Shocking Racism at Palin Rally: Al Jazeera Report Starts Controversy

The U.S. presidential race is mesmerizing the world. The result is hundreds of hours of unprecedented news coverage about the U.S. on international news channels -- including the one that I run, the English-language channel of Al Jazeera.

So why has one of our news reports -- on a channel that is broadcast in 120 million households worldwide but not throughout most of the U.S. -- triggered so much controversy in this country?

Perhaps because it was a tough take on at least one issue -- race -- that is being poorly reported by most of America's mainstream media.

On October 12, one of our reporters interviewed people attending a Sarah Palin rally in St. Clairsville, Ohio. It was raw and it was real.

Here's a sample of some of the comments the reporter heard about Barack Obama:

"I'm afraid if he wins, the blacks will take over. He's not a Christian! This is a Christian nation! What is our country gonna end up like?"

"When you got a Negra running for president, you need a first stringer. He's definitely a second stringer."

Watch the full report:

The piece went viral on YouTube, and is now at more than 1.7 million views. It has sparked intense reaction, as well as a debate about our coverage.

On October 17, Washington Post columnist Colbert I. King wrote about the Al Jazeera piece, and accused Al Jazeera English of having an anti-American agenda:

"It is no accident that the English-language operation of al-Jazeera, the Arab-language news network, tried to capture and broadcast to the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere a glimpse of America's more sinister side.... Was this fodder served up by al-Jazeera to feed anti-American sentiment overseas? To be sure. But the camera didn't lie. Did al-Jazeera, however, record the whole truth?"

What nonsense. No single news report -- like no single newspaper column -- can "record the whole truth".

But, as I pointed out in a letter to The Washington Post, these rallies are bringing into the open what is usually hidden in U.S. elections, that race and fear are still powerful forces in American society.

I also challenged the suggestion that this single news report reflected a bias on the part of Al Jazeera:

"Al Jazeera's international news channels - both English and Arabic - have devoted more air time covering this campaign than perhaps any other network. Americans appear on the brink of electing its first black President in history, which would have been thought unimaginable a few years ago. If it happens, this would be a historic development not only for America, but for any major Western nation. For most people - and this is widely evident in Al Jazeera's coverage - it is a story that reflects exceptionally well on Americans and its democracy"

My full letter is here.

In my letter to the Post, I acknowledged, sadly, that most Americans wouldn't be aware of this because American cable distributors -- virtually alone in the world -- refuse to carry Al Jazeera. However, Al Jazeera's very popular website is available in the United States and -- perhaps not surprisingly -- receives a majority of its page views from Americans.

The reverberations from the Al Jazeera coverage didn't end with the Washington Post column. The next day, Colin Powell talked about the issues underlying our story as he left the NBC studio where he had just endorsed Barack Obama on Meet the Press:

]

In responding to a question about McCain's negative campaign, Powell said,

"It troubled me. You know, we have two wars. We have economic problems. ...We have health problems. We have education problems. We have infrastructure problems. We have problems around the world with our allies. And so those are the problems the American people wanted to hear about, not about Mr. Ayers, not about who is a Muslim and who's not a Muslim. Those kinds of images going out on al Jazeera are killing us around the world. And we have got to say to the world it doesn't make any difference who you are or what you are. If you're an American you're an American."

It's true -- the way that the U.S. is portrayed on Al Jazeera matters, and we take that responsibility very seriously. We followed up the initial piece by sending the reporter to get reaction from African-American Obama supporters. We gave the last word in this saga to the owner of a PR firm in Atlanta:

"They are not America. They don't reflect America, they don't represent the America that I live in and am a part of, and they don't reflect the majority of Americans."

We will have to wait until November 4 -- or the early hours of November 5 -- to know who Americans will choose to be their next President. But there are certain things we do know now.

After the dark and gloomy years of recent times, this race has electrified the world. It's a U.S. election that has more international resonance that perhaps any in our lifetime.

And all of these issues have been debated and explored in hundreds of hours of coverage on Al Jazeera English, an award-winning channel that is broadcast in more than 100 countries.

Except for most of the United States. Political and financial interests have pressured American cable companies from carrying Al Jazeera English.

