CMB, Democracy Now, and watching the left eat it's own

I just saw an excellent example of the left's propensity to eat it's own on Democracy Now today. One of Amy Goodman's pet issues is a certain Nigerian (on edit: Ken Saro Wewa) that was put to death by the Nigerian dictator at the time becasue he was protesting against the oil industry in Nigeria. Goodman had this gentleman's brother and the head of human rights group related to African issues. Goodman had an interview where she really tried to utterly trash Braun over this particular atrocity in Nigeria.

The breakdown in the disagreement is that CMB felt those who were suggesting economic boycotts and other similar economic sanctions were aiming to cut off programs that were more humanitarian in nature that helped the poor people of Africa. I saw the brother of the gentleman that was murdered accuse CMB basically of not immediately agreeing with all thay were asking for. I saw the man from the human rights organization say that it was fair to expect way more from CMB on the issue because she was African-American. Amy Goodman and this gentleman both admitted that CMB's record in Africa on human rights issues was excellent, better than basically anyone in the Senate at the time, however, because CMB didn't wasn't as strident as they were, it was fair to attack her.

I was shocked today. I've never seen Amy Goodman as vicious as she was today with CMB. I saw all three individuals admit CMB did more on human rights issues in Africa than anyone in the past. I saw all three continue to viciously attack CMB because CMB's record wasn't PERFECT.

The guy from the human rights group said it. CMB was African-American so they had the right to expect CMB to completely submit to their agenda. That was the justification for trashing CMB.

All through the interview, Goodman made charges against CMB, and CMB would refer to detailed records on her Presidential campaign website from the confirmation process to becoame Ambassador of New Zealand.

I've just gone through some of the stacks of the documents at the CMB website. It looks like Amy Goodman bought the Rove/Fitgerald lies hook-line-and-sinker. Evidentally, CMB had become friends with Ibriham Abacha, son of Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha, here in the US in 1992. Goodman charged 7 trips, there were only three in which Nigeria was a stop after 1992. All the expenses for the trips were paid for by Braun, and her (then) fiancee, a Nigerian national. The first trip was in order to meet her fiancee's family. She also met with Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu, and serveral other African leaders. She did stop off and briefly meet with Ibriham and his parents on this trip. There was one three day trip in July of 1995 for a wedding in which she briefly met with Ibriham and his parents. There was a trip in August 1996 for Ibriham Abacha's funeral after a plane crash. CMB says she was there with the Abacha family during the service and went to the leaders compound afterwards in which CMB states she related to Sani Abacha "personal feelings and concerns" about what she had seen on her Nigerian trips, Specifically, she conveyed to him feelings she had "about human rights, the environment, religious tolerance, and democratization."

While I was there, I looked into the other "outrages" CMB supposedly committed while a US Senator. You remember the charges she used campaign credit cards improperly? The grand total of supposed "improper" personal charges was a WHOPPING $311.28, all of which was more than owed to the individuals involved for legitimate campaign expenses they had paid for out of their own pockets.

The income tax charges? The IRS did a 5 year investigation including full audits for 3 years of basically every financila transaction CMB made in those three years.

Why?

There is a letter from the lead IRS agent William E Doukas describing the reasons for his incredibly intense investigation. Apparently, Doukas decided that the amount of $roughly 32,000 dollars in cash donantions was way too low for a US Senate campaign of an African-American. He felt "cash would be the most prevalent method for donation to the Senator's campaign fund." In other words, the implications is made that African-Americans don't know how to write checks.

Is it reasonable to conclude racial bias was involved in the investigation of Braun?

Look at this quote from a Lead IRS agant Doukas memo

"Attorney _______ also spoke of a D of J memo which stated that a higher threashold for wrong doing should be applied to minority office holders. (If this is indeed the case, and such a position is in writing, Then it's time for us to turn in our badges. After all, if "they" are "smart 'nough" to get elected, "they" are "smart 'nough" to go to jail)"

Yeah...

The timber sale questions? Carol Moseley Braun's mother, Edna Mosleley, was a medicaid recipient in a nursing home up to and through the year 1988. Edna Moseley was willed timber rights to some land in January 1988. December 22, 1989 Edna Moseley exercised the Timber rights and recieved $28,750 from the sale. Edna Moseley had no assets or bank account to hold them at this time because she was in a nursing home. Carol Moseley-Brawn opened a money market account on January 4, 1990 specifically for the proceeds of the Timber Rights sale and deposited these proceeds in that account. Edna Moseley couldn't open her own bank account for these proceeds because... she was in a nursing home. On June 27, 1990, Edna Moseley decided to give the proceeds of the timber sale to her children in order to cover some of the medical expenses her kids had paid for out of pocket. Edna Mosely and all the children agree that the out of pocket expenses for Edna Moseley's medical care far outweighed anything Edna Moseley had recieved in the sale of the timber sale rights. The Illinois Department of Public Aid confirmed this fact. At this point, Illinois Department of Public Aid states that it's Edna Moseley's responsibilty to report assets. Edna Mosely states she reported these assets orally to her Puclic Aid case worker visiting the nursing home. The aid worker and Edna Mosely's file don't show this report. Illinois Department aid determined that while Edna Mosely's children spent vast personal resources on Edna Moseley health care, it was medical care that Edna Moseley's children paid for out of pocket didn't meet the requirements for reimbursement by Illinois Public Aid. Illinois Public Aid requested reimbursement of $15,239.92 of the $28,750 recieved by Edna Moseley. This payment was made by Carol Moseley Braun on October 30, 1992. The matter was consider resolved on this date.

