Reader op-ed: It’s still okay to bash Native Americans—at least on the Right
The following op-ed is by local Dump Bachmann blogger and Daily Mole site member Karl Bremer:
What happens when a leading local Republican blogger publishes a virulently racist screed that refers to Native Americans as “dirt worshipping heathens,” “domestic terrorists permanently stuck in the Stone Age” and “humanoid animals,” and describes them as a race “so primitive that they created nothing of any lasting value, nor did they contribute anything of note to the world”?
In Minnesota, evidently nothing—at least from his right-leaning compatriots in the Minnesota Organization of Bloggers and the mainstream media.
Minneapolis regulatory affairs consultant Tracy Eberly published such a piece on his local blog Anti-Strib on October 11. Those are just a few salient quotes from it. If you want to read his further defense of genocide against Native Americans, you’ll have to visit his website yourself. Suffice to say it would make Andrew Jackson proud.
Eberly is a member of a group known as the Minnesota Organization of Bloggers, or more appropriately, MOB. Self-described as “a group of mostly center-right bloggers,” MOB includes virtually every Republican blogger in the Twin Cities, including GOP-affiliated Minnesota Democrats Exposed, TCF-connected Power Line, and St. Paul Pioneer Press editorial board member Craig Westover. Eberly reportedly finished third in the runoff for their little club’s “mayor,” so he clearly has their respect.
Yet since Eberly’s “dirt-worshipping heathens” column ran last month, the silence from the usually fawning MOB mob has been deafening.
Minnesota Democrats Exposed is authored by Michael Brodkorb, a paid consultant to the Minnesota GOP, Norm Coleman and many other past GOP campaigns. Brodkorb calls Anti-Strib.com a “daily read,” and it’s the first permanent link on his website, where he has been flogging Al Franken relentlessly lately for Franken’s statements about Native Americans. Yet Brodkorb, an oft-quoted blogger who is not known for his reluctance to express his opinion about Democrats when they cross the line of civility, has been mute about the viciousness of his own colleague’s writing.
Anti-Strib.com also has the support of a blog bearing Governor Tim Pawlenty’s name and likeness, Party of Pawlenty. While Pawlenty may have little or nothing to do with the website honoring him, it clearly seems blessed with his imprimatur.
Party of Pawlenty features a permanent link to Anti-Strib on its home page, too—right below the governor’s picture. One can only wonder what the uproar would be if a blog with the governor’s name and image on it prominently linked to an openly white supremacist site.
Even Westover, with his bully pulpit on the Pioneer Press editorial page, has remained on the sidelines as his cohort Eberly’s writing runs roughshod over human decency.
Substitute “Blacks” or “Jews” or “Christians” or “Catholics” for “Indians” in Eberly’s harangue, and what do you think the reaction would be, even from the right? So how is it that someone can pen a tirade defending genocide against Native Americans and their words just hang out there on the Internet, linked in perpetuity from Minnesota Democrats Exposed, Party of Pawlenty, and other right-wing websites?
Perhaps because in this day and age, Native Americans are the last minority that it’s safe to denigrate without fear of widespread repercussion. One only need look at our nation’s capital’s football team for proof.
And if you think the recent apology from the bigots over at the KQRS morning show hosts means things are getting better, you’re only kidding yourself. That controversy elicited a further post on Anti-Strib.com branding the Red Lake Indian Reservation a “cesspool.”
As a Minnesotan, I am ashamed to see Tracy Eberly’s ugly racism still alive and well in our state, which has over 80,000 Native American residents. As a person of Native American heritage, I am even more repulsed.
Isn’t it time Republicans and their internet and media cheerleaders quit pointing their fingers at liberal political groups and their TV ads, and cleaned up the hatefulness in their own back yard? A good place to start would be a repudiation of one of their own family members, Tracy Eberly and Anti-Strib, for the shame he’s laid upon their doorstep. Because as long as they remain silent about fellow MOBster Tracy Eberly and his “earth-worshipping heathens” slurs, they will all wear the mantle of racism in my eyes.
Karl Bremer is a Stillwater writer and part Cherokee Indian.