In a country that regards itself as the world's leading democracy, that is regrettable because Al Jazeera's coverage has been fair, comprehensive and respectful of different points of view. And a window on the world.

As the world welcomes this new and exciting U.S. era, isn't it time for Americans -- when it comes to being able to see Al Jazeera - to actually be allowed to make their own judgment?

Comments

[alexa07]

HuffPost's Pick

Al Jazeeera English is an excellent source of information for what is sorely lacking in the American media--what we used to call "international news," & what is now limited to mean-spirited snipes by our leaders mindlessly repeated by our newsmen or empty-handed gestures (ABC's silly series on what people in other countries eat for dinner or how they celebrate their birthdays.) Don't insult me by pretending this is international coverage! Link TV is an exception to this rule; so is Amy G. & Juan G. on Democracy Now as well as INN. Fareed Z. on CNN.

I view Al Jazeera English regularly from my computer, & with the help of JumpTV, can view it on the full screen, & yes I know I can hook my laptop up to my TV, but geez when are we going to be able to view it on Cable channels? Why can't we also see the Canadian sit com., "Little Mosque on the Prairie," that is a hit in Canada & also enjoyed all over Europe & even in Israel?
The American media's very narrow window on the rest of the world has put every American at risk of the kind of ignorance you see exhibited in this Al Jazeera feature.

[xxnounxx]

great article,i watch al jazeera daily.
i used to et shocked,by my america friends,when they deny criminal incidents and have sweeteed information,about the atrocities taing plae in iraq,and other countries being rapd by america.
they i realised their media is censored.if only people saw the footage on h syrian bombing,which is totally ignored.
not even an apology,as if the inocent victims where not humans.

[donberry]

al-jazeera allowed on our cable ? What do you think we are, a free country or something?

[thuglife]

I feel sorry for the children of these people. The world is changing, information is disseminated in seconds, education is becoming like a commodity and what do these people believe... well the same thing that their families believed 200 years ago. This is shameful coming from white or blacks but it is especially troublesome that these views are being espoused openly at a presidential event. This country needs to change course in order to survive.

[ellezeebub]

By allowing our media interested to be monopolized, collateralized and infotainment-ized we have undercut the foundations of our democracy--the public is woefully uninformed.

I have taken to watching BBC America and BBC news on PBS. No editorializing and not sponsored by right-wing interests, I get a much clearer perspective on the news. It is sad that the birth place of democracy is so slow to recognize the cancer that has taken over its press corps (or more accurately, press corpse), but change is on its way. Change for the better, I hope.

[chancetay]

Where are these people getting their information? I have never seen anything like this. The crap that people believe is disgusting. These people are very uninformed and I see our little friends of the evangelical right have been rearing their ugly heads. I live in the State of Oklahoma and they wouldn't vote for a President who is a Democrat if the Republican Nominee came up to them and took their first born away from them and then slapped them in the face. I feel like my vote never counts, but I vote anyway. Get this, we have a great Democratic Govenor. Go figure.

[CIgarCityGirl]

They are getting their information from Limbaugh, Hannity and O'Reilly.

[BlackWidowPilot]

Every time one of these yahoos spews their hate, they are IMHO s***ing on the memory of every person of colour who has fought and died for our liberty since the Revolution!

As a Military Historian and proud son of a WW2 US Marine, I have no time for such fools as these...

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[Houstonking]

Please check out this ad by Local Voices which gave me some hope regarding race and the campaign

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rceDaHBuKhw

Local Voices is desperately looking for funds to buy more air time in Missouri. Please consider donating.

[TrooAmerican]

I agree with Powells remarks, that its important to limit the bad press because of strategic needs, however, Bush's tenure has made that moot since he made us look bad worldwide with no filter needed or used.

I also agree with this Al Jazzeerra english editor that it sucks that America the Free and Democracy has used its Republican powers to limit free speech in our country time and again.

I also agree with the reporting on the racists at the McCain palin rallies by the AJ reporters.
Its news, its truth and it needs to be spread or Americans will never be accountable.

However, i also think that AJ's worldwide broadcasts Fail miserably to apply the same microscope to Arabian Nations and the terrible things They do, as well as 100% of the time refuses to show the Evil and terrible First strikes by the Anti Israeli groups and then instead excoriates the Israelis for their retaliation often calling them the aggressors even when they purposely target and only attack militants and keep civilian casualties to a minimum or zero.

