Holy Moly! Blogger Who Broke Bitter-Gate Receiving Death Threats

[ruggerson]

"Fowler said Monday she had received about 200 e-mail messages that ranged from "creepy to threatening," including a few death threats from purported Obama supporters."


http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-bitter15apr15,1,5024574.story

Mayhill Fowler grew up with a mother who didn't like her talking politics in the home. As an adult, she faced publishers who wouldn't put her writing in print.
She found an outlet for her twin passions of writing and politics last year in the Huffington Post, the left-leaning website. But Fowler conceded that her early reports from the Democratic campaign trail didn't produce anything particularly newsworthy.

<snip>

The furor is the latest reminder of how untraditional reporters and news outlets have changed the nature of journalism and politics. Fowler, a supporter and contributor to Obama's campaign, gained access to an event deemed "closed" to mainstream journalists and the resulting story forced big news outlets to take notice.
<snip>

Writers on the liberal website Daily Kos took up the complaints, accusing Fowler of intentionally undermining Obama and feigning support for the candidate to gain access to the San Francisco fundraiser where he made the controversial remarks April 6.


"It's like the liberal blogosphere has issued a fatwa against me," Fowler said in a telephone interview.

Obama campaign officials have not publicly criticized the story or complained about Fowler, who had supported the candidate and given nearly the $2,300 maximum to his campaign for the Democratic nomination. They declined to comment Monday.

MORE

[GarbagemanLB]

1. Hillbots blaming Obama in 3..2..1..

[americanstranger]

13. Demands for Obama to apologize in 3...2...1...

- as

[americanstranger]

14. Dopey misspelled one-liners from certain Clinton supporters...

in 3...2...1...

- as

[JoFerret]

56. Garbageman -= number one poster on all threads

that threaten the ascendancy of the prince to his assigned throne.

(Does garbageman have another, actual, life?)

[rodeodance]

57. you lied

[mikiturner]

69. Actually

The huffpo blogger says the Obama camp has been nothing but "class."

The woman who broke the Obama "small town" story for The Huffington Post may have come under relentless fire from some Obama supporters after the news broke, but she has one word to describe the response she's since received from the Obama campaign itself: "Classy."

I just spoke briefly with the woman, Mayhill Fowler, and she said that though she created the worst and most sustained controversy for Obama since Jeremiah Wright's sermons surfaced, Obama campaign aides haven't directed any anger or punitive action in her direction.

"They haven't denied me any kind of access," Fowler said. "From the time I started following them around last June, they have been a classy operation, and I still think they are. They haven't treated me any differently than before."

Source: http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/woman_who_broke_small_town_sto.php">TPM

[IsItJustMe]

73. Breaking Fox News reports from HRC supporters in 3...2...1...

[MethuenProgressive]

91. If OBAMA has A FUCKING OUNCE of INTEGRITY he'll denounce his follower's death threats!

Yes, I mock.

[MyNameGoesHere]

103. Hillbots. Nice, male organ, err i mean male from oregon. n/t

[MichiganVote]

2. Whackjobs

[Vinca]

3. Oh, I love the smell of faux scandal in the evening.

Fire up Joe Scarborough.

[Symarip]

5. Feigned Outrage!!!!

Quick!

To the Hillicopter!

Let's round everybody up and bang on some pots!!!!!!

[Ian David]

4. I'd say that some of those death threats come from people who are REALLY fucking bitter.

Please, why can't people just stop making death threats?

This does NOT help anyone.

Stop it.

Instead, maybe just do what Pat Robertson says, and tell them you're going to pray for them to die.

[redqueen]

27. ...

:rofl:

[CakeGrrl]

6. Reichstag Fire, anyone? n/t

[grantcart]

7. fatwa = Islam predictable

[Kittycat]

9. I was going to say... Interesting choice of words there

:eyes:

I don't condone threats of harm or violence, but she can turn those in to the police. As for the other complaints... Deal with it - that's what you get.

[DrFunkenstein]

8. You Had Me at Fatwa

I guess jihad to be there.

[blogslut]

38. LOL

:rofl:

[islandmkl]

10. could have gotten worse stuff with just one of her three GD:P posts...

on any day here at DU...

we're all just cleaning out the bad blood, that's all...

kind of a high colonic/enema combo for the political intestinal system...

