O'Keefe's accomplice defects after harassment
March 23, 2012 11:20 AM   Subscribe

Nadia Naffe describes herself as a former accomplice to James O'Keefe (oh so Previously) but last year filed a harassment claim against him, which was dismissed in December. Now she is telling all on her blog:

Part One describes an aborted attempt to take down Maxine Waters (apparently O'Keefe believes he has "the same wiretapping authority as law enforcement and the FBI").

Part Two discusses "The Barn Incident," the event that led her to file harassment charges against her former partner, in which she is sequestered at a remote barn and possibly drugged. It also includes the terms of a settlement [PDF] between O'Keefe and Izzy Santa, [PDF] the whistleblower who put a stop to O'Keefe's infamous "Sex Boat Caper." O'Keefe has filed an injunction [PDF] to stop publication of that settlement.
posted by waraw (53 comments total) 6 users marked this as a favorite
 
Gawker: It's taken me all morning to sort out the allegiances of this strange, sprawling spat. I'm in touch with Nadia but can't figure out how reliable she is. (The whole "tweeting at the FBI" thing is really throwing me off.) There's a chance that Nadia is a litigious paranoiac who blows minor grievances out of proportion and misinterprets the world around her—which is, ironically, James' modus operandi as well. What a strangely appropriate dilemma.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 11:25 AM on March 23, 2012 [10 favorites]


Anything that makes life difficult for James O'Keefe is good by me.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:27 AM on March 23, 2012 [10 favorites]


"They deserve each other" is letting them off light.
posted by clarknova at 11:30 AM on March 23, 2012 [4 favorites]


The problem is, anyone who would affiliate herself with James O'Keefe couldn't possibly be an honest, reliable person.

The irony is, by being an uber-scum, anyone who betrays him would themselves, be suspect.
posted by delmoi at 11:30 AM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]


This sorta proves that there is truth in a joke I made many moons ago based on a particularly unpleasant College Republican I once knew -- that if more kids were conservative when they were younger, they'd change their minds because of all the assholes they knew when they were younger.

...litigious paranoiac who blows minor grievances out of proportion and misinterprets the world around her—which is, ironically, James' modus operandi as well.

I'd hate it when Gawker finishes my thought for me. It makes my usual dismissal of the site feel that much more like self-loathing.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:33 AM on March 23, 2012 [6 favorites]


Now that Breitbart is in Hades, forming the middle piece of the Nixon-Reagan Centipede, O'Keefe has no more friends in high places.
posted by Renoroc at 11:35 AM on March 23, 2012 [7 favorites]


What's the little shit doing now his boss is dead, anyway?
posted by Artw at 11:35 AM on March 23, 2012 [3 favorites]


Who loose cannons were also fitted with magnets?
posted by MuffinMan at 11:36 AM on March 23, 2012


The big news is here in the settlement:

"O’Keefe agrees to pay to Santa, for Santa’s benefit, the sum of twenty thousand
dollars ($20,000.00)"

No self-respecting conservative would support a magical socialist who distributes unearned wealth to every child on earth.
posted by compartment at 11:37 AM on March 23, 2012 [13 favorites]


What's the little shit doing now his boss is dead, anyway?

Still desperately seeking his approval from beyond the grave, apparently.
posted by Aquaman at 11:37 AM on March 23, 2012


I'm sorry, but my giveafuck doesn't seem to be responding.
posted by tommasz at 11:39 AM on March 23, 2012 [6 favorites]


*pops popcorn*
posted by longdaysjourney at 11:44 AM on March 23, 2012


No self-respecting conservative would support a magical socialist who distributes unearned wealth to every child on earth.

Not every child, just the Christian ones. Conservatives can handle that.
posted by Navelgazer at 11:46 AM on March 23, 2012 [2 favorites]


What's the little shit doing now his boss is dead, anyway?

Trying to make voter fraud a 'thing' in order to support stricter polling ID regulations and help the Republicans win an election that they have very little chance of winning in a legitimate fashion.
posted by codacorolla at 11:53 AM on March 23, 2012


Breathe easy Conservatives, Santa doesn't get letters from the wrong sorts (warning: actually kind of heartbreaking)
posted by Artw at 11:54 AM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]


I'm sorry, but my giveafuck doesn't seem to be responding.

Sounds like you're in need of EARTH JUICE.
posted by jquinby at 12:01 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]


What's the little shit doing now his boss is dead, anyway?

Trying to roofie women in barns, apparently. 'Cause he's got the moves.
posted by octobersurprise at 12:13 PM on March 23, 2012


I do want to know more about the "Emma" thing.
posted by josher71 at 12:19 PM on March 23, 2012


octobersurprise, is that James O'Keefe in the picture?

