posted on October 17, 2007 02:40:26 PM new
Air America, Talk Host Backpedal on Attack Claim, Admit Mugging Report Was False
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
An Air America talk-show host who accused "the right wing hate machine" of being responsible for an alleged attack on an on-air colleague did a fast backpedal Tuesday, apologizing for "jumping to conclusions" about a now-debunked mugging report.
Host Jon Elliott issued a written retraction of his remarkable on-air charge, saying: "I shouldn't have speculated based on hearsay that Randi Rhodes had been mugged and that it may have been an attack from a right wing hate machine. I apologize for jumping to conclusions based on an emotional reaction."
Air America also issued a statement, saying Rhodes "experienced an unfortunate incident hindering her from hosting the show. The reports of a presumed hate crime are unfounded."
Elliott's initial claim that Rhodes had been beaten "by the right wing" for her political views set the blogosphere abuzz Monday night.
Rhodes, whose program airs on Air America weekdays from 3-6 p.m. ET, allegedly informed Air America that she was struck while was walking down a street Sunday night near her Manhattan home. There even was a report on-air that she had suffered serious injuries and had lost several teeth.
FOXNews.com, however, spoke to Rhodes' lawyer Tuesday afternoon, and he quickly moved to shoot down speculation that she was the victim of a political hate crime.
"We don't know whether there was a deliberate intention aimed at her or whether it was an accident... she was pretty much, she was hurt badly when she fell and her face hit the ground," lawyer Robert Gaulin initially told FOXNews.com, adding that people on the street came to her aid. Gaulin later told the Daily News that Rhodes had fallen while out walking her dog near Park Avenue and 39th Street.
Elliott, meanwhile, went on a rant Monday night, telling listeners: "This does not appear to me to be a standard, grab-the-money-and-run mugging," and, "Is this an attempt by the right wing hate machine to silence one of our own?" Elliot also suggested that the act might have been meant to intimidate left-wing radio.
The report spread quickly Tuesday over the blogosphere, with the Google blog search showing hundreds of posts on the subject.
The New York City Police Department told FOXNews.com that they had no record of any attack in the area that Elliott mentioned — Park Avenue and 39th Street — and that Rhodes did not file a report of the incident with police.
"We have no record of her making any complaints whatsoever ... as far back as my computer goes," a police spokesman said. He said the records went back roughly 25 years.
The police spokesman, who asked not to be identified because of department policy, said that police "do not investigate things that are unreported," but encouraged Rhodes to report the incident if she would like police to investigate the matter. Police later attempted to contact Rhodes to see whether she wanted to file a report. Gaulin said Rhodes declined.
In a brief statement posted on its Web site Tuesday, Air America said replacement hosts will continue to fill in for Rhodes as she recuperates.
An Air America employee, who was not authorized to speak to the media and declined to be identified, told FOXNews.com Tuesday afternoon that Rhodes had been attacked, but said "it was not a hate crime."
The source said that Rhodes contacted several employees at Air America on Tuesday, and had told them that she was attacked but had only suffered chipped teeth, and would be seeing a dentist. Gaulin, however, said that Rhodes had been disoriented by the fall and really was not sure what had happened.
FOXNews.com's Greg Simmons contributed to this report
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.George S. Patton
posted on October 17, 2007 06:52:16 PM new
Who the hell is Jon Elliott anyways? I listen to Air America and the Randi Rhodes show and I've never once heard of him... maybe he is one of the production people. Obviously, he made a mistake, but as BearPorn was quick to point out, a retraction was made promptly. Obviously whenever some right winged talking head like Hannity, O'Reilly, Limbaugh, or their guests make such comments you rarely hear them make a retraction.
All of this reminds me of Al Franken's show and how he would go back to the day previous and find where he may have misspoke. It was called something like... "Worlds Most Boring Retraction" or something like that. Unless you had the Mid-westerners sense of humor, you probably wouldn't get it.... oh there I go again stereotyping midwesterners. I know, I know... not all of them have sense of humors. LOL.
posted on October 17, 2007 07:59:12 PM new
goodness, for a minute there I thought it might have been a lie on the magnitude of Iraqi nukes pointed at us, or WMD, or "Mission Accomplished" or something.....
this'n ain't even big as a lie about a blow job....heck!
posted on October 17, 2007 11:40:07 PM new
That was the point of my post....the poor neocons...after the Frontline story and everything else this corrupt administration has foisted on America....their only comeback is a liberal talk show host who spouted off ????
