We received a letter from one of our readers about some inconsistencies over at that bastion of journalistic integrity, TMZ. Apparently, they practice a double standard when it comes to dealing with hateful comments on their site. Writes Lorena, after reading their coverage on Tejano / country singer Emilio Navaira:

I was on TMZ reading the notes about Emilio’s most recent accident and the comments left by people were in the majority very hateful and racist. I wrote a note to them (TMZ) indicating that racist comments aren’t tolerated when it comes to blacks or gays so why is it tolerated here with the Latinos.

This is why, for all Emilio-related news, you should stop by Guanabee first. This also goes for news relating to: Vaginas, appearances of the Holy Family on various foodstuffs, and Perez Hilton. Lorena continues:

I also noted to them that it was also the case when they ran a note on Pepe Aguilar and Luis Miguel. I said that I don’t blame them for their commentors thoughts but rather that it’s overlooked and that they are still allowed to leave such hateful mesaging when other sites like Gawker takes away commenting privledges when the messages left are hate filled.

When Gawker takes the moral high ground over your particular news outlet, there is a serious problem that needs to be addressed immediately.

Thanks for the heads up, Lorena. While we’re not at all surprised by this news, we’re still disheartened to hear about it. But for every comment like this:

18. Strange how whenever there’s a story about blacks or jews everybody goes off on a hateful tirade, but when a hispanic (the people TRULY screwing up this country) dies you all have hearts all of a sudden. You people make no sense. I’m glad this idiot won’t be making more music for beer drinking, wife beating hispanics to blast while DRIVING THROUGH my neighborhood. RIH

Posted at 4:20PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by WTF

and this:

48. #12… if we aint hispanic, we really dont care who he is….silly mexicans think you can all sing….enough swapmeet music already!

Posted at 4:37AM on Mar 24th 2008 by hater

There were about 50 berating these respective posters and offering the Navaira family their well wishes. And while hate and xenophobia are never ok, it’s at least a little comforting to know that, more often than not, hateful xenophobes are mind-bogglingly stupid people who count typing: “LaTiNoZ sMeLL rofl FIRST B*TCHES!!1!1!!!8!!!!” as participation in socio-political discourse. Their very existence, not to mention their hate-fueled diatribes around water coolers and all over online threads, prove how stupid and pointless racism is.

So make sure to stop and thank your local xenophobe! They prove your point, so you don’t have to. Thumbs up!
Tejano Star Emilio Navaira Critical After Crash [TMZ]