Black Journalist Tells Olbermann About Being Booted From McCain Event (VIDEO)

Stephen Price, a reporter from the Tallahassee Democrat, tells Keith Olbermann about being kicked out of a John McCain event. Price was told only national press were allowed -- but none of the other local reporters weren't asked to leave. "The fact that I'm black was the only obvious reason," Price concludes. Watch:

Comments

[hanna08]

When Barack Obama's camp was accused of shielding a Muslim student from a photo-op at one of his campaign events, it makes the national news. Everyone starts to launch allegations of racism and islamophobia.

McCain's camp CLEARLY didn't want this fellow reporter present at their event, and yet no one in the mainstream media picks up on this.

And they say there's a liberal bias in the media..

[StillAmused]

When you recruit all of Junior's hit-men and 'strategists' (y'know, the same ones who smeared you and your own family a while back), don't expect to break them of their bad habits. They're trained to soil the carpet and break up the furniture.

Lay down with dogs, get up with fleas.

(Apologies to all doggies who are, every one, good people... it's just a figure of speech.)

[DrDemon]

And Lindsey Graham said, this weekend, that McCAN, "doesn't have a racist bone in his body".

YAHHHHRIGHT!

A typical repugnican hypocrite! I can't stand them...I do like Hagel & Spector.

[aquarius2001]

Blantant racism!!

[Pyott]

Clearly identifying and quantifying the comparative prevalence of racism among members of both major U.S. political parties is certainly a complex " not to mention incendiary " undertaking. The entire question is only complicated by the likelihood that the incidence of racism today is undoubtedly far less overt today than it has ever been in this country's history. Much of modern racism has "gone to ground," making it harder to study directly. Nonetheless, it is possible to construct a fairly accurate picture of the degree to which racism is likely to be present among both parties.

It is in fact credible to claim that today"s Republican Party possesses a greater number of racist constituents within its ranks than the Democratic Party. And although no one can credibly argue that all or even most Republicans are somehow endowed with a predominantly and innately racist mindset, as it would be wholly inaccurate and utterly unfair to do so, there IS a certainly a great deal of combined direct and circumstantial evidence to suggest that " of the two parties " today"s Republican Party retains a statistically significant, greater number of racist elements within its ranks, and a more pronounced tendency to attract racist mindsets (despite the fact that the degree to which this is the case today is likely to have diminished over the past few decades).

So where does this leave us? Simple. It's one of all too many reasons NOT to vote Republican.

[slg]

They may not be racists but they snicker and laugh at the jokes.

[repearwo]

Let's not be too quick to see only the racism in one party. I am from Texas and in my town outside of Houston the Democrats are just as racist as the Republicans. I hear the "N" word applied to Obama all the time by operatives of the Democratic Party here.

That bigotry also apllies to Mexicans. IT is going to be hard in my county for Democrats because the Democratic TIcket is lead by a Black and a Mexican. Both highly capable men.

Racism and bigotry is ignorance. Those who appeal to racism and bigotry appeal to ignorance.

[Pyott]

"repearwo": If you'll take a moment to examine my words more carefully, I honestly think you'll find I'm not in fact being "too quick to see only the racism in one party." I'm not sure how you came to that conclusion.

The only claim I made is that: "today's Republican Party retains a statistically significant, greater number of racist elements within its ranks" than the Democratic Party.

Moreover, I made a particular point of prefacing my assertion with the following language:

"Clearly identifying and quantifying the comparative prevalence of racism among members of both major U.S. political parties is certainly a complex " not to mention incendiary " undertaking. The entire question is only complicated by the likelihood that the incidence of racism today is undoubtedly far less overt today than it has ever been in this country's history. Much of modern racism has "gone to ground," making it harder to study directly."

I would NEVER make the mistake of claiming the Democratic Party's own ranks are free of racist attitudes. Racist mindsets can be found in virtually every segment of the social-political continuum, to varying degrees. It would be both hypocritical and dangerous for the Democratic Party to assume it is somehow itself immune from racist motivations.

However, I WOULD stand by my original claim " once again, that: "today's Republican Party retains a statistically significant, greater number of racist elements within its ranks" than the Democratic Party.

[Rmchairphilo]

People, some of us just aren't invited to the table under a McCain (continuation of Dubya) administration. That's just a fact. now, what are we going to do? Put up with this rot or move toward a more progressive society?

[Freesia2]

If McCain is going to keep making a habit of kicking people out of his little events, he might want to avoid picking black journalists and librarians. What's next? Kids in wheelchairs? Veterans?

I think his goal is to campaign for Americans, in front of Americans. As long as he's actually campaigning for insider Republicans, and only in front of Republicans.

[BigLib]

Call the WHAHHHHabulance!

