OMFG!!! - XENOPHOBIC GOP BOOS Puerto Rico At Convention! Chants "USA! USA!"

[kpete]

A Troubling Chant on the Convention Floor
By Jack Hitt

Political Asylum is the Harpers.org convention blog, written by contributing editors Kevin Baker and Jack Hitt.

An unscripted moment happened late this afternoon that caused the assembled mainstream media to turn away in the hope that it would disappear. As I was standing in line for a sandwich next to an Italian and a Puerto Rican correspondent, a controversy was unfolding on the floor. The RonPaulites, whose furious devotion to a single idea have made them the Ellen Jamesians of the right, were protesting a decision by RNC officials not to seat members of the Maine delegation, which was split between Paul and Romney supporters following rule changes made just prior to the convention. There were energetic shouts of “Aye!” and “Nay!” as a Puerto Rican party functionary—Zoraida Fonalledas, the chairwoman of the Committee on Permanent Organization—took her turn at the main-stage lectern. As she began speaking in her accented English, some in the crowd started shouting “USA! USA!”

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The chanting carried on for nearly a minute while most of the other delegates and the media stood by in stunned silence. The Puerto Rican correspondent turned to me and asked, “Is this happening?” I said I honestly didn’t know what was happening—it was astonishing to see all the brittle work of narrative construction that is a modern political convention suddenly crack before our eyes. None of us could quite believe what we were seeing: A sea of twentysomething bowties and cowboy hats morphing into frat bros apparently shrieking over (or at) a Latina. RNC chairman Reince Priebus quickly stepped up and asked for order and respect for the speaker, suggesting that, yeah, what we had just seen might well have been an ugly outburst of nativism.

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2012/08/hbc-90008805
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/28/1125315/-GOP-boos-Puerto-Rico-at-convention-Chants-USA-USA



on a personal note- i found the video highly disturbing, kpete

[liberal N proud]

1. Stupid fucks

[NutmegYankee]

2. Disturbing!

This needs to get more air time.

[freshwest]

21. The modern Nazi party... NOW that being said...

Before this gets more air time, the Youtube comments ssaid it was not about Puerto Rico, but it was a call for Paulite delegates to be seated, nothing about the Latina trying to speak. I don't know, but I wouldn't put it past any of them to lie.

[yardwork]

71. One thing led to another. The Paul supporters were furious at the way their votes were ignored.

But there is no possible explanation for the shouts of "USA! USA!" than bigotry against the delegate from Puerto Rico. She repeatedly attempted to speak and was shouted down.

[freshwest]

83. Except that she was not a Paulite, she was the mainstream Romney person and USA came from Romney's

Supporters... I've watched three different clips of that, from different angles and it was more about the Dittoheads in black pants with white shirts, shouting 'USAX3'

That was while the Paulites, who were dressed like Howdy Doody characters yelling 'Sit them' or 'Seat them' about their delegates being counted. The longer videos shows the uproar was already in action as Prius (whatever) had JUST finished lying about the 'Yea and Nay' vote on the counts. The 'Yeas' were not louder than the 'Nays' and he said they were.

So I don't think she had anything to do with it. Since the PR delegation was for Romney, the white shirts doing most of the yelling (dressed like wait staff at a restaurant) were getting their way. They were trying to overcome the Paulites.

The media characterizations of the yelling was not that it was racist, but that it was about seating the Ron Paul people. Both groups are decidedly anti-hispanic, anti-immigrant, anti-black, etc. They've gone down to the gutter and aren't about to leave their cozy home,

I only brought this up because some posters have take the time lately to warn us about getting very excited about what may be mischaracterizations on stories that make DU look bad. In fact I'm planning to make an OP on just what the modern GOP convention is, if someone hasn't already, that really lays out their racism and what they are. As if we didn't know already.

[Raster]

85. The shouts of "USA, USA, USA" were in response to the shouts of:

"SEAT THEM NOW, SEAT THEM NOW, SEAT THEM NOW."

