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Ft. Hood Tragedy Exploited By Right-Wing Talk Show Hosts

First Posted: 03/18/10 06:12 AM ET Updated: 05/25/11 03:35 PM ET

Plante

Politics Daily:

On Tuesday morning I accidentally had the chance to listen to Chris Plante, a Rush-wannabe radio talk-show host who appears on a D.C. station. He was going on and on about how the Fort Hood shootings have driven the nation apart. An agitated Plante noted that 9/11 had brought the country together, but that in the wake of the horrific Fort Hood attack there's been no unity. Why?

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11:23 AM on 11/12/2009
Why?

Because the wingnuts don't care about "coming together". They see driving us further apart as their best chance to regain power.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DEMONDRICK
Obamas' perfect*imperfection)
09:00 AM on 11/12/2009
THIS ALL COMES DOWN TO GUN CONTROL,FACT~THE GUY IS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN,SO HE'S PROTECTED BY THE CONSTITUTION(SAME RIGHTS AS THE CHRISTIAN TERRORIST THAT KILLED DR.TILLER),A RELIGIOUS ISLAMIC FANATIC(LIKE CHRISTIAN TERRORIST WILLIAM RANDOLPH WHOM BOMBED THE OLYMPICS IN ATLANTA),AND UTTERLLY DISRESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE(SIMILIAR TO THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBER J.MCVEY,X-CULT LEADDER DAVID KLORESH,THE 19 WORLD TRADE CENTER/PENTAGON TERRORIST). AS THESE RELIGIOUS EXSTREMIST BEGIN TO TAKE OUR FREEDOMS TO THE BRINK OF DESTRUCTION,WE THE PEOPLE HAVE TO BECOME RATIONAL ABOUT WEAPONS THAT COULD USED TO HURT PEOPLE ON A LARGE SCALE. BELIVE IT OR NOT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT CRIMMINAL INTENT THAT IS THOUGHT ABOUT,AND ACCESS TO GUNS,AND CHEMICALS TO MAKE EXSPLOSIVES HAVE TO BE MONITORED MORE CAREFULLY,OR WE STAND TO LOOSE THE FREEDOMS THAT WE SO CHAIRISH.
02:33 AM on 11/12/2009
CNN report:
"One of the wounded, army specialist Logan Burnett spoke today to cheif medical correspondent Dr. Sunjay Gupta... Dr. Gupota did this eyewitness hear shooter yell Allau Akbra at the beginning of this ordeal?
Gupta: He did, Specialist Logan Burnett remembered everything in a fine detail. Take a listen.
Interview of an eyewitness.
CNN: Did you see the guy?
Eyewitness Specialist Burnett: Yeah...
CNN: Not that far?
Burnett: NO
CNN: He shoted alot?
Witness: He did. God is great?
He did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkta8KbAmt4

Any questions?
02:09 AM on 11/12/2009
EVERYONE is using this to find justification for their narrow -minded views--on both sides of the isle.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
KIVPossum
Moldova Marsupial
07:05 AM on 11/12/2009
What you are saying is, it's the standard political discussion format?
09:13 PM on 11/11/2009
NO ONE is surprised by what the right wing clowns on the radio, or on t.v will say or do.
07:37 PM on 11/11/2009
Shootings are common in the US, this is just another one. The entire Muslim community is not responsible for this tragedy.
02:16 AM on 11/12/2009
Of course they not responsible. No one said they are. But they are responsible to do some soul searching as to how best address the m-il-itant v.i r. u. s running rampant in that community.Rather then to circle the camels and pretend the issue doesn't exist.
Almost every way yet another member of that community is found to be involved in preparation or perpetration of c ri m e s against American, European, African or Asian people.The real question how can moderates in the entire country unite to find and expose future Hasans and John Mohammeds and the Shoe guys and Azizs and they guy who went to Denmak to case out the newapaper offices there etc.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
KIVPossum
Moldova Marsupial
07:08 AM on 11/12/2009
I am prone to agree with you. Only adding that the GOP and bible beates need to do some soul searching too. How do they intend to address the hatred coming out of their ranks?

Personally I think rational members of any group should smack down the fruitcakes in their midst. But we need to hold that standard to all; Muslims alone shouldn't be given the onus.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
shel3364
11:59 AM on 11/12/2009
I didn't hear anyone calling to "circle" the SUVs or do any soul searching when Von Brunn shot a guard at the Holocaust Museum.

...or when McVeigh blew up a federal building.
...or when Columbine was shot up
...or when the guy in Orlando killed a few people
...or when they dig up more and more bodies at that Ohio guy's house
...or as they find more victims of child abouse in Missouri.

