October 16, 2007
Paranoid Lefties Blame Randi Rhodes Attack on Conservative 'Whack Job'
UPDATE: This story is BOGUS! Rhodes was not mugged; her lawyer says she somehow fell while walking her dog and was injured. Her Air America colleague, Jon Elliot, seems to have made up the whole thing. Really makes me want to tune in now...
***
The paranoia on the left knows no bounds. Apparently Air America talk show host Randi Rhodes was attacked near her apartment in NYC while walking her dog and was beaten pretty badly. She lost several teeth and has to take some time off from work to recover.
That stinks. I hope she recovers soon, and I hope the person who did it is caught. But Baroosk over at Talking Radio explains that many lefties think Rhodes was not just a random victim of some thug, but the victim of some rightwing Air America hater. Air America host Jon Elliot leads the pack:
"Is this an attempt by the right wing hate machine to silence one of our own," he asked. "Are we threatening them. Are they afraid that we're winning. Are they trying to silence intimidate us."
And blogger Baroosk continues the paranoia rant:
Some of blog posters also expressed concerns that the attack on Rhodes was hate crime. Other posters warned that we need more facts before any judgements are made.
[...]
Apparently, some right-wing critics of lib talk aren’t happy that conservative talk only accounts for 90% of the programming on talk radio. These whack jobs appear determined to whatever it takes to silence the opposing point of view.
Their proof? That Rhodes wasn't carrying a purse. Good grief! And this coming from the people who think it's funny to air a clip of the president being "shot."
Look, if conservative talk show hosts have 90% of talk radio, why would they try to shut down what amounts to no competition? And if "conservative crazies" were really intent upon shutting down liberal media, they'd likely start with the New York Times and the alphabet networks, then work their way down.
Before anyone says I condone such violence, I do not. Don't try to twist my words. And if it does turn out to be a nut who leans to the right, then I say, "Book 'im, Danno." But jumping to conclusions like this is simply ridiculous, and continues the deterioration of civil political dialogue in this country.
On a tip from Cookiewrangler.
Show Comments »
First, prayers for her quick recovery.
Second, it could have been a mugging where the mugger got p*ssed off that she did NOT have her bag or any other valuables on her and thus the brutal attack. Muggers do not just go for bags, they look for jewelry as well. Or it could have been a possible attempt at rape - a woman out alone in NYC, who would have ever thought this could happen here? Please!
As you say, Pam, till this is solved, there should be no finger pointing at who did this. Absolute nonsense to start spewing a possible Right Wing conspiracy till all the facts are in!
And for the left, yes I actually sent a PRAYER. Afterall, I am allowed to still believe in God we trust!!! And I can still pledge allegiance to one nation under God!
Posted by: Jeanette at October 16, 2007 10:24 AMYou know, you are right. Folks ARE jumping to conclusions, and this mugging happened in NYC!!
Gee, how unusual!
But you know, if the airwaves weren't overflowing with the hate-filled voices of Limbaugh, Malkin, O'Reilly, etc. it wouldn't be so tempting to make the kinds of remarks you are criticizing.
Your demeanor is certainly not the norm I am exposed to from the right. You sound like a reasonably intelligent person. But, in my book, if that were true, you would have nothing to do with the republican party as it currently stands.
Posted by: wendy at October 16, 2007 10:31 AMI am neither a Democrat or Republican, if NJ had it as an option, I would be a registered Independent. Still annoyed that I had to choose a party - I have never voted straight party line.
I think the majority of people tend to be in the middle but the way things are, most people get categorized into certain groups by the party they are registered. Can't stand extremists in either of the majority parties.
Gee Wendy, thanks...I think. You know, the right AND left have their extremists. Don't think I haven't seen some of the drivel over at sites like Democratic Underground, where death wishes for some of our elected officials sprout like mushrooms in dark, dank forests.
Question: have you actually listened to an entire Rush Limbaugh show? If you do, you might realize he is not spouting hatred. Having views different than those you espouse is not hatred, it's called a difference of opinion. And it's not a bad idea to listen to what the other folks are saying: you might change your mind, or you can at least come away with an understanding of what others are thinking and talking about. Living in a vacuum isn't healthy for anyone.
Your comment that a "reasonably intelligent person" would have nothing to do with the Republican party is a typical insult; I've heard it before (from a friend, no less!). But I wouldn't call someone who disagrees with me stupid just for disagreeing; I don't play those games. Misguided, maybe, and possibly ill-informed. But not stupid. Ad hominem attacks are useless if you really want honest debate.
Thanks for visiting...
Posted by: Pam at October 16, 2007 11:03 AMHmmm...Wendy's comment might have been meant for Jeanette, not me. I must not be "reasonably intelligent." (cue crying)
Posted by: Pam at October 16, 2007 11:12 AMPersonally, I think we both sounded intelligent.
Posted by: Jeanette at October 16, 2007 11:21 AMWell, I hope Randi recovers quickly. I am not sure who did it but I think most talk shows are baised to their point of view. Rush like Ann Coulter can be a bully. I think many times this kind of speech does not help the Republican cause but hurt it especially Ann Coulter. She is not helping at all with her often hateful words. I will join in the prayers for Randi and will pray it was not a hate movtivated attack for all of our sakes.
Posted by: Pat Smith at October 16, 2007 12:26 PMWow. As much as I can't stand Randi Rhodes' show, I would never want someone beat up just for having a different opinion. I hope they nail the asshole who assaulted a woman so viciously and give them a suitably harsh sentence.
Posted by: Reverse_Vampyr at October 16, 2007 12:40 PMIt's New York, people! Thugs don't need a reason to beat up a woman! Cripes!
Posted by: Wyatt Earp at October 16, 2007 12:53 PMPam.
There comes a time when it's not about disagreement, it's about right or wrong. I think Limbaugh has done more to promote "wrong" in this country than almost anyone. I can never listen to more than a few minutes of his show because it makes me physically ill. What his ilk stands for is making money above all, indiscriminately grabbing power, and letting the weak be destroyed...not my Christian upbringing.
But right or wrong, I will defend your right to offer your opinion. My dollars go to the ACLU, not the democratic party.
My prayers go out to Randi.
Posted by: at October 16, 2007 01:29 PMThe story is completely untrue! I wonder if Elliot knew that before he accused conservatives?
Posted by: Wyatt Earp at October 16, 2007 06:25 PMI pray for her quick recovery and I also pray Randi Rhodes and and her fellow Air America Radio hosts who dont know JESUS in their lives will come to know him.
JOHN 3:16-17:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Posted by: Joshua at October 16, 2007 06:55 PMOne of the funniest things about the left, in the modern age, is their willingness to ignore the hatred they are spouting, while hatefully criticizing anyone with a differing viewpoint.
It is also true that many deeply ideological right wingers also spout what amounts to idiocy-on-the-hoof but the leftists are the ones always preaching a religion of tolerance they can't embrace. it is the sheer hypocrisy of the Air America host Jon Elliots of the world that baffles me, not the stupidity of the hate spewing, deeply distrubed, ultra-left and ultra-right wingers.
That hypocrisy is the only reason that Hilary is a candidate for anything. If hypocrisy is your mother's milk, you embrace what you recognize and one thing I can say for Hilary, hypocrisy is thy name.
