MoreMonmouthMusings's Art Gallagher Arrest; Awaiting Extradition To Delaware On Fraud Charges

According to an online article posted on The Asbury Park Press this evening, Art Gallagher, author of the moremonmouthmusings blog, has been arrest on fraud charges and is being held on $250,000 bail while waiting on extradition to Delaware, at the Monmouth County Jail.

From the APP:

HIGHLANDS — A prominent blogger who is running for a seat on the Highlands Borough Council next month is in Monmouth County Jail awaiting extradition to Delaware, police said.

Art Gallagher, who runs a Republican-leaning political blog and is campaigning as an independent for council, was arrested over the weekend by borough police on a fugitive from justice warrant out of Delaware, Chief Joseph Blewitt said.

Details of Gallagher’s alleged crime across state lines are unclear, but Blewitt said the warrant was theft-related. Detective Nicholas Terranova, the lead investigator in the case for Delaware State Police, could not be reached for comment Sunday.

“That’s what it’s stemming from. It’s regarding a fraud investigation Delaware State Police conducted,” Highlands police Sgt. Joe Rogers said.

Gallagher, 53, who is also a member of the borough’s planning board, is being held on $250,000 bail. Blewitt said on Sunday afternoon “they have informed us they will extradite.”

I don't want to kick a guy while he's down but sooner or later everyone needs to answer to a higher authority for what they may have reaped in life. I hope that he and his family will able to cope well during this trying time.

Something like this however was bound to happen sooner or later to Art. I heard rumors last year that Art was going to be the subject of a WPIX News segment of "Help Me Howard ".

For those unfamiliar with "Help Me Howard", it's a segment on channel 11 news that features longtime newsman Howard Thompson. Thompson helps those who feel they have suffered injustices or have been wronged in someway.

In a segment that was to feature Art Gallagher but never aired because the incident was allegedly settled before airing, Art was accused by someone who had rented a food vending truck from his business. I don't remember all the details but the person who rented the truck was upset that the truck didn't work properly and wanted a refund of some kind. Art of course wouldn't oblige so the individual contacted Howard Thompson.

Also, Art has fancied himself a "King Maker" of sorts ever since he started MoreMonmouthMusings, blogging first anonymously as William Seward, then as himself, after he and others managed to air all sorts of Republican dirty laundry and the "take down" of Monmouth County Chairman Adam Puharic back in 2008 when he resigned from the position and opened the door for current Chairman Joe Oxley.

Art has since often warned Republican wannabes that if they want to get elected to office in Monmouth County or locally that they need to indulge his blogging and submit comments or columns to it.

Art also got himself in a bit of hot water back in 2008 when he tried to rationalize the use of the "N" word after the Reverend Jesse Jackson was caught on an open mike threatening to cut of then presidential candidate Barack Obama's "N"nuts. Art wanted to know why it was okay for Jesse Jackson, a black man, to use the "N" word but it was unacceptable for a white man to use the term.

After posting this on his blog, then Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, called a special emergency session of the Middletown Human Rights Commission to look into it thinking that his blog posting was actually printed in the Bayshore Courier where Art had at the time wrote a weekly column.

This lead to Art being censored by the local chapter of the NAACP and his column being dropped by the Courier. Afterwards Gallagher started a vendetta against the Middletown Democrats and the Courier's publisher, blaming them for somehow conspiring against him and having him labeled as a racist.

Since then, Gallagher's blog has become a the Middletown Republican's dumping ground for the dirty tricks, mudslinging and slander against Democratic candidates running for office in Middletown.

What will the Middletown Republicans do now? Will they come out and disavow Art Gallagher or will they make excuses for him and their actions.

As I said above, it is easy to kick a guy while he is down. Regardless of Art's alleged actions in this case or in the past, I do wish him and his family well. We have had a slight adversarial relationship over the past few years but I think we have always been respectful to one another.

I may not always agree with Art or his point of view but that doesn't mean I wish him any ill will. I wish him a speedy resolve to his problems and a return to his blogging.

Will Short Seek Re-Election In Middletown?

Will Democrat Patrick Short seek re-election this year to the Middletown Township Committee?That seems to be the question to over at MoreMonmouthMusings.