26 Responses to “Reader op-ed: It’s still okay to bash Native Americans—at least on the Right”
Man, I love it when Karl digs his teeth into something. Bless you, Father O’Blivion, for the work that you do in your spare time.
You’re working pretty hard to make this bigger than one idiot spouting ill-informed opinions. Seriously, guilt by association is a pretty easy logical fallacy to spot.
Great assessment. I was there when it happened and refuted his “noble savage” liberal bashing claims in the comments with historical fact. I’ve been warning these guys for months that they’re slipping off the deep end.
[…] only Steve Perry’s “Daily Mole” could say the same thing about Karl Bremer’s grindingly, corrosively stupid “Reader Op-Ed” hit ‘n run on Tracy “Anti-Strib” Eberly and, by the way, every single […]
While I didn’t much care for Tracy’s article, Bremer’s piece is a complete train wreck - as in “Steve, you should really spend some time fact-checking things, or Bremer’s gonna get you in trouble”.
More here (assuming HTML tags work)
I read your post, Mitch. I take it you’re under the impression that you uncovered errors of fact. Just in a sentence or so, can you name one? Because your post doesn’t.
You’ve just got to love an out-of-context, factually challenged rant from the Left. They are always so gosh darned indignant.
If you had taken the time to actually read the post and the lively debate in the several comment threads you would have learned that
A) “Dirt worshipping heathens” is a quote from the as of today un-condemned Showtime series Tombstone. It was used as an hyperbolic article, not a specific accusation.
As far as the assertion that aboriginal Americans are “so primitive that they created nothing of any lasting value, nor did they contribute anything of note to the world” We did come up with one lasting contribution to Humanity. Tobacco. You should are to be congratulated.
All from my post:
1) The MOB is not a political group. As noted in bold letters, we specifically abjure polital alignment. I in particular expend much more effort inviting left-leaning commentators than conservatives. And we pride ourselves on NOT talking about politics at our events. In any case, it’s a *social* group, not a policy-setting body. Karl overdramatizes the “MOB” pretty gratuitously, factual error aside.
2) the MOB Mayor election is not a MOB function. It’s an annual josh put on my Learned Foot at Kool Aid Report.
3) Powerline is not “Connected” to TCF. Scott Johnson works there, but has worked diligently (and successfully) to separate the two (as do many of us with day jobs).
4) I’m pretty sure Craig Westover is a columnist - not an editorial board member. And he really hasn’t spoken on a lot of blog-related stuff lately because - tho Karl didn’t see fit to link anyone to his blog - he hasn’t actually blogged since May.
The logical errors go beyond that, of course - but 1-3 are errors of fact, and I’m pretty sure 4 is as well.
Sorry, that ran over a “Sentence or two” , but then fact-checking Karl Bremer usually does.
Hey, we have another MOB party coming up in the next month or so - we’d love to have you there, Steve. Consider yourself invited.
Part of me wants to defer to you on all matters of logical error, Mitch, because you are clearly a specialist. Hard to believe this shit passes for refutation anywhere.
I can’t and don’t speak for Karl Bremer, but I have a few thoughts on your “factual errors.” Point by point:
1) If it pleases you to insist MOB is not a political group, fine. It’s a social group whose members almost all blog about politics from a right-wing point of view, but in no way a political group. That’s absurd, but let’s grant the premise. It still makes no difference whatsoever vis a vis the question Bremer was writing about, which is whether a self-identified network of bloggers that is endlessly backslapping and mutually referencing each other ever needs to step up and do any self-policing.
2) Are you fucking kidding me? You’re quibbling with the word “function” to describe something your group is in the habit of doing? Also, see bolded portion of #1 above.
3) Obviously Powerline is not officially affiliated with TCF, and I’m certain Bremer did not mean to suggest it was. But on the question of ties between the two, Mike Mosedale wrote a couple of interesting pieces when we were both at City Pages, here and here. I won’t add anything further. Also, see bolded portion of #1 above.
4) I don’t know whether Craig Westover was ever a member of the Pioneer Press Editorial Board, but he certainly did write editorials for them. I’m happy to note the change if you’re correct, but–see bolded portion of #1 above.
