Reid remark draws ire of Italian-American group: GOP senator Santorum comp

(Posted so we are aware of the latest GOP smear tactics, stupid as they are ...)

GOP senator Santorum compared to John Gotti

January 23, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada managed to offend not only Republican senators last week but also an Italian-American group with a comment he made in a televised interview.

Appearing Wednesday on the "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer," Reid scoffed at the notion that Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., had called for lobbying reform.

"Having Senator Santorum talk about reform is like having John Gotti talk about doing something about organized crime," Reid said.

That drew a rebuke from the Columbus Citizens Foundation of New York City, which noted Santorum is the son of an Italian immigrant. The foundation supports scholarships for Italian-American students and organizes the annual Columbus Day Parade in New York City.

more...

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-23-Mon-2006/news/5466174.html

I guess the truth hurts. Wow, talk about making a mountain out of a molehill. Harry Reid ain't no bigot.

The GOP is even more criminal than the MOB.

God Damn GOP! :argh:

Reid was comparing Santorum to a convicted criminal not to Italian Americans in general.

If anything, the mob types ought to be angry at being compared to Santorum.

Borowitz. Seriously.
---If anything, the mob types ought to
be angry at being compared to Santorum.---

January 9, 2006
PAT ROBERTSON: SATAN CAUSED CHENEY’S SHORTNESS OF BREATH
Devil Laid Veep Low, Evangelist Says
http://www.borowitzreport.com/archive_rpt.asp?rec=1292&srch=

Whatever.

NGU.

They call Dems baby-killers but just let someone use any kind of comparison whatsoever to any negative historical figure and the Repubs get totally bent out of shape. I thought an elephant was supposed to have a thick hide. Apparently not.

"This is such BS".

Harry Reid was making a comparison bewtween the GOP's crimes and the MOB's crimes (a fair comparison). Both are quite awful.

I support the Senator.

Although, if I were a mobster I'd probably be pissed off to have Rick "frothy fecal etc." Santorum associated in any way to the Cosa Nostra.

But generally, we Italian-Americans are Democrats. Some of us are touchy about the constant references to our criminal element, though, as if Italian-Americans have done nothing else.

I'm just fucking sick of the Godfather references, when it does nothing but demonize the Italian-Americans and insult us. I'm hardly thin-skinned, but this coming from a waxy little impotent punk like Reid is offensive.

That asshole can't do anything right. Why the Democrats have him up front is beyond me.

involved in organized crime? Reid didn't say anything about Italian Americans in general. He named one person, who was convicted of crimes related to organized crime. Nothing about any other Italian American.

You're a little hyper-sensitive, dontcha think?

How about any other crime figure?

Charlie Manson's always a traditional favorite.

You're a little thick, aint'cha?

<ignore>

is the first word that jumps to mind when i hear of charles manson.

and just in case you are too "thick", :sarcasm:

and there are mobs in Russia, Israel, you name it. Italian Americans don't hold the market on mob activities either. Look at Enron.

I'm German American. Imagine if I got into a snit every time someone mentioned Hitler, Nazis or the Gestapo!! I'd have a helluva social life!

I'm smart enough to know that those are specific persons or groups, not a reflection on me.

Besides...Hitler was Austrian ;-)

He compared him to a CRIMINAL.

They'll do anything to bring down Reid or other Dems because so many of their own are so corrupt.

but of course Columbus was, lets say, a touch "genocidey", so that says a lot about their judgement on which great Italians they choose.

...not Italian-Americans.

---------------------

from the linked article...

"Reid spokesman Jim Manley called the criticism ridiculous and said Reid did not even know Santorum was Italian.

"The fact is, Senator Santorum is the last person who should be put in charge of cleaning up Washington," Manley said. Manley also said the Pennsylvania senator was a founder of the K Street Project, a GOP initiative to place Republicans in key lobbying jobs in Washington.

---------------------

They're really getting desperate.

whining, these Italian-Americans ought to help stop the crime wave at the "Capital" and in the WH

so what.

name me another Mafia figure who's not Italian.

He was just a pawn.

Try again.

Meyer Lansky, Henry Hill, plus numerous unnamed Irish, Russian, Jamaican, Mexican, Colombian, Chinese, Japanese and every other ethnic group that has come to these shores.
Italians aren't the only OC game in town anymore.