Evidently Art Gallagher ran into Mr. Short at last nights Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce's Meet the Mayors event last night and asked him if he had intentions to seek re-election.

According to Art, Short left open the possibility of not running for re-election.

In his post, Art gave some very nice background to his readers about Short's previous victory and some useful suggestions for Short to consider before seeking re-election, which was surprising considering how anti- Middletown Dems Art Gallagher is.    

If you ask me however, I think that Short was just messing a bit with Gallagher. Short knows Gallagher's history  so why enlighten him on his intentions?

I have never heard Patrick Short directly say anywhere that he was not going to seek re-election. By keeping people guessing as to his intention, it has lead to wide scale speculations from his Middletown GOP adversaries.

I happen to think that Short will be running again.

With that in mind, like Art Gallagher, I am attaching a poll to my blog to see what others feel about whether or not Patrick Short will seek re-election.   

Art Gallagher is a Partisan Hack and I Have the Audio to Prove it

"Hey Mrs... Walsh I'm uhm, not really in charge of the layout of the website or uhm, you know, necessarily if I can make any changes once I summit it.."

The following audio clip is a message left on the voice mail of Middletown Democratic Candidate for Township Committee, Patricia Walsh's answering machine a few weeks ago.

This rambling and often incoherent message was left by JJ Sullivan, the supposedly impartial reporter who was hired by Art Gallagher of the MoreMonmouthMussings blog to cover the goings on in Middletown and Keyport.

Out of all the towns in Monmouth County and the bayshore in particular, why would Gallagher feel that it was so important to cover Middletown and Keyport? The answer, Revenge.

Revenge against Jim Purcell and the Courier newspaper for dropping his column in the wake of his infamous "N" word controversy and Middletown Democratic Party leader Joe Caliendo, who Gallagher feels organized his firing from the paper and his censorship from the Middletown Human Rights Commission.

In his misguided angry and angst, Gallagher has allowed himself to become a tool of the Middletown GOP and his once insightful and at times thought provoking blog has been turned into a clearing house for lies and falsehoods about Jim Purcell and his friends, as well as the Middletown Democrats, in particularly Patricia Walsh.

You see, Walsh and her running mate Jim Grenafege are on the verge of becoming the latest democrats elected to the Middletown Township Committee. The Middletown Democrats need only win one seat to gain the majority on the committee for the first time in over twenty years, but to win both seats and a super majority that would mean that they would control
bonding and all that goes along with it (good-bye Mr. Carton), and the Middletown Republicans can't let that happen no matter what. So, the Middletown GOP entered into some sort of unholy alliance with Art Gallagher, an alliance that I am sure will come back to bite him right in the ass.

The Republicans provided to Gallagher an ancient deposition from a law suit that was brought against Patricia Walsh 10 years ago and settled in 2001. In this deposition Walsh admitted that her legal bills where mounting and that she borrowed money from a friend to help cover her legal expenses. This loan, which has been paid back, has been turned into some kind of "dirty deed" by Gallagher and the Middletown Republicans.

In his attempts to discredit Walsh and the Middletown Democrats, Gallagher hired a reporter, JJ Sullivan, to cover the non-story for his MoreMonmouthMussings blog.

Gallagher handed over to his reporter, the information that was provided to him by officials in the Middletown GOP (Mayor Scharfenberger?), and told Sullivan to make the story happen.

The following audio clip I am told is the one and only attempt by Gallagher's reporter to contact Patricia Walsh for a comment. While you are listening, please note that Sullivan does not explain why he is calling for a comment or what he will be writing about, just that he wants to talk to her about some allegations. He tells Walsh that she would be able to call him over the weekend, but he had to have the story submitted by Friday night and he didn't know whether or not he would be able to make any changes to it once it was submitted, which would lead one to conclude that JJ was afraid that Art Gallagher would have editing control over what was finally published.

Freeholder D'Amico unequivocally denies MoreMonmouthMusing and Voice of Reason false allegations

More Monmouth Musings and the Voice of  Disinformation have been going on recently about how Freeholder John D'Amico is calling on Democratic Freeholder Candidate Amy Mallet to be dropped from the party's ticket this fall and about how Freeholder D'Amico and fellow Democratic Freeholder Barbara McMorrow aren't getting along, insomuch as that McMorrow is considering not seeking re-election next year because she does not get along with D'Amico.

