# Obama vs. Fox **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 20, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497 "2009-10-20T16:57:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 28
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/541 "2009-11-03T05:16:30Z")
> [@intention](#): > > Dio, please pick one delusion and stick to it. Either you are tough and you don’t get intimidated, or you are a “complete candy ass”. You can’t be both. Complete candy asses are easily intimidated. Only by stuff that’s worth being intimidated by. I’ll let you decide on my toughness for yourself. If I possess any, I’m not aware of it. I just know that it never crossed my mind to be scared because someone called me “Opie” at a rec center. > [@](#): > > I begin to seriously question your reading skills. The NBPP guys with the nightstick tried to deny a poll watcher entrance to the polling place, and said that “white power don’t rule here.” A guy with a stick who is trying to stop a poll watcher from entering a polling place is intimidation no matter what he says. Period. Doesn’t matter if the poll watcher is a candy ass or a he-man. I don’t believe for a second that anyone tried to stop anyone from entering the polling place. I’m flat out calling bullshit on that. > [@](#): > > So if a couple of big skinheads with a truncheon were to show up in front of a polling place in full Nazi uniforms and start hurling racial epithets at black voters, I suppose you’d say that’s not intimidation either, right? Just boys having fun? Black Panthers are not analogous to Nazis, but no, I wouldn’t call that intimidation. Just some idiots looking to get their asses kicked. I would actually enjoy watching some skinheads try that in a black, inner city neighborhood. > [@](#): > > Yeah, I thought not. You’d be screaming for the cops, as would I. And rightly so, because big guys with a nightstick in uniforms in front of a polling place shouting epithets is intimidation. Screaming for a cop on what basis? what law would be getting broken? No, I would just fuck with them right back. Skinheads are stupid. They’re easy to fuck with. > [@](#): > > An old lady in a wheelchair saying “white power don’t rule here” is not intimidation or a threat, it’s just bad grammar. A big guy with a nightstick saying “white power don’t rule here” is intimidation. And bad grammar. It’s not intimidation, and I would high five the guy. > [@](#): > > If you are truly so foolish that you think the intimidation is in the words, and not the implied threat of the big guy with the stick, I fear I can’t help you. We have CCW in here. Why would I be scared of stick, when half the people are walking around with heaters? > [@](#): > > Finally, to say that a black person who, for whatever reason, doesn’t choose to vote for Obama is a “race traitor” says a whole lot about your character. What does it say about my character? The issue isn’t “choosing not to vote for Obama,” by the way, but choosing to vote FOR a racist party. > [@](#): > > Kinda makes me a “race traitor” since I did vote for Obama, but never mind … I know this is a difficult concept for you, but for some people, white or black, not everything is about race … Sure you voted for Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/542 "2009-11-03T05:18:31Z")
> [@intention](#): > > Dio, further to your foolishness above equating a weapon at a rally and a weapon at a polling place, I was amused to find this in one of the citations I gave above: > > So even though you don’t seem to see the difference … they do. And even though you think they did nothing wrong … they are clear that the Philadelphia chapter did, and so they kicked them out of the organization. > > Would that you were as intelligent as they are … They didn’t do anything wrong, but I can understand why the Philly Chapter would be annoyed by the racist, right wing media coverage they attracted. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/543 "2009-11-03T05:42:02Z")
> [@intention](#): > > Dio, further to your foolishness above equating a weapon at a rally and a weapon at a polling place, I was amused to find this in one of the citations I gave above: > > So even though you don’t seem to see the difference … they do. And even though you think they did nothing wrong … they are clear that the Philadelphia chapter did, and so they kicked them out of the organization. > > Would that you were as intelligent as they are … [http://www.newblackpanther.com/](http://www.newblackpanther.com/) This website? The one that says nothing of the sort? It does reference this link to a local newspaper, reporting the Justice Dept. decision (and which offers us the opinion of Mr Hans von Spakovsky, whose name is legend as a paragon of non-partisan civic virtue…) [http://thebulletin.us/articles/2009/05/29/top\_stories/doc4a1f42b32c161287079901.txt](http://thebulletin.us/articles/2009/05/29/top_stories/doc4a1f42b32c161287079901.txt) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/544 "2009-11-03T05:48:04Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > …We have CCW in here. Why would I be scared of stick, when half the people are walking around with heaters?.. Where’s this? Deadwood, Minnesota? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/545 "2009-11-03T06:11:05Z")
