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NBC’s NASCAR stunt Muslims sure worked it hard in Martinsville:
People at the race say the group pulled out prayer mats at one point and started to pray.
You can almost hear the producers: “No reaction? There’s been no racist reaction from those neanderthal NASCAR bigots? Goddammit it to hell ... OK. OK. We can save this. Let’s go for the prayer mats. Radio those bastards to get out the prayer mats! Let’s see Mr and Mrs Red State Islam Hater cope with prayer mats! Ha!” Interestingly, it seems NBC types have attemped this sort of prank before:
When we talked to Ahmed Sidky and Adam Daken, both Muslim students at Virginia Tech, they were wearing blue jeans and casual shirts. They say they’ve been asked to participate in experiments, like Dateline’s, before but said no.
Nice line from Daken:
“They stereotype both parties now. Muslims looking like Arabs and Americans in the south going to a NASCAR race.”
We now cross to Hugh Hewitt and Mark Steyn:
Hewitt: Now what do you make of NBC going down to Martinsville in an attempt to bait the NASCAR fans into being anti-Muslim?
Steyn: Well, you know, I think that’s very revealing. They essentially say we think these people are prejudiced, and we want to set up a sting to prove that redneck, white, American males are prejudiced. Who are the prejudiced people here? It’s NBC. It’s NBC, who are looking to come up with a set-up to prove their prejudices. And I think this would be fine if it went both ways. I think it would be great, for example, if they could find a couple of Jewish producers, say, Jewish NBC producers who would like to wander around Riyadh, and see how they get treated, as Jews in Riyadh, or Gaza, say.
It might be even more fun to send NBC producers to Martinsville. Michelle Malkin, who broke this story and is driving it Dale Snr-style to the finish line, has continual updates.
UPDATE. Driver Jimmie Johnson might be an InstaPundit reader:
There is, however, one case that Johnson joked would be sure to start a confrontation.
“If they went and harassed a Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan wearing a Jeff Gordon T-shirt,” Johnson said, “there’d be a fight.”
UPDATE II. You know what might make a fun sting piece for a rival network? Covertly film a pair of stunt Muslims as they innocently photograph NBC headquarters in Manhattan while, I don’t know, taking some notes or something. See how long it takes before NBC reacts ...
Maybe NBC ought to combine the technique of its earlier exploding car “investigation” with its latest attempt to create a desired outcome by dangling Muslims in the faces of rednecks. I guarantee, somebody blows up one of the Labonte brothers’ cars, don’t matter what kinda headgear he’s sportin’, there will be some, whadayou call, high dudgeon.
ESPN pulled this scam in Green Bay when they sent three African-Americans through a local shopping mall and got an unsuspecting Wisconsin girl to say she knew they were Packers. And hey BBC, if you try embarrassing Americans on camera again like you did during the 1994 World Cup, I’ll reenact Eric Cantona’s kung-fu kick at Crystal Palace.
Posted by chinesearithmetic on 2006 04 07 at 01:31 PM • permalinkThere’s no problem with this if they report it either way it goes down, although I’d prefer that they replicate the experiment a couple of times at least. The reporting could go towards dispelling myths about NASCAR fans. What’s wrong with that?
Posted by LeftinTexas on 2006 04 07 at 01:57 PM • permalink6. The problem is, NASCAR fans can be a rowdy bunch. If I went to a race decked out in typical pacoesque sartorial splendor (double-breasted suit, wing-tips and fedora), I’d probably get a little unwelcome attention, too (“Hooooeee! Hey, Earl, look at the dude! Who you supposed to be, boy? Dick Tracy? Haw, haw!”).
Especially when you consider that a fair number of fans are probably related to military personnel who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, NBC’s tactic seems to aim at deliberate provocation. Would they have sent a elderly hassidic Jew walking down Bedford-Stuyvesant after the anti-semitic violence that broke out years ago when the rabbinical student accidentally ran over a little black girl in New York? And if something had happened to him, what, exactly, would such a stunt have proved?
7. This was reported by a San Francisco sportswriter who was covering Wimbledon and saw a BBC correspondent asking random Americans if they could name their own team or knew who Diego Maradona was, that sort of thing, clearly to disparage the US bid to host the tournament. This was quoted in a sociology text on soccer and “American exceptionalism,” or whatever.
Posted by chinesearithmetic on 2006 04 07 at 02:15 PM • permalink>7. This was reported by a San Francisco sportswriter who was covering Wimbledon and saw a BBC correspondent asking random Americans if they could name their own team or knew who Diego Maradona was, that sort of thing, clearly to disparage the US bid to host the tournament. This was quoted in a sociology text on soccer and “American exceptionalism,” or whatever.