This interested me so much that I decided to call Freeholder D'Amico to see if there is any truth in these assertions. I got off the phone with Freeholder D'Amico just a little while ago and he made it clear there is no truth whatsoever in any statements that he has ever wanted or sought to have Amy Mallet dropped from the county's ticket. He also stated to me that there is absolutely no possibility that Mallet will be dropped.

As for the false and vicious allegation that Freeholder D'Amico and Barbara McMorrow do not get along and that he treats her with such disrespect that she would not consider seeking re-election because she can't work with him any longer, D'Amico stated to me that "I have the utmost respect for Barbara McMorrow as a person and Freeholder and I look forward to working with her now and for many years to come".    

Freeholder D'Amico added that he doesn't put any stock in More Monmouth Musings, Voice of Reason or any blogs like it, and he looks forward to working with both Amy Mallet and her running mate Glenn Mason, after their election to the Board of Choosen Freeholders this November.

So to the rumors mongers, who like to spread false allegations about Amy Mallet and others , I can say with authority that they are just that, rumors. 

Amy Mallet will not be dropped from Freeholder's ticket and there is no disharmony between D'Amico and fellow Freeholder McMorrow down at the Hall of Records

Is Art Gallagher one of the confused people we should embrace?

"Nevertheless, here's what I'm clear on: Many people struggle to understand why some blacks still call each other the n-word when the word's history and inherent ugliness make it offensive. Those are confused people we should embrace..."

So starts the final paragraph of Derrick K. Baker's opinion piece "Those who use the n-word must be accountable, regardless of race" which was published in The Philadelphia Inquirer last week.

Mr. Baker explains very well how the use of the N word makes him feel and how he perceives those who use it, whether it is Jesse Jackson, some Rap artist, or just some  plain white folks that are confused.

Click on the headline to read Baker's opinion

A word about last nights meeting in Middletown

I was reading Art Gallagher's  impressions of what transpired last night at the Middletown Township Committee meeting last night and I generally agree with his assessment.

The meeting was very good and it was to seen the six new members of the police department sworn in with there families in attendance. While it was interesting to hear the presentation from the Middletown Health Department and all that they do, I found it a little long.  After all, I was there to see a show and I was getting a bit antsy waiting.

When Art did get up to speak sometime after 10 pm, the Mayor seemed to be waiting for him because he immediately announce that there was going to be a 5 minute time limit on comments. The township clerk then  literally set a time clock that went off after the 5 minutes.  Art then had to rush through his comments to finish.

Art, as he mentioned did not get the great debate that he wanted, largely because no one showed up argue the point with him and because the debate did get sidetracked  over who called for the Middletown Human Rights Commission to meet.

On this point, I have to take exception with  Art Gallagher's perception on events. While Committeeman Short my have been trying to score political points by blaming Mayor Scharfenberger for the "unnoticed special meeting", it was Scharfenberger's denials and the seemingly apparent cover up by the Clerk, Township Administer and Attorney, about asking the commission to meet that lead to that confrontation.

One of the main issues that Committeeman Short takes exception to is "open and transparent government" and Mayor Scharfenberger knows that, so to try and cover up the fact was not the right course of action for him to take.

I was at the hastily called meeting of the MHRC Thursday night, I received the message off my answering machine late that day it.  I am not sure how the person leaving the message found out about the meeting. I arrived late and left after the Commission decided to draft a resolution

against Art Gallagher's methods.

Now, why have I brought that up? because several times during the special session the Cindy Hoffman of the Human Rights Commission mentioned that the mayor asked her to look into the allegations and to convene a special meeting. When asked if Mayor Scharfenberger knew about the meeting taking place, she said that he was aware of it but she did not know if he would be attending. 

So the only real fireworks that we got last night was the confrontation between Short and Scharfenberger. 

And I really think that the issue for the Township is over, I just don't see the Human Rights Commission reconvening just to discuss this their resolution against Art and his blog. The meeting was called for after all, as a political ploy by the mayor against the Courier and not because he had concerns over what Art Gallagher wrote on his blog.

