Manufactured hate - Jessie Smollett

[zzand]

I don't think he will get off with a wrist slap. He fabricated a Hate Crime and got caught. I do believe he will be used to send a message to all sides that this will not be tolerated.

[craig11152]

This whole affair is appearing more like a Tonya Harding escapade than what the more incendiary posts would like us to believe.

If you honestly can't see a difference between the two I don't know what to say. I understand you are considerably more liberal than I am but you can't be that blind to the potential ramifications behind the two.

[Calvert DeForest]

This guy is a left wing fanatic, plain & simple.

He staged his attack for publicity and to make Trump & his supporters look bad - plain & simple.

Cannot help but wonder if his idea was inspired in part by the women who made false claims against Justice Kavanaugh.

I think it weighs on his desire for fame more than anything else. He may have staged the attack in part to make Trump look bad, but perhaps more than that, he wanted to be held up as a champion of anti-Trump sentiment and ride the wave of whatever fame came with that distinction. His actions show a blatant disregard for the very causes he claims to support and a desire to grab the spotlight solely for himself.

IMO one of the biggest problems in our society today is narcissism. We owe a lot to the internet and social media for the magnification of this problem over the last 20 or so years. Everybody wants to be famous and have their moment in the spotlight where all the attention is focused on them. It has become like a narcotic. One word sums it up....selfie.

[bmw]

This whole affair is appearing more like a Tonya Harding escapade than what the more incendiary posts would like us to believe.

If you honestly can't see a difference between the two I don't know what to say. I understand you are considerably more liberal than I am but you can't be that blind to the potential ramifications behind the two.

Lester is sympathetic to the cause (ie, Trump-hating). So to him, what Smollett did isn't really all that bad. Unfortunately, his anti-Trump hatred makes him completely blind to the broader ramifications of what Smollett did - those of which the Chicago Police Chief on a special news conference on national television just minutes ago spelled out quite nicely; namely, that given Smollett's high profile and the amount of national attention this has received for weeks, that 1 - Chicago law enforcement had to divert resources away from those who really need help in order to work on this case, and 2 - that when "real" hate crimes happen, people will view those allegations with a degree of skepticism not present before this incident.

But hey, those are acceptable casualties to people like Lester whose hatred for Trump is so strong and so blinding that anything done in the name of making Trump and/or his supporters look bad is acceptable, or at least that bad behavior is, if not entirely justified, at least largely mitigated. And his Tonya Harding analogy, along with other comments he's made in this forum in the past (eg, believing that a video of a MAGA-hat-wearing kid being assaulted by a Trump hater was a hoax, despite solid evidence to the contrary) is solid evidence of my conclusion.

[craig11152]

Unfortunately, his anti-Trump hatred makes him completely blind to the broader ramifications of what Smollett did - those of which the Chicago Police Chief on a special news conference on national television just minutes ago spelled out quite nicely; namely, that given Smollett's high profile and the amount of national attention this has received for weeks, that 1 - Chicago law enforcement had to divert resources away from those who really need help in order to work on this case, and 2 - that when "real" hate crimes happen, people will view those allegations with a degree of skepticism not present before this incident.

I would add to that the potential ramifications if the crimes were never solved.
In the Harding/Kerrigan situation there would have never been any demonstrations or protesters taking to the streets over Nancy's uncaptured assailants. We can't be sure but in the Jussie case its certainly possible that protests and demonstrations would spring up that would result in physical violence and property damage.

The only way to compare the two would be if Tonya Harding said she saw the guys who hit Nancy and they were screaming they hated white people and Detroit was a black city.

[Calvert DeForest]

CPD says the apparent motive was "dissatisfaction with his salary":

https://www.wsj.com/articles/jussie-smo ... _lead_pos8

Helluva way to pursue a raise if you ask me (yes, I know you didn't ask me).

While trashing Trump may have played a part in his plan, it doesn't appear to have been his primary motivation. Frosting on the cake perhaps, but what he really wanted was the cake. Doubt there's any cake in his foreseeable future.

