Lowlife Who Pirated My Video Apologizes for Smearing Michele Bachmann

Posted on | August 30, 2011 | 126 Comments

Nothing like an attorney’s letter to produce contrition:

I want to apologize for misusing Stacey Robert McCain’s original video . . . I was angry so I decided to take Mrs. Bachmann’s line out of context to make her seem more overtly racist in light of her recent signing of that Iowa marriage pledge that said black children were better off under slavery than in Obama’s America. Whether or not I dislike Michele Bachmann, it wasn’t right to deliver a dishonest blow like that. I wanted to apologize to Mr. McCain and all of you directly. . . .
I have removed the video from my Youtube channel.

My attorney is considering what further action will be necessary, and I have contacted the Bachmann campaign. There are two injured parties, you see. This “On Knees” blogger’s claim that his misleading distortion of Bachmann’s speech was retaliation for her having signed the Iowa marriage pledge is rather interesting in terms of demonstrating malice. But Bachmann’s potential claim for libelous defamation is irrelevant to my potential claim of copyright infringement in having my video pirated for such a purpose.

UPDATE: Welcome, Instapundit readers!

Category: Michele Bachmann

Comments

126 Responses to “Lowlife Who Pirated My Video Apologizes for Smearing Michele Bachmann”

Jehuda
August 30th, 2011 @ 4:46 pm

Well done, R.S. I hope Bachmann pursues legal action as well. She has the actual malice requirement covered, as you point out.
Scott Marquardt
August 30th, 2011 @ 4:58 pm

Some commenters on the villain’s blog are making the mistake of thinking the blogger is a Christian, and thus a “hypocrite.”

Not really. The blog could be thought of as a mashup of false flag / satire, I guess — inept at any rate.But the entry on the profile page should leave little doubt about the blogger’s lack of faith: “My life is all about getting on my knees and faithfully servicing Jesus until He comes.”

I dunno whether a lawsuit or a straightjacket would be a better fit.
Scott Marquardt
August 30th, 2011 @ 4:58 pm

Some commenters on the villain’s blog are making the mistake of thinking the blogger is a Christian, and thus a “hypocrite.”

Not really. The blog could be thought of as a mashup of false flag / satire, I guess — inept at any rate.But the entry on the profile page should leave little doubt about the blogger’s lack of faith: “My life is all about getting on my knees and faithfully servicing Jesus until He comes.”

I dunno whether a lawsuit or a straightjacket would be a better fit.
Scott Marquardt
August 30th, 2011 @ 4:58 pm

Some commenters on the villain’s blog are making the mistake of thinking the blogger is a Christian, and thus a “hypocrite.”

Not really. The blog could be thought of as a mashup of false flag / satire, I guess — inept at any rate.But the entry on the profile page should leave little doubt about the blogger’s lack of faith: “My life is all about getting on my knees and faithfully servicing Jesus until He comes.”

I dunno whether a lawsuit or a straightjacket would be a better fit.
Scott Marquardt
August 30th, 2011 @ 4:58 pm

Some commenters on the villain’s blog are making the mistake of thinking the blogger is a Christian, and thus a “hypocrite.”

Not really. The blog could be thought of as a mashup of false flag / satire, I guess — inept at any rate.But the entry on the profile page should leave little doubt about the blogger’s lack of faith: “My life is all about getting on my knees and faithfully servicing Jesus until He comes.”

I dunno whether a lawsuit or a straightjacket would be a better fit.
KidHandsome
August 30th, 2011 @ 4:59 pm

Seemed like an unqualified apology to me. I’m not sure I need my pound of flesh. At worst, I’d have him pay any fees you incurred in consultation with your attorney.

Let it go. There are better things to do than obtain revenge on someone with the mentality of a pre-teen.

