Tag: Trayvon Martin

The Zimmerman Trial: Guilty By Presidential Decree?

On By kingsjesterIn Politics5 Comments

trayvon2After a day of listening to the Prosecution attempt to weave a fantastical yarn, presenting a completely fabricated case against George Zimmerman, I’m having trouble  attempting to wrap my feeble old Southern Cracker mind around this whole unfathomable Dog and Pony Show.

If you were to come and tell me, oh, say, back in 2006, that a United States of America Presidential Administration would attempt to influence the outcome of a local trial in Miami, Florida, by fanning the flames of Racial Animus, becoming the largest apparatus for the support of Professional Race Baiting, ever known to man.

It boggles the mind by its brazen unconstitutionality.

Our System of Law stands on the principle that a man is innocent until proven guilty.

From the beginning of this whole, bloody mess, George Zimmerman has been the target of a Machiavellian-style plot designed to obfuscate, sensationalize, and downright lie about who Trayvon Martin was, and what happened on that fateful night.

For the sake of clarity, allow me to post the following story, which came out immediately following the incident, and may be found may be found at miamiherald.com:

In October, a school police investigator said he saw Trayvon on the school surveillance camera in an unauthorized area “hiding and being suspicious.” Then he said he saw Trayvon mark up a door with “W.T.F” — an acronym for “what the f—.” The officer said he found Trayvon the next day and went through his book bag in search of the graffiti marker.

Instead the officer reported he found women’s jewelry and a screwdriver that he described as a “burglary tool,” according to a Miami-Dade Schools Police report obtained by The Miami Herald. Word of the incident came as the family’s lawyer acknowledged that the boy was suspended in February for getting caught with an empty bag with traces of marijuana, which he called “irrelevant” and an attempt to demonize a victim.

Trayvon’s backpack contained 12 pieces of jewelry, in addition to a watch and a large flathead screwdriver, according to the report, which described silver wedding bands and earrings with diamonds.

Trayvon was asked if the jewelry belonged to his family or a girlfriend.

“Martin replied it’s not mine. A friend gave it to me,” he responded, according to the report. Trayvon declined to name the friend.

Trayvon was not disciplined because of the discovery, but was instead suspended for graffiti, according to the report. School police impounded the jewelry and sent photos of the items to detectives at Miami-Dade police for further investigation.

A lawyer for the dead teen’s family acknowledged Trayvon had been suspended for graffiti, but said the family knew nothing about the jewelry and the screwdriver.

“It’s completely irrelevant to what happened Feb. 26,” said attorney Benjamin Crump. “They never heard this, and don’t believe it’s true. If it were true, why wouldn’t they call the parents? Why wasn’t he arrested?”

Trayvon, who was a junior at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, had never been arrested, police and the family have said.

“We think everybody is trying to demonize him,” Crump said.

No evidence ever surfaced that the jewelry was stolen.

“Martin was suspended, warned and dismissed for the graffiti,” according to the report prepared by schools police.

That suspension was followed four months later by another one in February, in which Trayvon was caught with an empty plastic bag with traces of marijuana in it. A schools police report obtained by The Miami Herald specifies two items: a bag with marijuana residue and a “marijuana pipe.”

The punishment was the third for the teen. On Monday, the family also said Trayvon had earlier been suspended for tardiness and truancy.

The Daily Caller, shortly thereafter, got access to the “Tweets”  of Trayvon.  They revealed a young man who was playing “Gangsta”, spewing vulgarities and talking tough.

Around that time, the Justice Brothers showed up, mugging for the camera, promising justice for Trayvon.

This all happened one month after Trayvon’s death…long enough to “organize” a marketing/publicity campaign of turning a 17 year old pot-smoking, “Lean-drinking”. burglarytool-carrying, Gangster Wannabe with gold in his grill, into an innocent, wide-eyed 12 year old child, wearing a white hoodie, who was savagely murdered by a mean, ol’ “White Hispanic”.

Even Trayvon’s Mom got into the spirit of things, by copyrighting Trayvon’s name, for merchandising purposes.

Something every normal, grieving mother does, when their son gets shot, right?

Back to the unconstitutional part of this whole deal…

As I reported yesterday, Obama and Holder had the DOJ help in the organization of all the “spontaneous” “Justice for Trayvon” rallies we saw early on in this case.That, gentle readers, is unprecedented, and positively Marxist, in nature. Not only that, but Judge Nelson took it upon herself to add a lesser charge of manslaughter, as one of the options for the 6 jurors to find Zimmerman guilty on.

The Government wasn’t even involved to this extent, in the trial of the kidnappers of Lindbergh’s baby, Sacco and Vanzetti.

Today, the defense gets to present its closing arguments. If this was a normal trial, it would be relatively easy to tear apart the Prosecution’s non-existent case, piece by piece, and to paint a picture of an out-of-shape Community Watch member, being struck repeated in the face with Martial Arts-style blow by a 17 year old thug who was straddling him, refusing to let him up, while slamming the back of his head into the sidewalk.