[yardwork]

88. I don't think so. I agree with the poster who also responded to my comment.

Two things were happening more or less at once, but the one incident (Paulites anger) does not obscure the fact that a bunch of obvious racists hollered "USA USA" at a Puerto Rican woman and prevented her from speaking.

[Brickbat]

3. I thought the "USA" chanters were trying to drown out the "seat them now" chanters and that the

gentlewoman from PR was simply a victim of bad timing.

[FourScore]

18. That's what I saw too. n/t

[Raster]

24. This is what I saw also. You are correct. The gentlewoman from Puerto Rico.....

....just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[SunSeeker]

33. Yup. That's what was happening. She even threw out a few "U.S.A!" chants herself.

Then Rinsed Penis came to her rescue and started pounding the gavel and asking the delegates to respect her report (if not him, snicker).

Those Pual-bots are outta control. It's a beautiful thing, really.

[ellenfl]

87. it looked like priebus thought it was about her. eom

[brightertomorrow]

98. I agree Sure looked like priebus thought it was about her

and the poor woman looked like she thought so too as looks to me like she was almost in tears. I can't get this video out of my mind today. Maybe Anne Romney saw it this way too and might just be one reason she is running around trying to woo Latinos today.

On a side note spellcheck wanted to change priebus to probes.

[Monk06]

75. Thanks I was wondering what those folks were shouting. I thought it was white power but thankfully

THAT's not what they were saying. Unfortunately for the Republicans the overwhelming visual message was racism.

[grantcart]

94. Yes this was not about the PR woman but stealing the Maine delegation and preventing

Paul from having the 5 delegations he needed to get access to the floor and place a nomination.

It is an even bigger story

[KansDem]

103. That's what I thought, too.

It sounded like the Paul supporters were the "targets," as if to silence their objections...

[Raster]

4. Rinse the Penis is NOT having good day!

Thaaaaank yuuuu, delegates. PRICELESS

[DonCoquixote]

62. OK, let's say that your point is true

Sorry to say, it changes NOTHING.
Especially as the Ron Paul bots are vocally racist, especially the Texans who hate Latinos.
If the GOP did not embrace people who openly hate latinos, who want to actively cut our vote out, it might be different, but it is not.
The fact is, they know they do not have to behave, because they will get a weak slap on the wrist from the GOP.

[Raster]

84. First of all, there is no "let's say." I reviewed two different sources. That is what happened.

Second, everything you say is probably true. I do not dispute it. I am certainly not going to protect and/or defend either the Paul gang nor the RNC. But THE FACT remains, no one xenophobically chanting "USA, USA, USA" at the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico. It was FAR MORE directed at Rinse Penis.

[ailsagirl]

96. He certainly doesn't appear to be much of a leader

When the crowd's chanting became too much, he timidly stepped up to the podium and weakly flailed away at the gavel--to no avail. It was an ugly and pathetic scene.

[Jennicut]

5. Is anyone surprised? The Repubs disrespect the President of the United States

when he is speaking. A lonely Puerto Rican woman at the RNC is fair game to them. Nuts, isn't it?

[Nevernose]

6. Make a commercial

Air it on every Spanish language TV and radio station in the country tomorrow. I'm still a little bit in shock. That sure as hell looked liked a frightening level of ignorance to me.

[Lost-in-FL]

7. Good!

No self respecting Puerto Rican should be at that convention. I am happy.

[Nevernose]

8. No self-respecting human being would be there

Think about the daily hypocrisy pointed out here coming from their side of the aisle. Self-loathing has got to figure pretty highly in their psychic make-ups.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

23. I missed your post before posting below. But yeah, right on. Que se caguen en su madre ese

chorro fascistas de mierda.

[Lost-in-FL]

78. Amen!! nt

[kath]

9. Oh, Rance, please tell us again (like you told Tweety) that the GOP doesn't pander to racists.

Yeah. Right.