I’m not certain the world is better off when we all refuse to accept apologies.
t-dahlgren
August 30th, 2011 @ 5:08 pm

If it were just the principle I’d say go for the jugular, but I’m sure your attorney can give you a round figure of how much getting to the judgement is going to cost.
t-dahlgren
August 30th, 2011 @ 5:08 pm

If it were just the principle I’d say go for the jugular, but I’m sure your attorney can give you a round figure of how much getting to the judgement is going to cost.
t-dahlgren
August 30th, 2011 @ 5:08 pm

If it were just the principle I’d say go for the jugular, but I’m sure your attorney can give you a round figure of how much getting to the judgement is going to cost.
Anonymous
August 30th, 2011 @ 5:10 pm

+1
Anonymous
August 30th, 2011 @ 5:10 pm

+1
Tom Armstrong
August 30th, 2011 @ 5:13 pm

I want to agree, but there is a significant difference between an apology made upon deep reflection and realization of your own error, versus an apology made in response to the threat of legal action.
His explanation, “I was angry at her… blah, blah, blah”, reminds me of the hippy in Forrest Gump who beats Jenny and explains that he can’t help himself ‘cuz of “that damn President Johnson”… He got what he had coming too…
Black Flag Unfurled
August 30th, 2011 @ 5:22 pm

Please hound this guy mercilessly. No quarter.
Ken
August 30th, 2011 @ 5:23 pm

May I make a suggestion? It might be more cost-effective to print the low-life’s name and address.
Anonymous
August 30th, 2011 @ 5:23 pm

I was angry so I decided to take Mrs. Bachmann’s line out of context to make her seem more overtly racist in light of her recent signing of that Iowa marriage pledge that said black children were better off under slavery than in Obama’s America.

Dude, if you don’t want to apologize, just say so. What is it with liberals and these non-apology apologies?

Liberals like to consider themselves “sophisticated” – however, there is a big difference between sophistry and sophistication.
Bruce Rheinstein
August 30th, 2011 @ 5:26 pm

Don’t forget Ken Layne and Gawker for republishing the video. Always go for the deep pockets.
TT
August 30th, 2011 @ 5:27 pm

I agree. There is a SIGNIFICANT difference. Not only that, but forgiving the infraction does not automatically equate with being excused from punishment. That’s why these things keep happening when there are few, if any, consequences to malicious action.
Jack
August 30th, 2011 @ 5:41 pm

That was not an apology. I repeat, that was NOT an apology.
Anonymous
August 30th, 2011 @ 5:51 pm

You are wrong. If there is no consequence then the next liberal will do the same thing and then offer a cheap apology. Madow and Shultz do it nightly and as far as I know they are not being sued but only respond to “Peer” criticisms. The internet has some growing up to do and the best way to do that is to sue the pants off of violators. Do you remember Limewire and Napster music copying companies? They are gone now because of law suits of a few violators and for no other reason. I personally think that any internet commenter must use their own name is a good law. This would cut down on the number of mean and vicious statements made in total anonymity.
Bill Gryan
August 30th, 2011 @ 5:53 pm

I disagree. Make him accountable for his actions. Accountability is something we need to teach people. You will be doing him a favor, and teaching others an important lesson. Donate the settlement to the political candidate of your choice.
nicholas
August 30th, 2011 @ 6:00 pm

I confess I did kipe the Reagan McCain Earthquake Victim Interview, but I was quick to point out the source, and encouraged people to hit the tip jar, so I’m hoping I will avoid the letter from Stace’s lawyers.
Anonymous
August 30th, 2011 @ 6:04 pm

Bring back dueling, attorneys are expensive.
The Wondering Jew
August 30th, 2011 @ 6:06 pm

mmm. . . pass the popcorn please 🙂
Anonymous
August 30th, 2011 @ 6:07 pm

more overtly racist

more. overtly. racist ?

