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Right-wing media continue to hint at anti-Obama violence

May 13, 2009 1:10 pm ET by Jamison Foser

First Fox Nation posts an image of a gun pointed at President Obama's head:

And now the Washinton Times joins in:

What's next, Gordon Liddy using photos of the Obamas for target practice?

(via Shakesville)

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    • Author by Jurgan (May 13, 2009 1:16 pm ET)
        3
      Eh, that's a bit of a stretch. I'm willing to assume the Fox Nation pics are just some careless editing (I can't see the Times pic).
      Report Abuse
      • Author by harley (May 13, 2009 1:47 pm ET)
        4  

        A rifle pointing at the temple our president is "a bit of a stretch"? Really?
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        • Author by RABBITLUVR (May 13, 2009 2:21 pm ET)
             
          Amazing, isn't it? They can excuse just about anything from Fox.

          Yeah, I get it. If it's Bush's head being targeted then that would HAVE to be deliberate but if it's Obama's head... naaah, just a little 'careless editing'.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by Jurgan (May 13, 2009 2:29 pm ET)
              1
            Who exactly are "they?" I assume you're suggesting I'm a conservative. I'm as liberal as they come and I can't stand Fox News. But if ever I question the premise of even one Media Matters article, suddenly I'm a wingnut. Can we have a reasonable debate? Why the enforced conformity? Why do commenters here insist everyone must tow the line? Yeah, I think in this case it was probably not intentional. Remember Heinlein's Razor: Never attribute to malice what can adequately be explained by stupidity. I think it was an accident, you think it was intentional. Fine, we disagree- why jump straight to trite personal attacks on a fellow poster whom you obviously know nothing about?
            Report Abuse
            • Author by RABBITLUVR (May 13, 2009 2:58 pm ET)
                 
              Getting a little defensive there... no-one has called you a wingnut and no-one has said anything about 'enforced conformity'. You might not wanna protest too much if you want people to think you really aren't a wingnut.

              Oh, the 'they' refers to Fox News viewers, other rightwingers, and folks such as yourself who excuse Fox in spite of its sordid history. You may want to delve into that history before excusing tidbits such as this one in the future.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by Jurgan (May 13, 2009 3:24 pm ET)
                1 1
                Sigh... In this one instance, I'm giving Fox the benefit of the doubt. Can I not do that? Apparently not, because then "they can excuse anything from Fox." Of course, there are plenty of things from Fox that I do not excuse- this is a rare exception. But I guess that doesn't matter.
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                • Author by Victor Colorado (May 13, 2009 3:44 pm ET)
                     
                  In this one instance, I'm giving Fox the benefit of the doubt.


                  As an aside (so to speak), we do you think gun sales are surging?
                  Report Abuse
                • Author by Victor Colorado (May 13, 2009 3:49 pm ET)
                     
                  that should be "why do you think gun sales are surging?"
                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by Jurgan (May 14, 2009 11:21 am ET)
                       
                    I don't know for sure, mind you- I'm not a gun-owner. But I imagine it's paranoia over the fear that Obama will "take our guns away." And, yes, Glenn Beck and his militia-media ilk deserve blame for stoking those fears, though I stop short of saying they're personally responsible for shooting deaths- down that road lies thought police and the end of free speech. Isn't it interesting, though, how for some people the 2nd amendment is the only part of the Bill of Rights that seems to matter? A true civil libertarian would have been much more concerned with the PATRIOT act than nebulous fears about gun control.
                    Report Abuse
                    • Author by Victor Colorado (May 14, 2009 12:02 pm ET)
                         
                      So you think Obama is why gun sales are surging and that a photo of him posted by Fox Nation w/ a gun pointed at him is an innocent mistake? I simply don't by it. Their hate is dangerous. Same goes for explaining it away.
                      Report Abuse
                      • Author by Jurgan (May 14, 2009 3:42 pm ET)
                           
                        Eh, that's a fair point. Like I said: I'm not a mind-reader, so I can't say for sure. Anyway, I'm not trying to start a big fight over this- maybe you're right, maybe you're not. Either way, it's in poor taste and should be removed.
                        Report Abuse
            • Author by hongdb (May 15, 2009 11:17 am ET)
                 
