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Right-wing media shamefully try to pin Discovery Channel bomber's actions on Gore

September 02, 2010 2:06 pm ET — 120 Comments

The right-wing media have shamefully attempted to tie James Lee, who created a hostage situation in a Discovery Channel building, to former Vice President Al Gore, due to Lee's statement that he was "awakened" after reading Gore's book An Inconvenient Truth. In fact, Lee, who criticized Gore's book for not providing "solutions," holds a number of views Gore does not, including extreme opinions on population control and immigration.

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Right-wing media attempt to blame Gore for Lee's actions

Hoft: Lee "saw Al Gore's junk-science movie and says he decided he had to do more." In a September 1 Gateway Pundit post, titled, "Gunman, Bomber, Leftist Activist -- Holds Hostages at Discovery Building," Jim Hoft posted a picture of Lee and wrote: "James Lee- behind the Save the Planet Protest. He saw Al Gore's junk-science movie and says he decided he had to do more... So he packed on bombs and took hostages at the Discovery Channel headquarters."

Fox Nation: "Environmental Militant 'Awakened' by Al Gore?" Under the headline, "Environmental Militant 'Awakened' by Al Gore?" Fox Nation posted a section of a blog which stated:

Maybe the media is right. All the political vitriol, all the hate out there is spawning crazies capable of anything. We all need to stand together and send a message of unity and tell provocateurs like Al Gore to tamp down the rhetoric.

[...]

Who could have inspired such a maniac?! We know that he must have been influenced by someone. We've been told by countless lefty pundits and politicians that such craziness can usually be attributed to evil right-wing commentators who have whipped tea partiers into a seething, violent frenzy.

Well, this time it is clear. James Jay Lee has named the things that most inspired him -- some cultish book about an ape called "Ishmael" AND chief executive greeney Al Gore.

Fox Nation also ran side by side pictures of Lee and Gore on its homepage:

fn_leegore

Drudge Report: Lee " '[a]wakened' by Al Gore's 'Inconvenient Truth.' " The Drudge Report linked to an MSNBC article about Lee under the headline, " 'Awakened' by Al Gore's 'Inconvenient Truth'..." From the Drudge Report:

drudge_leegore

Fox & Friends: "[T]he gunman's extreme environmentalist views may have been sparked by an Al Gore documentary? Where's the media outrage there?" On the September 2 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade teased an upcoming segment by saying: "Now we know the gunman's extreme environmentalist views may have been sparked by an Al Gore documentary? Where's the media outrage there? Would they be silent if the tables were turned with a different documentary with a different point of view?" Later in the show, co-host Gretchen Carlson noted that "he apparently became some sort of an environmentalist junkie after he watched vice president -- former vice president's movie, Inconvenient Truth [sic], Al Gore's movie. He became a radical environmentalist."

Big Government: "An Inconvenient Truth: Enviros' Doomsday Rhetoric Breeds Eco-Terror." In a September 2 Big Government post, Competitive Enterprise Institute senior fellow Christopher Horner wrote:

In the wake of yesterday's terrorism outside Washington, DC by Discovery-network hostage-taker James J. Lee, let's consider the position articulated by, say, radio host Glenn Beck to not attribute responsibility to Al Gore's eco-ranting. The latter is of course larded with assurances of a certain eco-catastrophe brought about by dark forces impeding salvation, and disturbing utterances like "the tide in this battle will turn only when the majority of people in the world become sufficiently aroused by a shared sense of urgent danger to join in an all-out effort." (Earth in the Balance, p. 269)

[...]

Beck's (somewhat backhanded, I understand) rationale for exculpating Gore of partial responsibility is that the terrorist was not a sane person. Yep. But the two -- culpability by Gore and other radical green imams, and acting out by mentally unstable members of their targeted demographic -- aren't mutually exclusive. We know that individuals bear responsibility for reasonably foreseeable consequences of their actions, both the instigator and the instigated.

One might not like the connection, what with environmentalism being as chic as a Che Guevara handbag, but you can't deny it. Take the quiz, "Did Al Gore say it? Or was it the Unabomber?". I dare you to score better than 50%. That should make you uncomfortable. Then read Lee's manifesto, and really squirm at the similarities.

[...]

Eco-terrorism is terrorism. Stop waving it away as a different kind of terrorism, each incident in the pattern of behavior merely an isolated one. Willful or not, these incidents are the logical consequence of the doomsday rhetoric.

Environmental radicalism has been mainstreamed, the latest poisonous "radical chic". But there are consequences to this indulgence. Stop Gang Green before they harm again.

But Lee was also critical of Gore's book, and Gore does not share Lee's views on immigration and population control

Lee promoted living "WITHOUT giving birth to more filthy human children" and "programs encouraging human sterilization and infertility." In his manifesto against the Discovery Channel, Lee wrote that "[f]ocus must be given on how people can live WITHOUT giving birth to more filthy human children since those new additions continue pollution and are pollution." (emphasis in original) Lee demanded that the Discovery Channel promote this goal by creating "programs encouraging human sterilization and infertility."