[NightWatcher]

10. Can we get republicanism listed as a mental illness yet?

[meow2u3]

15. No. Republicanism should be a personality disorder

Teabag Talibanism is so ingrained in them that they don't think anything's wrong with them.

[demwing]

11. here's what you will hear to explain away the crazy

"The chants of 'USA!USA!' were not directed at the Chairwoman from PR, but meant to drown out the chants of 'Seat Them Now' that came from the Ron Paul supporters..."

[Quixote1818]

12. They clearly don't know that Puerto Rico is part of the US. I wonder if they booed New Mexico too?

nt

[SIDURI]

43. Hell, the idjits don't know that HAWAI'I is a part of the US

They simply can't wrap their minds around someone born there growing up to be President. I know the birthers go on and on about Kenya, but it is grounded in disrespecting the State of Hawaii and its residents by continually calling them liars for presenting evidence that Barack Obama was born and raised on O'ahu. All I can figure out is that since the Islands are several thousand miles offshore and not in some cornfield in the middle of the continent, the racists/birthers (pretty much one and the same) simply find it hard to believe in the legitimacy of the 50th State, much less the legitimacy of the US President.

Siduri

[valerief]

79. Isn't that incredible? Well, I guess not. They don't even know

Hawaii is part of the U.S. apparently.

[NHale]

13. Looks like it was in response to the Paulnuts

From reading lips of the Ron Paul supporters it looks like they were chanting "Seat Us Now" and the non-Paulnuts were trying to drown them out with USA USA. It was lousy timing for them since the speaker from PR was there, but the chant was directed at the Paulnuts, not at the speaker.

[Fawke Em]

48. Then why were they cupping their mouths to yell TOWARD her?

Yes, I saw some others mouthing something else, but not all of the "other mouthers" were saying the same thing.

[HiPointDem]

55. you cup your mouth to amplify your voice. same effect as a bullhorn. it wasn't anything to

do with her being from puerto rico.

[Brickbat]

68. Any time you yell at a convention, you yell at the podium so the convention chair will hear you.

[struggle4progress]

14. Right now, I'm really feelin kinda bad for Honest Abe's ghost

[MrMickeysMom]

19. You and a bunch of other people...

including me.

What an ugly display of stupidity. I think they even scared themselves like have a crazy uncle expressed to the power of 10!

[Cha]

16. That's the FACE of the Asshole Teabaggery

American Taliban in all its Ugly Screed.

[BarbaRosa]

17. Makes you wonder what's going to happen tomorrow

when Gov. Martinez, NM, speaks.

[Alduin]

20. What. The. Hell.

Don't those idiots know that Puerto Rico is part of the USA?????

[Historic NY]

27. There the same group that think Hawaii isn't a state either....

they like to think they are highly educated assholes.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

22. You lay down with dogs........ I don't feel a bit sorry for her. How many times

have these fucking pukes insulted us. Whether elected official or just your average right wing moron. No Puerto Rican (or Latin American for that matter) has any fucking business being around these bigots.

[Stinky The Clown]

25. Amazing and unsurprising

[cynatnite]

26. They are fucking racist. How long will it take for the public at large to wake up to that fact? n/t

[SunSeeker]

36. They're racist alright, but this had nothing to with her. See up the thread.

The Romney delegates were chanting "U-S-A" to drown out the Paul-bots' chants of "Seat Them Now" (the Maine Paul delegates). It is obvious that is what their lips are saying if you watch the video. Even the woman from Puerto Rico throws out a few Spanish-accented U-S-A's of her own; she appears as pissed at the Paul-bots as the Romney delegates are.

