Addressing Jay Ramras' Slander

Anti-Semitism

I am personally insulted by Rep. Ramras' claim that the volunteers who contribute to this website are in any way "anti-Semites." As the founder of this website, I think Rep. Ramras should be made aware of my background. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. As a child, I grew up and played with children of all backgrounds. My neighborhood, as well as greater Brooklyn, is made up of families from all ethnic backgrounds, including those who worship in the Jewish faith. I attended a public school in New York City. Let me repeat that: I attended a public school in New York City. My classmates came from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, therefore I grew up in an environment in which ethnic backgrounds mattered little. For Ramras to slander this website as anti-Semitic is incredibly offensive to myself and the others who write for C4P.

Ramras should be made aware that one of the contributors to the site, Adam Brickley (who is basically responsible for Gov. Palin's selection as John McCain's running-mate), is a practicing Jew. During the Letterman debacle, Adam pointed out that Letterman engaged in a anti-Semitic slur:

This little joke is rightly overshadowed by the outrage over Letterman's perverted sexual 'humor', but I cannot let this issue die without going back to item #3 from the "Top 10 Highlights of Sarah Palin's Trip to New York":

3. Finally met one of those Jewish people Mel Gibson's always talking about

Maybe I'm a little oversensitive about these things, but as both a Palin supporter and a practitioner of Judaism...well...Let's just say that I would tell you how I felt, but that would require me to use a long string of Yiddish profanity and this is a family friendly site.

Now, I ask this to Rep. Ramras: Would Adam Brickley willingly contribute to a website if he felt that the editors of said website were anti-Semitic?

Ramras's slander also brings up another point that needs to be addressed. This world is full of genuine anti-Semites. Rep. Ramras should target his displeasure at those in the world who seriously engage in ethnic slurs against Jews. I suggest that the representative might focus on real anti-Semitism and fight it, instead of using it as a straw man argument to smear volunteers who are interested in clean and open government.

Also, why in the world would a group of anti-Semites support a politician such as Governor Palin? Governor Palin is a strong supporter of Israel. She even has an Israeli flag in her office.

Outsiders

Rep. Ramras believes that because C4P is not based in Alaska, or that because the majority of writers do not have a connection to Alaska, that the facts revealed by R.A. Mansour are not significant. Again, like the anti-Semitism slander, this is a straw man argument that does not address Ramras' situation regarding BP stock. He has used this argument in his appearances on radio shows in order to deflect questions.

Ramras' behavior in this regard is similar to criticizing Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" because he was not a native American. Alexis de Tocqueville is an accepted source on information in the field of American political science. Any first year student in a political science department reads de Tocqueville's works. Another historical comparison can be made to James Madison. Madison is regarded as the "Father of the Constituion." Should Madison have concerned himself only with Virginia? The Constitution is a blend of governmental ideas that come from a variety of states.

I must also ask this of Rep. Ramras: When the New York Times or Conde Nast Portfolio writes a negative article on Governor Palin, why do you always grant them an interview? The New York Times is not based in Alaska. What is their business in Alaska? Please explain the difference between the two.

Would the arguments made against you hold water if one of us were living in Alaska? Do you always engage in such straw man arguments? Why do you feel the need to hit every Alaskan radio program and media outlet, if, as you claimed on the radio this morning, you don't care about what is written on the site?

Professionalism

Another claim by Rep. Ramras is that Conservatives4Palin is some kind of a professional (read: paid) organization. Ramras is wrong again. Let me tell you the story of how this website began:

Shortly after the election, I started a personal blog in which I attempted to defend Governor Palin from the attacks originating from both the McCain campaign and the media. In December of 2008, I purchased the domain name for 10 measly dollars.

The website has a sharp, professional look because the people who contribute here are sharp and intelligent, and we spent the time coming up with a favorable format that would appear organized and appeal to the eye. At no point has any one of the contributors here received any money from anybody for their writing. Ramras asked on the Bob and Mark show how it was that we had the time to run the website. Well, here is the short answer: I started the website as a college student and I own a laptop. Therefore, I can bring the laptop with me to class and update the website as breaking news develops. Many of the contributors to the website have their own professional careers, and volunteer their time when they are able to do so. They volunteer their time because they support Governor Sarah Palin.

Ramras, makes the claim that C4P is "sneaky" and operates in the "shadows." I find it humorous that he makes this claim when every one of our big articles are written by those who place their name right at the top of the article. I have appeared on the Eddie Burke show, and R.A. Mansour has been mentioned in Alaska media and conducted interviews on numerous occasions. I think what Ramras is trying to say is that C4P must be receiving some kind of direction from the Palin administration. That is total nonsense. The information that we posted on Rep. Ramras is available in the public record. We simply took the time to look it up. Don't blame us because we do the work that the mainstream media will not do.

I must ask yet another question of Rep. Ramras: Do you make the same claims regarding the liberal bloggers who work together to file ethics complaints against Governor Palin? Do you wonder if they are receiving guidance from the Democratic National Committee or the Obama administration?

And while we are on the subject, I would like to point out something that Ramras said today on the radio regarding his "disapproval" of those filing ethics complaints. On the Bob & Mark Show this morning, Ramras called the frivolous ethics complaints "garbage." However, during his questioning of Palin AG nominee Wayne Anthony Ross, Ramras brought up these ethic complaints and didn't call them "garbage" then:

Ramras: "We have a Governor who is provocative in a lot of her actions. Recently it comes to mind when she was in Fairbanks for the finish line for the Iron Dog she was wearing Arctic Cat gear...Arctic Cat letters..."

He also once felt that Governor Palin's book would result in an ethics complaint:

Fairbanks Republican Rep. Jay Ramras has suggested the Alaska Department of Law produce a legal opinion specifically on whether Palin could leave the state for a book tour. The law department has looked into whether the governor having a book contract conflicts with the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Acts, including its prohibition on accepting outside "employment for compensation."

It is apparent that Rep. Ramras finds it okay to take shots at Governor Palin, but doesn't like it when someone questions his ethics. Unlike his strange speculation about hypothetical Palin ethics violations for things she hasn't even done yet, all of the information that we posted on Ramras' BP stock is factually based and available in the public record.

Ramras engages in childish behavior when it comes to Governor Palin (including his sexist "V bomb" jokes). Look at the comment he made before departing on a tax-payer funded trip to New York City:

Ramras said the contingent will be “a nice collection of Alaskans to maybe make a cycle through the New York papers, and a nice way to try and keep Sarah Palin a little honest.”

Hey, Jay, we are just trying to keep you a little honest.

I would also like to note Rep. Ramras' bizarre statements that because he is only a "citizen legislator" he is somehow allowed to behave in a less than stellar fashion when it comes to government. I wonder if Rep. Ramras is aware of the praise that James Madison heaped on "citizen legislators," when he said:

The members of the legislative department...are numerous. They are distributed and dwell among the people at large. Their connections of blood, of friendship, and of acquaintance embrace a great proportion of the most influential part of the society...they are more immediately the confidential guardians of their rights and liberties.

You got that, Jay? Mr. Madison believes that the members of the legislature are the "most confidential guardians of the People's right and liberties."

And another thing: Stop slandering me and the people who contribute to this website.