Fox & Friends' Carlson tied alleged attack against McCain supporter to report on preparation for possible Election Day riots
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SUMMARY: On October 24, Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson baselessly linked a woman's allegations -- since recanted -- that she was attacked by a black man in retaliation for supporting Sen. John McCain to a report that Fox & Friends aired the day before of police concerns of possible violence if Sen. Barack Obama loses the election.
During the October 24 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Gretchen Carlson tied allegations -- since reportedly recanted -- by McCain supporter Ashley Todd that she was violently attacked by a black man in Pittsburgh because of her support for Sen. John McCain to a report that police are preparing for the possibility of riots on Election Day. Carlson reported: "Was politics behind this attack? This John McCain volunteer reportedly robbed at a Pittsburgh ATM. Now, this Ashley Todd, 20 years old, she tells police that after her attacker saw the John McCain sticker on her car, he punched her in the head and carved this 'B' into her face. So far, police have not confirmed this story." Carlson continued: "This comes on the heels of a report -- we told you yesterday -- that shows police concerned about rioting should Barack Obama lose this election."
During the October 23 edition of Fox & Friends, apparently discussing an October 21 Hill.com article, Carlson had reported that "[p]olice departments around the country are beefing up in advance of Election Day. Police chiefs say with the first black on the ballot for president and the first woman on the ballot for -- that's not true. But anyway, the second woman on the ballot for vice president -- they want to be ready if anger over the results pours into the streets." Carlson added: "Some worry there will be rioting if Barack Obama loses and somebody starts talking fraud." The Hill reported: "Police departments in cities across the country are beefing up their ranks for Election Day, preparing for possible civil unrest and riots after the historic presidential contest. Public safety officials said in interviews with The Hill that the election, which will end with either the nation's first black president or its first female vice president, demanded a stronger police presence."
From the October 23 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends:
CARLSON: Police departments around the country are beefing up in advance of Election Day. Police chiefs say with the first black on the ballot for president and the first woman on the ballot for -- that's not true. But anyway, the second woman on the ballot for vice president -- they want to be ready if anger over the results pours into the streets.
This is something we haven't talked about much yet. Some worry there will be rioting if Barack Obama loses and somebody starts talking fraud. There could be a lot of unhappiness also if polling places are unprepared for the very large turnout.
BRIAN KILMEADE (co-host): Well, what about people that just like to celebrate big victories --
STEVE DOOCY (co-host): Sure.
KILMEADE: -- like at every Super Bowl? That's why as a pre-emptive strike, I'm turning over my car. No matter who wins, I'm turning over my car so they leave me alone.
From the October 24 edition of Fox & Friends:
CARLSON: Was politics behind this attack? This John McCain volunteer reportedly robbed at a Pittsburgh ATM. Now, this Ashley Todd, 20 years old, she tells police that after her attacker saw the John McCain sticker on her car, he punched her in the head and carved this "B" into her face.
So far, police have not confirmed this story. This comes on the heels of a report -- we told you yesterday -- that shows police concerned about rioting should Barack Obama lose this election.
the minute i saw that picture i said to myself that it looked like something she did to herself in the mirror. it did seem to be great fun on all the conservative talk shows. but you would have thougnt after already being burned by joe the plumber, that mccain and palin wouldn't have given her a personal call.
McCain isn't particularly good at vetting.
yeah, he has Liddy the Plumber in his corner also.
McCain isn't particularly good at vetting.
McCain has never done anything positive remotely associated with vets.
OH, CRAP! The McCain campaign called the press and PUSHED this incident before any FACTS WERE AVAILABLE! HOW DESPERATE!
McCain spokesman hyped attack tale before truth emerged
Long before any facts about the Ashley Todd case had been established, McCain's Pennsylvania campaign communications director told reporters the alleged attacker had told the woman, "You're with the McCain campaign? I'm going to teach you a lesson."
The Drudge Report featured a teased story about the incident before any details about it were released. That caused KDKA reporters to contact the spokesman, confirmed as Peter Feldman.
Feldman's presumptuous claims are "significant because it reveals a McCain official pushing a version of the story that was far more explosive than the available or confirmed facts permitted at the time," Talking Points Memo reported.
The story could deal a sharp blow to the McCain campaign, which might be seen as having pushed an incendiary story that had no basis in fact and that nearly blew up into a "national incident," said Pittsburgh Police Assistant Chief Maurita Bryant, reported KWTX News.
And the McCain campaign continues to implode! I love it. I love it more than, well, more than orange juice and arugula.
Looks like Gretchen has identified a trend here: something that definitely didn't happen, and something that more than likely won't happen.
Totally agree. Fox News wanted this story to be true in the worst way. They are flat out sick.
I hear the bell tolling for McCain but what I really love is, I hear the bell tolling for Fox News. I can't wait for the Obama administration to cut Fox from the herd.
Tell For News and their (dare I say it) comrades in arm-there is the desert, go wander.
Yeah, if the Bush White House was able to lock out Pacifica News and Amy Goodman, why can't a later one lock out FOX? That would be great. It's the kind of statement an Obama administration should make from the get-go.
