# Leftist holds "We're racist&proud" sign to smear pro-Zimmerman group **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 23, 2013, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336 "2013-07-23T23:07:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/21 "2013-07-24T04:22:15Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > She is definitely a wacko leftist. No, she isn’t, at least not as far as we know from the links you’ve provided. Why did you decide to slander her? Why do you think people who don’t like racism are “wackos” or “leftists”? Is that a tacit acknowledgment that people on the right are pro-racism? Because that’s what you seem to be doing and saying by starting this thread and using the terms you did, and then defending them so vociferously. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/22 "2013-07-24T04:25:58Z")
This board is racist. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/23 "2013-07-24T04:26:59Z")
Correction: **user\_hostile** did not mean the Straight Dope Message Board–he met this [board](http://www.zazzle.com/racist_skate_decks-186478863890762071) ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/24 "2013-07-24T04:27:31Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Why do you think people who don’t like racism are “wackos” or “leftists”? Well, she seems to like racism just fine. At least from my understanding of English, when you claim “We’re racist & proud”, that includes you. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/25 "2013-07-24T05:19:32Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Well, she seems to like racism just fine. At least from my understanding of English, when you claim “We’re racist & proud”, that includes you. Except when it is intended ironically/satirically, as here, as you know. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/26 "2013-07-24T06:26:53Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Except when it is intended ironically/satirically, as here, as you know. Ironically she is a racist? ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/27 "2013-07-24T06:36:35Z")
I can dig the joke angle. But I’m curious about how Renee carries herself 99% of the time. Is she or is she not? Did she display that card openly for all to see or just flash it for a 3-second photo shoot? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/28 "2013-07-24T15:45:04Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Well, she seems to like racism just fine. At least from my understanding of English, when you claim “We’re racist & proud”, that includes you. That’s a nice bit of intellectual dishonesty you have there. Even if, by your own assertion, she was attempting to paint the protesters as racist, it would make no sense whatsoever that she would then be a racist herself. I think the question is, was she in fact attempting to smear the right by pretending to be a racist member, or was she saying these things as a form of mockery? I don’t condone either behavior, I just think the former would be worse. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/29 "2013-07-24T16:04:32Z")
It seemed like mocking to me. It’s extremely common for counter-protesters to hold up signs like that. I have pictures on my cell phone of a gay guy I know standing with the Phelp’s crew, giving a big thumbs up. We laughed. This is just the right-wing being disingenuous, as usual. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/30 "2013-07-24T16:26:01Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > That’s a nice bit of intellectual dishonesty you have there. Even if, by your own assertion, she was attempting to paint the protesters as racist, it would make no sense whatsoever that she would then be a racist herself. The sign was “We are racist & proud”. Holding it when you don’t include yourself in “we” is either pure dishonesty or means including yourself in a “we”. If it was “mocking”, then “we” was not needed. A sign that said “Racist & Proud” would have done it, without the dishonesty. But then no one ever accused lefties of excess integrity. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/31 "2013-07-24T16:33:28Z")
**Terr** , how in the world did you determine that Renee Vaughan is a leftist? What does the word, leftist, mean to you in this context? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/32 "2013-07-24T16:36:16Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > The sign was “We are racist & proud”. Holding it when you don’t include yourself in “we” is either pure dishonesty or means including yourself in a “we”. If it was “mocking”, then “we” was not needed. A sign that said “Racist & Proud” would have done it, without the dishonesty. > > But then no one ever accused lefties of excess integrity. So, you are now criticizing her grammar? Are you volunteering to proofread protestors’ signs to ensure they convey what they want without confusing you? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/33 "2013-07-24T16:37:50Z")
To sum up this thread: one person who may hold left-of-center views held up a sign intended to mock or denigrate Zimmerman supporters via sarcasm. The media reported it in its usual unquestioning and superficial manner, and (as usual) failed to give similar weight to any corrections or retractions. Therefore everyone on the left is dishonest and lacking in integrity. Did I get that right? ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/34 "2013-07-24T16:38:17Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Do you see a correction [here](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2373141/Justice-Trayvon-Martin-rallies-Racist-proud-group-stages-counter-demonstration.html)? You’re using a link from the Daily Mail? Do you even know what that is and what they do? You might as well link me to all of the propaganda on The Onion :rolleyes: > [@Terr](#): > > NBC also published a “correction” for their distorted “racist” quote by Zimmerman. Yet today millions of people think that Zimmerman is racist based on that report. So that’s NBC’s fault? Oh wait, I can play this game too! Millions of Republicans think Obama never published his birth certificate, or that Global Warming is a hoax, and that Darwin recanted on his deathbed. Can you apologize for all Republicans on those things too? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/35 "2013-07-24T16:57:50Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > So, you are now criticizing her grammar? No, her honesty. Or lack of such. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/36 "2013-07-24T17:13:29Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > If it was “mocking”, then “we” was not needed. A sign that said “Racist & Proud” would have done it, without the dishonesty. > > But then no one ever accused lefties of excess integrity. > [@](#): > > Mock: To mimic, as in sport or derision. The word ‘‘mock’’ by definition implies that the mocker is imitating the mockee. By using ‘we’ she was indeed being a proper mocker. So the reality is you really don’t know her intent. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/37 "2013-07-24T18:49:19Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > No, her honesty. Or lack of such. I know nothing about her or her honesty. I do believe she was \*sincerely \*mocking the Zimmerman supporters. She seems to feel she needed to exaggerate or actively lie to achieve her mockery - a public protest is much more akin to a performance than a debate. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/38 "2013-07-24T19:10:14Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > What correction? She was there to smear the group. But **not** by pretending to be one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/39 "2013-07-24T19:12:02Z")
I recall a mocking protest sign held up a Tea Party rally that read: “I shaved my balls for this?” I’m wondering if the OP thinks that young man really shaved his balls, or was he being dishonest too? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336/40 "2013-07-24T19:17:45Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > The sign was “We are racist & proud”. Holding it when you don’t include yourself in “we” is either pure dishonesty or means including yourself in a “we”. If it was “mocking”, then “we” was not needed. A sign that said “Racist & Proud” would have done it, without the dishonesty. > > But then no one ever accused lefties of excess integrity. This just in… in a complaint about unfair smearing, message board poster uses the actions of one individual to smear “lefties”. These lib’rul hypocrisy threads never fail to entertain, except it’s a hassle having to keep replacing all those burned-out probes on the irony meter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leftist-holds-were-racist-proud-sign-to-smear-pro-zimmerman-group/664336.md?page=3)