# I'm officially disowning my hometown. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 14, 2008, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-officially-disowning-my-hometown/467860 "2008-10-14T13:03:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-officially-disowning-my-hometown/467860/121 "2008-10-16T11:51:40Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > [The Secret Service calls bullshit.](http://www.timesleader.com/news/breakingnews/Secret_Service_says_Kill_him_allegation_unfounded_.html) I didn’t think I heard any death threats in that video. Good to see that I was correct. > > Anyone care to posit on the political leanings of the reporter who appears to be the only person there who heard it? > > **Countdown to usual suspects claiming that by posting this I’m siding with the bigots, starting in five…four…three…** That was for the second incident, when Chris Hackett was speaking. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-officially-disowning-my-hometown/467860/122 "2008-10-16T12:57:27Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > [The Secret Service calls bullshit.](http://www.timesleader.com/news/breakingnews/Secret_Service_says_Kill_him_allegation_unfounded_.html) Not to impugn your sterling honesty, but that article doesn’t claim any such thing. > [@](#): > > I didn’t think I heard any death threats in that video. Good to see that I was correct. But you’ve already made it clear that any such conservative death threats are meaningless anyway, so what difference does it make? ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-officially-disowning-my-hometown/467860/123 "2008-10-16T13:16:36Z")
> [@Terrifel](#): > > Not to impugn your sterling honesty, but that article doesn’t claim any such thing. I suddenly realize that I have invited upon myself a rather large digression about whether the characterization of “unfounded allegation” in that story is or is not synonymous with “bullshit” in this context. Therefore, I retract my earlier statement and concede that the Secret Service thinks the claim is bullshit. By that definition, I also accept that the claim may in fact be bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-officially-disowning-my-hometown/467860/124 "2008-10-16T16:23:34Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#): > > And Pittsburgh’s not like that. In my neighborhood, there are Obama signs everywhere. I think I’ve seen three McCain signs total. > > More good news: > > Population of Johnstown: 21,832 > Population of Squirrel Hill (my neighborhood in Pittsburgh): 24,915 I thought I saw you in the used record store upstreet, sipping a latte and reminiscing about Rollier’s and the good old toy store on Forbes that is no more. 😉 Silence equals tacit approval here and we all know it. They know we all know it. It’s quite sickening. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-officially-disowning-my-hometown/467860/125 "2008-10-16T17:52:40Z")
> [@Terrifel](#): > > Not to impugn your sterling honesty, but that article doesn’t claim any such thing.But you’ve already made it clear that any such conservative death threats are meaningless anyway, so what difference does it make? Well, as long you’re being noble and honest and everything, you might want to retract this: _“But you’ve already made it clear that any such conservative death threats are meaningless anyway, so what difference does it make?”_ while the mood is still upon you. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-officially-disowning-my-hometown/467860/126 "2008-10-16T17:56:42Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Well, as long you’re being noble and honest and everything, you might want to retract this: > > _“But you’ve already made it clear that any such conservative death threats are meaningless anyway, so what difference does it make?”_ > > while the mood is still upon you. By all means, give me evidence to the contrary and I will gladly do so. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-officially-disowning-my-hometown/467860/127 "2008-10-16T17:57:38Z")
> [@Terrifel](#): > > By all means, give me evidence to the contrary and I will gladly do so. Ahem, you made the assertion, chum. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-officially-disowning-my-hometown/467860/128 "2008-10-16T18:08:04Z")
Something called the “Chaffey Community Republican Women, Federated”, a Republican activist group in Southern California, last week sent out a newsletter which included a depiction of “Obama Bucks” – a bill labelled “United States Food Stamps” and bearing the images of: watermelon, fried chicked, barbequed ribs, and Obama’s face on a donkey ([cite](http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_buck16.3d67d4a.html)). The group’s president, while not understanding what all the hubbub is about, “absolutely apologize[s] to anyone who was offended”. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-officially-disowning-my-hometown/467860/129 "2008-10-16T18:11:36Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Ahem, you made the assertion, chum. So tell me why I’m wrong. Explain why death threats made at conservative rallies are not meaningless. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-officially-disowning-my-hometown/467860/130 "2008-10-16T18:29:03Z")
> [@Terrifel](#): > > So tell me why I’m wrong. Explain why death threats made at conservative rallies are not meaningless. No, you tell me why you’re right. Explain where I ever ‘made it clear that any such conservative death threats are meaningless’. Then again, never mind. If you could have, you would have by now. Point goes to **SA**! ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-officially-disowning-my-hometown/467860/131 "2008-10-16T19:04:48Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > No, you tell me why you’re right. Explain where I ever ‘made it clear that any such conservative death threats are meaningless’. > > Then again, never mind. If you could have, you would have by now. > > Point goes to **SA**! Oh, dear. **Starving Artist** , I am here to help. I will even type it out for you. All you need to do is acknowledge the truth of it to prove me wrong, and I will apologize readily. “I hereby affirm that any death threats made at conservative rallies should be regarded as far more meaningful and deplorably inappropriate than rude behavior on the part of liberals, such as depicted in [this video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQalRPQ8stI) which I linked to back in [Post 31.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10314004&postcount=31) In [Post 68](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10316303&postcount=68), I responded to an accusation that death threats were made by conservatives, not by challenging the truth of the accusation, but instead excusing any such threats as insignificant acts which “have no impact,” in contrast to liberal jeers and obscene gestures. I was [insert appropriate excuse here: insane, roaring drunk, off meds, etc.] and I sincerely apologize to all Americans everywhere. Obviously a death threat at a political rally is far worse than any number of people flipping the bird, and I don’t know why I ever suggested otherwise. What was I thinking? I have certainly matured as a person and gained valuable life experience since Post 68, let me tell you.” ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-officially-disowning-my-hometown/467860/132 "2008-10-18T14:51:03Z")
And their vote has exactly the same value as every other Americans because apparently they’re adults. Good old democratic process. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-officially-disowning-my-hometown/467860.md?page=6)