A Publishers Weekly Twitter feed, @PWreligion, apparently tweeted out a link to one of my articles today. I don’t know which one; they removed it before I ever saw it. Here’s why, and what happened next:
I subsequently asked both “Tim Spalding” and “PWreligion” to debate me about what they objected to in my work, as well as to specify exactly what their objections were. Neither, of course, deigned to do so: being a Leftist means you never have any accountability. So in any case, it seems reasonable to surmise that they support what I oppose. Hence my headline above.



Kurt says
Nice catch!
Your site has become one of my news sites, and looks like others have too. The regressive left has painted you into a corner otherwise we’d see more of you in the MSM.
There are many liberals who agree with your points about Islam, that’s why I use the term “regressive left” coined by I believe it was Maajid Nawaz.
pdxnag says
It is Islam apologists who box themselves into the analytical dead end of promoting the most vile of Islamic atrocities. Any hint of divergence toward sanity and self-preservation invites ultimate punishment.
Scott says
It’s The MSM who is indeed “boxed in”. It is they who have painted themselves into a corner.
Their only defense is to lash out and then go silent.
Truth warriors like Robert are whom they fear the most.
Without apologizing to their minions who know only what they are told. The leftist totalitarian progressives would be silenced……by their own – shunned.
More Ham Ed says
PWreligion & Tiny Tim etc. must have read CAIR’s “How To Advance The Jihad & Your Own Cause with Endless Name Calling & Ad Hominem Attacks” 2nd Edition.
Ron Barak says
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p18/LH2man/Funnees/gifsFav/clint-nod.gif
? says
Calling out and criticizing slavery, FGM, child abuse, etc… All backed by proper text makes one a “islamophobe bigot”…. Ok then…
anonymous says
Robert Spencer is gifted with the ability of reading comprehension. That gift is distinguishes him from the people who think his views are inaccurate or bigoted.
Lawrence says
Not at all surprised from PW, very far Left. I once got entangled in an Internet feud with a self-hating bisexual Jewess who works at PW, over these exact political themes and topics. You know the type, the Jewish lesbian/bisexual far Left feminist ready to defend Islam against its supposedly bigoted Islamophobic redneck enemies, Israel and all infidels and ‘sinners’ included. Naturally that encompasses all Jewish lesbian feminists, but that appeared to go over her head. As it does.
These people are actually insane and so riddled through with self-loathing several times over (as Jews often enough, as women, and as gays often enough too), that words fail me, beyond PC, a madness beyond all madness.
peekamoose says
I know a bunch of lesbians who support Israel. Please be a little more open-minded in your hateful remarks. Not every lesbian thinks alike. Many are conservative. But it is people like you that will push them to the left because your comments are as bad as jihadist comments against homosexuals.
I believe in tolerance except for those who are intolerant. Are you in the camp of the jihadists? Because you sound like an intolerant jihadist.
Lawrence says
peekamoose (and carolyn below), you are not too bright are you? Talk about misunderstanding my point. Failure in reading comprehension. My point is it is ridiculous and hypocritical if you are gay, to support gay hating and gay killing Muslims, and Muslim societies where being gay is putting your life and well-being at risk. My point is the same when I remark on how pathetic it is for Jews (and women) to come to the defense of Islam, when their own lives are in danger or they would be denied their liberties in Muslim societies and communities. I make that very clear but you didn’t get it. Try reading a little slower next time and take a deep breath, might get more oxygen to your brain.
Carolyne says
I don’t see that her being a Lesbian has anything to do with her admiration, or whatever it was, for Islam. I would think that there are Lesbians in both columns, in fact, all columns of religious and political thought. I don’t admire their lifestyle, but I can’t see that they are victims of groupthink.
Lawrence says
I don’t see what being Jewish has to do with admiration for Islam and I don’t see what being a woman has to do with admiration for Islam, but Jewish women and feminists admire Islam. Islam is a homosexual hating, misogynist and anti-Semitic religion, so the fact that homosexuals, Jews and women in the West admire Islam is a reflection of their cluelessness, hypocrisy and yes self-loathing. If you have to ask, how is it self-loathing? well I can’t help you there. Either you see it or you don’t.
Ye gods the two responses I got, talk about missing the point I was making by about fifty light years.
cs says
They will never debate you Robert, because they are a bunch of regressive chickens.
David Pimentel says
The collective intellect of chickens is so limited that it is impossible for them to be regressive … in any context.
Paul says
Those who are critical of islam are often labelled “far-right”.
