UPDATE 11:28 AM Pacific: Sergio Quintana just tweeted this to me: “A mistake was made introducing my story last night at 11pm. We used a picture of Richard Spencer instead of Robert Spencer. It was unintentional but it doesn’t excuse the error. We’re running a correction and apology within our newscasts, and I’m apologizing here.”
I responded: “After you asked me for a photo and I sent you one, and also sent you on request a link to my YouTube channel, containing hundreds of images of me, it is extremely hard to believe it was a ‘mistake,’ but thanks for correcting.”
————
“Reporters,” they call them, when in fact they are lazy and careless propagandists for the Leftist agenda. I don’t think this was deliberate, as they do have a photo that is really me in this video, but you never know with the establishment media — you’d have thought someone would have caught it. It may be an attempt to associate me with Richard Spencer’s white supremacism and anti-Semitism.
[UPDATE: NBC Bay Area, confirming that it is cravenly trying to associate me with Richard Spencer and didn’t just make a simple error, has removed the embed code for its video, which you can still see here, but has not removed the photo of Richard Spencer.]
Note also the photo they chose of me in that video: it’s from a video in which I am criticizing Pope Francis for his false statements about Islam. There are hundreds of photos of me out there on the Internet, and NBC Bay Area chose to use none of them, including one I sent to “journalist” Sergio Quintana at his request. Instead, they grabbed a screenshot from a video in which I am pictured in front of St. Peter’s Square. It’s not a particularly flattering shot of me, but again, there are plenty of unflattering photos of me out there if that’s all the wanted to do. Apparently they also wanted to convey the implication that I am some Roman Catholic zealot criticizing Islam only out of a determination to advance my own religion. In reality, I’m not even Roman Catholic.
Here is my full exchange with “journalist” Quintana:
1) Have you ever been invited to speak at Stanford prior to next week?
No.
2) Are you surprised to have your appearance on campus stir controversy among the student community?
No. Universities all over the country are no longer institutions of higher learning, but just indoctrination centers for the hard-Left, and ferociously intolerant of dissenting views.
3) Do you have any security concerns about your visit (given the recent events across the Bay in Berkeley)?
Of course, and I will be accompanied by security guards. Campus Leftists are becoming as violent as they are unable and unwilling to engage intellectually with those with whom they disagree.
4) Are there any key points you hope to share with the audience during your address?
Yes. The freedom of speech is an indispensable foundation of any free society. There is an ongoing effort to marginalize, demonize and silence anyone and everyone who speaks honestly about the motivating ideology behind the jihad threat. This demonization and forcible silencing of legitimate opinion based on clear evidence can have no positive result.
More comments interspersed below.
“Critic of Islam’s Visit to Stanford Sparks Controversy,” by Sergio Quintana, NBC Bay Area, November 8, 2017:
Controversy is brewing at Stanford University over an on-campus event featuring an author known for being a harsh critic of Islam.
Opposing jihad terror and Sharia oppression is only controversial because enablers of jihad terror and Sharia oppression have made it so. Get the details in my new book Confessions of an Islamophobe; preorder your copy here now.
An appearance by Robert Spencer, scheduled for Nov. 14, has triggered a petition to rescind funding for his visit to the university.
Spencer is best known for his appearances on Fox News as a self-described expert on radical Islam.
There they go again. When did I ever describe myself as an “expert on radical Islam”? I challenge “journalist” Sergio Quintana to produce the quote. In reality, I have never described myself in such a way, and don’t even use the phrase “radical Islam.” The only time I ever see myself described as an “expert on radical Islam” is in hit pieces like this one, where they’re saying I’m not.
But students who are opposed to his appearance at Stanford question his credentials and say he poses a safety concern for the campus.
As for the “safety concern,” that’s arrant nonsense. I’ve never called for, approved of, or condoned any violence. No one has ever been hurt after I gave a speech, except me. I will be the one there with a security team. That shows who really has safety concerns, and who is playing the victim card in order to shut down discussion.
“By inviting someone like Spencer and calling it free speech, they’re basically saying that hate speech is OK, and it doesn’t really matter how the marginalized students feel,” student Fatima Ledha said.
