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Commenting on the specific "mosque" controversy, Geller said, "I'm not leading the charge against the Islamic center near Ground Zero. The majority of Americans – 70% – find this deeply insulting, offensive. To call it anti-Muslim is a gross misrepresentation and to say that I'm responsible for all this emotion, again a gross misrepresentation."<ref name="guardian"/>
Commenting on the specific "mosque" controversy, Geller said, "I'm not leading the charge against the Islamic center near Ground Zero. The majority of Americans – 70% – find this deeply insulting, offensive. To call it anti-Muslim is a gross misrepresentation and to say that I'm responsible for all this emotion, again a gross misrepresentation."<ref name="guardian"/>

Geller is also widely known as an attention whore.


When asked in an August 17, 2010, interview on [[CNN]] whether she agreed "that the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 were practicing a perverted form of Islam, and that is not what is going to be practiced at this mosque", she responded "I will say that the Muslim terrorists were practicing pure Islam, original Islam."<ref name=Cooper360>{{cite news|title=Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees: Firestorm Grows Over Islamic Center Near Ground Zero|first=Randi|last=Kaye |work=[[CNN]] |date= August 17, 2010|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1008/17/acd.01.html|accessdate=August 26, 2010}}</ref>
When asked in an August 17, 2010, interview on [[CNN]] whether she agreed "that the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 were practicing a perverted form of Islam, and that is not what is going to be practiced at this mosque", she responded "I will say that the Muslim terrorists were practicing pure Islam, original Islam."<ref name=Cooper360>{{cite news|title=Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees: Firestorm Grows Over Islamic Center Near Ground Zero|first=Randi|last=Kaye |work=[[CNN]] |date= August 17, 2010|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1008/17/acd.01.html|accessdate=August 26, 2010}}</ref>

Revision as of 14:42, 21 September 2010

Pamela Geller
Pamela Geller with former IDF chief of staff, Moshe Ya'alon
Born1958 or 1959 (age 64–65)[1]
Long Island, New York, U.S.[1]
Other namesPamela Oshry
Citizenship United States
Occupation(s)Blogger, author, political activist, commentator, former newspaper editor
Organizationco–founder of Stop Islamization of America
Known foropposition to Park51 community center and mosque
Board member ofExecutive Director of the Freedom Defense Initiative (FDI) and Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) [2]
Spouse(s)Michael Oshry, (divorced)[3]
WebsiteAtlas Shrugs

Pamela Geller, also known as Pamela Oshry, (born 1958 or 1959 on Long Island, New York)[1] is an anti-Islamic American blogger, political activist, and co-founder of Stop Islamization of America. She has been cited as one of the most visible opponents of the Park51 community center and mosque in Lower Manhattan.[5]

Her weblog, "Atlas Shrugs", is named in homage to Ayn Rand's book Atlas Shrugged, as she supports Objectivist philosophy. The blog has been criticized by Media Matters for America[6][7] called "right-wing" by The Jewish Week[1] and "extreme" by The Guardian.[4]

Early life

A native of Long Island, she is one of four daughters of Reuben (Ruby) and Lillian (Geller).[8][9] Growing up she helped out in her father's business where she learned to speak fluent Spanish.[8]

Career

Before she started her political advocacy and blogging, Geller worked on the business side of publishing. She was an associate publisher of The New York Observer for five years, from 1989 through 1994,[10][11] and spent most of the 1980's at the New York Daily News where she first worked as a financial analyst and then moved into the advertising and marketing areas.[5]

She later co-founded the Freedom Defense Initiative organization with Robert Spencer,[12] a blogger and author of articles and books relating to Islam and Islamic terrorism. Mark Potok, a spokesman for the Southern Poverty Law Center, has described Geller's rhetoric as "over the line" and "hate speech". She denies accusations of being anti-Muslim, saying that is "a slanderous slur and it's unfair".[4][13][14]

In addition to criticizing Islam, Geller has lent her support to a number of other political causes. She has been a strong defender of former Serbian president Slobodan Milošević, and has denied the existence of Serbian concentration camps in the 1990s. She has also claimed that black South Africans are launching a "genocide" against whites and expressed support for the far right English Defence League.[4]

In 2008, Geller co-wrote an editorial for Arutz Sheva expressing her distaste for fellow Jews who are not politically conservative: "It galls me that the Jews I fight for are self-destructive, suicidal even. Here in America (and the world over), Israel's real friends are in the Republican party and yet over 80% of American Jews are Democrats. I don't get it. The conventional wisdom on the Left is that Israel is an oppressor and her actions are worse than the world's most depraved and dangerous regimes. Chomsky, Finkelstein, Soros - these men are the killers."[15] She encouraged Israel to "stand loud and proud. Give up nothing. Turn over not a pebble. For every rocket fired, drop a MOAB. Take back Gaza. Secure Judea and Samaria. Stop buying Haaretz. Throw leftists bums out."[15]

She has won several awards for her blog, and was an official blogger at the Republican National Convention of 2008.[16]