You can hear audio clips from the meeting on Melissa Gaffney's SableMinded blog

The spinning at MoreMonmouthMusings has made me dizzy

I haven’t commented on the spin job being performed by Art Gallagher over at his bog MoreMonmouthMusings lately, other than to comment on the meeting of the Middletown Human Rights Commission last week and what the outcome of that meeting was in relationship to Art’s blog and his controversial use of the “N” word, because quite frankly it has made me dizzy.

The many posts and comments to his blog over the past 2 weeks have done nothing, in my opinion, to foster a better understanding of race. All that it has succeeded in doing so far is to feed Art’s own self important and grandiose impressions of his own self worth and has caused others unnecessary distress. In his attempt to discredit Jesse Jackson for saying he wanted to cut off Barack Obama’s N***** Nuts, he brought the scorn and condemnation of others onto himself.

When critics spoke out against his clumsy attempts at discussing race he has lashed out at them by calling them names or by trying to downplay their concerns because after all, he did his research, as his many postings of on the history of slavery has shown.

It is interesting to note that of Art Gallagher’s supporters the only ones to come forward and show their support are two 20 something year old conservative republicans, James Hogan and Eric Sedler, Hogan being a failed candidate for Frank Pallone’s seat in the 6th congressional district and Sedler who is the Chairman of the Monmouth County Young Republicans (whose only knowledge of race relations is what they learned in the history books), and an anonymous right wing blogger, who doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude, guts or courage to write under his real name. He uses the moniker of Barry Goldwater and is responsible for the trash that is posted on the Voice of Reason. Why hasn’t anyone else come out to lend their voice to Art’s crusade? Probably because they know that no possible good can come of it.

One other of Art’s alleged supporters, a mysterious person called Dwayne, left a very level headed and intelligent comment on the MoreMonmouthMusings blog in response to the post “What does the N-Word mean?” I will admit it was thought provoking.

As it turns out, this Dwayne seems to be none other than Dwayne Harris, the Atlantic Highlands Township Clerk, who has made it quite clear with a letter to the Editor of the Courier, in the printed edition of this week’s paper, that he is no supporter of Art Gallagher or his blog MoreMonmouthMusings.

I also do not see the point or relevance in trying to bring into the conversation controversial Rap or Hip-Hop lyrics other than an attempt to inflame the situation. To make light of or to dismiss Barack Obama’s condemnation of these lyrics as simply a ploy because he is the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is disingenuous, others including the NAACP have spoken out against these types of lyrics.

I also can not believe that Art, until a few days ago never read the full text of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech before even starting this conversation. How can anyone talk about race and not ever have read King's landmark speech? 

As we all know by now, the MHRC has denounce Art’s method of introducing a discussion on race by printing controversial statements that included the “N” word, which has lead Mr. Gallagher to now seek out the Middletown Township Committee and Mayor Scharfenberger at tonight’s workshop meeting.

If anyone is truly upset with either, Art Gallagher, the Middletown Human Rights Commission or Middletown’s Mayor Scharfenberger, then I suggest you show up at Town Hall tonight and make your voices heard on this subject. I am sure that it will be one hell of a show and well worth the price of admission.

Tune in tomorrow for the outcome because I am sure that the spin will make everyone nauseous.

Some thoughts on race and illegal immigrants

A friend of mine and fellow Middletown Democrat, Bill Stevenson, was in attendance last week for the special session of the Middletown Human Rights Commission, which was called for by Mayor Scharfenberger, to discuss the racial impact or fallout over what he thought was the Courier's acceptance and agreement with the views of columnist and fellow blogger Art Gallagher's use of the "N" word.

While the Commission was convened for the purpose of addressing Gallagher's MoreMonmouthMusings diatribes over race it was not limited to just a discussion over the "N" word. 

Residents in attendance that night were also concerned about how persons of Hispanic decent that reside in or happen to pass through Middletown  are percieved to be illegal immigrants and not welcomed in the community. 