Gore promoted "stabilizing" the human population through literacy, access to contraception, and reducing infant mortality. In Gore's book Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit, he advocated stabilizing the populations of Third World countries to guarantee access to resources. Gore recommended achieving this goal through literacy and education, access to contraception, and reducing the infant mortality rate:

A more careful analysis suggests that rising per capita income is also associated with several of the basic causes of demographic transition. High literacy rates and education levels are important, especially for women; once they are empowered intellectually and socially, they make decisions about the number of children they wish to have. Low infant mortality rates give parents a high level of confidence that even with a small family, some of their children will grow to maturity, carry the family name and genes (and in the belief of some societies, the spirits of ancestors), and provide physical security for their parents when they are old. Nearly ubiquitous access to a variety of affordable birth control techniques gives parents the power to choose when and whether to have children. [Page 311; italics in original]

Lee criticized An Inconvenient Truth for not providing "real solutions." In a post on his MySpace page, which has since been taken down, Lee reportedly wrote that Gore's book "was very enlightening" but "he didn't offer any real solutions":

I finished reading Al Gore's book, and [sic] inconvenient truth a few days ago. It was very enlightening. However, at the end he didn't offer any real solutions, as if changing a lightbulb would even put a scratch in the global warming epidemic. The book was half good, which means the part about science was good. The rest seemed like a commercial for sainthood.

Lee promoted "solutions to stopping ALL immigration pollution and the anchor baby filth that follows that." In his manifesto, Lee wrote, as one of his "demands":

Immigration: Programs must be developed to find solutions to stopping ALL immigration pollution and the anchor baby filth that follows that. Find solutions to stopping it. Call for people in the world to develop solutions to stop it completely and permanently. Find solutions FOR these countries so they stop sending their breeding populations to the US and the world to seek jobs and therefore breed more unwanted pollution babies. FIND SOLUTIONS FOR THEM TO STOP THEIR HUMAN GROWTH AND THE EXPORTATION OF THAT DISGUSTING FILTH! (The first world is feeding the population growth of the Third World and those human families are going to where the food is! They must stop procreating new humans looking for nonexistant jobs!) 

Gore has been supportive of less restrictive immigration policies. During the 2000 presidential campaign, Gore expressed support for less restrictive immigration policies. For instance, an October 21, 2000, Des Moines Register article (accessed via Nexis) reported that Gore "pledges to make the INS 'more efficient and user friendly.' He supports expanding to Haiti and all of Central America a law that allows immigrants fleeing human-rights abuses in Nicaragua and Cuba to gain immediate asylum. Gore opposes legislation that would make English the official language" and "support[s] increasing the number of H-1B visas, which are six-year work permits." An October 8, 2000, Austin American-Statesman editorial (accessed via Nexis) further noted that "[b]oth Gore and [George W.] Bush advocate keeping families intact" and that "Gore wants the immigration applications speeded up." A September 4, 2000, San Diego Union-Tribune article (accessed via Nexis) quoted Gore as saying, "Every country...has a duty to protect its borders, but it must be done with compassion and the kind of respect for human life that is crucial to what we stand for as a country."

Some right-wing media figures denounced drawing links between Lee and Gore

Malkin: "Al Gore is not responsible for this." Later on the September 2 edition of Fox & Friends, guest Michelle Malkin said:

MALKIN: I'm going to do something that my enemies and opponents on the other side rarely do, and that is to make clear that Al Gore is not responsible for this. An Inconvenient Truth certainly is an incitement to stupidity and an incitement to massive, costly government intervention, but it is not, and it was never intended be, an incitement to violence.

Malkin also wrote on her website:

The gunman was reportedly motivated by Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth eco-propaganda. Guess what? I'm not playing that opportunistic blame game here. It's not Al Gore's fault when an enviro-nut goes off unhinged (and I've said that before). The blame in this case lies with the crazy man who terrorized the Discovery Channel employees. Period.

Beck: "You know what caused this guy to do these things? He was sick and twisted and crazy. Period." On the September 2 edition of Premiere Radio Networks' The Glenn Beck Program, Glenn Beck attempted to use the bomber to revive attacks on White House official John Holdren but noted, "You know what caused this guy to do these things? He was sick and twisted and crazy. Period." Beck further noted that "these people do exist, and they exist on the left and the right."

Beck: Gore and Holdren are "not responsible in any way for the Discovery nutjob guy." On the September 2 edition of his radio show, Beck said: "So let me just be very clear here. Al Gore and John Holdren have a ton of really bad ideas. But they're not responsible in any way for the Discovery nutjob guy."

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    • Author by pongotwistleton (September 02, 2010 2:25 pm ET)
      6 27
      It is shameful. Not to mention simply stupid. Almost as shameful and dumb as when the leftwingnuts and their heros in the media blamed O'reilly for the murder of the abortion doctor. . .
      Report Abuse
      • Author by dkylep (September 02, 2010 2:37 pm ET)
        16 5
        Please. Even when something like this happens, you can't resist a dig of how 'the other side' does it too, and they do it much worse!