I have a last question for you. You’ve characterized Anti-Strib more than once as a “center-right” blog. Would you mind naming 2 or 3 “far-right” blogs, just to give us a sense of your benchmarks here?
Let me make a correction or two.
First, Tombstone is an HBO production, not Showtime. Those that actually pay good money for TV should forgive me for this error.
Second, I personally am not anywhere near “center-right”. I will leave that milquetoast sophistry to people who actually give a shit about what folks like Steve Perry think.
Hm.
Part of me wants to defer to you on all matters of logical error, Mitch, because you are clearly a specialist. Hard to believe this shit passes for refutation anywhere.
Well, OK then! Let me switch into “talk with Perry” mode in response! “I know you are, but what am I?”
Nah. Not very satisfying.
Y’know, with Eric Black it’s possible to have a fairly civil, rational discussion. Sorry to say I overestimated you.
1) If it pleases you to insist MOB is not a political group, fine. It’s a social group whose members almost all blog about politics from a right-wing point of view, but in no way a political group.
My “pleasure” has nothing to do with it. It is an objective fact; Brian, King, Chad and I specifically (and, sorry to say, fruitlessly) have endeavored to make it apolitical. Saying it’s a “center right” group because that’s who shows up (for the group’s only group activity, to drink and socialize!) is sort of like saying MPR is a “liberal clacque” because most of its listeners happen to vote Democrat.
I suspect you’d observe the latter distinction.
It still makes no difference whatsoever vis a vis the question Bremer was writing about, which is whether a self-identified network of bloggers that is endlessly backslapping and mutually referencing each other ever needs to step up and do any self-policing.
I’ll chalk this up to you being a liberal, with the hive instinct that pertains to it, but the MOB has no police power. It is a purely social group. I say this as one of the guys who started it - but what would I know? The sole qualification to get into the MOB is to write to Chad, and to show up at a MOB party at least once. Markos Moulitsas could become a MOB member if he wanted to.
2) Are you fucking kidding me?
No, Mr. Perry. I never “fucking” kid. Conservatives have no sense of humor - remember? We have to have Steven Colbert do all of our humoring for us.
Look, if you wanna hang your journalistic reputation on the fact that Tracy Eberly finished third in a blogpoll on one MOB-affiliated blog, well, you’re a big guy.
3) Obviously Powerline is not officially affiliated with TCF, and I’m certain Bremer did not mean to suggest it was.
His quote was “TCF-connected Power Line” One of the three bloggers works there, and the blog has no financial or content connection with the bank.
Do words count, or don’t they?
As to Mosedale’s pieces at the City Pages - well, he was wrong, too.
4) I don’t know whether Craig Westover was ever a member of the Pioneer Press Editorial Board, but he certainly did write editorials for them.
You call ‘em “editorials”, he calls ‘em “columns”. I don’t think anyone at the PP ever referred to Westover as part of the paper’s institutional voice. I could be wrong, but you have my understanding of his situation.
As to the “bolded part of #1″ - “None of this affects Bremer’s point” - well, you did ask about “facts”. Bremer’s “point” isn’t about facts; it’s a shot at trying to ascribe guilt by association; that center=-right bloggers conveniently gathered together as “the MOB” - an extremely loosely-affiliated, non-political (no matter how you plug your ears and chant “nya nya nya”) group that seems to offend you nonetheless via the crime of “backslapping” - can be considered complicit in “racism” (let’s take Bremer at face value for now - always dangerous) because they didn’t rise as one to condemn Tracy Eberly?
Fact is, I never read the piece originally. You lefties credit conservatives with a lot of things, but we’re not clairvoyant.
So when did you stop beating Michelle Malkin?
I should probably throw in a few gratuitous “Fucks” and “Shits” to fit in, but it’s been a long day.
MOB has one blog on the blogroll that is centrist - that is Flash at Centrisity.
I posted about Tracy’s post - plus the comments, without making the argument about those who link to Anti-Strib here.
Oh, fuck it. To the chase:
Hard to believe this shit passes for refutation anywhere.
So you accept the idea of “guilt” by (extreeeeeemely tenuous) association?
You may assume there’ll be a follow-up, and it’ll be funny as hell.
