Georgia Newspaper Puts Obama In Crosshairs

Via Wonkette, a small paper serving the Atlanta suburb of Roswell, Georgia called the Roswell Beacon is drawing fire for running a cover that depicts Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama in the crosshairs of a gun sight. The cover image promotes a story by freelance reporter Alan Sverdlik, who penned the article because "he was curious how law enforcement agencies were handling the increased number of threats lodged against Obama by white supremacist groups" in the Fulton County area. Sverdlik has told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he had no input on the cover design that accompanied the article.

A diary on the popular liberal blog DailyKos is driving much of the outrage at the Roswell Beacon. As Kos Diarist "Spiral Stairs" puts it:

The accompanying article is about hate groups in the area who are upset about Senator Obama's candidacy and concerns the local authorities have about possible violent acts from these groups. The article itself is not offensive, but the cover is beyond the pale. As indicated by the article, there are some serious racists in the area, and Obama's candidacy has brought out the worst in a lot of people. The last thing we need is a newspaper to suggest assassination with an incendiary cover such as this.

The AJC reports that the outcry has had limited effect:

Readers -- Kos receives more than 1.3 million visits a day, according to sitemeter.com -- were encouraged to contact the newspaper and its advertisers. By day's end, Holiday Inn announced it would no longer do business with the Beacon, though the paper's publisher, John Fredericks, said editorial decisions would not be influenced by "liberal blogger thuggery."

"Good, bad or ugly, we tell the truth," he said.

Fredericks and senior editor Tim Altork said there was little internal debate over the appropriateness of the imagery, though they were aware it was likely to create a stir.

"We knew we were on the provocative edge," Altork said. "But it's a very fair piece, a smart piece."

Nevertheless, this "fair...smart piece" has been seemingly expunged from the newspaper's website.

Comments

[Cougarkj]

Maybe Mike Huckabee had some input into that design???? Ok that was harsh but I am still simmering from his deplorable comments made at an NRA convention. If you think a new paper should not be putting this idea in people's heads (and I would agree) lets remind ourselves that a preacher and ex-Republican presidential candidate felt free to make light of the same type of scenario. That anyone thinks along those lines or feels comfortable alluding to that theme should bother all of us. I applaud the Holiday Inn and hope others in the region take a similar stance. As for Mike Huckabee, I hope they never give him a public forum again.

[UsofA]

Following is a copy of a letter to the editor that I sent which was published today in the Salt Lake Tribune. Good people must continue to speak out, loudly.

Dear Editors,
I've never been so deeply appalled by the
comments of any politician as I was by former Governor Mike
Huckabee's today referring to Barak Obama in a speech before the
NRA and jesting that someone had just shot at Obama. It merits
immediate condemnation by all Americans. In a
healthier world, it would spell the end to his nascent media
career. In all sincerity, God help us all.
(My Name)
Salt Lake City, Utah

[robXdion]

This why a laugh when people start whining "it's not about race!!" Shhheeeeeeeettt, always has been if you find yourself in the wrong area or achieve too much for some whites to accept. America is showing the world Bush's TWO elections were no accident. I've served this country for over 10 years as a US Marine (that was nearly a Klan meeting itself) and it disgusts me 2008 feels like 1982 with all of it's leftover open racism below the surface. All that cheerleading patriotic crap is just that, crap.

Heckuva job, America!

[Sparklez]

That is real talk

[SkyPilot126]

Once again I need to point out that we need to Stop the Sounthern Staes from dictating to the rest of the Country.
But this newspaper own comments about the resonse of their cover (not the story) - They Don'T Care and They Will Not Change. This is called a Reactionary - the extreme far right, ala bushie.
They ONLY react to events, they are never Pro-Active on events.

We must take to power away from these southern - yes racist and elistest - Sates and give it back to All of America. You know the ones that MAY vote for the person, not the skin color. I mean, c'mon and wake up, c;mon and grow up - This is AMERICA and it is 2008. It is Our America not just their version.

[dsmyre]

Racists who threaten to kill politicians are terrorists. Where is Homeland Security when we need them?

[DennySP]

Homeland Security works for the Republicans.

[xmw]

I KNOW!!! WHAT THE H*LL DO THEY DO???

[WAstateliberal]

Yes! And the only way to take back our country from haters is to eliminate the electoral college. Doesn't even require amending the constitution. If enough states would sign on to the National Popular Vote initiative, we would be free of the tyranny of the minority of haters in this country.

California, the big daddy, passed it and that douche bag Schwarzenager (spelling?) vetoed it. He did it because without the EC, a trouncing of a Repub by a Dem in California would matter way more than it does now. Right now, first past the post gets the entire electoral vote booty, and gets no credit for the additional votes he received. Without the EC, a 60% to 40% trouncing (or more, which Obama could achieve) in California, coupled with a 60% to 40% (or more) trouncing in NY, could nullify the racist, hater vote in Appalachia and the South. That would be good for America, but bad for Repubs. God forbid we actually count the votes of African Americans in the South, right?