Hey Gretchen! You airhead! Who are "some" people that you're referring to anyway? Someone like your producer, feeding you that stupid story? Probably so, probably so... Oh, and Ferraro already lost as a woman running for VP, and amazingly enough, there were NO riots. You've got to be kidding me that you think if McCain-Palin loses that there would be riots because Palin lost? Just as ridiculous is saying that there would be black riots if Obama loses. You right wingers really have no hope of ever getting the black vote in your existence do you? As I keep saying, just get on with it, and call Obama the "N" word. You ALL know you want to do it. You want to tell that uppity black man just where to go, and what to do, but you're too cowardly to even say it. Your viewers would probably LOVE you more if you did, because I'm pretty sure that there is a large percentage of them that say it under their breath every single time they see Obama on the TV. I can't WAIT for that man to win the presidency, because I can't wait to hear the crazy right wingers on Fox, and other places, say the words, President Obama.
In case anybody's feeling overwhelmed by the incredible lameness of the GOP ticket, if you can't quite boil down all of the idiocy, my local weekly has taken the time to list 25 Reasons why McCain sucks.
It's by no means exhaustive, but helpful.
And way off topic, a sad story about how my very cool Mayor who somehow got elected in my crazy wingnut city in my crazy wingnut county is challenging right-wing madman Dana Rohrabacher for his Congressional seat, but the Dems aren't going to spend any money on her. Boo, DNC!!!!!
At 54 she's pretty hot. Does she do plumbing too? I need my pipes cleaned. ;)
just like the rnc won't spend any money against waxman. it's hopeless.
Great weekly, wish I had a paper like that. Good summary of why McGrampy is bad for America, and should not be taken by pregnant women, any child, men over and under 65, and women, either on a full or empty stomach.
You might like this list by Bill Press of reasons not to vote for Grampy--it's a countdown and will have 101 reasons not to support him on election day.
<sarcasm>But..but..but...Barack Obama's not even a natural born citizen...<sarcasm>
This thread is too short. I thought I would liven it up
I love the smell of racism in the morning. It smells like... republicans.
40 hours and counting since I posted those pics of Baracks' cert w/official seal, signature and newspaper clippings! Yeah baby!
What are they saying now that the whole thing has been exposed as a lie and the liar has been arrested?
The only riot that is going to occur on election night is in the Fox Newsroom. After Obama is elected, their ratings are going into the toilet. But, nevertheless, I will spend more time November 4th watching Fox so that I can personally witness the tears and gnashing of teeth and total despair as the forces of darkness are decimated.
So what's the big deal? People throw riots when their basketball team wins! It is not far fetched to believe that there would be riots if Obama loses or wins with the groundswell he has managed to create. We have seen riots started by much worse.
And as for this stupid woman who made false accusations if it was an "M" carved on her face people from the left would definitly be trying to use it to show racism and what not before all availble information was in.
Unpack your logic. Give free reign to your meme.
I've heard her called confused and deluded. In your book she's stupid. How so?
Did you know some avowed racists are voting for Obama. They consider him the more honest candidate.
I'd really like to see the points between carving an M on someone and an automatic racist call.
Excuse me in mind the the attacked was black and the attacker was white. The "M" obviosly standing for McCain. I am sorry I did not communicate that clearly, or apparently at all.
I would argue if someone is voting for Obama they are not in any way a racist, at least not anymore. That's like saying your an alcoholic and not not ever having touched aby.
Anyone who would file a false police report, especially in an attempt to destabilize a candidate's campaign, is stupid. Just like that runaway bride a couple years ago, or that lawyer from Toledo who faked her kidnapping STUPID.
I will for one say I am happy that our law enforcement is preparing for the worst possible. Hopefully the preparations won't be neccesary but my gut says otherwise.
WARNING: The following post contains the TONE of one black man who's exhausted with white women blaming black men for ANYTHING
So a
Pittsburgh woman claimsa 6'4" dark-skinned black man with shiny shoes carved a "B" for Barack into her face for driving through her ciy with a McCain bumper sticker. And guess who gave the victim and her family a shout to offer their moral support and, of course, to express their outrage that some evil black man would do what evil black men who support Obama do—sit on her face and razor-cut a B into her check, backwards? Yeh, you guessed it. McCain and his best gal-pal, Sarah Palin.
http://blogs.theroot.com/blogs/diggingdeep/archive/2008/10/24/the-mccain-supporter-and-her-scarlet-b.aspx
if it was an "M" carved on her face people from the left would definitly be trying to use it to show racism and what not before all availble information was in.
I would guess it was a "W" carved by an illiterate supporter of Bush. It would be the result of stupidity, not racism.
But she didn't have an "M" carved on her face, so let's move out of hypothetical land and back to reality. She was a McCain supporter, the McCain camp hyped the "attack," and she got personal sympathy from McCain without the veracity of her story being checked out, which once again shows how little care McCain and his staffers take in simple fact-checking. Why would ANYBODY think that they would do a good job LEADING THE COUNTRY???