Yikes.
Rlynh
August 30th, 2011 @ 6:22 pm

I say make an example. Angry distortion seems to be the MO of leftists, and they aren’t going to stop until they realize how it can hurt them. They’ve gotten away with it for far too long.
Anonymous
August 30th, 2011 @ 6:35 pm

Of course it wasn’t. It was a way to get in another cheap “racist” shot, making up a new false smear that will be picked up by the leftlings, and getting McCain off his back at the same time. He knew that if McCain printed his “apology” letter, he’d get that free shot out into the blogoshere as well. It wasn’t done out of any shame, because leftists are unfamiliar with the concept. If McCain had “edited” that part out, he would have had his attorney send a letter to McCain about selective editing.

Imagine this “apology”:
“I’m so abjectly sorry, truly and sincerely, for having said your wife is ugly. I was angry, and if I had known that you would beat her even more severely than usual because I said it, I never would have done so”.
Adjoran
August 30th, 2011 @ 6:38 pm

It all depends on who exactly the guy is, and who is in the website with him (because if he has partners, the one with the deepest pockets is the target).

That should not be too hard to determine, run a credit check on him/them/the business and see if there is anything to take. Since it is unlikely the guy made any money off the video, you are not going to get his house and 401 (k) as compensation.

If it turns out to be George Soros’ hobby site, though, the kinfolk will tell you, “Stace, move away from there!” They’ll say “Kalifornny is the place you oughtter be” so you’ll load up the truck and move to Beverly.

Hills, that is. Kardashians. Lohans. Sheens.
Zilla of the Resistance
August 30th, 2011 @ 6:43 pm

So I see The Blaze has picked up the story but FAILED to mention Robert Stacy McCain or link to TOM despite using the video. Shame on them, they give all the credit to Mediate.
Here’s the link, if I could remember my password to comment at The Blaze, I’d go an yell at them:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/was-bachmann-clip-edited-out-of-context-to-make-her-look-racist/
Fenrisulven
August 30th, 2011 @ 7:02 pm

Turn him into an object lesson for the others.
DaveO
August 30th, 2011 @ 7:11 pm

It wasn’t an apology. His alleged apology contained another smear (“…her [Bachmann] recent signing of that Iowa marriage pledge that said black children were better off under slavery than in Obama’s America.”) of Mrs. Bachmann being racist.

Apologies, to be sincere, must never contain another, equally reprehensible insult.
Test
August 30th, 2011 @ 7:33 pm

Why not start an attorney’s fund on kickstarter?
Jonathan Poletti
August 30th, 2011 @ 7:34 pm

I love how he says “more overtly racist,” another slander. Is he protecting the gay issue which is his actual concern?
TO2012
August 30th, 2011 @ 7:35 pm

It also here too and your point would be? Soemthing wrong? LITIGATE.

http://www.teamobama2012.com/2011/08/mbwhitefolks.html
Anonymous
August 30th, 2011 @ 7:40 pm

Tear him a new one.
Quilly Mammoth
August 30th, 2011 @ 7:59 pm

Of course they didn’t. That’s what Beck and Blaze _do_. Why do think the Brietbart feud happened? Beck and company are sloppy about attribution they always have been.
Robert Hansen
August 30th, 2011 @ 8:18 pm

If I may make a suggestion, have you considered shaking the tipjar specifically for funding your legal actions? I suspect many readers would be inclined to throw in some change, especially if it was specifically earmarked for such a thing.
Neal Scroggs
August 30th, 2011 @ 8:34 pm

The person to contact and bring to court is
Lee Andrew
31 Via Vignola
6900 Lugano, Switzerland
Zilla of the Resistance
August 30th, 2011 @ 8:35 pm

Yeahm I genreally don’t bother with that place, mainly because they are over run with trolls and do nothing about it, i only noticed it because they send automated emails that I normally delete and I happened to recognize that they were talking about STACY’S story so I went to see, and of course, saw no mention of him.
Non-linking, non-crediting bastards! Didn’t Beck do that to our friend Jimmie Bise too?
Neal Scroggs
August 30th, 2011 @ 8:42 pm

