Las Vegas Review Journal: "POTENTIAL BLACK EYE: boxer in Obama's corner"

[Bluebear]

When Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama launches his group of black supporters in Nevada today, the headliner will be a superstar: a boxer who won the biggest title fight in recent history, a flamboyant personality who's been on "Dancing With the Stars."

But Floyd Mayweather Jr. is also a convicted batterer with a history of arrests in Las Vegas and elsewhere.

In 2004, Mayweather was convicted on two counts of battery for punching two women at a Las Vegas nightclub the previous year. He was given suspended prison sentences, $1,000 in fines and ordered to complete impulse control counseling.

Mayweather in 2002 pleaded guilty to two counts of domestic violence in one case and battery in another. In 2005, a jury acquitted him of a third domestic violence charge, a felony, after his accuser changed her story. He reportedly was convicted of battery in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Mich., and he has also been the subject of civil lawsuits accusing him of battery.

An Obama spokeswoman said Mayweather has paid for what she termed his "mistakes."

http://www.lvrj.com/news/10761301.html

[hisownpetard]

1. Ay ay ay. Is Marion Jones invited, too?

[AlCzervik]

2. gawd it's only a little domestic violence, get over it.

don't you understand that he's rehabbed his image by being on "Dancing with the stars!".

[Bluebear]

4. They were just "mistakes".

But don't worry, the campaign is just reaching out to different sectors of society.

[MidwestTransplant]

3. I thought for a minute Barb. Boxer was going to endose him.

[mod mom]

5. Me too.

[Bluebear]

6. I lower-cased it :)

Now that you guys mention it, I would read it exactly the same lol!

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

7. Ok. I know what to expect from some here, on this.

But stay with me for a moment:

Do we have the coldness within us to say that redemption and personal growth is forbidden for Mr. Maywether? Can we say that he has not grown and confronted what he did, in the years since his offenses? Can we say that he would not be positively influenced by his involvement in the civic life of his nation?

I don't want to mitigate or low-ball the gravity of what he has done, but I am uncomfortable with throwing him over the side as well.

I am also not at all comfortable with this being used to tar the Obama campaign. 1+1!=2 in this case.

[AlCzervik]

8. i agree with you, maybe he's gone to anger management and had counseling and

he's learned not to hit people but i don't think any campaign should be using him.

[Bluebear]

9. It's a headline in the biggest paper in Las Vegas & perception = reality

I understand fully what you are saying. The only thing that this is highlighting is the fact that Obama's staff is not doing a great job in the public relations department.

[AlCzervik]

10. whoever is vetting people for him needs to be fired.

or at least moved to a dept. where they will do no harm.

[DURHAM D]

11. Maybe Obama is going for the "ex-felon" vote. n/t

[Cameron27]

12. It looks like they kept that position vacant.

What a mess.

[cobalt1999]

14. Exactly.

What the hell is his campaign thinking? If he is going to run the country, he better demonstrate it by shaking up and running a better campaign organization.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

13. No, they are not.

There are some seriously inexperienced people making big decisions in that campaign.

[cuke]

15. This is stupid, but not malicious

And he's supposed to be the candidate of Hope. He better hope his staffers stop screwing everything up

[FlaxieB]

16. The rich and famous: always being targeted for their money.

Obama will be OK. Look in the mirror, how many people do you know (or correspond on DU daily) battered, domestically attacked or abuse someone? Don't call the kettle black if you see yourself or someone you know. Floyd Mayweather served his time and achieved help. Remember, many athletes are targets and defending yourself (if it's true) is permissible. Wouldn't you? :think:

[Bluebear]

18. OK I looked in the mirror. No, I never beat women. Satisfied?

[FlaxieB]

21. Good for you.

[cobalt1999]

19. WTF?

Are you saying there are lots of wife beaters here?

Serving time is one thing. Being one of the major faces of a campaign is another. No, that is not something anyone gets a pass on.

[Bluebear]

20. Yes, just look in the mirror!

:silly:

[FlaxieB]

25. Well what about embezzlers (Hsu), and adulterers (Bill Clinton), no pass, right?

[bigdarryl]

17. hey Bill Clinton allegedly groped a women where's the out rage from that

[Cameron27]

22. Allegedly it was consensual.

[AlCzervik]

23. oh Darryl that was weak, you're just phoning shit in now.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. He's Also A Bit Of An Asshole

When he fought the Golden Boy, Oscar de la Hoya , he came out with a sombrero and a pancho to mock him and his Mexican heritage...

But he's a great fighter...

[Colobo]

29. He outboxed DLH. Floyd rocks. He's not perfect, but he rocks.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

61. He Boxes In A Weak Era

I liked the Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, John "The Beast" Mugabi, Tommy "The Hit Man" Hearns era...

