Yesterday, I appeared on Democracy Now! to discuss Sarah Palin’s ties to the Christian right and the role she could play in a McCain administration. You can watch or listen to me here.
While I was editing a segment for the show on Monday night in Democracy Now’s office in downtown St. Paul, Amy Goodman was released from prison after being brutally arrested hours before (watch here). Then, DN producer Sharif Abdel Koudous and cameraperson Nicole Salazar stumbled in. Koudous’ arm was badly bruised and bloodied, the handiwork of Minneapolis PD thugging their way through the streets of St. Paul. Salazar had been slammed to the ground and kicked mercilessly while running away and screaming, “Press!” Both were illegally hauled off to jail. Representative Keith Ellison appeared later at the DN office to watch video of the Minneapolis PD’s brutalization of Salazar and Goodman. Ellison, who said he was sick of seeing his constituents being beaten senseless, successfully pressured St. Paul’s mayor and police chief to release Goodman and her crew. Countless more have been arrested for daring to be in the vicinity of belligerent riot squads, and many other journalists were abused during the past two days.

12 Comments Received
September 3rd, 2008 @12:36 am
I can tell you’ve been busy editing your videos and writing your articles, because you appeared very tired in the interview.
September 3rd, 2008 @10:31 am
Harsh Preston!
You looked like a hardboiled warrior for justice to me!
September 3rd, 2008 @10:39 am
Mr. Blumenthal, how do you know that the daughter of Sarah Palin wanted an abortion, but was forced into having the child. Who was responsible for pressuring her to have the baby? The Rupublican party? John McCain? Her mother? How dare you speak for her, when you have never spoken to her and she has not spoken to the media. There is nothing wrong with a 17 year old mother. You are an extremist democrat.
I cannot believe you got away with harassing John McCain’s daughter at the GOP convention. How many times did you repeat the same question to her? Where you listening? She politely told you she was not there to answer your question. How can you call yourself a journalist, after purposely harassing them with that sarcastic and obnoxious question. The GOP convention is not the place to harass people. McCain and Palin are policicians, their daughters are not. Do you see the difference? Ask McCain or Palin, not their children.
I believe the reason you are a pro-choice extremist, is due to being traumatized as a child. Whatever happened to you as a child, you deserved it.
I am a pro-choice democrat, but after hearing your extremist views, I am changing my vote to McCain and Palin, just to spite you. You give the pro-choice movement a bad name. I cannot wait to distance myself from you on November 4, 2008.
September 3rd, 2008 @10:53 am
Nah, I ain’t hatin’ or anything. I have a lot of respect for Max, it’s just that he appeared very sleep deprived in the interview. Usually he’s not this nervous on DN; he’s more laid back in interviews than this, so I can tell he’s been working pretty hard editing videos, writing articles, attending conventions, etc., and perhaps because of that he seemed a little jittery and tired.
By the way, Max, are you using Final Cut Pro? I was taught Final Cut Pro, Avid and the traditional Moviola. I prefer using Avid than Final Cut Pro, it’s a lot more user-friendly.
September 3rd, 2008 @11:00 am
I am a pro-choice democrat, but after hearing your extremist views, I am changing my vote to McCain and Palin, just to spite you. You give the pro-choice movement a bad name. I cannot wait to distance myself from you on November 4, 2008.
That’s very stupid. You’re going to vote for a candidate who’ll appoint judges to the Supreme Court just so Roe vs. Wade is overturned, simply out of spite, despite the fact you’re “pro-choice Democrat”? I don’t believe you’re even a Democrat, probably just another Republican upset that Max went into the lion’s den and exposed such rabid hypocrites. No “pro-choice Democrat” in their right mind would vote for a ticket that will take away a woman’s right to choose.
September 3rd, 2008 @11:19 am
I am a registered Democrat and I will be voting for McCain and Palin. Preston you are white trash. Republicans are human beings and just because you disagree with their
pro-life views, does not justify the treatment Mr. Blumenthal gave to McCain and Palin’s daughters. Raise a family Preston and you’ll see why at this point in your life, you are white trash.
September 3rd, 2008 @11:41 am
I am a registered Democrat and I will be voting for McCain and Palin. Preston you are white trash. Republicans are human beings and just because you disagree with their
pro-life views, does not justify the treatment Mr. Blumenthal gave to McCain and Palin’s daughters. Raise a family Preston and you’ll see why at this point in your life, you are white trash.
White trash? Hmm, that’s the first time I’ve been called that.
You have the gall to say that Republicans are “human beings” but then you insult ME as being “white trash,” which is far more condescending, elitist and dismissive than anything in Max’s work. As I said you’re either a Republican or a Lieberman Democrat, which in my view, are pretty much the same thing. Max did not insult Palin’s daughter or McCain’s daughter for that matter; he simply asked them questions about abstinence education, something that didn’t seem to have any effect on Palin’s daughter. Democrats such as yourself make me sick to my stomach, it’s one of the reasons why Democrats continue to lose elections, fearful to battle the Republicans and beat them at their own game. Instead, you prefer allowing them to push Democrats around and whine about how big of a bully they are when YOU (i.e. Democrats) refuse to fight back.
Maybe there’s a reason why Republicans always label Democrats wimps when you’re a clear exemplification of the core problem.
September 3rd, 2008 @12:16 pm
I was being objective when I called you white trash. I was not being condescending, elitist or dismissive, just honest.
I am pro-choice and you are white trash. Let me give you an example of why you are white trash.
You talk about Max targeting the “lions den, those rabid hypocrites.” Max does not know the political views of Palin’s daughter or McCain’s daughter. You do not know the policical views of Palin’s daughter or McCain’s daughter. Do you know why you do not know their views? It is because Palin and McCain’s daughters are not politicians. The do not have the power to appoint supreme court judges. They are not part of the lions den. They are known by you and your extremist friend Max because their parents are politicians. Leave them alone.
Do you have children Preston, it is obvious you do not and I will be praying tonite that you never do. Your temper scares me. If you ever have children, I see you verbally and physically abusing them if they dare disagree with your militant extremist democratic views.
The democratic party does not want your vote.
September 3rd, 2008 @5:53 pm
Two things:
1) hey398 is a troll. There is no need to feed him/her.
2) The illegal detentions and charges against journalists endanger the liberties of all Americans, regardless of political views.
September 5th, 2008 @7:55 pm
Preston is right. It was 8 AM in St. Paul and I was tired as hell!
September 7th, 2008 @3:57 am
hey398,
“Do you know why you do not know their views? It is because Palin and McCain’s daughters are not politicians.” So people can’t have political views unless you are a politician? You must be Republican, because there is not another party or indenpendent that actually believes that. But I am sure the Republicans wish that were true.
I read the transcript and he was very respectful of Palin’s daughter. She is afraid to talk from what it sounded like. Probably afraid that she would say something that wasn’t on topic. She is not a child like you imagine and judging from the fact that she has sexual intercourse and is marrying her child’s father. Luckily her parents can use this to their advantage. If they actually cared about keeping her out of this, she wouldn’t be there.
I understand the need to protect the emotionally immature from speaking in public, but it would have shown much more leadership on her mother’s part, if she had just taught her birth control and sex education. It is not like she is child like Chelsea Clinton was when McCain went after her. So as long as Palin exlpoits her daughter and sone, then the people and media have a right to know their views.
September 23rd, 2008 @7:25 pm
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