Posted on 09/07/2010 11:31:32 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
When U.S. Senate nominee Alvin Greene accidentally and inexplicably won the June Democratic primary, many - and I was among them - blamed Greene's opponent, the Democratic Party and, yes, the media for not having shed more light on this unknown candidate.
His win was so improbable that media from across the country - and world - rushed to learn about the enigmatic Greene, who went from not being covered at all to receiving more coverage than any other politician in the state except gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley.
As a journalist, I guess I should be satisfied; light is finally being shined on Greene. So why am I not? Why does practically every news report on Greene now make me cringe and wish that the media would back off and Greene would return to the silent campaigning that helped him stumble into a primary win?
While it was quite appropriate for reporters and news agencies to learn as much as possible about Greene and share it with the public, I think we found out all we needed to know pretty quickly. Practically everyone recognized early on that Greene has some serious limitations; some suspect the problem is developmental or mental. He shouldn't hold public office.
But some members of the media are at least pretending to cover Greene as if he's any other candidate on the trail, even showing up at so-called campaign events as if they're expecting him to become an eloquent, focused politician with a serious message and making a serious challenge.
That's not going to happen. Ever had a hair-brained idea or dream about doing something that, however noble, was so far-fetched that you knew you couldn't attain it? And you never tried, because you knew that you had no chance of pulling it off - or that if you did, you wouldn't be able to handle it?
Alvin Greene went where you wouldn't dare. And he achieved something he simply isn't prepared for and can't handle.
I don't know whether he knows that or not. Most of us do, even those who claim they intend to vote for him.
Every serious journalist knows what they're going to get from Greene. What are they really after when they travel to his home, trail him to an adult day care or invite him into the studio?
It appears to me now that some are simply out to get the weirdest Alvin Greene story, and that bothers me. More and more, all we're reminded of is his shortcomings.
Greene put himself in this position by asking voters to elect him as one of South Carolina's two representatives in the 100-person U.S. Senate. A military veteran without a job and little money, one who has never run for office before, plunks down $10,000 of what apparently was his own cash to file for the U.S. Senate. He doesn't campaign, doesn't advertise, doesn't have a Web site and defeats a former judge and legislator. On top of that, Greene recently was indicted on two obscenity-related charges; he was accused of showing a pornographic image to a University of South Carolina student last November.
But let's be real. Greene isn't a threat to unseat Sen. Jim DeMint.
Not everyone has presented Greene in a bad light. State senior writer Wayne Washington has written tasteful, probative stories about Greene that told the candidate's story, challenged him to explain his positions and informed the public.
But there are more examples of coverage that appears to have devolved into unnecessary public ridicule of Greene. How does making someone who clearly is challenged and isn't a real challenger for office look like a buffoon benefit the public?
Take for example what happened when Greene ordered a TV reporter off of his property. When the reporter stopped briefly to talk with Greene's brother, Greene began howling and wailing the words, "no" and "go." That became the story: Listen to the howls of Alvin Greene.
When Greene did an interview at a Charlotte radio station, the host played a rap called "Alvin Greene on the Scene" as Greene danced. "Now you're biting your lower lip there, Alvin," the host said as Greene danced. "You're looking like a white guy at a wedding, biting your lower lip there. Knock that off; you can't do that." Greene adjusts his lip. "There you go." And there it went all over the Web and TV.
This just doesn't feel right on some level.
Yes, Greene is fair game.
Should the media just ignore Greene? No. But we don't have to make a mockery of him either.
In other news, Alvin Greene presents his manifesto to an overseas paper — THE GUARDIAN :
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/31/greene-pens-manifesto-betraying-lackluster-interviews/
EXCERPT :
Surprise Senate Democratic candidate Alvin Greene isn’t known for his gift of gab — but the South Carolina longer-than-long shot nonetheless has the byline on a “give ‘em hell” op-ed in the United Kingdom’s Guardian newspaper filled with zingers, detailed policy proposals and biblical parables that have political watchers in the Palmetto State scratching their heads.
The manifesto likely won’t be enough to change the outcome of Greene’s race against Republican Sen. Jim DeMint, who is widely expected to crush him in November. But Greene continues to hope that lightning strikes twice — and that he can score an upset similar to the one he pulled off in the Democratic primary against former South Carolina state legislator Vic Rawl, whom he stunningly defeated in a come-from-nowhere vote.
In Greene’s “manifesto for a fairer America,” which was published Friday, he says he wants to represent South Carolina “because I know millionaire senators in Washington do not serve hardworking Americans.”
“Do any of these fat cats know what it’s like to be unemployed? To not know how you will feed your children and pay your mortgage?” he wrote.
“I’m unemployed, and, if elected, I can teach the Harvard rich kids in the White House and the Senate a thing or two,” he wrote.
(CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE REST)
Yes. Unkind and unseemly, too.
No, you never know how far a moron can get. Look how far Biden got. He should have been made a mockery before he was an elected fool.
I’d still take this guy over all the other Democrats up there. I kinda like the fact he knows what it’s like to be Unemployed and wants to do something about it. Sounds to me like, after listening to Demint and a few other conservatives, he would actually be a pretty good Public official.
A retarded guy wins the Democrat nomination for Senator and thats that. You can’t escape the fact. Facts is facts.
Yes, he’s doing fine all by himself...............
In his own words : “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Alvin Greene is a guy who simply cries out to be ridiculed.
Problem is, he's literally a moron. His nomination is an indictment of a majority of the base of the Democrat Party in South Carolina. And that is really worth noting, IMO.
RE: A retarded guy wins the Democrat nomination for Senator and thats that
This so called retard has a college degree from the University of South Carolina and SERVED HIS COUNTRY in the army and air force.
Not trying to justify supporting him, but his background is BETTER than a lot of our America-hating members sitting in Cognress.
You on drugs? He probably reads at 3rd grade level; maybe an 80 to 85 IQ tops. You cant be taking much of anything seriously to be saying something like that.
RE: Sounds to me like, after listening to Demint and a few other conservatives, he would actually be a pretty good Public official.
Here’s his solution to the problem of Unemployment in South Carolina, according to what I’ve read (Most from his MANIFESTO FOR A FAIRER AMERICA):
* Greene favors measures to lower the price of gas and supports offshore drilling.
* He would let the Bush tax cuts expire and supports reform of the financial industry.
* Greene supports job creation and would increase highway construction projects and pursue alternative energy sources.
* He proposed to build new evacuation routes from the coast.
* He also wants to expand water and sewer systems into rural communities, use renewable energy where it is possible.
* He has also called for better school facilities and pay raises for teachers.
* Greene favors winding down the wars in the Middle East and “using that money for domestic programs, such as job creation, education, and Social Security.”
(AMONG OTHERS)
He got discharged for not being able to do basic tasks with strict supervision. That happens rarely. I dont know anything about his so called "degree" (probably got it online), but observing him as closely as one can from afar, he certainly seems a tad "slow".
Yes, it is. Let him do it himself.
By the way, does anyone know where I can purchase one a GI Al to help save the economy?
RE: I wish Alvin well. Just don’t give him any Cabinet level appointments.
How about Jim DeMint hiring Greene to run errands for him ?
I absolutely hate the way he has been mocked and ridiculed, especially by the Democrats and late night comedians. He’s obviously not mentally competent and I can’t believe how cruel the coverage has been.
He’s guaranteed 40 to 45 percent of the vote, however.....it’s that “D” thing.
Alvin Greene is getting the same treatment by the elite Marxist media and the Dem Party that is usually reserved for the conservative, religious, patriotic, American working men & women who pay their salaries.
In other words: We are all Alvins.
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