Rifle Crosshairs Pic: Roswell Beacon’s Publisher apologizes to Heather for Insensitive Picture!

 

Heather called the publisher of the Roswell Beacon to let him know just how offended she was by his newspaper’s cover, here is what happened:

 

    In fairness to the publisher, John Fredericks, he immediately issued a statement apologizing for any offence. He personally told me that “one of the most distressing things for him” is to be cast in the same mold as the white supremacists whose ideology he abhors. He is no bigot, no racist, and made a bad judgement call in selecting that inflammatory image for his cover, he just wanted to illustrate the severity of the the risk. Here in his own words, John Fredericks:

From the Publisher:
We have been publishing the Beacon for a little over 18 months. We believe most of the time we get it right. Regarding our May 15th cover, we got it wrong.
As publisher of the Beacon, I am ultimately responsible. I am accountable.

On behalf of the Beacon, I sincerely apologize for offending anyone or any group by our May 15th cover. We are very distressed at having upset anyone, and we can understand how by just looking at the cover without having access to read the related story it was meant to depict is clearly offensive.

The cover story for the May 15, 2008 issue of the Beacon featured an investigative report entitled White Supremacy Groups Threatened by Obama Candidacy. The report brought to our community’s attention the need for law enforcement to prepare for a possible Obama backlash by organized hate groups operating in our area.

JUAN NAGREE-NEGGER SPEAKS OUT

An interactive poll at this link http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/northfulton/stories/2008/05/21/obama_0522.html indicates that over 80 percent of viewers found it offensive.  It’s the other twenty percent that worries me.  John Fredericks, the paper’s publisher, stands by his cover picture, claiming that he will not let his first amendment rights be violated.  Apparently, the story addressed Obama’s increased security risk as he travels around the country, and what was being done to protect him.  The photo clearly goes against the pale and does not so much illustrate their point, as it fuels a rabid thirst for some violence against Obama.  Such inflammatory imagery and references (ala Ms. Clinton and Mr. Huckabee), including the DailyKos’ portrayal of Michelle Obama being beaten like a slave, regardless of their purported intent , harm to the message.

Video: Father Michael Pfleger at Trinity Church

Below is a link to the video showing Father Michael Pfleger this past weekend at Trinity Church while Obama was in Puerto Rico.

 

I am sure that it is going to be difficult, but this is going to make it easier for Obama to distance himself from Trinity going forward.

 

I am beginning to get tired of ALL these “Fathers”, “Pastors” and “Ministers” in this campaign.  It seems to me that they are all looking for ‘book deals’.  I want to hear what the candidates have to say.  Hillary crying was in February.  It’s now May – almost June.  Let’s move forward people.  Enough of this foolishness.  This doesn’t help me to put $4.17 per gallon gas in my car!

 

These are not Obama’s word’s these are the words of a “Father” he knows.  It shouldn’t matter that Obama has known him for over 10 years.  I have known people all my life that I love but who would make me look like satan himself based on their lifestyles.  I may love them but I don’t believe what they believe. I should be judged based on the way I live my life not the way people I know choose to live theirs.

 

I’ve worked for people and therefore received money from people whose philosophies and behavior I do not believe in at all – 0%.  This is the world we live in.  No matter how we try, we cannot protect ourselves from people we associate with who act or think differently than we do.  Otherwise we would live in a bubble and our social education would be incomplete and inadequate.