Stop Islamization of America and Park51

Main article: Park51

Geller and Robert Spencer co-founded Stop Islamization of America.[17] In July 2010 their co-authored book, The Post-American Presidency: The Obama Administration's War on America, was published. Two months earlier, they began a strong campaign against the proposed Park51 Islamic community center, which Geller has referred to as the "Ground Zero Mega Mosque".[18][19] She claims that Park51 is viewed by Muslims as a "triumphal" monument built on "conquered land". Her organization has also sponsored anti-Muslim ads in several cities, and appeared on an array of cable news shows speaking out against the proposed Islamic Community Center.[5] In addition to opposing Park51, Geller has opposed other mosques and argued that the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, one of the world's holiest Muslim sites, should be removed.[20]

Geller first blogged in "Atlas Shrugs" about the proposed New York mosque in reaction to coverage in The New York Times on December 8, 2009.[21][22] On December 21, she again blogged on the subject, referring to it as "Mosque at Ground Zero" and calling it "a stab in the eye".[23] This was the same day conservative commentator Laura Ingraham interviewed Feisal Abdul Rauf's wife, Daisy Khan, while guest-hosting The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News. Ingraham said, "I like what you're trying to do."[18] Geller didn't blog about the building again until May 24, 2010, when she reported on a self-selected reader poll connected with a report in the New York Daily News, urging her readers to vote in it. This is when she first used the phrase "Mega Mosque at Ground Zero".[24][25]

Commenting on the specific "mosque" controversy, Geller said, "I'm not leading the charge against the Islamic center near Ground Zero. The majority of Americans – 70% – find this deeply insulting, offensive. To call it anti-Muslim is a gross misrepresentation and to say that I'm responsible for all this emotion, again a gross misrepresentation."[4]

When asked in an August 17, 2010, interview on CNN whether she agreed "that the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 were practicing a perverted form of Islam, and that is not what is going to be practiced at this mosque", she responded "I will say that the Muslim terrorists were practicing pure Islam, original Islam."[26]

Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations has criticized Geller, stating:

People say don't give her too much credit, she's a fringe character, but she is a fringe character who every day is on CNN, Fox, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. She is the driving force behind the Islamic center campaign. I would say that she is the queen of the Muslim bashers, I see her rise and the rise of these anti-Islam hate groups going hand in hand.[5]

Eric Boehlert, a senior fellow at Media Matters for America concurred with Hooper's sentiments, remarking that "she's been instrumental, she has whipped up hatred in the right-wing blogosphere and now that's spilled out into the wider community."[5] Media Matters has further suggested that "Geller's history of outrageous, inflammatory and false claims, particularly when it comes to issues related to Islam, demonstrate that she cannot be expected to make accurate statements and should not be rewarded with a platform on national television."[6]

Atlas Shrugs blog

The name of her website and blog, "Atlas Shrugs", is a reference to Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged.[4] Geller says Rand is "the greatest philosopher in human history," and that "I read the book in my early 20s when a close friend of mine whom I respected enormously casually mentioned it was her favorite book." Describing her blog, she said "My blog is, and its purpose is, clearly defined by Rand's philosophy."[27]

In 2008, she reviewed donations given to Barack Obama's campaign, a move which was followed by The New York Times and the Washington Post.[28]

Geller's blog concentrates on what she perceives to be a violent threat to the United States by Islamic extremists and liberal politicians. For instance, her blog was among the first on Nov 5, 2009 to declare the belief that the Fort Hood shooting was a "Muslim terror attack."[29]

Controversial postings on "Atlas Shrugs" have included a number of false claims,[30][31] including that Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan (who is Jewish) supports Nazi ideology (accompanied by a fake picture of her in a Nazi uniform),[32] a video suggesting that Muslims have sex with goats, a doctored photo showing President Obama urinating on an American flag[5] and false claims that Obama's mother was involved in pornography and that Obama "was involved with a crack whore in his youth".[33][34] Geller has also used her site to accuse President Obama of anti-Semitism and doing the bidding of "Islamic overlords," while posting an essay suggesting, without any evidence, that the President is the "love child" of Malcolm X.[5] During an RT Television News interview, reporter Lauren Lister repeatedly questioned Geller's claim that she is not anti-Muslim, at one point calling attention to Geller's having posted a drawing of Muhammad on her blog with the face of a pig superimposed over his own. Geller responded by saying "I don't know where it is in America that you can't make jokes or make fun." [35]

Personal life

Pamela Geller was formerly married to auto dealer Michael Oshry; the couple divorced.[3] Michael Oshry remarried and died October 4, 2008 at age 52 from a heart attack.[36]