It should be easy, but , Zimmerman’s attorney is not just fighting the Prosecution. He’s going up against a clearly-biased judge, who in turn is being pressured by a Federal Government, who has turned the case into a cause celebre…a Racial Warfare Battleground, designed to show “the people” that “their president” is down with the struggle.

Well…you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.

Let’s hope that those 6 Jurors are not easily fooled.

Until He Comes,

KJ

DOJ Organizes Rallies Against George Zimmerman. “Constitution? We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Constitution.”

On By kingsjesterIn Politics3 Comments

Trayvon3Boys and girls, if you don’t believe that this Administration has no respect for our Constitution or the Rule of Law, read this:

Judicial Watch announced today [yesterday] that it has obtained documents in response to local, state, and federal records requests revealing that a little-known unit of the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Community Relations Service (CRS), was deployed to Sanford, FL, following the Trayvon Martin shooting to help organize and manage rallies and protests against George Zimmerman.

JW filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the DOJ on April 24, 2012; 125 pages were received on May 30, 2012. JW administratively appealed the request on June 5, 2012, and received 222 pages more on March 6, 2013. According to the documents:

  • March 25 – 27, 2012, CRS spent $674.14 upon being “deployed to Sanford, FL, to work marches, demonstrations, and rallies related to the shooting and death of an African-American teen by a neighborhood watch captain.”
  • March 25 – 28, 2012, CRS spent $1,142.84 “in Sanford, FL to work marches, demonstrations, and rallies related to the shooting and death of an African-American teen by a neighborhood watch captain.
  • March 30 – April 1, 2012, CRS spent $892.55 in Sanford, FL “to provide support for protest deployment in Florida.”
  • March 30 – April 1, 2012, CRS spent an additional $751.60 in Sanford, FL “to provide technical assistance to the City of Sanford, event organizers, and law enforcement agencies for the march and rally on March 31.”
  • April 3 – 12, 2012, CRS spent $1,307.40 in Sanford, FL “to provide technical assistance, conciliation, and onsite mediation during demonstrations planned in Sanford.”
  • April 11 – 12, 2012, CRS spent $552.35 in Sanford, FL “to provide technical assistance for the preparation of possible marches and rallies related to the fatal shooting of a 17 year old African American male.”

From a Florida Sunshine Law request filed on April 23, 2012, JW received thousands of pages of emails on April 27, 2012, in which was found an email by Miami-Dade County Community Relations Board Program Officer Amy Carswell from April 16, 2012: “Congratulations to our partners, Thomas Battles, Regional Director, and Mildred De Robles, Miami-Dade Coordinator and their co-workers at the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service for their outstanding and ongoing efforts to reduce tensions and build bridges of understanding and respect in Sanford, Florida” following a news article in the Orlando Sentinel about the secretive “peacekeepers.”

Rush Limbaugh spoke about this on his show yesterday,

This is a fundamental disintegration, and it’s just one of many that are happening to this country under this administration. Judicial Watch was given the documents by the DOJ that prove the DOJ was in Florida organizing anti-Zimmerman rallies. You know the only reason this trial’s taking place? The only reason this trial’s taking place is because the race hustler industry flew down there the minute this case happened when Zimmerman wasn’t charged.

Now, the original law enforcement bunch that first was exposed to the evidence in this case didn’t charge Zimmerman. There was nothing to see here. And then Al Sharpton and the race hustlers got in business and flew down there, and Eric Holder flew down there and thanked Reverend Al, as he called him, for his community outreach and service, and this regime saw an opportunity to turn something into a profoundly racial case for the express purpose of ripping the country apart. I don’t know how else to describe it.

…I think stoking the racial stuff is the way Obama was raised. He was raised to believe this country was founded unjustly and immorally and slavery this and slavery that. This country, he’s got a chip on his shoulder about it, and he’s here to square the deal. And Holder, too.

I think all of these guys have an anger about them about the country and its past. As far as they’re concerned, there’s nothing that’s ever gonna happen to erase slavery. “It may as well still be going on, by God!” So all of this is being done so the rest of us can get a taste of it; find out what it’s like. That’s what the OJ jury was doing. “Okay, fine! How does it feel? Not guilty. We know he did it. How many times did you railroad us?”

I think that’s what’s going on here.

Pure and simple.

I don’t think it’s hard to understand at all. In addition to that, there’s also the specter gun control. They wanted to use the shooting of Trayvon Martin, Obama’s “could have been my son,” pushing gun control, and they didn’t like Florida’s “stand your ground” law. They didn’t like that. They had a bunch of things they could push here. This martial law business? I don’t even want to go there. I don’t even think you have to to find an answer for why they’re trying to foment racial division.

It’s the same premise of affirmative action.

Affirmative action is so that you get a taste of what it was like.

Get-even-with-’em-ism.

… If you look up the Community Relations Service at the DOJ on their website, it says that they are a “peacemaking outreach organization.” It’s just the exact opposite of what they did in the Zimmerman case down in Sanford, Florida.

Obama, Holder, and the rest of the professional race baiters, including the Justice Brothers (Revs.Jackson and Sharpton), knew from the get-go that there was not a case against George Zimmerman. However, the cameras were rolling, and they never miss a chance to remind their voting bloc that they are “down with the struggle”. Never mind that they are all millionaires, and the only time you find any of them in impoverished areas of the country, is when there is good publicity to be had.

