Frank Taaffe admits he uses Trayvon Martin’s death for fame: An Email
Hi Nothing! I mean…Reader. Hi Reader. As you know, the post I wrote about Frank Taaffe was supposed to be a one-off which received little or no attention due to being outside of the normal subject area of this blog. However, in the comments section of that post, a storm brewed for weeks, and Frank Taaffe himself has decided to come out from under his rock and post at my little ol’ blog. Before you run over to the post to read the comments, you should know that I deleted the ones from Taaffe as well as from a person who knew him well. They were slinging some serious mud and I had some very real concerns about the welfare of those involved. I did ask Frank Taaffe in an email why, instead of addressing the content of my blog, he instead chose to attack a commenter in a classic diversion tactic. F.Taaffe emailed me with a few choice words in response. Just one sentence. Just 34 words. And yet, I think it says quite a bit about F. Taaffe. Here is the email in full:
Yes u run a excrement filled site of nothings who will never be able to even imagine the noteriety [sic] I have enjoyed with plenty more to come stay tuned mr yearbook editor wanna be
Dashed off from a mobile device, it looks like F. Taaffe just couldn’t control himself. As my reader probably has some science background, he or she is probably wondering if this is really an email from Frank Taaffe, and I don’t blame you. I wondered the same myself. While I was able to confirm the email address from two separate sources, there remains a tiny sliver of possibility that it was not him. But at this point, it seems pretty darned likely that either F. Taaffe sent this to me himself or someone hacked his account. I’m going with the former, with the potential that someone *coughTaaffe* may try to claim the latter.
Let’s do a little pop psych* on this missive from the Sunshine State. First, we have the author pulling out the big guns with the use of the word “excrement”, which I know my reader is aware is merely a two-dollar word for shit. I doubt that F. Taaffe, real or fake, has spent more than 5 minutes reading this blog so I’ll take that with a grain of salt. But as several of us have discussed here, F. Taaffe likes to use big words (usually incorrectly) to puff himself up. It doesn’t work, Frank, JSYK. In the last part of the email, I am called a yearbook editor wannabe. Is this an insult? I’m not entirely sure. To all of the yearbook editors out there, keep at it (while fully realizing that print media is in serious jeopardy and that you should seriously consider scrapping that journalism major)**. The email indicates that my reader and I are both “nothings”, which is not strictly accurate, either. The blog is here. You are reading it. Therefore, by definition this blog and my reader cannot be the absence of something.
Anyway, as my reader is undoubtedly aware, and as with an oreo, it’s what is in the middle that really counts. And this is where I have to get serious. Frank Taaffe is crowing about the “noteriety” he has enjoyed over the death of a 17-year-old child. When I read this part of the email, it actually hit me like a punch. Countless commenters here and elsewhere have asserted that F. Taaffe was on his media tour for shameless self-promotion, but I have to admit I was on the fence. I felt there was a chance that F. Taaffe was acting as a hero in his own mind; that he was not necessarily out there to promote himself but to support his friend, George Zimmerman. This email indicates otherwise.
I find it nothing short of disgusting that F. Taaffe is proud of his “noteriety”. One definition of notoriety is “the state of being known for some unfavorable act or quality“. I’d say that sums up F. Taaffe pretty darned well–and it’s not something that a normal human being would want to put on his resumé. Not only does this email leave the impression that the F. Taaffe is blissfully unaware of and/or unrepentant about his racist beliefs, he also seems to be proud of the fact that a large portion of the United States views him as ignorance personified. This pride in notoriety would indicate quite strongly that this is a man who never achieved much in life, so all he has to hang his hood on is the fact that newscasters call him when they need someone to kick around. The author of the email thinks that this makes him “something”. It makes him “something” all right. Perhaps a piece of excrement. And it certainly gives us an excellent picture of the type of people with whom George Zimmerman surrounds himself. Not the type of people who would regret the killing of a young man; but rather, people who would in the most vile way imaginable use that killing for their own ill-gotten gains.
One thing Taaffe was right about: there was more notoriety to come, in the form of his DUI arrest on July 28th, 2012.
*I am not a psychologist, psychiatrist, astrologist, or homeopath; therefore, I do not claim to have expertise in the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorders.
**This should be interpreted as sympathy for the plight of journalists, whom I admire greatly.
In my opinion, the guy is a plastic bag full of weak aceitic acid intended for feminine hygiene… To not use another choice word.
Also. I think. Therefore, I am.
The wit of The Ren on full display! Good to see you.
I’m always around.
And I am always a square.
