Liz Trotta 'Apologizes' on Fox for 'Joke' About Killing Obama
A day after she had referred to Barack Obama as "Osama' and quipped that both of them should get bumped off, Fox News contributor Liz Trotta was given an opportunity today to offer a "clarification," as host Bill Hemmer put it.
After talking for a couple of minutes about Hillary Clinton's own "backtracking" on her comment about the Robert F. Kennedy assassination on Friday, Hemmer noted that "some people" were "criticizing you" for her Osama/Obama remark on Sunday.
Trotta said she was sorry, while also suggesting her remark was nothing particularly unusual or awful in this campaign year.
She said, " Oh yes, I am so sorry about what happened yesterday and the lame attempt at humor. I fell all over myself, making it appear that I wished Barack Obama harm or any other candidate, for that matter, and I sincerely regret it and apologize to anybody I have offended. It is a very colorful political season"-- she chuckled at this point--"and many of us are making mistakes and saying things we wish we had not said."
Hemmer replied: "Clarification noted."
Appearing on Fox News on Sunday, Trotta, a former editor with the Washington Times and broadcast TV journalist, was asked by the host, Eric Shawn, about the Clinton controversy and the 2008 race. This led Trotta to refer to the Clinton misstep.
Trotta, according to the now widely-circulated video, replied, "And now we have what some are reading as a suggestion that somebody knock off Osama, uh Obama. Well, both, if we could." She laughed.
The host, Shawn, clearly understanding how far she had gone, quickly commented: "Talk about how you really feel."
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Greg Mitchell's new book is So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq (Union Square Press, $11). He is editor of Editor & Publisher.
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How far is this crap gonna go? Fox will not fire her because this garbage attracts a certain type of viewer that either is out right racist or tollerant of it. So it would shock me if they did fire her. Every candidate should denounce this now!
Her apology was as lame and insincere as Clinton's apology, she even used the same wording...
Imus, a shock jock, known for such inflammatory diatribes, was summarily dismissed for his insensitive, racially charged, lame attempt at humor, setting off a week long, non stop, "national dialogue" on the subject of race. Yet, it seems an award winning journalist can joke about wanting to assassinate a major presidential candidate with impunity.
Early on in the campaign I recall stumbling upon a blog of hers in which she (in the most infantile manner imaginable) set out to minimize and marginalize Obama politically and personally; going so far as to offer up (having just read his books, she claimed) the most sophomoric psychoanalysis of his and his mother's "fractured" relationship, opining as to just why he felt compelled to sequester her from the press. I in turn was compelled to write to her to inform her that in fact, his mother had died in 1995.
I agree. "I regret" is not the same as "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry" is simple, clear, while "I regret" is an apology-like way of saying "I wish I hadn't said that in public."
Disgusting woman.
Now there's a soundbite that can be used as a ringtone, and it will be , but not a whisper from the Master of the Universe. What planet is this where manipulators of media plant messages in broad view, forget subliminal suggestions? If this is the start of campaign of slur, association, smear and absurdity, the phalanx of shielded archers should take position to shower this noise with sheets woven from flaming arrows, that is metaphorically in expression of clear statement of fact.
Wow. I just don't understand how people can get away with this stuff.
Somewhere on the campaign trail, a person held up a sign saying something to the effect "Hillary, iron my shirts', and the female supporters of Hillary Clinton went off the deep end. Bill Clinton says he has never seen a candidate treated so poorly.
Now, Hillary herself brings up assasination as part of her justification for staying in the race, and others follow suit, but no one is supposed to take offense? Just another misspeak from a tired candidate? And her friends on Fox News - the most fair reporting source, per the Clintons?
Rules against posts with profanity prevent me from sharing my real view of this situation. I hope the people of New York remember all of this when her Senate seat comes up in the next election. There is no place for this type of behavior, things are dangerous enough.
Jesse Helms used to "joke" about the marines in NC killing Pres.Clint
Fox is repulsive. They are the #1 problem in our media. They are the worst corporate/
I hate to say this, FOX news is also #1 in the ratings. http://tvb
No wonder this country is so screwed up.
Yes, she is repulsive. And disturbed. And no, that's not funny, Liz. Never was, never will be.