              Kinda drives a person away, doesn't it? I just gave up--for the same reasons as those that concern you. Never mind my long history of pro bono social-justice legal work and protest/civil disobedience (that believe me, purist dilettantes, put more skin in the game than blog sniping) and agreeing in philosophy with MM. Never mind that the last suggestion I made--for which I was instantly attacked--was on its face laced with and based on concern for the integrity of MM, I was jumped-on. Hang in there, Jurgan.
              Report Abuse
        • Author by DonSchenck (May 13, 2009 3:45 pm ET)
            1
          In all fairness, almost ALL pictures of rifles are pointed left to right, because most rifles are for right-handed shooters.

          That's just common.

          Unfortunate, yes ... but I don't want to say it's intended.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by Victor Colorado (May 13, 2009 4:21 pm ET)
               
            And what say you about the Obama photo caption?
            Report Abuse
          • Author by Victor Colorado (May 13, 2009 4:21 pm ET)
               
            And what say you about the Obama photo caption?
            Report Abuse
          • Author by Victor Colorado (May 13, 2009 4:20 pm ET)
               
            And what say you about the Obama photo caption?
            Report Abuse
          • Author by harley (May 13, 2009 5:56 pm ET)
               
            In all fairness, almost ALL pictures of rifles are pointed left to right,.


            Wrong.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by DonSchenck (May 14, 2009 1:34 pm ET)
                 
              No, I'm right. I've been working in the firearms industry for 24+ years and know what I'm talking about. The only time you show a rifle or shotgun pointed right to left is if you want to inform the reader via a picture that a left-handed model is available, which is not always the case.

              Twenty four years. I know what I'm talking about.
              Report Abuse
          • Author by worrierking (May 13, 2009 6:17 pm ET)
            2  
            And what if a left handed person wants to shoot a commie, a socialist or a turtle marryin' prevert coming at him from the right side?
            Report Abuse
      • Author by jaykay65 (May 13, 2009 2:06 pm ET)
        2  
        Also note the subtlety of the captions:

        Why are gun sales surging? Because Obama drops a bomb on Wall Street, that's why!

        Report Abuse
      • Author by NiceguyEddie (May 14, 2009 8:24 am ET)
           
        Then you're an idiot. More likely some editor thought he'd be sute with nary a thougha s to how tastless it was. Would you give a liberla site the benfit of the doubt if Bush and Cheney were there instead of Obama and Jackson? Well... if you would YOU'RE AN IDIOT. Because I can assure that THAT would have been both tasteless AND intentional as well.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by NiceguyEddie (May 14, 2009 8:25 am ET)
             
          My apologies about assumign you are conservative, but you are still incredibly nieve to think that these things just happen.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by Jurgan (May 14, 2009 11:17 am ET)
               
            And you may be right. I just generally try not to question people's motives without proof.

            On the other hand, by this point someone should have noticed it and corrected it, but I seriously doubt they have.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by NiceguyEddie (May 14, 2009 12:06 pm ET)
                 
              Fair enough. That's actually a very enlightented philosphy to have. Normally I try to do the same, but the imagery here is not exactly like finding the image of jesus in a potato chip. (Which WOULD just be a freaky coincidence.)

              Also - 'idiot' was way too strong a word to use. I owe you an apology for that. I really shouldn't post before I've had my first cup of coffee.
              Report Abuse
    • Author by mattcable250650 (May 13, 2009 2:37 pm ET)
      1  
      Yeah, the gun pointed at the President's head is arguably innocent. It's theoretically possible for the lining up to be a coincidence. But to run a photo of the Obama kids in a story about gun violence?!?!?! In Chicago yet? A city they don't even currently live in?!?! Raises very serious questions about what was the editor thinking?!?!?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by RABBITLUVR (May 13, 2009 2:59 pm ET)
           
        We know what they are thinking. They will take jabs at Obama any way they can.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by harley (May 13, 2009 3:33 pm ET)
           


        Fair points, Matt. Though, I still don't trust Faux and wouldn't put it past them that this in intentional or an "oversight" like putting a "D" after Mark Foley.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by sswitlik (May 13, 2009 3:57 pm ET)
         
      Are you kidding - it's an accident that the rifle is pointed at two black men?? A picture is worth a thousand words.