As we’ve seen so many times, those on the “far-left” obviously
have no problem with misogyny, paedophilia, homophobia, racism,
animal cruelty etc. The dishonest label of “far-right” is certainly not
the badge of shame it once was and now means that that person is
much more likely to be decent and honest.
Supposedly “far-right” people have long since nailed their colours
to the mast in declaring their opposition to a fascist ideology which
is butchering people all over the world. Those on the “far-left” are
now at the stage where nobody is buying their silly insults any more
and instead of their constant virtue signalling they’ll be forced to
admit how sick they truly are, which is every bit as sick as the
jihadis they clearly love so much.
vik says
It’s not that Robert Spencer knows more about Islam than 1,000,000 of these liberals
Steven Matthew says
I have long ago come to the conclusion that it is NOT radical Islam that will kill us, rather the real danger to us is from the liberal and far left camps that enable it.
Radical Islam would never be able to get so much as a foothold in the West if people just admitted that it was evil and that it was incompatible with democracy and freedom. If government, the media and the churches.were courageous enough to out radical Islam for the barbaric ideology that it is, it would disappear from our shores in no time. And if democratic governments from Europe and around the world did the same, the U.N. would be forced to condemn it as well and radical Islam would slither back to the hell holes it came from and stay there.
We cannot to wait for Islam to reform itself. It will never happen.
Howard Pond says
I agree with the above, except for the use of the term “radical.” Devout, dedicated and strict adherence to the teachings of Islam is the problem. Such behavior is what has been marketed by the West as “radical Islam” when there is nothing radical about their living in harmony with the fundamental teachings of Mohamad. Contrast this with Muslims who are fickle, faithless, and marginal in their adherence to the teachings of Islam. These Muslims are viewed by the West as proper members of “The Religion of Peace.” The truth is that when these non-threatening members are viewed through the prism of Mecca, they are very poor Muslims.
Islam’s duplicitous marketing to the Infidel is amazing. Even those of us who understand Islam, use the term “radical” when observing “fundamental” Islamic behavior. Islam is at war with all who have not accepted Mohamad as God’s prophet. Their actions of conquest are fundamental, not radical. We may not be at war with Muslims, but we should be at war with Islam.
Here is the important point. In order to prevail in our goal to preserve our civilization, we must identify the enemy. It is not “radical Islam” – It is “fundamental Islam.”
Laura says
Excellent points, all. We must counter that “radical” descriptive because it is a false “security” for people to think that it is only “radical” muslims who perpetrate the atrocities. It is muslims. period.
Linde Barrera says
TO Steven Matthew- As per your 6:34 am post of Dec. 17, 2015; the problem, as I perceive it, is that millions upon millions of Western peoples do not know the doctrinal core of Islam as revealed in the Quran. So, a spokesman from any Islamic group spouts out propaganda and the mainstream media blasts the quotes. Most people tend to trust the MSM and without thinking or reflecting on it, these millions harbor the words and intents of the MSM and the Islamic propagandists. I am a retired teacher and occasionally post news articles on my Facebook page about ISIS, Syrian Christians, Muslims that love Islam, or ex-Muslims that hate Islam, as well as Obama’s lack of leadership in destroying ISIS. Out of the 75 or so people who are my Facebook friends, guess how many comment or even “like” what I post about these subjects? If you guessed 1 or 2 only occasionally, you would be correct. These stats tell me that the average person doesn’t want to bother with real issues that could affect/impact their lives in a profound way. But if I sporadically post a photo of myself with a new hat or something very personal to me alone, then I get at least 40 “likes” and at least 7 comments! So I agree with your post, but we of the counter jihad need to make sure average people know what Islam’s real intent is: slavery. I think the only way more of our average people will learn this is, sadly, if there are more terrorist attacks. Atrocious terror attacks would prompt some people into delving more into Islam. Others still would not unless they were actual victims of the atrocities and lived to tell of it. That’s the world we live in today.
Laura says
Linde – I have that same problem … The posts I make I attempt to preface with a short descriptor about how this particular article relates to the problem with islam. My FB “friends” for the most part, probably wish I’d just give up. But I can’t – the information must be shared!
Marty says
If one looks at the facts of Islam & its history,
it becomes very clear that it hates & seeks to destroy
the West & any other soft target.
China & Russia will resist, but the West thinks it “liberal”
to allow islamic practices that overtly go beyond Nazism
(Conpare the freedoms of a German woman in the Third Reich
with those of a mohammedan woman in the UK).
Exactly why these so called liberals support those who would
destroy them is worth investigating.
Certainly, if Islam were associated with white Americans, it
would be banned in the UK.