Those cats could bang...

BTW, my dad and uncle were Golden Gloves boxers...

[DemFemme]

26. Hillary receives endorsement from convicted wife-beater

From a Hillary press release:

"Hillary Clinton today received the endorsement of a trio of dynamic elected leaders from Southern Nevada communities -- Ricki Barlow, Councilman, City of Las Vegas; Dennis Keating, President, Nye County School District Board of Trustees; and Stephanie Smith, Councilwoman, City of North Las Vegas."

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=2309

***********

Past plagues Barlow in Vegas' Ward 5 race
By Mark Hansel
Published in the Sun May 27, 2007

"Barlow also has drawn criticism over a domestic violence arrest in 1998 for allegedly assaulting his wife, Vanessa Garbutt-Barlow. The couple has since divorced."

http://politics.lasvegassun.com/2007/05/past_plagues_ba.html

[Bluebear]

27. "Clinton did it too!" - where have I heard that little song and dance for 7 years?

[DemFemme]

30. Selective outrage is highly suspect.

Try spreading your manure instead of concentrating it all in one place.

[IndianaJones]

32. idiotic. nt.

[DemFemme]

33. Love your posts, too. n/t

[IndianaJones]

34. cool, thought you were tired of the whiny minorities. nt.

[DemFemme]

38. When did I say that? Link, please? n/t

[IndianaJones]

40. below. nt.

[DemFemme]

43. I thought so.

Nada to back it up.

[IndianaJones]

44. below in this thread. you think the minority whining is getting old. nt.

[DemFemme]

45. Again, where do I say/have ever said that? Link, please? n/t

[IndianaJones]

46. its implied in every post I've seen in this thread. it seems you believe the minorities...

are just grinding axes. it gets old, huh?

[DemFemme]

47. Ah, another mindreader.

Get a new crystal ball because you're ASSuming a sentiment that isn't there. What's old is the
selective "fair and balanced" approach to outrage.

[IndianaJones]

48. no...we whiny minorities know bigotry when we see it. nt.

[DemFemme]

49. Then you can't support Hillary because she has homophobic bigots on her payroll and endorser list

'Barack Obama isn’t the only Democratic candidate who should be called out for his anti-gay associates. As Paul
Jenkins points out Hillary Clinton has also taken up with some queer bedfellows, including Reverend Harold Mayberry.

In this game, all candidates have been associated with homophobes. For instance, Hillary Clinton recently trumpeted
her friendship with Harold Mayberry, of the First African Methodist Church in Oakland; her press release on the meeting/
endorsement left out the fact that Mayberry believes homosexuality to be comparable to thievery.

It’s true, the Oakland-based Methodist, once said, “I’m not rejecting people. As God loves, we love. I don’t reject thieves,
I reject thievery.” Too bad Clinton didn’t reject Mayberry’s endorsement.'


http://www.queerty.com/news/et-tu-hillary-20071023/

*********

'Ever hear of Darrell Jackson? Another black preacher. Like Donnie McClurkin. In South Carolina. Like Donnie McClurkin.
He's a State Senator, too. And a political consultant. Busy guy.

In fact, just after Jackson endorsed Clinton in February, he admitted that he's also negotiated a $10,000-a-month
consulting contract with her campaign.

Turns out Jackson's not a big fan of gay people, either. Although Jackson abstained from voting on a 2005 bill for a
constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in South Carolina -- two of Clinton's South Carolina co-chairs,
John Matthews and Linda Short, voted for the bill -- he indicated in remarks on the Senate floor that an amendment
was a moot point, since most people in South Carolina -- himself included -- already opposed same-sex marriage.

Now, we know how we feel on this issue, and I've allowed my position to be known more than anybody else. I stand here
as someone who is a pastor to a congregation of a whole lot of people, and I've said it to them and I'll say it to anyone else.
My personal moral position is what I believe and what I subscribe to. I don't have to come here and try to legislate it...There
is little doubt in this body what will ultimately happen with that issue. That is a forgone conclusion.

How many times do you think Jackson has uttered -- or will utter -- anti-gay sentiments while Clinton is paying him?

Are you going to publicly denounce Hillary Clinton for her association with -- and endorsement by -- these people?

Or is she getting a pass, because she's "your girl"?'

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/10/24/162436/74

********

As for me...

DemFemme (66 posts) Tue Oct-23-07 04:05 AM
Response to Reply #124
128. Obviously, more work needs to be done.

Edited on Tue Oct-23-07 04:17 AM by DemFemme
Not only by GLBT, but by those who support tolerance and enlightenment who are not gay. I am not gay, but I have convinced many who
think it's a lifestyle choice that it's not (using scientific data and asking when they decided to be heterosexual - that usually stops them
in their tracks - lol!). That's the start I meant - from this moment on and not remanded to past struggles for acknowledgment.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3634480&mesg_id=3635910

Yeah, you know bigotry alright. :sarcasm:

[IndianaJones]

50. well...that post just nails it. yet your sensitivity to a person that lives his life in a society..

that deems him less than human is conspicuously absent. He is just grinding axes. My radar is right on.

