Conservatives gobble her up
September 20, 2005 10:54 AM   Subscribe

Taking a leaf out of Ann Coulter's book. Jillian Brandes, a writer for the UNC-Chapel Hill student paper "The Daily Tar Hill" wrote an opinion column that included the sentence, I want all Arabs to be stripped naked and cavity-searched if they get within 100 yards of an airport. She was then fired from the paper. But don't worry about her future. "Within a day, she was being interviewed by radio stations throughout the country. Her case was gobbled up by the conservative media and featured on a major professional journalism Web site Thursday."
posted by Secret Life of Gravy (71 comments total)
 
Ugh. Sorry. Jillian Bandes.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 10:57 AM on September 20, 2005


The paper's name is "The Daily Tar Heel." It's from a nickname for North Carolinians.
posted by davy at 11:00 AM on September 20, 2005


i wouldn't have a problem firing her just for being an ignorant pig who has no place among decent people. Maybe she can be an intern for Paris Paramus or Dios.
posted by 2sheets at 11:02 AM on September 20, 2005


And anyway, what's so "conservative" about racism and the abnegation of civil liberties and human dignity?
posted by davy at 11:04 AM on September 20, 2005


I should write a column in which I promte the idea of just exiling everyone in this country who's not a white Christian.

Then I can be a *~conservative superstar~*
posted by Optimus Chyme at 11:05 AM on September 20, 2005


davy, that's a good question. Why do you think so many conservative pundits make such ridiculous statements? Why do you think it appeals to their audience?
posted by nixerman at 11:06 AM on September 20, 2005


I'm not really a fan of either her view-point or firing her as a result of her view-point. I am having trouble understanding the editors reasoning though. He says that she took quotes out of context and this was the actual reason for her firing yet the cached story didn't bother to point out which quotes those were. Was that just a convenient excuse? Or did she actually commit a critical mistake in her citations that is separate from her inflammatory writings?
posted by aburd at 11:06 AM on September 20, 2005


Nearly every Arab American I've spoken with has done nothing but condemn the evil that was done just four years ago, and at least tacitly recognize that some profiling is necessary.

I would not have fired her for her views. I would have fired her for her less-than-intimate relationship with the AP Stylebook.
posted by ToasT at 11:08 AM on September 20, 2005


aburd: They obviously fired her for being a racist duchebag. The misattribution was just the excuse. Although I'm sure the A-rabs she interviewed were pissed.
posted by delmoi at 11:09 AM on September 20, 2005


Why is she saying this now? Is there some reason why she wants to start cavity searching folks now? Does she think that there are Al Queda (or splinter) operatives in the US? Does she really think that the best way to catch them is on the way to the airport? Does she think that they'll be smuggling bombs on board?

Or is she just an inflamatory racist?!

This is not a retorical question -- I actually would like somebody to tell me what we're in fear of. Or is just fear of brown people?
posted by zpousman at 11:12 AM on September 20, 2005


I hear Bill O'Reilly's been masturbating furiously to her answering machine ever since the news hit.

This is my surprised face that a college student would write something so blatantly hideously racist and then defend it with "I talked with my Arab friends and they thought it was funny so that makes it okay because my Arab friends are representative of all the Arabs in the universe."

Oh well, its not like she lost a real job but I kind of hope this makes it harder for her to find a real job. Especially if she loses a few jobs to people she feels superior to, it might help take her down a peg or two.
posted by fenriq at 11:13 AM on September 20, 2005


Yeesh, stop giving this chick attention, please. She wrote a silly thing in a silly little college newspaper, and because of the internet, she's going fall ass-backwards into a fellowship at the Heritage Foundation.

Let the outrage drop.
posted by SweetJesus at 11:14 AM on September 20, 2005


Already a comment calling for a callout.

(And nixerman, don't you think non-conservatives make plenty of stupid remarks too? E.g., "What am I, chopped liver?")
posted by davy at 11:16 AM on September 20, 2005


But... some people tour federal buildings on eight grade trips! I love this "they're some of the kindest people I've met" thing though. Can I get an Arab teddy bear? Really, they sound like great people, except the ones that blow stuff up.