[Me.]

11. So She Says

Proof? Or is she trying to add to her career resume?

[RememberWellstone]

12. Obama supporter

Being attacked by other Obama supporters. Yep, we see that on here quite often..they say one thing and do another. Now they threaten one of their own. Suppress the vote!

[2rth2pwr]

15. Not surprising based on what the supporters are saying here.

[Hepburn]

59. Bingo....

....Obama supporters get the blame.

Thanks for proving up our expectations of Hillary supporters.

:hi:

[2rth2pwr]

79. Who would it be, Hillary supporters?

[sniffa]

16. Here's a copy of one of the emails

Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:43:51 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Phil Parlock" <[e-mail]>

Subject: How Fucking Dare You?

You better watch your back.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

39. Is that really one of the emails?

If so, it's pretty lame.

If this is a joke and I'm just not seeing it I plead that I'm on day nine of a cold, or the flu or some such vile virus. I'm sick with a fever and not on my game.

[sniffa]

42. Did you see who sent it?

Phil Parlock is not a joking person.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

44. Dammit! I knew I was missing something.

I'm off to drink more theraflu. That's sure to clear my head...or kill me. Which might be an improvement. :P

[sniffa]

71. ...

;)

[xchrom]

17. quelle surprise --

if she -- an obama supporter -- is getting death threats -- imagine the hate mail to boot.

obamanation -- you do yourselves proud.

[SOS]

31. "an Obama supporter"

Really?

Then why did she donate money to Fred Thompson's presidential campaign?

[xchrom]

55. hey she's the one wh says she's an obama supporter -- and i don't think

the death threats are coming from the martian candidate for president supporters.

from my perspective -- it's a day in the life of obamanation to act this way.

[SOS]

100. She says she's an Obama supporter

But today's NYT reports even more donations to Fred Thompson than listed at opensecrets.org
She claims her financial support for Thompson is due to her "roots in Tennessee".
You can't possibly believe this Republican mole, who invited herself to this event, is an Obama supporter.
And is it your opinion that people who vote for Obama are murderous assassins?

Next time a deranged person takes hostages at a Clinton campaign office, is it OK to assume that it's typical of her supporters?

[thereismore]

18. Hillbots to the rescue! Save the poor blogger! It's your patriotic duty! nt

[americanstranger]

20. I'm sure Taylor Marsh and Larry Johnson are on it!

They'll demand the firing of another progressive broadcaster right away!

- as

[Wes87]

19. Typical.

[JBoy]

21. Typical of what?

[Wes87]

22. Same thing happened with Ferraro. Tell the truth and get threatened.

[haymakeragain]

50. Slicing and dicing an audio tape is "the truth"

got it.

Don't tell me, the Kansas born, middle-american deaf, dumb, and blind kid doesn't deserve what she is getting from the mean old Obama people. Please.

This has no cred.

[Hepburn]

61. So being racist is the truth.

Thanks for pointing out what a bigot you are. :hi:

[AX10]

76. I worry that Obama...

will become the next Bush.

[cali]

81. ack. try using your brain

if it's possible. ooh, next thing I know, you'll say that's a threat.

[bunnies]

84. Good thing for Hillary she doesnt tell the truth. eh? nt

[Saturday]

23. I've seen fanatical behavior on here regarding support for Obama.

I can believe his supporters would threaten her. Their love for Obama could easily propel them IMO.

[Jamastiene]

83. Seconded. n/t

[tridim]

24. Bittergate-gate

And when the blogger is exposed we'll move on to Bittergate-gate-gate.

[redqueen]

28. Hehehehehe

[melody]

25. The May Fowler Madam better call up her buddy Thompson, maybe he can help

What a fraud.

[PM7nj]

26. Obviously this is Obama's fought...

Why can't he control his crazy supporters?

[jackson_dem]

33. Why are there so many cultists behind Obama?

[haymakeragain]

52. Excuse me Pot, I'd like you to meet my friend Kettle.

Unnnnnbelievable!

[TheDonkey]

29. *woe is meeeeee* a fatwa!!

What the hell did she think was going to happen. That people would be sending her chocolates and flowers after she let Hillary and McCain jump on this.

