Out of the hundreds of novelty and memorabilia items available in the exhibition hall, a few “virulently anti-Muslim” stickers were attributed with central significance: “No Muslims – No Terrorism” was cited. The only picture of the entire conference worth printing in the Post was that of a display showing the word “ISLAM” with a swastika substituted for the ‘S.’

Some remaining items that the Post reporter sneeringly characterized as “more tasteful” included stamps saying, “WANTED! Crimes Against Children” that included a picture of Janet Reno bearing a further caption: “A.K.A. The Butcher of Waco.” There were even items “supporting the Confederate flag and such.” How horrible!

The anti-Muslim items were reportedly removed before the first speaker, Vice President Cheney ascended the podium. Also not present for the first speech apparently was our hero the Post reporter. Nothing else of the three-day conference found its way into print.
Accuracy In Media was present at the Conference in its entirety, with two of our writers holding book-signings and a booth set up featuring an extensive display of conservative-oriented merchandise [it’s also available on-line]. Anti-Muslim sentiment was not only not the theme there; it only existed in that one vendor’s booth! After reading the Post article on the second day, I went to each vendor to find out who was the bonehead selling the now notorious “ISLAM” sticker.

All of the other vendors that I approached were shocked at the stupidity of offering such a message and insisted that it wasn’t them. The offending vendor was eventually found (who will not be given publicity here), and I confronted her about it: “Thanks a lot,” I began, “you just defined the entire conference with that sticker of yours! If they hadn’t been given such an easy target, The Post probably wouldn’t have printed anything about us at all!” She seemed to be a nice lady, but was unrepentant. She explained that the intention was to emphasize the fascist imagery that the President associated with the likes of Saddam.

I admonished her that the bumper sticker made no mention of Saddam - it instead made a clear implication that she, and through association all of the rest of us, believed the entire religion of Islam to be comparable to Nazism. She protested that this was not so. Remembering Salman Rushdie, I began to try to explain why this was unwise, but she had a customer and I had to get back to our booth.

There are many Americans who are frustrated over the tepid criticism that the Islamic community has made of terrorism. All to often, the deliberate and indiscriminate killing of men, women and children is excused by many prominent Muslims [and others] as being merely overreactions to far more grievous outrages committed by the US, such as supporting Israel. We all saw Muslims dancing on our TV screens when told of the slaughter of September the 11th. We are left to wonder how many others did so off-screen. Nonetheless, most Americans are generous and logical enough not to characterize terrorism as an essential attribute of Islam.

What would be reported of the opposing version of such a conference? Indeed, what would a Leftist Political Action Committee meeting be like? Actually, those happen quite frequently. They are usually held in the streets of a major city. The newspaper boxes, trashcans and other objects that can be used as missiles are of necessity removed beforehand. Police in riot gear are emplaced before offices and storefronts to prevent vandalism and looting.

CPAC was opened and closed each day with the singing of the National Anthem. The Leftist version is typically punctuated throughout with flag-burnings. Disparagement of religion is also a feature at these gatherings as well, including such things as Christian symbols pelted with or immersed in bodily excreta. The Post and its ilk go out of their way to avoid having any of this being disseminated to the general public, choosing instead to show only such segments as those showing idealistic youthful cohorts gathering to sing “Cumbaya.”

If the display of a few ill-chosen bumper stickers were the worst transgressions that the Leftist press could find at a conservative conference...

The Leftist press has such contempt and distrust for its readership that it would be inconceivable for them to merely present the topics discussed, the analysis offered and the conclusions drawn in a news report without commentary. This Post article is the very definition of bias: ignoring any information or occurrence that fails to adhere to a certain point of view and over-emphasizing that which does. The myopic coverage displayed aptly reinforces the thesis behind the very existence of watchdogs such as Accuracy In Media.