A few points:
Commendably, Michael Brodkorb was able to see Eberly’s ugly racism for what it is and has removed the links to Eberly’s blog from Minnesota Democrats Exposed and Party of Pawlenty. You can read why here:
It’s unfortunate that Berg and others of his ilk are so blinded by their rage for liberals they cannot see it as well.
Steve Perry has addressed most of Berg’s inaccuracies, so I won’t beat that horse again.
As for Craig Westover, even though he participated in candidate endorsement interviews, researched endorsements (erroneously), wrote house endorsement editorials, and continues to write a regular editorial page column for the Pioneer Press, editorial page editor Mike Burbach says he is merely a “contributing columnist” and not an editorial board member. I made the mistake of assuming that if it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, it must be a duck.
Berg’s personal attacks on me were predictable as the sunrise. That’s his M.O. when he has nothing else. But what is surprising is that he didn’t include his defense of Eberly’s racist writings that he posted on his own blog. The part that says “I didn’t like it much, and don’t agree with it. Of course, I understand where it comes from - and it’s not racism. To know that, of course, the reader would need to know the context of the story as well as the pull-quotes Bremer has elected to highlight.”
Really, Mitch? Here’s another quote of Eberly’s I didn’t elect to highlight. Maybe you can enlighten us as to the proper context in which this one should be read:
“The life of an Indian was no nobler, nor much different from that of a bear, a snake or a timber wolf. Their life cycles were identical: hunt, kill, eat, sleep, fuck, die. I’d compare them to the entire animal kingdom, but that would be an insult to beavers.”
Finally, at the risk of giving this jerk any more undue traffic, I realize now I should have included a link to Eberly’s bigotry so readers can see it in all its ugliness:
I have no idea whether cross-posting a comment I wrote on Brodkorb’s site is kosher to post here. But, I’m doing it because I think what transpired is a mini-milestone.
Karl Bremer (liberal) took Michael Brodkorb (conservative) to task for affiliating his work with Anti-Strib (conservative).
Conservative agrees with liberal and yanks the association with the offending conservative.
Meanwhile, all this nitpicking over facts in this thread is also positive. Trite but true, we all get to have our own opinions, but facts are facts.
The beauty of the blogosphere is that bad facts will not go unchallenged.
Not to play mother hen (or Mole), here, but I hope everyone calms down and focuses on the good.
I know both Mitch Berg and Steve Perry fairly well. And, I’ve read much of what each has written over the years, and highly respect both.
In my view, you two would hit it off famously over coffee or a beer. Because you both deeply care.
This is great exposure, actually for Berg. I’ve never told him this before, but Berg is my great gut check about what a smart conservative guy, who happens to be divorced raising two kids working his rear off, thinks about our public affairs world.
The fact that this all happened on The Daily Mole speaks to quality of the Mole.
Kudos to King of the Moles, Steve Perry.
[Wondering if the Mole People have kings, or is it presidents or dictators or something else?! Mole Rule as opposed to Mob Rule?]
# Sarah Janecek Says:
November 11th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Bully for Michael Brodkorb.
One of the things we publish at Politics In Minnesota is The Morning Report, Monday thru Friday. You can read more about it, here, as well as subscribe for free:
http://www.politicsinminnesota.com/minnesota-political-news
By far our most popular section is “Best of the Blogs and Think Tank Thoughts.” It’s popular because most people don’t have the time to weed through the blogs, themselves. We work hard to highlight good work.
We often link to MDE. Sure Michael, by definition, is a partisan, but MDE often has new politically salient news and good analysis. If he gets something wrong, he immediately identifies and rectifies, which is what we do at PIM.
But a racist rant is a racist rant. The credibility of what everyone is doing on blogs is greatly enhanced when bad thinking and writing is identified and condemned. Particularly effective is what Michael has done here: A Republican is calling out a rotten post written by another Republican.
IMHO, not enough of this happens on either side of the aisle.
Like Michael, I hadn’t read the AntiStrib post until it was flagged in Steve Perry’s Daily Mole. [Which is the whole point of our publishing the Best of the Blogs in our reports…it’s impossible to read them all and have a life.]
