Former congressman and current MSNBC political commentator Joe Scarborough has
had to apologize for claiming that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to blow up the moon. Scarborough had criticized Schwarzenegger for making the following remark:
"If we get rid of the moon, women, those menstrual cycles are governed by the moon, will not get (pre-menstrual syndrome). They will stop bitching and whining."
But although it's very believable that our Governor would have said something like that, in this case he was innocent. The remarks were actually made by a Schwarzenegger impersonator on the Howard Stern show.
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Scarborough had on as a guest G. Gordon Liddy, who is a right-wing talk show host. Scarborough asked Liddy if the same kind of "hate speech" existed on right-wing radio. Liddy replied, "If it does, I'm not aware of it."
Only problem with this is that, back in the 90's, Liddy told his audience that, if they had to deal with armed ATF agents, they should shoot them in the head, as a body shot would be stopped by their bullet-proof vest. Where Rhodes' bit *might* be construed as a threat, Liddy's comments couldn't be interpreted as anything but one.
When this was pointed out, after the show, to Scarborough, he sent out a press release in which he said that he was ashamed that he didn't have "personal knowledge" of Liddy's remarks.
Fact checking? Bah, that's SO pre-9/11!
"I'm not quite sure how advising someone to shoot someone in the head who is invading your house is 'Hate Speach'. If you you remembered the point of Liddy's comments, they were around the time of the Ruby Ridge incident.:
It ain't LOVE speech, is it? As federal agents, if ATF agents came into your house, they would probably have search warrants, wouldn't they? Shooting them would be a felony.
I'm certainly not defending all actions of federal agents, but isn't advising a national audience to shoot them in the head just a wee bit over-the-top?
There is no "probably." If a government agent of any sort enters a property, they must announce themselves. That did not happen at Ruby Ridge. Agents announced themselves by shooting the Weavers' dog and, when 14-year old Sammy Weaver and Kevin Harris responded by shooting back at the unknown intruder, the response was several rounds of sniper fire into Sammy and (unarmed)Vicky Weaver, killing both. Harris and Randy Weaver were also wounded.
Those are the facts. I could also relate to you, first hand, how my father could have been killed by New Jersey state troopers back in the 1970s. They had been given incorrect directions to a drug dealer's residence and ended up at our house, wandering about the property and peering into windows. None had a vest marked "Police." Fortunately, my dad spotted the piping on one officer's uniform pants before grabbing his .22. If he had stepped in front of a window or in the doorway with that rifle, I'm sure they would have shot him dead, leaving his wife and two kids to fend for themselves.