What makes an Arab? Is it someone who looks Arabic (in which case, many of the writers Jewish friends will be searched as well, at least the ones from the Middle East). Is it religion, clothing, or country of origin? This shit is vague.
posted by mikeh at 11:16 AM on September 20, 2005


I hear she collaborating with Michelle Malkin on a new book entitled "Internment & Profiling: 1001 EZ Ways To Maintain Control Of Our Yellow And Brown People".
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:17 AM on September 20, 2005


Actually Michelle Malkin is way too asian to be racist.
posted by aburd at 11:19 AM on September 20, 2005


Since when has it been appropriate to format an op-ed column like a series of slogans? I don't need every point she makes (if you can call them points) surrounded by two lines of white space. Also, she says that all recent acts of terror against the west have been committed by Arabs but then goes on to mention McVeigh, The Unabomber and those wacky kids from Columbine, does that make sense? She should be fired for her lack of intelligence rather then her lack of empathy.
posted by cyphill at 11:21 AM on September 20, 2005


Why do you think so many conservative pundits make such ridiculous statements? Why do you think it appeals to their audience?

When it comes to the Coulters and Horowitzes, I think it's beyond even politics. People just like to hear outrageous shit, either to cheer it on a la playground taunts or denounce it by getting offended. Ultimately it's farts in the wind.
posted by jonmc at 11:26 AM on September 20, 2005


Since when has it been appropriate to format an op-ed column like a series of slogans?

When was the last time you read a college newspaper? They're lucky if they can fill 4 pages, front and back.
posted by SweetJesus at 11:28 AM on September 20, 2005


mikeh: "What makes an Arab? Is it someone who looks Arabic (in which case, many of the writers Jewish friends will be searched as well, at least the ones from the Middle East). Is it religion, clothing, or country of origin? This shit is vague."

This has always confused me, too. When people say "Arab" they generally don't mean just those of Arabic descent. The terms "Middle-eastern" and "Muslim" usually aren't sufficiently inclusive either.

Similarly, why isn't there a unique word for chile-like hotness? Neither "hot" nor "spicy" can be understood without clarification.
posted by Plutor at 11:28 AM on September 20, 2005


Even worse, what do you call the sinus-clearing sensation wasabi gives?
posted by sonofsamiam at 11:30 AM on September 20, 2005


Double Ugh. Tar Hill vs Tar Heel-- I live in Raleigh so I know better-- I'm just having a bad day.

I did ask myself if ignoring the shit storm would not be the better move, but I find myself horribly fascinated. It is like watching the birth of (insert your own nasty metaphor here.)

It is right out of the Rush Limbaugh Handbook:
1) Talk about a controversial topic taking the Right Wing position.
2) Get the liberals all excited by using inflammatory language and attract attention.
3) Be embraced by Conservatives for taking the Right Wing position.
4) Profit!

Bandes added her own genius touch by using a very Liberal College as the base for her coming out party so that she would not be overlooked. The editor has had to take a week off from school because of the heat.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:31 AM on September 20, 2005


Well Plutor, they've got the distinction on Spanish: picante/caliente. But to me, "spicy" means chile-hot...

Wasabi-hot, though, that's a tough one.
posted by Specklet at 11:36 AM on September 20, 2005


Her defense.

Favorite quote:
"I’m going to fight against this for all I’m worth."

So in 42 minutes when this all blows over, we can move on.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:38 AM on September 20, 2005


Plutor: There's always zapped, if that's not too geeky for you.

(And Gravy is in Raleigh! Hi from Cary!)
posted by bitmage at 11:41 AM on September 20, 2005


With SLoG's point in mind, I propose that the Left all start acting like Stalinists. Let's round up everybody to the right of Kucinich and intern them in Rex 84 camps!

(So maybe now I'll get offered a column? I always wanted to be paid for spouting off.)
posted by davy at 11:43 AM on September 20, 2005


"The way I made my point was offensive," she said, "but some people appreciated it."

W/o seeing the original column, I'm left guessing here. That she does not support: all Arabs to be stripped naked and cavity-searched if they get within 100 yards of an airport.
posted by thomcatspike at 11:49 AM on September 20, 2005


Bandes added her own genius touch by using a very Liberal College as the base for her coming out party so that she would not be overlooked. The editor has had to take a week off from school because of the heat.

No, no, no, no, no - don't give this chick any more attention than she's already getting. She's not a genius, she didn't bring anything new. She's a confused, small-time journalism major who's got a big head now, thanks to the bloggers. And UNC isn't very liberal - Evergreen, now that's liberal. UNC is run of the mill.

When I was in college, less than a year ago, I would read COUNTLESS ignorant opinion pieces from both the right and the left in my shitty student newspaper. Everything from replacing the Department of Defense with a Department of Peace, to tagging and id'ing Muslims at birth. Fuck, here's some ignorant shit from today. If every one of those articles was torn apart with the same ferocity that people are applying here, we'd never have any more free time. She shouldn't have been fired, she should have been laughed at.