Works

References

  1. ^ a b c d Doug Chandler (2010-09-01). "The Passions (And Perils) Of Pamela Geller". The Jewish Week. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  2. ^ "Pamela Geller". Atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com. 2001-09-11. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
  3. ^ a b Edelman, Susan (2007-07-15). "'Car-Scam' Link Eyed". NYPost. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  4. ^ a b c d e f McGreal, Chris (August 20, 2010). "The US blogger on a mission to halt 'Islamic takeover'". The Guardian. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Pamela Geller, 'Queen Of Muslim Bashers,' At Center Of N.Y. 'Mosque' Debate". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  6. ^ a b "Memo to media: Pamela Geller does not belong on national television". July 14, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  7. ^ "Attention TV networks: Pam Geller is lying to your viewers". August 19, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  8. ^ a b "Papa - Atlas Shrugs". Atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com. 2009-06-21. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
  9. ^ "Shout Out to the Moms! - Atlas Shrugs". Atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com. 2009-05-10. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
  10. ^ "The Woman Behind The Anti-Ground Zero Mosque Bus Ads". The New York Observer. 2010-08-11. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  11. ^ "New Editor Named for Observer". New York Times. 1994-05-10. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  12. ^ "Freedom Defense Initiative". Freedomdefense.typepad.com. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  13. ^ "Prime Islam-Basher Pam Geller Outdone by Colleague | Hatewatch | Southern Poverty Law Center". Splcenter.org. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  14. ^ "White Supremacists Find Common Cause with Pam Geller's Anti-Islam Campaign | Hatewatch | Southern Poverty Law Center". Splcenter.org. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  15. ^ a b "Indomitable Israel - Op-Eds". Israel National News. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  16. ^ "Keeping it real yeah baby - Atlas Shrugs". Atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com. 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
  17. ^ "Contact | Stop Islamization of America". Sioaonline.com. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  18. ^ a b "How the "ground zero mosque" fear mongering began - Park51, Muslim Community Center in Lower Manhattan". Salon.com. 2010-08-16. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  19. ^ "The Seeker: Untold story behind the so-called 'Ground Zero mosque'". Newsblogs.chicagotribune.com. 2010-08-20. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  20. ^ Geller, Pamela (September 27, 2009). "Erev Yom: Muslims Riot, Attack Jews in Jerusalem - Policemen wounded in Temple Mt. riots". Atlas Shrugs. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
  21. ^ "Giving Thanks - Atlas Shrugs". Atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com. 2009-12-082. Retrieved 010-09-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  22. ^ "Muslim Prayers and Renewal Near Ground Zero". The New York Times. December 9, 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite uses deprecated parameter |authors= (help)
  23. ^ "Mosque at Ground Zero: Adding Insult to Agony - Atlas Shrugs". Atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com. 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  24. ^ "Vote On Mega Mosque At Ground Zero - Atlas Shrugs". Atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com. 2010-05-24. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  25. ^ "Lower Manhattan board mixed on planned mosque and Islamic center at Ground Zero WTC site". Nydailynews.com. 2010-05-24. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  26. ^ Kaye, Randi (August 17, 2010). "Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees: Firestorm Grows Over Islamic Center Near Ground Zero". CNN. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  27. ^ McCain, Robert Stacy (October 5, 2007). ""'Atlas,' at last, on map; Rand's novel set for 50th fete, film adaptation"". Washington Times. p. A.2.
  28. ^ "Illegal Campaign Donations Spur Calls For Change". NPR. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  29. ^ "MUSLIM TERROR ATTACK: 'TWELVE shot dead' 12 30 Wounded, Mass Shooting at Fort Hood, US Army Base - Atlas Shrugs". Atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com. 2009-11-05. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  30. ^ Dimiero, Ben (2010-07-02). "Geller illustrates ridiculous attack on Kagan with image of Kagan in a Nazi uniform". Media Matters. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  31. ^ "Attention TV networks: Pam Geller is lying to your viewers". Media Matters. 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  32. ^ Geller, Pamela (2010-07-02). "SHOCKING: Kagan's Princeton Thesis Cited German Socialist Who Endorsed Nazis". Atlas Shrugs. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
  33. ^ Geller, Pamela (2009-08-01). "CNN Tells, Sells More Lies About Palin -- it's Time to Expose the truth about Obama". Atlas Shrugs. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
  34. ^ "Ann Dunham Soetoro". snopes.com. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
  35. ^ Lauren Lister, guest host and interviewer (3 August 2010). "The Alyona Show". 26:10 minutes in. RT Television News. RT News: Why would you have a picture of the prophet Mohammad, which I have right here, with his face replaced with that of a pig, on your blog if you don't have a problem with Islam? Geller: First of all, I don't know where it is in America that you can't make jokes or make fun. I mean you had Robert Mapplethorpe put a cross in a glass of a, a .. RT News: So you think it's funny to have the prophet Mohammad as a pig? Geller: Who cares?! What difference does it make? I mean, this is America! {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help) The Geller interview segment of the hour-long Alyona Show is also available on youtube, where the exchange occurs at 5:48 into the video.
  36. ^ "Paid Notice - Deaths OSHRY, MICHAEL - Paid Death Notice - NYTimes.com". New York Times. 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2010-09-14.

See also

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