To quote Pastor Ken Hutcherson, a Former NFL Linebacker, (who just happens to be a good friend of Rush Limbaugh) from an article released yesterday on the subject of our nation’s self-proclaimed “Black Leadership”…

As a black man Al [Sharpton], who went through the Civil rights fight in the 60s just like you did, and saw the first freedom bus burn in my home town of Anniston, Alabama, on May 14, 1961; I hated Dr. King for his non-violent philosophy. That did not change until I became a Christian later in life. Then I understood God’s biblical truth of love your enemy and do good to those who hate and persecute you. I think I have the right to tell you this sir; I think the likes of you and Jesse Jackson have done more damage to the black race than any white man will ever accomplish. You see as long as you can produce an ethnicity with a victim mentality to keep them in poverty, as the two of you get richer – you know like poverty pimps – and convince them that it is the white man’s fault because he has his boot on their necks, and as long as you teach our beautiful black women that there is a government out there to be their baby’s daddy, the two of you win. You are the self-proclaimed, appointed leaders of the black people. How we as black people have swallowed the lie that we have to have certain black leaders to get on the government teat escapes me.

Pastor Hutch hit the nail on the proverbial head. This whole kangaroo court in Miami, upon the urging and support of the Professional Race Baiters, was organized for the purpose of rallying “the people”.

These guys could care less about Trayvon Martin. 

Organizing “the people” was not done for “justice”, it was done for distraction. Distraction from a horrible economy, which has hit America’s Black Population the hardest. Distraction from a weak and sniveling Administration. who, instead of protecting us from our enemies, has declared Americans to be their enemy.

If, when Zimmerman is acquited, and it is definitely looking that way, “the people” in Miami riot, any deaths that result, can be laid at the feet of these Professional Race Baiters.

They are the ones who made it about the color of Trayvon’s skin…and not about the content of his character.

Until He Comes,

KJ

The Trayvon Martin Trial: Does Character Matter?

On By kingsjesterIn Politics2 Comments

trayvonThe trial of George Zimmerman begins today.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in 17-year-old Trayvon Martin’s killing and has pleaded not guilty, saying he acted in self-defense. Circuit Judge Debra Nelson has previously denied a defense motion to delay the trial.

What actually happened that fateful night?  Orlandosentinel.com reported at the time, that

With a single punch, Trayvon Martin decked the Neighborhood Watch volunteer who eventually shot and killed the unarmed 17-year-old, then Trayvon climbed on top of George Zimmerman and slammed his head into the sidewalk, leaving him bloody and battered, law-enforcement authorities told the Orlando Sentinel.

That is the account Zimmerman gave police, and much of it has been corroborated by witnesses, authorities say. There have been no reports that a witness saw the initial punch Zimmerman told police about.

Zimmerman has not spoken publicly about what happened Feb. 26. But that night, and in later meetings, he described and re-enacted for police what he says took place.

In his version of events, Zimmerman had turned around and was walking back to his SUV when Trayvon approached him from behind, the two exchanged words and then Trayvon punched him in the nose, sending him to the ground, and began beating him. Zimmerman told police he shot the teenager in self-defense.

…This is what the Sentinel has learned about Zimmerman’s account to investigators:

He said he was on his way to the grocery store when he spotted Trayvon walking through his gated community.

Trayvon was visiting his father’s fiancée, who lived there. He had been suspended from school in Miami after being found with an empty marijuana baggie. Miami schools have a zero-tolerance policy for drug possession.

Police have been reluctant to provide details about their evidence.

…On Feb. 26, when Zimmerman first spotted Trayvon, he called police and reported a suspicious person, describing Trayvon as black, acting strangely and perhaps on drugs.

Zimmerman got out of his SUV to follow Trayvon on foot. When a dispatch employee asked Zimmerman if he was following the 17-year-old, Zimmerman said yes. The dispatcher told Zimmerman he did not need to do that.

There is about a one-minute gap during which police say they’re not sure what happened.

Zimmerman told them he lost sight of Trayvon and was walking back to his SUV when Trayvon approached him from the left rear, and they exchanged words.

Trayvon asked Zimmerman if he had a problem. Zimmerman said no and reached for his cell phone, he told police. Trayvon then said, “Well, you do now” or something similar and punched Zimmerman in the nose, according to the account he gave police.

Zimmerman fell to the ground and Trayvon got on top of him and began slamming his head into the sidewalk, he told police.

Zimmerman began yelling for help.

Several witnesses heard those cries, and there has been a dispute about whether they came from Zimmerman or Trayvon.

Lawyers for Trayvon’s family say it was Trayvon, but police say their evidence indicates it was Zimmerman.

One witness, who has since talked to local television news reporters, told police he saw Zimmerman on the ground with Trayvon on top, pounding him — and was unequivocal that it was Zimmerman who was crying for help.

Zimmerman then shot Trayvon once in the chest at very close range, according to authorities.

When police arrived less than two minutes later, Zimmerman was bleeding from the nose, had a swollen lip and had bloody lacerations to the back of his head.

