Lindsey Graham On Death Of NYC Police Officers: 'I Blame The Shooter'

[Stuart G]

Source: Talking Points Memo

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Sunday avoided blaming New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) for the shooting of two police officers in Brooklyn.

On CBS' "Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer asked Graham about a tweet from former New York Gov. George Pataki (R) placing blame on de Blasio and Attorney General Eric Holder.

"I blame the shooter and nobody else," Graham responded.

When Schieffer asked Graham if he thought the shooting was linked to cases like the death of Eric Garner, the senator criticized the "tone" used by some leaders.

"I think the mayor of New York has probably undercut his cops, and the attorney general is trying to walk a fine line. What happened in Missouri, I understand why the cop had to defend himself. When you see the video in New York - did that man really have to die? But the tone they’re setting around the rhetoric regarding the cops incites crazy people, but I blame the shooter," Graham said.


Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/graham-blame-shooter-nyc-officers

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Every once in a while, even a broken clock tells the correct time. Graham has said something correct...."....but I blame the shooter," is what he said..forget the rest of what was said..those four words are the truth,.... and all the rest of those who are blaming anyone other than the shooter, are lying assholes..

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Wow

Still can't stand him - but he got this one right.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

9. Only a little, he still blamed US (you and me) so to speak, but then said he blamed the shooter

a clever way to appeal to his rightwing sycophant american taliban asshole followers while showing a little adult behavior...

[JustAnotherGen]

11. I wonder what he's up to

Seriously -he always has an angle.

[Raine1967]

19. He's going to make a pretend run for President.

This is the only explanation I can see.

[Cha]

14. I know, huh? Who knew.. Lindsey Graham would be the gophucks' Voice of Reason? At least

there's a more sane voice out there on their side of the aisle. Actually stating the facts more or less..

[Kalidurga]

2. He better watch it he will get kicked out of the club

It's supposed to be Obama's fault, or liberals fault for (insert some vague assertion about liberal philosophy), the black community, the protesters, mental health professionals or access to services (only not so much cuz people should pay that chit themselves), it was the way he was raised and probably some other nut jobs reason (is there a way to blame teh gays?).

[Siwsan]

3. I'd better put down the mead, because Lindsay is NOT blaming Liberals AND making sense??

I'm trying to wrap my brain around that one.

[Stuart G]

6. "Blame the shooter".. does make sense...

It takes a complete nut job to go and kill a couple of cops sitting in a car, doing .."nothing at all"...
It takes a complete nut job to go into a school and kill more than 20 people for "nothing at all"
Millions of people have legal guns, and do not kill a couple of cops sitting in a car or a group of innocent people in a school. They do not get pissed at someone in a movie theater and kill people. Our society is sick, and our murder rate is a reflection of that. At least one Republican on this issue...at this moment gets it...

He may indeed get drummed out of the club. But the truth is still the truth.

[Siwsan]

8. I wonder how his buddy McCain feels about this

You usually don't hear from one without hearing from or seeing the other.

[harrose]

16. You Mean the One Who Admitted On National Television...

... that he was a war criminal who bombed innocent women and children in Vietnam?

"I am a war criminal. I bombed innocent women and children." -- John McCain on 60 Minutes.

[Horse with no Name]

4. You suck

You forced me to agree with Lindsey Graham.

[inanna]

5. +1

[Hoyt]

7. I agree with Graham, but suspect his motive.

[Stuart G]

10. I agree with you, about motive, but to me, it is what he said.

He was just reelected to his senate position. He has got 6 years more, and he can say what he wants. That has always been the advantage of being a senator. After election, you really can say the truth, and not worry about someone taking your job in 2 years. So, for once he told the truth. A rare moment in time.........

[KMOD]

17. Far right wing blogs

are now saying Brinsley was a Muslim jihadist.

There's his motive.

[harrose]

12. Once Again, Graham Is Wrong...

Yeah, I'll grant that the primary responsibility lies with the shooter, but Rethugs like Giuliani and Bloomberg, who set up the culture that led to the Eric Garner murder have to share the blame. They should be tried as accessories to the Garner murder and the murder of these two cops.

