Limited government advocates are up in arms over an article published by The Washington Free Beacon about Rand Paul aide Jack Hunter, a.k.a. the “Southern Avenger.”
According to the story, Hunter – who handles Paul’s new media efforts – “spent years working as a pro-secessionist radio pundit and neo-Confederate activist.” The article also states that the affiliation of such a dubious dude with Paul’s campaign raises questions “about whether Paul will be able to transcend the same fringe-figure associations that dogged his father’s political career.”
Hmmmm …
There’s no doubt the Beacon piece is a hit job aimed at tarnishing Rand Paul. And it’s not a very good one either, as the laundry list of politically incorrect “evils” perpetrated by the “Avenger” is pretty mild in our estimation. It’s also a transparent effort by neoconservatives to portray Paul in a kooky light (something we expect to see more of in the months and years to come).
In fact that’s exactly what CNN picked up on when it published an extensive recap of the Beacon piece …
Hunter’s problem?
His response …
“The role of a radio host is different from that of a political operative,” Hunter said in a statement responding to the story. “In radio, sometimes you’re encouraged to be provocative and inflammatory. I’ve been guilty of both, and am embarrassed by some of the comments I made precisely because they do not represent me today. I was embarrassed by some of them even then.”
Really?
That certainly seems to be at odds with what Hunter said eight years ago when The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier filed a report on his controversial commentary. Back then he was totally unapologetic about his racially tinged comments – saying he “stood by every word.”
Hunter also claims to “abhor racism” and promises he has “treated everyone I’ve met with dignity and respect as individuals.”
Let’s hope for Rand Paul’s sake that comment checks out …
Make no mistake, it is far more telling that establishment hacks in the big-spending, war-mongering wing of the “Republican” party are this hard-up to attack Rand Paul this early in the 2016 presidential cycle. That’s the real story here (although you won’t see that on CNN, which merely referred to the Beacon as a “conservative” website).
But it’s undeniably true Hunter exercised extremely poor judgment in responding … and has probably set his boss up for further headaches down the road.
***
66 comments
I thought Hunter’s response was spot on. And honest. Something sorely lacking in DC.
I thought Hunter’s response was spot on. And honest. Something sorely lacking in DC.
Is this the same “Southern Avenger” that used to appear with “The Critic” on my beloved 96 WAVE in Charleston? I found his commentary to be on the conservative side and his comments about race to be without malice.
Most of us “abhor racism.” But we all have different definitions of what, exactly, racism is. I’ve come to the conclusion that we are ALL racist: it’s just a matter of degree. Frankly, the sooner that we realize we all are, and recognize that in our relations with those not of our own group, the better off we’ll all be.
That’s what upset me about the whole Paula Dean thing. The idea that past use of the N-word (or not) is a litmus test for racism is ridiculous.
I was born and raised in Georgetown, SC ( and left when I was 18 in 2001), but I remember after school the Atom and The Critic would be on and about twice a week the Southern Avenger would be on, man those were the fucking days, I miss it. I’ll never forget when Joey Ramone died in 2001, the Southern Avenger did a 5 minute diatribe on how awesome the Ramones were and how awesome punk music was and used the phrase “musical masturbation” to describe the music that Punk was against. I’ll never forget it and I even used the term “literary masturbation” in a paper in college (for British Lit) which derived from that diatribe. God I miss 96 Wave so much. Their music was like no other radio station in history….
Tom Waits’ cover(‘think he said this was his fave)-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Ja_u7Gs2E
Youngster,
WWWZ was THE station back in the day. 3WZ
The Wave die out when they started to charge for admission for their Wavefests. Some awesome parties at Brittlebank and the old landfill near the navy base.
Nah.The best station was Cousin Brucie in Indiana(AM).They got the new Beatle music before,anyone.You could only listen at night;AM downside
Is this the same “Southern Avenger” that used to appear with “The Critic” on my beloved 96 WAVE in Charleston? I found his commentary to be on the conservative side and his comments about race to be without malice.
Most of us “abhor racism.” But we all have different definitions of what, exactly, racism is. I’ve come to the conclusion that we are ALL racist: it’s just a matter of degree. Frankly, the sooner that we realize we all are, and recognize that in our relations with those not of our own group, the better off we’ll all be.
That’s what upset me about the whole Paula Dean thing. The idea that past use of the N-word (or not) is a litmus test for racism is ridiculous.