Paramedics gave him first aid but he said he did not need to go to the hospital. He got medical care the next day.

The Daily Caller got access to the “Tweets”  of Trayvon.  They reveal a young man who was playing “Gangsta”, spewing vulgarities and talking tough.

Even though all the evidence seems to reveal that the young man was not as pure as the driven snow, it is still unfortunate that his young life ended that night.

Have those character flaws led to a re-writing of Trayvon’s life-story in an attempt to appease activists and convict George Zimmerman?

Just recently, a A court employee was placed on administrative leave for not turning text messages and photos from Tryvon’s phone, over to the defense. Former Prosecutor Wesley White said,

I was saddened by it, but I’m not surprised.

White had first learned about the evidence through the employee more than a month ago.

White led the Nassau County state attorney’s office before resigning in December, due to differences of opinion with the current prosecutor. He is now in private practice.

According to White, the photos Kruidbos got off the phone, were of a hand holding a gun and one depicted drugs. The content of the text messages wasn’t told to him.

I’m an officer of the court and I’m obliged to inform the court of any misconduct or any potential misconduct coming before the court. Whether it’s by the defense or prosecution.

This revelation led the Defense to release photos of a gun, marijuana plant and Martin’s text messages to the public. They announced that if prosecutors were going to label Zimmerman as the aggressor and Martin as the innocent bystander, they wanted the information to defend him.

However, the judge in the case, Judge Nelson,  has ruled that Defense Attorneys won’t be able to mention the teen’s drug use, suspension from school and past fighting during opening statements at the trial.

The thing is, since there were no eye witnesses as to what happened that night, shouldn’t Trayvon’s past behavior be taken into account?

The Miami Herald published the following on March 26th:

The Miami Gardens teen who has become a national symbol of racial injustice was suspended three times, and had a spotty school record that his family’s attorneys say is irrelevant to the facts that led up to his being gunned down on Feb. 26.

In October, a school police investigator said he saw Trayvon on the school surveillance camera in an unauthorized area “hiding and being suspicious.” Then he said he saw Trayvon mark up a door with “W.T.F” — an acronym for “what the f—.” The officer said he found Trayvon the next day and went through his book bag in search of the graffiti marker.

Instead the officer reported he found women’s jewelry and a screwdriver that he described as a “burglary tool,” according to a Miami-Dade Schools Police report obtained by The Miami Herald. Word of the incident came as the family’s lawyer acknowledged that the boy was suspended in February for getting caught with an empty bag with traces of marijuana, which he called “irrelevant” and an attempt to demonize a victim.

Trayvon’s backpack contained 12 pieces of jewelry, in addition to a watch and a large flathead screwdriver, according to the report, which described silver wedding bands and earrings with diamonds.

Trayvon was asked if the jewelry belonged to his family or a girlfriend.

“Martin replied it’s not mine. A friend gave it to me,” he responded, according to the report. Trayvon declined to name the friend.

Trayvon was not disciplined because of the discovery, but was instead suspended for graffiti, according to the report. School police impounded the jewelry and sent photos of the items to detectives at Miami-Dade Police for further investigation.

A lawyer for the dead teen’s family acknowledged Trayvon had been suspended for graffiti, but said the family knew nothing about the jewelry and the screwdriver.

I’ll bet they didn’t.

CiteHR.com, in a article titled “Why Does Character Matter?” states that

Character can be defined in a variety of ways. Mental images abound as to the true definition but perhaps they can be summed up as, the motivation to do what is right; or who you are when no one is watching. To be a person of character, one must posses certain character traits like patience, love, perseverance, self-control, humility, diligence, and so on.

…Personal character clarifies one’s value system and defines behavior in a most explicit manner. As we observe culture and human behavior, we can almost always trace backwards from behavior to find the meaning, values, and beliefs rooted in a person’s worldview that subsequently influences behavior. In other words, our behavior is often consistent with our values; the way we act has meaning based on what we believe about ourselves, other people, the world, and for many a higher power.

Potential evidence as to Zimmerman’s character comes from an attempt to meet with Trayvon’s parents, which they refused.  Of course, witnesses have come forth to testify on behalf of George Zimmerman, also.

The only evidence we have of Trayvon’s character are his spotty school record, and the bloody gashes on the back of Zimmerman’s head, where Trayvon repeatedly slammed it into the sidewalk.

Did Trayvon, as a witness has related he said to Zimmerman, lay an a@@ whuppin’ on Zimmerman or did the 6’1″ teenager slam Zimmerman’s head into the sidewalk because he was scared of the older, smaller, neighborhood watch volunteer?

An impartial jury will have to decide that….and if “content of character” matters.

Until He Comes, 

KJ

The Trayvon Trial: Does Character Matter?

On By kingsjesterIn Politics6 Comments

Yesterday was a big day for America’s race-baiters, as the Trayvon Martin case made it’s way to court.  George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed the black teenager, was given a bond of $150,000, a move which fanned the flames of the race-baiters’ righteous indignation.

Breitbart.com’s Big Government reports:

With ABC News’ release of the George Zimmerman photo showing blood flowing freely from his head, the question becomes whether Angela Corey, the prosecutor in the case, had access to the photo before charging Zimmerman with second-degree murder.

