MISSOURI: Self-Described "Killer" Cop Who Pushed Don Lemon Suspended After Racist, Anti-Gay Rant Surfaces

CNN reports:

A Missouri police officer involved in maintaining security in troubled Ferguson was put on administrative leave Friday after a video surfaced showing him railing about the Supreme Court, Muslims, and his past -- and perhaps, he said, his future -- as "a killer." The officer, Dan Page of the St. Louis County Police Department, became something of a familiar face to many earlier this month when video showed him pushing back CNN's Don Lemon and others in a group in Ferguson. At the time, CNN was reporting on the large-scale and at times violent protests calling for the arrest of a white Ferguson police officer who shot and killed African-American teenager Michael Brown.

In his rambling remarks on the video, he talks about what he describes as a draft replacement for the U.S. Constitution, the "four sodomites on the Supreme Court," and a visit to Kenya "to our undocumented President's home." He refers to Barack Obama as "that illegal alien who claims to be our President." Page frequently references violence, including nine combat tours in the Army, during which he did "my fair share of killing." Speaking about Muslims, he says pointedly: "They will kill you." On domestic disputes, he opines: "You don't like each other that much, just kill each other and get it over with. Problem solved. Get it done." On urban violence, he predicts that "when the inner cities start to ignite, people are going to start killing people they don't like."

And lastly, Page says, "I personally believe the Lord Jesus Christ is my savior, but I'm also a killer. I've killed a lot and, if I need to, I will kill a whole bunch more. If you don't want to get killed, don't show up in front of me." Belmar, the head of the St. Louis County police department, said all the talk about killing was especially disturbing to him. "As a police chief, that's something I'm not going to be able to endure," Belmar said.

Page's speech was made before the St. Louis chapter of Oath Keepers, which describes itself on its website:

Oath Keepers is a non-partisan association of current and formerly serving military, reserves, National Guard, veterans, Peace Officers, and Fire Fighters who will fulfill the Oath we swore, with the support of like minded citizens who take an Oath to stand with us, to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, so help us God. Our Oath is to the Constitution.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has issued several reports on the Oath Keepers, who were part of the militia showdown at the Bundy Ranch.

VIDEOS: The first report below is from CNN. In the second clip, Memeographs has excerpted some of Page's anti-gay comments. The final clip is the full video, which was found by Crooks & Liars.



RELATED: Another infamous member of the Oath Keepers is the former Pennsylvania sheriff who earned national headlines for his machine-gun-firing tirades while wearing a "Liberals Take It In The Ass" t-shirt.

Fox Anchor Shep Smith Attends LGBT Journo Gala, Does Not Come Out

Last week I reported that Fox anchor Shep Smith was the list of attendees for the annual gala held by the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, which was held last night in NYC. As you can see from Don Lemon's selfie above, Smith did attend. But he did not come out despite being confronted by a reporter from the Washington Blade.

“I’m going to walk over here,” he said as the Washington Blade asked him about his sexual orientation during NLGJA’s Headlines and Headliners fundraiser at the Prince George Ballroom in Manhattan. A Gawker reporter with whom the Blade spoke outside the venue said Smith took a picture of him with his cell phone as he walked to his car. The Fox News anchor rushed past the reporter as he tried to ask him questions. Blade Editor Kevin Naff outed Smith in 2005 after Smith hit on him in a Manhattan bar. That incident was featured in the documentary film “Outrage;” he recounted the experience earlier this month. “Our company’s the sponsor,” Smith told the Blade. “I’m really happy to be here and it’s great to see a lot of old friends.

(Via Towleroad)

Gregg Jarrett Vs Don Lemon, Round Two

Fox News host Gregg Jarrett is continuing his battle with CNN's Don Lemon over the result of Florida's "loud music" murder trial.

Jarrett told Fox News Radio’s John Gibson that he may be an old man, but Lemon shouldn’t look down on that, because “I bring to the table a lot of experience that he utterly lacks,” suggesting Lemon could “use a measure of maturity.” He concluded, “I think he’s the Al Sharpton on CNN.” Later in the day, Jarrett continued slamming Lemon during an appearance with Megyn Kelly. He said Lemon “set aside all measure of objectivity and he acted on-air as judge, jury, and executioner.” It “incensed” him, Jarrett added, that Lemon “had the audacity to claim, on-air, that he knows better than these jurors.” He suggested if Lemon wants a forum to share his opinions on legal matters, he should “have a talk show” instead.

Don Lemon Vs Fox Host Gregg Jarrett

Lemon is angry about the hung jury in the trial of a white man who shot a black teenager to death at a Florida gas station, allegedly over the loud music coming from the teen's SUV. The man was convicted on three lesser charges of attempted murder, one for each of the other teens in the car, but the jury could not agree on the primary charge of first degree murder of the 17 year-old driver.

Don Lemon Defends Johnny Weir

Yesterday Bilerico editor John Becker and CNN anchor Don Lemon tangled over whether Johnny Weir has a responsibility to denounce Russia's treatment of LGBT people.

Lemon stood up for Weir and argued that just because he’s gay doesn’t automatically mean he has to be vocal about gay rights all the time. John Becker took a decidedly different position, saying that just because someone is gay “doesn’t automatically make you an expert on LGBT rights,” and slammed Weir’s “ludicrously offensive” downplaying of just how bad the situation is for gays in Russia. Nicholas Benton, a friend of Weir’s, defended him and said he’s making an “important statement” not by speaking out, but through his behavior and his flamboyant attire. Lemon said Weir shouldn’t have to speak out. He argued, “It doesn’t make him a gay activist, nor should he have to be a gay activist because he’s gay.” That being said, Lemon did opine a bit about the idea of a “gay minstrel show” that doesn’t exactly help the cause either.