Not sure who the owner is of this blog, but you appear to have great insight to such a tragic situation. Sadly,Trayvon Martin lost his life in a very tragic way. What I don’t understand is how so much publicity this case has received. Many individuals have been riding this gravy train to air their own agendas. I am sure race on race murders are being committed at this very minute, and we will never see mass news coverage like this case has received.(A white on black crime) I am but a common person, no big words to sparkle your blog. “Those without sin be the first to cast a stone.”
Lwj, I think it is disingenuous to act as though you do not understand why this case gets so much attention. I do agree however that there are a great number of individuals using this case to further their agendas. This includes the NRA, which has a vested interest in maintaining stand-your-ground laws, and Frank Taaffe, who has a vested interest in Frank Taaffe.
So Frank thinks he’s a celebrity now ? LOL
Last time I saw him on TV he was suspicious of the $40.00 that was found on Trayvons body. He made a fool of himself and Jane V Mitchell cut him off !
I for one find this case fascinating. And I know why: it is a text book case of people who cannot accept responsibility. They remind me of Sarah Palin, a woman who lacks the strength of character to take responsibility for anything. Here we have Frank Taaffe, who is witnessed impaired by the person who called the police, who is caught on dashcam, and who is caught with the breathelizer with two and a half times the legal limit–and he STILL pleads “not guilty”! When faced with the evidence, he makes an excuse about “not reading the prescription drug instructions”, partially shifting blame to the doctor who prescribed them. Then he justifies it by saying it was the anniversary of his first son’s death (from an overdose–what better way to mark the occasion by mixing booze and drugs and going for a drive?)
At the same time, he denies and minimizes and justifies and blames others for his decade-and-a-half history of trouble with the law.
Now, his other son just died behind the wheel, taking his passenger with him, in an one-care incident with no apparent cause. Which suggests driving under the influence, or at least reckless driving.
I have heard it asserted that one is influenced by one’s close friends and associates, to the point that “show me your 5 closest associates, and I will tell you who you are.” George Zimmerman himself is another person on (reportedly) anti-depressant drugs, with a history of academic failure and trouble with the law, and who has been caught repeatedly in lies. He is staying with his best friend who also patently lied about being a sky marshall (if he was, he isn’t now after he blabbed about it), who was fired from his job as sheriff’s deputy for moonlighting for a con man, and who was taken in by George to throw a graduation party for George even though George couldn’t graduate from obedience school. George’s wife was arrested for perjury in George’s defense. And her mom was just arrested for driving impaired after mixing alcohol with anti-depressants.
These people are, yes, anti-social public menaces. And they are sad. Not only are they obese failures. They have more chance of going to jail than of ever getting an education or a decent job. They leave a trail of heartache behind them. They are all on anti-depressant medication. And none of them ever has any prospect of facing difficult truths.
The people surrounding Zimmerman are indeed a collection of human waste products, and obviously if you’ve read my posts here you know there is no love lost between me and Frank Taaffe. However, I would like to point out the following about Vincent Taaffe:
1. He was no fan of either Zimmerman OR his father, Frank Taaffe.
2. There is no evidence to date that his accident was drug- or alcohol-related. He was a deckhand with a deep-sea fishing outfit that left in the early hours of the morning. I certainly cannot say for sure anything about the cause of the accident in the absence of toxicology, but there are also alternative explanations.
3. He was actually a really good guy, despite his father’s best attempts to destroy him and his siblings.
And, in any case, the death is yet one more tragedy in Frank Taaffe’s life. Pretty much anyone would suffer emotional pain at the loss of a second child.
Agree, and I appreciate your thoughts on this. I am fascinated by this whole Zimmerman trainwreck for the same reasons that you are. Back in the old days, one might assume that Trayvon had put a hex on everyone around George Zimmerman. These days we know that like attracts like. Zimmerman is a pig, as are those around him. But then again, just look at the people who raised him, who are now begging for money on their website because they raised a sociopath.
Thank you for your thoughts.
If these guys are pigs, they are heavily armed, heavily sedated pigs.
By the way, I am a white man living in a yellow man’s country. I recently went for a walk in a park at night, and a local guy eyeballed me because I look suspicious. I thought “Thank God it isn’t ok to just gun folk down in this country.”
As Frank Taaffe’s brother for 55 years – iam so ashamed of all his actions– Iam deeply sorry for the parents to endure this continued pain – as a family we will try to keep a lid on our nut job brother…
I am sorry to hear this, Malcolm. Trust me when I say that for me, and I would imagine for most people, Frank Taaffe’s actions do not reflect on you or any other member of your family. I’m especially glad I had a chance to correspond with Vincent, however briefly. He clearly showed that character can overcome adversity.
Malcom–
I appreciate the sentiment, and I agree with Mr. Skeweddistribution. It sounds like this year has been really rough for you.
It sounds like you are someone who is able to be flexible in his behavior, to take responsibility and learn from past mistakes.
May I ask–and I want to be careful here, not to be too curious–did you just last week get arrested for DUI? [looks like it at http://www.mugshotsworld.com/MALCOLM-EUGENE-TAAFFE-2 ]
If so, I would like to encourage you to continue to keep up the good work of, well, trying to embody responsible behavior.
Best of luck, and feel free to check in.
Brad, that is not the Malcolm Taaffe who is posting here, which quite frankly should be pretty obvious from Malcolm’s post.
Yes, I see now. The Malcolm Taaffe who was arrested in Florida last week for drunk driving would be too young to be 55 years old and Frank Taaffe’s brother. It seems that guy was also arrested 6 years ago at age 18 for Criminal Mischief (hey, I was a bit unwise at that age too) and possibly arrested in May of this year as well. How many Malcolm Taaffes are there in Florida, and how closely are they related, and what does their story have to tell us?
Skewed, apologies in advance for crossing the boundary into nosey ghoulishness. What I am about to bring up may be quite painful..here goes.. A Malcolm Taaffe in florida who could be 55 lost a daughter named in 2007 to an early morning single car accident in which she was legally drunk. [ http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/Sep/30/fgcu_student_who_died_crash_was_beautiful_girl/ ]
There seems to be a small epidemic of tragic driving, substance-related, among people named Taaffe in Florida.
My thought on the subject is that, 20 years from now, there will be almost no drunk driving because the cars will be able to drive themselves. There will be a resurgence of social drinking. There will be no need to be judgmental or ashamed about drunk diving, or to get into battles of will with oneself over it. Drunk driving will just not be an issue anymore. We will have removed one source of various kinds of heartache.
until then, we are stuck with it, though.
Thanks If you can each out to Travon’s parents and let them know our families sorrow- for we have lost too many family members in the last 5 years – and it is a horrible pain to lose a child- Let them know I will do anything to help them . Anything! The parents are free to contact me Anytime.
thank you
unfortuunatley that was my son who was arrested for dui last week- I assure he is working on his problem.
That is good to hear, Malcolm. I hope your son gets the help that he needs. It has unquestionably been a difficult year for your family and I wish you the best. I don’t have any contact with the Martin family at all, but if you would like to reach out to them it is probably best to do so through their attorneys. Email is below.
info@parkscrump.com
Thank you, Malcolm. It is encouraging to see someone acting in the present.
OK, so Frank Taaffe went drunk driving last august even though his niece had died in a drunk driving incident–and then he made all kind of excuses and pleaded not guilty. Young Malcolm got arrested for drunk driving last week even though his sister and his cousin died in single-car accidents, and even though his uncle was recently arrested for drunk driving. Even when that uncle gained national notoriety for enabling an obese medicated killer, whose wife is also an obese, medicated and armed accused felony perjurer whose mom was also arrested this year for drunk driving. (And, this is ancient history, however the other uncle also has an arrest record for narcotics possession.)
The really heartening thing is that the elder Malcolm seems like he has very good character. In the article in 2007, he is saying that he does not blame or seek punishment. (Compare that to the weasel words of the lawyer of the boy who held the party where the young woman drank that night. Compare, also, to anything that has come out of the mouth of Sarah Palin, a vindictive person who is stuck in the past.)
So, I figure it is quite difficult, to be a reasonable adult in the midst of all this foolish behavior. I can really admire the elder Malcolm. I think there is a lesson there for me.
On the other hand, what to do about all this drunk driving? A drunk driver is about as dangerous as George Zimmerman on a big night out. Clearly reason and experience are not going to stop further endangerment on the roads of Florida.
Hi Brad,
I appreciate your comments and your thoughts, and I usually let all posts through. However, I’m afraid I will not allow any comments that are digging around in the pasts of other commenters here. I am sure there are many many places where you could post this type of information, but not here, unless the commenter we are discussing has made himself or herself a public figure, such as Frank Taaffe. In that case, it’s open season. But Malcolm Taaffe has not sought out media attention and as such is a private citizen who seems to be in pain right now. So a general discussion is welcome, but I’m going to moderate more personal comments. Thanks.
Skewed, I think you are making the right decision.
I would not want to have this stuff thrown in my face. It sounds really, really painful.
Thank you for showing up. I have no intention of posting this information anywhere.