I understand there are political implications involved here, but I'm looking more at the alleged crime itself. Should the state charges be proven along with any federal charges (apparently there is evidence that he faked the hate letter, which would amount to mail fraud), it would mean that he purposely manipulated and diverted the resources of the CPD away from real crimes to investigate a non-existent crime. Filing a false police report and misappropriating public safety resources at taxpayer expense is not a left crime or a right crime. It's a crime....period! And for what? More fame and fortune? That's what's really concerning about this.

[Lester The Nightfly]

CPD says the apparent motive was "dissatisfaction with his salary":

https://www.wsj.com/articles/jussie-smo ... _lead_pos8

Helluva way to pursue a raise if you ask me (yes, I know you didn't ask me).

While trashing Trump may have played a part in his plan, it doesn't appear to have been his primary motivation. Frosting on the cake perhaps, but what he really wanted was the cake. Doubt there's any cake in his foreseeable future.

I understand there are political implications involved here, but I'm looking more at the alleged crime itself. Should the state charges be proven along with any federal charges (apparently there is evidence that he faked the hate letter, which would amount to mail fraud), it would mean that he purposely manipulated and diverted the resources of the CPD away from real crimes to investigate a non-existent crime. Filing a false police report and misappropriating public safety resources at taxpayer expense is not a left crime or a right crime. It's a crime....period! And for what? More fame and fortune? That's what's really concerning about this.

You're absolutely correct on this Calvert.
What the hacks won't acknowledge is when you get a tweet from the President:

.@JussieSmollett - what about MAGA and the tens of millions of people you insulted with your racist and dangerous comments!? #MAGA

who arguably has more political and moral influence than 100 TV thespians, who throughout his time in office has stirred the pot of discord by with his racist and dangerous comments and is now cashing in on a monumentally stupid play by Smollett to up his contract, I can't help but wonder which one is acting with more malice and who is more insulting?

[craig11152]

I wonder what the chances are that Jussie eventually commits suicide?
I don't ask that flippantly. What he tried to do twice (the fake letter and the fake assualt) is not stuff a rational person does. Factor in that not only did it fail but it has made him a detestable joke to millions of people and I gotta wonder.

[TC Shuts Up]

Somehow, I don't think that this will result in a conviction. His lawyers are already preparing for a trial, a trial by a Chicago Jury who will be hopelessly deadlocked and then a Mistrial will be declared. Second trial, same as the first. Eventually, the case will be dismissed, and Jussie will be free to continue his acting career as if there was nothing on his record at all. The CPD will file a Civil Suit, but the damages will not even cover the investigation costs. Like fellow Chicago Socialist Bill Ayers, Jussie will be "Guilty as Hell, Free as a Bird." It's called The Chicago Way.

[Calvert DeForest]

It sounds like he is a troubled young man in need of serious help. Judging from the amount of evidence the authorities have gathered, maintaining his innocence will be an uphill climb at best. The text messages alone show him basically planning the whole thing out. I have to wonder if he suffers from delusions to the point where he has lost touch with reality and fabricated a fantasy version of events in his own mind. Even if there is no conviction in the case, one could only hope that someone encourages him to seek help in dealing with his issues.

The Hollywood culture seems to treat people like resources. Agents, managers and promoters will tell their clients whatever they want to hear as long as it profits them. When the "resource" no longer pays off, the person is tossed out like yesterday's trash and the higher-up's move on to their next "resource". Perhaps he needs to spend some time away from that environment, around people who really care about him and don't see him as just a temporary meal ticket. Perhaps that could help him get back down to earth. I don't know.

[Y M Ionhere]

CPD says the apparent motive was "dissatisfaction with his salary":

https://www.wsj.com/articles/jussie-smo ... _lead_pos8

Helluva way to pursue a raise if you ask me (yes, I know you didn't ask me).