        Pathetic.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by mary59 (September 02, 2010 2:45 pm ET)
          17 3
          The significant difference is what KIND of words have been used. Al Gore tried to inspire action in people to conserve energy and to push for green economy. He has NEVER advocated violence or used violent rhetoric or code messages to insinuate that anyone should become violent.

          Now look at the army of right-wing talkers on the television and radio. There are numerous statements along the lines of taking up arms and violent revolution.

          If folks cannot see this, perhaps they don't want to.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by magnolialover (September 02, 2010 3:29 pm ET)
            13 1
            I'm pretty sure Gore never called anyone Tiller the Killer, as O'Reilly repeatedly did.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by fairliberal (September 03, 2010 12:35 am ET)
            3 14
            "The significant difference is what KIND of words have been used"

            Yeah, O'Reilly was merely trying to protect the lives of unborn babies from people who would stick a sharp surgical instrument through the back of their heads to kill them.

            The battle cry of the left, "save the whales, kill the babies"

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_W75zh1j2I

            http://suewidemark.netfirms.com/shafer2.htm
            Report Abuse
            • Author by nicholjm (September 03, 2010 8:57 am ET)
              10  
              So you support doctor killings? Good man, well done.
              Report Abuse
            • Author by rusty hinges (September 03, 2010 11:18 am ET)
              8  
              That's a fetus, not a "baby". Big difference.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by fairliberal (September 03, 2010 11:57 am ET)
                1 9
                And how many pregnant women have you heard tell their husbands that the fetus just kicked?
                Report Abuse
                • Author by rusty hinges (September 03, 2010 12:00 pm ET)
                  8  
                  Their kicks usually aren't felt until around 22 weeks-most women have chosen to carry their baby by that time.
                  Report Abuse
                • Author by DellDolly (September 03, 2010 12:47 pm ET)
                  5  
                  What a woman who WANTS to eventually have a baby calls the FETUS inside of her is irrelevant.

                  It IS a fetus.
                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by Floyd (September 04, 2010 7:50 am ET)
                      5
                    Is it a HUMAN fetus or horse fetus? You can call it fetus all day long, but the FACTS remain it is a HUMAN body growing inside that woman. If you like killing HUMANS because of your liberal ideals, you go right ahead and do that. Everyone understands your need to kill humans.
                    Report Abuse
                    • Author by mikehuck1976 (September 04, 2010 11:05 am ET)
                      4  
                      Everyone understands your need to kill humans. - Floyd

                      Ouch. That is quite a shot at O'Reilly and Fakeliberal. Any response Fakelib?
                      Report Abuse
                    • Author by DellDolly (September 04, 2010 8:59 pm ET)
                      2  
                      Yes, it's human life, but it's NOT a human being.

                      This is NOT rocket science. My post was 100% indisputable, yet you tried to dispute it! What a fool.

                      Not ALL human life is a HUMAN. It is a POTENTIAL human being until such time as it CAN survive outside the womb AND leaves the womb. Until that time, it's a fetus. It's either a viable fetus, if it could survive outside the womb, or it's not a viable fetus if it couldn't survive outside the womb.

                      But it's NOT a human being. It gets that label once it leaves the womb and can survive on its own, sometimes with significant medical intervention. If it's a fetus that can't survive outside the womb, it NEVER BECOMES A HUMAN BEING. It remains a potential human being for its entire existence.
                      Report Abuse
                      • Author by pongotwistleton (September 05, 2010 10:10 am ET)
                        3 3
                        It is a POTENTIAL human being until such time as it CAN survive outside the womb AND leaves the womb.

                        From where do get that definition? If the human life "CAN survive outside the womb," why must the human life actually leave the womb to be deemed a human being? In other words, why is a "viable fetus" not a human being?

                        Much like your other ramblings, your definition makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Doofus!
                        Report Abuse
                      • Author by galileonardo (September 05, 2010 1:55 pm ET)
                          4
                        Dully, why am I not surprised to see you unable to admit that killing a fetus is killing a human life? You can parse it with "potential" but that is a baby in there. So when my wife had a miscarriage and our BABY died and the doctor called it "fetal tissue" in the office as my wife was crying uncontrollably I just about wanted to smack the lady upside the head. There, you can use that to talk about me inciting violence.
                        Report Abuse
            • Author by RKAllen (September 03, 2010 11:31 am ET)
              7  
              The battle cry of the left, "save the whales, kill the babies"
              That's funny. I have always thought the right's battle cry was, "Save the babies... after that your on your own!"

              I also like the new chant of those on the right who are trying to get elected.