I challenge Fatima Ledha to produce one example of me engaging in “hate speech.” Apparently Quintana didn’t ask her for an example, and she wouldn’t have been able to produce one anyway, because I do not do so. But the intrepid “journalist” let her smear go by unchallenged.
Ledha is with a coalition of Stanford students who met Wednesday night to figure out a response to Spencer’s visit. Some of their concerns include questions about his academic credentials.
“He’s coming under the guise of a scholar,” Ledha said. “He’s coming under the guise of someone who’s done a lot of work on this, and he actually doesn’t have any background or formal training on Islam.”
What she means is that I haven’t gone through the U.S. Middle East Studies academic establishment, which is wholly compromised and sold out. But I have actually done a lot of work on this, and challenge anyone to refute me on the facts. No one at Stanford has even attempted to do so.
“He brings nothing intellectually to this university,” student Joshua de Leon said. “Bring in somebody who’s conservative, please. Bring in someone who is a scholar, please. But not this man.”
Such fear that I be heard! What are they afraid of? Why doesn’t Joshua de Leon show up and prove what I am saying to be false. He probably won’t try, and in any case he cannot.
Spencer, who has written several books and runs a blog called “Jihad Watch,” said it will be his first Stanford visit, and after a series of violent clashes over free speech across the bay in Berkeley, he’ll be coming with plenty of security.
“The freedom of speech is an indispensable foundation of any free society,” Spencer said via an email interview. “There is an ongoing effort to marginalize, demonize and silence anyone and everyone who speaks honestly about the motivating ideology behind the Jihad threat.”
Spencer’s visit is sponsored by the Stanford College Republicans. The group did not wish to comment about the event.
Why should they bother, Sergio? You’d just smear and defame them as well as me.
vyx says
1. Have your lawyers call them and demand and on air retraction on their highest rated newscast.
2. Have your PR person call their local competitor, explain what happen and get some positive PR.
Custos Custodum says
QUOTE: Have your PR person call their local competitor, explain what happen and get some positive PR.
Sorry, won’t work – they are all in on this.
Note that NBC is working from the same set of Alinskyite talking points and using the same Goebbels-inspired “Big Lie” techniques as non-journalist slime artist Emily DeRanged at clapped-out San Jose Mercury News.
The instructions from Soros Central were clear: “Pull out all the stops to defame and discredit Robert Spencer before his talk at Stanford.”
More detailed guidance went out to Soros minions within the Stanford administration and at the local media outlets, including Emily DeRanged’s boss’s boss.
underbed cat says
Good idea. It explains the tactics of the Democrats for years.
mgoldberg says
And all the people who have defamed you, your credentials, such as that Joshua De Leon, I hope you will issue a polite challenge to them to attend your lecture, and stand up and ask and debate the questions with you, and show their colors and accumen. And I mean the polite discussion that you always engage and encourage.
The Orwellian disinformation that these people are spewing is an insult to normal intelligence. I hope you get to show how Orwellian, and tyrannical these people and their views are, when this is all finished.
Bodega says
Amazing, isn’t it? We are so close to Orwell’s “1984”. I think Stanford and its administrators ought to step in and straighten it out. But like administrators in almost every college or university where Spencer has spoken they take the craven’s way out. I think the gov, USA, that is, ought to stop any governmental funding of such universities. Let them think it over for awhile as to what “freedom of speech means”.
Lookmann says
Stupid MSM and its workforce……..
Not worthy to comment upon
Krazy Kafir says
Never tire of demonstrating the leftist dhimmi media’s willful lies, or incompetence.
Sons of Liberty says
Exactly Krazy Kafir ! I did some research of my own on RICHARD SPENCER , the so -called WHITE SUPREMACIST . Did you know that he attended the liberal University of Virginia …and his major ..was …English Literature and Music ! Seriously ? Does that sound LIKE A WHITE SUPREMACIST curriculum ? Considering all the trouble he stirred up at Virginia in Charlottesville this year it seems to me ,….this guy could be a Marxist PLANT used by ANTIFA to stir up race violence. This guy shows up virtually out of nowhere and organizes a Nazi like , Nuremburg TORCH MARCH …JUST WHEN THE MOVE TO TEAR DOWN Confederate statues is starting up ! Sorry , but for me THAT IS JUST TOO MUCH OF A COINCIDENCE ! So, it doesn’t surprise me that the left wing would use this guy to stir up trouble before Robert Spencer’s speech. I wouldn’t be surprised if he actually shows up right before the scheduled event to work with ANTIFA to shut it down or at LEAST CAUSE VIOLENCE. Too much coincidence here .