Becker: "Silence in the face of that law is tacit agreement with that law." Exactly. Watch the clip.

Don Lemon On Robin Roberts

Openly gay CNN host Don Lemon says it's still very important for famous people to come out.

He spoke of his own struggles coming out to people close to him, and then coming out publicly years later, saying he was fearful at how the news would be received by viewers and others. Lemon said he was “afraid of people like Phil Robertson who claim to love everyone while simultaneously thinking that everyone’s love is unequal.” Lemon expressed hope that in Roberts’ case, “empowerment will quickly replace fear,” and concluded that if people like Robertson have their rights and those rights should be celebrated, then openly gay anchors like Lemon and Roberts “should be celebrated as well,” and “that’s why it’s still important to come out and say, very simply, ‘I’m gay.’”

CNN's Don Lemon Defends Phil Robertson

Via Josh Feldman:

GLAAD spokesman Wilson Cruz denounced Robertson’s remarks and said it’s offensive for him to profess to speak on behalf of all Christians. Morgan found the homosexuality comments, as well as comments that black people were “happy” in pre-civil rights Louisiana, to be “pretty outrageous on any level.” Lemon agreed, but was less hesitant than Morgan to call for Robertson’s head, saying free speech exists for a reason. He said, “It’s offensive to me… but the marketplace should decide.” Lemon argued that it’s always best to “err on the side of free speech” and said he shouldn’t be fired.

Don Lemon Vs Larry Klayman

CNN host Don Lemon and crackpot freak show Larry Klayman got into it last night.

Klayman has previously received media attention for saying during a government shutdown rally that Obama needs “to put the Quran down, to get up off his knees, and to figuratively come out with his hands up,” leading to a particularly contentious fight with Martin Bashir. On CNN, Klayman was steamed that his appearance was preceded by what he saw as a hit piece on his character, and told Lemon, “It’s important to note that you’re a big supporter of Obama, that you have favored him in every respect.” He called Lemon an “ultra-leftist,” but Lemon interrupted and threatened to cut him out of the segment if he kept going. Toobin, who was never a fan of what Snowden did, argued that this was an important ruling on a serious subject that shouldn’t be tarnished by the “tin foil hat paranoia” of the “lunatic” on screen with him. Klayman responded by attacking Toobin’s past and calling him an unserious person who ‘should not be doing legal commentary for CNN.”

CNN Panel On The N-Word & F-Word

Mediaite's Josh Feldman recaps the show:

They first tackled the n-word, with Don Lemon saying “you shouldn’t use that word like a pronoun” and Charles Blow admitting his conflicting feelings on the use of that particular word, even when used among young black youths. Lemon pointed out that it’s not just black youths, but also young white people who feel it’s okay to use that word. As for Baldwin, HuffPost’s Noah Michaelson argued Baldwin’s not necessarily homophobic, but then questioned why Baldwin’s mind automatically jumps to that word when he’s trying to insult someone. Morgan admitted in the second segment he wasn’t aware that “cocksucking” was an anti-gay phrase to begin with. He asked why gay men would want to use a phrase that’s been used to denigrate them. Michaelson said it’s about “reclaiming language,” while Lemon admitted that the word does not offend him because “if that’s the first and last thing that you can reach, then I’ve already won the argument.”

Advisory: No words are bleeped. You might want headphones if you're at work. It's a longish clip, but worth your time.

Don Lemon Vs Ben Ferguson

CNN host Don Lemon and right wing radio host Ben Ferguson tangled yesterday over Tea Party rally attendees that waved a Confederate flag and called the president a Muslim.

“Ben, you have to be embarrassed by this video,” Lemon said to conservative radio host Ben Ferguson. “You’re not embarrassed for some members of your party?” When Ferguson tried to argue that the protest was comprised of a handful of people not affiliated with conservatives or Republicans, Lemon cut him off. “Who initiated this protest? It was tea party Republicans. Cut the crap.” Lemon played a clip of Freedom Watch’s Larry Klayman telling Obama to “put the Quran down” and resign the presidency. “You found a crazy guy,” Ferguson said. “Congratulations! There’s 360 million Americans, and you found a crazy guy and you put him on national TV.” “People like that crazy guy are the reason people are furloughed,” Lemon replied. “It’s the reason there’s gridlock right now, it’s the reason that we have a government shutdown. It’s because a small faction of the Republican Party—people like that guy—are holding Americans hostage.”

Watch Lemon smack Ferguson down.

CNN's Don Lemon Vs Anti-Marriage Nut

Clip description:

Heritage Foundation scholar Ryan Anderson got into a heated and tense exchange with CNN anchor Don Lemon after he asserted that there are no laws currently on the books that make gay marriage "illegal." Lemon resented Anderson's assertion, calling it "absurd." "Just to clarify, the issue here is not legality," Anderson began, "so, in all 50 states, there is nothing illegal about same-sex marriage." "Hang on," Lemon interjected. "You said same-sex marriage is not -- is not illegal?" "When something is illegal, it's criminal to engage in that activity," Anderson clarified.

Lemon FTW.