That's not the Mafia, my friend. The Mafia is Sicilian, and that's all. These others you name are simply hangers-on. None of them ever truly belonged. The latter-day "Mafias" are just named by journalists who eschew the term "gang."

Now do you see why the Gotti reference was a really dumb thing to say?

La Cosa Nostra, by the way, is Sicilian, not Italian, but when people don't understand the difference - like you don't - that's when we all, Sicilian or Italian - get annoyed.

Twisting Reid's comments (and let's also point out that this so-called "Italian Civil Rights" group is a wing-nut organization that carries water for the neo-cons) into an attack on ALL ITALIAN AMERICANS requires the flexibility of an overdone spaghetti noodle (no offense intended).

That's the same crap they try with every Dem politician. They take Kerry's statement that our troops should not be the ones beating down doors in the middle of the night scaring the shit out of Iraqi woman and children, and they claim he called American troops "terrorist".

It's silly. It's fake outrage. It's intellectually dishonest. Want to know how I know all this? Just listen to Sean "baby Jesus" Insanity, and see how outraged he will be that Reid slandered all Italian Americans.

Only mistake Reid made IMHO, was apologizing. You should never apologize for calling a crook a "crook".

Get over it. Gotti is a convicted felon who just happens to be of Italian decent. I'm part German, but I sure don't get my knickers twisted when someone makes a Nazi reference.

Perhaps most troubling of all is that this type of BS from the Repukes seems to work. I can understand this kind of crap fooling your typical Freeper, or a knuckle-dragging neanderthal, or someone that wants so badly to believe how horrible and "mean-spirited" the Dems are. But to see it working on DU!!!???

We're smarter than that.

I am in no way addressing anything Republican. You're seeing things that don't exist.

I addressed the matter of Harry Reid. He's utterly incompetent, in over his head, and a real load for the Democrats. With him in the leadership, the Senate Democrats are doing nothing but spending a lot of time observing themselves standing on their own dicks. Reid making that kind of comparison was just flat-out stupid.

Man, you really took off on something I never even noticed or mentioned. You gotta pay closer attention. You've definitely got to focus on what's really going on.

because you are Italian, or did I mis-read your previous post? No guess not. It's there for all to see.

you wrote

"I'm just fucking sick of the Godfather references, when it does nothing but demonize the Italian-Americans and insult us"

Now if you can stretch an ambiguous comment comparing a prominent republican politician with a convicted felon, into an attack that '"demonizes" (your words, not mine) the Italian-Americans and "insults" (again, your words, not mine) us"'...then I say, "yes, you have fallen hook, line and sinker for a typical Republican ploy".

I for one am sick of playing semantics with the ass-pickles. Santorum's a crook, and Gotti's a crook. That's the point that Harry Reid is making, and any attempt to turn that into an attack on Italian-Americans is simply providing "aid and comfort" for the Republicans.

"With him in the leadership, the Senate Democrats are doing nothing but spending a lot of time observing themselves standing on their own dicks"

Your posts should come with some sort of warning!

It's the imagery that's getting you, isn't it?

Yeah, me, too.....

Cheers, kid:

Taking the battle to the repug's doorstep.

Italian mobs had to go through them. Read up on Meyers Lansky. Also, you need to look into Reid's background in dealing with "mobs" in Las Vegas prior to becoming a US Senator.

about who built LV? You're 'way off base here, kiddo.

Bugsy was never part of the Mafia, and a "Jewish Mafia" wasn't Mafia, at all. By definition.

His name was Meyer Lansky, not Meyers, and he was my grandfather.

Reid's incompetent in his role as minority leader.

Four Bernsteins, Charles Leiter and Henry Shorr; mostly Jews. Wiped themselves out by 1935.

Or something...? This whole thread has me confused. :shrug:

:rofl:

They only seem to pop up to attack Democrats.

Okay, I'll recast Reid's simile, free of charge, and in my own fashion:

"Having Senator Santorum talk about reform is like the having the Pope talk about doing something about child sexual abuse."

All better now, everyone?

Why does Harry Reid keep stepping on his own dick and then apologizing for having done so?

One step up, twelve steps back, or so it seems.

with Harry Reid's dick?