So it plays both ways. No one here is innocent of bias or fraud, and no one in the media or politics has been in any way without sin.

[gretchenart]

many of those "first strikes" are actually false flag operations designed to justify Israel/American violent "response".

[berkawoo]

One should take a serious view of these racists at McCain/Palin rallies. If Obama wins (I hope so) the rage from these people will be toxic. It should be expected that FOX NEWS will ramp up on lying and smearing an Obama administration. This will be RED STATE RAGE at it's most frightening. Also expect that the Limbaugh AM radio thugs will be more dangerous irresponsible,viral and toxic than during Bill Clinton's administration in the 1990's. The measure of their RAGE will be more shocking and scary than in previous times. The genesis of this RIGHT WING RAGE began when Clinton defeated HW BUSH in 1992. They were very organized and well financed in engaging their scorched earth policy against Clinton and the Democratic Party. This rage I speak of will be very real, this Red State Conservative Neocon ideology will continue to infest this country. If Obama is elected these folks that claim deep Patriotism for this country will not show the least bit of support for Obama. Many of them will be incapable of laying any blame on Republicans who have held real power since 1994 and the Gingrich Contract on America.The beginning of all this damage began with Gingrich and ended with W.BUSH. Once again be prepared for the extreme RAGE from Right Wingnut
America.

[swift goat pet for truth]

"Shocking Racism at Palin Rally"

I do not understand "shocking". How about "Run of the Mill"?

[DuPageDem]

Where was these racists' outrage when Bush flew a planeload of Bin Ladens out of the country right after 9/11? Bush and Cheney have been close to big-oil Arabs for decades, but I don't recall hearing a peep of complaint from any of their low-information supporters. Their concern only kicks in when it's directed at the other party.

[coolmaiden]

Or their outrage at 167 Americans murdered by (at least) 2 of their own in Oklahoma?

[SummerWithIn]

Oh no, oh no no no NO!!!! I'm an American living in South Africa - why are so many Americans so persistently stupid? We've had 8 years of Bush, heavens have people learnt nothing? How many more of their kids do they want killed in losing wars? How much more of their tax dollars do they want wasted?

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

These are the least educated individuals in our country. They do not know anything about politics, and the politicians that lead them know they have a stupid group to follow, repeat or fear anything they want them to. THIS is the unfortunate part of america, the REAL slums and white trash..... that fuel many jokes.... and misperceptions about the rest of us. The East and West coasts of the US seem to contain the rational populus.... middle america and south.... the irrational.

Basically, they just don't know better.

[dlo2]

Democracy has fundamental ingredients in order to survive and thus counter dictatorial tendencies: a free and unbiased press to begin with, a large "educated" middle class, and of course the necessity of all elected leaders to be knowledgeable of the Constitution and it's prescribed balance of power between the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government. We do not presently have a free and unbiased press, thanks to the ilk of Fox and AOL. This is a complex world and voters, to vote intelligently, need unbiased education and insights that formal education should provide. After years as a professional, years of graduate work in healthcare and international relations, years of experience watching every election campaign since Eisenhower, Barack Obama represents the one choice for an America that will continue the tradition of a centrist democracy, civil liberties, egalitarianism, and most of all, bringing all the factions of the American polity together to work for the good of all of us. Remember that John F. Kennedy's campaign was met by suspicion because he was a Catholic and voters queried that maybe America would be ruled by the Vatican.
Obama is a truly amazing human being. If you can find honor in your soul, if you are able to trade your fear for love for yourselves and your children, you will understand that this election is a phenomenal opportunity for America to find it's way home to its former glory.

[CallMeCrazy4Now]

I have a bet going with 3 people on other blogs. All 3 have recently told me I would probably win the bet. Here's my bet.

"I bet that Obama would lose because of racism, but it would be the racists in his own party that would sink him."

I live in the South. The county I live in as a majority Democrats. I have coffee every morning at the same gas station/convenience type store. We have a crowd of about 8 regulars and we have been meeting there for at least the last 9-10 years. One guy is the County Democrat Chair, he's kind of the fixer in this area, the others just follow his lead. He and his buddies stated more than once that there in no way they would vote for the "N" word. A couple of weeks ago he stated that he was at some statewide Dem meeting and talked to alot of others that felt the same way as he did.

