He's so right he's wrong

Palm Beach Post ^ | February 10, 2003 | George Bennett

[Seeking the truth]

Conservative entrepreneur and provocateur Gene McDonald of Boca Raton often gets a rise out of liberals and Democrats. But he recently ran afoul of the organizers of an A-list conservative confab headlined by Vice President Dick Cheney.

McDonald, who markets in-your-face conservative stickers, T-shirts and other paraphernalia through his www.0cents.com Web site, was a vendor at the 30th annual Conservative Political Action Committee conference in Arlington, Va. Along with anti-United Nations, pro-gun and anti-Democrat offerings, his wares included "No Muslims -- No Terrorism" stickers and an "Islam: Religion of Peace" image with a swastika replacing the S in Islam.

CPAC officials told McDonald to remove his Islam-themed merchandise. McDonald said a conference organizer told him Cheney's staff had gotten wind of the stickers and voiced disapproval.

McDonald, a former Palm Beach County Republican Executive Committee member, said "No Muslims -- No Terrorism" doesn't slam all Muslims, but "it slams the Muslims who did 9/11."

Some people seeing the stickers might not make that distinction, McDonald conceded. But, he said, bumper stickers aren't supposed to be subtle and "I want to push the envelope. I want to get on the edge with political satire."

[Seeking the truth]

I wish to compliment Mr. Bennett on his article.

He was accurate and he promised to put my web site, 0cents.com, in the article.

It was mentioned.

I had told him how angry I was for the behavior of his fellow journalist at CPAC last week.

The Washington Post journalist never identified himself to my wife and furthermore, agreed with her that the "offending" items were OK. Then he writes a slam piece and attributes a quote to my wife as the "unamed booth attendent". Attention, Mr. Kamen, she wore a very prominent name badge!

The second journalist, Salon.com's Michelle Greenburg(?) also never identified herself to me. I asked her if she was from the media. Then she identified herself.

[Joe Brower]

Good going, matey!

When you're catching flak, that means you're over the target. $;-)

[MindBender26]

Gene, typical liberal journalist actions. They would never cover a DU undertaking or some rad-lib meeting calling for the deaths of American soldiers in the same way. They would be called "Alienated youth."

[logic101.net]

I think I just might have to order a shirt from this guy. The VRWC shirt looks pretty good.

MARK A SITY
http://www.logic101.net/

[MindBender26]

He's so right he's wrong entirely correct!

PS...... and Mrs. mcDonald is very hard to mis-identify. She is a fox!

[MindBender26]

Gene is a long time, very loyal, Florida FReeper.

[Seeking the truth]

Thanks Joe.

What was so depressing from the many College Conservatives were the comments to the effect that we love that "Screw the UN" tee shirt or that "I want you to buy a gun" tee shirt but we can't buy it and wear it on campus as the Administrators or Professors won't let us.

My wife was particularly surprised by the pervasive PC on today's campi.

[Seeking the truth]

FWIW, the VRWC shirt & bumper sticker were very popular at CPAC. This image tied with the "Work Harder" image as the most sold images.

We were also giving out Vast Right Wing Conpiracy 0cents Stamps to everyone in order that they can walk around the convention with this on their badges or clothing!

[Seeking the truth]

I'll pass along that flattering comment to the missus.

She hit the big "50" this year so she's getting really concerned!

[D.C. Media Hor]

You ar enot being completely honest -- there was at least one journalist who appraoched you wearing his identification and who informed you, as he purchased the bumperstickers, that they were indeed offensive...

[ConservativeMan55]

Regarding the poll on your website. I would like to see all of those things happen, but I voted for the judges first because it will be easier to do things like tort reform, and overturning Roe v Wade, and the patients bill of rights once we have judges in there to help us.

[theFIRMbss]

>CPAC officials told McDonald to remove his Islam-themed merchandise.

I recently watched
the DVD of Monty
Python's "Life of Brian."

One commentary
features Terry Gilliam
explicitly say

that Python made fun
of Christianity and
Judaism, but

Python never poked
fun at Islam and Muslims
because believers

took their religion
seriously and no one
wanted a fatwah

coming against them.
Amazing. Fear works. Even
with show business types...

[Seeking the truth]

You ar enot being completely honest -- there was at least one journalist who appraoched you wearing his identification and who informed you, as he purchased the bumperstickers, that they were indeed offensive

Absolutely, not true.

If you are the guy who bought the two bumper stickers from me, you were wearing two badges with lanyards.

Both badges were turned with the name/information inside out - meaning I could not see who you were.

Furthermore, this "journalist" (I could not know you were a journalist as you had your ID badges backward), did not offer the opinion until I asked you two questions:
1. Do you mind if I asked you a personal question? You answered "Yes"
2. Do you find these bumper stickers offensive? You answered "Yes, I do. I am very offended" ( close paraphrase)

You then stomped away without continuing the conversation.

Get your facts straight and re-read the Journalist's Code of Ethics.

BTW, I reconized this "journalist" but could not immediately place him.

OK, Journalist Honesty Check Time...

Were you that journalist?

[Seeking the truth]

That is what I would like to see first also. I'm on the same page as you as to why.

[Keith in Iowa]

...Journalist's Code of Ethics.

Is there such a thing? Got to be on the All-Time oxymoron list.

[ken5050]

Way to go, big guy......BTW, in case you didn't notice, the headline somewhat paraphrases the guy who started the whole thing....Barry Goldwater......

[Seeking the truth]

Heck, I'm giving him a chance to "fess up".

[Seeking the truth]

I knew that I had heard that phrase somewhere...I just couldn't place it.

[ken5050]

Yup......"In your heart you know he's right".......

[Seeking the truth]

Oh great...now I got to go into hiding like Rushdie! :)