When liberals use the word "racist" these days, they normally do so in two contexts First, they use it to end discussion of a vexing issue such as racial preferences or even tax cuts or welfare reform (per Charlie Rangel and John Lewis). Second, they use it as a gratuitous insult, one that they, by virtue of their status as liberals, feel entitled to hurl indiscriminately at conservatives

Comedian Al Franken is an insult man, not a commentator on vexing issues. Thus, it is not surprising that his gratuitous reference to David Horowitz as a "racist" falls into the second category of usage described in the previous paragraph. As Jay Nordlinger points out, however, Horowitz does not take such insults without fighting back. Thus, as Nordlinger puts it, Horowitz has answered "in a big damning way." The response includes this:

As it happens I marched in my first civil rights protest in 1948 before Al Franken was born. For more than fifty years I have supported minorities and defended their civil rights in public word and deed, and raised millions of dollars to help inner city minorities whom racism has scarred. In fact there is no single cause – except America’s wars against totalitarian foes – to which I have devoted myself more consistently that than that of racial equality. Not a shred of evidence exists to the contrary. I have written more than a million words on racial and political matters -- all of them public record. There is not a single sentence, or phrase, or comment of mine that could be cited to justify Franken’s attack. . . .

My answer to Al Franken is this: I am going to post your photograph on FrontPageMag.com, which is viewed by a million visitors monthly. The photo will be identified with these words: “Al Franken,: Racist.” The photo will be prominently posted until you apologize to me publicly for this attack. When you have made an apology, I will disclose my evidence for characterizing you as a racist or withdraw the charge.

I'm guessing there will be no Franken apology given what likely would follow. So I'll have to get used to seeing Franken's mug on a daily basis.

UPDATE: David Horowitz writes: "Thanks for the support. As the hammering I've received in the last two days from MediaMatters [shows], Al's pals are not going to take this rebuke lying down."

Posted by Paul at 03:14 PM  |    |  

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/mt/mt-diespammers.cgi/8836

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference We'll be seeing you, Al:

» Horowitz Fights Back from Secure Liberty
David Horowitz is not one to back down from a challenge. His tireless work to put forth some fact based arguments against slavery reparations have earned him an endless barage of insults and unimaginative criticism. So I'm glad to see him putting Al ... [Read More]

Tracked on December 1, 2004 08:29 PM

» The Five O'Clock . . . Several from Running at the Mouth
Some of this was supposed to post earlier, but Typepad was having issues. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the linkage. Here's a mildly interesting blog by a guy who claims to have cheated casinos for a quarter century. And, apparently [Read More]

Tracked on December 1, 2004 09:05 PM

» The R bomb from KURU Lounge
The thing is though once that bomb is let loose it changes everything it shows me how little you think of me, and it insures that I am in no way inclined to ever reach out to you again. On a larger scale that is what Al Franken accomplished, by his a... [Read More]

Tracked on December 1, 2004 10:32 PM

» Good For The Goose from Ipse Dixit
<Via Powerline>... [Read More]

Tracked on December 2, 2004 12:48 PM

» Mega Linky Link from Intermittent Stream
There's just so much going on today. Here's a feast of stuff to gorge your mind on:I heard about this one, but Michelle does it up in her usual style which I adore so much. Not to mention her Listmania... [Read More]

Tracked on December 2, 2004 02:23 PM