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Drudge Puts Dangerous Spin on Mugging, Implies Violence Targeting McCain Volunteers
Yesterday, a horrible incident took place in Pittsburgh: a young woman was robbed; and then, after the assailant noticed that her car had a McCain sticker, he returned to brutalize her, including scratching a backwards 'B' in her cheek with a knife. Although horrible by itself, what makes this story even more shocking is the way right-wing media has tried to twist the coverage with rhetoric suggesting that this ATM mugging was actually a pre-meditated act of political violence aimed at the McCain campaign.
At 4:03pm, today, a WTAE-TV Pittsburgh reported that a 20-year old woman was robbed at an ATM machine, and then subsequently had the letter 'B' scratched into her cheek with a knife--supposedly in response to her assailant seeing a 'McCain' campaign sticker on her car. This is how WTAE reported the story:
Woman Attacked At ATM, Assailant Carves Letter Into Her Face
Woman Robbed, Attacked With Knife At Bloomfield ATM
POSTED: 4:03 pm EDT October 23, 2008
UPDATED: 4:30 pm EDT October 23, 2008PITTSBURGH -- A 20-year-old woman who was robbed at an ATM in Bloomfield was also maimed by her attacker, police said.
Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Diane Richard tells Channel 4 Action News that the victim was robbed at knifepoint on Wednesday night outside of a Citizens Bank near Liberty Avenue and Pearl Street just before 9 p.m.
Richard said the robber took $60 from the woman, then became angry when he saw a McCain bumper sticker on the victim's car. The attacker then punched and kicked the victim, before using the knife to scratch the letter "B" into her face, Richard said.
Richard said the woman refused medical treatment after the assault, which happened outside the view of the bank's surveillance cameras.
The robber is described as a dark-skinned black man, 6 feet 4 inches tall, 200 pounds with a medium build, short black hair and brown eyes. The man was wearing dark colored jeans, a black undershirt and black shoes. (link)
The crime was horrendous. Anyone who mugs another person, whether it is for $0.60 or $60, is a criminal who deserves punishment. And to beat someone up--and then scratch a 'B' in their face--supposedly in response to seeing a McCain campaign sticker on a person's car--that is an act that demands immediate criminal prosecution. The young woman attacked deserves a speedy recovery and quick restitution of her property and dignity by the courts.
The problem with this crime, however, is not just that it happened, but the way that Matt Drudge has obviously tried to spin it into a political watershed for the 2008 Presidential campaign by rewriting the headline and carefully omitting several crucial elements. The end result is that a mugging punctuated by an odd act of violence has been transformed at the hands of a right-wing media figure to appear like a targeted act of violence against the McCain campaign.
Not long after the original WTAE story, Drudge added the following incendiary headline on The Drudge Report:
SHOCK: MCCAIN VOLUNTEER ATTACKED AND MUTILATED IN PITTSBURGH...
'B' CARVED INTO 20-YEAR OLD WOMAN'S FACE... DEVELOPING...
Note two things that Drudge has strategically left out of this headline: (1) the actual details of the crime (e.g., an ATM robbery, followed by an assault) and (2) the fact that the robber brutalized the young woman after the initial crime had been completed, when the criminal noticed the bumber sticker on her car. The omissions are crucia because they repackage a story of theft and assault into a story of political violence.
What Drudge has done, in other words, is reframe a report about a mugging to make it seem like the beginning of targeted political violence against the McCain campaign. Hence, it seems from his headline that there are criminals in the U.S. currently out looking for McCain volunteers with the goal of brutally assaulting them--that someone was looking for McCain volunteers to attack, found one, and beat her.
Now, Matt Drudge's blog is one of the most visited websites on the internet and is well-known for its Republican Party leanings, it's deep connection to right-wing media outlets, and the phenomenal speed with which it can disseminate a story--whether that story is true or false. It is important, therefore, to consider the grave danger carried Drudge's spinning of this story.
Given Drudge's choice of words, one could imagine the Drudge headline as the basis for right-wing media and the Republican base to conclude that political violence has begun against the McCain campaign--despite this being a false and misleading representation of the events.
