No public option = terrorists winning?
In the interest of full disclosure, I (like many of you) can count both local and national politicians in my circle of social networking ‘friends’ and ‘followers.’
Most often, tweets and wall updates posted by your typical pol involve fundraising activities, appearances at local b-b-q's and notifications of council meetings and other such political gatherings.
But this morning, not long removed from the Pelosi/Hoyer op-ed calling opponents of health care reform ‘un-American’ (which followed charges of racism, astro-turfing and a host of other insults hurled at the anti-health-care-crowd), Maryland Delegate Saqib Ali (D-Montgomery County) tweeted: “If they drop the Public Option, then the terrorists will have won.”
In 2007 Ali became the first Muslim elected to the Maryland state legislature.
In the comment section that followed the Facebook version of the post, Ali’s ‘friends’ offered support for his health care observation.
“What’s the point if there’s no public option,” one constituent wrote, “and what’s the point of the democratic majority if they’re just going to wuss out?”
Those who disagreed with Ali’s terrorist assessment weren’t so kind.
“To call another citizen who raises their voice in opposition a terrorist offends every American who exercises their rights as restated in and secured to them by the First Amendment,” one person commented. “Delegate, your comments reflect that you only represent those who elected you, and that you have nothing but disgust and disdain for those who did not.”
Delegate Ali did engage his detractors, pointing to this country’s long history of political satire.
“Don’t forget that political satire has a long and storied tradition in our country,” the Delegate wrote. “Sometimes humor is a great way to make a political point… Plus... don't your remember that's what they said about liberals during the height of the Iraq War??”
Surprisingly, the post generated just 30 comments (a small number given the Montgomery County democrat can claim more than 2100 Facebook ‘friends’), many of them multiple posts by a few individuals.
Delegate Ali is no stranger to controversy. In a July op-ed published in The Gazette, Ali said he supports same-sex marriage. Islam strictly prohibits homosexuality.
“If I tried to enforce religion by law,” Ali wrote in The Gazette, “as in a theocracy — I would be doing a disservice to both my constituents and to my religion.”
I sent the delegate an email asking if he would like to defend his ‘tweet.’ Mr. Ali did not respond.
Comments
It is extremely disappointing that the "reporter" who wrote this article is propogating purely false statements. Why would he do that?
The fact is that within 5-10 minutes of him sending me a message, I responded by email not once but twice showing how silly he was for not understanding this common, well-known rhetorical device.
I have included those emails below. So the real question is why did Mr. Gill ignore my emails and print false statements? No wonder he is relegated to simply trolling around Facebook looking his stories.I think a true professional would at least be honest and fair and just a bit less lazy.
I will expect a written apology attached to this post as well as in the print version. Shame on Mr. Gill.
-Delegate Saqib Ali
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Delegate Saqib Ali <delegate@saqibali.org>
Date: Monday, August 17, 2009
Subject: J Doug Gill sent you a message on Facebook...
To: jdouggill@comcast.net
Doug, Hi.
You are comple
From: Delegate Saqib Ali <delegate@saqibali.org>
Date: Monday, August 17, 2009
Subject: Doug Gill sent you a message on Facebook.
To: jdouggill@comcast.net
Doug, Hi.
You are completely mis-representing my comment. Firstly I never called anyone a terrorist. Not the protestors or anyone else.
I said if the Public Option is dropped, then the terrorists will have won.
This type of hyperbole is a very well-known rhetorical device. IT IS CERTAINLY NOT CALLING THE PROTESTORS TERRORISTS. Nor did I ever call them racists, astro-turfers, etc.
I suggest you carefully read this Wikipedia entry about the usage of that phrase: <URL DELETED>
Here are other common examples:
-If my boss doesn't give me a raise, then the terrorists will have won (I have tweeted this in the past)
-If I don't get Ketchup with my fries, then the terrorists will have won
It would be silly to misconstrue this common figure of speech as a literal statement.