Sons of Liberty says
The Nazis used this same kind of strategy to start WWII , when they had Germans dress up like POLISH SOLDIERS and attack Germans near the border with Poland . That gave them justification to invade Poland . Putin used the same kind of strategy in Eastern Ukraine to move in and take the Crimean. A typical TOTALITARIAN strategy to cause VIOLENCE and use it for their ultimate goal. In the current US environment the Marxists are using it to cause race clashes and make our Country unstable under President Trump. These people are ALL WORKING TOGETHER ,…including ,..THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD.
Terry Gain says
Richard, Robert. Close enough. At this point what difference does it make? /s
Sons of Liberty says
Refer to my comment above …about what it can lead to ,…that is ” what difference does it make”.
Sam says
We are in a war to death with communists and Islam. That is it. I believe we have to change our fight strategy as conservatives. I do not know what it maybe. The only thing I know is that liberals are not ready to listen to the truth about conservatism or Islam. I am convinced that trying to educate brainwashed liberals about Islam is an effective strategy as we are losing our freedom faster and faster.
livingengine says
Here is NBC Bay Area promoting CAIR’s bullying report. Notice that NBC never tells you CAIR was sued in San Diego for exactly the same business. NBC never tells you that part. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Study-Shows-Rise-in-Bullying-of-Muslim-Students-at-California-Schools-454191033.html
CAIR sued in San Diego.
http://www.10news.com/news/parents-file-lawsuit-over-san-diego-unified-school-district-muslim-anti-bullying-program
gravenimage says
Thank you–I had missed that ugly report.
Infidel says
U are cool as always Robert and U will always be cool to me and a class act and above all a thorough gentleman..Many Hindus love and respect U for the thankless work U do… With love and respects…
Benedict says
“Bring in someone who is a scholar, please. But not this man.” –
If Robert Spencer is so unqualified how much easier will it not be to expose him as an amateur and make him a public laughingstock?
These Stanford chickens suffer from Spencer-oh-phobia. Have a debate — and may the best chicken win.
underbed cat says
My bet is on Robert Spencer……if you want the facts and a little humor thrown in now and then……he knows the source doctrine( expertly in my opinion)…can’t do better than that unless you prefer the fantasy islam…..well then seek out the ex-pres. who couldn’t tell you the truth. And why was that…..good question. Learn about the quran and sharia laws, tacqqya, the MB, and the islamic version of tolerance…….it’s darkness and double speak will be sure to give you bad dreams. Best defense is information.
Benedict says
My bet is also on RS, and he is certainly not a chicken having suffered death threats and poisoning without backing out.
ErwinD says
My bet is also on RS, and he is certainly not a chicken having suffered death threats and poisoning without backing out.
Custos Custodum says
Real science – whether hard sciences or humanities (a dying concept – not the same as “Studies”) – is about verifiable evidence and testable hypotheses.
An 8-year old with the right idea and observations may prevail over a whole congress of bought-and-paid-for professional “scientists.”
RCCA says
Please be extra vigilant for your safety, lots of crazies in the area, this area is crazy central.
The Mercury News also ran a piece on your visit: http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/11/08/free-speech-controversy-spreads-to-stanford/
I’m certain your lecture will be a fantastic event. I think it’s cool that you are finally appearing in the Bay Area. Wish it were open to the public.
With all the videos you have posted on youtube it’s hard for me to believe anyone would accuse you of not being knowledgeable about Islam. I think the opposite is true, they feel exposed. This one really exposes the moderate Muslim community: https://youtu.be/QwxyeFm6UVw
Shmoovie says
“I think the opposite is true, they feel exposed.”
Exactly.
Robert Spencer can’t make these whiners ‘feel’ anything, least of all threatened. He has no control over their feelings, he has not spoken nor written anything to indicate he intends/desires harm to a single soul, and they cannot prove otherwise. They want him to shut up and go away, and he won’t; THEY are tearing THEIR hair out over his right to be where they don’t want him, and to say what they don’t want to hear.
