CBS and MSNBC peddle phony stories about arms, race and violence

[Danno 1,228]

EDITORIAL: False reports about guns

CBS and MSNBC peddle phony stories about arms, race and violence

Many media outlets have misfired about guns. Countless newspapers and television networks -- from CBS to MSNBC -- have misreported that conservative protesters are threatening President Obama with guns at public events. It hasn't happened.

In Portsmouth, N.H., a man carrying a gun, William Kostric, joined an Aug. 11 health care protest. This was blocks away and hours before Mr. Obama's town-hall meeting in that city. Mr. Kostric was given permission to be on church property where the protest occurred and was not at the place the president visited. What most of the coverage left out was that Mr. Kostric didn't carry his gun only for the protest; he legally carries a gun with him all the time for protection.

While the media regularly used terms such as "hotheads" to mischaracterize the situation, the coverage ignored that union members who opposed the protest had attacked Mr. Kostric and a friend, kicking, pushing and spitting on them. Despite violence against him by Mr. Obama's supporters, Mr. Kostric did not draw his gun or threaten anyone.

On the CBS Evening News, Katie Couric asked, "Are we really still debating health care when a man brings a handgun to a church where the president is speaking?" Deliberately or not, she got the facts wrong. As we know, Mr. Kostric did bring a gun to the church, but the president was not there and never was scheduled to speak there. Mr. Obama spoke at a separate event at a local high school at a different time. Not letting facts get in the way of her hysterical story line, Ms. Couric linked Mr. Kostric's gun to "fear and frankly ignorance drown[ing] out the serious debate that needs to take place about an issue that affects the lives of millions of people."

In another case in Arizona, a black man staged an event with a local radio host and carried a semiautomatic rifle a few blocks away from another Obama town-hall meeting. According to the radio station, the staged event was "partially motivated to do so because of the controversy surrounding William Kostric." This occurrence was not an example of an outraged gun-toting Obama protester, but a stunt to garner attention for a shock jock. Of course, this inconvenient truth was ignored by most news outlets.

MSNBC misrepresented the facts to try to back up a bogus claim about racism being behind opposition to Mr. Obama's agenda. On Donny Deutsch's Aug. 18 show about the Arizona town-hall meeting, the producers aired a clip of the anonymous black man carrying the so-called assault rifle -- but the network edited the tape so the man's race was obscured. Truth be damned, MSNBC anchor Contessa Brewer said, "There are questions whether this has a racial overtone. I mean, here you have a man of color in the presidency and white people showing up with guns strapped to their waists." Another commentator on the same show worried about the "anger about a black person being president." The supposed result: "You know we see these hate groups rising up."

MSNBC's irresponsible behavior is more than just bad journalism; it sows distrust between races. Ernest Hancock, the radio host who staged the event, was hoping to get some free publicity for himself and his show. Whatever one thinks of this PR stunt, it had nothing to do with race. MSNBC misrepresented a black man carrying a gun as a white man to invent a racial dynamic that didn't exist.

Media disinformation about guns is a sad sign of the drastic action liberals will take to undermine support for gun rights for law-abiding citizens. It's also an indication of liberals' extreme desperation as Mr. Obama's agenda unravels.

[Ban Hammer 14,619]

not surprising. there's a lot of hysteria about guns.

[thepizzadude 26]

not surprising. there's a lot of hysteria about guns.

[Otto 83]

Gee...why would this guy draw attention???

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

In the story I read, the guy who took his gun to the town hall meeting actually said right out that part of the reason he took it with him was as a symbolic gesture against the encroachment of "big government". I think that's idiotic personally.

As is this:

Media disinformation about guns is a sad sign of the drastic action liberals will take to undermine support for gun rights for law-abiding citizens. It's also an indication of liberals' extreme desperation as Mr. Obama's agenda unravels.

It seems that disingenous arguments can only be responded to with even more disingenuous declarations.

[Heracles 417]

not surprising. there's a lot of hysteria about guns.

gezz I wonder why. Strange coincidence that this gun tooting country also has the highest homicide rate by means of firearm in the OECD developed world. Nah it cannot be because of the guns. I also wonder why people would be concerned. Hee let me think, hmm... two presidents have been murdered using them, with another almost killed.

Homicide by firearms

Canada: 144

USA: 9,369

US has 9.3 times Canada's population. Anyone in the fifth grade can do the math on this one.

I guess some people 'needs the guns' to be tough. Probably explains why a friend had to serve time in Germany for knocking a Texan out cold there. Didn't have his guuuun to protect him.

Edited August 31, 2009 by haza

[almaty 19]

not surprising. there's a lot of hysteria about guns.

f##k i own guns but damn, if i post 8 threads a week on it...some people are religious fanatics about a weapon....oh yeah, i am a liberal...

