NPR outs Puma Cristi Adkins and the "informal group of Christians"...the ad.

[madfloridian]

That would be the same Cristi Adkins who asked Chris Matthews on Hardball if he needed his ears cleaned out. The same one who with her sidekicks were promptly put in their places by Obama supporters in the crowd.



This blog has the video of Cristi and her buddies confronting Chris Matthews.

We have talked of this group here, but I was surprised to see this at NPR. It was covered on August 25.

Strange Bedfellows Behind Anti-Obama 'Turban' Ad

The ad, the first truly inflammatory spot to air on television this year, was produced by a shadowy group called the Coalition Against Anti-Christian Rhetoric.

Though it only aired once — just before the South Dakota primary — it created a hubbub by linking Obama to Islam. Yet few clues helped answer the question of who was behind the coalition.

It turns out the ad was the product of a hypnotherapist who later appeared in a pro-Clinton demonstration at the Denver convention, an apolitical wedding videographer, and a felon who is now on the run.Their saga highlights the outsize influence that a hodgepodge collection of political amateurs can have in a national election — in this case, by accident.

The ad is there at NPR, pretty sorry one. How the ad came to be is very weird.

The Hypnotherapist

Cristi Adkins says she was a gung-ho Clinton activist when some friends, an informal group of Christians from the South, asked her for help in responding to an Obama speech that offended them.

The "felon" she made the ad with is shown on this "most wanted" page. Mike Donovan.

Read the whole article. It is just stunning. A group of Christians doing anti-Christian activities. Teaming with those lacking consciences.

[ReadTomPaine]

1. Once again Mad, you deliver the goods.

Given the ideological war over the past years at NPR, I am surprised to see them as a source for this as well.

[madfloridian]

3. It's a long article... a lot there.

I am reading it again, and I see stuff I missed the first time I read it.

[NYC_SKP]

4. Of course, this "44" site is not the same as the other "44" site.

Thanks for sharing this one.

I caught that exchange as it happened on MSNBC...

BTW, you're famous, or infamous, at one of the opposition sites (which one I'm not sure), you know, the ones whose members troll DU and make comments there.

It was a unkind and vulgar remark, but in a strange way I was proud that you had them pissed off.

[madfloridian]

6. I heard they were going after me at some sites. I have a tough hide.

Someone pointed me to one of the comments. LOL I guess.

[Beregond2]

2. The downside to the "new media."

When anyone can make an ad, loonies will too.

[madfloridian]

7. Glad to see it covered by NPR in a serious fashion.

[madfloridian]

5. Cristi's hubby helped do the ad....how did it air if never paid for.

Her hubby:

http://www.allenmediastrategies.com/staff.html

And more about the making of the ad.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94...

"She says she was just brainstorming — "throwing noodles against the wall as to what could be done." In any case, at that point the coalition didn't have any money to produce an ad.

And that's where Donovan, the felon, stepped in.

Adkins and Thomas say that Donovan crafted the final script for the ad. Adkins' husband, radio personality and media consultant Burke Allen, did the voiceover, according to the videographer.

Donovan promised payment ... and then disappeared. (Donovan did not answer calls, e-mails or an attempt to contact him through MySpace.)

Which raises this question: If it was never paid for, how did this incendiary ad ever run on television?

The answer: Someone goofed."

[justiceischeap]

11. Reliable communication "...or an attempt to contact him through MySpace." nt

[madfloridian]

24. That was an odd statement....

to consider contacting through My Space reliable.

[RedLetterRev]

12. "The answer: Someone goofed."

Oh, oopsie. :-\

Let that happen with any other ad. It sure as hell won't happen with a center or left ad. There has been a considerable rash of "oops" airings of ads potentially damaging (however slightly) to the Obama campaign, but absolutely zero such "mistakes" pertaining to the McKook campaign. ?? The more it happens, the less I'm inclined to think so.

[madfloridian]

16. A staffer "made a mistake."

That really sounds fishy.

[RedLetterRev]

19. Dudnit

I've gotten to despise that excuse. It's a good thing that absolutely no-one looks to the right side of the aisle for originality.

[K8-EEE]

8. She was such a fucking GOP shill...

I'm like, Come ON Tweety, get a clue when he was talking to her!

[jillan]

9. Something tells me that Hillary is not too proud of this supporter.

[madfloridian]

10. NPR mentions her appearance on Hardball.

Right at the end of the article:

"In the meantime, Adkins showed up outside the Democratic National Convention in Denver on Monday, holding her Clintons 4 McCain banner amid a crowd of chanting Obama fans. Never camera-shy, she launched into a verbal bout with MSNBC's Chris Matthews over Obama's religion, at one point mockingly telling Matthews, "Maybe you can't hear — should we clean your ears out?"

[Zenmaster]

13. Heard in Hillary's next speech.

"I'm so honored that 17,999,999 of you supported me"

[Egnever]

14. The young black girl at the end of that video is incredible

watching those raving lunatics was worth it to hear that wonderful young lady.

[madfloridian]

15. Wasn't she wonderful? So classy.

She made the others look like fools.

[Egnever]

17. Very well spoken and calm

I wish i had her temperment and speaking ability.

Thanks for the post!

[Cha]

20. You made me want to

look..later when I come back from running.

[bitchkitty]

18. It's Lynette from Desperate Housewives!

I thought the young lady at the end of the video was fantastic - she really showed the crowd (and the camera) what being a Democrat should be about!

[Dogtown]

21. K & R

I really don't like the posts insulting the appearance of Ann Coulter, but tell me that woman doesn't look like her sister...

[madfloridian]

23. There is a resemblance.

[madfloridian]

22. More coverage....

The Yes To Democracy blog is covering the NPR piece now.

http://www.yestodemocracy.com/yes_to_democracy_no_to_pu...


Also the New York Observer has a piece on Adkins:

http://www.observer.com/2008/media/encyclopedia-google-...