Obama will probably take Pennsylvania, thanks to Ashley Todd

By now, I am sure that many of you have heard the story of the McCain campaign worker who was allegedly robbed by a black Obama supporter who then carved a "B" in her face.

Especially the part about her now admitting that the story was a hoax.

As a black man, there is a certain degree of exasperation about this sort of thing. I attended Winthrop University when Susan Smith falsely accused a black man of stealing her car with her two children in tow.

I never believed her story. But I was shocked and disgusted when it came out that she not only made up her story but drove her car in a lake, allowing her two children to drown.

I know the story of Charles Stuart accusing a black man of murdering his wife when he was guilty of the crime. I also know the story of Emmett Till who was mutilated for allegedly whistling at a white woman.

So I am not shocked about today's revelation.

Exasperated but not shocked.

But with one thought in my mind.

Throughout different times in this country's history, the false accusation of assaulting a white woman have led black men to be castrated, burned alive, and butchered beyond recognition.

How very fitting that it can now help lead to a black man's election to the White House.

Kismet indeed.


Thank you Mass Resistance for making my life very interesting (and rewarding)

In my post yesterday about the anti-gay group in Massachusetts, Mass Resistance, I neglected to mention that the Southern Poverty Law Center considers them an official hate group.

Of course the head of MassResistance, Brian Camenker, does not particularly like that designation.

But how can he object when things like what happened today takes place:

A Wakefield man claimed he was standing outside a local school snapping photos of students for a documentary, but after a foot chase through backyards while stripping his clothing, police aren't buying his story.

"We don't know what his intention and purpose was around the school and the kids," said police Lt. James Hashem.

But Michael Olivio's employer has come forward to back up his story. Olivio, 48, works for the anti-gay rights group MassResistance.org. Brian Camenker, head of the group, said Olivio mistakenly went to West Middle School Tuesday to snap pictures instead of the high school.

Camenker said Olivio was to get pictures of the high school because the state Commission on Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgendered Youth held a meeting there Monday night.

"I figured I would do a write-up for the Web site and I wanted a picture of the high school," Camenker said.

Police said the incident happened at West Middle as children were being let out of school. As parents watched, Olivio parked his car, got out, and began taking many pictures of the school and the students.

Police received a flood of 911 calls from parents and soon the school called. A gym teacher tried to talk to Olivio, who fled toward the high school, police said.

Camenker said Olivio realized he was at the wrong school and jogged over to the high school to get the picture.

"I didn't even want any pictures of the kids,'' Camenker said.

He said Olivio did not recall hearing the gym teacher trying to talk to him.

When police caught him, Olivio said he was taking pictures for a documentary and he would not elaborate on it," Hashem said. Hashem said police could not associate him with any media organization.

"The answers were somewhat vague and suspicious," he said.

Olivio was ordered to leave the area because police had no reason to detain him further. But then the man began to act erratically, Hashem said.

After being told to leave the area, Olivio ran through yards on Shawsheen Road and nearby side streets, shedding clothing as he ran, police said.

He had removed several items of clothing before officers finally caught him on North Main Street and placed him in handcuffs, Hashem said.

"He was not completely naked," Hashem said.

More here

Again, thank you Brian Camenker and Mass Resistance for all you do to help the gay community in Massachusetts.