Rick Sanchez: Fox News Contributing To Gun Violence (VIDEO) (UPDATED)

[UPDATED, below.]

So, in case you haven't noticed, people have lately been going around killing people, indiscriminately. Is this because Fox News is sending their hypnobeams into America's brainpan through the lunatic ravings of Glenn Beck and the Michele Bachmann-boosting tyranny pillow-talk of Sean Hannity? I don't know! Maybe. That stuff mostly fills me with either humor or pity. Then I make some tacos, drink some Jim Beam, everything's OK again.

But CNN's Rick Sanchez notes the rise of Fox style crazyfaced paranoia and the uptick in gun violence, and feels that there's a connection worth exploring. Which he does by...SCARING THE BEJEEZUS OUT OF EVERYONE! Terrifying music! Scary YouTubes! Breathless, unproveable pronouncements! A cop-killer was "convinced, no doubt because of Fox News...that our rights were being infringed upon. That's according to a friend" of the killer. LOTS OF GREAT SOURCING AND CERTAINTY, THERE! Is there any truth to the notion that Fox is inexorably driving people crazy? It's an "apparent result," Sanchez says. Sounds ironclad!

Ugh. Look, I'd the first to suggest that children shouldn't play with Fox news, but if you're going to make the earnest case that Glenn Beck is literally killing America, you need more than second hand observations of spree-killers and "apparent results." You need, I'd posit, some sort of "evidence." Data points, anecdotal accounts, proof that the suits at Fox News were aware of potential harm and were negligent in allowing a specific danger to be exacerbated. Short of that, if you want to combat the pernicious effect of misinformation you deem dangerous, you got no other choice that to buckle down and do the work of a reporter. Debunk claims, research policies, stack up contrary evidence. And double down on the sobriety and the seriousness.

What Sanchez does here is lead with alarm, accusations, terrifying images, more alarm, melodrama. At about four minutes in, Sanchez finally offers a counterpoint - a statement from Eric Holder from his confirmation hearings. Unfortunately, Sanchez's first attempt at debunkery was well countered. That left Eric Boehlert of Media Matters to "help Sanchez out," but all he did was point out that there's a "media narrative" at work - which is where all of this began. From there, it became an internecine argument over what the media was doing as opposed to what the Obama administration was doing.

The end result, Fox is making people scared of Obama, CNN is making people scared of Fox viewers, and soon we'll all be peeing our pants at the drop of a hat.

Eight minutes, and Sanchez brings one solitary piece of substantive evidence was brought to the table, to support his argument. Better luck next time! Please?

[WATCH.]

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[UPDATE]

Media Monitor Jon comes through with proof that CNN can, in fact, discuss the issue - and present evidence that counters the contention that a plan to curb gun owners is afoot - without resorting to histrionics, accusations, fearmongering, or "meta" media discussions.

[WATCH.]

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Comments

[HHUA]

Sorry Jason but I agree with Sanchez on this one...

In fact, I (and soooo many other people) have seen this coming for some time! It's not a matter of "if" only a matter of when the violence escalates to the point where it is "irrefutable" that it's being spurred by the wing-nut propaganda machine!!!

I have been listening to these guys (Levin, Rush, Savage, Hannity, etc.) on a near daily basis just because I am stunned (like a deer in the headlights!) at the unbelievably irresponsible nonsense they have been spewing! "Obama is communist Tryant", "America is a Tryanny", "the Liberals have staged a coupe", etc., etc., and apparently, I along with anyone else who voted for Obama (and believes that ALL American children should be able to see a doctor) are "Brown Shirts" (ie: Nazi paramilitary Stormtoopers)!!! WTF?!! Is it any wonder that guns have been flying off the shelves in RECORD NUMBERS... Just exactly, what DO you expect to happen?! Have you been listening to the hateful, fear mongering? Cause I have and it's RELENTLESS­... They are literally calling people TO ARMS!!! And unfortunately it's the most ignorant and easily led segment of our society that listens and takes these people seriously.­.. Wake-UP!!!

[nolalola26]

Listen, fellow left-wingers, we can't blindly follow hate wherever it leads us! I appreciate the sentiment that Fox News is generally a safe zone for bonkers neo-con pundits like Beck, but it's irresponsible to blame murders on them. I think Jason is absolutely right in this piece, able to say when "we" are being just as loony as "they" are!
Blaming the recent gun violence on Fox News is reckless and unfair. Blaming it, however, on the society which is so gun-crazy might be more appropriate. Or what about a society where things are SO BAD that people who might otherwise shrug off their problems see no way out but mass murder-suicides?
Let's show that we are above all of the hate-spewing, fear-mongering tactics by being thoughtful, respectful, and CAREFUL in our criticisms of people who oppose our views. Otherwise, we're just as guilty.

[HHUA]

These are not just people "opposing our views". Have you been listening? Calling us "Brown Shirts" (Nazi storm troopers) and "tyrants", etc. goes a little beyond that realm... These people are stirring the stupid masses to violent action... Let's not forget the preview we got at Palin's rallies!!! It's great to be "thoughtful and respectful", yadayada..­. but not BLIND to what is going on. If these rants continue (Beck, Hannity, etc.), so too the violence will escalate..­. Unfortunately, it's human nature and a FACT of life... We won't make it go away by being "thoughtful"!!! Would you have us bury our head in the sand and pretend this isn't happening?!

