“New Black Panther Party” Panic Returns
It's time to panic over anonymous guys in Philadelphia again, at least if you work at Fox News Channel.
Four years ago, and for pretty much all of the following four years, many on the right found themselves obsessed with a couple of guys who showed up at a polling place in Philadelphia saying they were members of something called the “New Black Panther Party” and strutting around in an “intimidating” manner for a conveniently located camera from the local Fox affiliate. The incident led to a complaint to the Department of Justice and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, but never resulted in any criminal charges because the Bush-controlled Justice Departmentdecided in December 2008 that there was no criminal case. That didn’t stop many on the right from finding a purported scandal, though. The matter eventually made its way to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights where Abigail Thernstrom, a Republican member of the Commission, called the case “small potatoes” while others on the right attempted to turn it into a huge scandal. Eventually, a final report was issued by the DOJ and it turns out that the whole story really was much ado about nothing
But, it’s Election Day, and Fox News is once again all over the case:
A member of the New Black Panther Party who was charged with voter intimidation in the 2008 election for standing outside a Philadelphia polling site was back Tuesday morning – in an official capacity.
Jerry Jackson, who was charged in the 2008 case along with Minister King Samir Shabazz, but later saw charges dropped by the Department of Justice, was seen early Tuesday outside a North Philadelphia voting site wearing the group’s trademark black beret, combat-style uniform and heavy boots. Fox News confirmed he is a designated poll watcher.
“No comment,” Jackson said when approached by a reporter at 1221 Fairmount Ave., in the city’s 14th Ward, where he lurked on Election Day in 2008.
One voter who didn’t mind Jackson’s presence was Robin Spriggs, 50.
“We need it,” she said. “It doesn’t matter the color, the creed or anything like that. They protect everyone.”
There were also reports of New Black Panther Party members at polling sites in Cleveland, Ohio, where they have also maintained a presence at early voting sites. Critics complain that they are an intimidating presence and could discourage white voters, who may be more likely to vote Republican, from entering polling sites.
Unlike in the 2008 election, members of the organization labeled as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center were not wielding billy clubs or forming clusters. In 2008, members of the New Black Panthers wore black paramilitary garb and stood in front of the doors leading to a polling place in Philadelphia. In that case, the Department of Justice later narrowed the charges against Minister King Shabazz and dismissed the charges against the party and Jackson
Here’s video of the people at Fox & Friends:
As if that weren’t enough, last week group of retired Navy SEALs said they had decided to take it upon themselves to confront these guys:
Call them “Seal Team November 6.” Special operations veterans, including former Navy Seals, Delta Force will be called back into action on Election Day to make certain there’s no voter intimidation at the polls.
Philadelphia is a prime target.
Former Navy Captain Benjamin Brink is leading the operation. “The nation saw the video of members of the Black Panthers in Philadelphia intimidating people trying to vote in 2008,” Brink told me when I interviewed him during my radio show on IQ 106.9. “We are going to try and make certain that nothing like that happens this year.”
Brink claims to have over a hundred former Army Rangers, Navy Seal, Delta Force, Green Berets and others who have volunteered for duty. The idea of Navy Seals and Black Panthers getting into it at a Philly polling site gives a whole new incentive for casting a ballot. “Our guys aren’t easily intimidated,” adds Brink.
Don’t let the bravado fool you. The mission, according to the Captain, is to observe and report, not to engage. “We are going to watch for intimidation, videotape it, if possible, and report it to the proper authorities.”
Yea, this is going to end well.
David Weigel comments:
Very few of the people who hyperventilate about this story have been to the polling place and check out its vote. I have. The precinct, located in a retirement home, gave 596 votes to Barack Obama in 2008. It gave 13 votes to John McCain. Four years earlier, it had given 24 votes to George W. Bush. It’s a heavily black, Democratic area, which is why — four years after the first Fox freakout — no one has ever emerged to say he or she wanted to vote but was suppressed by the Panthers. And hell, in 2008, the Panthers had nightsticks. There’s one guy now, armed with nothing.
Let’s be serious about this. One month ago, a court struck down part of Pennsylvania’s voter ID law. Voters in the state do not have to show ID, though poll workers may ask for it. Since then, the state has continued to run ads that tell voters to come to polls with ID……
But it’s boring to talk about a bogus campaign to complicate the vote in the entire state. It’s exciting to show a scary-looking black dude on TV, and imply to the Fox News viewer that another scary trooper — maybe a UN worker! — is laying in wait at his polling place.
Precisely. There is absolutely nothing serious about this story, and it’s quite obvious that these “New Black Panther Party” people are as much engaged in street theater for the cameras as anything else. I don’t find it surprising at all that they showed up at the same polling place that they showed up at the same polling place they did four years ago. They knew it was likely that a Fox camera would be there again, heck for all I know they may have tipped Fox off that they would be there. This gives them their 15 minutes of fame and it gives Fox News an entire day to talk about a scary looking black guy.