              "Vote for me, and when I get to Washington I will make sure the Government is so weak that it can't help anybody. I'll make sure that the job of politicians in Washington is to do nothing."
              Report Abuse
            • Author by mikehuck1976 (September 03, 2010 6:13 pm ET)
              4  
              Yeah, O'Reilly was merely trying to protect the lives of unborn babies from people who would stick a sharp surgical instrument through the back of their heads to kill them. - fakelib

              Finally, fakelib and O'Reilly are begininng to admit they wanted Tiller killed and asked for it on many occasions. Finally, an ounce of honesty.
              Report Abuse
      • Author by bintx (September 02, 2010 3:29 pm ET)
        15 3
        So, O'Reilly never called the doctor "Tiller the Baby Killer"? O'Reilly never said that he was running a "death mill" and compared him to a "Nazi" with "blood on his hands"? O'Reilly never sent one of his "producers" to chase down and harass Tiller at his clinic? O'Reilly never vehemently declared that Tiller "must be stopped"? O'Reilly never said on his radio program:

        OK. So, I'm the fascist, I'm the bad guy, I'm the problem. Not Tiller. No, he -- no, no, no. He's a good guy. Now, Tiller's pumping all kinds of money into obviously the attorney general race. He wants the guy that's gonna let him off the hook to win. Those of you listening in Kansas, you ought to know that. You know, I don't -- I'm not gonna tell you who to vote for. You guys know these guys better than I do, but I tell you what, anything Tiller wants, I'm voting the other way. And if I could get my hands on Tiller -- well, you know. Can't be vigilantes. Can't do that. It's just a figure of speech.


        Please point out any instances where Al Gore spewed hatred over and over and over for a single individual who was subsequently shot. Please point out any instances where Al Gore directed anger toward the Discovery Channel.

        You are attempting to compare apples and pomegranates.

        Nice try, but you fail.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by wookie (September 02, 2010 6:02 pm ET)
        12  
        Or as shameful and dumb as when Limbaugh called the Unabomber a liberal environmentalist 20 years ago. In spite of the fact that his manifesto had a chapter called the Dangers of Leftism.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Floyd (September 03, 2010 7:48 am ET)
            14
          Now THAT is funny! The unabomber writes a manifesto that consisted of 40,000 words and you say ONE chapter defines the entire message. Wow, truly amazing what the left will do to defend their hateful message.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by RKAllen (September 03, 2010 8:52 am ET)
            8  
            I am at a loss here, Floyd.

            Exactly what is the "hateful message" that the left defends?

            Please be specific.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by nicholjm (September 03, 2010 9:01 am ET)
              7  
              I think you dared to mention Rush, the sacred cow of the right. I am at a loss too, that was quite the bizare reaction from Floyd!
              Report Abuse
              • Author by Floyd (September 03, 2010 9:20 am ET)
                  11
                nic-- I think you dared to mention Rush

                At what point did rka mention Rush? I think you may be replying to the wrong post. Please re-read what you think you're replying to and send another. But, that is typical liberalism at work ... read something that isn't there and use it to promote your ideals.
                Report Abuse
                • Author by dkylep (September 03, 2010 10:22 am ET)
                  9  
                  Right. Because you couldn't figure out what he was responding to? You managed to use it as yet another way to baselessly insult people. Never mind that you don't give any examples, your statements are logically flawed, and the fact that you don't ever actually specify or answer anything put to you. Because you either can't figure out how to spin it without your talking heads, or simply can't manage to work in an insult without demonstrating to everybody yet again that you refuse to think or answer anything.

                  Or you're just an idiot.
                  Report Abuse
                • Author by Lord of Light (September 03, 2010 12:51 pm ET)
                  4  
                  But, that is typical liberalism at work ... read something that isn't there and use it to promote your ideals.

                  And this is typical of a wingnut: Make a broad generality with no basis in fact. This part of the thread -- the one you responded to, remember? -- is about Limbaugh. I mean, duh.
                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by Floyd (September 04, 2010 7:56 am ET)
                      4
                    lor-- I mean, duh

                    Yeah, repeat that to yourself. The part I responded to was about the unabomber. Are you completely dense or just a little? That shows how little intelligence liberals have, they can't even understand simple conversations.
                    Report Abuse
                    • Author by galileonardo (September 05, 2010 1:57 pm ET)
                        2
                      Floyd, I'm pretty sure I read that the Unabomber had a well-worn copy of Gore's Earth in the Balance in his shack. Seeing a trend?
                      Report Abuse
          • Author by ilikeike (September 03, 2010 10:12 am ET)
               
            what is the hateful message. he is simply saying that tying the unabomber to liberal environmentalism is ludicrous. there are also a lot of real conservatives who are environmentalists.like lot of ranchers and farmers who understand what mining and fracking and other procedures are doing to their land and communities
            Report Abuse
      • Author by mikehuck1976 (September 03, 2010 6:12 pm ET)
        2  
        Al Gore claimed that anyone who did not stop the Discovery Channel had "blood on their hands"? Interesting. Never heard that one before.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by AB-001 (September 02, 2010 2:36 pm ET)
      11 1
      Poor Gretchen's neurons must be exploding after hearing Malkin and Beck
      Report Abuse
    • Author by jpeagle21 (September 02, 2010 2:58 pm ET)
      2 24
      This coming from an "organization" that tries to link every act of violence by a person with an anti-government leaning viewpoint to right wing talk radio. *yawn*
      Report Abuse
      • Author by eweston8542983 (September 02, 2010 3:04 pm ET)
        13 1
        I don't think you can support that.