- Saqib
Please feel free to call my cell to
From: Delegate Saqib Ali
Date: Monday, August 17, 2009
Subject: J. Doug Gill sent you a message on Facebook...
To: jdouggill@comcast.net
Doug, Hi.
You are completely mis-representing my comment. Firstly I never called anyone a terrorist. Not the protestors or anyone else.
I said if the Public Option is dropped, then the terrorists will have won.
This type of hyperbole is a very well-known rhetorical device. IT IS CERTAINLY NOT CALLING THE PROTESTORS TERRORISTS. Nor did I ever call them racists, astro-turfers, etc.
I suggest you carefully read this Wikipedia entry about the usage of that phrase: <URL DELETED>
Here are other common examples:
-If my boss doesn't give me a raise, then the terrorists will have won (I have tweeted this in the past)
-If I don't get Ketchup with my fries, then the terrorists will have won
It would be silly to misconstrue this common figure of speech as a literal statement.
- Saqib
Please feel free to call my cell to discuss further:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Delegate Saqib Ali <delegate@saqibali.org>
Date: Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Subject: Further Examples
To: jdouggill@comcast.net
Taking 15 seconds on Google reveals Numerous other examples:
The Terrorists Have Won. Paula Abdul Is Not Returning to American Idol. <URL Deleted by Examiner>
If you Don't Tip, the Terrorists have won
<URL Deleted by Examiner>
If you fail to keep the link to your Blawg Review working, the terrorists have won.
<URL Deleted by Examiner>
- Saqib
Ali is a SCUMBAG!
Hey Ali, EAT PORK!
Clearly, the author of this "story" is being paid far too much for doing what wouldn't even pass as high school level journalism. I spent the first half of my professional life working in the field of print and broadcast media. This is a typical manufactured story by an individual who is looking to create controversy and sensationalism where none exists.
Anyone who follows Mr. Ali's Facebook postings knows that he has a quite witty and edgy sense of humor -- a rather REFRESHING personality trait given his career field. The posting this "story" is based off of was quite clearly a JOKE.
Did you also intend to author articles last Halloween about Mr. Ali saying that he was going into work dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, or did you "get it" that time?
Sheesh. Lighten up.
Oh, and remember, I never called you Ali, a scumbag or a pork eater! Never said it. Never called you that.
Go twist up the final wiring to your IED!
--------------------
Subject: Your email
Delegate... Given the story took place on my facebook wall, and my email to you was within the FB email system (re: inbox) - I spent 4 hours yesterday on the site waiting for your reply.
Yes, it was my fault that I didn't check all four of my email accounts... I will post an update on our exchanges this morning, but I certainly stand by my claims that your attempt at 'satire' was just an after-the-fact attempt to scrape what you had stepped in off your shoes.
Regardless of your intent - and given the charged political climate surrounding the health care debate - why would any elected official choose to post inflammatory comments sure to enrage a large percentage of their constituency?... What is the difference between your posting and the Pelosi/Hoyer statement that health care opponents are 'un-American?
And I refuse to give credence to a comparison between Paula Abdul and ALL of the constituents you were elected to represent.
Thank
Let's see now. Doug Gill
1) Doesn't understand common rhetorical devices
2) Fails to check his email,
3) Doesn't do simple basic Google Checks to find out what everyone else commonly knows
But he also now claims to know what Delegate Ali was thinking when he wrote it. This is crazy. Doug Gill is not a mind reader. He has no clue what Delegate Ali is thinking. He has never met him, nor has he bothered to ever speak to him...... Yet he claims to know what his inner thoughts. This is beyond ludicrous.
The Examiner is a pathetic joke.
Doug Gill has sent me an email admitting his error.
Why hasn't the Examiner published a correction/retraction?
Congressman Wally Herger (R-CA) recently held a town-hall meeting at which a 67-year-old attendee, Bert Stead, stood up and called himself a “proud right-wing terrorist.”
“Amen, God bless you,” Herger reportedly replied to the comment. “There is a great American.”
You can Google for this to verify it. The Examiner's website blocks people from entering URLs here.
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