Another ass to kick with a nice lawyer’s cease and desist is:
Lee Andrew (aka spqr1052 on youtube.com) 31 Via Vignola, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
Lady Liberty 1885
August 30th, 2011 @ 8:49 pm

Indeed. This also happened to iOwnTheWorld a few times recently as well. Cite your sources or direct link to the work you want people to see, folks 😀
Laika's Last Woof
August 30th, 2011 @ 8:50 pm

Our Spencer Ackerman wannabe doctored a video — complete with libelous false quotes in the captions — to falsely impugn Michelle Bachmann as a racist. Had he been successful it would have destroyed her career. For that matter it would destroy yours as well were you the target: every time a potential employer Googled your name there it would be, the Scarlet Letter of the postmodern age, surgically attached to your reputation thanks to a malicious fake video.

Set aside how you feel about Bachmann the candidate (she’s down at #6 on my list, right under Newt Gingrich) and think about the implications of letting these vile slanders go unpunished: if doctoring videos and making up slanderous quotes to make innocent victims appear racist have no consequences these heinous attacks will only multiply.

Like you I abhor the very thought of revenge. Revenge is irrational and heedlessly destructive, the mark of a degenerate mind.

This isn’t about revenge; it’s about deterrence.
Anonymous
August 30th, 2011 @ 8:58 pm

I am, nothing is less sincere than almost all apologies.
TO2012
August 30th, 2011 @ 9:19 pm

And I am waiting .. cause I am so afraid. NOT!
Anonymous
August 30th, 2011 @ 9:49 pm

DO NOT LET THIS GUY OFF.
Leftist Blogger Smears Bachmann With Video Ripped-Off From Stacy McCain [Updated Below] « The Camp Of The Saints
August 30th, 2011 @ 5:59 pm

[…] offers his thoughts here on the non-apology apology. Share this:TwitterEmailFacebookMoreStumbleUponRedditDiggLike […]
Daily scoreboard « Don Surber
August 30th, 2011 @ 6:02 pm

[…] 17. From Robert Stacy McCain: “Lowlife Who Pirated My Video Apologizes for Smearing Michele Bachmann.” […]
Bill
August 30th, 2011 @ 10:03 pm

Nail him. He needs to be made an example of, whether he “apologizes” or not. A message needs to be sent in this Internet-crazed, twisty-words, malice aforethought–world that some people will stand up to defend themselves against stuff like this (and they should all be conservatives, to start).

He should be pursued by both aggrieved parties, and found guilty by both courts.

Then he can be put to use sweeping Michele’s campaign office floors …. or taking out Mr. McCain’s trash – AFTER a financial settlement, of course.
Send A Letter My Lawyer…Send it To The Lowlife Who Misused My Video « That Mr. G Guy's Blog
August 30th, 2011 @ 6:33 pm

[…] Lowlife Who Pirated My Video Apologizes for Smearing Michele Bachmann. […]
nicholas
August 30th, 2011 @ 10:57 pm

What you have recorded there is a person giving their personal testimony. She says it was great to have people praying for her, and that she came to have an intimate knowledge, awareness or relationship if you will with her savior. Millions of people here in the states have a similar story to tell. This is not shocking stuff.

As to your analysis of the Bible story she is referring to, your understanding here also seems to be lacking. She is speaking of the story of Jonathon and his armor bearer, not Jonathon and David. What’s more, the Bible story of friendship between Jonathon and David which you speak of at length is one of the great stories of friendship in the Bible. It is not a story of gay-man-love as you contend. For that matter, not every story you read about freindship between men should be construed as a story of gay-man-love. Next you’ll be telling us that Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson were secret gay lovers. Please.

“Michele Bachmann is absolutely not top tier.”

Based on what you have there, there is nothing to be said against Michele Bachman.
Tom Williamson
August 31st, 2011 @ 12:32 am

Kneeling Boy’s BS stunt made it as far as CBS News today. I’d say that’s worth some punitive damages, for you and Michelle Bachmann:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504943_162-20099408-10391715.html