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Local News

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

National story giving Findlay 'a bad name'
Primrose Retirement Community
By MICHELLE REITER

STAFF WRITER

Jim Peterman and his neighbors were having an ordinary Monday — that is, until the calls started.

Several representatives from the media called Peterman at his College Street home; and a couple of people from different parts of the United States called to denigrate his political beliefs or try to sway his vote in the general election.

"People have been calling from all over, all day," Peterman said.

The phone calls are how he found out that an interview he gave to the Washington Post two weeks ago was printed on the front page of that paper Monday, quoting him and a handful of his neighbors discussing rumors surrounding Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee.

The story, called "In Flag City USA, False Obama Rumors Are Flying," featured Peterman as a longtime Findlay resident who lives up to the city's moniker as "Flag City USA," a man who is not sure how to vote but has heard rumors about Obama.

The rumors characterize Obama as an African-born, "possibly gay Muslim racist who refuses to recite the Pledge of Allegiance," according to the Post story.

The article, written by Washington Post feature writer Eli Saslow, outlines the rumors that have circulated among Peterman's friends and acquaintances. The article quotes Peterman, Don LeMaster, Leroy Pollard and Jeanette Collins, all of whom live on College Street.

The story paints them — and Findlay — as being racist, some of the College Street residents said Monday.

"I think (the story) gives Findlay a bad name as a racist community," LeMaster said, "and it's not true. It's very unfair the way it was written."

In the story, LeMaster reportedly heard from a friend in Toledo that Obama refuses to wear an American flag pin.

LeMaster was also quoted as saying that although Obama is a good speaker, it pays to look beneath the surface.

LeMaster did not complain Monday about any specific quote in the Post story, but did complain about its general slant.

Findlay is not racist, he said, and the minorities who live in the city get along well with the Caucasians.

"Ninety-five percent of Findlay is white," he said, but "that does not make us racist."

Many international students attend the University of Findlay, he said, and he has had neighbors of other races. There's been no problem.

Jeanette Collins, another College Street neighbor, said she had not read the Post story by Monday afternoon and does not remember saying much to Saslow.

"Somebody from the Washington Post came by and I said I was cooking supper," Collins said Monday. "And that's all I can remember."

Peterman and Pollard both claimed they were misquoted more than once.

For example, Peterman said he never shared with Saslow a rumor that Obama was born in Africa, is possibly gay, and is a Muslim racist who refuses to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

He was quoted in the story as saying he doesn't follow elections as well as he should, but that he finds the rumors about Obama hard to ignore.

Peterman said Monday he has no memory of making such statements.

Peterman's friend, Pollard, also denied that he is convinced that Obama is a radical Muslim and "threatened to stop talking to his daughter when he heard she might vote for him," as the story reads.

"The only thing I said is, I don't think Obama has enough experience to be president," Pollard said.

Peterman said he wasn't even sure what the story was going to be about when he was interviewed. Saslow knocked on his door and began the conversation by discussing the city's "Flag City USA" label.

Saslow said Monday from Washington, D.C. that he is disappointed in the neighborhood's reaction to the story.

"That's a major bummer," he told The Courier.

He said the story inspired hundreds of comments online Monday, and many of them were not flattering to Findlay. At least one comment suggested Findlay should be "Racist City USA" instead of "Flag City USA."

He said he did not intend for the story to be inflammatory. Instead, he hoped to showcase how interested in the election Findlay residents are — but also how rumors influence people's opinions.

"They're talking about it, people really care there," Saslow said.

He described Findlay as a "retrospective place," and admired its patriotism. He said he visited about 25 houses in Findlay, but settled on Peterman and his neighbors because they were a good "representative place."

"They had some of the best things to say," he said.

He said he did not mean to misrepresent Findlay and is sorry if some think he did.

Both Pollard and Peterman said they regretted offending anyone.

But their views, misrepresented or not, are not the only views on College Street. Saslow's article characterizes Peterman as the last "open-minded" College Street resident.

Others who live on the street don't agree with that description. The end of College Street, near the University of Findlay, is home to dozens of students.

Amber Nickell, 20, and Kaylen Boose, 21, said they both consider themselves open-minded. They have heard rumors about Obama, too. But that won't affect how they vote.

"I think it's just funny how close-minded people can be," Nickell said. They do believe the objections to Obama are race-related.

However, they were quick to defend College Street.

