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The Right Plays The Race Card
Red States USA ^ | 3/1/2006 | Michelle Malkin

Posted on 03/01/2006 4:59:32 AM PST by FerdieMurphy

Last week, I skewered Democrat opportunists who have turned into tough-sounding profiling advocates to exploit the White House ports debacle.

Today, I must express bottomless disgust with those on the Right who have turned into mush-mouthed race-card players to shift blame away from President Bush for his miserable mishandling of the situation.

It's one thing for feckless grievance-mongers on the Left to accuse Americans genuinely concerned about national security of Islamophobia. It's quite another for the Right to sink to such a level in accusing all good-faith critics of demagoguery. Reasonable people can disagree on the process pitfalls and security implications of the deal. But the elite Right has simply lost its marbles:

Here's GOP strategist and Muslim voter outreach architect Grover Norquist in the Los Angeles Times dismissing critics of the deal: "The only whiners left by next week will be the registered bigots."

Conservative commentator Larry Kudlow: "This whole brouhaha surrounding the Bush administration's green-light to a United Arab Emirates company slated to manage six major U.S. ports has nothing to do with protecting homeland security. Allow me to give it its proper name: Islamophobia."

New York Times columnist David Brooks: "This Dubai port deal has unleashed a kind of collective mania we haven't seen in decades. First seized by the radio hatemonger Michael Savage, it's been embraced by reactionaries of left and right, exploited by Empire State panderers, and enabled by a bipartisan horde of politicians who don't have the guts to stand in front of a xenophobic tsunami."

The UAE is our "friend," we are told, and to question that assertion, we are scolded, is to engage in reckless prejudice and life-threatening insult. Yes, well, some friends are more equal than others. To instinctively trust a longtime, stalwart Western democracy more than an Arab newcomer with a mixed record on combating terror, international crime and Islamic extremism is not "Islamophobia." It's self-preservationism in a time of war.

We are at war, aren't we?

President Bush himself is ultimately responsible for encouraging the race-card players, thanks to his stunning comment that "those who are questioning" the deal need to "step up and explain why all of a sudden a Middle Eastern company is held to a different standard than a Great British company."

Yes, there are countless homegrown terrorists across England, where Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., the maritime company purchased by state-owned Dubai Ports World, operates. So what? So, now, a peaceful Western democracy that is infiltrated against its will by al Qaeda is on the same plane as an Arab federation whose ruling emiratis ran interference for Osama bin Laden before Sept. 11, which continued to be a logistical hub for al Qaeda for years after, which refuses to recognize the existence of Israel, bans our textbooks as "racist" because they point out Syria's state sponsorship of terrorism, and is boycotting Denmark over the Mohammed Cartoons?

Now, all the proselytizers who tell us to collect the dots and connect the dots want us to throw them all away lest we give offense?

Yes, the UAE has taken steps to cooperate in the War on Terror after the Sept. 11 attacks. Give them a pat on the back. But don't tell me that their actions over the past four years elevate them to the same level of partnership and trustworthiness as Great Britain.

That's offensive.

Perhaps Bush should consult with his own Justice Department, which understood the need for heightened scrutiny of Middle Eastern illegal aliens in the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11, and instituted temporary targeted fingerprinting and registration policies for Middle Eastern tourists, businessmen and students.

Bigots!

Perhaps he should ask his own Border Patrol, which is on heightened alert for illegal Middle Eastern border-crossers.

Bigots!

Perhaps he should ask his own FBI, which is zeroing in on mosques and Muslim charities instead of Lutheran churches and the March of Dimes in the domestic War on Terror.

Bigots!

(But don't bother asking Transportation Department Norm Mineta anything -- well, other than "Why the heck are you still here, Normie?")

The sad lesson of Portgate: Scream "racism" loud enough, and people will blame the messengers and back down. By the Bush standard, we who put American security above Arab sensitivity are all bigots now.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: arabquarterback; dowhatbushtellsme; dubai; dubaie; grovernorquist; homelandsecurity; hushbimbo; hypocrites; ifclintondidthis; libplaybook; locksteppers; malkin; malkinpileson; mcnabb; mcnabbisarab; michellemalkin; mindnumbbushrobots; muslims; norquist; portdebacle; ports; racecard; uae
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To: ClaireSolt
She jumped in too soon and is in way over her head and should admit it.