While trashing Trump may have played a part in his plan, it doesn't appear to have been his primary motivation. Frosting on the cake perhaps, but what he really wanted was the cake. Doubt there's any cake in his foreseeable future.

I understand there are political implications involved here, but I'm looking more at the alleged crime itself. Should the state charges be proven along with any federal charges (apparently there is evidence that he faked the hate letter, which would amount to mail fraud), it would mean that he purposely manipulated and diverted the resources of the CPD away from real crimes to investigate a non-existent crime. Filing a false police report and misappropriating public safety resources at taxpayer expense is not a left crime or a right crime. It's a crime....period! And for what? More fame and fortune? That's what's really concerning about this.

You're absolutely correct on this Calvert.
What the hacks won't acknowledge is when you get a tweet from the President:

.@JussieSmollett - what about MAGA and the tens of millions of people you insulted with your racist and dangerous comments!? #MAGA

who arguably has more political and moral influence than 100 TV thespians, who throughout his time in office has stirred the pot of discord by with his racist and dangerous comments and is now cashing in on a monumentally stupid play by Smollett to up his contract, I can't help but wonder which one is acting with more malice and who is more insulting?

Please give examples of his racism...not comments that can be construed or intentionally interpreted as such for political gain. You mean the comments about Mexican "rapists" or drug dealers? All I ask is that you open your eyes to reality. Directly across the border from El Paso is one of the worlds most violent cities. Drug gangs have made it so violent that American tourists are strongly advised not to visit. Mayors and police chiefs are not only powerless against the drug violence, but are even victims. You would be safer walking in the USAs most statistically dangerous neighborhood than in Juarez. 20 years ago, Tijuana, right across the California border, was a fun place for Americans to visit. No more. Kidnappings are on the rise. Nobody is worried about Mexicans with visas who submitted background checks. But considering the extreme safety risks in border cities and peoples unwillingness to follow any semblance of a law, id say its more common sense to suspect that the frime syndicates would bypass border crossings and legitimate immigration paperwork. And if youre talking about Charlottesville, i believe people in the south view history a bit differently than us northerners. I dont understand celebrating generals who lost and failed to create a new country but I also dont come from a long line of native Southerners who may still feel disenfranchised from the political ruling class. Trump did condemn the white supremacists, by the way. So please use better examples.

[Lester The Nightfly]

CPD says the apparent motive was "dissatisfaction with his salary":

https://www.wsj.com/articles/jussie-smo ... _lead_pos8

Helluva way to pursue a raise if you ask me (yes, I know you didn't ask me).

While trashing Trump may have played a part in his plan, it doesn't appear to have been his primary motivation. Frosting on the cake perhaps, but what he really wanted was the cake. Doubt there's any cake in his foreseeable future.

I understand there are political implications involved here, but I'm looking more at the alleged crime itself. Should the state charges be proven along with any federal charges (apparently there is evidence that he faked the hate letter, which would amount to mail fraud), it would mean that he purposely manipulated and diverted the resources of the CPD away from real crimes to investigate a non-existent crime. Filing a false police report and misappropriating public safety resources at taxpayer expense is not a left crime or a right crime. It's a crime....period! And for what? More fame and fortune? That's what's really concerning about this.

You're absolutely correct on this Calvert.
What the hacks won't acknowledge is when you get a tweet from the President:

.@JussieSmollett - what about MAGA and the tens of millions of people you insulted with your racist and dangerous comments!? #MAGA

who arguably has more political and moral influence than 100 TV thespians, who throughout his time in office has stirred the pot of discord by with his racist and dangerous comments and is now cashing in on a monumentally stupid play by Smollett to up his contract, I can't help but wonder which one is acting with more malice and who is more insulting?