Well, in _theory_ they could be walking around with heaters. That’s the thing about concealed carry. You don’t know. In some neighborhoods, I know for a fact that there is some concealing going on. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/546 "2009-11-03T06:24:43Z")
Well, yeah, in the mean streets of Roseville, maybe… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/547 "2009-11-03T06:38:16Z")
I don’t live in Roseville anymore (we bought a house in St. Paul), but I’m talking about some Minneapolis and St. Paul neighborhoods I’ve worked in. Roseville wasn’t necessarily all that safe either. Somebody got stabbed in one of my old apartments shortly after I moved out. Not just the building – the same apartment. It was a home invasion. A Minnesota Viking also got his car shot up once outside a bar just a couple of blocks away from our building. It was a neigborhood right on the border of St. Paul – not really the tony part of Roseville. Even the worst parts of the metro are tame compared to the Washington DC neighborhoods I spent a year prowling around in, and _that_ wasnt so bad compared to the guys walking around with machine guns in the junta occupied, third world African country where I spent my last two years of high school. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/548 "2009-11-03T07:03:03Z")
> [@intention](#): > > Guys in uniforms carrying a nightstick stand out side a polling place to intimidate voters … you are defending this? They lost the case by default, because they didn’t even show up to try to defend themselves. Still think that they were oh-so-innocent? I think that [carrying weapons at a political event](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.azcentral.com/i/9/4/1/PHP4A837649EA149.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/WATCHBLOG/60115&usg=__7I0MGnwvwhz4yExJzGf2UD1V_-Y=&h=400&w=256&sz=29&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=DQzuk8N3LTsM0M:&tbnh=124&tbnw=79&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgun%2Bat%2Bobama%2Brally%2Bmew%2Bhampshire%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1C1CHMI_enUS291US307%26um%3D1) is intimidating. ETA: and so were the Panthers, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/549 "2009-11-03T07:05:51Z")
> [@intention](#): > > Doing “radical” things does not make one a radical, at least as the word is commonly used. No, but being black does. ---
**Author:** ![intention](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e95f7d/32.png) [@intention](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/intention)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/550 "2009-11-03T07:36:37Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > [http://www.newblackpanther.com/](http://www.newblackpanther.com/) > > This website? The one that says nothing of the sort? It does reference this link to a local newspaper, reporting the Justice Dept. decision (and which offers us the opinion of Mr Hans von Spakovsky, whose name is legend as a paragon of non-partisan civic virtue…) > > [http://thebulletin.us/articles/2009/05/29/top\_stories/doc4a1f42b32c161287079901.txt](http://thebulletin.us/articles/2009/05/29/top_stories/doc4a1f42b32c161287079901.txt) Yeah, that one … you do understand the search function? From the [web site you cited](http://www.newblackpanther.com/statement-voterintimidation_phillychapter.html) .. > [@](#): > > Public Notice Regarding Philadelphia Chapter Suspension 1/7/09 NBPP Official Statement > > Philadelphia Chapter of the New Black Panther Party is suspended from operations and is not recognized by the New Black Panther Party until further notice. > > The New Black Panther Party has never, and never will, condone or promote the carrying of nightsticks or any kind of weapon at any polling place. Such actions that were taken were purely the individual actions of Samir Shabazz and not in any way representative or connected to the New Black Panther Party. On that day November 4th, Samir Shabazz acted purely on his own will and in complete contradiction to the code and conduct of a member of our organization. We don’t believe in what he did and did not tell him to do what he did, he moved on his own instructions. > > It is true that volunteers in the New Black Panther Party successfully served as poll watchers all over the country and helped get the Black vote out. We were incident free. We are intelligent enough to understand that a polling place is a sensitive site and all actions must be carried out in a civilized and lawful manner. > > Certainly no advice from the leadership of the New Black Panther Party was given to Samir Shabazz to do what he did, he acted on his own. This will be the New Black Panther Party’s Only Statement on the matter. Note that as usual, you are 100% wrong, and you want to abuse me because you can’t read … you give “dumb” a new level of meaning. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/551 "2009-11-03T07:58:01Z")
> [@intention](#): > > … I find no laws against carrying nightsticks outside the polling place … Prolly 'cause carrying a nightstick anywhere is already [illegal\*](http://home.netcom.com/~brlevine/sta-law.htm) in pretty damn much the entire US. [Here’s](http://knife-expert.com/pa.txt) PA’s law, > [@](#): > > Title 18 § 908. Prohibited offensive weapons. > (a) Offense defined.–A person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree if, except > as authorized by law, he makes repairs, sells, or otherwise deals in, uses, or possesses > any offensive weapon. > … > (c) Definition.–As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall > have the meanings given to them in this subsection: > … > “Offensive weapons.” > Any bomb, grenade, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches, > firearm specially made or specially adapted for concealment or silent discharge, > any blackjack, sandbag, metal knuckles, dagger, knife, razor or cutting instrument, > the blade of which is exposed in an automatic way by switch, push-button, spring > mechanism, or otherwise, or other implement for the infliction of serious bodily > injury which serves no common lawful purpose. … If they’d called the police instead of Fox News the guy would have been arrested on sight. A nightstick serves no common lawful purpose in the hand of a civilian. Now if had been a full length riot baton and he had a [Spaldeen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaldeen) he might, might, have been able to give the “I was on my way to a stickball game” excuse … but I doubt it. CMC fnord! \*Yes this link is specifically about knife law, but pick any state link and you’ll see language like this, “‘Weapon’ means and includes … any bat, club, or other bludgeon-type weapon …”. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/552 "2009-11-03T08:05:30Z")
You have a point. Not as much as you think you do, but some. It didn’t occur to me that you were talking about something buried in the archives, but of the present moment. Of course, nobody seems to think that this is a burning issue of the moment, except for several of Obama’s worst enemies. And, of course, you. By the way, did you ever get around to reading that _Talking Points Memo_ view, offered above? Not trying to suggest that they measure up to the _Washington Times_ for non-partisan candor, or anything… When you offered them as a cite, did you realize they were utterly full of shit, and have been for years, or is this news to you? ---
**Author:** ![intention](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e95f7d/32.png) [@intention](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/intention)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/553 "2009-11-03T08:07:52Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > [QUOTE=intention] > So if a couple of big skinheads with a truncheon were to show up in front of a polling place in full Nazi uniforms and start hurling racial epithets at black voters, I suppose you’d say that’s not intimidation either, right? Just boys having fun? Black Panthers are not analogous to Nazis, but no, I wouldn’t call that intimidation. Just some idiots looking to get their asses kicked. I would actually enjoy watching some skinheads try that in a black, inner city neighborhood. [/QUOTE] Well, heck, of course you wouldn’t call it intimidation, Dio. You are a hero, a real man who (to hear you tell it) wouldn’t be intimidated by a Sherman Tank and would enjoy seeing people “getting their asses kicked”. Some of us, however, do not have the strength of ten as you do because your heart is pure. You know, because some of us are old, or infirm, or small, or just plain weak. If you can believe it, we’re such wimps that we wouldn’t even enjoy seeing other people getting beat up. I know this is a stretch for you, but many people are actually easy to intimidate. So while you can laugh off a couple of skinheads with a big stick, most of us normal humans would in fact be intimidated. Not that you would notice, of course, you’d deny the intimidation even if they testified to it … hey, wait, they did testify to it. Bartle Bull, the editor of the Village Voice who witnessed the episode, called it “the most blatant form of voter intimidation I’ve ever seen” … but Dio knows better than that, because although he wasn’t there, he wouldn’t have been intimidated. Which, I suppose, is why the laws against intimidation do not concern themselves with whether people actually feel threatened. It is illegal, for example, to brandish a deadly weapon in a polling place, whether or not it is full of manly men of your stripe who simply cannot be intimidated. It doesn’t matter a bit if people in the voting booth are intimidated by someone pulling out their weapon and waving it around, the law doesn’t care about that. The intimidation is in the actions of the offenders, not in whether or not everyone at the scene is someone like you, someone who can’t possibly be intimidated. PS - If you think big skinheads with sticks are not intimidating, I sincerely hope your good luck continues and never have the opportunity to run into any … at which point all of your bluff and bravado and posturing will avail you not. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2009, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/554 "2009-11-03T08:14:42Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > You did not say that there were ‘virtually no white voters’. You said it was an ‘all-black neighborhood’ - **a ‘fact’ you apparently pulled out of thin air**. Pot, this is Kettle. Kettle, this is Pot. ---
**Author:** ![intention](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e95f7d/32.png) [@intention](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/intention)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/555 "2009-11-03T08:24:14Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You have a point. Not as much as you think you do, but some. It didn’t occur to me that you were talking about something buried in the archives, but of the present moment. Of course, nobody seems to think that this is a burning issue of the moment, except for several of Obama’s worst enemies. And, of course, you. > > By the way, did you ever get around to reading that _Talking Points Memo_ view, offered above? Not trying to suggest that they measure up to the _Washington Times_ for non-partisan candor, or anything… > > When you offered them as a cite, did you realize they were utterly full of shit, and have been for years, or is this news to you? It’s much easier just to say “I’m wrong”, you know, than to try to make up excuses for your stupidity. I did not say it was on page one. It may amaze you to find out that some of us are aware that if you actually take the trouble to read the first page of a web site, there are actually links to other pages on the site. For example, there is a link on page one of the NBPP site that, if you click it with your mouse, will actually take you to the page I linked. Perhaps you didn’t notice the link because it was cleverly disguised with the words _ **“Click here for Public Notice Regarding Philadelphia Chapter Suspension & Official Statement Regarding Alleged Voter Intimidation”.** _ Like I said, you take dumb to an art form. Regarding the “Talking Points” memo, I did read it. I’m sure that they are 100% right that nothing at all happened, nothing to see here, move along, folks … and that’s why the NBBP disowned the people who did nothing at all wrong, and threw the Philadelphia chapter out of the party for doing nothing at all wrong, and that’s why the video doesn’t show anything wrong, and that’s why the black couple were wrong when they said they were afraid of the people who hadn’t done anything wrong, and that’s why the accused didn’t bother to show up in court to defend themselves, because they hadn’t done anything wrong … :smack: Keep telling yourself that. I’m sure someday you’ll believe it. ---
**Author:** ![intention](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e95f7d/32.png) [@intention](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/intention)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/556 "2009-11-03T08:45:54Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > … Of course, nobody seems to think that this is a burning issue of the moment, except for several of Obama’s worst enemies. And, of course, you. > … I do not think it is a burning issue of the moment. I don’t even think it was a terribly egregious example of voter intimidation, although it was a clear one. It is certainly an ongoing issue, however, as the DOJ has announced that they plan to investigate how it happened that they decided to overturn the default judgement and not prosecute. So the issue certainly has not gone away. I originally offered it up as an example of why people think that Obama is a “radical” (on the radical left, for the context-challenged). I found it shocking that the Department of Justice would treat the case as they did, and not let the default judgement simply stand. That, to me, was a clear case of a radical political bias, where intimidation from the political left was simply ignored. Of course, YMMV … ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/557 "2009-11-03T08:57:44Z")
Well, lets just leave it at the situation not being as cut and dried as you make it out to be. Nor nearly so dramatic as your more breathless quotes might suggest. Point of fact, the whole thing seems pretty trivial. Its all about feelings and impressions, nothing actually happened. You’re trying to inflate a Japanese condom into the Hindenburg. Well, you and a collection of Obama’s worst enemies, except you are doing it for our own good. Well, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![intention](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e95f7d/32.png) [@intention](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/intention)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/558 "2009-11-03T09:10:43Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Prolly 'cause carrying a nightstick anywhere is already [illegal\*](http://home.netcom.com/~brlevine/sta-law.htm) in pretty damn much the entire US. > [Here’s](http://knife-expert.com/pa.txt) PA’s law,If they’d called the police instead of Fox News the guy would have been arrested on sight. A nightstick serves no common lawful purpose in the hand of a civilian. > > Now if had been a full length riot baton and he had a [Spaldeen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaldeen) he might, might, have been able to give the “I was on my way to a stickball game” excuse … but I doubt it. > > CMC fnord! > \*Yes this link is specifically about knife law, but pick any state link and you’ll see language like this, “‘Weapon’ means and includes … any bat, club, or other bludgeon-type weapon …”. Nope … > [@](#): > > \*\*Pennsylvania C. S. A. Title 18 908. \*\* > > **Prohibited offensive weapons.