A racist rant too far? Police investigate Taki the playboy pundit

Independent ^ | 01 February 2003 | By Sholto Byrnes

[kms61]

"Better a straightforward Fascist than a Weasel Liberal."

Well, in the sense that with the former you at least know what you're dealing with up front, you may have a point.

If that's Taki's only good quality, it's faint praise indeed. I'm no fan of authoritarianism from either the Left or the Right.

[Oztrich Boy]

Unfortunately not. And it's headed by Commander Cressida Dick.

Now come on. You made that up.

I have to believe that. If what you said was true, then this BBC Story would be true too. And that's just too depressing

[Cacique]

So, what's the deal with this? Calling on the UK expert opinion.

[xm177e2]

If he's not actually a fascist he's skating awfully close to it.

Pinochet and Franco especially are the real deal when it comes to "fascism." That having been said, I too think it's a shame the state would take legal action against him for writing that crap.

[ArcLight]

The only thing worse than Taki is the idea that his idiot comments could be considered a criminal offense in a supposedly civilized country. You don't outlaw stupidity, including bigoted stupidity. The leaders of the Orwellian-sounding "Diversity Directorate" should be just as ashamed of themselves as the shameless dope fiend Taki.

[MadIvan]

Taki is well known for saying outrageous things and being outrageous. Cocaine possession busted him before - this is the first time he is being prosecuted for saying something outrageous. As the article shows, that's his stock in trade. I hope really that someone says, "Look, he has a right to say what he likes - he's outrageous, who cares"

It's not like the people who read the Spectator are going to create a riot anyway.

Regards, Ivan

[general_re]

Okay, I'll say it. He has a right to say what he likes - he's outrageous, who cares. He's still an a**hole.

But, as much as it pains me to do so, I'll hold my nose and defend the little sh*tbag's right to speak...

[dighton]

Agreed. He's an a**hole whose motto (like Julie Burchill's) is "Look at me!", but that shouldn't land him in prison.

[oldironsides]

This writer is outrageous. I find the British police sending unarmed officers on an Islamic terrorist raid mind boggling. They had some killed and injured because the Islamic terrorists were armed. The people ought to more offended by the stupidity of their police.

[general_re]

Plus, if one is really hard up to see him behind bars, it's really only a matter of time before he does something to really deserve prison time, whether it's drunkenly mowing down the flora, or attempting to waltz through Customs with a pocketful of blow. The man's got a self-destructive streak a mile wide - why rush things? ;)

[aculeus]

Taki, who many years ago was either a National Review or American Spectator regular, is sort of an "upper class" Archie Bunker.

He can be amusing but like Archie doesn't know when to cool it.

His current association with the anti-Bush Buke and Margolis doesn't thrill me.

[Rodney King]

Bump for Taki!

[Stingray51]

First of all, criminalizing opinions, however odious, published as such in a newspaper, is a blatant attack on the most fundamental of the rights of man. The only thing criminal I see is the investigation itself.

My next question, which the article ignores, is whether what he said was true. Were the perpetrators black people of West Indian descent? If not, then I guess he was wrong and the article's critics can attack him on that basis. But if yes, is truth a defense in modern day England?

[A. Pole]

He loathes Israel, is soft on Saddam, and has as much brainpower as PJB.He deserves all he gets.

Hmm, this is a solution. Execute all those who critices Sharon policy or who like PJB. Jailing will not do, it will make them martyrs like Mumia.

And why not to delegalise Democratic party? We could abolish the Republican party primaries and reserve power for the well born (from a few carefully selected families). The elections could remain, but with only one candidate to chose. Way to go if you want to defend freedom!

[AliciaMoore]

You have no idea what you are talking about. I am so sick of people who do not live in Gstaad and are not friends with us going around using terms like 'Eurotrash' because honestly out of Taki's group and yours I'm guessing that the word trash would be applied more fittingly to yours. However, while I can't stand that word being used to describe wealthy Europeans (as it simply does not make sense) I do not expect anyone to hold back on it, because everyone has the right to express an opinion.

Which brings me to my next point, Taki is a journalist, he should be able to write and say whatever he wants. I cannot stand this wave of PC thugs. It is so shallow, fake and ridiculous. People are just posturing and dancing around the truth like a bunch of fools, all to worried to say anything and needing to check that their sentences are not offending anyone before they speak.

As well as that, Taki is right in everything that he says. I might not say it outloud, but he just speaks the truth, and scared little cowards hiding for so long behind PC and liberal jargin can't handle it. Well get over it and grow up, this isn't the playground, in the real world the truth hurts and you might be offended every once in a while, but just suck it up and act your age!

[gd124]

I didn't write the article, I simply posted it.