[lonestarnot]

28. Wow.

[Marr]

29. Those were Republicans shouting to drown out angry Paulites.

[Raster]

31. Yes. That is what was happening. They were NOT insulting the lady from Puerto Rico.

[Firebrand Gary]

30. UN FUCKING BELIEVABLE....There are no words, no words!

[askyeshua]

32. It was not directed at her

They actually were NOT booing her, some context is required. Ron Paul's supporters had just lost their battle to have their delegates seated. They had started chanting "seat them down" as she walked to the podium. Romney's supporters in response saught to drown them out by chanting 'USA'. I can see why the mistake can be made to assume it was a racist reaction. But turns out it was a horrible coincidence

[Flatpicker]

34. A horrible coincidence

That would make for a great attack ad.

Now, before you say it wouldn't be right, I ask if the tables were turned, how quickly would this become a republican talking point?

[Marr]

37. I'm not so sure. Who would you be winning over with such an attack?

What's more, it seems to me that the left-wing base isn't nearly as gullible, or willing to believe things simply because they *want* them to be true, as is the right-wing base. And once they see they've been lied to, they'll be resentful of the person/group that lied to them.

[HiPointDem]

56. i feel that way about this op.

[eridani]

67. It already did. Remember the "Dean Scream"? n/t

[Safetykitten]

35. Well, I am sure there are ones that we can negotiate with, right?

I mean, this is the culmination of a wacked out fascist party that we can always negotiate with, right?

[liberal_at_heart]

38. I don't understand how it is okay

for them to behave this way, but it is not okay for people to point the behavior out. I cannot wrap my head around and how crazy and sad this all is.

[Flatpicker]

39. It isn't ok

But it would be worse if it was heckling of the PR speaker.

Either way shows that their tent is so small that they cannot accept any alternate views or discussion.

[Bette Noir]

40. The way this clip was cut, I can't tell what's happening, myself.

There's not one word from the Puerto Rican lady. You hear the chant, but neither the beginning of it, or the speech afterward.

But, no, these yahoos have no idea the Puerto Rico is part of the US. I get questioned about my citizenship all the time, and I barely speak Spanish.

[chollybocker]

41. The chanting had nothing to do with the woman

or her race or territory. It was all about what Preibus had just done at the podium.

There's no need to make sh*t up when the reality is already good enough to crush them in Nov.

[liberal_at_heart]

44. I would say that is a relief but

With all the crazy shit they have been saying I'm not sure there is any relief in sight. Anybody got a tums or some alka seltzer?

[Dustlawyer]

42. I wouldn't make excuses for them, they will make enough on their own. The problem still is a lack

of RESPECT for the lady, for the Ron Paul supporters, and lastly, for the ELECTED DELAGATES both now and in the future conventions. They are eating their own! Messy huh?

[liberal_at_heart]

45. I wonder how much harder it will be

to get to that magical 61% of white voters without the Ron Paul votes? not to mention the white female vote.

[Fawke Em]

46. I actually took a risk and posted that on Facebook.

I try to keep a lot of political opinions off of FB because I work in a public arena, but this was just so sad.

[LynneSin]

47. I love the 'World According to Garp' reference with the Ellen Jamesians comment

[xxenderwigginxx]

49. Have to call B.S. on that one.

I watched the convention, what is shown in that clip had nothing to do with the woman. The Paul supporters were yelling "seat them now" & Rmoneys people were shouting "USA" to drown them out. ABC & CNN both reported that Rmoneys delegates were instructed to "begin chants of USA" if such a disruption broke out. There are enough factual incidents of racism, homophobia, etc; no need to make ourselves look silly by making things up.

[Bertha Venation]

82. + 1 "There are enough factual incidents . . .

no need to make ourselves look silly by making things up."

[flamingdem]

50. Did the speaker quit the party? nt

[Firebrand Gary]

51. I find an interesting commonality in those who say that they were not yelling at her! Hmmm

They were yelling at her, face it. This is the disgusting hatred that now constantly spews from the right wing. Reince Priebus CLEARLY tells the audience to show her some respect.

Shame on those awful people.

[HiPointDem]

57. shame on *you* for trying to hype a fake storyline.

