'Dateline' probes for bigotry at Va. race-Dateline NBC said it sent "Muslim-looking" men to race

The Roanoke Times (roanoke.com) ^ | Thursday, April 06, 2006 | David Harrison

[Darnright]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR said it was "outrageous" that "Dateline NBC" targeted one of its racetracks last weekend for a possible segment on anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States.

NASCAR said NBC confirmed it was sending Muslim-looking men to a race, along with a camera crew to film fans' reactions. The NBC crew was "apparently on site in Martinsville, Va., walked around and no one bothered them," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Wednesday.

"It is outrageous that a news organization of NBC's stature would stoop to the level of going out to create news instead of reporting news," Poston said.

"Any legitimate journalist in America should be embarrassed by this stunt. The obvious intent by NBC was to evoke reaction, and we are confident our fans won't take the bait," he said.

Mike Smith, public relations director for the Martinsville Speedway, said security officers noticed people who looked like Muslims near the site.

"There were some people that appeared to be Muslims near our main office. Our security was aware of them, and they were monitored the whole time they were there," he said. "That was for their safety and for everyone's safety."

Smith said he did not know any details about the people or how many there were. They never went inside the facility but stayed near the main office, he said.

"There were no disturbances and at some point they left," he said.

Smith said speedway officials did not know NBC was involved until Tuesday.

"We haven't talked to anyone from 'Dateline'," he said Wednesday. "We've just heard through the grapevine that 'Dateline' was involved."

NASCAR is in the final year of a broadcasting agreement with NBC Sports.

" 'Dateline' is looking into this story," NBC said in a statement.

"We were intrigued by the results of a recent Washington Post/ABC News poll and other articles regarding increasing anti-Muslim sentiments in the United States.

"It's very early on in our newsgathering process, but be assured we will be visiting a number of locations across the country and are confident that our reporting team is pursuing this story in a fair manner," the statement said.

Staff writer David Harrison contributed to this report.

[Darnright]

Here we go again. Desperate to manufacture "news", NBC tried to set up NASCAR fans in a sting, to prove that rednecks are all bigots, and would jump at the chance to be mean to muslims.

Pathetic.

[Darnright]

Remember this?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1608894/posts

[SIDENET]

Just when you thought that the MSM couldn't get any lower.

Scumbags.

[mikethevike]

If a NASCAR fan went to a camel race in Saudi Arabia, they'd probably be kidnapped and beheaded. They should send one of their reporters to try that assignment.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

I have to admit, I am not a bigot, nor a NASCAR fan, but when I see one too many muslim men or arab men together, I cannot help but feel uneasy.

[cripplecreek]

"There were no disturbances and at some point they left," he said.

Next time they'll have them wearing bulky coats in 95 degree weather. Either that or they'll plant someone to harrass the islamderthals.

[junta]

We are all cowed by a few thousand white lefty facists who can ignore the mexican nationalist rallies but strike out for some white men who might actually be enjoying life and not bothering anybody doing so.

[mlc9852]

What "race" are Muslims?

[Toby06]

Let them send a GOB into a Deroit mosque to ask to use the bathroom & see what happens.

[The South Texan]

Sounds like NASCAR should tell NBC to go pound sand when their contract runs out just to teach these idiots a lesson. Dateline/NBC needs to be slapped around a little as it appears they have forgotten the lesson from their GM truck fiasco.

[jigsaw]

Someone should have a bunch of 'Muslims' enter NBC stations and surreptitiously film NBC's reaction.

[Huck]

Duh. They are Race FANS, not Race ISTS.

[mikethevike]

Someone should have a bunch of 'Muslims' enter NBC stations and surreptitiously film NBC's reaction. No doubt.

[jigsaw]

What is a "GOB"?

[xcamel]

This broke on FR yesterday morning with a copy of the original email.

[theDentist]

What "race" are Muslims?

That's an explosive question.

[cripplecreek]

As I understand it there are a lot of black NASCAR fans in the south. I took a black friend to a race a few years ago. He was terrified going in but these days he goes to every race at MIS and camps in the infield with his family.

[theDentist]

GOB?

[ishabibble]

Thank you. I read that here, and was trying to find it.

Time to take NBC to the woodshed for making up fake stories.
Especially when they are trying to sandbag everyday white males. Note the part about the Muslim full beards.

Isn't this criminal behaviour, isn't this outright fraud?

[cripplecreek]

I'm thinking Good Ole Boy.