Who do you think you are fooling with this BS?

[DemFemme]

51. You are one to talk of sensitivity as you sling mud at me. What a hypocrite.

You are full of BS with your fair and balanced form of outrage. How can you support Hillary
when she's been sucking up to and supporting (with $$$) black reverend homophobes on
a par with McClurkin?

[IndianaJones]

53. you have it all wrong...I have no sensitivity for bigots that attack minorities as "ax grinders" nt

[DemFemme]

54. So Bluebear can attack me as a troll but I can't respond or else I'm a bigot?

Uh huh. :eyes:

So what about Hillary"s Homophobes, huh? Nothing to say there, right? I thought so: another case of selective outrage.

Buh bye!

[IndianaJones]

55. You do know that we can look at the progression of posts right?

I've posted several times regarding Clinton. The poster you call an axe grinder has made countless posts regarding minority issues around the world.

My radar is never wrong.

Bye.

[DemFemme]

56. Yeah, yeah, I'm so impressed.

:boring:

[IndianaJones]

57. You are impressed...I am disgusted. Neither of us has evolved. nt.

[DemFemme]

58. There's no room to evolve when one is targeted by faulty "bigot radar", I'm afraid.

Now much as I have enjoyed being repeatedly called a bigot by you, I must go! TTFN. :hi:

[IndianaJones]

59. ping. nt.

[DemFemme]

60. You found Hillary's Homophobes? Great!

:nopity:

[Bluebear]

35. You certainly are the master of it.

[DemFemme]

37. Not at all. I am a novice compared to you. n/t

[Bluebear]

39. You're a one-note troll that's going on ignore is what you are.

[DemFemme]

42. Said by the Ax-Grinder-In-Chief himself! I'm deeply honored.

Buh bye! :hi:

[Colobo]

28. Floyd Mayweather is the Undisputed Welterweight Champion of the World

I'm glad he's on board. Go Pretty Boy Floyd!

[IndianaJones]

31. isn't Hatton WBA champ? nt.

[Bluebear]

36. I'm sure you are.

[PurityOfEssence]

41. Hey, O.J.'s got a Heisman; I think he's available...

Just a matter of degrees, isn't it?

Aw, come on just 'cuz you're a professional boxer doesn't make you particularly DANGEROUS or anything, does it?

And hey, just 'cuz ya pop a coupla chicks every now and then doesn't make ya a thug, right? They probably had it comin' anyway.

Once again: one is judged by the company one keeps.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

62. As I Said Upthread He's A Great Boxer In A Weak EraI

Leonard, Duran, and Hearns would have destroyed him...

Benitez would have been interesting...

[killbotfactory]

52. Here's another version of the story

Shannon Gilson, a spokeswoman for Sen. Obama, D-Ill., said the campaign did not suggest that Mayweather not participate after questions were raised about his criminal record. She stressed that the 30-year-old fighter is one of many black supporters of Obama in Nevada.

"He's simply a supporter. He's not on our steering committee. He's not an adviser to the campaign," Gilson said. "We know Floyd Mayweather from his philanthropy and his work with at-risk children in Las Vegas schools."

Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's top adviser, said the fighter planned to attend the event but that he was not endorsing Obama's presidential bid or getting involved in politics. He said Mayweather is "a great fan who admires the senator's tremendous accomplishments."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/24/politics/main3406178.shtml

[FredScuttle]

63. Here's why Obama needs to fire whoever is organizing these events for him

The point of placing the candidate in proximity to celebrities (musicians, actors, sports figures, etc.) is to leverage that celebrity's appeal and link it directly to the candidate. This is PR 101 - you want positive attention, you shackle your guy (or girl) to a star of sufficient public attention....POSITIVE attention.

Floyd Mayweather is the dominant personality in boxing thanks to his win over De La Hoya, but he's a tireless braggart bordering on the obnoxious sometimes. I wasn't even aware of his history of domestic violence - my already slightly negative opinion of him has dropped even lower. If Obama's campaign was aware of this little problem, they're probably 1) unconcerned with placing Obama near a convicted wife-beater or 2) ignorant of the profile of the people they place near Obama, which is even scarier.

This has nothing to do with Mayweather's penance for his crime or if he's been rehabilitated. I hope that he's turned his life around and realizes the horror of his past conduct. My point here is - who in the hell is booking these events for Obama? They're doing a piss poor job of it and they're losing Obama much of the goodwill he's built up with progressives and independents over the past year.