Anyone else notice he is using a ONE DOLLAR BILL to do it? Why not at least splurge for a $20 if you're going to take a fucking ridiculous picture.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 12:21 PM on March 23, 2012 [5 favorites]


Cause he's got the moves.

I like how that's a one dollar bill. He's like that 13 year old throwing a gang sign with seventeen ratty dollars in his hand. Only more pathetic.

Because it's less money. And he's an adult.
posted by clarknova at 12:23 PM on March 23, 2012


Anyone who has not read the internal documents from his "team" about their sex boat plan needs to get on that pronto. It gets good on page 3 then REALLY REALLY REALLY good on page 4. Link.

I am obligated by law and holy vow to bring this up anytime I hear his name to whoever will listen because it is the best thing.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 12:24 PM on March 23, 2012 [13 favorites]


I bet right after he took that picture he put out the dollar bill and then took it to a bank to get a new, unburned one and whined about how it was more than 51% of a complete bill when they told him to shut up and go away.
posted by Copronymus at 12:26 PM on March 23, 2012 [3 favorites]


Every time I hear about O'Keefe I can't help but think of David Spade's character in "PCU".
posted by mrbill at 12:32 PM on March 23, 2012 [6 favorites]


I hope I am wrong here, but this sounds like another verse of the Conservative song, "I was fine with it until it happened to me."
posted by Legomancer at 12:34 PM on March 23, 2012 [5 favorites]


Are there seriously people in this thread who are arguing that because Ms. Naffe took a job at an organization you dislike, she "deserves" to be sexually harassed, drugged, and held against her will?
posted by decathecting at 12:34 PM on March 23, 2012 [2 favorites]


No there aren't.
posted by euphorb at 12:40 PM on March 23, 2012 [17 favorites]


Are there seriously people in this thread who are arguing that because Ms. Naffe took a job at an organization you dislike, she "deserves" to be sexually harassed, drugged, and held against her will?

I would suggest that the claims of a person who joins an organization dedicated to engineering dubious PR stunts should be treated skeptically.
posted by BobbyVan at 12:43 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]


Now that Breitbart is in Hades, forming the middle piece of the Nixon-Reagan Centipede

Now that he is there it can be a triangular centipede; a hellish creature indeed.
posted by TedW at 12:50 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]


O'Keefe didn't want to drug and hold the CNN anchor against her will. He just wanted to use the implication.

You know. The implication.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 12:52 PM on March 23, 2012 [3 favorites]


Checkov's Rape Boat.
posted by Artw at 12:54 PM on March 23, 2012 [2 favorites]


Are there seriously people in this thread who are arguing that because Ms. Naffe took a job at an organization you dislike, she "deserves" to be sexually harassed, drugged, and held against her will?

I think instead you're seeing skepticism that she was sexually harrassed, drugged, and held against her will.

Which isn't all that great either, I'm inclined to believe. But at least it's a different accusation.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:55 PM on March 23, 2012


When I arrived, James could barely wait to tell me about his new schemes. “We’re going to punk the journalists and take down the main stream media establishment”, he said.

I know this piece is going to get really sad, but this early line is pretty wonderful.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 1:02 PM on March 23, 2012


Part of me wishes I had an infamous "Sex Boat Caper".
posted by Trurl at 1:06 PM on March 23, 2012


Part of me wishes I had an infamous "Sex Boat Caper".

If O'Keefe's style of sex boat caper isn't working for you, Fred Smoot might be more to your taste.
posted by Copronymus at 1:09 PM on March 23, 2012


I would suggest that the claims of a person who joins an organization dedicated to engineering dubious PR stunts should be treated skeptically.

O'Keefe, Naffe, or Breitbart?

Also, O'Keefe is burning dollar bills in the same awful shirt he's wearing in this picture. One Gawker commenter speculated that that was his favorite liberal-hunting shirt.
posted by octobersurprise at 1:10 PM on March 23, 2012


Festering hate killed Brietbart. It will probably kill O'keefe, too. Sooner would be less damaging to the nation than later.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:13 PM on March 23, 2012


O'Keefe, Naffe, or Breitbart?

All of them.
posted by BobbyVan at 1:16 PM on March 23, 2012


All of them.

Worst Gilligans Island style TV show ever.
posted by Artw at 1:20 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]


> Are there seriously people in this thread who are arguing that because Ms. Naffe took a job at an organization you dislike, she "deserves" to be sexually harassed, drugged, and held against her will?