The following thoughts on the subject were passed along to me by Mr. Stevenson and I thought that they were true and right on target:

"There have been and continue to be, many letters to the editors on the subject. One frequent argument was that "my ancestors came here legally".Well for much of our history there was really no such thing as illegal immigration because we let anybody in and when we did put on any restriction, it was to bar disease carriers & those who would be a burden because of not being physically able to work. I believe that it was in the 1920's that we established quotas that favored northern & western Europeans and barred Chinese. I remember being taught in school back in the '30s that we didn't want Chinese because they would work for very little which would lower our standard of living.

One of the frequent arguments is that these people don't speak English - that they must learn English & English should be our national language. This reinforces a very embarrassing fact about the U.S. The fact is that most of us do not speak or understand any foreign language. Most Europeans are at least bi-lingual or greater and the second language is most frequently English. And contrary to what they would have you believe, many of their ancestors did not learn much English - they lived in ghettos & worked in sweatshops where English was not a necessity.

Another sad fact is that most of our ancestors came from Europe or Africa or Asia, while most of these illegals' ancestors came from right here in North America. And as far as English is concerned, please note that Puerto Ricans speak Spanish; a high percentage also speak English and last time I checked, Puerto Rican citizens were all U.S. citizens.

Also - 4 of the 10 largest cities in the U.S. have Spanish names - Los Angeles, San Antonio, San Diego and San Jose. And there are 5 states with Spanish names - Florida (flowery), Nevada (snow clad), Colorado (red), Montana (mountainous), & California (after an imaginary paradise in a Spanish novel).

Of course, the reason for the large number of Spanish names in the southwest is the fact that this area was once part of Mexico, which we stole from them by one means or another. Many of the Mexicans in this area did not immigrate to the U.S. They are descendants of people who were already here.

The real opposition to Mexicans is not that they are illegal. The real reason is that they are not white and they are numerous. Most of the other arguments are phony. We shouldn't be spending one cent on a wall. What we need is a system that gives them a passport/ID that allows easy passage & tracking (similar to EZ-Pass). Then all we need is to set up, with the Mexican government, a background check, a database & a set of rules that they must follow. Obey all U.S., State & local laws. Pay all taxes. Register with local authorities where they rent. Have limited job security (citizen preference).

Comply with this & they will not be harassed. Break the rules & risk jail time & deportment). Of course, protection should be given against undue penalties for minor infractions."

 

I would like to know your comments on the subject, pass them along and I will post them 

Middletown's Mayor calls for Human Rights Commission to meet about "N" word controversy

Middletown's Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger asked the Middletown Human Rights Commission to hold a special meeting last night to discuss the controversy surrounding Art Gallagher and his blog, MoreMonmouthMusings's sloppy attempt at race relations.

I arrived at Town Hall late and unfortunately had to leave early due to family concerns, but I that the Human Rights Commission was shocked and appalled at what it heard from the meeting attendees. 

In attendance was Lorenzo "Bill" Dangler, President of Long Branch chapter of the NAACP, who wanted to make it clear that under no circumstances what so ever would it be appropriate to say the "N" word and that Gallagher's words were offensive and hurtful. 

From what I understand the Commission will make a report  condemning Art Gallagher and his blog for his ill conceived attempt to address the use of the "N" word and race relations. The Commission will then present  a recommendation to the Mayor which would ask him to denounce Art and his MoreMonmouthMusings blog. 

The meeting was also covered by the Courier's Melissa Gaffney so I am sure that you will be able get a better idea of what exactly happened at the meeting by reading about it in the Courier or by reading her SableMinded blog shortly.

Yet another adds his voice to the MoreMonmouthMusings "N" word Controversy

Also received last night via a personal email is the following statement from a good family friend of mine Tony Orsini. The last I heard, Tony is the Municipal Chairman of  Holmdel's Democratic Committee. 

Tony also wanted me to pass along his comments about Art Gallahger the readers of this blog:

How would Mr. Gallagher feel about someone saying this to him: "Do
you know what the difference is between an Irish funeral and an
Irish wedding? One less drunk."

There's still a big difference between calling someone a subhuman
slave versus a drunk. Anyone can be called a drunk and there's no
historical, anthropological or sociological context. Anyone who
knows anything about history realizes it is hurtful, degrading, and
suggestive of some sort of genetic inferiority.