        Any more than you can describe feeling good about democrats in positions of authority.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by magnolialover (September 02, 2010 3:31 pm ET)
        15  
        Read Gore's book. You find me one instance of violent rhetoric in that book. You can't do it.

        That you don't see the difference, isn't surprising to me, whereas we have Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity, et all, using violent rhetoric almost on a daily basis.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by jpeagle21 (September 02, 2010 3:51 pm ET)
          1 23
          While I'm flipping through Al Gore's book, I'd like to see what you consider "violent rhetoric". Examples please. Oh yea, and while you're at it, go ahead and prove that "almost on a daily basis" claim too.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by DellDolly (September 02, 2010 4:00 pm ET)
            9 7
            Liar. You have no desire to have a fair and reasonable debate on this topic.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by Floyd (September 03, 2010 8:31 am ET)
                13
              Please point out what lie was said by a poster you are hatefully calling a "liar". And to think YOU whine about others not having "fair and reasonable debate on this topic". Uh, where is YOUR debate? Or is your debate only the hateful incitement of violence against another poster?
              Report Abuse
              • Author by RKAllen (September 03, 2010 8:58 am ET)
                6  
                Where was DellDolly's, "hateful incitement of violence against another poster?"

                I am having dificulty finding the quote, so please provide it here.
                Report Abuse
                • Author by Floyd (September 03, 2010 9:13 am ET)
                    10
                  She hatefully called him a liar. Without bringing any evidence of that. Then claiming he has no desire of reasonable debate without actually bringing a debate is very hateful and incites violence against others with that message. I don't understand how you could miss something like that. Liberals are constantly blaming right-wingers (in similar circumstances) of inciting violence with hateful rhetoric. How can you NOT understand her hateful rhetoric would promote violence? You ARE a liberal, aren't you? Then you should obviously be able to understand that violence is ONLY attributable to rhetoric of individuals other than the actual person involved in the violence.
                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by funnymanpants (September 03, 2010 9:22 am ET)
                    6  
                    >>She hatefully called him a liar. . .How can you NOT understand her hateful rhetoric would promote violence?

                    Really? Calling someone a liar in a message board leads to violence? Are you really serious?
                    Report Abuse
                  • Author by RKAllen (September 03, 2010 9:22 am ET)
                    3  
                    She hatefully called him a liar. Without bringing any evidence of that. Then claiming he has no desire of reasonable debate without actually bringing a debate is very hateful and incites violence against others with that message.
                    You must be joking.

                    Perhaps you should look up the word "hyperbole."
                    Report Abuse
                    • Author by Floyd (September 03, 2010 9:29 am ET)
                        7
                      I think you need to also.
                      Report Abuse
                      • Author by funnymanpants (September 03, 2010 9:31 am ET)
                        6  
                        >>I think you need to also.

                        Okay, so now it is established: you really are trolling.
                        Report Abuse
                        • Author by Floyd (September 04, 2010 8:09 am ET)
                            4
                          Shut up! You have no clue, do you? How is dell NOT trolling? Yet you only whine about me trolling? You are as dumb as her, and have no clue to what having a reasonable debate means. When you get over your 'I hate your opinion, therefor I'll call you a troll' problem, let me know. Typical liberal!
                          Report Abuse
                          • Author by Johaely (September 04, 2010 11:50 am ET)
                            3  
                            You are as dumb as her, and have no clue to what having a reasonable debate means


                            The irony is lost in little Pinky. You are trolling. You come and insult, distract and without the intention of debate. If your idea of debate is "liberals are
                            ___negative noun___" then i hope you debate like this to the police or somebody who can break your jaw.
                            Report Abuse
                          • Author by DellDolly (September 04, 2010 9:22 pm ET)
                            1  
                            Actually, we DO have some very good understanding of what makes up a good, reasonable debate.

                            That requires a good faith effort to explain one's points, backing them up with evidence to support one's assertions. That requires a rejection of unsupportable opinion that is not fact-based. That requires the intent to carry on that debate, to acknowledge the good points that the other side makes and admit when one of YOUR points fails miserably.

                            A known troll, from previous behavior, said

                            "While I'm flipping through Al Gore's book, I'd like to see what you consider "violent rhetoric". Examples please. Oh yea, and while you're at it, go ahead and prove that "almost on a daily basis" claim too."

                            This was said in reply to a post that asserted that one can find all kinds of examples of violent rhetoric coming from the right.

                            That violent rhetoric has been repeatedly documented here at MMFA and elsewhere, over and over again. The idea that it needs to be repeated here before it can be believed is a dishonest tactic of a dishonest troll.

                            That's first.

