Josh Bernstein Suspects That David Hogg Had Something To Do With The Stoneman Shooting

[Initech]

Right-wing commentator Josh Bernstein posted a video yesterday in which he speculated that David Hogg, a student who survived the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, last month and who has become a leading activist for gun reform, “had something to do with the Stoneman shooting” and was possibly even “affiliated in some way” with the shooter, Nikolas Cruz.

“David Hogg is an opportunist,” Bernstein said. “He is not a victim. He has used this tragedy to make a name for himself. He is exploiting this shooting in order to make a name for himself. In fact, I bet that his speech [at the March for Our Lives rally] was probably written by Michael Bloomberg himself or maybe someone at CNN … or, who knows, maybe even a Hollywood producer or writer or director.”

“This kid, David Hogg, is not concerned about gun safety,” Bernstein continued. “He is concerned about pushing an agenda and making a name for himself. And, to be quite frank, I honestly wonder if this kid has something to do with the Stoneman shooting.”

Bernstein went on to assert that “it seems very odd” that Hogg would have documented the event on his phone while hiding in a closet during the shooting.

“Give me a break,” he said. “It seems very odd. My gut tells me that this kid was either warned beforehand—knew he wasn’t going to be shot, knew he wasn’t going to be targeted—or was affiliated in some way with Nikolas Cruz.”
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/josh-bernstein-suspects-that-david-hogg-had-something-to-do-with-the-stoneman-shooting/

Argh, this is the level of idiocy we're dealing with now - they're attacking high school students because they got nothing else.

[poboy2]

1. They are just doing what they do. Making shit up and have their followers spread it. -nt

[atreides1]

2. Isn't that slander?

That's what it sounds like to me!

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Is This Kid Really A Public Figure Just Yet?

I suppose some lawyer could make that case, but he's been known for just one thing and for a very short time.

If it isn't legally slanderous, it's sure defamatory in an absolute sense. He has zero proof of such an allegation.

[11cents]

7. Public figures can win slander/libel cases

It's a high bar in this country, but it can be done. Witness, Carol Burnett's successful suit against the National Enquirer.

[ProfessorGAC]

12. Good Point

But, if this kid isn't really a public figure yet, that makes what that idiot said much riskier. I would think one cannot legally just accuse a private citizen of complicity in a crime with absolutely no proof.

[vsrazdem]

4. They should file a lawsuit, and shut these people up.

[BannonsLiver]

6. In the UK it would be.

Open and shut case.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

24. I don't think "it seems odd" or "my gut tells me" rises to the level (legally) of slander

(Or libel or whatever the state statute calls it)

But I'm not a lawyer.

I would think he would have to make more of a declarative statement.

[Blindingly apparent]

31. What a shame

If this vile statement could be considered slander maybe young David could win and have his whole college tuition paid for by this POS

[lapfog_1]

5. wait, I thought he was a paid "crisis" actor...

and there really wasn't any shooting, only special effects.

Now they have me confused.

[Initech]

11. Yeah they seem to be conflicting their own message here, don't they?

[Beaverhausen]

8. Who the fuck is Josh Bernstein?

is he just another right wing tool trying to get attention?

[cwydro]

33. Never heard of him.

Wondering why someone would post this nonsense here.

[NewJeffCT]

9. I suspect Josh Bernstein

of being a big time douchebag.

[Lucinda]

10. Lucinda Suspects Josh Bernstein is an idiot who likes to attack children.

The Parkland folks are hitting a nerve.
Good.
May they all stay safe.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Oh You Don't Suspect It, Lucinda

You're 100% sure of it. And i'm 100% sure you're correct.

[Lucinda]

15. Quite true.

[Initech]

21. Yeah I have to say this last month has been awesome watching the gun nuts squirm.

Although it sucks that it had to take a mass shooting to get people to wake up. But when we have assholes in charge, we have to take matters into our own hands to get people to wake up.

[Lucinda]

25. Sandy Hook should have been a catalyst. But we seem to finally have the right

combination of people pushing back this time. It's shameful that the kids had to take lead on this...but it is part of what makes this time different. They are the right people using the right tools (social media) to make change.

[Mosby]

14. I can't say what I would like to do to josh bernstien.

What a horrible person.

[PatSeg]

16. Maybe Josh should talk to Laura Ingraham

and see how well such talk worked out for her.

[underpants]

17. An agenda!!! Oh no not an AGENDA!!!

You hear that all the time on talk radio. "They have an agenda" Really? ....and then the person talking starts promoting their agenda.

[Initech]

18. Yeah that's a classic right wing talking point.

Yes, the ever dangerous "agenda"!! *cue horror music* What crazy thing will "the agenda" reveal this week?

[cannabis_flower]

27. Yeah..

Doesn't Marco Rubio have an agenda that people "buy into"! Relevant quote at 1:40 in the video.

[MineralMan]

19. What paucity of intellect! What emptiness of mind!

Josh Bernstein has exceeded all expectations.

[peggysue2]

20. They Have Nothing . . .

But their own shame. Despicable!

[Initech]

22. You can't really shame someone who has no sense of shame.

[peggysue2]

35. Sadly, true.

But we can hold their feet to the fire. Although I must say, David Hogg is doing a very good job on his own. These kids are damn amazing!

[First Speaker]

23. This is almost as purely and utterly evil as Holocaust Denial...

...every time I think to myself, I won't sink to their level; I won't allow myself to hate...they get worse. And worse. This is one of the most disgusting things I've ever heard, and I've been around a long time...

[Corgigal]

26. Momma's will destroy him.

Play silly man, we will win because biology wants it that way.

[DBoon]

28. I wonder if Josh Bernstein has something to do with the outbreak of drug resistant gonorrhea

Something tells me he might be behind this, just a gut instinct. He is too smug and sure of himself, as though he had something to do with this.

We must investigate!

[Danascot]

34. There's a new strain spreading

STGOP

[spanone]

29. there are no words for these shitstains

[argyl]

30. Thought he was a 21 y.o. who wasnt even a student?

So that shit gets shot down and they come back with even more vile, outlandish things about this kid?
Maybe we should re-examine the 1st Amendment because this spending money and resources to craft lies to deceive and sway public opinion most assuredly is not what the Founders had in mind.
This isnt even a 1st Amendment issue. If David Hogg is a public figure this vile shit has a lot do to with it. Reporters can and do go to publication with a story that is inaccurate. It happens all the time but this is something entirely different. No doubt data was mined to find the most convincing lies to spread.
They’ve used these methods to overturn elections here in the States and abroad as well. If there aren’t any existing laws to cover this I guess we’re SOL for now because this bunch in power will do nothing whatsoever about it.

[smirkymonkey]

32. These people are truly sick in the head.

They just make up the most outlandish, hateful lies that their fiendish little minds can come up with and throw it out there like a chimp flinging poo. I really hope it all comes back on them.