I guess Mr. Gallagher has no African-American friends who can
explain this to him. No surprises there. He might be made to
realize that they are more intelligent than he is.

Mr. Gallagher, don't freak out because Mr. Obama might be our next
Prez: genetically, Obama is actually 51% white...you know, like
Derek Jeter.

I refer him to Lincoln: "It's better to shut up and make people think you're stupid rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt."

  

Thanks Tony for lending your voice to this debate.

Schwebel adds her vioce to the MoreMonmouthMusings "N" word controversy

I recieved a personal email (not a blog comment Art) last night from the former Chairwoman of the Middletown Human Rights Commission Carolyn Schwebel, Ed.D.

Mrs Schwebel who is currently the vice chair of the Monmouth County Human Rights Commission wanted me to pass along to the readers of this blog and to the readers of Art Gallagher's MoreMonmouthMusings the following thoughts;

On a sunny day, two young friends taking a walk smiled at the family they passed. The cute little girl yelled at one, "Go back where you came from!" The young African-American man, "stabbed" again, replied, "I live across the street. I came from here!"

"You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,"
(-Oscar Hammerstein, 1949)

A nine-year-old school child came to me in tears, saying,
"Larry keeps calling me a (N-word) and laughing."

"He jests at scars that neverf felt a wound."
(Romeo, in Shakespeare)

A local blogger disingenuously uses the "N-word" in offensive ways: "Take an ( 'N-word') to lunch," In a purported effort to enhance interacial understanding and communication.

" What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach,..."
(Captain in "Cool Hand Luke")

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can really hurt me!"

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.
Maya Angelou

Thank You Dr. Schwebel for your thoughtful insights

Gallagher's Column"MoreMonmouthMusings" dropped by Courier

I just heard the good news. 

As of today, Art Gallagher's column "MoreMonmouthMusings" has been dropped from the Courier weekly paper. 

It seems as though the fallout over his racially charged posts and his clumsy attempts to start a discussing about race has started. And from what I have just recently heard Art is not very happy about it.

I have been told that because of this, Art will be using his MoreMonmouthMusing forum to go after any and all Democrats and the NAACP, who he feels is responsible for the Courier dropping his column.

At this point, my only comment to him is go ahead and try. If you want this years election turned into a referendum on race you and all of your Republican candidates will loose.

Further more it will force the people that Art Gallagher supports to address the issue and either come to his defense or speak out against him.   Either way it is not a position in which the county GOP would like to be placed in.  

Stay tuned for further developments

MoreMonmouthMusings's Art Gallagher is loosing it

I recieved the following email from Art Gallagher this morning, I think that he is loosing it and has started to crack under the pressure of all contorversy he has surrounded himself with "N" word. His email also pionts out how intolerant he actually is towards anyone with a difference of opinion. 

"Mike,

This post is pure demagoguery. Reading it, I can understand why you don't think you are qualified to have a conversation about race.
You are also not qualified to make an assessment of me, my qualifications or the level of respect I may or may not have in the community.
I can appreciate Mr. Dangler's upset with my posts. But you are just a blowhard who knows nothing of what you are talking about trying to make a name for yourself. Try Mud Raker.
"The N-word is not acceptable speech, has never been acceptable speech by anyone, and will never be acceptable speech for anyone, of any race, political party or consequent to any agenda."
This statement is simply not true. Do some research lazy boy.
I have no ill feeling towards Art Gallagher Really? I have ill feeling towards you after this post.
and I do not necessarily wish him any harm.
You don't necessarily wish me any harm? That means under certain circumstances you do or would wish me harm! Or are were you just being linguistically lazy again?

To Rick: You post disappoints me. While we have our friendly and occasionally testy banter, I really thought you had a stronger character....like your father, and his team mates obviously did.
To say Caucasians have no business talking about, using, or even discussing the use of the "N" word perpetuates the separatism that is at the heart of the problem of relationships between the races.