I don’t believe I personally know any of the writers at AntiStrib. I haven’t read much of anything on there and I certainly won’t bother, now or in the future.
A racist rant is a racist rant.
I don’t recall whether PIM has ever posted anything from AntiStrib in our reports. Going forward, I have instructed my staff that we will never link to AntiStrib.
What Michael has done here is a significant and important contribution to the integrity of good partisan bloggers of all ideologies.
Spoken like a good PC DFLer, Sarah. Bravo. Who needs that nasty old “context” anyway?
Kermit,
You lost me. If you are referring to the “context” of the racist rant on AntiStrib, then I’m glad you raised the issue.
Three points. One, I tried to figure out the “context” but couldn’t. Two. If I couldn’t, most people couldn’t, the way I figure (although I figure I lose an IQ point every time I “reblonde”).
Three and most important of all. That post stands alone. And standing alone, it’s ugly. If AntiStrib wanted context, then AntiStrib should have clearly provided it.
Sarah Janacek writes:
“This is great exposure, actually for Berg. I’ve never told him this before, but Berg is my great gut check about what a smart conservative guy, who happens to be divorced raising two kids working his rear off, thinks about our public affairs world.”
EY: You mean a guy who has no problem with commenters who impersonate other people on his blog (he allows that regularly with me, and that’s the reason I no longer comment there).
Or commenters like this on Berg’s blog:
# ak Says:
November 4th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Did you see that fat gob of suet Eva wrote about this piece?
*******
Mitch Berg also links approvingly to a KoolAid Report post that links to this charming little cartoon by Tom Swift (aka Swiftee) that goes after me and Eric Black. I believe Tom Swift and the Kool Aid Report anonobloggers were mad about Karl Bremer’s contribution to Eric Black Ink going after Michele Bachmann’s Farm Subsidies. I had nothing to do with that article.
I very much appreciate satire, but haven’t really seen what’s funny about calling me a “fat pig” - one of the thoughtful comments left on Berg’s blog.
It was Karl Bremer who did the leg work on this story - and got it published in the Daily Mole. I had written about this post a few days after it was posted.
Oh look! Handwringing by the same crew that:
- Is supporting a candidate for Senate that once declared himself pleased that a gay guy was beaten to death and thinks slavery is a joking matter.
- Trips over themselves in a mad rush to get the first daily stab in to Christians.
- Group hugs the perennial winner of the “most ‘n*gger’ references” of the year award.
-Elected a former member of the Nation of Islam to national office.
Excuse me while I puke.
Eva babbled:
“Mitch Berg also links approvingly to a KoolAid Report post that links to this charming little cartoon by Tom Swift (aka Swiftee) that goes after me and Eric Black.”
Where’s that link Eva? I did no such thing.
“I believe Tom Swift and the Kool Aid Report anonobloggers were mad about Karl Bremer’s contribution to Eric Black Ink going after Michele Bachmann’s Farm Subsidies.”
No. I think Bremmer was mad at me for completely owning him by merely pointing out some facts that he was either unaware of or loathe to include. The only way he (thought he) could get to me was through Anti-Strib, a blog I never read.
Please tell me how your story is more plausible than mine.
And while we’re here, Eva, do you have any explanation for your anonymous wikipedia edits?
The leader of the MOB in his own words.
Alright hold it right there Foot; just freeze, mister.
I’m getting pretty sick of you claiming to Pwn moonbats that I have already skinned and mounted on my sidebar trophy case.
The closest you can come to Pwning Bremer, Weiner or the Dumpster Queen for that matter, is to r3nt ‘em from me..they’s DumpsterDivers and I own ‘em all..lock stock and barrel!
You know, between you nosing in on my hard earned moonbat pelts and Berg inviting every moonbat he scrapes up off the toilet seat to our secret MOB functions, just so he can prove that he is a better feminist, I have just had it.
Had it I say!!
At our next “function”, I’m bringing you both up on charges. Specifically Section 1.12 sub b of the secret MOB byelaws…oh yeah mister, you’ve HAD IT!
In the mean time…lay off my ‘bats!
Okay, enough sectarian bickering for one thread. I’m sure the parties will meet again. And again.
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