Disgusting dishonesty from NBC.
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
Ya gotta respect the Eyewitness News people. They wouldn’t get hired to such important jobs if they weren’t sharp people. And, just in case, they have absolutely no capability for embarrassment. Maybe the news crew all went to Stanford.
MFritz says
Bay Area Network – not only very biased but also very stupid!
eduardo odraude says
F’ing morons.
Here’s a video in which David Wood demonstrates how unbelievably incompetent major media outlets are when it comes to Islam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYYPz3DDPFU
eduardo odraude says
Here’s another video in which David Wood proves the utter foolishness the media often presents about Islam. This time the victim is ABC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ma1RNR2YqQ
eduardo odraude says
The “journalist” writes that Spencer has written “several” books. Oh really? Like three or four, you mean?
Let’s correct the poor “journalist,” shall we?
The number is over a dozen books. Depending on how you count, sixteen or more.
Very hard for journalists to tell the truth, isn’t it?
DRHazard says
All of these attempts to demonize, minimize, ridicule and shut down ideological opponents of the left reveal much more about THEM then about any of their “targets”. This is the first time I’ve heard Robert’s absence of “officially recognized” scholarship being used. I am sure that the person writing that would have no problem at all with a high school dropout, ex drug addict, convicted violent offender to speak, as long as he agreed with their opinions. Besides, their not interested in scholarship when it comes to Islam, they just want somebody who tows the line.
Ashley says
I NEVER confuse Robert with Richard Spencer!
On occasion I confuse Robert with my heartthrob, Tracy Spencer. NEVER Richard.
gravenimage says
🙂
Fred H says
What this proves, if proof were ever needed, is that the leftist, pro-Islam movements are fundamentally anti-intellectual. In other words, they are not based on rational thought but rather on something much more primitive and sinister: hate. As such, they are a throwback to a barbaric era and therefore just like Nazism and of course, the violent, hypertrophied cult of Islam itself, represent a mortal threat to Judeo-Christian civilisation.
Arthur says
This could be a real blessing in disguise. Some Antifa nut hell-bent on beating Robert Spencer up will probably knock-out some unfortunate bystander 15 years younger because of the photo mixup.
Take great care with your safety Robert! You are not expendable in the fight against Islamic supremacy! We need you!
gravenimage says
I know you mean this humorously, but I don’t want to see *anyone* fall victim to Muslim violence.
David says
You could have returned her “mistake” of confusing your photo with that of a proud nazi by “mistakenly” publishing a photo of Eva Braun in your article about her?
I know, you’re too much of a gentleman to stoop that low.
Darn.
Lydia says
I’ll bet that was no accident!
St. Manuel II Palaiologos says
Did Robert Spencer change his religion? Or is he making the faux distinction between Greek Catholics and Roman Catholics? I personally think this is disingenuous, but I digress.
gravenimage says
Actually, there are some differences between Melkite Greek Catholics–as Robert Spencer is–and Roman Catholics.
This is hardly his main point, though.
gravenimage says
NBC Bay Area runs photo of Richard Spencer with story about Robert Spencer event at Stanford
………………………..
Well, this is just appalling.
unbeliever 1 says
Bull. This “error” was done on purpose.
underbed cat says
Great idea switch photo to create huge protests? Very clever for the left leaning to cause disruption. Well maybe Robert the next time walk on stage as an imam….get huge tame crowds and then quote the quran and call the event the truth telling imam. I am sure you will get tons of support and invited to Hawaii or to CNN or maybe even Puerto Rico or Virginia. Of course this is just a humorous suggestion called taqiyya…..to protect the so so sensitive flakes.
Pnina Judith says
I think it was deliberate
John S. Obeda says
My, oh my oh my; what Robert Spencer has to go through and he goes patiently and even compassionately when he even takes the time to write to students. We pray that God will continue to protect him and keep his mind sharp and heart throbbing for the welfare of the country. God bless us so that we do not lose our Republic and liberty and freedom. It surely is possible to lose it. We’re already losing free speech.
gravenimage says
Robert Spencer is a great hero of mine, John. He is brave, principled, indefatigable, and has the patience of a saint!