As a result of the above email I am redacting the offensive language contained in two direct quotes in this diary. Thank you for bringing this to my attention and please accept my sincere apology to all who were offended. I agree there are too many beautiful words in the English Language that can convey thoughts better than those in this article.~Redeye
If I had any illusions about the power, mentality, and inner workings of the Alabama press they were confirmed by this comment by leaning Left in Alabama commenter bamanewsguy
If Ron Sparks wants to go up against Tommy Stevenson, the entire Alabama press corps will come down on him for it. Most of us wanted Artur Davis, anyway.
Let's back up to when this whole Ron Sparks endorsed Richard Shelby mess started. Tuscaloosa News reporter Tommy Stevenson reported remarks made by democratic gubernatorial candidate Ron Sparks during a campaign stop in Tuscaloosa with the headline Sparks touts gambling as a revenue source.
Stevenson wrote this;
Sparks, a Democrat, said he supports Tuscaloosa Republican Richard Shelby in his bid for re-election to the U.S. Senate because of Shelby’s experience and ability to get things done.
Before Sparks said this:
“I don’t want Richard Shelby getting beat,” he said. “I want Richard Shelby helping me to save the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. I want Richard Shelby to help me when we start looking at military closures in Alabama because they are extremely important. Can you imagine the economic impact of the military leaving Alabama?”
Sparks said, “It is time to roll up our sleeves, take those ‘Rs’ and ‘Ds’ off our shoulder and work together in Alabama.”
mooncat then wrote;
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ron Sparks endorses Alabama's own Big Dick, Republican Richard Shelby - pictured at right with former buddy Saddam Hussein. Per Tommy Stevenson in the Tuscaloosa News:
And the Shirley Sherroding of Ron Sparks blasts off emphasis mine;
I contacted Tommy Stevenson for more info (4.00 / 1)
And asked him if he brought up the subject with Sparks or if Sparks initiated the topic.
He said this:
He brought it up in his speech to th Exchange Club and we talked about on the video Town Hall segment that we will post on our website soon, if it['s not already there.
Which means that not only is it in a news article, but it sounds like there's video as well.
Uh NO, it means Sparks made the statement during the course of his remarks to the group. I guess it would have been to much like right (pun intended) to contact Ron Sparks and ask him for clarification.
The substance of Stevenson's report was about Sparks plan to tax gambling proceeds as a revenue source, his experience and accomplishments as Agriculture Commissioner, his plans for job creation, lifting the ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays, and other policy issues. But instead of focusing on the substance of Sparks remarks some chose to focus on a snippet. You know the drill, take a snippet out of context and twist it suit your own agenda. The agenda in this case was make it look like Ron Sparks was not a loyal democrat.
What conservative operative Andrew Breitbart did to Ms. Sherrod was intentional, malicious, and borderline criminal. He did not accidentally omit a word or two or place extra emphasis on the wrong syllable resulting in the failure to clarify the meaning of an event. In an attempt to shift the focus away from the NAACP’s justified condemnation of the “…extremist elements within the Tea Party, calling on Tea Party leaders to repudiate those in their ranks who use racist language in their signs and speeches,” Breitbart manufactured and posted a video that intentionally misrepresented Ms. Sherrod’s presentation in order to further a larger agenda.
Like Shirley Sherrod, when Ron Sparks tried to clarify and explain his remarks;
This was not an endorsement of Sen. Shelby. It was an acknowledgement that I will work with him across party lines to create new jobs in Alabama and that federal money plays an important role in Alabama's economy. Our problems are so great they can only be solved by all of us working together, and I will unite with anyone, Republican or Democrat, to get my top priority done: bringing good jobs to the working families of Alabama.
No one wants to hear it and Sparks is accused of trying to blame it on the media,
The other thing that gets me is the statement on his Facebook page that blames the whole incident on the press. Where have we heard that before? Well, we heard it from the Ron Sparks campaign during the primaries, for one. We also heard it from the Bush Administration for eight years.
Quite frankly, I'm getting beyond sick of politicians blaming the messenger. Media bias exists, yes, but not every newspaper story is an opinion piece written by a pundit. Either you did it or you didn't. Either you said it or you didn't. Grow a pair and at least admit that you f*#ked up. Who cares whether or not they reported on that other thing to make your f*#kup appear slightly rosier? You still f*#ked up, and that's the point!
Thus the warning;
Sparks can blame it on the media all he wants, but I know Tommy Stevenson. He would never sensationalize the news. He is one of the most rational people I've ever met.
And if you pi$$ him off, he'll b**ch slap you with a two-by-four.
If Ron Sparks wants to go up against Tommy Stevenson, the entire Alabama press corps will come down on him for it. Most of us wanted Artur Davis, anyway.
So let me get this straight, if candidates dare try to clarify their remarks or put them into some kind of context for the public it's considered to be going up against the reporter, and if they dare go up against the reporter the entire Alabama press corps will come done on them for it? Wow.
No where in Sparks explanation does he blame the media, say he was misquoted or accused Tommy Stevenson of sensationalism.
This was not an endorsement of Sen. Shelby. It was an acknowledgement that I will work with him across party lines to create new jobs in Alabama and that federal money plays an important role in Alabama's economy.
As yellowdog notes Sparks remarks were taken totally out of context;
If you will watch the video... attached at the end of the reporter's letter, who by the way did no b*#ch-slapping, you will see -- you will see for yourself -- the context of the comments.
You will also see Sparks has a lot to say and strong Democratic populist opinions.
A good interview with a good message, and an acknowledgement that we need strong Federal representation and funding or this State will be in dire financial crisis.
According to bamanewsguy the entire Alabama Press Corps was for Davis anyway. I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you. Not.
I report. You decide.
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