always been an ignorant, flame-throwing publicity hound. When you play with fire, see what happens?
February 19, 2009
4:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
cynical_one writes:
Didn't Michelle Malkin get fired from Fox News? Remember her failed "Hot Air website"?
She's a classic. A Hannity with long hair and a college degree.
Hilarious.
February 19, 2009
4:15 p.m.
Suggest removal
cynical_one writes:
EmperorofTheNorth writes:
"You have to be a moron or a leftwinger(same thing) to believe that columnist Michele Malkin would intentionally have taken a picture with a person holding a swastika. This was obviously a set up by some idiot on the left. This reeks of leftwing smear tactics. Karl Marx, Lenin and Stalin would be proud and so would that other socialist Adolf Hitler."
Any other conspiracy theories you want pass on to us. Only you and Michelle would come up with this person being a plant of some kind. Most other people don't care about her.
February 19, 2009
4:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
The_Punnisher writes:
Yawn. This is news? Politicians playing in their sandbox, flinging the sand at each other?
I think that there are better stories that need REPORTING...
Some people that are posting here better read history. It looks like most have slept in their classes.
Then you have the ability to make INFORMED opinions...
February 19, 2009
5:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
me2 writes:
Michelle was punked, and the guy is probably a Naz* admirer who really really got lucky.
My question is, if she had seen the sign, would she have cared? Don't know with her.
Of course she said it was a set up against her, looking foolish hurts, and hurt people lash out at others
February 19, 2009
8:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:
This guy had every right to say what he said. The question is why? Did anybody think to interview the guy? Does he have a legitimate grievance? Is he schizo? Was he a plant?
Who did he voter for? Does he vote?
February 19, 2009
10:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
HDoby writes:
To Lowtaxequalsfreedom: of course "Swastika guy" had every right to say what he said. No one on this blog has disputed that.
The point is, he was standing on the SAME stage as Senator Josh Penry and Michelle Malkin, both of whom "didn't notice him" because he was standing in their moral blind spot. You are judged by those you associate with. 'nuff said?
February 19, 2009
11:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
BigJoey writes:
Malkin comes across as vile, hateful, and ignorant. However, I think this should be a non-story, simply because if we ignore her, she'll fade away into obscurity.