With the electoral college, as long as the republican gets even one more vote than the Dem, he wins the state in winner take all foolery and all of the Dem votes are effectively thrown away. In states like Mississippi, that means throwing away the Black vote.

[Hallucinocynic]

Wow. SP, watch your back.

You say what many of us are reluctant to point out - that racism is not only alive and well, but is almost respectable in some parts of this country. Saying that "man is his own worst enemy" sort of falls short...that we have people in this country - and everywhere, fer chrissakes - who can entertain such a horrendous thought is frightening.

I used to rebel against the notion that violence was "man's nature." As I grow older that resolve has faded. There are many evil people in this world - as the Republicants are ALWAYS ready to remind us - and this country has its share.

I do hope that BO has a DEDICATED security team and that they have more imagination than those who might try to harm our next President.

[CEPHALUS]

Please remmember what year this is,if something should happen like what they are instigating,then no one will be safe for a long while in this country.People please let the secret service do their job,because i surely do not want to see this country become third world in my life,Hucabbee and these people might take this lightly but if this should happen it would be worst than the rodney king situation,AMERICA IS VERY ARMED AT THIS TIME ,AND THE TENSION CAN BE FELT IN MANY PLACES,SO DO NOT START SOMETHING,YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO STOP.Relevant security organizations should nip this in the bud.LIKE RIGHT NOW.

[LeftLeanWing]

Let's see how that Right feels if a newspaper puts out a doctored photo of McCain doing Pull-Ups or in a pair of diapers.

[4wehttam]

Even that wouldn't be as bad as this disgusting, guttural "hit" cover.

[Charmed]

We're not going to sit back and just let something like this happen....NOT THIS TIME!!!! We will tolerate things like this.......

Obama08!

start writing people.

[timeforachangenow]

"....NOT THIS TIME!!!! We will tolerate things like this......."

me thinks you need to proofread your posts before you hit the submit button.....8)

seriously...do you think anybody has given thought to the fact that this Obama candidacy....

could set the civil rights cause back 50 years in its devisiveness....8(

no one seems to want to address that possibility...8(

sad to say it IS a possibility....

me thinks some people do not have any idea what they are really looking at....8(

I hope otherwise...8)

but history may see it another way.....ya think???

it is long past ...Timefor­achangeNOW

[bazokbros]

Here's the contact info for the newspaper. I called and you'll get a receptionist that will put you through and had the nerve to say "thank you for reading The Beacon"

North Fulton's Favorite Newspaper Beacon Media Companies, Inc. 515 East Crossville Road Suite 350-360 Roswell, GA 30075 770-640-3230

I also think Huffington Post and other outlets should NOT be running the cover and promoting the article as there as so many whack jobs that will get validation to do something. HILLARY, you are partly responsible for this.

[blueshield]

"I also think Huffington Post and other outlets should NOT be running the cover"

Couldn't agree more. Why is the offending image being reproduced here, internationally, and what logic went into that decision? Someone asleep at the switch? Or, like the Beacon, is it intended to provoke attention and build viewership?

[katzooks]

Frankly, I'm almost speechless. But I have written a respectfully worded letter to the Roswell Beacon, per the email address below, appealing to their better selves to act for the better good of this country, by not publishing any more of this of dangerous hatred.

jfrederick­s@beaconca­st.com

Though they seem to not particularly care what any one else thinks (hey, we're not in circulation roster), it seems important ,nonetheless, to vocally weigh in on their incredible lack of judgement. Perhaps a flood of mail will give someone on their editorial board pause to re-think their current stance.

[Illinoissuburbanvoter]

Thanks for this info, however when you contact the paper I think it would be more effective to let Fredricks know that he may not care or be concerned with what liberal bloggers say, but the advertisers will. The advertisers of this newspaper should be contacted and notified they'll be boycotted if they continue dealing with this paper. The Holiday Inn already dropped the paper.

[bookon]

>> But I have written a respectfully worded letter to the Roswell Beacon, per the email address below, appealing to their better selves to act for the better good of this country, by not publishing any more of this of dangerous hatred.


Yea. Good luck with that. They need Advertisers to shy away. NOTHING else will work.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

That was very nice of you but I must say all they will do is laugh their a**** off that they got to the "libruls". Don't bother to write them. Just like the tee-shirt guy, they LOVE this crap. Ignore them.

[Chillinout]

My heart is heavy, I am sad and a little embarrassed that after over 200 years we still have these hate-spewing racists among our midst.

African-Americans are here to stay, (in case you haven't noticed), and no matter what you say, no matter what you do, it isn't going to change that reality. Get over your racism and learn to deal with it. We are ONE country after all.

[gigi09]

Racism is very much alive! Like you my heart is heavy with concern for the lives of this beautiful family. There are so many evil/wicked people out there, and that makes me quite concern. And it doesn't help to the media, political pundants AND Hillary to give so much power to these racist. Once again I say that if states like WV,KY,AR are the ones that determine the outcome of the election...Lord help us all! Obama has taken that power away from them by creating NEW swing states with more intellegent people are. Hillary is feeding into the racism, for I do believe in my heart that she and Bill racist and have always been. That is why people in those state love them so. I pray that Hillary will not be on the ticket with Obama...for he will need someone to taste his food, and watch his back. It reminds me of Kennedy & LBJ. LBJ was a crook just like the Clintons, and many suspected that he had something to do with the assasination of JFK. I do not trust the Clintons, period! We must pray for Obama and this evil world that we are living in. Obama 08!