The Washington Post story "might summarize views of the older generation," Nickell said. "But that's not all of College Street."

Contact Staff Writer Michelle Reiter at:

419-427-8497

Send an e-mail to Michelle Reiter
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29 Comments (3 pages)

Latest comments listed first.
Disgusted at you "Disgusted" wrote:
To Disgusted below me
“ I'm a Findlay native and I'm disgusted you would spew such obvious lies of hate. I just happened on this article for the first time in months tonight while surfing the web. I can't believe what you say for one second. I willing to bet you aren't even from Findlay. Tell me, what's painted on the side of the massive white tank off of I-75 on the West side of Findlay, hmm? ”
Thursday, October 30, 2008 12:38:39 AM
Disgusted,... wrote:
...but not surprised
“ I moved here five years ago. I have a child that is going to be going to Kindergarten next year. He is bi-racial. I will not be enrolling him in Findlay schools. This past year in Findlay HS, they had a "mock" lynching and picked cotton as a way to educate about slavery. When a family member who was present in the classroom told me, I was appalled. As I talked to other people from the area about it, no one was surprised. Findlay is not accepting to any newcomers, especially african americans. I cannot wait to leave this town. I am absolutely ashamed to have my name associated in any way with such a place. The residents of Findlay who spoke to the reporter "can't recall" what they said exactly. B.S. Ignorance is not tolerable in my opinion. GO OBAMA! I WANT CHANGE! Findlay needs change. ”
Sunday, July 06, 2008 10:05:39 AM
Fred wrote:
Findlay and Washington Post Report
“ Findlay is not all racist; it has several intellectually enlightened people. However, there are many in this town who can look through a keyhole with both eyes. Such narrow-minded people are everywhere in Findlay-in churches, in schools, and in business.
Look into its churches, schools, court, city hall, banks, county offices, and all public and most private offices. Can you spot one single minority person in any leadership position? You will be surprised to find one. It has a university, community college, and a pastor's training center next to the university, but none of them has any trace of racial diversity.

Findlay has many who are ignorant of the outside world, or even of the situation in this country. It congratulates itself as the moral fortress, but its moral life is appalling on the inside. Let people criticize you. Only good will come out of it. ”
Friday, July 04, 2008 2:38:23 PM
Joe C. wrote:
Remember in November!
“ I hope all of Ohio, not just Findlay, will remember in November how the Obama campaign and their enablers at the Washington Post avenged Hillary Clinton's primary win and the outpouring in Findlay for Bill Clinton in April. Now we know how a petty corrupt Chicago politician who hates White people sees those of us that don't (or won't) vote for him. If you don't think this was a vendetta drive-by hit, then you don't know leftists. Welcome to Obama's world of tolerance. ”
Friday, July 04, 2008 11:19:49 AM
Gene wrote:
for got to mention
“ A black man ran against a white man for governor of Ohio in 2006. Hancock county including Findlay was one of very few Ohio counties that overwhelmingly supported the black man. Ken Blackwell won findlay 55-42%. That is a pretty large margin for a town that supposedly can't accept a black man in a position of power. Findlay residents are well informed. Findlay residents do vote on issues and values. It is the Obama supporters that are trying to turn this election into a race issue. ”
Thursday, July 03, 2008 10:50:54 AM
Tim Gilliland wrote:
Being Suckered
“ I think its telling that the author of the Post piece interviewed 25 or more people before he settled on the College street group. I suspect strongly that he knew he had "a live one" in that street and milked it for all it was worth. Some of your other commenters who are so quick to condemn Findlay as a racist enclave are projecting their own bigotry toward people who don't agree with them onto persons who they probably have never even met. Aren't they being just as unfair to critisize a group they have no hard evidence about? Look to the log in your own eye before cursing the stick in your neighbor's eye. ”
Wednesday, July 02, 2008 9:13:06 PM
John Newman wrote:
This kind of reporting is dangerous...
“ I think most Americans are smart enough to figure out which internet rumors are true and which are false. The biggest smear in history was CBS's phony Bush National Guard documents in 2004 because that was coming from a supposedly un-biased organization. And Obama did refuse to wear a flag pin, but he wears one now. He did say that he would vote against any FISA bill that gives telecoms immunity for cooperating with the Federal Government after 9/11, but he's going to vote for it now. He has continually stated that the Welfare Reform Act of 1996 was a huge mistake, until he came out in support of it yesterday. He has been an outspoken opponent of free trade agreements, but he supports NAFTA now. He has been a vocal proponent of outlawing handguns, but he saw the light this week when the Supreme Court's Heller ruling came down. He has been an outspoken critic of the death penalty his whole adult life, but he spoke out against the Supreme Court ruling that raping children can't be punished by death. He sat quietly and listened, perhaps even agreed, with the venom being spewed by the racist, anti-American Reverand Wright for 20 years, but now he's left the church. Obama, is re-inventing himself right in front of our faces, saying exactly the opposite of what he has said for his entire adult life just to get elected President. And on the issues where he hasn't changed his tunes, he's going to massively raise taxes, hugely increase the size of government, and tax and spend this country to death, while retreating from the world.