Please give examples of his racism...not comments that can be construed or intentionally interpreted as such for political gain. You mean the comments about Mexican "rapists" or drug dealers? All I ask is that you open your eyes to reality. Directly across the border from El Paso is one of the worlds most violent cities. Drug gangs have made it so violent that American tourists are strongly advised not to visit. Mayors and police chiefs are not only powerless against the drug violence, but are even victims. You would be safer walking in the USAs most statistically dangerous neighborhood than in Juarez. 20 years ago, Tijuana, right across the California border, was a fun place for Americans to visit. No more. Kidnappings are on the rise. Nobody is worried about Mexicans with visas who submitted background checks. But considering the extreme safety risks in border cities and peoples unwillingness to follow any semblance of a law, id say its more common sense to suspect that the frime syndicates would bypass border crossings and legitimate immigration paperwork. And if youre talking about Charlottesville, i believe people in the south view history a bit differently than us northerners. I dont understand celebrating generals who lost and failed to create a new country but I also dont come from a long line of native Southerners who may still feel disenfranchised from the political ruling class. Trump did condemn the white supremacists, by the way. So please use better examples.

Conveniently enough your two examples more than serve the purpose.
Here's the thing: If you need to go into detailed explanations on why something or someone isn't racist, it's a pretty good indication they are.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks and all...

[Y M Ionhere]

CPD says the apparent motive was "dissatisfaction with his salary":

https://www.wsj.com/articles/jussie-smo ... _lead_pos8

Helluva way to pursue a raise if you ask me (yes, I know you didn't ask me).

While trashing Trump may have played a part in his plan, it doesn't appear to have been his primary motivation. Frosting on the cake perhaps, but what he really wanted was the cake. Doubt there's any cake in his foreseeable future.

I understand there are political implications involved here, but I'm looking more at the alleged crime itself. Should the state charges be proven along with any federal charges (apparently there is evidence that he faked the hate letter, which would amount to mail fraud), it would mean that he purposely manipulated and diverted the resources of the CPD away from real crimes to investigate a non-existent crime. Filing a false police report and misappropriating public safety resources at taxpayer expense is not a left crime or a right crime. It's a crime....period! And for what? More fame and fortune? That's what's really concerning about this.

You're absolutely correct on this Calvert.
What the hacks won't acknowledge is when you get a tweet from the President:

.@JussieSmollett - what about MAGA and the tens of millions of people you insulted with your racist and dangerous comments!? #MAGA

who arguably has more political and moral influence than 100 TV thespians, who throughout his time in office has stirred the pot of discord by with his racist and dangerous comments and is now cashing in on a monumentally stupid play by Smollett to up his contract, I can't help but wonder which one is acting with more malice and who is more insulting?

Please give examples of his racism...not comments that can be construed or intentionally interpreted as such for political gain. You mean the comments about Mexican "rapists" or drug dealers? All I ask is that you open your eyes to reality. Directly across the border from El Paso is one of the worlds most violent cities. Drug gangs have made it so violent that American tourists are strongly advised not to visit. Mayors and police chiefs are not only powerless against the drug violence, but are even victims. You would be safer walking in the USAs most statistically dangerous neighborhood than in Juarez. 20 years ago, Tijuana, right across the California border, was a fun place for Americans to visit. No more. Kidnappings are on the rise. Nobody is worried about Mexicans with visas who submitted background checks. But considering the extreme safety risks in border cities and peoples unwillingness to follow any semblance of a law, id say its more common sense to suspect that the frime syndicates would bypass border crossings and legitimate immigration paperwork. And if youre talking about Charlottesville, i believe people in the south view history a bit differently than us northerners. I dont understand celebrating generals who lost and failed to create a new country but I also dont come from a long line of native Southerners who may still feel disenfranchised from the political ruling class. Trump did condemn the white supremacists, by the way. So please use better examples.

Conveniently enough your two examples more than serve the purpose.
Here's the thing: If you need to go into detailed explanations on why something or someone isn't racist, it's a pretty good indication they are.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks and all...

My 2 examples debunk your 2 most overused, go-to cliches that people try to pull out of their arse to make the claim..i just shot them down.