[JackieW]

Call their advertisers. Be the change you want to see.

[SkyPilot126]

YES, everyone, this is a GREWAT IDEA and it needs to be Done - NOW!
They do it against us.

I just click on the link at the bottom of the article, went to the Newspaper site and found advertising right away.

They are nice enough to list their phone numbers and websites for us to call :-)
Emails work.

It is FUN, it is IMPORTANT.
It is even more fun to let them know we can play the same game.

Be Right Vote Left
A.B.C. - Anyone But a Conservative '08

[lily31]

Now how do we get a list of their advertisers?

This would be far more effective that any letter to the publisher, although I'll do that as well.

[lily31]

BRAVO! Now:

How can we get a list of them???

Advertisers would be far more likely to listen than the publisher!

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

I have a good friend who knows the owner of the paper personally. I was just talking to her today. He doesn't need the money from advertising. He is independently wealthy and produces the so-called newspaper on his own tab. So call all you want. He'll just laugh at you.

[JackieW]

Wasn't Hillary saying just this morning that she wasn't aware of any racism in the campaign????

[dapperd72]

I didn't hear that denial of racism from Clinton, but she has nothing to lose if there is any. It would only hinder Obama's chances & bolster her own prospects. Geraldine Ferraro's remark that Obama's "lucky" to be black & her subsequent accusation of her critics being "racist" along with Bill Clinton's remark that Obama would do as well in South Carolina as Jesse Jackson because of his skin color tell me all I need to know about the Clinton campaign's thinly veiled ethnic prejudices. Toni Morrison recently tried to clarify her reference to Bill as America's "1st black President" in a rather convoluted way, but the notion is inherently irrational prima facie.

[Deparis]

Yep, America's evil will never die.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Reprehensible. Disgusting.

Leaders in both parties to to call the press to task over inciting assassination.

All press and other privileges -- suspended immediately.

More disgust: The NY Post cover today. "Ted Dying."
All that was missing was the yellow happy face.

[dollphingurl]

did mike huckabee design this cover? judging from his comments last week it seems right up his alley.

although i know huck's a nice guy, just not thinking sometimes.

and people wonder why obama didn't campaign in the racist pockets of the South a little bit more.

UGH! let's just pray, everybody.

[biglover]

Huck's a nice guy? He's just a wolf in sheeps clothing. Ah gee shucks.

He isn't fooling me but I must admit I initially thought he might be but then I read all about his background.

[SkyPilot126]

I don't know about the rest of America, but I'm sick and tired of these backwards southern States (that LOST the war!) dictating what the Country does and who we elect.

This is the one group of States that really do not deserve this kind of power. They did not earn it, somehow they just got it.

These - the Southern States - are the TRUE Elistist Sates, just listen to their Elistest talk, esp. about their total instance on not voting for a Black person. How UnAmerican. How ELISTEST!

These - Red leaning States - also happen to usually lead the nation in unemployment, lack of Health Care, High Teen Age Birth rates, High Abortion Rates, the list goes on - it includes EVEYTHING they are against, yet their States do them more and have more of them, more than the rest of us. And they haven't figured it out, that how they vote KEEPS THEM DOWN, keeps the abortaion rate up, keep health care out of reach, keeps education dopwn. Duh!

Let's not give the southern States that Power this year, Let's ReClaim America for all of America.

[Hare]

You know what? I'm glad they used that cover, why? Because it proves my point. The one I've been trying to make people understand. Racism is alive, it never disappeared or went on vacation. In the late seventies the lie was; There is no longer any need for affirmative action so each time you had a chance to help a minority you didn't because you assume there was no need. Racism was hidden openly; just pretend it doesn't exist and keep being racist.

Obama by being "dark "opened that can of worms you pretended didn't exist. Racists can be dems, reps or independents. The young are not as racist but I am a skeptic, give them ten years and they'll follow their eldest. Since this is the year of HOPE, I hope I'm wrong and that overall the population of this nation is now less racist. The fact is that indeed some are trying to kill him already and that brings my second point why cover is good. It keeps us alert and our eyes opened.

[bazokbros]

No one doubted racism existed with Obama running and seemingly winning the nomination. You don't need moronic and inciteful covers like this to prove a point. We have a freedom of speech that is unprecedented like anywhere in the world and with this freedom, race baiters and hate agents use this to their advantage and abuse it.

Unfortunately some people get so wrapped an event such as this political race, sporting event...that it is enough to give someone who can't balance right from wrong and use the images as a motivator. Kinda like Ted Bundy and pornography and his supposed claim is what drove him to be a mass murderer. Whether true or not is a different debate.

[biglover]

"Obama being dark"

I am offended by that comment as I was offended by some of those racist yahoos in WVA caling him a "darkie"