Talk Radio Hosts in Arizona Reject Blame in Shooting

[Roy Rolling]

Source: New York Times

TUCSON — During Tucson’s first rush hour since a weekend shooting left six people dead and 14 wounded, including Representative Gabrielle Giffords, talk radio hosts pushed back against arguments that their heated political rhetoric had played a role in the tragedy.

Phone calls poured in to stations across the AM dial to denounce Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik, who said at a news conference over the weekend that Arizona had become “the mecca for prejudice and bigotry” and that local TV and radio hosts should do some “soul-searching.” “I would say that his comments have incited stupidity around the world,” said Garret Lewis, host of The Morning Ritual on 790 AM. “People have the image now that we’re a bunch of racist bigots and there are shootouts in the streets. Again he has absolutely no proof that any of this is true.”

Steve, a caller on the Jon Justice Show on 104.1 FM, said Mr. Dupnik’s statements “showed him for the buffoon he is.” Later, a called named Lee called the sheriff “a blithering idiot.” Caller after caller came up with their own colorful descriptions.

In the incredulous language of the AM dial, Mr. Justice defended his show, and dismissed the notion that Arizona’s heated political culture served as the backdrop to the shooting or an inspiration for the suspect, Jared L. Loughner.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/us/11radio.html

---

What can you expect? They are employed to tell lies and make listeners angry by distoring the truth, of course they will lie about anything. As Judge Judy would say "I wouldn't believe them if their tongue was notaraized." Unfortunately, being part of the liars club is more important to the hero-worshipping listeners of crap radio than being truthful. It is a moral problem, they simply do not value the truth.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. Imagery or fact?

“People have the image now that we’re a bunch of racist bigots and there are shootouts in the streets. Again he has absolutely no proof that any of this is true.”

[somone]

3. Imagery and fact:

IMAGERY:


FACT:

[NewJeffCT]

2. You expected them to show remorse, or even a conscience?

I'd have been surprised if they did.

[wtmusic]

4. Everyone in World Rejects Blame for Shooting

Including Those Who May be Responsible.

Film at eleven.

[onehandle]

5. 'Chef Rejects Blame for Bad Cooking. Blames Busboy.' nt

[bemildred]

6. Hey, there is a lot of money at stake here. nt

[Downwinder]

7. I think they protest too much. Perhaps a sign of guilt. n/t

[goforit]

8. Only time will tell.

[Michigan-Arizona]

9. Heard on RW radio this morning

Wanted to hear a bit of what they were going to say on this horrible tragedy, they had mentioned wanting to get rid of Dupnik at the next election & I think they said they thought he should resign now of course. Couldn't listen to their crap for very long. If we're still in Tucson I'll bang on every door to help keep him in office!

[louis-t]

10. No "proof" of shootouts in the streets?

There was a shootout in the streets. People are dead. There's your proof. Still waiting for that proof of headless bodies in the desert.

[theyne]

11. timeline of RW rhetoric that lead to shooting

Check out Josh Horwitz Blog that shows the history of the RW insurrectionist rhetoric that lead to the horrific mass shooting in Tuscon:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x153766

[defendandprotect]

12. Wow ... I'm shocked ... 'cause right wing always steps up to be accountable -- !!!!

:sarcasm: .... just in case!!

[OKNancy]

13. kick

[RedEarth]

14. Talk Radio Hosts Reject Blame in Shooting

Source: nyt

TUCSON — During Tucson’s first rush hour since a weekend shooting left six people dead and 14 wounded, including Representative Gabrielle Giffords, talk radio hosts pushed back against arguments that their heated political rhetoric had played a role in the tragedy.

Phone calls poured in to stations across the dial to denounce Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik, who said at a news conference over the weekend that Arizona had become “the mecca for prejudice and bigotry” and that local TV and radio hosts should do some “soul-searching.”

The radio hosts struck a defensive, even embattled tone at times on Monday. They said Saturday’s shooting had nothing to do with either their broadcasts or the state’s tense political environment; they read e-mails over the air that were critical of their political stances, and some spoke about death threats they had received.

All agreed that Sheriff Dupnik had embarrassed Arizona and unfairly denigrated talk radio by linking it with the shooting.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/us/11radio.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

[Barack_America]

15. The truth is often unpleasant.

Sorry RWers in AZ and elsewhere. Hopefully, for our nation's sake, you will eventually own your responsibility in this event and countless others that have occurred in recent years.

[mbperrin]

16. Love it when the party of "personal responsibility" ducks!!!!

Sheriff Dupnik is one of the only bright spots I've noticed in Arizona.

[randr]

17. They think mere words of a sheriff could denigrate them?

They are already the bottom of the barrel.

[YvonneCa]

18. KFI in LA did this. And the Fox television affilliate...

...talked it up with them ON AIR during the noon 'news.' This IS the power they have... The sheriff is a hero for saying what he did, IMO.

[yourout]

19. Of course.....they dont want to get sued.

[JudyM]

20. Next up: it's because he was a pot smoker.

Just caught that on MSNBC a moment ago... Loughner's friends are saying he was a normal kid in high school but started smoking pot in college and that caused his personality to change. I'm betting this is going to get all kinds of airplay by the 'right.' No doubt this will be the answer by the gun lobby, as well.

:eyes:

[bongbong]

21. At any other time....

At any other time, the whackjobs known as repigs would be calling for Dupnik to be shot or worse. They can't do that right now, of course, but you can be assured the WANT TO. Another thing stopping them is the fact he might shoot back. repigs are cowards who like shooting at women & children.

[damntexdem]

22. RW talk radio is in denial.

RW politicians are in denial.

The NRA is in denial.

Gunnuts are in denial.

And, unfortunately, America is basically in denial. We are a sick society and are becoming sicker.

[RamboLiberal]

23. AZCentral: The Monday after: Talk radio responds

"What an embarrassing weekend it has been for the media," Rush Limbaugh said at the beginning of his show. "Utterly, childishly ... embarrassing. I knew it was going to happen the minute I heard about the shooting. ... So predictable, so childish, so immature. It has led to a number of people making abject fools of themselves."

Chief among them, to Limbaugh and others, is Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, who on Saturday said that Arizona has become a "mecca for intolerance and bigotry."

Glenn Beck, often mentioned along with Limbaugh as someone whose radio show contributes to a toxic political atmosphere, weighed in on Dupnik, as well. “I have so desperately this weekend looked for a leader, looked for someone with common sense, looked for someone who would tell the truth. Instead I find a sheriff who has no facts and blames it on talk radio. Instead I find, I believe it was Time magazine that said, if I may quote: ‘We have none of the facts yet, but who would be surprised if this was a Glenn Beck fan.’ I’ve looked for anyone that would not play politics with it.”

Beck also said that he and his staff had checked to see if he'd mentioned Giffords on the air and found that, despite disagreeing with her politically, the only time he'd brought her up was when "I used her as an example of someone with some political courage."

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/BillGoodykoontz/113633

Yeah Beck after Tides incident I bet your staff was frantically searching!