[nolalola26]

To what end, though, do you propose we handle the problems that hate-spewing & violence brings?

Are you suggesting that, rather than "bury our heads in the sand," we answer in kind? If you believe that their "stirring the stupid masses" will bring violence, how is it possibly beneficial, productive, or responsible to do the same thing, stirring the other half of the "stupid masses" into violence of their own?

I'm certainly not saying that we should ignore the bile that is spewed from fear-mongerers and belligerant maniacs, but I'm also not saying that it's a good idea for us to do the SAME THING.

[davidvirgodc]

THANK YOU!!!!! SOMEBODY AT CNN HAS BALLS!!!!

[ebanks84]

It's a crying shame that people like you can put down a message being conveyed to the people that warns them of the dangers of people like the Becks, Limbaughs, Hannitys of this world. There are millions (possibly) of weak-minded people out there that would take whatever these individuals say as the gospel and believe every word. Why would you want to downplay it when somebody is trying to tell people to watch out and not take these men seriously? Do you believe in what Beck is spewing daily yourself?

An article like this is NOT helpful to those who believe in the Becks of this world.

[phylliscooper1]

I have always wanted to float around this idea, but of course it would never fly, but here goes anyway. "States For Like Minded Individuals". A state for gun owners, say, Alaska. Far away from the rest of us where no one gets shot unless ,they too, are armed and dangerous. All confiscated guns and ammo will be immediately shipped to the gun state for distribution. A state for drug users, like Mississippi, good crop land and moderate weather for just sitting around on the porch and b s ing. Well, meth addicts will need their own state, maybe Tennessee, plenty of mountains, and places to hide, but far away from the gun state. The state for child pornographers and molesters could be, oh maybe just a walled off portion of a state, like the Baja peninsula or Mojave desert, where there would be no children, computers, TV's, or digital recording devices allowed. If they holler constitutional rights, just send them to Alaska. The majority of the States would be for everyone else. Those convicted in a court of law for a felony, blue collar or white would be required to move to one of the designated states or Texas.

[underoath]

I'm glad somebody finally had the balls to say something about the FOX machine because it was needed!

[punk]

America's television "news" and "commentary" are similar to fake wrestling. It's all a show and the American people are the suckers who think it's real.

[beherenow54]

I have always understood the 2nd amendment to the constitution to have two separate and distinct parts/features: 1 is a "well regulated militia" and 2 is "the right of the people". Yes, there is no "and" in there but I believe it is implied. Therefore a well regulated militia (being necessary for the security of a free state), and the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed per the 2nd amendment. I also believe Obama clearly understands this and has no intention of taking guns away from Americans. I've always been sort of anti-gun but can understand why people want to have them. What I can't understand is all this BS going around about Obama coming to your doors to take your guns, with the right-wing using this as a tactic to scare people into buying guns. And now, suddenly, deaths from random people killing others has shot through the roof it seems.

[KrugnacTheMagnificent]

First minority President?

GWB lived in Houston before becoming President, and as we all known, white people are a minority there.

[booksnmoreforyou]

Sancehez intuitively knows the truth here! EVERYONE WHO IS *HONEST* DOES! What he talks about is self-evident.

And please, he may have been wrong with a DUI 10 years ago or so, but that has nothing to do with GUN CONTROL and FOX CRAZINESS NETWORK. It's a Red Herring.

[InfosolutionWiz]

YOUR Comments is spot on! I live between Miami and West Palm Beach, and the Sanches case years ago is a none issue!

[obamagal]

Agree.

[dubster]

I think Jason Linkins wrote a poor article. Alternatively, after watching the 8 minute clip, I've concluded that Sanchez was eloquent and cogent in articulating how preposterous the anchors at fox news have exacerbated the situation. They've exacerbated it via evidence that was on youtube. Those gun fanatics on there pillorying President Obama are completely delusional. Furthermore, did anyone see 20/20 last night? These people fretting about gun politics are absolutely oblivious to the true facts. I think people on here chiding Sanchez are completely naive. In addition, bringing up his old DUI accident is a red herring because it has nothing to do with gun politics.

[obamagal]

Excellent comment.

[knerd]

To the extent we all live in the same interconnected society, to that same extent we all need to be mindful that words and actions have consequences (Well, duh-h!).

According to anthropologists, the word "myth" actually describes a society's cultural narrative. A myth is not just a fantasy or a fable.

So I believe most native speakers of English know exactly what Sanchez is talking about and what he is really saying. Whether he is a reporter or a pundit is beside the point. In the spirit of mythology, It may not be factually accurate, but it is nonetheless true.

[booksnmoreforyou]

NAILED IT, 100%.

[NewOrleans4Obama]

wow, somebody at CNN has balls?

[JerryLevy]

Rick Sanchez is purely the Sean Hannity of the left. There is no problem with his show except it is opinion and not news. This is why CNN is losing to FOX because CNN puts its commentary into its news. People are insulted when a network positions a commentary program as news. CNN must start calling Sanchez a news commentator but they position him as simply being a reporter which he is not.

[jkminwa]

Doesn't Fox call itself the Fox NEWS Channel? You made a funny, Jerry! Ha, ha!

[Ethics101]

Oh? This is just CNN???

Quite funny.

[obamagal]

Purely delusional.

[Dodgeyaussie]

Wait, Fox is doing news now?

[Bingolong]

Mr Spacely has gotten goofier.