Firing turns her into a martyr, and you're all doing a fine job making sure that happens.
posted by SweetJesus at 11:49 AM on September 20, 2005


from her letter to the editor:
It’s fairly obvious that strong opinions do not stand up to public outcry on the back page.

What an absolutely insane claim in defense of her article. Ideally, her firing from the paper would teach her a valuable lession about sensitivity and decency. In 2005 world, she'll be embraced, supported and told that she was right by whatever organization supports her views.

The mainstreaming of ignorance marches on!
posted by VulcanMike at 11:52 AM on September 20, 2005


Davy, I'll pay attention to your concern for non-conservative faux pas' when a single dumbass article about the wonders of communism gets me an interview or two with the leading lights of liberalism.
posted by Freen at 11:56 AM on September 20, 2005


...I’m extremely resentful for being called racist.
But this is the product of ignorant readers, not my writing.


You know, September 11, 2001 fell when this year's new college students were just starting high school. During that time it's been a widely accepted opinion in the public square that Muslims and Arabs are the enemy, that it is only reasonable that they should be considered dangerous until proven otherwise, and that they have no right to expect to be treated with respect. This [fill in stream of foul language I'm going to refrain from using] was fired for what she wrote. What would happen in a similar case in a few years, when the students were still in elementary school when 9/11/01 happened? Or - and this is the very scary part - a few years after that, when the new students won't have even a vague memory of a time when we were considered complete human beings?
posted by leapingsheep at 12:06 PM on September 20, 2005


And, hey, for her second act she can pull a Washingtonienne, turn a few tricks and flip it into a book deal.
posted by bhance at 12:09 PM on September 20, 2005


Dear Editor,

This is not the sort of hack "journalism" I've come to expect from The Daily Tar Heel. Whatever happened to the great Tar Heel writers of yesteryear who would offer vivid insights into "Dog Owners Opposed to Quad Walking Ban" and "Campus Cops Caught Sleeping "? It was Pulitzer-quality writing. I miss that Tar Heel. You have lost me as a reader.
posted by StarForce5 at 12:12 PM on September 20, 2005


And you can’t debate that while most Arabs are not terrorists, sadly, most terrorists are indeed Arab.

That's just ignorant.

I'm not surprised she got dismissed from the paper. They're under no obligation to print the ill-informed rants of assholes like her.
posted by mkultra at 12:20 PM on September 20, 2005


When did the creation of outrage become recognized as some sort of skill? From Coulter to Santorum to "affirmative-action bake sales" to this idiot, the right-wing stirrers-of-shit get lifted up on pedestals like they actually did something.

Like it's difficult to piss off college students. Or liberals. Or conservatives. Or anyone, if you're asshole enough to push the obvious buttons with enough force.
posted by PlusDistance at 12:38 PM on September 20, 2005


what SweetJesus said. the fraise "don't feed the troll" comes to mind.
posted by nola at 12:49 PM on September 20, 2005


Standards? It's the UNC student newspaper, not the IHT. The only standard it subscribes to is the color of the incoming Freshman's parent's money, and that standard is light green.
posted by SweetJesus at 12:55 PM on September 20, 2005


I have had the misfortune of hearing Michael Savage's radio program on a couple of occasions, and it seems that he routinely says things like this on a daily basis. So does Malkin, so does Coulter. Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh do it as well, but they're at least a bit more clever at coding their language.

Why the flap over what this wannabe said? She's clearly an (unoriginal) attention hound and she is getting exactly what she wanted. Just a SweetJesus and nola said.
posted by psmealey at 12:57 PM on September 20, 2005


I want all Arabs to be stripped naked and cavity searched...

Hmm, I'm guessing that originally involved young, hot, rich Arab clients and lots of bondage gear? It's a shame she went into journalism really, I'm seeing great potential going wasted here.
posted by funambulist at 1:06 PM on September 20, 2005


Of course the other career course to satisfy that fantasy would have been with one of those special team of military interrogators whose work was so admired all over the world recently. Clearly that connection totally escaped her.
posted by funambulist at 1:11 PM on September 20, 2005


aburd:

She was fired, officially, for basically lying. She asked question X to her sources, and then presented the resulting quotes in print as if they were in response to question Y.

If that is not a firing offense for a journalists, well, fuck it, let's just change the name to 'propagandist.'
posted by teece at 1:22 PM on September 20, 2005


I agree with odinsdream that it does seem like the editors should have caught the errors of journalism before they published the article (or not).