I was born and raised in Georgetown, SC ( and left when I was 18 in 2001), but I remember after school the Atom and The Critic would be on and about twice a week the Southern Avenger would be on, man those were the fucking days, I miss it. I’ll never forget when Joey Ramone died in 2001, the Southern Avenger did a 5 minute diatribe on how awesome the Ramones were and how awesome punk music was and used the phrase “musical masturbation” to describe the music that Punk was against. I’ll never forget it and I even used the term “literary masturbation” in a paper in college (for British Lit) which derived from that diatribe. God I miss 96 Wave so much. Their music was like no other radio station in history….
Tom Waits’ cover(‘think he said this was his fave)-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Ja_u7Gs2E
Youngster,
WWWZ was THE station back in the day. 3WZ
The Wave die out when they started to charge for admission for their Wavefests. Some awesome parties at Brittlebank and the old landfill near the navy base.
Nah.The best station was Cousin Brucie in Indiana(AM).They got the new Beatle music before,anyone.You could only listen at night;AM downside
Jack Hunter’s views are not racist, they are typical anti war sentiment taken to its logical conclusion. Many of his videos and columns explain this and how slavery could have been abolished without the war….and without trampling the Constitution. Typical DC defense contractor-bought propaganda is what the “Free Beacon” is all about.
Anti-war? Could you enlighten me on this one? I really want to know.
“Many of his videos and columns explain this and how slavery could have been abolished without the war…”
Are/were you anti-war about the middle east incursions over the past 20 years? Do you REALLY believe that the south was ever prepared to give up slavery? This is very interesting and I would appreciate any references you can give me/us. I seriously am interested because I never heard that one before.
Jack Hunter’s views are not racist, they are typical anti war sentiment taken to its logical conclusion. Many of his videos and columns explain this and how slavery could have been abolished without the war….and without trampling the Constitution. Typical DC defense contractor-bought propaganda is what the “Free Beacon” is all about.
Also, he wore the mock confederate wrestling mask because his radio “influential figure” was Ken Hamblin, the Black Avenger….so Jack took on the name “the Southern Avenger”.
Anti-war? Could you enlighten me on this one? I really want to know.
“Many of his videos and columns explain this and how slavery could have been abolished without the war…”
Are/were you anti-war about the middle east incursions over the past 20 years? Do you REALLY believe that the south was ever prepared to give up slavery? This is very interesting and I would appreciate any references you can give me/us. I seriously am interested because I never heard that one before.
HEY! Doesn’t everybody understand that this is the “Year of Second Chances & Redemption”
HOPE AND CHANGE!!
HEY! Doesn’t everybody understand that this is the “Year of Second Chances & Redemption”
HOPE AND CHANGE!!
That mask looks like Redneck Spiderman, which is actually kind of awesome in its own way.
That mask looks like Redneck Spiderman, which is actually kind of awesome in its own way.
Trying to destroy a Conservative…
It’s what FITS breaks his neck to do everyday.
It tells me: Y’all are SCARED to Death of Rand Paul…
If you think FITS is “SCARED to Death of Rand Paul,” you haven’t been paying attention. Or you’re stupid. I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and go with the latter.
Why couldn’t it be both?
As I said in an earlier post. Count to ten and remember “you can’t fix stupid.”
If you believe what FITS claims to be, you’re STUPID….or either he is…
Heck, he was just playing to the GOP “southern strategy” base.
Only thing, that bigot base is just not big enough any more.
Heck, he was just playing to the GOP “southern strategy” base.
Only thing, that bigot base is just not big enough any more.
“whether Paul will be able to transcend the same fringe-figure associations that dogged his father’s political career.” You mean like FITSNews?
“whether Paul will be able to transcend the same fringe-figure associations that dogged his father’s political career.” You mean like FITSNews?
Is that Dale Dinwiddie?
Is that Dale Dinwiddie?
Jack Hunter aka The Southern Avenger rules.
Jack Hunter aka The Southern Avenger rules.
Photo credit; something which seems to be lacking in the journalism world these days. Thanks for snatching this gem off of my ancient webshots page. The young college girl pictured is me during a live recording for 96 wave on site at Beerworks circa 2004. Hunter asked me to share my father’s given name on the airwaves – Stonewall Jackson Watson II.
Thanks – you are adorable!
Photo credit; something which seems to be lacking in the journalism world these days. Thanks for snatching this gem off of my ancient webshots page. The young college girl pictured is me during a live recording for 96 wave on site at Beerworks circa 2004. Hunter asked me to share my father’s given name on the airwaves – Stonewall Jackson Watson II.
Thanks – you are adorable!
No third-party candidate will win an election until the electoral college is abolished.
The pic reminds me of the glory days of wrastlin at Township Auditorium,where the real action was in the men’s bathroom…
No third-party candidate will win an election until the electoral college is abolished.