Before the 1998 World Cup, a guy I knew was asked this by the BBC in Washington. He went into a detailed analysis of the US team, what he thought our strengths and weaknesses were, and discussed our opponents. I doubt he was used on the show.
As for Maradona, he was a great player, but such a sad horrible human being.
chinese,
And the 1994 World Cup in the USA set the record that still stands: Highest average attendance. Not bad for a country where professional soccer comes in about ninth in interest level (after the NFL, NASCAR, baseball, college football, NBA, college basketball, NHL, and golf.)
Posted by David Crawford on 2006 04 07 at 02:47 PM • permalinkI sez if they don’t know the lyrics to the Copenhagen song, we strings ‘em up:
Copenhagen! what a wad of flavor
Copenhagen! you can see it in my smile
Copenhagen! do yourself a favor and chew
Copenhagen! drivin’ pretty girls wild.Posted by Monroe Doctrine on 2006 04 07 at 03:01 PM • permalinkThere’s no problem with this if they report it either way it goes down, although I’d prefer that they replicate the experiment a couple of times at least. The reporting could go towards dispelling myths about NASCAR fans. What’s wrong with that?
The problem is that you just don’t do a show like this unless you have a certain response you’d like to get from the subjects. They’re not looking for scientific results, they’re wanting to show that NASCAR fans are racist rednecks. Any response that doesn’t fit that “result” will be ignored as an exception.
Besides, how would they do a show like that? “We sent Mohammed and Sayid to NASCAR, hoping to see the makings of a lynch mob, but all we had was a drunk guy named Earl who offered our men a beer, and called them both ‘Mohammed.’”
They really want to see “looks of distrust,” maybe they should send Howard Dean and John Kerry down to NASCAR.
It would be instructive for Dateline to replay, in-house only, the 15 or so minutes of the 2004 Ron Artest riot in Auburn HIlls, Michigan (blue), a crowd one-quarter of Martinsville I’d guess, as ESPN did that night, to see what could have happened (and that’s not anti-NASCAR prejudice; incredibly, there was a copycat incident at the Clemson-South Carolina football game not 24 hours later.) Building from one hard foul, it was morbidly fascinating to see what just one idiot could cause.
Posted by chinesearithmetic on 2006 04 07 at 03:34 PM • permalink#8 The problem is, NASCAR fans can be a rowdy bunch. If I went to a race decked out in typical pacoesque sartorial splendor (double-breasted suit, wing-tips and fedora), I’d probably get a little unwelcome attention, too (“Hooooeee! Hey, Earl, look at the dude! Who you supposed to be, boy? Dick Tracy? Haw, haw!”).—paco
First of all, that is not the typical pacoesque dress up. That would be more alongs the line of a wife beater’s shirt (white tank top) with Winston Cigarettes emblazoned across it and a Cummins Engine ball cap. Or worse, a Big Johnson tee shirt.
And secondly, when I did go to the NASCAR race last month to hunt up you and that worthless Stoop Davy Dave, at the time wearing a very handsome black pin stripe suit, freshly cleaned and pressed—hey, I have an image to maintain—that’s exactly the talk I got from you two. Except it wasn’t just you talking amongst yourselves. As I recall, you got hold of a microphone and inflamed those uncouthed beer swilling bubbas sitting in the stands with you. I haven’t received that much abuse and ridicule since Iowahawk
(curls index fingers in a curly fashion)
did a point counter point to my pep talk at the Million Minion March two years ago.
Posted by wronwright on 2006 04 07 at 03:37 PM • permalinkPerhaps if these moles had been brandishing scimitars while running around ululating? Just go all-out, NBC.
Posted by Jim Treacher on 2006 04 07 at 03:38 PM • permalinkAt events like these, a man in a pinstripe suit would be expected to be attached to some kind of promotion. A giveaway for detergent or something. No one would look twice, let alone hoot and/or holler.
Same thing for the Muslims. Minus the detergent. Americans are a pretty stay-out-of-your-face bunch, except for the lefties.
Posted by Monroe Doctrine on 2006 04 07 at 03:42 PM • permalink7. This was reported by a San Francisco sportswriter who was covering Wimbledon and saw a BBC correspondent asking random Americans if they could name their own team or knew who Diego Maradona was, that sort of thing, clearly to disparage the US bid to host the tournament. This was quoted in a sociology text on soccer and “American exceptionalism,” or whatever.
Oh, that kind of thing. If you live here long enough, it becomes background noise. For some reason, the fact that Americans in general don’t care that much about soccer drives Brits insane. The fact that it isn’t that popular in Canada or Australia either doesn’t seem to bother them much.