But based on what the Washington Post says, if I weigh all of that in my mind and don't vote for Obama, I'm just a red-necked, trailer-park-living, confederate flag-waving racist that would rather be wearing sheets, burning crosses and lynching.....

That's insulting. I don't have to prove I'm not a racist by voting for an unqualified phony that I think will take the country straight to hell in a handbasket.

And neither does anyone else. ”
Wednesday, July 02, 2008 7:51:15 PM
Carl R. wrote:
Percentages
“ If Findlay, Ohio, has a 5% black population, then that is nearly half of the average black population in the country. If DC is 65% black, Maryland is 28% black, and Findlay is 5% black, then that sounds like an okay percentage to me. Liberals will frequently be "shocked" that someplace vary from the average. Perhaps the Post should be shocked that more whites are not welcome to live in their home town. It would be must as inaccurate. ”
Wednesday, July 02, 2008 5:09:59 PM
peter griffin wrote:
oh no. what can be done about findlay?
“ I am a Findlay resident, and I just want everyone to know that I am NOT a racist. I am NOT a religious bigot. I am NOT some close-minded hick. I am NOT influenced by any of the ridiculous rumors that Findlay is apparently infected with. If I happen to pass you on the street and you're a different color than me, or of a different sexual orientation, I promise I won't spit on you or call you names. We are all human, it's time to prove it! ”
Wednesday, July 02, 2008 4:38:02 PM
L. Gonya wrote:
Obama story
“ Let's face it, everyone living on either coast, or in any big city in the U.S. feels that they are open-minded, on the cutting edge and that they have to embrace everything new for the sake of staying on top. Consequently, everyone outside of their loop is a hick - even Findlay, (Arcadia wouldn't even register on their radar). The media is trying to prove that the uneducated unsophisticated masses must be defeated, and unfortunately, they chose Findlay as an example. Regardless of how hard everyone tries,
if you disagree with Mr. Obama as a presidential candidate you will be questioned as to whether or not you are a racist, whether or not you believe rumors about him, whether or not you dislike change. No one will believe you if you tell them that you are worried about his lack of experience, his ideas on taxation, his curious choice of companions in the past, or the fact that he believes that he can solve the Iranian problem by inviting it's president to tea. But, the big city folks and their media who know it all will not promote that because it doesn't sell papers, and it doesn't make them look smarter than us "rust belt" hicks. ”
Tuesday, July 01, 2008 10:55:15 PM
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News Briefs Work scheduled on Findlay streets
Findlay's Main Street, northbound, will be reduced at times to one lane between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for waterline connection.

Main Street will not be accessible from East Lincoln Street. Lincoln Street will be closed to through traffic from South Main Street to South Blanchard Street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for continued improvement work. Access to local businesses and residents only will be maintained.

Recount planned in trustee's race
OTTAWA -- After certifying election results on Wednesday, the Putnam County Board of Elections has announced a recount will be required for the Union Township trustee race, according to Deputy Director Shelly Burkhart.

The recount will be completed on Wednesday at the county elections board office, 336 E. Main Street, Ottawa.

Incumbent Daniel R. Ellerbrock has secured his position on the board, earning 685 votes. However the remaining trustee spot will require a recount as Gery P. Wurth earned 598 votes and Mark J. Kahle collected 601 votes, according to official results.

An automatic recount is necessary if the margin is within one-half of 1 percent of total votes cast, according to state law.

Road to be closed
Forest Lake Drive, between Marion Township 237 and Indian Lake Drive/Forest Lane, will be closed today for a pipe installation.

The road is expected to open by 5 p.m., weather permitting.

Motorists are advised to use Township 242.