That just means the intimidation worked, DUUUUURRRR!
In all seriousness, I made this post in another thread of yours after Jenos first showed up with the story.
It seems my questions were answered, thanks Doug.
but, but, but…
Anyone that could EVER vote for ANYONE but my canditate MUST be fraud and part of the overthow of the entire….
Aw, screw it.
Tomorrow won’t come soon enough.
I’m more concern with Democrats kicking out GOP inspectors. A judge had to send Sheriff deputies to reinstate them. How many ballot boxes were stuff in their absences? Then there are Republicans finding someone had already voted for them. How much voter fraud is there? There is very little preventive measures in place to prevent or even detect it.
I know liberals don’t care about voting integrity. Especially since they are usually the ones that do get caught even with the piss poor preventive measures that are in place now.
I think Fox News should just run this on the crawler at all times:
Black people exist! Hide under your beds!
@Liberal Capitalist:
What happens tomorrow? FoxNews stops being FoxNews?
Stupid.
@Wayne: “How much voter fraud is there?”
Virtually none.
Mike
Fox is a white supremacist network. Why they’re given a spot in the WH Press Corps is a mystery.
They should just run chryons with “N!gger n!gger n!gger” on it–that way they’d be more honest.
I’m more concern with Democrats kicking out GOP inspectors. A judge had to send Sheriff deputies to reinstate them.
Me too, but Doug would rather talk about Black Panthers (although I don’t care how friendly you are, billy clubs do not belong anywhere near polling places unless you are a police officer in uniform).
But the GOP inspectors had already been appointed by the court to be there, and were kicked out and had to go to court to once again get entrance.
That is the story not the black panther.
I would definately openly mock that guy if I saw him at my polling station – he should know better than to wear a black beret with a black coat and pants – he needs some purple or perhaps some chartruse in there.
Heavy boots? Oh my!!!
All Republicans aren’t racists…but if you are a racist, chances are excellent that you are a Republican. Fox is a branch of the Republican party. Ipso Facto…
If Fox News wasn’t there with a camera the black man would have tried to crush the nice old ladies in the door. That’s why he opened the door for them. To lure them to step inside. And be crushed…
If you watch the video, the guys just stands there and does nothing more sinister than open the door for a couple of elderly ladies. He’s trolling Fox news.
@Just Me: @Wayne:
Since you two seemed more informed about this story, can I ask either of you to give me something more than this article?
http://washingtonexaminer.com/philly-gop-poll-inspectors-being-ousted-for-dems/article/2512714#.UJlM_4b5V8H
All the information in that article is based on a memo from a GOP person that we do not get to see, nor a name of said GOP person who sent it in. We are left to trust said author. Is there another source that actually has proof of that stuff actually happening?
Seeing how if I was to post an article claiming that democratic operatives were being removed by republican operatives, I very much doubt you would take it seriously if all you had to go on was the the word of the author of said article.
Exactly.
Jerry Jackson, the guy above, was an authorized poll-watcher last time, and I’m sure he is this time.
Minister King Shamir Shabazz was not authorized last time, and left when he was asked to by police last time, after about two hours.
@Mr. Replica:
Is there another source that actually has proof of that stuff actually happening?
I don’t know about proof, but here’s a local article that at least quotes people, including the Democratic city election chair.
But I agree with Just Me, nightsticks should not be anywhere near a polling place. But just carrying a nightstick is not a criminal offense.
Now, if he’d touched or hit someone with it ….
From Doug’s post:
What Billy Clubs?
I was referring to the 2008 incident, not this one.
I don’t really care if this guy is standing there as long as he isn’t preventing anyone from entering.
Fox News:
WE PROVOKE!
YOU RUN and HIDE!
Here is a link from Fox that covers the Black Panther (although not in large detail) the removal of the election workers, and the Obama mural on the wall.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/06/judge-issuing-order-to-reinstate-booted-philadelphia-election-officials/#ixzz2BSJn14AN
There are some interesting comments at the bottom that mention it is pretty much standard procedure for the democrats to try and remove the republican workers-apparently the appointments come in late, and the democrats often fill the minority seats with other democrats who don’t want to give up their positions.
Maybe this is something the parties need to better prepared for, but the election workers being removed isn’t a false story and speaks to the integrity of the elections.
@Just Me: If I had signed up to work at a polling place and was late in showing up by half an hour, the fact that they replaced me with someone else isn’t some big conspiracy–it’s the fact that there are a hell of a lot of people needed at polling places and if I don’t do my job, I get replaced. Do you expect to waltz into work 30 minutes late on a day your boss has told you to be there strictly at 8 AM and NOT get blowback?