I'm just askin'

Is it still in the shop for its 300,000 mile checkup? Seems the waaaaaaaaaaambulance has seen a lot of service in recent years. How about these?

"Having Senator Santorum talk about reform is like having Ford talk about doing something about planned obsolescence."

"Having Senator Santorum talk about reform is like having Barry Bonds talk about doing something about steroid abuse in baseball."

"Having Senator Santorum talk about reform is like having Jerry Springer talk about doing something about trash TV."

"Having Senator Santorum talk about reform is like having David Letterman talk about doing something about speeding on the expressway."

"Having Senator Santorum talk about reform is like having 50 Cent talk about doing something about obscenity use in rap music."

"Having Senator Santorum talk about reform is like having Michael Jackson talk about doing something about child porn."


Have I offended everyone yet?

How dare you attack all blacks with that .50 reference. The "ole dirty bastards" anti-defamation league just issued a press release. Apologize now, or feel the wrath of Sean Insanity.

:sarcasm:

See how stupid this little Repuke ploy is people?? Don't fall for it.

"Having Sen. Santorum talk about lobbying reform is like Carlos Escobar cracking down on drug trafficking."

Having Senator Santorum talk about reform is like having Heidi Fleiss talk about doing something about prostitution.

John Gotti was in charge of one of the main mafia families.

I got "ignored" when I called the esteemed Mr. Gotti a convicted felon.

till someone mentioned it. What a crock...

I wouldn't have said Italian immigrant.

:spray:

I mean good Lord, they really had to stretch for that one.

drummed up by GOP scum

John Gotti being Italian, or Santorum being Italian?

And how did this get press anyway? Such a non-news!

WTF?

I didn't even know Santorum's dad was Italian, and don't care in the slightest.

:kick:

group that would be offended by this comment. My guess is that Rove solicited the offended group.

to use.

If a Dem says anything, the Repukes will trot out an obscure "victimized" group to complain about those "mean old Democrats".

Geesh, you might as well give media air-time to something like; "the sons of San Quentin are outraged that Harry Reid is picking on felons". "You know felons have feelings too".

And anyone that can read an attack on Italian Americans into Reid comparison of Santorum to John Gotti, is either a Freeper, a Republican hack, or an ignorant moron.

"Hey RNC, I'm offended that your political ass-kissing Hardball pundits compared Michael Moore to Osama bin "forgotten". As an overweight Irishman, I'm deeply offended. Are all overweight Irishman now to be considered supporters of OBL?"

Nobody! and I mean NOBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!...does fake outrage better than a Repuke.

What a bunch of spineless, sniveling, "hide behind their mommas apron", little pis-ants.

"...anyone that can read an attack on Italian Americans into Reid comparison of Santorum to John Gotti, is either a Freeper, a Republican hack, or an ignorant moron..."

I suggest a poster above take this to heart, because it describes them to a tee as far as this issue is concerned.

and then the Goths would get upset or the Santorum family would denounce the comment as having implicated pRicky in satanism....

Gotti was a criminal...a famous criminal...so guess what the analogy works...

I don't think Reid was targeting Italians...

meanwhile my Italian Uncle hates pRicky....

on me. Just because I hit them first they hit me back.

TRUTH and they think it's hell!" Don't APOLOGIZE anymore Sen. Reid, no matter how they snivel, for telling the feckin' TRUTH!!

Typical.

crooks. i guess Italians feel the words crooks and Italians are interchangeable.

expect to be compared to John Gotti. And don't be offended, cuz you're the worst offender!

Is the Columbus Citizens Foundation of New York City a GOP-funded association?

It just seems like a stretch to whine about this type of comparison, which I actually think it's appropriate, because it wasn't about "Italians" but about crime. And yes, sorry to break it to the Columbus Citizens Foundation of New York City, but John Gotti is one of the most notorious criminals in the history of American organized crime. The guy is a major scumbag, and so big was his "scumbaggery" that his name, Gotti, has become synonymous to gangsterism. He happens to be Italian-American, but he is also one nasty criminal that got rid of people left and right. His rap sheet is truly horrendous. He could have been Irish, or Russian, or English, or Eskimo; who cares.

The last thing the Columbus Citizens Foundation of New York City should do is get all sensitive because someone made an APT comparison to a notorious criminal that happens to be Italian-American. Grow the hell up!