>David Crawford
Not only that, the 1994 WC had the highest total attendence, even though it had only 24 teams (in 1998, it was expanded to 32). In 2002, the Koreans and Japanese had “lots of great seats available” for most games even past kick off.
Right around the time the Cup began, Paul Gardner, an English soccer wirter who lives in the US, wrote an article for the Guardian which basically said that the Cup would go off fine. The Guardian, however, ran it with the headline “A Crown Unworthy for the Jewel”
“At events like these, a man in a pinstripe suit would be expected to be attached to some kind of promotion. A giveaway for detergent or something. No one would look twice, let alone hoot and/or holler.”
Or maybe they’d just take me for a revenooer, in which case they’d shy away.
Wronwright, of course Stoop Davy and I were dressed like two denizens of Tobacco Row. We were part of another NBC investigative team checking out the reaction of the general public to Rovian time bandits. And you were hooted at, I suspect, because your “pinstripes” were wide and horizontal; every bounty hunter in the place thought he had seen you on a wanted poster somewhere.
These are too easy, but here are my future programming suggestions:
With hidden microphones, NBC producers posing as Muslims, take their young daughters to see Muslim doctors. After expressing concern that daughter might lead a promiscuous life, see how many Muslim doctors recommend clit removal.
With hidden microphones, NBC producers, posing as Muslim, visit Imans and express anguish over their rebellious and quarrelsome wife. Then record Imans recommending vigorious wife beating as Allah’s solution.
Posted by perfectsense on 2006 04 07 at 03:59 PM • permalink#6There’s no problem…, although I’d prefer that they replicate the experiment a couple of times at least. The reporting could go towards dispelling myths about NASCAR fans. What’s wrong with that?
So, what’s wrong with the network news reporter rowing a flat boat in New Orleans after Katrina and describing the horrors of being swept along in ten feet of water? Her illusionary reporting was exposed to millions watching as a pedestrian, unaware of the cameras, shuffled by the boat in water less than ankle deep? Her action was unethical because the so-called reporter was trying to set up the news rather thanreporting it factually or commenting on it impartially. Aside from the unethical nature of the NBC sting, is there faith that its “experiment” will be recorded fairly, that elements favorable to NASCAR will not be edited out and an otherwise distorted report produced as a “fake but accurate” picture attuned to the prejudices of NBC editors? If you have such faith, I have a Bridge I want to sell you. Moreover, a news outfit such as NBC is not competent to perform “experiments”, especially not with human subjects. It is certainly not its job to perform meaningful studies in sociology. Finally, you speak of the “myth” that needs to be dispelled. Think! From whence did you hear of the “myth”? Not from me, an actual NASCAR lover and attendee. Perhaps from the left-wing media which creates the myth and then does its best to set up an illusory situation, much as Hollywood creates illusions through camera work, to produce an illusion to support the myth it created.23. This time last year, I waited in line for four hours on the Upper West Side for morning patrons of a free all-day Stephen Sondheim festival (for two favorite singers) to go home so others could have a seat. (Fat chance, and I had to hear Frank Rich on a loudspeaker to pass the time.) A young man behind me was telling his friend he had just seen “Assassins,” and hoped aloud that it could be updated to include the current president. I felt less nervous after he deconstructed Pacific Overtures, explaining America’s ruthlessly exploiting…China! (China, Japan, what’s the difference?)
Posted by chinesearithmetic on 2006 04 07 at 04:08 PM • permalinkNBC’s NASCAR stunt Muslims sure worked it hard in Martinsville
So tell me again who has the preconceived bigoted mind?
Why does NBC need Muslims to TRY and trigger peoples reactions, when ‘they’ (NBC) have a Howard Dean, et al, on their side?
OR
NBC can check with Yale…see if ‘they’ can borrow Mr. Taliban Man…now that’s a dude that just may stir some feelings…maybe EVEN in NYC.
The reporting could go towards dispelling myths about NASCAR fans. What’s wrong with that?
Because leftists aren’t interested in having their myths dispelled. They’re only interested in the slimmest “evidence” to confirm them. Remember after 9-11, when domestic and foreign media were fretting about a backlash against Muslims? It never happened. And they never once, in the past five years, talked about it not happening. I dunno, seems like an interesting story to me - “Despite worst attack on American soil, American tolerance unfazed.” But not a word. Just a lot of continuing crap about Muslims feeling “tense” and “fearful” despite an utter lack of cause, fearing a “backlash” that has yet to materialize despite ample provocation.
