Ian Murphy (writer)
Ian Murphy | |
---|---|
Born |
Buffalo, New York | October 31, 1978
Residence | Amherst, New York[1] |
Citizenship | United States |
Occupation | Writer |
Employer |
The Beast (formerly, The Buffalo Beast) |
Political party | Green Party of New York State |
Ian Larry Murphy (born October 31, 1978) is an American alternative journalist and satirist who is the editor and a reporter for The Beast, an alternative, online newspaper based in Buffalo, New York. He was the Green Party nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives, NY-26 district election in early 2011.
Biography
Murphy, a native of the Buffalo area, gained national attention in February 2011 for prank-calling Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker while claiming to be billionaire David Koch, and posting a recording of the conversation online.[2] The conversation was said to reveal Walker's plots to defeat Democrats on a budget standoff[2] and Walker's willingness to cooperate with wealthy donors to quash public sector labor unions.[3]
Shortly after the Koch prank, Murphy became the Green Party candidate in the New York's 26th congressional district special election to replace Republican Chris Lee who had resigned after sending a shirtless picture of himself to a woman on Craig's list.[4][5] According to the Green Party of New York state, Murphy ran to challenge the "anti-worker, pro-war, pro-corporate, anti-environmental agenda of the Democrats and Republicans."[6] During the campaign, Murphy created a satirical website using the name of rival Republican candidate, Jane Corwin, in the URL.[7] Murphy was excluded from participation in the televised candidate debates—in one case because he had previously insulted the debate moderator in one of his Buffalo Beast articles.[8] The Green Party objected to the TV station's action saying it denied voters their First Amendment right to hear the views of all the candidates.[9] Just 25 percent of registered voters turned out for the off-season election, despite national media attention.[10] Democrat Kathy Hochul won, and Murphy finished last in the four-way race with about 1 percent of the vote.[10]
Controversy and criticisms
In 2007 Murphy wrote a column which purported to be an undercover report from the Creation Museum entitled "Let There Be Retards".[11] He drew the ire of conservatives with his May, 2008 editorial entitled, "Fuck the Troops".[12]
In February 2011 Murphy prank-called newly elected Wisconsin governor Scott Walker posing as David H. Koch,[13] a wealthy Walker campaign contributor and funder of anti-union efforts in Wisconsin and other states.[14] During the secretly recorded call, Walker discussed possible plans to trick absent Democratic lawmakers back to Wisconsin to obtain a quorum for the passage of the controversial anti-union legislation.[3] Murphy posted the recording on The Beast, obtaining national attention, a cult hero's welcome at the Wisconsin protests and an appearance on MSNBC.[15][16] The governor's office confirmed that the call occurred.[17][18] Koch later told the conservative Weekly Standard he considered the prank call and posting of the secret recording comparable to identity theft.[19]
In late July 2011, Murphy was charged with disorderly conduct during an outdoor anti-gay marriage protest after he allegedly "directed a sex toy toward officers and told them that it was a microphone", according to the police report summary.[1] Murphy later posted the actual charge which was "disrupting a religious service", and denied the charges saying he was arrested for filming the actions of police officers—with his camera being confiscated and erased.[20]
See also
References
- 1 2 Kevin J. Bargnes (July 24, 2011). "Gay marriage vows are shared, but political passions stay high: Grisanti is targeted amid talk of 2012". The Buffalo News. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
- 1 2 David Weigel (March 9, 2011). ""Koch" Stinger Speaks Out About NPR Sting". Slate. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
- 1 2 David Weigel (May 24, 2011). "NY-26" Operation:Infiltrate". Slate. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
- ↑ "The Official Site of Ian Murphy for Congress". Retrieved June 1, 2011.
- ↑ The seat had been vacated by U.S. Representative Chris Lee who had resigned immediately after shirtless photos he had sent to a woman surfaced online.
- ↑ "Green Party Nominates Ian Murphy for 26th Congressional District". April 20, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
- ↑ Brian Montopoli (April 29, 2011). "Satire site targets GOP candidate Jane Corwin". CBS News. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
- ↑ "Debate scheduled in NY House 26 race". Buffalo News. Associated Press. May 6, 2011.
- ↑ "Green Party Calls on WGRZ To Include Congressional Candidate Ian Murphy in the May 12 CD-26 Debate". May 11, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
- 1 2 Robert J. McCarthy (May 26, 2011). "Hochul gains odds-defying victory: Democrat seizes House seat in 26th District with outcome carrying national impact". The Buffalo News. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
- ↑ Ian Murphy (May–June 2007). "Let There Be Retards: My Special Time At The Creation Museum". The Beast. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
- ↑ Ian Murphy (May 2008). "Fuck the Troops: A Beastly Opinion". The Beast. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
- ↑ Buffalo Beast website
- ↑ Eric Lipton (February 21, 2011). "Billionaire Brothers’ Money Plays Role in Wisconsin Dispute". New York Times.
- ↑ Sandy Cullen (March 6, 2011). "Walker prank caller gets cult hero's welcome from protesters". Wisconsin State Journal.
- ↑ Goldberg, Adam (February 24, 2011). "Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's Prank Caller, Ian Murphy, Appears On MSNBC's 'The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell'". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
- ↑ Greg Sargent (February 23, 2011). "Governor Walker's office confirms prank Koch call". The Washington Post.
- ↑ Lauren Kelley (February 23, 2011). "Scott Walker Falls for Killer Prank by Liberal Blogger Posing as Tea Party Sugar Daddy David Koch". AlterNet.
- ↑ Vogel, Kenneth P. (March 26, 2011). "Kochs lash out at 'dangerous' critics, 'radical' Obama". Politico.
- ↑ Ian Murphy (July 31, 2011). "Murphy's law II: The weird and weak legal case against me". The Buffalo Beast. Retrieved August 2, 2011.