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
We apologize, we do not endorse recognition of factual realities that offensive to those with mindshare in the Islam Fictive Reality bubble who could be offended by learning of a book that would cause such recognition.
ps, please do not blow up our office or come in and shoot us all to death
nacazo says
The following articles appeared on JW on Dec 16. I’m guessing it was the article “Australia Security Intelligence Organisation top dog calls for self-censorship to avoid offending Muslims” one it calls “dog” somebody in a security intelligence organization which is something leftist love to do (insulting people in authority positions). Also, the fact that he’s calling for self-censorship to avoid offending muslims is something any proud leftist would promote. Now offending “islamophobes” feel free to exceed yourself.
————
– When Silence is Not an Option — on The Glazov Gang
– Students practice calligraphy by writing “There is no god but Allah”
– Missouri: FBI alerted after Muslims buy large quantities of cellphones at rural Walmart at 4AM
– Hugh Fitzgerald: Christian Arabs, Muslim Arabs (Part 3)
– Obama Administration nixed probe into Southern California jihadists
– Obama says that concerns that jihadis will be among the Syrian refugees are unfounded
– Mark Durie: “Anyone saying ‘Islam Is A Religion Of Peace’ needs to read this”
– Australia Security Intelligence Organisation top dog calls for self-censorship to avoid offending Muslims
– Team led by “Middle Eastern woman” caught surveilling U.S. facility on Mexican border
duh_swami says
I give up…most of my posts are being hijacked by Putin, or Maybe Marie Harf for intense study…
J. P. Theo says
We face a “Clash of Civilizations”, perhaps an existential threat to Western Civilization. The clear and present danger comes from Islam and the adherents to the fundamental teachings in the Qur’an, the Hadith and the Sira. Islam is, in my opinion, a primitive, dominant, violent cult and a military-political system with true believers – much as National socialism (the Nazis) and Communism have had true believers in the past.
Now is the time for us to unite. Now is the time to defend our culture and our civilization. It is not perfect, but it is the best we have ever had.
Can anyone explain to me why it is essential to import large numbers of people from very different cultures into the undefended West? How well have they assimilated in the recent past? Have the majority proved to be a net benefit to the host countries? Has there been any downside? Someone said recently “I don’t lock my doors at night because I hate those outside, I lock my doors at night because I love those inside.”
Now is the time to be unafraid, to be strong, to regain our cultural confidence and our faith. Western civilization has soared on the twin wings of Judeo-Christian faith and Greco-Roman reason. Even if there were no God, society and the majority of mankind would benefit from the belief in an overarching morality, and a benevolent creator. This seems “self evident’ even to this practicing Catholic.
David says
There is an earlier post, disparging the Bible. Not to complain, he has a perfect right to his views and opinions.
But try to remember. There was NO technology to speak of, way back when those words and stories were first put to paper. These were very simple people trying hard to write down the things they saw or heard. When I read the bible, and I do, I feel that, these folks just did not have the words to factually describe what had taken place. So, thou perhaps BASED ON an actual event! They simply could not record it the way WE WOULD, thousands of years later, and with the benefits of our experiance, knowledge and technology.
An example is the world wide prevalence of a story of a world wide flood! So, maybe it didn’t happen exactly the way a cartoon of the bible story would make it look. BUT! SOMETHING ON THE ORDER OF A HUGE AND MASSIVE DISTRUCTION BY WATER DID!!!
Neatly all ancient myth or legend has at their base, a factual event. Maybe this will be helpful, to others struggling to understand these fantastic, and oh so improbable bible accounts.
P.S. In my youth, I was trained for the Christian Ministry. Thou I never Pastored a church, I’m on the registries, of my home state as an Ordained Minister.
Thanks for reading.
somehistory says
How many who question every thing the Bible records as having happened in times past take as absolute truth all of the claims the government has made regarding travels to the moon and other *accomplishments*?
Do they ever question if Armstrong’s foot really did make an imprint in that cheesy dust so very far away?
So many are the accounts in the Bible that have been proven with archaeology. As an example, there is a a Proverb (7:23) that describes what happens to the liver when a person engages in immorality. That verse had scoffers until modern science showed that many vd’s do indeed damage the liver.
Thank you.
Chris says
Lordy, the bigotry and hatred you have to put up with on a daily basis from people either afraid of being criticised themselves or who want virtue without accountability. I have three versions of the Qur’an and have read two of them (not yet Arberry), and know what it says. You are a courageous and principled man. Three things: (1) how do Muslims defend Sura 2:106 (abrogation) in a book ostensibly the perfect, personal and eternal word of God? Surely there cannot be any logical need for abrogation; (2) how do they defend Sura 65:4 on the sexual accessibility of pre-pubescent girls?; and (3) could you rejig the look and feel of your comments section to allow tracking of comments easier and to insert “likes”?