The arrest affidavit did not mention the photograph, or the bleeding, gashes, and bruises on Zimmermans’ head. Professor Alan Dershowitz of Harvard Law School stated upon release of the arrest affidavit that it was “so thin that it won’t make it past a judge on a second degree murder charge … everything in the affidavit is completely consistent with a defense of self-defense.”

After the release of the photo, however, Dershowitz went much further, telling Breitbart News that if the prosecutors did have the photo and didn’t mention it in the affidavit, that would constitute a “grave ethical violation,” since affidavits are supposed to contain “all relevant information.”

Dershowitz continued, “An affidavit that willfully misstates undisputed evidence known to the prosecution is not only unethical but borders on perjury because an affiant swears to tell not only the truth, but the whole truth, and suppressing an important part of the whole truth is a lie.”

When asked if it made a difference whether the prosecution had the bloody photograph at the time they charged Zimmerman, Dershowitz responded, “We do know that there were earlier photographs before the affidavit was done that strongly suggested blood on the back of the head, and we know the police had first access to him, so if there was blood they [the prosecution] would know about it …

“I’ve had cases in Florida against prosecutors,” Dershowitz said, “and this is not the first time they have willfully omitted exculpatory evidence. It’s a continuing problem. Here, it’s not only immoral, but stupid. The whole country is watching. What do they benefit from having half-truths in an affidavit?”

Dershowitz added, “I’m not taking sides, but I’m insisting that both sides play by the rules, and so far the prosecution is not playing by the rules.”

Speaking of half-truths, I wonder if Zimmerman’s lawyer is going to bring up Trayvon’s school record.  I hate to speak ill of the dead, but this young man was not the innocent little angel he is being portrayed to have been.

The Miami Herald published the following on March 26th:

The Miami Gardens teen who has become a national symbol of racial injustice was suspended three times, and had a spotty school record that his family’s attorneys say is irrelevant to the facts that led up to his being gunned down on Feb. 26.

In October, a school police investigator said he saw Trayvon on the school surveillance camera in an unauthorized area “hiding and being suspicious.” Then he said he saw Trayvon mark up a door with “W.T.F” — an acronym for “what the f—.” The officer said he found Trayvon the next day and went through his book bag in search of the graffiti marker.

Instead the officer reported he found women’s jewelry and a screwdriver that he described as a “burglary tool,” according to a Miami-Dade Schools Police report obtained by The Miami Herald. Word of the incident came as the family’s lawyer acknowledged that the boy was suspended in February for getting caught with an empty bag with traces of marijuana, which he called “irrelevant” and an attempt to demonize a victim.

Trayvon’s backpack contained 12 pieces of jewelry, in addition to a watch and a large flathead screwdriver, according to the report, which described silver wedding bands and earrings with diamonds.

Trayvon was asked if the jewelry belonged to his family or a girlfriend.

“Martin replied it’s not mine. A friend gave it to me,” he responded, according to the report. Trayvon declined to name the friend.

Trayvon was not disciplined because of the discovery, but was instead suspended for graffiti, according to the report. School police impounded the jewelry and sent photos of the items to detectives at Miami-Dade police for further investigation.

A lawyer for the dead teen’s family acknowledged Trayvon had been suspended for graffiti, but said the family knew nothing about the jewelry and the screwdriver.

I’ll bet they didn’t.

CiteHR.com, in a article titled “Why Does Character Matter?” states that

Character can be defined in a variety of ways. Mental images abound as to the true definition but perhaps they can be summed up as, the motivation to do what is right; or who you are when no one is watching. To be a person of character, one must posses certain character traits like patience, love, perseverance, self-control, humility, diligence, and so on.

…Personal character clarifies one’s value system and defines behavior in a most explicit manner. As we observe culture and human behavior, we can almost always trace backwards from behavior to find the meaning, values, and beliefs rooted in a person’s worldview that subsequently influences behavior. In other words, our behavior is often consistent with our values; the way we act has meaning based on what we believe about ourselves, other people, the world, and for many a higher power.

Potential evidence as to Zimmerman’s character comes from his attempt yesterday to meet with Trayvon’s parents, which they refused.  Of course, witnesses have come forth to testify on behalf of George Zimmerman, also.

The only evidence we have of Trayvon’s character are his spotty school record, and the bloody gashes on the back of Zimmerman’s head, where Trayvon repeatedly slammed it into the sidewalk.

Did Trayvon, as a witness has related he said to Zimmerman, lay an a@@ whuppin’ on Zimmerman or did the 6’1″ teenager slam Zimmerman’s head into the sidewalk because he was scared of the older, smaller, neighborhood watch volunteer?

An impartial jury will have to decide that….and if “content of character” matters.

Bill Cosby: The Gun Killed Trayvon

On By kingsjesterIn Politics7 Comments

In the back of the storeroom that my bride and I are currently renting, in a box with my Frampton Comes Alive Double Album, is an album by Bill Cosby.  I believe the title is, “Bill Cosby is a Very Funny Fellow…Right.”

And, while I still believe that he is, with the following commentary, he’s way off the mark.