Even worse, the immense site traffic at The Drudge Report enjoys, combined with Drudge's implication that this horrible mugging incident in Pittsburgh was in fact targeted political violence against Republicans, could result in widespread panic amongst by McCain supporters mislead by Drudge's manipulative reporting into thinking that they were the target of some kind of organized assault.
If either of those things were to happen, the Drudge headline of the WTAE story could quickly tip the the Presidential election into a dangerous place by heightening the 'us vs. them' tensions already set in motion by the McCain-Palin campaign rhetoric.
Finally, since Pennsylvania is a 'swing' stage--a state that is still too-close-to-call in the Presidential election polls--it is not beyond the realm of possibility that Drudge's deceptive re-framing of this mugging story could result in heightened tensions on the ground, and possibly contribute to outbursts of violence by people who believe they are under 'attack,' as a result of Drudge's rhetoric.
However Drudge's headline is interpreted, it has the potential to provide an excuse for actual political violence under the guise of self-defense.
Just to give an idea of how incendiary this story could become, since I began writing this post, the Obama-Biden campaign has already issued the following statement:
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the young woman for her to make a speedy recovery, and we hope that the person who perpetrated this crime is swiftly apprehended and brought to justice."
Their response shows the necessary and swift intolerance that any crime of this nature deserves. Whether or not The Drudge Report will succeed with its dangerous ploy to recast this crime as the beginning of political violence against Republicans remains to be seen. But at the very least, we can expect Drudge's spin to be the lead on every right-wing media outlet at least to the weekend.
How mainstream media handles it is another story. Will news producers at CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, and CBS refute Drudge's irresponsible flirtation with rhetoric that has the potential to spark widespread panic? Let's hope so.
***UPDATE (Fri Oct 24, 1:48pm EST): Pittsburgh's CBS affiliate KDKA is just now reporting that the 20 year-old woman in question has recanted her story:
A Pittsburgh police commander says a volunteer for the McCain campaign who reported being robbed and attacked near a bank ATM in Bloomfield has confessed to making up the story. Police say charges will be filed. More details to follow.
I am relieved, in the end, that this young woman was not the victim of a robbery or assault. However, the false accusation of political violence--tinged with racial profiling--raises serious ethical and criminal consequences for this young person. Needless to say, the way right-wing media attempted to transform this story remains an object lesson for this election season and beyond. -- JF
© 2008 Jeffrey Feldman, Frameshop
Follow Jeffrey Feldman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JeffreyFeldman
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The Republicans have given comedians more than enough material this elections cycle.
The Dems have made them work for it.
And now that the hoax has been admitted, Matt Drudge the Crusading Right-Wing Coward has quickly and quietly erased all tracks of his misinformation. All except the headline from his "archive". The headline doesn't link to his original yellow journalism story anymore, and the only story readers CAN find on his manipulated archive simply reveal the hoax.
1. I see plenty of assumptions in these comments, trying to implicate the McCain campaign for something they have no control over.
2. The legacy media 'under reports' lots of stories about Democrats and Democrat supporters and over reports derogatory stories about Republicans. Asne.org says 78% of Americans believe the legacy media is biased and 78% believe that the stories are influenced to spin (manipulation of the press) stories by various organizations.
3. The latimes reports that the legacy late night comedians told 428 anti-Bush jokes, 328 Anti-McCain jokes, and only 169 anti-Obama jokes over a six month time frame in 2008. They are not biased, ah.
4. The "incendiary headline" is in common use among all news organizations, according asne.org.
Try not to get too upset about Drudge's headline. It's a common practice.
Drudge instantly published the giant headline--and someone (Ashley Todd? The college Republicans? The McCain campaign?)--immediately sent him the personal photo of her, which he also immediately posted. But the news that it was a hoax? Oh he had to wait on that one and figure if it was legit.
The Drudge Report is one of the biggest right-wing hack faux news website around. I never understood why it gets so much traffic.
It's equal to Fox "News" on the internet with a little National Enquirer mixed in.
He must be a right wing hack. He was first to expose Clinton and that led to Clinton's impeachment. Sorry about your luck.