Tell me how to expose these guys (who presumably Christian and are more prevalent here in the good old USofA).

I can find so many more heinous acts in this country committed by non-Muslim supposed Christians.
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Rob Horton
a proud Aspie Southern Liberal
06:44 PM on 11/11/2009
I'm waiting for it to be revealed that Major Hissan was a registered Republican who supported President Bush.
02:17 AM on 11/12/2009
Keep waiting.
03:13 PM on 11/11/2009
My comment was to patriotrebel.
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tempting
sure fire
02:01 AM on 11/12/2009
Everyone please call the faith based groups who are defending people like this and scaring off votes for health care in God's name. today I was checking channels and heard the CTN channel constantly harping on how bad the HR bill is and asking folks to call (888) 947-9009 to sign a petition to stop the bill. Well I called and told them that they should be ashamed of using their faith to lie to the public. These people are with out guile.
The playing field is not level and there are hardly any outlets for those of us who are progressive in MSM. These people shouldn't have tax exemption.
www.ctnonline.com is official site
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
msgirlintn
Magnolia's mom!
02:34 PM on 11/11/2009
Elisabeth Hasselbeck on The View this morning commented that the boots at the memorial service indicated that the victims died "at war" and then proceeded to quote Michelle Malkin. All of the right wingers are trying to exploit this for their political purposes just like they did 9/11.
02:38 PM on 11/11/2009
The "View" they talk about is the one up their AHs
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
msgirlintn
Magnolia's mom!
02:43 PM on 11/11/2009
I like Whoopi but the rest of them are another story.
03:11 PM on 11/11/2009
We are in a state of war. The victims had just returned from service in Iraq/Afghanistan and then were gunned down by a muslim on American soil in the name of Islam....duh?
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HUFFPOST PUNDIT
msgirlintn
Magnolia's mom!
03:50 PM on 11/11/2009
Duh? The murders at Ft. Hood do not constitute a war Did you even read the article or are you just defending the Right?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Imhotep40
He who comes in peace
04:12 PM on 11/11/2009
. . . gunned down by an American Soldier on American soil . . . .

those are all of the "facts" that have been confirmed, beyond that it's speculation and media "spin" . . . duh, we're not in a Civil War at this point.
02:32 PM on 11/11/2009
Chris Plante is just mad because nobody knows or cares who he is.

This is the right wing equivalent of wearing no panties and climbing out of a sports car.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
TRex86
Enjoying life in West Ohio
01:55 PM on 11/11/2009
Whatever the facts about this horrible act a few are certain:
1. By definition the act wasn't "terrorism," which is military/paramilitary violence aimed at civilians to influence policy. That doesn't make it less terrible, but it better defines what happened. He was a military officer killing his own personnel in a murderous/suicidal act of fury. In effect he had changed sides in the (miss-named) "War on Terror."
2. If he was a sleeper, he gave ample clues to his possible identity, which weren't evaluated effectively. It didn't take a presumption that all Moslems are violent Jihadists to follow up on the information he volunteered years ago that he felt our military actions were anti-Islamic. He had expressed sympathy with another soldier who had turned against his fellows. It shouldn't have been hard to connect the dots from these clues to his agitation about deploying to Afghanistan.
3. If he only had vicarious PTSD, his symptoms were abundantly clear well before he went on a rampage. Is it the policy of the military to send such individuals overseas? Why? How well would he have supported the mission if he were as much a patient as his clients?
I suspect that he was a self-appointed avenger, combining religious zealotry with psychopathology. I'm reminded of Egypt Air flight 990, although I doubt that he was directed from abroad. Since he's alive we may find out yet.
02:53 PM on 11/11/2009
Your first statement is preposterous. Civilians were also victims of the massacre, not to mention the families of the victims. Also, Hasan wanted to change the military's policy regarding sending Muslim service members to fight Muslims. Furthermore, once you pick up a g. u n or strap on a b. o m .b to commit an act of violence in the name of Allah, you are no longer a civilian, but a soldier of your ideology. If mere definitions are hampering our ability to respond appropriately to these terrorist acts, then perhaps the definitions of "terrorism" and "terrorist" need to be expanded. The Ft. Hood massacre was without a doubt an act of terrorism.
09:33 PM on 11/11/2009
where are you getting the idea that he had a bomb? To me terrorism implies some kind of organization planning an carrying out attacks...so far no mention of him being connected to any organization other than a strip club and a crazy cleric (I'm Muslim and even I think this guy is b@t$h!t crazy). Hasan deserves whatever's coming to him, but how can you state things "without a doubt" when we hardly know the details of the attack. Hell, people are still trying dispel rumors of a second attacker. If it turns out this guy was being backed by some extremist group then let em suffer the consequence of being a terrorist. Till then, let's let the justice system do it's work. I think that is also important in honoring our soldiers. Afterall, they are fighting to preserve our way of life...justice system included.
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01:49 PM on 11/11/2009
Allahu Akbar means God is Great. Why do so many so-called Christians have a problem with that statement?
02:15 PM on 11/11/2009
COME ON.... God is Great while gunning down innoenct people ....does that even seem right ?
...cause that's what your saying ?????
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PWM
Eisenhower Rep. The 1% started class warfare.
02:18 PM on 11/11/2009
The Nazis had "God is with us" on their belt buckles.
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05:15 PM on 11/11/2009
Praise Jesus and pass the ammunition.
06:36 PM on 11/11/2009
I'm guessing because that statement frequently accompanies beheading of infidels, blowing up of infidels, or other kinds of anti-infidel violence.
07:35 PM on 11/11/2009
Its a very common statement Muslims make every day.
01:00 PM on 11/11/2009
The Right Wing Radio Gun Culture Nuts have been advicating and wanting something like this go off for a while. What they least expected was the shooting was against ALL of US and is being contained within the very element of Big Government that DOES work for them.
02:39 PM on 11/11/2009
you are sooooooooo wrong !......wanting & expecting.... ? OBAMA WAS TOLD......OF THE WARNING...SIGNS....... THE WAR ON TERROR..... IS ...STILL..ON !!!!!! al-QAEDA.. IS A CANCER
LEFT ON CHECKED .....GROW'S ....ROOT'S OF VIOLENCE....SENDS MORE ..CELLS... ...never ending ?? ! WE MUST BE FOREVER ...VIGILENT ! ....THIS ENEMY IS DECEITFUL.... ! THEY USE'S ..ISLAM ...as a cover to gain followers ...... & to plot muders....of innocent people ...women & children......to effect their goals ! ....
03:06 PM on 11/11/2009
I actually developed a headache reading your post. Next time try to follow some simple advice:

1. Drop the caps, it makes you look like a 12 year old desperate for attention

2. Drop the period abuse. you mark the space between words with an empty space, and the end of a sentence with one (1) period. Period.

3. Coherence. Make sure your sentences has a start, a middle, and an end. We also prefer them to have a point in there somewhere. Random words that vaguely follow each other are not a sentence.

4. Please correct your spelling, multiple o's does not make your point stronger.
03:30 PM on 11/11/2009
If you want to communicate, try using sentances. You read like you are sputtering and incoherant.
12:59 PM on 11/11/2009
"You think so.
The Ft. Hood base commander does not.
The families of the victims do not.
But I guess you know best."



Why every murderer shouts "ALLAH AKBAR" when gunning people down. How stupid of me. Thanks for setting me straight "Mr.Scientist/Activist.
12:57 PM on 11/11/2009
The right wing has a completely irrational fear of muslims. It is obvious, and dangerous. Religious background is not a reason for a terrorist attack, it is an excuse. 9/11 wasn't caused by those acting as their religion instructed them, it was caused by those looking for reason to attack the U.S. because of anger and hatred. One of the many mistakes GWB made in handling the terrorist problem was by declaring "a war on terror" and then indentifying the enemy as muslim extremists. He whipped up a "us" vs." them" mentality that needed a easily definable "them". The right wing fell for it (predictably) and now is guilty of the same type of anger and hatred that fueled the 9/11 attacks. GWB's "us" is becoming "them" and this cannot turn out good.
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Mystic01
Proudly pro-union
02:34 PM on 11/11/2009
There may be a certain rationality to it: Muslims have become the new enemy. We always need enemies, whether Nazis, Communists, etc.--without enemies we can't justify extensive, never-ending foreign wars and huge military expenditures. Muslims have filled that need, since Communism went belly-up.
04:18 PM on 11/11/2009
Beezwax, do your research on current events in Britain and Europe before making mo ro.nic statements such as, "irrational fear of muslims." See what turmoil Britain is going through now. It's a lesson we can learn from.

Also, the World Trade Center was attacked twice, the first before Bush was President. Bush declared the war on terror AFTER both attacks. So, the muslim radicals declared war on us first. Did you conveniently forget that? Also, he declared a "war on terror", rather than a war on Islam. And, yes, the war is against muslim extremists (key word here is "extremist", which does not mean all muslims).

Then answer these questions: Why are the terrorists all muslims? Where are the Hindu, Shinto, Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, and Sikh terrorists?
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JeffmChicago
It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World
07:48 PM on 11/11/2009
Timothy McVeigh's white.
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ksjprod
Proud Alcohol Enthusiast