                            Then, that known troll wrote that he'd be looking for the evidence of violent rhetoric in Gore's book. Except, everyone knows that it doesn't exist there, and so, yet again, we see a dishonest effort to participate in a fair debate by someone suggesting that it's necessary to LOOK in that book NOW to know that the violent rhetoric doesn't exist. That book has been around for a while - if violent rhetoric existed in it, one wouldn't need to find it TODAY - it would have already been uncovered.

                            And there are so many times that we see violent rhetoric coming from the right, many days with more than one example, some days with none, that it's not much hyperbole to suggest that it happens nearly every day. Again, this is well-documented.

                            And so, given the above, what was CLEAR was that the poster was NOT interested in a fair and reasonable debate on the actual topic being covered, as I said.

                            You got nothin', doofus.
                            Report Abuse
                      • Author by galileonardo (September 05, 2010 1:39 pm ET)
                          2
                        Aw, I missed all the fun here. Why wasn't this filed under GW? Anyway, Lee was inspired by Gore and others and that is a fact. But so what? Lee could have been inspired by the neighbor's dog or a pattern in his butt hair. So, when dissecting the actual catalyst of Lee's actions, the catalyst was in fact Gore's AIT. But again, so what? If it wasn't Gore or Ishmael, it would have been Rex or Dingle.

                        I'm no fan of "hate speech" legislation. Gore is allowed to spread false AGW propaganda and such alarmism will cause some among the fringe to act as Lee did. Free will's a you-know-what. We have the freedom to speak as we wish, but a lunatic has the freedom to finally snap. There will always be some who come unhinged and I actually agree with MMfA's characterization of some of the Lee coverage as "shameful." Likewise it's shameful when MMfA does it, like this Boehlert column so this would have been a good opportunity for MMfA to come clean and denounce blaming the actions of the lunatic fringe on the right's "hateful rhetoric."

                        Speaking of unhinged, Delly, troll ferret extraordinaire, there seems to have been some debate on this thread about whether or not you spew violent rhetoric. I think you know what's coming next. Floyd, RK, Delly is in fact violent in her rhetoric. She once wished for my death and RK, you don't realize how classic it is that you defend her by conjuring the word "hyperbole."
                        Report Abuse
                  • Author by dkylep (September 03, 2010 10:28 am ET)
                    7  
                    Right. Because YOU'RE concerned about factual arguments and not insulting people.

                    Troll.

                    You're not even a good one, because your message constantly changes based on time of day, presumably what specific type of episode you've had, and what you ate for breakfast.
                    Report Abuse
              • Author by DellDolly (September 03, 2010 12:54 pm ET)
                   
                Duh.

                They LIED when they say that they wanted an answer to their question. They lied when they pretended that they had an honest question.

                This isn't rocket science.
                Report Abuse
                • Author by DellDolly (September 03, 2010 12:57 pm ET)
                     
                  Note Old Benjamin's reply below - he thoroughly debunked ANY attempt by the previous poster to actually be interested in getting an answer to that question, and demonstrated beyond any doubt that the previous poster had no interest in actually participating in any kind of fair and reasoned debate!
                  Report Abuse
            • Author by fairliberal (September 03, 2010 12:01 pm ET)
                7
              Ah dumb dolly is at it again, when she has no reply on substance she yells liar. Just like the left's charges of racism.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by eweston8542983 (September 03, 2010 12:29 pm ET)
                6  
                Nope I think she's got Floyd I.D.ed pretty well.
                Mr. I'll Just Leap in Here and Insult Somebody to Help the Arguement Along.



                Report Abuse
          • Author by Old_Benjamin (September 02, 2010 4:24 pm ET)
            13  
            I'd like to see what you consider "violent rhetoric". Examples please. Oh yea, and while you're at it, go ahead and prove that "almost on a daily basis" claim too.


            Are you posting while drunk? I mean the links you provided (two minutes befor this post!) to previous mmfa posts shows the examples you are asking for. Such as...

            And if you dare to oppose them, they're going to come hard at you, and they're going to cut your legs off. ...


            "I fear an event. I fear a Reichstag moment, a -- God forbid -- another 9-11, something that will turn this machine on, and power will be seized and voices will be silenced. God help us all.''


            I mean do you even understand what you are arguing about or what your links demonstrate?
            Report Abuse
          • Author by pete592 (September 02, 2010 4:56 pm ET)
            7  
            While you're at it, Peagle, I'd also like to see evidence of Al Gore's smear campaign against the Discovery Channel.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by wookie (September 02, 2010 5:56 pm ET)
              6  
              Well, the Discovery Channel was staunchly against global warming theory. No wait, they weren't. I geuss I got nothing...
              Report Abuse
          • Author by nativeofsf (September 02, 2010 9:39 pm ET)
            4 1
            Please posbang if you consider jpeagle21 a troll.
            Report Abuse
      • Author by rms (September 02, 2010 3:45 pm ET)
        7  
        Liar.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by zevonsky72 (September 02, 2010 3:05 pm ET)
      15  
      I'd love to see Fox Nation post this headline:

      "Murfreesboro arsonist inspired by protests against 'Ground Zero Mosque'?"