The pic reminds me of the glory days of wrastlin at Township Auditorium,where the real action was in the men’s bathroom…
Same douche that appeared many times on WTMA radio in Charleston. I always tuned him out. His psycho babble reflected that of a cuckoo.
Same douche that appeared many times on WTMA radio in Charleston. I always tuned him out. His psycho babble reflected that of a cuckoo.
A BS story.
I read his father’s electrical company was hiring illegal Mexicans. I do remember seeing lots of Mexicans working for that company when Jack worked there.
A BS story.
I read his father’s electrical company was hiring illegal Mexicans. I do remember seeing lots of Mexicans working for that company when Jack worked there.
This “Southern Avenger” matter is a feeble attempt to quantify Rand Paul’s racial attitudes by speculating about Jack Hunter’s attitudes.
For a look at Rand Paul’s in-person views, check out his friends at one of his campaign events in April 2010.
http://www.barefootandprogressive.com/2010/04/a-closer-look-at-rand-pauls-militia-friends.html
Be sure to follow the first link in the above article for more pix of Paul and the guntards.
This “Southern Avenger” matter is a feeble attempt to quantify Rand Paul’s racial attitudes by speculating about Jack Hunter’s attitudes.
For a look at Rand Paul’s in-person views, check out his friends at one of his campaign events in April 2010.
http://www.barefootandprogressive.com/2010/04/a-closer-look-at-rand-pauls-militia-friends.html
Be sure to follow the first link in the above article for more pix of Paul and the guntards.
JH has evolved over the yrs and is no racist and does not object to marriage equality.
Although he is personally opposed, sounds like my kind of libertarian conservative.
Evolved! Interesting use of words. I think Obama used it also.
JH has evolved over the yrs and is no racist and does not object to marriage equality.
Although he is personally opposed, sounds like my kind of libertarian conservative.
Evolved! Interesting use of words. I think Obama used it also.
I found Jack Hunter entertaining and much of his commentary relevant when he was doing the youtube stuff(IDK if he still does that).
The problem with ole Jack, is now that he’s thrown his hat into the political arena, the very system he railed against at times is now what he has to try to placate yet change.
Good luck with that Jackie, the upcoming years of “compromise”, massaging the truth(lying), etc. just so your boy Rand can try to grab the ring of power will yield you zero in the end.
Not only is it too late to fix the Empire, even if you and Rand someone managed the tightrope walk the power players in the establishment wouldn’t play ball anyway.
You are both wasting your time. Better to go back to what you were doing which in my estimation was far more worthwhile then try to play a game that’s rigged from the start. You’ll just slowly become more like them over time if you continue…and then I’ll just end up hating you too.
I found Jack Hunter entertaining and much of his commentary relevant when he was doing the youtube stuff(IDK if he still does that).
The problem with ole Jack, is now that he’s thrown his hat into the political arena, the very system he railed against at times is now what he has to try to placate yet change.
Good luck with that Jackie, the upcoming years of “compromise”, massaging the truth(lying), etc. just so your boy Rand can try to grab the ring of power will yield you zero in the end.
Not only is it too late to fix the Empire, even if you and Rand someone managed the tightrope walk the power players in the establishment wouldn’t play ball anyway.
You are both wasting your time. Better to go back to what you were doing which in my estimation was far more worthwhile then try to play a game that’s rigged from the start. You’ll just slowly become more like them over time if you continue…and then I’ll just end up hating you too.
“The laundry list of politically incorrect “evils” perpetrated by the “Avenger” is pretty mild in our estimation.”
Come on now Fitz. The guy celebrates the birthday of John Wilkes Booth. According to Hunter, Booth’s heart was in the right place. He was the chairman of the League of the South, a group that advocated for seccession. Oh and he also thinks America will go to hell if Whites are ever in the minority. ” A non-white majority America would simply cease to be America”.
None of those things sound racist to you.
“The laundry list of politically incorrect “evils” perpetrated by the “Avenger” is pretty mild in our estimation.”
Come on now Fitz. The guy celebrates the birthday of John Wilkes Booth. According to Hunter, Booth’s heart was in the right place. He was the chairman of the League of the South, a group that advocated for seccession. Oh and he also thinks America will go to hell if Whites are ever in the minority. ” A non-white majority America would simply cease to be America”.
None of those things sound racist to you.
Cute girl. How cum the article doesn’t mention her? Her cuteness transcends the banality of the rest of the piece.
Cute girl. How cum the article doesn’t mention her? Her cuteness transcends the banality of the rest of the piece.