Last Saturday, The Washington Times featured the following report by Deborah Simmons, in her op ed feature, “Can We Talk”:

“The gun.”

Those two simple words flowed easily from the mouth of social commentator Bill Cosby during an exclusive interview Friday regarding the Trayvon Martin case, arguably the most high-profile, citizen-on-citizen U.S. slaying facing the Obama administration.

Trayvon was killed Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, who told police that a “confrontation” with the unarmed 17-year-old led him to shoot in self-defense.

Mr. Cosby, a Navy veteran, said “the gun” empowered Mr. Zimmerman, whose actions have stirred a firestorm of debate, protests and remarks from President Obama.

“We’ve got to get the gun out of the hands of people who are supposed to be on neighborhood watch,” said Mr. Cosby, whose remarks were the first he has made publicly about the case.

“Without a gun, I don’t see Mr. Zimmerman approaching Trayvon by himself,” Mr. Cosby explained. “The power-of-the-gun mentality had him unafraid to confront someone. Even police call for backup in similar situations.

“When you carry a gun, you mean to harm somebody, kill somebody,” he said.

An award-winning actor and great American humorist, Mr. Cosby, 74, is best know for the ground-breaking NBC sit-com “The Cosby Show,” stand-up routines and recorded performances, all of which are infused with familial humor.

Scheduled to perform April 28 at the Kennedy Center, Mr. Cosby continues to grace multiple platforms, and is scheduled to tickle funny bones as co-emcee at the April 12 gala celebrating the reopening of the historic Howard Theatre in Northwest Washington.

But it was at another celebration, the NAACP marking of the 50th anniversary of the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education school-desegregation decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, that saw Mr. Cosby take a spot on the forefront of controversial social commentary.

In his remarks at the 2004 event, Mr. Cosby pointed out to the audience that blacks had essentially created a new lower rung on the socioeconomic ladder by failing to police their children. Since then, he has traveled the nation and used social media to expound the virtues of personal accountability, responsible parenting and a sound education.

Did racial bias unintentionally assist Dr. Cosby in forming his opinion?  According to gallup.com, it’s a possibility.

These results are from an April 2-4 USA Today/Gallup poll of 3,006 Americans, including 242 blacks, conducted as part of Gallup Daily tracking. Martin’s death has sparked national interest and, more recently, protests, because Zimmerman, who is white and Hispanic, was not arrested after he claimed self-defense under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. With many black leaders and others calling for Zimmerman’s arrest and charging racism against the Sanford police department, the case has clearly captured the attention of the large majority of black Americans across the country.

…Blacks are much more likely than nonblacks to have an opinion about Zimmerman’s guilt. Overall, 72% of blacks say Zimmerman is definitely or probably guilty of a crime; 1% say he is not. Nonblacks also say Zimmerman is guilty, by 32% to 7%, but well over half of nonblacks say Zimmerman’s guilt is unclear from the available information.

Blacks are more certain about their opinions than are nonblacks. Blacks who say Zimmerman is guilty of a crime are significantly more likely to say he is definitely guilty than probably guilty, while nonblacks tilt more toward the “probably guilty” choice.

Additionally, 72% of blacks say racial bias was a major factor in the events that led up to the shooting death of Martin, with another 13% saying it was a minor factor. Nonblacks, on the other hand, are significantly less certain, with 31% saying racial bias was a major factor, 26% saying it was a minor factor, and 25% saying it was not a factor at all.

That may have have been a part of the thought process, leading to Dr. Cosby’s pronouncement.  Unfortunately, also painfully weighing on his mind was the 1997 muder of his son, Ennis:

Ennis Cosby [born April 15, 1969], son of actor Bill Cosby, was killed on January 16 [1997] as he was changing a tire near a freeway in Los Angeles. An 18-year-old Ukranian immigrant, Mikail Markhasev, was arrested in mid-March and charged with the crime.

That would certainly explain Dr. Cosby’s hatred of guns.

However….on October 26, 2011, gallup.com reported that

Forty-seven percent of American adults currently report that they have a gun in their home or elsewhere on their property. This is up from 41% a year ago and is the highest Gallup has recorded since 1993, albeit marginally above the 44% and 45% highs seen during that period.

Do all of these Americans who own guns, mean to harm someone, or are they simply trying to protect themselves from being harmed?

Second Question:  Why is Trayvon’s background being ignored?

Why is the fact that he was pounding Mr. Zimmerman’s head into the sidewalk at the time not appropriate to bring up?

While I’m on a roll, here’s another question:  Why did it take one month after Trayvon’s death for The Justice Brothers, Jackson and Sharpton, and the rest of the Liberals and race-baiters (but, I repeat myself) to make this a national cause celebre?

Furthermore, regarding Dr. Cosby’s remarks from back in 2004, why has he arguably, noticeably backed off from them?  Did Obama, Oprah, and others scold him for being “misguided” in his forthrightness?

Meanwhile, less than five miles from where I live in the Northwest Coner of Mississippi, right across the state line:

According to the Memphis Police Department, four victims were hospitalized [last] Tuesday morning being treated for wounds they received in an early morning shooting.