A bunch of white guys arguing over the N-word is absurd and I'm working hard to keep this conversation I started from devolving into that. But Rick, you are smart and sensitive enough to know that this conversation is not about the N-Word. It is about race relations, as I have said so many times and as you said in the beginning of your post. You're in one of the races. You're qualified. By the way Rick, you may well be a decendent of slaves, as you might learn reading MMM this coming week.
No that that's off my chest...as I have said numerous times in my posts, I am working to increase understanding and acceptance between whites and blacks. Toward that end, I have spent the better part of the week, and will continue until I'm done, researching the history of slavery and race. I've learned some shocking and disturbing things. There will be a series of posts about what I've learned next week at my place. I've already got posts going through Thrusday. Check them out." 

The use of the "N" word is not and never will be Accetable

I have just finished watching MoreMonmouthMusings's  Art Gallagher interview that has been posted by Jim Purcell over at the Insideclamdigger blog and I just have a few comments about it.

Art looks a little disheveled, like he has just woken up from a long winters nap, and at times he seems awkward while trying to explain his position.  He fumbles over much of what he has to say, much like Don Imus did when he tried to explain himself to Al Sharpton. 

At one point, Art tries to link the controversy around Belmar Mayor Ken Pringle's use of the word "Guido" to describe the bennies that flock to his shoretown and his own ill attempts to address race. Unfortunately I don't see much of comparison in this argument.  

While guido may not have been the smartest choice of words by Pringle to discribe the many tourist that crowd the beaches of Belmar each summer, it is certainly not looked at in the same light as the "N" word.  Is guido offensive to some, absolutely, does it make you want to cringe at its mention. I think not. 

The use of the N-word is unacceptable for use, in any way, inside modern English language. It is wrong because the word represents hundreds of years of oppression by white people against black people. The issue of whether the N-word can be used, or should be used, is being hidden behind a "Free Speech" argument and that is ridiculous.

The N-word as a term is not against the law to use. However, I would hope that no one who is in charge of anything, especially tax money, or the promotion of anyone who is intending on spending tax money, should be comfortable with the everyday use of that word. In particular, I would hope that anyone who is involved with politics would not, as a matter of course, use that word because it is classless, tasteless, hate filled and demonstrates a race agenda by using it.

The N-word is not illegal, and no one is saying it should be. It is just terrible that some people are trying to bring it back into fashion again in everyday language. There is a difference between the First Amendment and yelling 'fire' in a movie theater. The way that so many bloggers, who happen to be conservatives, are throwing this word around and trying to gain support for it, I suppose, is unnecessarily dangerous and wrong.

How this argument could be had in the 21st Century, in the United States, is amazing. That this argument is coming out of the political community in Monmouth County is doubly so.

The N-word is not acceptable speech, has never been acceptable speech by anyone, and will never be acceptable speech for anyone, of any race, political party or consequent to any agenda.

I have no ill feeling towards Art Gallagher and I do not necessarily wish him any harm. The problem is that he is a white, conservative member of the Republican Party, in the mostly white, conservative county of Momouth. He is not really qualifed or respected enough in the community to be expected to bring about an intellegent discussion on race and the use of the "N" word.       

Words carry not only meaning, but evoke evils from the past as well...

Matt Morehead, over at the Voice For The Youth blog has posted a thoughtful and compassionate response to Art Gallahger's ill conceived attempts to address race relations and the use of the "N" word.

Matt also notes that one of Art's supporters is none other than Eric Sedler, Chairman of the Monmouth County Young Republicans.

I wonder if Joe Oxley, the new Chairman for the Monmouth County GOP, also supports Art Gallahger and his MoreMonmouthMusings rants when it comes to is attempt to address race and the use of the "N" word? 

Click on the headline to read Matt's response to Art Gallagher

McCain not natural-born citizen

I fell it necessary to respond to the recent post over at MoreMonouthMusings that questions Barack Obama's qualifications to be the next President of the United States.

Mr. Gallagher found some obscure Israeli blog that states that Obama's birth certificate is a forgery and that Obama is not a natural born citizen,which would then make his run for the White House unconstitutional. 

This is clearly nothing more than a right wing smear attempt to try and draw attention away from the question about John McCain's own constitutional question of being qualified to be President.

McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone prior to the 1937 law granting citizenship to children of U.S. parents in the Panama Canal Zone. A lawsuit challenging McCain's qualifications is pending in a federal court in Concord, N.H.

This has been reported in many respected national newspapers like the Washington Post,

not some right wing obscure blog from Israel.

Art, before taking out the garbage make sure you have checkout what's been left behind in the kitchen first.   

Click on the headline to see my own obscure blog reference about McCain's natural born status

The Issue of Race

While thumbing through the Sunday edition of the NY Daily News I came across a special pull out section that I had never scene before, it was titled "Rise Up". Having read the rest of the paper and needing something else to pass the time with I decided to take a look at it and I am kinda glad that I did. I found the contents to be an honest and interesting look at race in our country.  

It seems that the magazines purpose is to address the issues of race in our society by understanding our differences, bridging our divisions and celebrating our commonalities. 

I thought that with the recent controversey surrounding Art Gallagher and his attempt to re- introduce the "N' word into our everyday vocabulary over at his blog, MoreMonmouthMusings, that I should pass along a true representation of how race can be addressed in an intellegent way as opposed to the clumsy and offensive attempt by Mr. Gallagher.

RiseUp's Founder and Publisher, Janice S. Ellis, Ph.D. had the following to say in her Publisher's Note column. I found it to be thoughtful and thought provoking. If Art Gallagher can understand what she has written here maybe he wouldn't be trying to justify the use of such a hateful and offensive word like Nigger! :

"No matter the outcome of the presidential election, one thing is certain, the issue of race will be front and center over the course of the campaign, whether it is openly discussed or remains — uncomfortably — the elephant in the room. The candidates will likely work hard to avoid making race an issue. But on talk shows, in coffee shops, bars and barbershops, and around the dinner table across America, it will surely be a topic of lively — or perhaps heated — conversation.
Such conversations beg for candor.

As we come face-to-face with the powerful influence of race, it will serve us well to truly look at the history of race and racism in America. We must, if we ever hope to achieve a society where race is a non-issue. A society where the question, “Is America really ready to elect a black man or woman, or a brown man or woman president?” seems silly. When the contributions of all Americans are chronicled and commemorated in the same history books. When the rich, complex and complete American story in all its shame and glory is taught and told in classrooms and living rooms everywhere.

But today is not that day. We must acknowledge the role race still plays in American life and engage in constructive, liberating dialogue to minimize, mitigate and ultimately nullify its destruction effect. We must peel away the layers — much like an onion — letting the tears flow, if need be, to get to the heart of things.

Let’s look a little closer at a layer at the very core of our beliefs about race and racial differences: the family unit. This will require an open mind and some painful admissions on everyone’s part about American families — both black and white.

Black and white families in America have traveled different and widely divergent paths. One of privilege. The other of paucity. One is carried forward by a history in which the presence of both parents has been valued and promulgated. The other is burdened by the history of slavery in which the family unit was raped and destroyed; separating mother from father; father from child. One has experienced freedom of movement within society, with automatic acceptance. The other has faced constant rejection, both blatant and subtle.

One has enjoyed a certain level of economic prosperity. The other has too often found itself trapped in a perpetual cycle of poverty. One has benefitted from good schools and educational opportunities; the other subjected persistently to sub-standard learning environments. One lives in a neighborhood free of blight and crime; the other constantly plagued by both.

These realities shape our fears, resentments and biases, and keep us wondering why.

Why, black folks wonder, do some white teenagers from comfortable neighborhoods build bombs and go on shooting rampages, killing their fellow classmates, teachers and family members? Why, white folks wonder, do some black teenagers sell drugs, rob the elderly, and shoot fellow teenagers for money or a jacket?

Black folks think affirmative action and set-asides are needed to level the playing field. White folks think such measures are reverse discrimination.

And, of course, there are black and white folks who think none of the above. They understand that we all are the sum total of our experience that begins with and is shaped by the family of which we are a part.

There are black and white folks who share an immovable faith in the human will and the spirit to overcome adversity and impoverishment. There are black and white folks who fervently believe that some day race will not define how we see each other, how well we work together to build stronger families, stronger communities and a better America."

Click on the headline to be redirected to RiseUp.com