On the contrary, five years later they’re trying like hell to provoke a reaction, because dammit, Americans hate Muslims, and we’re going to find evidence somewhere! Let’s find some rednecks!
6
“LeftinTexas”
I’m trying to figure who you remind me of ...Posted by Stoop Davy Dave on 2006 04 07 at 04:46 PM • permalinkBy golly, Stoop beat me to that observation. Anyway, what I actually meant to post…
And hey BBC, if you try embarrassing Americans on camera again like you did during the 1994 World Cup ...
Didn’t/doesn’t Jay Leno do pretty much the same thing with his “Jaywalking” segments, (albeit not with the intent to embarrass Americans altogether)? I wouldn’t get too worked up about that kind of thing…you can do that stunt with any sufficiently large group of people on almost any subject, so if it’s not just played for laughs but as an actual hit job, all it really does is demonstrate how pathetic the “prankster” is.
They really want to see “looks of distrust,” maybe they should send Howard Dean and John Kerry down to NASCAR.
In fact, let’s bring together some NASCAR fans, a couple stunt Muslims out to provoke a reaction, and Dean and Kerry. I wonder just which group of white guys would be the ones shooting looks of distrust at the Muslims first. I’d give short odds on it being the Dynamic Duo from New England.
As a non-native NYC-er (though now a 19 year resident), it is amazing the preconceived notions these so-called blue staters have about life west of the Hudson. While much of the derision devolves to the premise of “those folks living on the other side of the tracks,” which we all conjure up for vanity boosting purposes; yet in most locales you’ll have knowledge of and friendship with those actually living in that part of town—or whatever. Not here.
Doesn’t matter. Just ask ‘em. They’ll tell ya.
Bunch of bible-thumping, cousin-marrying, illiterate, bigoted, tootheless, homophobes. They know. Learned all about it—Lil’ Abner, Green Acres, and Beverly Hillbillies all rolled into one, having received regular updates on the Jerry Springer Show.
And what are the chances SNL will parody this attempt at “investigative journalism” with a skit? (Not much, actually) But it demonstrates the depths to which the MSM’s credibility has fallen when its contributions amount to comedy material for late night television. (Even more telling will be the more likely Katie Couric parody skit.)
You just can’t make this stuff up, anymore.
In NYC and many another soi-disant smart place, there is very many “a fat mind, lying to itself,” including Amiri Baraka né LeRoi Jones, who penned that phrase.
With folks ranging From miseducated lib oafs who deludedly think that they’re just turning the tables, to union thugs-at-large, to Michael-Mooreoids, to blacks & hispanics who think that calling yourself GOP is an intentional confession of racism, much of NYC is not a good place to wear a “BUSH WAS RIGHT!” tee shirt.
They really want to see “looks of distrust,” maybe they should send Howard Dean and John Kerry down to NASCAR.
Hey, put Kerry and Dean on the track, in front of the starting line, just before the warm up laps start. And then award bonus points to whoever hits them last.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2006 04 07 at 06:33 PM • permalinkHey, after Jamie Farr’s inclusive performance in Cannonball Run, why would anybody think American car racing fans wouldn’t celebrate a little diversity?
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 04 07 at 08:21 PM • permalinkWronwright; Maybe NBC could use paco and see what actually happens when he shows up wearing an advertisement for a diesel and natural gas engine company? Now that would make great tv, paco and the NBC crew running for the parking lot and then being trapped in their hybrid cars by guys wearing Union 76 competition 110 Race Gas.
Posted by Pat Patterson on 2006 04 07 at 10:05 PM • permalinkNot wearing the gas but t-shirts advertising the gas. Oh well.
Posted by Pat Patterson on 2006 04 07 at 10:06 PM • permalinkRic
YEEEEE’AEEEEEE’AEEEEE’AEEEEEEE’AEEEEEEEEEE’AAAARGH!
You have to get the shift points in there.
My God, brilliant…subject or topic matter was NASCAR...and some bum fuck network...and for sure one MUST stay on topic. Just brilliant, Ric.
My one question though…is that upshifting or down, as they round a curve, for instance?....:).
El Cid — I believe that was supposed to be:
“YEEEAAAARRRRRRRGGGHHH! Let’s go racin’, boys!”
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 04 08 at 12:35 PM • permalinkBTW, most excellent Cox and Forum ‘Car’ toon. Get it…Car….racing…hey, I’m on topic, right?
Great, step all over my hyperbole with facts hours later.
Posted by Pat Patterson on 2006 04 08 at 08:28 PM • permalinkdick, yojimbo — who’s gonna clean up the puddle where those three girly-man hysterics are standing the first time the pack blows by?
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 04 09 at 04:03 PM • permalink
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