My point is, there may be a few racists in the Republican party, but my experience says the Democrat party has many more. As an aside, I consider myself a Conservative and I never met a racist Conservative in my life. Rascist Reps, yes. Rascist Dems, you bet. Rascist Conservative, none that I know. Conservatives believe in MLK's words. Especially "to judge a man by the content of his character, not the color of his skin." That's how Conservatives live.

[shutdown]

Don't you think its time to stop where you go for your coffee???

[egal]

You didn't get the memo that Conseratives are actually more attracted to Democatic policies unless they are th sort of conservatives who like stagnation just as long as they don't have to make any changes to systems duly proven to fail the nation and its populace?

Real conservatives don't side with the Republicans because the Republicans (not as individuals) are too self-aggrandizingly idealistic even when practical understanding proves them horribly wrong. There are significantly more Republican racists than Democrats, something along the lines of 40% more. As a member of neither party, I'm just pointing out this obvious truth revealed in every study on the subject combined with endless real-world examples and anecdotal evidence.

REAL conservatives--those who champion fiscal responsibility, who uphold the Constitution, who believe in private freedom and rights, and who believe the government must not have too intrusive or overbearing a role--could NEVER support the dictatorial and power-grabbing behavior of the Republican party.

And that's not even considering actual Conservatives' beliefs, trampled upon by the current GOP until they don't match any conservative values, values like:

taking advantage of all forms of power, with realistic expectations, while keeping military power in reserve until necessary;

avoiding Big Brother intrusion into private affairs and violation of personal rights;

not selling our government to private companies, and their allies, who will benefit imensely while cutting back on the practical commitents to our next generations;

and using resources wisely, moderately, efficiently, and inexpensively.

[jrZgrl]

Yeah, I'll just bet you hang around and talk politics with your average, everyday Democrats in your majority "Democrat" county. Where do you live? Atlanta or Ft. Lauderdale? You can always tell the FoxNews KoolAde junkies because they always refer to the Democratic Party as the "Democrat" Party. It just makes them sound so intelligent when they do that. Doncha think? I just don't get that Republican (should I call it "Republic" to sound "folksy?) quirk that makes them think that sounding uneducated (and acting as they do outside of Palin rallies) is cool. Does it make them sound ignorant? You betcha!

[pir anha]

this requires some familiarity with the south, i think. read up on dixiecrats, southern democrats, blue dog democrats.

there are still very conservative people in democrats' clothing. i am not surprised that some of them are also deeply racist -- though i disagree strongly with CallMeCrazy4Now that overall the dems have more of them, and that conservatives are never racist.

be glad you don't live up here in canada, where the liberal party federally is an entirely different animal than the liberal party in BC, for example, and where the greens don't really fit into the left->right paradigm at all.

[tasukibeth1]

I noticed that too. No Democrat would ever use the term "Democrat Party". It's an instant givaway.

[CallMeCrazy4Now]

I never said I was a Democrat. I have coffee every morning with influential Dems in my area. I'm registered as Unaffiliated. And I say Democrat party for a reason... I don't like the Democrats agenda.And yes, I sometimes get po'd at Republicans too.

And to whoever said I should change the place I get my morning coffee... It's an 11 mile drive to the next gas station that has coffee. Plus the people that I talk to every morning are good people, and although they know where I stand politically, I could call any of them at 3:00 am for help and they would be there in minutes. You guys just don't understand regualr Americans, do you?

[betabeta]

You're going to lose that bet... why? The southern states carry the least amount of votes in the electorial college... that is why you don't see anyone campaigning down here.

[CallMeCrazy4Now]

No I'm not!

There is between 18%-20% of Dems that will never vote for a black man. I spent half my life living up North, and I ran into racists almost daily. It's not just a Southern thing.

[gretchenart]

You forget about the likely very large pool of white, educated republicans in the closet for Obama! But I agree Obama could lose--but more likely from suppressed votes, purged votes, spoiled votes, illegally uncounted votes and other GOP election thuggery.