Olberdouche has on his bad smell look.

[majormoderate]

you're still a tool biglib ;)

[jbeach]

O'Reilly, you're not fooling anyone.

[ZimboChick]

biglib and toby keith celebrate

[noamjunior]

Both the reporter and other state reporters in the area point out that NO national reporters were in the supposed "national reporters only" section, so why did McCain's staff remove the only black reporter there?

[tel8034]

AND........................ McCain and his camp say they ARE NOT RACIST ..................... Go figure.

[triplbee]

I think that McCain is playing with a strategy where he appears to be overtly racist so that he can attract Reagan Democrat-type white voters. Look, only 2% of black voters are supporting McCain. But there is still a segment of white voters who approve of race baiting. Sadly, Hillary Clinton proved that in her swings through Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and West Virginia. McCain may be taking a page out of her playbook.

[honeydiva]

I'm so sick of this. I'm sick of this recycled mess that goes for news. Everyone knows that many of his supporters can't be polled and the polls are full of it. After this week, I'm turning off the tv for two weeks and leaving these sites alone until the convention. I've learned nothing here lately and I'm getting irritated with the stupidity.

[honeydiva]

I don't know how this comment got here, it was for the poll topic, I'm 2 thru. I may have to leave soon than I thought...lol

[Freesia2]

Don't feel bad. I just came from the poll topic (You're referring to the Abramowitz graph reading, yes?) Right after I had finished hollering at the tv. I tried to post my thanks there but I was too mad at being whacked by polls so cruelly for so long that I couldn't think of what to say other than #@$#.

That is of course if you're referring to the Abramowitz thing. Otherwise, to quote him - "never mind". :-)

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

(repost)

the mccain camp said it best...this black reporter was simply in "the wrong place".

hence, there is no "place" for black reporters on the mc-racist-straight-talk-express.

mccain refused to recognize martin luther king's holiday so why in the heck would this reporter expect to be recognized?

get a clue, people!

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

the mccain camp said it best...this black reporter was simply in "the wrong place".

hence, there is no "place" for black reporters on the mc-racist-straight-talk-express.

mccain refused to recognize martin luther king's holiday so why in the heck would this reporter expect to be recognized?

get a clue, people!

[08politicaljunkie]

I'm playing Devil's Advocate here.

The only way to determine if the color of Price's skin was really the reason he was ousted from the event is if there were no other Black skinned reporters at the event -- national or local.

Does anyone know if Price's reporting is biased? If so, it could be the McCain campaign may not have desired left-leaning coverage. Sheesh, the name of his paper is 'THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT.' We all know McCain and his staffers are not brightest bulbs on the Christmas Tree and they could have perceived the Paper as party partial.

Do I need to remind everyone about Obama's volunteers' Muslim photo op debacle in Detroit? This is very remniscent. McCain didn't oust him; his volunteer did. And it may not have necessarily been skin color bias -- unless they, like many others, presume that ALL Blacks favor Obama.

Anyway, I hate racist rants and accusations. And it seems to be in the news all the time lately. I'm not saying it should be hidden, I just feel it should be factually TRUE and not just a suspicion before it's reported. The media needs to quit fanning the flames. Life is hard enough.

[binarystar]

The devil doesn't need any more advocates so next time you feel the need, why don't you either take ownership of your true beliefs or keep the devil's opinion to himself.

And by the way, the man clearly said that he was the only black reporter there.

Regardless of how much you "hate racists rants and accusations" that doesn't mean that if one black person is ejected from an otherwise all-white event with no valid explanation that racism isn't the most obvious explanation.

[FatherWolf]

My, we're trying hard to look for excuses for something that's obvious, aren't we?

BTW - you seem to be fine with a presidential campaign banning an accredited journalist from a recognized newspaper from covering a public event. Whatever the name of the newspaper, whatever its editorial policy, this is trampling on freedom of the press.

Imagine if the O-b-a-m-a campaign kicked reporters out of its events -- whether the Wall Street Journal or a neutral local paper. Everybody would be angry, liberals and conservatives alike.

But when the Republicans do it, we get nothing but apologies from "Devil's Advocates"

[08politicaljunkie]

I suppose a narrow-minded person might presume I was defending John McCain with my remarks. I was simply stating that this is a serious charge that should be investigated since oftentimes our emotions cloud our perception.

I personally have been a victim of "appearance" profiling so many times I cannot count, and many times as a result of my profession. While I chose to look at this situation from a couple more angles, I never denied the reporter's suspicion was not accurate. But at the moment, it is still his suspicion.

And the culprit was a secret service agent who will hopefully get reprimanded.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g4EO5WkdEVxWIfvFuzwBjp8Q3MaAD92CG1982