I disagree however about The Tar Heel's standards; see what SweetJesus said. Except this: are the IHT's standards really all that different and/or better? Or the NYT's, for that matter? In general I'd think that a rag that depends on advertising or third-party contributions would have lower standards than one that doesn't. (But that supposition could be more about my anti-corporate bias than anything else.)
posted by davy at 1:32 PM on September 20, 2005


Actually Michelle Malkin is way too asian to be racist.

Of course. Asians don't have the racist gene that other races have.
posted by dhartung at 1:32 PM on September 20, 2005


Except this: are the IHT's standards really all that different and/or better? Or the NYT's, for that matter? In general I'd think that a rag that depends on advertising or third-party contributions would have lower standards than one that doesn't

Yes, they are. The New York Times is a professional news gathering organization, with many levels and buffers, such as the editorial board, to prevent this sort of thing from happening. Whatever you may think of the quality of the Times reporting, you can't come off the street and have an opinion piece printed by the Times. You can however come off the street and have an opinion piece printed in the Daily Tar Heel, provided you've got a valid student ID and it's in by 7pm, as well as the willingness to vomit forth something that fits a 250 word void on page 4.

Who writes for the New York Times? Professional journalists, who agree with their politics or not, are paid to do what they are doing. The Tar Heel, if it's anything like my experience in college, is filled with bored journalism majors who need class credits, and barely literate "undecided"s who haven't been laid in six months venting their frustration all-over the OpEd page. It's enough to make you shower with lye.

Of course. Asians don't have the racist gene that other races have.

I hear they bind it out of them...
posted by SweetJesus at 1:58 PM on September 20, 2005


I believe that she's not racist, but implying that the students she cites fully agree with her radical viewpoint really is grounds for dismissal.
posted by abcde at 2:04 PM on September 20, 2005


In her "response" she seems to acknowledge the fact that she lied, misrepresented and took quotes out of context, but then goes on to claim that she was just kidding, that she's saddened by the fact that ignorant readers called her a racist and then wraps it all up by quoting Ann-thrax's statement about her, and then implies that she'll end up on the bestseller list.

She's either a profoundly stupid tool or she needs to start taking her meds, stat.
posted by bshort at 2:17 PM on September 20, 2005


aburd: Actually Michelle Malkin is way too asian to be racist.

I believe Michelle Malkin is way to asian to be aryan. She most certainly can be racist if she wants.
posted by Eekacat at 2:27 PM on September 20, 2005


Man, the editor needs to be fired/resign. She should keep her job, but have someone actually edit and fact check her writing.
She voiced a dumb opinion. That means that an editor should take her to task and call her on the carpet.
posted by klangklangston at 2:28 PM on September 20, 2005


And this is the college with the supposedly fantastic journalism school? Yikes.
posted by scarymonsterrrr at 2:41 PM on September 20, 2005


She should be getting job offfers. She missquotes academics in the know to support a coonservative cause. As there are virtually no one in the know who does support a lot of conservative causes, this is one of the major qualifications. She can also write in their style perfectly.
posted by jeffburdges at 3:01 PM on September 20, 2005


Coletta said he takes responsibility for not thoroughly scrutinizing the column before running it.
If she was fired then he didn't, which says something about the whole incident here because fame is allowing a honest defense to be told.
Think this whole incident has been poorly investigated like her written editorial. Seems parts of the story are missing plus the post of the column to start. Which makes no real news here since nothing makes sense when reading her responses over her firing and purposely writing the column the way it reads.

Still guessing, she tried to be sarcastic and it backfired. Thus in her creating 15 minutes of fame, this being clarified now may be omitted for further gratuity (see my earlier comment for my thoughts for this).
posted by thomcatspike at 3:08 PM on September 20, 2005


We talking about Ward Churchill again?
posted by Ron at 3:10 PM on September 20, 2005


This has nothing to do with liberalism or conservatism, and anyone who frames the issue as such is as vile as Ann Coulter's Adam's Apple. This issue at hand is idiocy, and there's more than of enough of that to go around for both sides.