All are currently listed in critical condition.

According to witnesses, a car with a number of people in it came around the corner and began shooting at a group of young men in front of 416 Washburn Drive. In the process, the gunmen shot up five cars, a house, and a mailbox.

So far no arrests have been made in the shooting.

Perhaps, it’s time that I looked in to joining that 47%.

Reverend Al Sharpton: Doing for Trayvon What He Did for Tawana?

On By kingsjesterIn Politics3 Comments

MSNBC Host Al Sharpton has made a living for years out of race-baiting.

Remember Tawana Brawley?

Museumofhoaxes.com tells the story:

On November 28, 1987, a 15-year-old black girl named Tawana Brawley was found lying inside a trash bag outside an apartment building located in Wappingers Falls, New York. She was covered in feces and racial insults had been scrawled on her body. When questioned by police she claimed that a group of white men, including police officers, had raped and beaten her. The black community rallied around her, and a prominent black leader, the Reverend Al Sharpton, appointed himself her spokesman. Support for Brawley reached its peak on June 15, 1988 when her advisers held a meeting at the Bethany Baptist Church in Brooklyn that was broadcast to an audience of ten million viewers.

However, the material evidence did not back up Brawley’s claims. Her body displayed no signs of rape or assault. She was not frostbitten, even though she had supposedly been kept naked in the freezing woods for days. The feces on her body turned out to be from a neighbor’s dog, and even more damningly, a local resident of the apartment community where she was found claimed to have seen her climb into the trashbag alone and lie down of her own accord.

In October 1988 a grand jury issued a report following a seven-month investigation. It concluded that Brawley’s claims were a hoax. Many speculated that Brawley had made up a wild story in order to avoid punishment at the hand of her stepfather for having run away from home for three days. But Brawley herself insisted that she was telling the truth, a stance which she has maintained to this day. More than anything else, the episode and its bitter aftermath displayed the deep racial divisions that still haunted American society.

Now, in 2012, the Reverend Al Sharpton, MSNBC Host, is race-baiting once again.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that

If George Zimmerman is not arrested in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin soon, theRev. Al Sharpton will call for an escalation in peaceful civil disobedience and economic sanctions.

Sharpton would not say the efforts would be taken against the city of Sanford specifically, but he has been critical of the police department’s handling of the case.

The NAACP, who is sponsoring a march in Trayvon’s hometown of Sandford, Florida today, immediately tried to distance itself from Sharpton’s threat. Read this and decide for yourself if this was a “nudge, nudge, wink, wink” moment:

Turner Clayton, the Seminole County chapter president of the NAACP, reacted immediately to Sharpton’s warning, saying, “We hope that the citizens of Sanford will govern themselves accordingly. We are not calling for any sanctions, against any business or anyone else. And, of course, what Rev. Sharpton does, that’s strictly the [National] Action Network. We can’t condone that part of the conversation, if that’s what he said.”

“I don’t think they can confuse that,” Clayton said. “It’s just that they will have to make a judgment as to whether they want to follow the mission of the NAACP or follow what the Rev. Sharpton said.”

Clayton said that the rallies are going to show support from the community and show the special prosecutor that “we are interested in what happened, and we’re not going to stand by and let them do something that the people of Sanford will not accept.”

Saturday’s rally will begin with a march from the Crooms Academy to the Sanford Police Department on 13th Street. The march begins at 11 a.m. and is hosted by the NAACP.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson is expected to attend, along with Sharpton, who is expected to deliver specifics on his warning.

Sanford city workers spent the day discussing security and preparing for the rally, including setting up barricades, signs, cones and a stage.

Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch leader, shot and killed Martin, 17, last month, in a gated community in Sanford. Zimmerman claims the shooting was in self-defense.

Is it a “conflict of interest” for the Reverend Al to be a wild-eyed, race-baiting, camera-hogging activist and a cable news program host for MSNBC?

Evidently not, per comments his boss, Phil Griffin,  made to The Christian Science Monitor (I’m shocked):

Sharpton’s dual role would have been unthinkable on television 20 years ago and still wouldn’t be allowed at many news organizations. While opinionated cable news hosts have become commonplace over the past decade, Sharpton goes beyond talking.

“It certainly represents a change in our traditional view of the boundaries between journalism and activism,” said Kelly McBride, ethics group leader at the Poynter Institute, a journalism think tank. “Al Sharpton is clearly an activist.”

Sharpton, a Baptist minister, runs the Harlem-based National Action Network, a civil rights organization. He’s been a frequent presence as an advocate in racially-charged cases dating back to Tawana Brawley‘s accusations of an assault that turned out to be a hoax in the late 1980s.

He joined MSNBC’s roster of hosts last summer after extensive discussions about how his activist role would continue while on the air.

MSNBC chief executive Phil Griffin said his chief requirement was that Sharpton discuss his activism with network bosses so they could decide, on a case-by-case basis, how it would affect “Politics Daily,” which begins at 6 p.m. ET.

“We didn’t hire Al to become a neutered kind of news presenter,” Griffin said. “That’s not what we do.”