      And how convenient that 2 little black girls are pictures as the Chicago students killed.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by cmiller442 (May 13, 2009 5:33 pm ET)
        1  
        It's pretty obvious to me what's going on. The same thing that's been going on since President Obama took office.

        "Look out everyone, there's a black man in the WHITE HOUSE!!!"

        Report Abuse
    • Author by Token (May 13, 2009 5:31 pm ET)
        1
      Maybe what's next is that someone makes a movie with a "hypothetical scenario" and shows it at film festivals, with overwhelming approval.

      Or maybe next a talk radio witch yells and splices in gunfire sound effects.

      Oops, sorry, wrong President.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by mary59 (May 14, 2009 9:14 am ET)
           
        Randi apologised for that skit, which was done without her approval. But she took responsibility for it. It was in bad taste and should never have been aired.

        As for that movie, which I've only heard about. It sounded gawd-awful to me, and WAS condemned. Overwhelming approval from whom?

        It's false equivalency to the max. Frankly, it's surprising considering all the harm that Bush/co did to this country and others that there wasn't more of that during those 8 long years. But violent imagery seems to be the order of the day for the right-wing.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by bilbo_dies (May 13, 2009 8:39 pm ET)
         
      OK, the gun pointing at Obama's head, could be intentional, could be not. It is weird though.

      Now, picture of his daughters used for visual head on story about deaths of Chicago area students. WTF?? I really don't understand that. Is there a tie in because they use to attend a Chicago area school? Someone really needs to explain the logic behind that choice.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by ButteryPat (May 13, 2009 8:52 pm ET)
        2
      Aw, come on. This is actually the first thing Media Matters has done that I completely and utterly disagree with. The first one seems completely innocuous, and the second one is just bizarre. Was there a story related to the Obama girls on the same page or something? If there wasn't, maybe you've got something of a point, but I still can't see this as "implying" anything.

      To say this obviously some sort of anti-Obama "sign" makes the left look crazy, which sucks, because there's plenty of indisputable examples of right-wing craziness to allow something like this to become a big deal. I'll be kind of annoyed if Maddow or Olbermann pick this up, and especially annoyed if it becomes a big controversy.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Victor Colorado (May 13, 2009 9:56 pm ET)
        1  
        Was there a story related to the Obama girls on the same page or something?

        No, Obama's children went with the story about dead kids. Ok to raise an eyebrow or two now?
        Report Abuse
      • Author by princeofwheels (May 13, 2009 11:58 pm ET)
        1  
        The question one must ask oneself is: Who picked the kids to be pictured and why? Is there not any thought that goes into editing? This is deliberate and as a parent the President should take offense and simply suggest that it is wrong. Of course, the Loonies will then scream that Obama is denying them freedom of the press or speech or whatever nonsense they can use.
        Isn't it a shame that the cowards behind these pictures aren't named. That is why they are cowards. I wonder what would happen if their children were 'used' next to an article about a father sexually abusing his children. Where is Hannity to defend the children of the President.
        And if you are kind of annoyed if someone picks this up TOO BAD. Would you want your kids faces attached to something like this? Or sexual abuse? Remember, the article is about dead children......
        Report Abuse
      • Author by NiceguyEddie (May 14, 2009 8:28 am ET)
        1  
        You should have an open mind, but not so far open that your brains fall out. These things are CONSIOUS DECISIONS. They don't just happen. Are they "calling for violence." No. They're probably just tasteless attempts at humor. But the press does influence people, and the tasteless ness of these items is so egregious that they deserve to be called out. (As would any liberal site making a joke about assassinating Bush or Cheney.)
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Kiracomplex (May 13, 2009 9:04 pm ET)
         
      It could just be a mistake.
      Conservatives are not known for their subtlety...

      Report Abuse
    • Author by Kiracomplex (May 13, 2009 9:13 pm ET)
         
      I'm getting pretty freaked out by the Conservative"Millita Media".
      Report Abuse

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