American Enterprise Institute! NewsMax! Pittsburgh Tribune-Review!

To my astonishment, I have discovered that I was quoted in all three of those publications last year.

Ralph Reiland writes a column that runs at all of those websites; he quoted my satirical "obituary" of Trent Lott, December 17, 2012 as follows:

The day after the Times story, "The Blog from the Core: Needless Commentary from Small Town America" website wrote Mr. Lott's final obituary:

"Kareem Ali Mfume Dies" Mombasa, Kenya, December 17, 2012

"Kareem Ali Mfume, 71, died today in downtown Mombasa. The former United States senator, whose birth name was Trent Lott, sat down in the middle of a busy intersection, doused himself with gasoline, and set himself afire with a cigarette lighter.

"His self-immolation is taken as having been a last attempt at apologizing for off-hand remarks at the centenary birthday, Dec. 5, 2002, of U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond, who turned 110 this month.

"His final words are said to have been, 'I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!' There is some discrepancy among witnesses whether this remark was uttered seven times or 243 times.

"After viewing videotape of Mfume's death, U.S. Senator Maxine Waters and U.S. Governor Cynthia McKinney held a joint satellite news conference. Sen. Waters noted that 'Mfume raised and stretched out his arms as he ran around in circles several times before collapsing on the ground and writhing in agony until expiring.' McKinney continued, 'Prancing around like that, his arms stretched out and all, he looked just like a burning cross. Unbelievable! He couldn't resist insulting our people one last time.'

"Both officials agreed it was very unfortunate that Mfume had spoiled his final opportunity to get the African-American establishment to forgive him. 'The pain we received from this last affront can never be ended,' explained Waters."

Reiland's column can still be found at these places:

• American Enterprise Institute Magazine Online (12/27/2002)
• NewsMax.com (12/29/2002)
• Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (12/30/2003)

Alas, none include an actual hyperlink to The Blog from the Core.

If you get your 15 minutes of fame without knowing about it, does it count?

P.S. If any other locals know how I could get a hardcopy of the 12/30/2002 edition of the Trib, please let me know!

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Sat. 03/01/03 10:44:32 AM
Categorized as Most Notable & Other.