Griffin, talking before Monday’s show, said he hadn’t seen any conflict with Sharpton’s role on and off the air in the Martin case. He said Sharpton had fulfilled his requirement to honest and upfront about his activities, and credited “Politics Daily” with helping to make it a national story.

And somewhere, the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. is sadly shaking his head.

Trayvon: Is the Righteous Indignation Fading?

On By kingsjesterIn Politics8 Comments

Alright. Who left the irony on?

Realclearpolitics.com presented this quote yesterday:

“His Republican opponents have jumped all over him because they do want to play politics with this issue. The President spoke from his heart on this, it was trying to emphasize with some parents who had just lost a child. By any measure, this was a tragedy and we need to let the investigation take its course,” Stephanie Cutter, Obama’s Deputy Campaign Manager, said on MSNBC today.

“People have to stop politicizing it,” she added. “It’s no surprise that some of our Republican opponents are trying to make an issue with this. But the President spoke from the heart and we need to let the investigation take its course.”

Uh huh.

Meanwhile, in my hometown of Memphis, Tenessee:

A march from the National Civil Rights Museum to City Hall in Memphis this morning in support of justice for Trayvon Martin turned into a shouting match as different agendas clashed.

Most were there as a show of support for the Florida teen who was killed by a neighborhood watch captain. But Kennith Van Buren, who had a bull horn, attempted to talk about property taxes and racism associated with the Memphis and Shelby County schools merger and how the suburbs want to break away.

Van Buren, surrounded by four supporters, was shouted down by others.

Today’s rally was the third held in Memphis for Martin. While other crowds have been much larger, only about 15 to 20 supporters either marched or arrived at City Hall around noon.

There was confusion for those who arrived later. “Are we here for prayer or what?” one woman asked before finally leaving.

“We came down not to fight City Hall. We came down here to talk to City Hall. We came down here for our children,” said Wanda Mosby, 61, of Memphis. No elected officials appeared at the rally.

“It’s about right and wrong,” said Constance Houston, 56, of Memphis. “And they were wrong.”

A number of the women wore hoodies as a symbol of what Martin was wearing when he was killed. Others had t-shirts with the words, “I am Trayvon Martin.” Underneath that was a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Beverly Brown said the Women of Faith Helping Hands Ministries organized the rally.

Regarding Van Buren and others, Brown said, “They came for their own agenda. What he was talking about had nothing to do with Trayvon.”

The situation is pretty confusing.  Like what former Black Panther and current United States Congressman (And the Dems say that America is not the Land of Opportunity) Bobby Rush did on the House Floor yesterday.

Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., lost his right to speak on the House floor after he violated rules by putting on a hoodie and sunglasses in honor of Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen shot last month.

“May God bless Trayvon Martin’s soul, his family and — [inaudible]” Rush said as he was removed from the House floor this morning for wearing a hoodie.

Rush was wearing a grey hoodie under his suit jacket. He took off his jacket, pulled the hood over his head and put on sunglasses while saying “racial profiling has to stop, Mr. Speaker. Just because someone wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum,” he said.

“The member will suspend,” said a visibly frustrated Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss., the speaker pro tempore presiding over the morning session. “The member is no longer recognized.”

Rush shouted Bible passages over the sound of the gavel as the speaker interrupted him, but he was eventually pulled from the House floor. “The chair will ask the sergeant-at-arms to enforce the rules on decorum,” Harper said.

Rush’s “donning of the hood” violated clause five of House Rule 17 against wearing hats on the House floor.

I thought elderly men wore sweaters, not hoodies.

Bobby Rush is not the only one who has gotten carried away.  Black Movie Producer and Air Jordan Pitchman Spike Lee has gotten in trouble for tweeting before thinking.

This just in… 

An elderly couple has gotten a lawyer and moved out of their home because of the Trayvon Martin case. And Wednesday they got an apology from a high-profile celebrity.

Matt Morgan of Morgan & Morgan announced on Twitter Wednesday that Elaine McClain and David McClain had retained the firm. The McClain’s have been harassed ever since someone posted their address on Twitter, believing it to be the home of George Zimmerman, the shooter in the case. The address was apparently retweeted by Spike Lee, acclaimed director.

Morgan stated on Twitter:

“For the record, #GeorgeZimmerman does not live at the address retweeted by @spikelee. Please respect the privacy of the McClain’s.”

Spike Lee tweeted this out Wednesday to his more than 250,000 followers:

I Deeply Apologize To The McClain Family For Retweeting Their Address. It Was A Mistake .Please Leave The McClain’s In Peace. Justice In Court

In published reports, family members said the couple has a son named William George Zimmerman, but it’s not the same man involved in the case. The tweets were reportedly traced back to a man in California.

Classy, huh?  Please note that the cretin did not apologize until the elderly couple got a lawyer.

It has been a month since Trayvon’s death.  Why has all of this “righteous indignation” just now sprung to fruition?

Another thing…is it just me…or does all this “indignation” seemed awfully forced?  It’s almost like it was planned for a month and held until just the right time.  Like it was supposed to be a distraction from the Obamacare Supreme Court Hearings…or something.

It is tragic that Trayvon’s  young life ended…but, why did the Democrats and the “outraged”  wait a month to protest it?