[Firebrand Gary]

58. Rude is rude! Considering the ongoing Tea Bagger hostility toward PR, what are we supposed to think?

You should take your grievance up with the OP if you feel that it is false. As I see it, there was a speaker on stage who was shouted down by the audience. Rude is rude.

And YES, with the GOP hostility towards minorities and all US territories (Except Mariana's) which is all the more disgusting as it plays right into the GOP behavior as of late

AND

" Glenn Beck and other right wing pundits say that the timing of this bill is suspect, a move by democrats to gain more votes for the 2012 election. Yesterday on his show Beck spent a good deal of time talking about the insidious nature of the bill."

http://guanabee.com/2010/04/puerto-rican-statehood-bill-going-to-congress-glenn-beck-is-still-a-loco/

[HiPointDem]

63. the op plays the story as the xenophobic reaction of the delegates to a person from puerto rico.

she doesn't play it as the 'rude' response of the delegates to a speaker.

in fact, it had nothing to do with her -- it started before she came to the podium.

[Enrique]

73. this must be why people don't call b.s.

because there are enforcers to keep us in line. Shut up and just go along with the bullshit, otherwise you are a troll!

I see threads here with pure b.s., at the top of the greatest page, and not a single person calls the b.s. Surely someone sees it's b.s., why is no one calling it? Mabye it's because if they do, someone will come and insinuate something about them. An "interesting commonality".

[Scootaloo]

52. What a bunch of miserable fuckwits

I was just telling a friend about this, and meant to say the word "faceplam," - it was typo-ed to "racepalm," which... seems totally fitting.

So, yeah. Racepalming it is.

[Octafish]

99. RACEPALM!

!Esta' cabron!

[HiPointDem]

53. edited because what was happening didn't have anything to do with her being puerto rican.

theres more to this then you think they are saying "SEAT MAINE NOW!! SEAT MAINE NOW!!" then the Romney people covered them up saying USA!! USA!!.. as the RNC introduced the woman. see the man at 0:30 he is saying "SEAT MAINE NOW!! " this is crazy this was rigged and now America looks like a joke.

i wondered why their mouths didn't all seem to match what they were supposedly chanting.

i don't appreciate being manipulated.

[xxenderwigginxx]

66. exactly

[Amonester]

54. Since the paulites are also USA citizens, it doesn't seem to make any sense!

I know, expecting any grown up sense from these brainwashed tealibans doesn't make any sense either, but WTF?

[uponit7771]

61. Some people give the overt GOP the benefit of the doubt

[xxenderwigginxx]

65. It was a counter chant to drown out the Paul people

Had nothing to do with nationality... or patriotism for that matter

[uponit7771]

81. You give their overt racism the benefit of the doubt, many dont

[xxenderwigginxx]

101. I care about accuracy

there are enough true events, no need to make some up and hurt our credibility

[renie408]

91. And you know that because that's what a GOP spokesman told you, right?

Of COURSE that's what it was...the GOP isn't racist!

[xxenderwigginxx]

100. i know because i watched the convention and not just a clip

and it was obvious what was happening.

[FedUpWithIt All]

58. To Hell with them and their apparent dismay. They helped create that repulsive beast.

[uponit7771]

58. Paulians weren't US citizens?! Some people give the racist GOP benefit of the duobt

[Berlum]

64. "Is this happening?" - Americans beholding a big, hard, hateful fascist nucleus in the R Party

[bigtree]

69. we saw this coming. This is an ugly party

. . . which appeals to the worst in their supporters.

[spanone]

70. ignorant motherfuckers

[berni_mccoy]

72. Kicking for Visibility. We need to expose the true colors of the racism that is rampant int the GOP.

[Marrah_G]

74. Oh my

That made me cry.

The poor woman looked devastated and I can't help but to think she is rethinking her choice of parties. Many in the audience looked like they wanted to rush the stage and beat her.

That is one of those most disturbing things I have seen this election season.