Every time I read Bear's posts, my first thought...
Is that all there is???
And that thought extends from Bear to the more professional purveyors of sleaze who supply Bears of the world with stuff to copy. Last week, even The New York Times joined the fray. with an effort to smear Al Gore.
These journalists go after insignificant radio announcers like this one or world renown Nobel Laureates like Al Gore and invariably fall flat on their faces.
posted on October 18, 2007 07:49:08 AM new
Tut, tut, tut. I knew pointing out the obvious false attack on the right would bring out the best in you dinocrats.
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.George S. Patton
"LOL! Well, we've gone from TSK TSK TSK to Tut tut tut !"
They have a fondness for unimaginative alliteration, such as tsk tsk tsk and tut tut tut. It becomes frightening when they express a need to bomb bomb bomb Iran.
posted on October 18, 2007 11:10:23 AM new
BTW Helen, I meant to say thanks for that Frontline link. I never get to watch it and my wife has the TEEVO all clogged up with all 15 versions of CSI.
My husband recently purchased some machinist equipment which apparently needs several hundred "modifications". Unfortunately, he discovered that suggestions for these modifications and instructions are easily available on my computer. So, whenever I want to use the computer there sits a computer illiterate machinist who now owns an inferior piece of equipment that he must redesign.
We obviously need a second computer now...a wonderful excuse to switch from Windows to Mac.
posted on October 19, 2007 06:37:46 AM newObviously, he made a mistake, but as BearPorn was quick to point out, a retraction was made promptly. Obviously whenever some right winged talking head like Hannity, O'Reilly, Limbaugh, or their guests make such comments you rarely hear them make a retraction.
I am waiting for the Republicans in Congress to spending the next day or two creating a resolution on how upset they were about this "lie". It seems like that is the only thing the Republicans can actually pass in Congress these days - resolutions on how they find some speech offensive.
"In my experience, those who do not like you fall into two categories: the stupid, and the envious. - John Wilmot, the Second Earl of Rochester
posted on October 19, 2007 09:15:01 AM new
Helen, get thee to an Apple retail store and play with all the goodies. I'll bet there are several of them near you.
posted on October 19, 2007 11:29:52 AM new
Is that all there is ?
Is that all you've got ?
Why post more, what I did post went over you head and obviously way beyond your limited comprehension.
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.George S. Patton
[ edited by Bear1949 on Oct 19, 2007 11:31 AM ]
posted on October 19, 2007 12:14:30 PM new
Profe, I'm planning to do just that! I'm waiting until after Oct. 26 when the new OS X stystem will be installed.
posted on October 19, 2007 01:26:22 PM new
Isn't it a shame when the Demomorons are caught in a lie, they always try and change the subject. Keep up the truth Bear. Demomorons hate the truth.
.
.
.
If it's called common sense, why do so few Demomorons have it?
posted on October 19, 2007 08:02:41 PM new
Smart move Helen, I have played with a developer's copy of Leopard, the new OSX, and while the current version; Tiger is a dream, Leopard is superb...
posted on October 21, 2007 01:02:52 PM new
Isn't it refreshing to see someone admit his mistake publicly? Don't we wish we saw more?!
_____________________
From Ellen Goodman on the coming Supreme Court case re lethal injection:
...as the Supreme Court takes up this issue again, I remember what Justice Harry Blackmun said after a 20-year struggle about just ways to administer the death penalty: "From this day forward, I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death."
We are still tinkering. This time, we're tinkering with the dosage and the training. Tinkering with competence and mistakes. We are tinkering, tinkering, tinkering to avoid the possibility that we can't have our death penalty and our humanity, too.
...as the Supreme Court takes up this issue again, I remember what Justice Harry Blackmun said after a 20-year struggle about just ways to administer the death penalty: "From this day forward, I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death."
We are still tinkering. This time, we're tinkering with the dosage and the training. Tinkering with competence and mistakes. We are tinkering, tinkering, tinkering to avoid the possibility that we can't have our death penalty and our humanity, too.
Good one, Mingo!
Are YOU a Bunghole?