      For some reason, I don't think holding my breath would be a good idea...
      Report Abuse
      • Author by leftofwhat (September 02, 2010 3:33 pm ET)
        5  
        I think the pugs ideal environment can be found in Samuel Delaney's book "Dhalgren".Enviromentally and economics-wise,Delaney was on to something.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by ajzito (September 02, 2010 8:37 pm ET)
          2  
          Oy, Dahlgren. That may be where they're pushing us but surely that can't consider it ideal.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by terrapin53 (September 02, 2010 5:23 pm ET)
      4  
      Give them time and they will link Obama to Mr. Lee. Then give them another week and they will link Obama ordering him shot so as to hide their relationship.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by eweston8542983 (September 02, 2010 7:43 pm ET)
      3  
      More on the strange life of Mr. Lee.

      Beyond being scared and angry, any further speculation on the man rests on large amounts, of shaky ground.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by HotWings (September 03, 2010 12:02 am ET)
        10
      You people are such hypocrites. When George Tiller got shot, you blamed Bill O'Reilly. And then when that Muslim cab driver in New York got stabbed, you blamed the Ground Zero Mosque opponents.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by eweston8542983 (September 03, 2010 12:52 am ET)
        6  
        So guilt by association is only correct if done by the rightwing then...good to know, thankyew and bu by.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Floyd (September 03, 2010 8:41 am ET)
            10
          ewe-- So guilt by association is only correct if done by the rightwing then...good to know

          I think he is saying when that association is done by the left-wing, but you can incorrectly read that any way you want.

          It makes sense that you find blaming liberalism for the actions of James Lee to be irrelevant, but right-wing association to violence is totally acceptable. Hotwings is absolutely correct in pointing out the hypocrisy of the left on this aspect of the story.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by funnymanpants (September 03, 2010 9:15 am ET)
            6  
            >>It makes sense that you find blaming liberalism for the actions of James Lee to be irrelevant, but right-wing association to violence is totally acceptable.

            Except, as has been pointed out ad nauseoum, Gore didn't advocate violence in his book. Just an inconvenient fact you find it hard to get around.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by Andy Kreiss (September 03, 2010 8:45 pm ET)
              3  
              I think they just get another Rush Limbaugh Merit badge every time they type the word "hypocrite", and another badge if they use it incorrectly.

              I don't remember the last time I logged onto this site and didn't see one of the wingnuts crying "Liberal hypocrisy!" about something where they couldn't show any actual hypocrisy.
              Report Abuse
          • Author by RKAllen (September 03, 2010 9:19 am ET)
            4 1
            The problem, Floyd, is that the right and more specifically Fox News have been playing the "guild-by-association" game for the past two years of this President's administration. Obviously these things are reported from the extreme on the right, while those of the more level headed variety consistently look at the facts and say, "I don't have to support the man politically to defend him against lies and hyperbolic smears."

            This is no different than say the "guild-by-association" tactics that were used by the extreme left of say Michael Moore or Keith Olbermann. Their hyperbolic and wildly reaching connections that they made during the previous administration were just as wrong.

            The problem is, you are looking at one extreme and painting the entire movement with the same wide brush. Throughout this thread you have made references to "liberal teachings" and accused an entire movement because of the rhetoric of a few and the actions of an extreme minotity... and you are shouting these things from the other extreme.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by Johaely (September 03, 2010 9:39 am ET)
              6  
              You are wasting your time with floyd. His idea of debate is "insult, sanctimony and passive agressiveness".
              Report Abuse
              • Author by Old_Benjamin (September 03, 2010 11:40 am ET)
                3  
                All that and an abortion reference when it's not at all analogous to the subject at hand.
                Report Abuse
            • Author by Floyd (September 04, 2010 8:23 am ET)
                5
              RKA-- The problem is, you are looking at one extreme and painting the entire movement with the same wide brush

              And isn't that what you're doing by blaming all the woes of the world on right-wingers who only watch fox news? Of course I'll label the entire liberal movement as something when the examples from your extreme minority seem to overpower your "kinder message". Does liberalism even have a 'kinder message'? Or is it all 'hate this/hate that'? Your extreme liberal examples speak the loudest and they are the ones who I hear the most. That gives your entire class of people the tag of being moronic sheeple. A few bad apples ruined the entire liberal mentality. Liberals do not use logic when they think, they use emotions. That is why dell (and others) simply use name-calling as their major debate tactic.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by RKAllen (September 04, 2010 8:59 am ET)
                3  
                And isn't that what you're doing by blaming all the woes of the world on right-wingers who only watch fox news?
                I don't believe I ever made any comment about "blaming all the woes of the world on right-wingers." I'm afraid you are going to have to point that out for me.

                Of course I'll label the entire liberal movement as something when the examples from your extreme minority seem to overpower your "kinder message".
                But, you still have yet to define or even describe what that message is, Floyd. You have responded to multiple posters on this thread but, you still have yet to tell me what that message is.