[Deleted User 8570]

CPD says the apparent motive was "dissatisfaction with his salary":

https://www.wsj.com/articles/jussie-smo ... _lead_pos8

Helluva way to pursue a raise if you ask me (yes, I know you didn't ask me).

While trashing Trump may have played a part in his plan, it doesn't appear to have been his primary motivation. Frosting on the cake perhaps, but what he really wanted was the cake. Doubt there's any cake in his foreseeable future.

I understand there are political implications involved here, but I'm looking more at the alleged crime itself. Should the state charges be proven along with any federal charges (apparently there is evidence that he faked the hate letter, which would amount to mail fraud), it would mean that he purposely manipulated and diverted the resources of the CPD away from real crimes to investigate a non-existent crime. Filing a false police report and misappropriating public safety resources at taxpayer expense is not a left crime or a right crime. It's a crime....period! And for what? More fame and fortune? That's what's really concerning about this.

You're absolutely correct on this Calvert.
What the hacks won't acknowledge is when you get a tweet from the President:

.@JussieSmollett - what about MAGA and the tens of millions of people you insulted with your racist and dangerous comments!? #MAGA

who arguably has more political and moral influence than 100 TV thespians, who throughout his time in office has stirred the pot of discord by with his racist and dangerous comments and is now cashing in on a monumentally stupid play by Smollett to up his contract, I can't help but wonder which one is acting with more malice and who is more insulting?

Please give examples of his racism...not comments that can be construed or intentionally interpreted as such for political gain. You mean the comments about Mexican "rapists" or drug dealers? All I ask is that you open your eyes to reality. Directly across the border from El Paso is one of the worlds most violent cities. Drug gangs have made it so violent that American tourists are strongly advised not to visit. Mayors and police chiefs are not only powerless against the drug violence, but are even victims. You would be safer walking in the USAs most statistically dangerous neighborhood than in Juarez. 20 years ago, Tijuana, right across the California border, was a fun place for Americans to visit. No more. Kidnappings are on the rise. Nobody is worried about Mexicans with visas who submitted background checks. But considering the extreme safety risks in border cities and peoples unwillingness to follow any semblance of a law, id say its more common sense to suspect that the frime syndicates would bypass border crossings and legitimate immigration paperwork. And if youre talking about Charlottesville, i believe people in the south view history a bit differently than us northerners. I dont understand celebrating generals who lost and failed to create a new country but I also dont come from a long line of native Southerners who may still feel disenfranchised from the political ruling class. Trump did condemn the white supremacists, by the way. So please use better examples.

Conveniently enough your two examples more than serve the purpose.
Here's the thing: If you need to go into detailed explanations on why something or someone isn't racist, it's a pretty good indication they are.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks and all...

My 2 examples debunk your 2 most overused, go-to cliches that people try to pull out of their arse to make the claim..i just shot them down.

Trump never did any condemning of white supremacists in Charlottesville... he said there were good people on both sides... that’s not a condemnation at all...

As for the border... we have no real evidence that the cartels are sneaking across the border at non crossing locations... UNDER it? Yes the do... but they aren’t stupid enough to just walk across...

The cartels would be major corporations if they were legal and they are run as such... the kind of waltzing across you are talking about is small town criminal stuff... they aren’t that at all... they would sooner dig a professionally constructed tunnel to a house on the other side...

As I’ve said before and numerous stories have been done on this... the folks at the border think there is less fuss and problem there then the folks in say North Dakota who have probably never seen a Mexican... this is just Trumps base freaking out about a problem that doesn’t really effect them based on ginned up scare tactics from a politician with a tenuous grip on power and his political future. He must keep them tightly wrapped around his finger if he wants even a slim Hope at reelection. He knows this and is acting accordingly... this is all bullshit for the benefit of his supporters... Trump doesn’t care one iota about this issue.

[Bryce]

Jussie be wearin a MAGA hat now.

My Ass Got Arrested