Very many thanks.
quotha raven says
to Robert Spencer – Publishers Weekly indeed. They think they are the top of the heap, gods in the world of literature. Nice job, Robert, of this small exposure of the Emperor’s New Clothes (why do the Left endlessly behave in a manner best described by the emperor’s New Clothes??)
It may please you to know that a big smile broke across my early-morning, pre-coffee face, when I saw that little picture of you, with that engaging little smile, in the Twitter feed you reproduce above.
Please let us know of any further interaction you have with PW. They are an ass.
Cheers!
quotha raven
Left wingers are jihadis says
What is jihad? Fighting in the cause of allah.
What do the left wingers do? Fight in the cause of muslims, therefore, in the cause of islam, and therefore, in the cause of allah.
The left wingers are better jihadis than muslims.
Myxlplij says
Surely such censorship would require a logical and precise explanation.
The funny thing is, I bet they did read it, and did actually agree with it, but didn’t know who Robert was. When their liberal friends who know got upset at the source of the truth they all panicked.
There will be no debate, because they know you speak the truth.
gravenimage says
Publishers Weekly apparently totally cool with beheading Americans, Jewish genocide, removing girls’ clitorises
…………………………….
Because opposing any of these horrors is “Islamophobic”. *Ugh*.
I believe the commentary on the following piece is by the same Tim Spalding:
“Bush and the Cowardly Terrorists”
http://www.hyperorg.com/blogger/2007/12/31/bush-and-the-cowardly-terrorists/comment-page-1/
This is from 2007. Scroll down to the comments section.
Spalding bloodlessly notes, “It wouldn’t be wrong, however, to deny that people who do these acts are transgressing widespread cultural norms against attacking the defenseless”.
He also refers to Jihadists attacking American or coalition troops in Iraq as “activists”. He calls referring to such Jihadists as “terrorists” “slander”. Good God.
No wonder he objects to the bravery and moral decency of Robert Spencer.
Myxlplik says
I wonder in what way “Tim” thinks that Roberts headline was misleading, and I would bet 10 to one that your article got read and agreed with, which is why there will be no debate.
These folks just don’t have the balls to own that they agreed with you Robert, so not only are they cowards, but liars too.
eduardo odraude says
Invisible Tilt of Playing Field in Public Debate on Islam
The double threat to Islam-critics’ life and reputation from violent Muslims and slandering Leftists creates a widespread illusion. In public debates about Islam, that double threat invisibly tilts the debate playing field to the advantage of those who apologize for Islam. The tilt of the playing field happens and is invisible because hardly anyone in the public discourse mentions or even much notices what a disadvantage the Islam-critical side starts from, namely the fact that most of those who see Islam as a grave totalitarian nemesis are silent (or anonymous) about it because of the double threat. The understandable result is that the average bystander to the debate often assumes that the tiny number of public figures and public intellectuals willing publicly to say that Islam is a totalitarian danger proves that the “Islamophobic” bench is tiny, and that the politically correct claims about Islam are held by the vast majority of experts. In fact, most of the people on the Islam-critical side of the debate have been silenced by the double threat. The disadvantage is thus hidden and all the more effective. The politically correct side of the debate has no such recruiting disadvantage to labor under. Honest journalists, even if they don’t agree with the view that Islam is fundamentally totalitarian and dangerous, therefore have some responsibility to speak up for those who have been silenced. Those journalists who represent the politically correct view and act as if the other side of the debate has not been largely silenced by death threats deserve rebuke for accepting a debate playing field tilted to the PC side by the safety and conformism of their politically correct position.
For links to numerous news reports of self-censorship by public institutions, teachers, writers, actors, artists, journalists, comedians who impose silence on themselves about Islam because of death threats and violence from Muslims, see http://www.quotingislam.blogspot.com
Matthieu Baudin says
“…Publishers Weekly apparently totally cool with beheading Americans, Jewish genocide, removing girls’ clitorises…”
Well done Robert, keep it before everyone’s view.
They are shamefully evasive and uncaring.
Jimmy C says
hey Robert I was on Twitter last night and I saw where you challenged that guy to a debate and I also saw where someone else ask him what article was mistakenly tweeted out about you and he replied back to the guy with a link to the “I’m a Christian and I love the Quran” article you wrote about the other day so I assume that was the article that leftist account tweeted out before they removed it. just thought I’d let you know incase you haven’t found out already.