People should not be sending her death threats but get real hun.

[madfloridian]

30. She is no Obama supporter. Read her posts.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhill-fowler

I could money to someone, pretend to support them, and then sabotage them. Anyone can do it.

She said that the Obama campaign is still giving her access. I give him credit for that.

This reeks...of something.

I could also say people were threatening me.

[democracy1st]

40. LOL she's definitely not a Obama backer

Calling him cocky etc hehe

[SOS]

41. Her history at opensecrets.org is quite informative

She donated to Fred Thompson's presidential campaign in 2007.
In 2008 she donated to Obama. Enough to get invited to a private fundraiser.

It certainly does reek.

[flpoljunkie]

87. Fowler is from Tennessee and also gave $250 to Fred Thompson. For access, as well?

http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=Fowler&fname=Mayhill&search=Search

[jackson_dem]

32. They did it to Tavis Smiley too. But none of them are cultists!

:sarcasm:

[Hoof Hearted]

54. Well, I'm sure some of them think Tavis had it coming too.

sickening.

[Kahuna]

34. From who? Hillary? Because their little plans seems to have backfired.

:applause:

[Joe the Revelator]

35. Produce the email and trace the IP address

If Ms. Fowler won't do that, she should kindly shut the fuck up. She's already proven herself to be a snake.

[anonymous171]

36. lol Threats by email.

[Hepburn]

63. No one in this day age is that fucking stupid ...

... to make a threat via email. LOL...what a tell. No doubt in my mind she is a lying about this!

[smiley_glad_hands]

37. Astroturf grass roots.

Nice try hill.

[blogslut]

43. your link is busted

n/t

[ruggerson]

Looks like they changed it

here you go:

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-bitterweb15apr15,1,5375351.story

[ecstatic]

45. She's slime and should be blocked from any future private events

That's what she gets. Hope she enjoys McCain.

[Tatiana]

46. If she's receiving threats, she should forward them to the police.

And I am so sick of the mediawhores calling her an "Obama supporter." She is no supporter of Obama, which her previous writings (especially in 2007) indicate. She donated money for access.

Good on the Kossites for exposing her fraudulence.

[ruggerson]

82. Maybe she has forwarded them

and saying she is not an Obama supporter is conjecture. The facts seem to indicate that she is.

[cbayer]

47. Do you find some of the responses to you OP disturbing?

I certainly do. There is something really, really sick about people thinking this is OK. This is not my democratic party, I fear.

[Hoof Hearted]

49. Amen to that. n/t

[haymakeragain]

53. We just don't buy it. that's all.

Deja vu all over again.

[cbayer]

58. I also find it disturbing

when individual posters on this site use the word "we" as if they know for a fact how a whole group of people are thinking.

In response to your post above - there was no "slicing and dicing" of the tape. If you read the LA Times article you will see that she posted the entire tape on her blog. Prior to its publication, her report was editorially reviewed all the way up to Ariana Huffington and found to be sound and ethical. She struggled with her decision to publish it at all.

I am pretty appalled at how some people are treating a person who decided to tell the truth.

[Hepburn]

64. Take a clue...

...who in the hell is dumb enough in this day and age to send a threat by EMAIL???? No one does that kind of shit. So her story about the threats is obviously bullshit.

Anyone with even a quarter of a brain knows that doing anything by email like this ~~ might as well send your name, address and phone number along with the email to the authorities.

Sheesh...:eyes: She is being downed not because no one cares...but because it is obvious she is totally full of shit.

[cbayer]

72. Must you be so condescending?

I just wrote, then deleted, a pretty hateful response to you. I really don't want to go there, but I sure wish you would bring it down a notch or two.

[Hepburn]

85. Sorry if you took my remarks the wrong way....

...how about if in the future I just ignore you?

[UALRBSofL]

92. I have to agree Hepburn is very bitter

You should take note of the Obama supporters that are pretty much level headed because your attacks are beginning to go way over the top. And yesterday when you called Hillary a Republican W**** was very mean spirited, and angered many people including some Obama supporters.

[Hepburn]

104. You bet I am bitter....

...I don't want more of Bush...and that is what Hillary is.