Its amazing that if you are anyone other than a person of color, you are racist! I had do not believe that ANYONE should be intimidated by their vote or their ability to vote, that being said I guarantee if a group of “white” individuals were to take up residence outside of a polling place they would be ask to leave as they have already. I have been threatened, windows broken out, and trash dumped out all over my yard sign for the election.
The Obama mural on the wall is the one that gets me. Now Republicans expect schools to decorate their walls with an eye to ensuring that the space used every 2 to 4 years as a polling place won’t hurt the partisan’s poor fee-fees.
@Just Me:
Thanks for the article.
They didn’t say how long exactly this has been going on, but they did say this has happened before. While this not something that should be accepted… unless someone is willing to present me with evidence that voter fraud or voting fraud has been perpetrated because of these incidents, I am not going to jump to any conclusions about the integrity of the voting being done in that polling place or places that have gone through similar situations.
@Ken Pierce:
White people are pretty much GUARANTEED to be outside polling places. They are called poll workers. We black folks have dealt with it for years. Now it’s time for you scaredy-cat white folks to get over yourselves.
@Nikki:
As someone on another website said, when they cover up Confederate flags and statues of Confederate traitors to avoid offending African-Americans then maybe we can talk.
Dream on…
@Ken Pierce:
I had do not believe that ANYONE should be intimidated by their vote or their ability to vote, that being said I guarantee if a group of “white” individuals were to take up residence outside of a polling place they would be ask to leave as they have already.
I was at my polling place today and there were a whole bunch of white people there! I guess I should have demanded they leave, right Ken?
Christ. This website has gone to the dogs.
Will the last intelligent person please turn out the lights.
Ta ta all.
What you see there is a problem in Pennsylvania. In Louisiana, there is no electioneering within 600 ft. of the entrance to a polling place.
In Pennsylvania, it’s either 10 or 15, I’ve forgotten which. Even in NYC, it’s 100 ft.
I don’t think Democrats are crazy, or desperate, enough to cheat. I do worry that some Republicans might be so crazed though, that they’d cheat “to make up for” all the Democratic ballot box stuffing that they think is going on.
Case in freaking point.
@Janis Gore:
100 feet in California
If, when all the facts are accounted for, it turns out that those Republicans were illegally removed, then that is a big problem.
The NBP presence — this year — is pretty “meh” IMHO (for the reasons that David Wiegel notes above).
And perhaps the best argument for the electoral college is that it somewhat minimizes the effects of these sorts of actions. Even in the “worst case scenario” — buying into Wayne’s paranoia — that democrats stuffed those boxes with millions of illegal votes (which, btw, there are numerous protections against), at best it would only give Obama Pennsylvania (which by all accounts he had already won).
@mattb:
If, when all the facts are accounted for, it turns out that those Republicans were illegally removed, then that is a big problem.
A reasoned comment. And, I would add the same would hold true if dems were proven to be arbitrarily removed from a polling place.
As a side note, everyone is nervous today, and there will be an increased sensitivity to every nuanced sign that something or someone might be gaming or defrauding the election for the other candidate.
@Janis Gore:
Actually, in Philadelphia it is.
@mattb: “If, when all the facts are accounted for, it turns out that those Republicans were illegally removed, then that is a big problem.”
If, when all the facts are accounted for, it turns out that Barack Obama is actually a space alien who plans to turn Americans into food for his race in his second term, then that is a big problem, too.
There is no end of absurdities one can dream up and announce that, if true, it will be a big problem.
Of course Jan finds this a reasoned comment. It’s the Fox News way of arguing: “Say, what if this horrible fantasy we’re creating right now is actually true! What are the ramifications? We’re going to spend the next week exploring them.”
@Ken Pierce: Watch the video and then explain t me what this person did that twould be considered a crime.
@jan:
I walked to my polling place, headed on, chatted with neighbors, walked to Jamba Juice. I saw no one nervous, FWIW.
@MM: Right after the camera cut away he spit on the sidewalk. You didn’t see that?
@Janis Gore:
Where I vote in PA, there are people right outside the doors. However, they just hand me pamphlets and thank me for voting. Other than that they say nothing. No “Vote for X” or what not. Then again, I am not in the city, nor have voted any where else. So, I have no idea what it’s like in the township over.
By the way they were all white people. However one of the males was wearing a union jacket and his hands were covered with callouses . I wonder if FoxNews would be interested?
Black people need to learn to dress more respectfully. It’s not so hard to check with the white people in the neighborhood to make sure you’re not about to put something on that will violate their fashion sense.
That guy doesn’t need to wear a black beret, just like Trayvor Martin didn’t need to wear a hoodie. Bad things happen when black people dress wrong.
@wr:
Looking at my original comment, the only thing I would do is remove the word “big.”
Any attempt, regardless of party, to explicitly screw with an election is wrong and needs to be stopped. That’s why I object to how most, if not all., voter ID laws have been implemented. Its why I keep pointing to the lack of reform in the area of Absentee Balloting by all these people who are seriously concerned about election reform.