                Does liberalism even have a 'kinder message'? Or is it all 'hate this/hate that'?
                We don't know Floyd. You still haven't told us what that "message" is and yet you go on and on about how this message defines us... so define it.

                Your extreme liberal examples speak the loudest and they are the ones who I hear the most. That gives your entire class of people the tag of being moronic sheeple.
                Such as? are you refering to my own examples of Michael Moore and Keith Olbermann? Should I judge the right by the examples of Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich?

                A few bad apples ruined the entire liberal mentality. Liberals do not use logic when they think, they use emotions.
                But, your entire post is based on emotion. How about you logically explain to me what this "liberal message" is.

                That is why dell (and others) simply use name-calling as their major debate tactic.
                But that is your entire modas operandi. I have not approached you with a single insult nor have I resorted in calling you names in a single post in this entire thread. Not once. I have asked you repeatedly to please provide for us an example or a definition of this "message" that you keep refering to, and you have shown time and again an inability to do so. I think the problem is that you have listened to some very influential people that have told you that there is some kind of a liberal "message" or "agenda" that you should be afraid of, but they haven't done a very good job of explaining to you what that message is because you cannot provide a single example... except for the fact that you are pro-life, which as I have already explained I am pro-life as well, we just differ on the role of government on "pro-life vs. pro-choice" issues. To be honest, I am glad that I have the right to choose to be "pro-life."
                Report Abuse
              • Author by DellDolly (September 04, 2010 9:28 pm ET)
                   
                Yeah, that's bull-oney and totally unsupportable by ANY measure to suggest that I "simply use name-calling as (my) major debate tactic."

                Calling a troll a troll is not namecalling, just like calling Son of Sam a murderer after he's been convicted of murder is not namecalling.

                But calling an abortion provider a murderer IS namecalling. And saying that I use namecalling as a major part of my debate tactics is namecalling too.

                So, the NAMECALLER here is YOU, doofus. And calling a doofus a doofus AFTER you've proven that they're a doofus is not namecalling either!
                Report Abuse
          • Author by ilikeike (September 03, 2010 10:27 am ET)
               
            you would have to search pretty hard to find leftists on this site but regardless, the point is that many right wing advocates have committed acts such as publicizing their opponents addresses and calling for revolution and overthrow of tyrants etc. they proclaim americans are at war, held hostage, being set up for imprisonment or reeducation camps. they say obama is acquiring power like hitler in order to carry out a coup, and the u.n is poised to overrun us. they tell us that muslims are going to use a community centre for further terror attacks and to undermine the u.s. way of life.they say things like dont retreat ,reload. can you really not see the difference between that rhetoric and writing a book about climate change. i feel you would have to be willfully blind to not be aware of the vast difference.i dont blame Oreilly for tiller death, i do blame the anti community centre rhetoric for inciting the stabbing. i find it odd that the right wing, which claims a monopoly on the concept of personal responsibility, would try to link a violent act aimed at a t.v. station on a book that discusses science
            Report Abuse
          • Author by dkylep (September 03, 2010 10:31 am ET)
            5  
            How can somebody as ignorant and deceitful as you actually exist? It's hard to imagine just what trauma you've suffered to stunt your intellect and morality so.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by eweston8542983 (September 03, 2010 12:18 pm ET)
            4  
            Strawman Surprise, how sweet.

            I'm open to debate on the various wierdness that is Mr. Lee's life.
            I stand by my ealier post. He was scared and angry.

            I do not accept that the part of him that scared was about the envirenment automaticly paints him as much of a liberal. Believe it or n*ts envirenmental comcern crosses political boundries. Conservation has fans that are in fact conservative.
            Report Abuse
      • Author by DellDolly (September 03, 2010 1:01 pm ET)
        4  
        Yes, in some debates, one side DOES incite violence either directly or indirectly, and in OTHER instances, there IS NO incitement to violence!

        That's why in some instances, it's fair to assert that something that the "Ground Zero Mosque" opponents or that Bill O'Reilly said might have influenced someone to commit violence, and in other instances, like the Discovery Channel threat, it's NOT fair!

        See, those of us who don't suffer from binary thinking can understand these kinds of things!

        If YOU can't understand it, Hot Wings, that's YOUR failure, not ours.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by mikehuck1976 (September 03, 2010 6:45 pm ET)
        1  
        OK. But O'Reilly explicitly stated that anyone who did not stop Tiller had "blood on their hands". That was his statement. Please show us the parallel to the Discovery Channel. This should be easy. It is a simple comparison.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Nasty Liberal (September 03, 2010 9:37 am ET)
      4  
      I for one do not "indict the Right," but the slimy sanctimony, irresponsible invective, scurrilous slander, and hateful harangues which are the stock in trade from the likes of, say, oh I don't know an example... Michelle Malkin, maybe?

      Nice to have seen her feign reasonableness for all of, what, twenty seconds?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by RKAllen (September 03, 2010 9:43 am ET)
        5  
        Yeah, the whole time she was speaking I was thinking...

        Pot - Kettle - Black
        Report Abuse

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