Not yet, but I'll do it you want. I won't even put scare quotes around deserves. I'll be the monster you need someone to be.
posted by 0xdeadc0de at 1:32 PM on March 23, 2012 [4 favorites]


How does this guy have both a sex boat and a sex barn? Does he have a sex version of everything?
posted by mhum at 1:37 PM on March 23, 2012 [10 favorites]


Ms. Naffe's writing seems quite thoughtful and self-aware, especially considering the difficult circumstances. I am boggled about why smart people would associate with such patently awful groups with patently awful means. I say that in a totally general and inquisitive way and not in a blaming way.

In general: average news consumers watched as the dude shut down a nationally successful advocacy group with a video where he was wearing a Halloween pimp costume. How does that goofiness not immediately trigger everyone's BS alarm?! When Occupy dresses like goofs they're ridiculed in the mainstream.

Assuming that confirmation bias is the fog that allows people to be blind to idiots like O'Keefe, there really should be a critical thinking antidote to that blindness -- if only to innoculate the young.
posted by Skwirl at 1:41 PM on March 23, 2012


Does he keep his Sex Boat in is Rape Barn?

I'm curious how happy warriors for the patriarchy do their logistics.
posted by bonehead at 1:59 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]


No, no, he keeps the Sex Boat in the Sodomy Shed, next to his Frottage JetSki.

His Rape Barn is located on Herpes Farm.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 2:02 PM on March 23, 2012 [9 favorites]


clarknova: " Because it's less money. And he's an adult."

I recognize that fact-checking isn't totally necessary in an O'Keefe thread, but I'm pretty sure only half of that is true.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:15 PM on March 23, 2012


Rape barns, sex boats and an entire closet full of unpaid intern's knickers. This could not be weirder.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 2:28 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]


How does this guy have both a sex boat and a sex barn? Does he have a sex version of everything?

Not "-life," I'm thinking.
posted by Sys Rq at 5:31 PM on March 23, 2012 [7 favorites]


I am boggled about why smart people would associate with such patently awful groups with patently awful means.

Nadia and Breitbart are actually very similar in that they have both shared publicly that specific traumatic events figured very prominently as inspiration for their political work. In regard to Breitbart I'm thinking of this bullying anecdote that recently come up in his obit thread. Nadia refers to encountering institutional racism while working on the Bush/Cheney campaign in 2003 (no, really?) which resulted in her departure from campaign work altogether.

What is interesting about this is not that naive people have radicalizing experiences - this is a good thing - but that these experiences are being co-opted by the institutions which cause them. Right or wrong, these people appear to genuinely believe they are the victims of systemic discrimination, and they further believe that their activism is in resistance to that same system. That's the Tea Party phenomenon. When your magical thinking starts to fall apart, just find a new and improved method of magical thinking.

I don't see any of the same zeal in O'Keefe, I just see a failed sociopath turned demented entrepreneur. I assume his first choice was a career in finance, but he didn't have the grades.
posted by mek at 6:43 PM on March 23, 2012 [2 favorites]


I've put way more thought into Jimmy boy's antics than I would like, which is to say any thought at all.

I've been looking for some insight into his behavior and I've come to the conclusion that "insight" is not possible in regards to Jimmy boy. One might as well take an onion and, like Peer Gynt, peel away its layers looking for its core. No heart, no soul, no deeper thought, nothing but perhaps a self-sustaining lie that allows him to have an entirely unwarranted sense of self-worth. But lies, like Jimmy boy, have no substance, only the illusion of one. It doesn't matter how many times you repeat the lie or how many people believe it, it still has no substance.

If you watch his behavior and his goals and think to yourself "what I see with this guy is exactly what I get with this guy" he reveals himself to be a liar, and an especially incompetent one at that, whose notoriety is based entirely on people who are even dumber and more shallow than he (and the only way to be more shallow than him is to be actually above water, a sand bar as it were) believing his crude, incompetent fabrications.

That anyone would believe him ever in any circumstance is evidence that a significant portion of the human species is no better than mold or bacteria. Worse, in fact, since both mold and bacteria lack the capacity to be deluded.
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:40 PM on March 23, 2012 [1 favorite]




Random thought: James O'Keefe reminds me a lot of Kevin Trudeau.
posted by gjc at 7:17 AM on March 24, 2012


Late to the party, alas... but in case anyone's still reading:

I'm the guy who caught O'Keefe breaking the law, as waraw's link shows.

And a followup: Project Veritas responds to my post -- and my rejoinder.
posted by cgs06 at 8:33 AM on March 24, 2012 [11 favorites]


He's like that 13 year old throwing a gang sign with seventeen ratty dollars in his hand. Only more pathetic.

You're more right than you know. Westside! (photo)
posted by cgs06 at 8:46 AM on March 24, 2012 [1 favorite]


Project Veritas responds to my post -- and my rejoinder.

Oh do let us know when that apology arrives at your desk.
posted by Theta States at 2:08 PM on March 26, 2012


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