So... Edna Moseley's kids were paying out their own pocket to get their mom better health care at the nursing home. Edna Moseley recieved some money, and tried to pay her kids back for some of the money they had spent on her health care. Edna Moseley and her children thought health care costs were reimbusable. They were right, but only some of the expenses were allowed and some were disallowed. Illinois Public Aid was paid for what was not reimbusable when the request was made.

WOW... Carol Moseley Braun and her siblings are guilty of spending a fortune out of pocket on their mothers health care, and their mom is guilty of trying to pay them back for some of it when she got some money.

I watched Amy Goodman do the worst reporting of her career today. For Amy Goodman not to even read the documents of the govenment investigation of Carol Moseley Braun to see that every stamp on CMB's passport, and practically every financial transaction CMB made while in the Senate was fully audited is the worse form of journalism. It makes Amy Goodman look no better than corporate media lackeys.

After looking at these documents, it becomes clear very quickly that Carol Moseley Braun was put under government scrutiny almost as intense as any elected official in America today. It appears that Carol-Moseley Braun may be one of the most honest political figures in America today.

Amy Goodman is not living in some ivory tower...she's been in the trenches...literally

I hope Ms. Braun eventually clears those charges, and that Amy will gladly apologize for her improper reporting.

Either way Goodman can apologize now.

as an illinoisaan, it broke my heart. eat it young is CORRECT. we gotta learn to stop.

CMB surely deserves better. This is what happens when life is viewed so starkly and without balance.

I really enjoyed that show, and Amy's excellence is indisputable.
Carol Moseley Braun deserves NO slack for her relationship and support for those who had Ken Sarawewa executed. From what Ive seen lately, CMB is a trojan corporate whore. For anyone to demand sycophantic coverage for a favored politician is to support the garbage that brought us GWB.

You couldn't have read what I wrote and still kept that opinion. The facts just aren't there to condemn CMB. Amy Goodman did a poor job of reporting and really did an even poorer interview.

not those of yours or anyone elses.

Those are her words coming out of her mouth, right?
Correct me if Im wrong.

I hear anger. I don't see evidence.

Im not angry, you are. Im saddened, perhaps, to see people rise to the defense of a woman of color much less deserving of praise and support than, say, Cynthia McKinney or Barbara Lee. There isnt a link in the world that will provide clarity of perception. Keep looking though, I could be wrong.

"pet issues"? Could you be any more dismissive of an internationally disgraceful criminal act of murder?

The Saro-Wewa execution was repugnant. A war crime. However, what could CMB really have realistly done to stop it? If she had fogotten ALL her other duties as a US Senator, what could CMB have done?

Nothing.

So you think Sen. Fitgerald is doing more to help Nigeria now? Why aren't you bitching about Fitgerald?

Even more... why aren't you bitching about POWELL? He's the Sec'y of State. He's African-American. He should be doing something about the atrocities, right?

I don't see you posting about that. I see you complaining because the best friend the people of Africa ever had in the Senate wasn't absolutely perfect.

The double standard is astounding.

that seems to be the charge.

me and colin go way back. Ive ridden that horsey into the ground. In ways you cant even begin to imagine. What exactly is your point? I should choose a different black American to target? I havent even targeted one. Amy Goodman however, is the person being subjected to the "left"s appetite here. CMB's major character flaw is her stance on Iraq, which illuminates ALL of her other actions unfavorably. Double standard? CMB is a low water mark for democracy and justice.
That is no double standard, and your premise is "fatally flawed".

What I see is one person yelling loud. I asked for links to evidence supporting your claims last night. Do you have them?

You need links to the Democratic Debates?

I owe you no links, sorry. If you think that discredits my opinion, I couldnt care less. I'm not a lawyer, and I dont play one on the internet. But if I did, I wouldnt consider links as evidence. Now, I suppose I could find a copy of the debates, transcribe her offensive comments and post them for you with a date/time stamp and cite the place, but actually, I have much more important things to do. Just keep attacking the one of a handful of remaining investigative journalists in this country. Maybe you would be better off listening to NPR?

You have nothing to disprove what I posted. Anger doen't count.