"There is no law, there is only power." - unknown
Law is a creation of human beings attempting to bring order to their social activities. It is a bulwark against injustice, the last best hope of intellectual growth and freedom. Democracy or not, adherence to a known set of rules allows us to progress; individually and together as a society. Disrespect for the law, as is shown here where one thinks it is funny to kill leaders, or where one by use of such 'humor" disrespects every one of us who wants to progress toward a better world.
Power is the underpinning of law. Whether it is a group of benign philosopher kings, or a democratically elected leadership, power for all grows through respect and understanding of the law. Failure to have laws leads to Hobbes' view of the world. We are capable of being better than that. Shame on you Chavez08.
Here's the statutory language:
1531 Conditional Threat -- Secret Service Protectees
The use of conditional language is pertinent in evaluating the "threat" content of a statement for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 871. Such evaluation must take the full context of an alleged threat into consideration. Alexander v. United States, 418 F.2d 1203 (D.C. Cir. 1969). Motive of the defendant may well be germane to the inquiry. Other factors for consideration would include such matters as audience reaction, intoxication, a history of mental illness unaccompanied by dangerous propensities, and capability of or preparations by the defendant to act upon his/her words.
The United States Attorney _should not decline prosecution on the ground of a lack of a defendant's subjective intent to carry out a threat_. _If a prospective defendant's conduct reasonably appears to amount to a serious expression of intent to inflict harm, action to prosecute should follow immediately_. The need for prompt action in this type of case indicates use of the complaint procedure unless some special circumstances require direct resort to the grand jury.
Mabe a call from a US Attorney to FOX would stop this kind of crap. I have not seen Trotta's original remarks, but the restatement of them in this article suggests intent. Her apology seems genuine however.
I don't believe for one second that Huckabee, Clinton and Trotta, didn't mean exactly what they said, they all seemed scripted, and they all had the same bullshit non-apolog
There's been many a prosecution for suggesting assassination of the President. The law should be changed to include prosecution for suggestions of assassination of lesser officials, judges, and candidates for office. http://www
List of laws at DOJ: http://www
First Huckabee, now Trotta- Hillary Clinton finds herself in fine company indeed!
So many mispeaks. Interesting that they all accidently say the same repulsive thing.
I doubt old Lizzie Trotta would be chuckling if someone on television "joked" about murdering her.
She is repulsive.
I have taken action, the below e-mail was sent to the President of Media relations at Virizon wireless who sponsors Fox News:
Dear Mr. Kula,
I'm pleased to inform you that I have been a satisfied customer of Verizon for a number of years now. However, regretfully I must bring this terrible situation to your attention. Your company currently sponsors Fox News Channel. During a live interview on Fox News, a contributor Liz Trotta wished for the assassination of Senator Barack Obama. I have served my country in the United States Marine Corps over 20 plus years of service. To ensure that we have the right to free speech. Along with all the other wonderful blessings we enjoy in this country.
The United States Supreme court has made it clear that certain types of speech will not be protected under the First Amendment. Such as, speech that violates criminal laws (threatening speech and so on). The statement made 25 May 2008 is clearly not constitutionally protected speech. As of 30 May 2008. I will be changing my cell phone service from Verizon to a company that does not sponsor Fox News. Unless, your sponsorship of Fox News is no longer in place.
Way to go Cypress, money is the only things these clowns care about, Thanks so much.
Kudo's Cypress! Is this the type of free speech we want to show around the world? Do we want the world to think that we condone this kind of behavior? She get's to keep her job? I'm totally embarressed!
She should be fired and prosecuted. She clearly broke the law and the Secret Service should pursue.
Don't be an idiot.
She works for Fox Noise, nuff said.
Are you saying she's repulsive BECAUSE she's old?
Even a lame apology beats the non-apology of Clinton and her blaming the reaction vs. her comments on those who got upset.
But one thing is for sure -- Clinton helped open the door to making assassination seem so "normal."
You're absolutely correct!! (Oh ... but Hillary blames Obama for this assassination issue.)
The fact that she's on Fox says it all. No one in their right minds make comments like that....wh
She could have been writing for The National Lampoon with jokes like that.
No, she couldn't. National Lampoon prints funny jokes.
I think the magazine ended publishing in the early 90s. They did often show a very twisted sense of humor that is missed. Where else would you have The Beatles saying that Charles Manson was the only person who understood the true meaning behind "Helter Skelter"?
The law on this subject is Clear. It needs to be enforced no matter who you are.
..........
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