[agentS]

76. It's the OPTICS of the thing that counts

While in truth, this wasn't a racist outburst by either side, it still LOOKS pretty bad on camera. How's it gonna play on Calle Ocho in Miami? How's it gonna look on Telemundo or Univision news? Priebus having to bang the gavel more than twice after the shout-down is not a good thing to behold on TV. Instead the RNC, the attendees and the delegates ALL look positively pathetic.

So it wasn't a racist outburst- but it was about corruption, indignity, cheating, poor timing and wearing ugly cowboy hats. Does either side realize how this LOOKS on TV to untrained eyes? It's not a pretty picture.
They probably should have stuck with the racism; it would have played better than this foolish loss of control has.

Paulistas- you knew the RNC and R-Money was corrupt from the start; why did you waste your time and 'powder' fighting them? Did you honesty expect a different result?

RNC- you couldn't handle this in a better manner? What is Sheldon Addelson paying you (with foreign bribe money and sex slaves) for?

Delegates shouting- Yes, I know they told you to shout that, but you do realize there are CAMERAS everywhere, some broadcast live, right?

[patrice]

77. Look at it. The xenophobes deliberately slingshotted that action from the tip of the Paulite action.

[glinda]

80. mob mentality

[frylock]

86. and some people think we should be more tolerant and understanding of these shitbirds..

fuck that shit.

[robertpaulsen]

89. Here's my problem with this moment: WHY IS THIS BEING WHITEWASHED (no pun intended) BY THE MEDIA?

Other than the original Harper's Report by Jack Hitt and the Daily Kos link, I am seeing this nowhere! I'm not just talking about the corporate losers like CNN & MSNBC, I'm not seeing anything on Raw Story, Think Progress, Alternet, nothing! Regardless of whether you interpret what you see on screen as what the reporter experienced as "an ugly outburst of nativism" or a senseless censoring of Paul delegates (Maine is no longer part of USA, USA? ), this is a newsworthy event and it pisses me off that it's being swept under the rug.

[Posteritatis]

90. Even Priebus looks embarrassed. Yow. (nt)

[WilliamPitt]

92. They were chanting at the Paul delegates.

[Vinnie From Indy]

97. Seemed like it to me as well

It was reported yesterday that the California delegation was instructed to drown out any Paul chanting outbursts.

[ailsagirl]

93. This 'convention' is a disaster

And word of its horrors has gone international. I hope that people in other countries are aware its a repuke thing and don't paint all of America with the same brush.

[K Gardner]

95. Extremely disturbing, and another thing I haven't noticed on media outlets. n/t

[BlueinOhio]

102. Apology

Jeb Bush released a statement about how the GOP treats Latinos. I would like to think it was just the Ron Paulbots but the rants I've been hearing from the republicans at work particularly the ex military sounds just about right.

[stuntcat]

104. Proud to say that I have never in my life cast a vote with those people.

The worst example of anyone who's a Democrat never gets as bad as their racist, Earth-raping, selfish, end-times troglodytes.

(edit- my apologies to troglodytes!)

[idal2u2]

105. okay so it wasn't directed at the puerto Rican chairwoman

but unfortunately I'm just disgusted by the republicans this year... I've always voted republican but not this year.. am american/Puerto Rican and I understand this was not supposedly directed at the Puerto Rican Chairwoman but gee it just shows how insensitive or perhaps how so very out of touch they are with what other's perceive of them that they could not see past their own noses and let a woman that represents Puerto Rico (and represents a group of american citizens from whom they also need votes) speak... silly... they looked silly... as far as Chairman Reince Priebus.. wow awful.. just awful...

[Care Acutely]

106. kick for a second showing.

[HooptieWagon]

107. Thats been spreading like a wildfire through Tampa's Latino community.

The RNC is going over like a lead balloon here. Even moderate republican locals are appalled at the GOP arrogance, lies, and racism. The war on women is bombing as well. Not sure where Romney's poll numbers are coming from... maybe they're bought like his twitter and fb followers?