The ejection of poll observers who have a legal right to be there is something to be concerned about. But I also don’t think that it will have any major outcome on the election one way or the other. But the issue of it’s outcome is less important than enforcing the law and trying to keep the playing ground as level as possible.
Oregon election worker fired for altering ballots to Republican straight ticket
@Mr. Replica:
See? It’s just like conservatives say — there IS voter fraud going on….!
On the broader topic of elections — and this connects across a number of OTB posts, especially the two Ohio ones — I would much rather see people engaging in a discussion of David Frum’s recent essay at CNN about the many issues with the election infrastructure within this country;
Remember on the way home from voting stop by Walmart and get some ammo…and some beer.
@JKB:
Why?
You can never have to much ammo or to much beer.
Oh and in the interest of saving the world from climate change, you should always buy more whenever you are near the store.
@JKB:
There are many people with however many thousand rounds, who would be better prepared with that money in an IRA.
@john personna:
I dunno about that. If the world goes to sh!t I am more inclined to think like JKB. What is money going to do for you when bottle-caps are the new currency?
@Stormy Dragon: I did not know that. But a misdemeanor, presumably?
@Ken Pierce: LOL
I wonder why so many people believe that most racists are Republicans?
The fact that this thought doesn’t cause you to pause and think for a moment may well support your idea to get ammo and beer.
And a gun to fire the ammo may also be useful, but then probably not.
@Mr. Replica:
I spent $20 preparing for Y2K. Learned my lesson.
@C. Clavin:
Close. If you are an obvious racist, chances are that you are Republican. If you are a subtle, politically correct racist the chances are that you’re a Democrat.
@JKB: “You can never have to much ammo or to much beer.”
Or, apparently, too few o’s.
@Davebo:
/impersonation of The Dude or his Dudeness.
Obviously you’re not a gamer.
@john personna:
Assuming things don’t fail. But in a crisis, lead is the only precious metal that can defend itself. If the bad guys show up, you just give them a little taste and that spoils their appetite.
@Mr. Replica:
Oop, sorry, neither am I.
And along similar lines, this button is lovely:
@JKB:
I think you claim engineering experience. You know what MTBF means.
What is the mean time between that kind of failure in the US? Generally in any modern market democracy?
If the MTBF is a century or more, it is a misallocation to invest more than trivial amounts in the prospect.
(Preppers are like hoarders, with just a different screw loose.)
@john personna:
I thought that, but I wasn’t sure. But that didn’t stop me from trying to figure out how many bottle-caps you could buy with $20. And how they would come about. Like did you just buy the caps from someone or did you just buy $20 worth of cheap bottled beer… LOL
It’s been a long day, haven’t slept since yesterday.
@Mr. Replica:
LOL back again. I used to homebrew. I just looked in my closet and I have a sealed 1-gross bag of bottle caps. $3.95 whenever.
@john personna:
Well, if Obama wins, I am going to write him a strongly worded letter to make him sign an executive order to redistribute your post-apocalyptic currency to me. So, you better watch out!
@John D’Geek:
Sorry but that is false. One of my aunt’s childhood friends is an overt, N-word using racist. She is also and always has been a democrat. They don’t discuss such topics but the assumption is that my aunt’s friend simply didn’t vote for President. Although she might have this time being easily victimized as a nursing home patient.
@john personna:
I’m not sure what you are relating as MTBF but natural disasters, even civil unrest doesn’t really work that way. However, we also have more failure vectors, as the number of units increases the MTBF decreases.
How often does your hard disk fail? Probably not often. However, Google has hundreds of thousands of hard disks and has several people who just go around changing out hard disks. Same device but the MTBF of the total becomes hours rather than years.
Doug, the next time you get called a “Republican shill,” point to this post. It thoroughly establishes your credentials.
With all the stories of voting illegalities — the Republican poll watchers being thrown out, a poll worker wearing an Obama hat, an Obama campaign poster in a polling station, the Obama mural — you ignored them all to mention the Black Panther.
And as for the Republican allegedly caught cheating… I can understand that. The temptation to say “the Democrats are cheating like hell, I might as well do something to balance it out” is powerful.
I can understand it, but I will never condone it. If the woman in question did it, she needs to be prosecuted and, if convicted, sentenced — preferably to the max.
As for those pooh-poohing the mural, the hat, and the other crap — the laws about campaigning in and around the polls are clear. If you think they’re no big deal, then get off your asses and change those laws. I realize it would be against your nature to do so — it would level the playing field, and you can’t have that — but show the slightest bit of integrity.
@MBunge: I talked to a lady while in line to vote the other day. She says that her mother still votes in every election. Her mother died 8 years ago!!!
@Just Me: Then I can wear my “Ole Miss” shirt and stand outside at the polls?