How Not to Be a Tracker

Wednesday afternoon as our building held an ice cream social in the lobby, a young man showed up at Media Matters office armed with a camera. Positioning himself outside our office, he proceeded to ask people leaving the building what is was like to work for George Soros.

I decided to go have a conversation with him:

I would like to note, no matter how many times Glenn Beck or Bill O'Reilly says it, George Soros has never made a contribution to Media Matters. However if he would like to make a contribution, he can do so at MediaMatters.org.

There is nothing wrong with tracking -- Media Matters regularly sends trackers to conservative events -- but if you are going to track, perhaps it would be a good idea to come prepared with more than a single question based on a false premise. And when you are confronted with your own questions, have a better answer than rubbing your nose and mumbling.

 

 

 

Follow Ari Rabin-Havt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/arirabinhavt

Comments

[SallyStrange]

06:40 PM on 08/09/2010

Oh look, it's James O'Keefe's apprentice. How adorable. What's this kid's name, anyhow? I want to look up his other work. No doubt it's just as brilliant as this.

[gamoonbat]

09:11 PM on 08/09/2010

His name is Spencer Meads. His other work was provoking an assault from Congressman Bob Etheridge of North Carolina

[OshkoshJohn]

09:57 AM on 08/09/2010

Inquiring minds need to know...why is this apprentice fucktard rubbing his nose so much? I am thinking his employer lets him do a few large rails before heading out to harass people.

[SallyStrange]

06:39 PM on 08/09/2010

It's a sign of deception, actually. That's scientific.

[Rwc47]

08:39 AM on 08/09/2010

DERP

[infodoc1]

06:03 AM on 08/09/2010

I foresee a bright future for this goofball at Faux News

[yannb]

02:47 AM on 08/09/2010

Spencer boy needs his mom.

[Anointed2]

11:32 PM on 08/08/2010

Poor wittle baby. Left wiping his wittle green nose.

[ilovedessert]

09:48 PM on 08/08/2010

what a sad little man!

[ilovedessert]

09:48 PM on 08/08/2010

Mr. Perkins is so full of hate...how sad for him!

[RPGR]

09:21 PM on 08/08/2010

The Fox/Limbaugh youth . . . indoctrinated . . . so utterly lost . . .

[factsworkbest]

08:31 PM on 08/08/2010

What is wrong with George Soros? Nothing. Why does the right hate him? They don't, or at least not as much as they fear him. A politically active billionaire who isn't afraid to spend for the change he believes in. It's like they're looking in a mirror, only it's a liberal looking back. Terrifying.

[Jose Cintron]

02:57 AM on 08/09/2010

That's right a billionaire with a conscience who supported Bill Clinton and the democrats. Who also promotes global causes. He's been their bogeyman for decades. He's a respectable man with first hand experience with Nazis and compared them to Bush. He doesn't fit there mold of being rich, liberal and claims that we all have responsibility for others. He's given 7 billion in his lifetime for good causes which is more than Bill and Warren so far. The man funded causes against the apartheid in the 70s when it was unheard of for a rich capitalist to to so. He's on the record for making 1Billion in one day but he's given most of it away. He's a true financial genius. He made money when the conservatives lost a lot. He is rarely in the media but progressives should learn more about him. His daughter even hosted the Clinton s during Chelsea wedding. This is why neoconservative hate him. Progressives should know more about him his is on of the few billionaires on their side

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Soros
http://www.georgesoros.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnf62Uhl3ac
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/26/chelsea-clinton-wedding-t_n_658956.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DuafAqAHrc

[factsworkbest]

09:17 PM on 08/13/2010

Thanks for all that info on Soros. One thing I love about liberals on the web, when they make an argument, the come armed with links!

[jscam87]

03:27 PM on 08/08/2010

So Media Matters "TRACKING" is fine, but this poor kid is wrong because he is misinformed? If that is the standard, Media Matters will be out of the the Tracking business (and it is a bit more like 'STALKING', but since MM does it we need a nicer word...) soon.
Weird you would attack this kid and then say the 'Principle' is OK since you do it. He's a kid. Get over it.

[essbird]

04:51 PM on 08/08/2010

Want a lesson in how to track? Here's the Daily Show's John Oliver tracking the Republican off-year convention in Hawaii, where they have universal, government-mandated health care. Exquisite. Then take another look at your boy.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-february-11-2010/the-apparent-trap

[lapet]

08:10 PM on 08/08/2010

So the little snot nosed brat should get a pass because of his age? It's something call "preparation". He knew he was in hostile territory, but was still woefully unprepared. It's obvious his parents' influence got him in college, and that job. Typical Rethug youth: White, snarky, stupid, and, of course, overweight. He might want to cut down on the beer busts at the frat house.

[DrBlunt]

11:07 PM on 08/08/2010

~~>>>>~~~8~~~> Faved!

[gamoonbat]

09:13 PM on 08/09/2010

He is not that young. I think that he is a year or two away from being on the job market with a political science degree. Unless he goes on to law school, God forbid!

[dancingstu]

01:14 PM on 08/08/2010

I guess this disproves the old wives' tale "Ignorance is bliss". This guy didn't look too blissful to me, despite the confused grin.

[EJ Honda]

01:49 PM on 08/08/2010

But it does apparently make your nose itch.

[dancingstu]

01:54 PM on 08/08/2010

I think this guy's bliss and nose itch come from the same source, and it ain't ignorance.

[DoesNotComputer]

11:58 AM on 08/08/2010

Hey, who let the derp from high school with the false bravado and oblivious sense of self worth off the bus?

It's like there's only one of him but he exists everywhere at all times.

Someone go get him before he gets picked up by the kennel and euthanized.

[DoesNotComputer]

11:57 AM on 08/08/2010

Hey, who let the derp from high school with the false bravado and oblivious sense of self worth out into the streets?

It's like there's only one of him but he exists everywhere at all times.

Someone go get him up before he gets picked up by the kennel and euthanized.

[three2thehead]

11:28 AM on 08/08/2010

That nervous nose rub reveals a discomfort that is being relieved with too much opiate
medication, probably oxycodone. As a rehab counselor, you see THAT particular "gesture"
a LOT. Also why he can't track what they are talking about.

[Dianedp]

05:29 PM on 08/08/2010

Maybe it means he's nervous. That particular gesture isn't uncommon, and it's certainly not reserved for people using opiates--something you evidently associate only with drug addicts. Chronic pain patients get really, really sick of people making comments like that.

[three2thehead]

03:39 PM on 08/10/2010

You are right. I am not trying to make any reference to chronic pain patients. Having observed people using opiates and people using too much opiates, his mannerisms tend toward the latter.
Physically, people who consistently use that much at a time become dependent, so, yes, I associate that with addicts. The young man does not appear to be in any pain, chronic or otherwise. My brother has three degenerate discs and takes hydrocodone & oxymorphone, and I do not want to cast disparagement on people seeking legitimate treatment.

[three2thehead]

03:40 PM on 08/10/2010

Also I was riffing on Applescrub's comment.