A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.

24 December 2015

A bad day for free speech at the Washington Post; and
Black Lives Matter mob mauls mall and airport in Minnesota

Washington Post helps Ted Cruz by censoring political cartoon. After GOP Presidential hopeful Ted Cruz put his wife and preteen daughters into a political video, the Post’s Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, Ann Teles, Tweeted a wicked drawing accusing Cruz of exploiting his children:

cartoon

Cruz, in the spirit of overwrought mullahs denouncing images of The Prophet, summoned high dudgeon, demanding that the Post take down the cartoon. The Post complied, apologizing to Cruz, instead of defending free speech, which should be defended with extra vigor when some find the speech in question offensive (as did the Washington Monthly’s Ms. Politically Correct, Nancy LeTourneau).

The upshot? As the Post’s Callum Brochers observed, a win for Cruz:

The cartoon episode does two things for Cruz: One, it gives him a piece of evidence to pull out whenever he wants to argue that the loathsome “mainstream media” doesn’t treat him — or conservatives in general — fairly. At a rally in Tulsa on Wednesday, he did just that, telling a crowd of supporters that “if the media wants to attack and ridicule every Republican, well that’s what they’re gonna do. But leave our kids alone.” And he wasted little time before soliciting campaign contributions, hoping backers would channel their outrage through donations.

Two, the Post’s retraction makes the anti-establishment pushback of Cruz and his supporters seem effective. Remember, this is a candidate who was recently called a “maniac” by GOP front-runner Donald Trump because he has a penchant for tactics — he read “Green Eggs and Ham” to his daughters during a filibuster in 2013 — that ultimately change little and irritate many colleagues.

Setting the Trump-ish language aside, that is one of the knocks against Cruz: he’s full of principle but short on results. Having The Post yank the cartoon allows him to look like he gets results from those predisposed against his — and his supporters’ — worldview.

Black Lives Matter conducts mean-spirited action at Mall of America and Minneapolis airport. In what they alleged was an effort to call attention to 24-year-old Jamar Clark’s being shot dead by police, hundreds of BLM protesters converged on the huge Mall of America in Blooming, MN, causing 80 stores to be closed, then spread out to occupy light rail stations and interrupt traffic at the airport.

Thirteen protesters were arrested (I hope they spend the holidays in jail). Merchants lost the opportunity to make sales. Christmas shoppers were inconvenienced at best — their bags were searched by security staff — and denied the opportunity to purchase gifts at worst. Holiday travelers were delayed; some may have missed flights.

None of the law abiding citizens upon whom BLM visited rage and disrespect were in any way responsible for the death of Clark. Many undoubtedly took a dim view of that shooting, but now they’ll taken an even dimmer view of BLM.

So why did BLM do this? According to the Minneapolis StarTribune:

“We accomplished exactly what we came here to accomplish — we wanted to shut down the highway, shut down the airport and show solidarity with other Black Lives Matter groups,” said Michelle Barnes of Minneapolis, one of the protest organizers.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

In a statement, Black Lives Matter said the demonstration at the airport was to protest Islamophobia and anti-black racism, including discriminatory profiling practices against black people and anyone who is perceived to be Muslim.

“The continued relentless violence against black people is appalling and morally repugnant,” the group said in a statement. “The fact that black people get constantly harassed by police forces at every level, local and federal, in airports, malls, and on the streets of America is no longer acceptable.”

BLM’s behavior wins headlines, but it doesn’t win friends. It’s not just self-indulgent narcissism run amok, it’s a mean-spirited effort to make innocent people suffer. In that respect, it differs little, if at all, from the conduct of jihadis who don’t care who they hurt as long as they hurt someone.

Leftist Americans deranged by racial guilt will applaud BLM’s thuggery. More moderate Americans will applaud the arrests and pray the arrested will do hard time and pay heavy fines.

But one person above all profits from BLM’s irresponsible behavior in Minnesota yesterday: Donald Trump. He just picked up more support. Well done, BLM: that’s what you wanted, isn’t it?