I watched too many of my friends go to Viet Nam and not come back...and the ones that did come back, maybe it was better if they had not. Here we are 40 years later at the same place except this time, it is the children and grandchildren of my friends who are going and not coming back or coming back so damaged it would have been better if they had died.

If you are not bitter, you are not aware.

And stop the lying...saying I said something which I did not say only makes you look exactly like what you are: A Hillary supporter.

Edit to add: Welcome to my IGNORE list ~~ I should have done that long ago...but gave you the benefit of the doubt since it looks more like you need sympathy and not snark. But liars, I cannot abide.

[cbayer]

106. It's hard to mis-interpret "Take a clue"

It doesn't matter whether you ignore me or not. My observation is that you only hear things that confirm your beliefs anyway.

[Phillycat]

93. It's the Borg! You must be assimilated!

You're right, it's disturbing.

[ruggerson]

68. The responses speak for themselves

don't you think?

[AX10]

77. Just like Bush's minions from 2000.

[Hoof Hearted]

48. I wish I were surprised.

[GoldieAZ49]

51. I hope she turns them over to the police and they are prosecuted

They should and need to be.

Some friggin nut cases Obama attracts.

Same with the black super delegates getting threats unless they endorse Obama.

If this is how they treat their fellow democrats can you image what this 'movement' would be like on the world stage?

I have hope we will never find out.

[Catherina]

60. When you do stupid shit, don't expect roses n/t

[ruggerson]

67. Yes, she should be killed for writing stuff

[npincus]

62. I have nothing but contempt for Ms. Fowler.

[ruggerson]

65. Here's the new LA Times link for full story

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-bitterweb15apr15,1,5375351.story

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

66. Police report or GTFO

[rodeodance]

70. I hope she is safe.

[struggle4progress]

74. If she broke the gate, why doesn't she just fix it? I mean, if it wasn't her gate,

and people are so upset about it being broken and all

[AX10]

75. This is what the liberal blogosphere has done to Hillary too.

[bridgit]

78. Even here, Obama supporters trend toward violence passive or otherwise...

[Danger Mouse]

89. bullshit. fucking bullshit.

i expected better of you.

[bridgit]

96. ty for providing the passive example...

i expected *no* better of you

[Danger Mouse]

99. passive? care to explain how?

[bridgit]

101. No, I wouldn't, but if you can't see calling "fucking bullshit", and demeaning people as 2nd...

rate to be dismissed out of hand, talked down to as a general matter, and so far below your standards just because they don't agree with you :eyes: then no-less than two things occur nearly simultaneously, 1) You become too much like my X and so as such seem far less able to even understand such things, and, 2) Whether you were or weren't previous, BAM! You just became a BHO support!

Zippity Doo-Dah & Thank The Goddes we can't all be drama queens the stage is too small

[Danger Mouse]

108. you seem to be incapable of doing anything but talk down to people.

[Phillycat]

95. Illuminating, isn't it?

[bridgit]

97. Morning there, jane, hope your days going well these days

:donut:

[Phillycat]

98. It's all very good, yes. :)

Good to see you! :hug: Think I'll take off back to the lounge; I've had my fill of rage and vitriol for the morning. :hi:

[bridgit]

102. I hear'ya, Hon, I'll be seeing'ya take care & have fun

:pals:

[orangerevolution]

80. Interesting choice of words.

"It's like the liberal blogosphere has issued a fatwa against me," Fowler said in a telephone interview.

HEY!!! IS THAT SOME KIND OF VEILED SUGGESTION THAT OBAMA IS SOME KINDA ISLAMIST?????!!!!!!!!!!

[MethuenProgressive]

86. After reading the "outrage" flung at her on DU, I'm not surprised at all.

She just reported what He said.
He should watch His mouth if He doesn't want what He says reported.

[Danger Mouse]

88. so....are you going to blame obama for THIS, too?

[Danger Mouse]

90. oh, and the use of 'fatwa' is just ADORABLE.

:puke:

[Texas Hill Country]

94. yeah, that is not cool at all. this needs to stop now.

[Nedsdag]

105. Gee, what a shock!

NOT!

[Coexist]

107. she sounds fine to me:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5522043&mesg_id=5522043