I went through the copies of the govenment documents from CMB's Senate Foreign Relation committee confirmation hearings for her appointment as Ambassador to New Zealand. All the charges made were proven false.

looks like you veered from Amy's comments and questions to amplify your beef. Rather dishonestly Id say. But I would have to relistent to yesterdays DN to fact check your screed. Maybe I will, maybe I wont. You are going off on Amy Goodman, I am not going off on CMB. You are the angry one, Im trying to place some context around our most precious resource which you disparage in a rather dishonest manner.

Amy Goodman repeated over and over the question about CMB supposed 7 trips to Nigeria which CMB's US Passport documented was a complete distortion. 4 of the trips came long before 1992.

CMB is no saint. She is jockeying for a position of symbolic power, doubtlessly hoping to parlay another ambassadorship or better returned favor. Thats NOT running for president, and she is not in it for anyone but herself. Its disgusting.

(Thanks Mouse7... Fantastic job there)

I could say many things. But I would like to summarize it by stating here that Carol Mosely Braun would make a fantastic president today - if only the rest of country would catch up with her. I hope someone like her will become the President within this century.

Holding her up to higher standards than others only on ethnic grounds is... Well, worthy of the R-word. Ridiculous.

It is bad enough that Carol, most if not all African-Americans in general (not to speak of other minorities) have to hold themselves to higher standards than others, just to aim for a spot at a par with what angry white males take for granted, and with an entitled attitude too.

I understand the anger at what has gone on with practical impunity in Nigeria (courtesy mostly of Shell and the oil business in general) and I also understand the anger at the steeled indifference with which Africa is treated. To wit, Ken Saro-Wiwa's story, the ongoing horrors near the Great Lakes, the sheer incredible past butchery in Rwanda, and the neverending, miserable and nauseating rest. Not to mention the criminal racketeering that takes place through WTO, IMF and the Worldbank, making the situation even more intractible, if at all possible.

Stuff that can't attract the attraction of angry white males, too busy with their preoccupations - like cheering W.

Yes, Africa deserves more attention. Much more. If only because of that, I can understand that underpinning for a critical attitude towards Carol Mosely Braun's willingness to push the envelope further.

But to go for the throat of precisely one of the most involved active politicians with a reasonable shot at making a difference, based on the ethnic argument - that is beyond the... pale.

I'd like to see similarly acidic expressions of indignation-fueled anal scrutiny towards quite a few people in the past four or five administrations, for starters.

Look, Amy is a tremendously committed person, who does a helluva good job - except when she loses perspective.

Looking at the evidence presented by Mouse7, she lost it. Sadly.

I hope Carol Mosely Braun can look forward to a generous exculpation, when Amy Goodman is ready for it.

Oh yeah - and I hope that next time, all our BS-detectors catch onto the cloak-and-dagger feed coming from, well, those who are the least interested in pursuing the issues near and dear to the victims of their smear. I smell a RW rat.

to read a posting in which someone simultaneously decries "the left eating its own", while trashing Amy Goodman as being no better than a "corporate whore". Amy Goodman is a heroine to me. she may not be right 100% of the time, but if/when she's wrong, it should be possible to criticize based on the issues instead of resorting to character assassination.

She couldn't have done any homework at all. Considering how few good minority leaders we have in this country, Amy Goodman owed CMB and Pacifica listeners more than what was presented today.

Any Goodman is personally involved in the Saro-wewa case. She lost her objectivity on the subject and went on an ugly rant on a subject that I'm sure CMB was helpless to prevent even if she had spent all of her time on Saro-Wewa case and forgotten the rest of her duties.

Carol Moseley Braun did do more than other Senators for Africa. A LOT more. To conveniently forget that and leave the big picture unreported while attacking on a atrocity that Braun even introduced a Senate resolution to deplore and spoke against on the floor of the Senate was really beyond the pale.

And you say it like its a bad thing? She is (nearly) singlehandedly responsible for reporting some of the most outrageous atrocities and bloodiest events of recent history. CMB has already shown herself to be a wanna be Howard Dean/Wesley Clark. Bloodthirsty ambition, is THAT the American way? Never mind the thousands and thousands of dead, maimed and shattered lives these cocksuckers have achieved over the last few years. Its ABB, dontcha know?

The questions Goodman asked were all straight from the ad copy of from the Fitzgerald for Senate campaign that Karl Rove created.

Let me repeat this. Amy Goodman was repeating Karl Rove's lies.

I remember her ripping Clinton a new one in 2000 - he got noticably upset because she wouldn't throw him softballs.

It's to Goodman's credit she didn't patronize Braun by not being just as hard as on anyone. Considering what Braun has been through, Goodman's not going to hurt her, trust me :)

Goodman is tough, pretty abrasive, but fair.

Goodman was basically quoting verbatim from the Fitzgerald for Senate ad copy that Karl Rove produced.

Goodman didn't ask legitimate questions.

It's pathetic and sad to see false smears against her repeated by left-wingers.

She supports the occupation of Iraq. That kind of class act is already in the White House. Smearing blood all over Iraqis, the dead and wounded US soldiers and their broken families. Some smears never wash off our hands.