Isn't that the truth.

The woman who FIRST played the race card now decries being caught playing the race card.

61 posted on 03/01/2006 11:00:27 PM PST by Howlin ("Quick, he's bleeding! Is there a <strike>doctor</strike> reporter in the house?")
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To: no dems

are you refering to post 58? I heard Norm on O'Reilly talking about the bill, if you want to know more maybe you can read the O'Reilly transcript from last night.


62 posted on 03/01/2006 11:02:07 PM PST by Echo Talon
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To: Echo Talon
My point is that if the Democraps are so worried about foreign influence, they wouldn't mind a Super Bowl-sized airing of grievences--and dirty laundry-- in a public forum with FULL media attention. If "Portgate" is bad news...Where does "Chinagate" rank? If the Democrats want to use this to ruin the President, what could Chinagate warrant? The death penalty?

If what I stated above was to take place (which it wouldn't) I am willing to see 2/3rds of the Republicans thrown under the bus if 4/5 of the Democraps go with them.

The fact that Portgate is getting this level attention does not bother me. I think it deserves it. Although I STILL haven't come down with a firm opinion either way. I can't think of an issue in which I can see both sides of the argument like I can this one (Among the participating CONSERVATIVES, at least, not the political minded liberals)

The fact that AbleDanger, Chinagate, etc. have NOT received the appropriate level of media concern and attention (IMO, at least 10 times the level of Portgate is justifiable) proves to me we live in a "government media matrix" a la Keannu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne.

If there was any justice, the media would have their First Amendment credentials taken away for their incompetence bias, and collusion with the Democrat Party.

63 posted on 03/01/2006 11:04:31 PM PST by Captainpaintball
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To: Junior_G

Someone explain something to me. I don't get any of the comments about this being a matter of "race" at all. What race is it that we are allegedly bigoted about? Arabs are considered in the U.S. as of the Caucasian race. Most are a Semitic peoples just like the Jews are. Jews are considered Caucasian; Arabs are considered Caucasian. Where does racial bigotry come in at all? Now there may be religious bigotry, as Arabs are mostly Muslims, and it is the hardcore Muslim ideologues that are causing all the trouble. But I just don't get at all comments of racial bigotry. It's just hurling those words out there in order to stop real discussion of the issues, by dismissing arguments against the ports deal as bigotry. It disgusts me, and too many Pubs, including Bush and the Bushbots have stooped to this level. It's just like what the Dems do, not what I would ever expect from Pubs.


64 posted on 03/01/2006 11:11:42 PM PST by flaglady47
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To: ClaireSolt
I was initially 100% opposed to this deal. I realize now that I do not know enough about the day to day operations of our ports or the access that will be had by the UAE to our security matters to argue forcefully either way.

On thing I am sure of, however, is that playing the race card is a sure sign of weakness in your arguments.

You can disagree with MM about the ports issue, but she is dead on about the Right playing the race card.

65 posted on 03/01/2006 11:11:47 PM PST by Washi
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To: Captainpaintball

only reason this has gotten the news is because its an election year.


66 posted on 03/01/2006 11:12:38 PM PST by Echo Talon
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To: Washi

That seems backwards to me. All I can say is watch Hillary Clinton. One day she was talking about vouchers in terms of which religion was OK, the next day the only good Arab is a dead arab.


67 posted on 03/02/2006 4:26:47 AM PST by ClaireSolt (.)
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To: MNJohnnie
This hysteric refusal to admit error raises serious questions about Ms Malkins intellectual credibility.

Who's next on your list? Ann Coulter?

I've said this before, but what are Americans but a people sunning themselves into a stupor at a resort while foreign help handles all the details of running this resort?

This scenario would last until time to behead the guests.

If some of us are going to love muslims, then do it from afar....across oceans preferably. The closer they get to us the more we're likely to end up dead.

The UAE in a recent year voted against the USA in the UN 100% of the time. This entire picture of foreigners running things inside the USA stinks!