This sudden sensitivity about this otherwise inoffensive comparison sounds to me like it is POLITICALLY MOTIVATED, and very similar to the type of segways and dissembling made by the Swiftboat Veterans.

The mission of the Foundation has always been to provide funding in quest of enrichment. This has taken the form of educational grants and of contributions to help those in challenged circumstances. Three educational foundations create opportunities for individuals to fulfill their potential-to discover, to create, to contribute to their world-despite circumstances that may otherwise have been roadblocks on their path to achievement. Because education is the primary focus of the Foundation’s philanthropic activity, all monies raised through our annual solicitation are allocated to our scholarship funds.


More than 60 years after its establishment, the Columbus Citizens Foundation remains guided by the vision-and the generous spirit-of its founders, Generoso Pope and Judge S. Samuel Di Falco. The Foundation maintains its commitment to preserving the rich Italian-American heritage and supporting a range of philanthropic causes. Determined to make a difference, the Foundation has seized opportunities throughout its history to improve the lives of individuals, to enrich society, and to celebrate the contributions of Italian-Americans to this country.

http://www.columbuscitizensfd.org/

Total over-reaction on their part to Reid!

He would have angered any number of groups no matter what he said. Don't forget that that very same "italian American" group is very right wing to begin with.

If the shoe fits then...

a family of organized crime!!!

Duh.

He didn't say "Italians", he mentioned a known mafioso and organized crime.

Some people are simply looking for things to be insulted about.

Doesn't look Italian

http://www.keepmedia.com/pubs/PRNewswire/2005/11/01/1069104

NEW YORK, Nov. 1 -- The Columbus Citizens Foundation, an Italian-American organization, today hailed the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

"Judge Alito brings unique and valuable qualifications to the Supreme Court and we are pleased that President Bush has chosen such a highly experienced and qualified individual to serve on the high court," said Lawrence Auriana, President of the Foundation. "Judge Alito's outstanding record of public service and commitment to justice exemplifies the strong Italian-American values prized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation."

Says it all, eh?

but wait until your surname ends in a vowel, and you're mailing a package at the Post Office, and the clerk asks you if any of your relatives ever killed anyone.

I was once asked by a complete stranger who read my name on a nametag if I had a good recipe for spaghetti sauce.

And, people who go to movies think we're all part of the Corleone family.

People just are not that bright, UTUSN.

I don't get all bent...I just tell 'em I'm veg.

But, I have a good recipe for Stollen. IF someone asked, I'd share it with 'em.

Sadly, no one cares enough to ask :cry:

I always have disliked the Godfather and Soprano AND (blank) CRAP. It was ALL romanticizing effing-CRIMINALS and making them into being normal, family dudes who had their NORMAL problems WHILE they were WHACKING their business associates/pet-mascots/whatevers.

There's "Traffic" and "Syriana" and fucket.

Gotti is a CRIMINAL! You proud of him because of his "heritage" or some other bullshit?

Get over it!

He was comparing ONE CRIMINAL TO ANOTHER!

Welcome to IgnoreLand, moran.

<click>

heh heh heh

That's like saying someone is a racist for comparing a wifebeater to OJ.

I'm Italian... Doesn't bother me one bit..

That's like saying something bad about Hitler and having German groups get mad..

People come from places. Bad people as well as good people.


:nominated:

On Edit: Can't nominate.
Sorry, I didn't see this thread until just now.. I owe you one!

skin "complaints". I'd tell any italians to go fuck off if they see anything, I mean ANYTHING wrong with that statement. Get over it!

It is factual and there is nothing wrong at all with it.

Some people have their biasses on and can't see the truth when presented in front of them.

Amazing, now the so-called "italians" are suddenly PROUD of GOTTI?!

It seems to me, by proudly identifing him as such, it is defaming Italian Americans everywhere. Anyways, I found out his dad was from Riva Del Garda, in Trentino Alto Adige or Southern Tyrol. So he might very well be of Austrian descent, damn I'm Austrian and Italian(Piedmontese), I guess I can't win. Also Gotti is not Sicilian, his family comes from Naples.

Oh wait that was an actual slur against a whole ethnic group, by Republicans, not some non-issue like this crap.

Makes my people look bad...

REAL BAD!