Especially at the student newspaper of a state college.
posted by SweetJesus at 3:20 PM on September 20, 2005


Has anyone noticed that the line under her byline: JILLIAN BANDES reads LICENSED TO JILL? That's pretty special.
posted by rhymer at 3:21 PM on September 20, 2005


Also she ends with "Embrace the race" - I shall be watching her future career carefully.
posted by rhymer at 3:22 PM on September 20, 2005


All you got to do to catch the coulterati is to brag about how you wanna abuse ay-rabs? Righties, prepare to get punked.
posted by telstar at 3:26 PM on September 20, 2005


**
I’m slightly put off by the profanity and hatred that has been thrown my way, and I’m extremely resentful for being called racist.
**

**
It’s sad, but racial profiling is necessary for our safety...
**
Embrace the race.

**

I give her a D-
posted by Edible Energy at 3:26 PM on September 20, 2005


Like mikeh says, this shit is vague. Bandes writes like there's some place called Arabland where all the Arabs are from, and all the Arabs are Muslims. If she took the time to interview her Arabic Studies prof and others, surely she could have learned that there's a lot more to Arabs than that. Like the fact that most terrorist acts against US property or civilians are not committed by Arabs. But hey, it's an op-ed piece, so let the stupidity fill your sails.

What's more interesting is her fascination with cavity searches and her expressed desire to be interrogated. I think she has quiet and private dreams about being bent over a desk in some anonymous immigration back room, while a courteous and professional cadre of uniformed Homeland Security officers profile her body.
posted by palinode at 3:28 PM on September 20, 2005


Just an observation; Hitler wasn't a blonde.
posted by Balisong at 3:31 PM on September 20, 2005


"...I’m extremely resentful for being called racist."

Reminds me of that joke that goes - I built that bridge, but do they call me Angus the bridge builder? (etc) No. But have sex with one sheep...


That and the anti-dentite schtick from Seinfeld.


But her statements do represent appalling ignorance. Not that educating oneself is encouraged over inclusion in whatever group one identifies with one's reality filter. And "success" Or "Acheivement"

/I got a big kick going back to school after the service and hearing 19 year old frat boys talking about showing "leadership."
posted by Smedleyman at 3:43 PM on September 20, 2005



Reminds me of that joke that goes - I built that bridge, but do they call me Angus the bridge builder? (etc) No. But have sex with one sheep...


I love that joke!!

I built this bar and those tables and all these chairs with me bare hands!! I cut and planed the lumber me'self! But do they call me Angus the Carpenter? No...
posted by Balisong at 4:01 PM on September 20, 2005


Smedleyman, thanks, I needed to be reminded of that excellent joke.
posted by fenriq at 4:18 PM on September 20, 2005


Metafilter: Let the stupidity fill your sails
posted by Rothko at 4:36 PM on September 20, 2005


Hey! I agree with jonmc. Awesome!

When was the last time you read a college newspaper? They're lucky if they can fill 4 pages, front and back.

Ahem. (Damn. I didn't know about those cheesy ads ...)

I have had the misfortune of hearing Michael Savage's radio program on a couple of occasions, and it seems that he routinely says things like this on a daily basis.

I stopped going to my (nice and convenient) shoe repairman because he listens to that crap. Ugh.

And this is the college with the supposedly fantastic journalism school?

Never heard that. Northwestern? Sure. McGill? Yes. UNC? Crickets ... (not bashing, just never heard that claim.)
posted by mrgrimm at 5:09 PM on September 20, 2005


Hey! I agree with jonmc. Awesome!

It happens to everyone eventually. Your certificate is in the mail.
posted by jonmc at 5:43 PM on September 20, 2005


Ok, the smaaaaart kids can fill 8 pages, front and back.
posted by SweetJesus at 6:02 PM on September 20, 2005


I'm of Arab descent and I'd like for Anne Coulter to be stripped naked and cavity-searched if she gets within 100 yards of an Arab.
posted by MoralAnimal at 11:14 PM on September 20, 2005


Similarly, why isn't there a unique word for chile-like hotness? Neither "hot" nor "spicy" can be understood without clarification.

What's wrong with piquancy?

...I’m extremely resentful for being called racist.
But this is the product of ignorant readers, not my writing.


Ever notice how all the racist claim not to be racist while spouting the most racist BS imaginable? And then they get all offended if you call them on it, like they are the victim?

I find that irritating.


Licensed to jill indeed. And WTF is with that 'embrace the race' line at the end of her article. I just noticed that Bizzare.
posted by delmoi at 11:32 PM on September 20, 2005


I think "spicy-hot" is common parlance for chile-type hotness.
posted by abcde at 11:50 PM on September 20, 2005


If you really want to be precise, you measure spiciness in Scovilles.
posted by klangklangston at 6:07 AM on September 21, 2005


Looks like Regnery Press just got themselves another author in the stable. Scaife will be so happy.
posted by nofundy at 7:28 AM on September 21, 2005


« Older Will shill for food   |   Government vs Stupidity, Round 1 goes to Stupidity Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments