Raheem Kassam Plays Let’s Pretend

[Update at end of post]

In today’s world of digital media, Walter Mitty would have been in his element. Little energy need have been applied in projecting himself as famous beyond his wildest dreams, given judicious use of the tools available. We can be certain of this because it has already been done. So, without further ado, let us observe the online land of make-believe created by one Raheem Kassam.

Look everyone, it's "Mr Conservative", and he's on telly! Pass the sick bag!!

Kassam is “a notable political and media figure”. We know this because his Wikipedia page says so. The page was mostly constructed and edited by himself, and is now the subject of debate over whether it should be deleted. Things are not going well in WikiLand for Mr Notable right now. But Kassam is also “director” of an “organisation” called Student Rights.

However, Student Rights consists of Kassam and an intern. Its “Media Appearances” page is padded out by using two blogposts by the intern and passing them off as articles in the Huffington Post UK. Its website gives every appearance of being based on an off-the-peg template from 1 & 1 Internet, who hold the registration. Its approach to “campus extremism” is to go after Muslims (full stop).

Kassam also speaks at events hosted by the Young Britons’ Foundation (YBF), which we’ve encountered previously. But it has been asserted that Student Rights and the YBF are under the same ownership – our old friend Donal Blaney – so that’s just part of his job. Ah, but he’s also “executive editor” of The Commentator, which is a blog. Big deal, so am I for Zelo Street (and all the other jobs).

Fact is, Kassam is just another of the endless line of right-wing nobodies that populate Astroturf lobby groups like the so-called Taxpayers’ Alliance (he’s been there, too). His Twitter avatar and background project the otherwise false “I’ve been on telly so I’m famous” line. And he confirms Olbermann’s dictum – “the right exists in a perpetual state of victimhood” – in spades.

Everyone who shows him up for the empty shell he is “plays the man and not the ball” (his own involvement in trying to smear Medhi Hasan as an “Islamist”, while trying to induce the HuffPostUK to fire him, is not mentioned). But the real objective is given away as he and his pals tell that they have “made it” by being subjected to criticism by Liberal Conspiracy. Only one thing worse than being talked about.

And to cap it all, he and his pal, the flannelled fool Henry Cole, have their strawman ready to answer anyone of dissenting view: they’re all “haters”. In support of this, these two supremely dishonest nonentities star, preening away, in their own photo sessions (readers will be glad to know that no link to this display of vomit inducing narcissism is provided). This, too, shows how famous they really are.

So remember, don’t worry about becoming famous. You can just pretend instead.

[UPDATE 6 June 1430 hours: as the comments continue to accumulate, it's clear that most of those minded to give an opinion on Raheem Kassam are of dissenting view. Having taken on board their thoughts, I've been noting the further opinions of Mr Notable, and can see why.

There does appear to be a borderline case of paranoia here, as well as the customary misrepresentation, abuse and other lashing out. You can see the latest analysis of The Great Man right HERE. No doubt this will result in further Kassam commentary, which of course I welcome]