68 posted on 03/02/2006 4:52:35 AM PST by FerdieMurphy (For English, Press One. (Tookie, you won the Pulitzer and Nobel prizes. Oh, too late.))
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To: DJ Taylor
I’m sure no one in Homeland Security will ask any of us our opinion on this, as they are the experts in this area.

Homeland Security is comprised of a gaggle of geese.

Experts?

They are on permanent OJT that will last for decades.....meanwhile.....

69 posted on 03/02/2006 4:57:00 AM PST by FerdieMurphy (For English, Press One. (Tookie, you won the Pulitzer and Nobel prizes. Oh, too late.))
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To: Echo Talon
...will require ALL of them to have US managers control their business/terminals.

These US "managers" would no doubt be selected from the enormous pool of bureaucratic numbskulls who are responsible for most every SNAFU.

70 posted on 03/02/2006 5:03:01 AM PST by FerdieMurphy (For English, Press One. (Tookie, you won the Pulitzer and Nobel prizes. Oh, too late.))
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To: All

see:

http://www.sierratimes.com/06/03/02/Henry.htm


71 posted on 03/02/2006 5:11:56 AM PST by FerdieMurphy (For English, Press One. (Tookie, you won the Pulitzer and Nobel prizes. Oh, too late.))
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To: rcocean
The DUmmies are more rational?

:^)

72 posted on 03/02/2006 5:49:24 AM PST by Do not dub me shapka broham ("The moment that someone wants to forbid caricatures, that is the moment we publish them.")
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To: FerdieMurphy
"I’m sure no one in Homeland Security will ask any of us our opinion on this, as they are the experts in this area."

I would have put a sarcasm tag on that line, but I thought it might detract from the rest of my post.

73 posted on 03/02/2006 6:32:26 AM PST by DJ Taylor (Once again our country is at war, and once again the Democrats have sided with our enemy.)
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To: Junior_G

good observation


74 posted on 03/02/2006 7:20:50 AM PST by FBD (surf's up....way up!)
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To: Howlin

>"The woman who FIRST played the race card now decries being caught playing the race card."<


-Malkin also used the race card word: "Islamophobia" ?

Can you quote her verbatim, or provide a link to where she "first played the race card"?


75 posted on 03/02/2006 7:30:34 AM PST by FBD (surf's up....way up!)
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To: FBD
-Malkin also used the race card word: "Islamophobia" ?

I never said that, but nice try.

76 posted on 03/02/2006 7:48:10 AM PST by Howlin ("Quick, he's bleeding! Is there a <strike>doctor</strike> reporter in the house?")
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To: Howlin

>"I never said that, but nice try."<


You said:>"The woman who FIRST played the race card now decries being caught playing the race card."<

Can you back up that statement with a quote from Malkin?
I'd like to see where she is playing the race card.


77 posted on 03/02/2006 8:01:38 AM PST by FBD (surf's up....way up!)
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To: FBD

Try reading any (most) of her columns.


78 posted on 03/02/2006 8:10:41 AM PST by Howlin ("Quick, he's bleeding! Is there a <strike>doctor</strike> reporter in the house?")
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To: Howlin

You're ducking from your assertion:
>"The woman who FIRST played the race card now decries being caught playing the race card."<

Perhaps you should retract your statement as being factual, since it appears that you can't provide a quote that backs up your claim.


79 posted on 03/02/2006 8:18:39 AM PST by FBD (surf's up....way up!)
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To: FBD; Dane
Because she ALWAYS plays the race card -- and when it suits her "story," she actually leaves out pertinent information that might make her case weaker.

For instance, in this article:

PORTGATE AND THE RUBBER-STAMPERS

in her rant about Dubai, she conventiently left out this important fact:

May 2005: Dubai signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. to join the Megaports Initiative. Dubai will be the first government in the Middle East to participate in the scheme, which is intended to detect and seize shipments of radioactive material

Link

Now why would she do that?

BTW, you will note that she is NAME CALLING in her article.

80 posted on 03/02/2006 8:23:10 AM PST by Howlin ("Quick, he's bleeding! Is there a <strike>doctor</strike> reporter in the house?")
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