[Euphoria]

26. Agreed. Racist and class-baiting policies

have blow-back consequences. And those who implement them under the guise of "reasonableness" and cite their knowledge and authority should bear responsibility for such consequences.
Such types are the first to shout their false accomplishments; let 'em deal with the real outcomes of their implemented policies.

[midnight]

13. I blame the domestic policies they are designing to create battlefields outside our windows.

[rtracey]

15. wow smart

i blame the shooter....wow profound statement.....idiot

[Dawson Leery]

18. "I blame the shooter and nobody else" does not dovetail

with the propaganda coming out of Fox (Worse than ISIS will ever be) "News" Channel.

I wonder what the teanuts will do about this.

[Raine1967]

20. He couched that answer, and it was a BS one.

"I think the mayor of New York has probably undercut his cops, and the attorney general is trying to walk a fine line. What happened in Missouri, I understand why the cop had to defend himself. When you see the video in New York - did that man really have to die? But the tone they’re setting around the rhetoric regarding the cops incites crazy people, but I blame the shooter," Graham said.

He's trying to look more caring than Pataki who has also signaled he wants to run for president.

USually, everything after *but* is bills*t, IMO.

[seveneyes]

21. The distance between illusion and allusion

Requires an understanding of infinite nuance. There is no cure other than genetic disposition. To refrain form stopping the inevitable is to refrain from judgement.

[lunasun]

22. I guess the reason this is late breaking news is he finally said something that makes sense!

That is news !

[riversedge]

28. yes

[sammy750]

23. The Police Association/Union officials are ignorant. They only know how to use a gun,

not brains. Maybe having more brain power would help the cops. Power to them is that big gun they can threaten or even kill if they don't like you. The Police Associations/Union across this nation is turning the citizens against them for how they talk. Thinking they are GOD. "do as we tell you and we won't shoot you". This is the cops message to us.

Well it is time they get fired, more training and understand they work for the people of this nation. Cops can be replaced with more competent cops

[TygrBright]

24. Even a stopped clock, etc... n/t

[Turbineguy]

25. And there must be

many more like Ismaaiyl Brinsley who, mostly through their own choices, but not always, are out there.

[riversedge]

27. Good for Lindsey. Give credit

where and when credit is due.

[marshall]

29. Standard "Right to bear arms" thinkspeak

He is deflecting attention away from the gun and focusing on the shooter.

[tjl148]

31. So you blame the gun and not the shooter? nt

[marshall]

32. I blame gun culture

Richard Martinez has it right--our politicians need to act to keep guns out of the hands of deranged and angry individuals.

[NickB79]

34. New York, and NYC in particular, already have the harshest gun control laws in the US

It's easy to say

our politicians need to act to keep guns out of the hands of deranged and angry individuals.

But specifics are needed to be taken seriously.

What changes do you propose that could realistically be passed by the existing crop of politicians in the near future and make a noticeable impact on crime?

[onehandle]

30. I blame gun culture. nt

[Orangepeel]

33. Of course the shooter is to blame. If any one else, it's the state of Georgia

Court records show Brinsley dropped out of high school in 10th grade and had a history of mental health treatment. He had been arrested nine times since 2004 in the Atlanta area for charges ranging from carrying a concealed weapon to trespassing, and he was convicted of disorderly conduct and shoplifting, according to records from the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.

He had also violated probation for several years by not checking in with a parole officer and failing to complete court­ordered evaluations to screen for drug and alcohol abuse and potential anger management problems, records showed.

Snip

Police reports from Atlanta show a history of strange behavior and violent threats. In February 2010, Brinsley argued with a woman at a Waffle House and threatened to kill her, Atlanta police say. He returned four days later, threw a slushy in the same woman's face and left, telling the victim he would return with a knife, the police report said.

Snip

On June 7, 2013, an Atlanta police officer came into contact with him as he and another man "appeared to be dancing as they crossed a street." The officer asked for identification, and Brinsley gave an alias before fleeing from police. After a foot chase, police arrested him, and he provided his real name and birthday. Atlanta police said they learned that he had a warrant out for his arrest for theft, criminal damage to property, felon in possession of a firearm, obstruction and simple battery. It is not known what happened to Brinsley following that incident.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-nypd-police-shooting-20141221-story.html#page=1