Trump: I'm All For Free Speech, But Anti-Islam Cartoon Contest Was 'DUMB!'

[DonViejo]

Real estate mogul and wannabe presidential candidate Donald Trump on Monday night took a break from talking tough about President Barack Obama to criticize a Muhammad cartoon-drawing contest where two gunmen opened fire Sunday in Garland, Texas.

One of the event's organizers, Pamela Geller, has sought to cast the shooting as a "war on free speech." In a series of tweets, Trump suggested Geller and the other notorious anti-Muslim extremists who hosted the event were "publicity seekers" who actually provoked the attack:

Donald J. Trump ✔
@realDonaldTrump

Nobody would fight harder for free speech than me but why taunt, over and over again, in order to provoke possible death to audience. DUMB!

9:46 PM - 4 May 2015
88 88 Retweets 160 160 favorites

Donald J. Trump ✔
@realDonaldTrump

The U.S. has enough problems without publicity seekers going out and openly mocking religion in order to provoke attacks and death. BE SMART

9:55 PM - 4 May 2015
149 149 Retweets 205 205 favorites

-snip-

Trump also called out Geller directly earlier Monday in an interview on Fox News' "Fox and Friends."

-snip-

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/donald-trump-garland-shooting

[Exilednight]

1. The only intelligent thing Trump has ever said.

[GOLGO 13]

2. Yeah, don't poke a tiger from inside the cage.

Sound advice.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

4. Why are tigers being allowed to roam free while others are expected to sit quietly in cages?

[GOLGO 13]

6. All tigers should be free-range tigers.

Cages are instruments of the devil.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

17. In your original post tigers = those who reacted violently to Geller's event

And now you're saying, "All tigers should be free-range tigers. Cages are instruments of the devil."

Did you suddenly change topics?

[Yorktown]

5. So, let the tigers grow and multiply?

Sound advice?

[GOLGO 13]

8. Q: What's a tiger running a copy machine called?

A: A copycat!

[CBGLuthier]

27. Human beings are capable of rational decisions. tigers are not.

I hold human beings responsible for their decisions. I do not do the same for tigers. Unless you are saying that some humans are actually really animals I think your statement is absurd.

[Yorktown]

3. Dumb comment by Trump. I liked how Obama ridiculed him at the WH Press correspondents gala.

Trump should stick to selling real estate.

He probably has lots of rich Saudi clients.

Hence his comments.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

9. That's sort of uncalled for and somewhat racist ...

... though, I don't care that you say; I, in fact, support your free speech. However, Trump is right on this one. Why do you assume he has "Saudi clients" just because he thinks denigrating a religion is dumb? I, and others on this board, think it's dumb, as well. Do you assume I have Saudi clients?"

[Yorktown]

12. I assume Trump has Saudi clients because he sells luxury real estate.

Would you say it's 'racist' to say Saudis have a larger share of the luxury market than Zimbabweans?

If you think so, one hint: Saudi Arabia has more oil fields than Zimbabwe.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

15. Oil fields notwithstanding ...

You assume that he said what he said because he has "Saudi clients." The red herring you provide does nothing. Again, I don't care what you say, but it was a weird thing to say.

[Yorktown]

19. Just common sense.

Trump is a nationalist conservative, quite likely to share many views with Pamela Geller.

To see him dissociate himself from her invites questions about personal interest.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

22. They're both assholes ...

... on this, we agree.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

7. For once, I actually agree with Trump.

It's absolutely fucking stupid to do something like this. I am not a fan of religion, but I don't make it my point to go out and denigrate any religious beliefs.

I hate to say this, but I agree with Trump on this one.

[Yorktown]

20. And what when religious beliefs are dangerous?

My religious belief is that Emperor Hiro Ito is right, no matter what.

And I'll wage Jihad tomorrow on Burma, Malaysia and Singapore to prove my point.

And if anyone makes a cartoon about me, I shoot.


Other than that, I'm a nice guy. If you let me subjugate Asia now.

the rest later.

[DinahMoeHum]

10. Even a blind squirrel like Trump finds an acorn. . .

. . .every now and then.

[Yorktown]

13. But not this once.

[JCMach1]

11. When you are drunk (with anti-Islam) don't poke the rattlesnake

with a stick...

You could end up like this guy:

http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2014-05-30/story/putnam-county-man-bitten-rattlesnake-saved-52-vials-antivenin


Doesn't mean you are not free to do so... However, it's on you if something bad happens

[Yorktown]

14. Are you saying Islam is a rattlesnake?

Not trying to contradict you or anything, just asking.

[JCMach1]

31. Just a metaphor...

Radical Fundatmentalists of all types fall in the snake category for me...

[NCTraveler]

16. I'm all for free speech.

The Anti-Islam cartoon contest was dumb.

Much better. Not sure why so many don't get that is how it should be structured. The "but" really makes them look like fools.

[RedCappedBandit]

18. People have the right to do dumb shit without getting shot for it. nt

[Matrosov]

21. Dumb? No, religion needs to be ridiculed

Why tolerate homophobia and misogyny when people use their invisible sky god as justification, e.g. Islam?

[fadedrose]

23. I R'd something that Trump said

Has he risen or have I sunken?

[CBGLuthier]

28. You have sunken

Any american who does not passionately embrace the first amendment should be ashamed.

You asked.

[FLPanhandle]

24. I'm for free speech, BUT

I'm not a racist, BUT

I don't hate gay people, BUT


Whenever someone uses the word BUT they negate the first part of their statement.

[LanternWaste]

25. Accurately exemplified when saying, "I support free speech, but Fox news is dumb..."

Accurately exemplified when saying, "I support free speech, but Fox news is dumb..."

Bumper-sticker wisdom holds little room for nuance and reality.

[unblock]

26. toupee, i mean, touche, donald, touche.

[merrily]

29. And Trump knows dumb!

[JCMach1]

32. +1000

[Buns_of_Fire]

30. I have the absolute, First-Amendment-Protected right to walk up to Floyd Mayweather

and insult him, his last bout, his fighting skills, his dancing skills, his mama, and his taste in popular music -- secure in the knowledge that the First Amendment gives me the absolute right to do so and the Constitution will protect me from the government coming after my butt.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't be protected from Floyd Mayweather coming after my butt. A distinction I guess I'd have lots of time to ponder while recovering in intensive care, reading notes from my friends, which would all say "Why'd you DO such a dumbass thing?"

[LynneSin]

33. Even a broken clock is right twice a day

Go Donald