Edited August 31, 2009 by almaty

[Ban Hammer 14,619]

not surprising. there's a lot of hysteria about guns.

gezz I wonder why. Strange coincidence that this gun tooting country also has the highest homicide rate by means of firearm in the OECD developed world. Nah it cannot be because of the guns. I also wonder why people would be concerned. Hee let me think, hmm... two presidents have been murdered using them, with another almost killed.

Homicide by firearms

Canada: 144

USA: 9,369

US has 9.3 times Canada's population. Anyone in the fifth grade can do the math on this one.

I guess some people 'needs the guns' to be tough. Probably explains why a friend had to serve time in Germany for knocking a Texan out cold there. Didn't have his guuuun to protect him.

and speaking of hysteria, here comes............

not surprising. there's a lot of hysteria about guns.

f##k i own guns but damn, if i post 8 threads a week on it...some people are religious fanatics about a weapon....oh yeah, i am a liberal...

better not let the commies hear you say that, they'll kick you out.

[Heracles 417]

not surprising. there's a lot of hysteria about guns.

gezz I wonder why. Strange coincidence that this gun tooting country also has the highest homicide rate by means of firearm in the OECD developed world. Nah it cannot be because of the guns. I also wonder why people would be concerned. Hee let me think, hmm... two presidents have been murdered using them, with another almost killed.

Homicide by firearms

Canada: 144

USA: 9,369

US has 9.3 times Canada's population. Anyone in the fifth grade can do the math on this one.

I guess some people 'needs the guns' to be tough. Probably explains why a friend had to serve time in Germany for knocking a Texan out cold there. Didn't have his guuuun to protect him.

and speaking of hysteria, here comes............

There is no hysteria there, just cold hard facts. Australia initiated a high power weapon ban and buyback a decade ago. End result, only 59 people are murdered annually by means of firearm.

More Americans are murdered in 2.2 days than Australians are killed in the entire year. I forget you guys are John Wayne and going to shot the other person before they shoot you.

Actually, an American is murdered every 56 minutes.

Edited August 31, 2009 by haza

[Ban Hammer 14,619]

not surprising. there's a lot of hysteria about guns.

gezz I wonder why. Strange coincidence that this gun tooting country also has the highest homicide rate by means of firearm in the OECD developed world. Nah it cannot be because of the guns. I also wonder why people would be concerned. Hee let me think, hmm... two presidents have been murdered using them, with another almost killed.

Homicide by firearms

Canada: 144

USA: 9,369

US has 9.3 times Canada's population. Anyone in the fifth grade can do the math on this one.

I guess some people 'needs the guns' to be tough. Probably explains why a friend had to serve time in Germany for knocking a Texan out cold there. Didn't have his guuuun to protect him.

and speaking of hysteria, here comes............

There is no hysteria there, just cold hard facts. Australia initiated a high power weapon ban and buyback a decade ago. End result, only 59 people are murdered annually by means of firearm.

More Americans are murdered in 2.2 days than Australians are killed in the entire year. I forget you guys are John Wayne and going to shot the other person before they shoot you.

and why do we care about australia?

[Heracles 417]

and why do we care about australia?

Who said you should care?

You need to have an IQ above 75 to care, so that was a given on who would or would not care.

Edited August 31, 2009 by haza

[Ban Hammer 14,619]

and why do we care about australia?

Who said you should care?

You need to have an IQ above 75 to care, so that was a given on who would or would not care.

yawn. you can do better than that.

then again, maybe you can't.

[jcg303 1]

and why do we care about australia?

Who said you should care?

You need to have an IQ above 75 to care, so that was a given on who would or would not care.

no one is going to take you seriously if you only hurl insults and demean the U.S. and the American people (of whom you are trying to be apart, i assume)

[Heracles 417]

yawn. you can do better than that.

then again, maybe you can't.

You know how it works. When I do better I end up being suspended. So we have to keep the jokes above the belt.

[Heracles 417]

no one is going to take you seriously if you only hurl insults and demean the U.S. and the American people (of whom you are trying to be apart, i assume)

When a ship is sinking, you get off it as fast as you can. Pride gets you nowhere. I have tried being nice but it doesn't seem to penetrate the American indoctrinated psyche. Half the battles in this country involve wasting time trying to prove there actually is a problem. Whereas, back home most people easily identify an issue, however, parties tend to disagree on the approach. Not here, left denies the risk of terrorism and calls it government propaganda and an attempt to suppress the people. Right denies problems linked to guns, benefit of investing in America, and health care issues; and calls it government propaganda and an attempt to suppress the people.

I did think about citizenship for a micro second, then I quickly came to my senses and thought #### that for a joke. I'll remain a resident and abide by the laws and soon than later be on my merry way. In the mean time, it doesn't mean I should stop calling out the bullshit. After all, your first amendment protects exactly that.

Edited August 31, 2009 by haza