** > > (a) Offense defined.–A person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree if, except > as authorized by law, he makes repairs, sells, or otherwise deals in, uses, or possesses > any offensive weapon. > > (b) Exceptions.– > > It is a defense under this section for the defendant to prove by a preponderance > of evidence that he possessed or dealt with the weapon solely as a curio or in a > dramatic performance, or that, with the exception of a bomb, grenade or incendiary > device, he complied with the National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.), or > that he possessed it briefly in consequence of having found it or taken it from > an aggressor, or under circumstances similarly negativing any intent or likelihood > that the weapon would be used unlawfully. > > This section does not apply to police forensic firearms experts or police forensic > firearms laboratories. Also exempt from this section are forensic firearms experts > or forensic firearms laboratories operating in the ordinary course of business and > engaged in lawful operation who notify in writing, on an annual basis, the chief > or head of any police force or police department of a city, and, elsewhere, the > sheriff of a county in which they are located, of the possession, type and use of > offensive weapons. > > This section shall not apply to any person who makes, repairs, sells or otherwise > deals in, uses or possesses any firearm for purposes not prohibited by the laws > of this Commonwealth. > > (c) Definition.–As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall > have the meanings given to them in this subsection: > > “Firearm.” > Any weapon which is designed to or may readily be converted to expel any projectile > by the action of an explosive or the frame or receiver of any such weapon. > > “Offensive weapons.” > Any bomb, grenade, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches, > firearm specially made or specially adapted for concealment or silent discharge, > any blackjack, sandbag, metal knuckles, dagger, knife, razor or cutting instrument, > the blade of which is exposed in an automatic way by switch, push-button, spring > mechanism, or otherwise, or other implement for the infliction of serious bodily > injury which serves no common lawful purpose. Nothing about truncheons/nightsticks. Blackjacks, yes. Sandbags, yes. Brass knuckles, yes. Truncheons/nightsticks, no. And no, I do not think that it qualifies under the catchall phrase at the end. Connecticut had to add nightsticks to the list of prohibited items because they were not covered under the catchall. In Oregon and Kentucky they are specifically mentioned. But most states, including Pennsylvania, have not made them illegal. Which is why, despite the man being filmed with the nightstick, he wasn’t arrested. Which is why the injunction which he was served with by the DOJ specifically forbade “Minister King Samir Shabazz from displaying a weapon within 100 feet of any open polling location on any election day in the City of Philadelphia” … because it wasn’t illegal for him to have the nightstick there prior to the injunction. Otherwise, there would have been no need for the injunction. However, if you can bust out a case of someone, anyone, ever having been arrested in Philadelphia for simply possessing a nightstick in public, I’ll be glad to change my mind … ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/559 "2009-11-03T09:16:08Z")
> [@intention](#): > > I do not think it is a burning issue of the moment. I don’t even think it was a terribly egregious example of voter intimidation, although it was a clear one… Well, gee, guess I was misled by all the screaming and tearing your hair out. Thought that meant something real important. I’ll remember that, next time. ---
**Author:** ![intention](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e95f7d/32.png) [@intention](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/intention)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497/560 "2009-11-03T09:18:38Z")
The Onion chimes in on the Fox question … > **[The Onion | America's Finest News Source.](https://www.theonion.com/)** > > The Onion brings you all of the latest news, stories, photos, videos and more from America's finest news source. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497.md?page=29)