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/mccain_aide_gave_reporters_inc.php
I am going to repost this link: McCain Communication Director pushed the story to Drudge
This woman was terminated from her employment position with the College Republicans today, where she phone banked for McCain in her "spare time"
After her self-mutilation, she provided her photo to her employer, the College Republicans, who then contacted McCain's PA Communications Director to push the B.S. out
Of course they did. I wish someone would investigate if there was any planned fraud apriori or if this was just collusion afterward.
WOW, so the lady made up the entire story about the attack? And Matt Drudge, never one for truth in reporting, fell for it and proceeded to report it far and wide?
LOLOLOL!!! Wow, I don't think Hollywood can make up stuff better than this. And I sure hope people run Drudge's name in the ground repeatedly for embellishing what turned out to be a totally fabricated story.
how many times can druge be wrong before people stop listening? An enabler for the repubs....simple.Thats who he is.
At least she could have use the mirror to permanently scar her face with an "O". That way it couldn't be backward! But she is obviously backward in her thinking, so it is all consistent of the GOP campaign, I am sure. I am concerned about her mental health, too. She's part of the general (and voting) public, and I live there. Very scary people out there!
The degree of sickness our society--the American society--exhibits is in direct proportion to the popularity of Drudge's vile website.
Isn't it about time to simply ignore Drudge and his hate-filled site? To let it die, to wither away, starved, a freak show fringe act meeting its well-deserved demise?
Even Al Gore reads Drudge religiously...
Sorry, Drudge is not going away anytime soon...
It's ONE of the few things that the Left AND the Right can agree on...
Drudge is it...
Sorry, but these are the facts, whether you like them or not..
Michale.....
"Drudge is it"? If the definition of "it" is a lying shill for the upper class and christian right who has nothing whatsoever to do with journalism then I think we can agree. Please post your sources for "Even Al Gore reads Drudge religously". Does "religiously" mean hourly, daily or weekly, like in most people practice their "religion" by going to church weekly. And if by "Sorry, Drudge is not going away anytime soon..." you mean he will continue to post lies and rumours on the internet and that the 15% who still support Bush will read his form of BS and believe then I think we can agree that you are probably Drudge in a very bad diguise.
@AsianAfricanAMERICAN
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You claim to be an Obama supporter,
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Not a claim, simply a statement of fact. If you have anything to dispute that claim, let's hear it..
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yet you call me a bigot (you don't even know me!),
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Actually, I simply stated that you made bigoted statements. Which is true.. I don't know you well enough to know if you truly are a bigot or not..
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because I didn't believe this story from the start.
{{{{{{
My point is, had the alleged victim been an Obama volunteer and the alleged perp been some psycho redneck, you would not have even questioned it.
If you are honest, you will admit that this is true..
THAT is where the hypocrisy comes in..
Any more questions??
Michale.....
Either the story is true or not. That's all that matters. Drudge and Fox pushed the lie. There's no "hypocrisy" in stating the facts. The girl was a McCain campaign worker. She described her attacker as "a large black man". The Young Republicans, of whom she was also a member, pushed the story to the press. Drudge and the McCain campaign made it the herky-jerky reaction of the moment because they don't have anything else and when the truth came out Fox and Drudge ran for the hills. Just another day in the stellar McCain campaign effort. Maybe tomorrow they can try the Willy Horton story or better yet just burn some crosses in some yards.
You got some nerve lecturing anyone about hypocricy given your defense of fraud.
Michale:
Once again, you show your true Neo-con mentality.
In order to refute a real event, you resort to creating an imaginary one.
Sorry, but we are no longer respnding to your "smoke & mirrors," "look-a-puppy" diversions
in any other way than calling you out on them. Buh-bye!
@alenaspoppa
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I have found no reports of Obama supporters retaliating or otherwise engaging in violence in this campaign.
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Must be because you haven't looked...
"Obama Supporter Assaults Female McCain Volunteer in New York"
"Car displaying McCain sticker vandalized - KKK scratched into paint"
"McCain Campaign Office In Port Vue Vandalized"
"McCain office vandalized - Topic Florence, AL"
"McCain-Palin office vandalized near Pittsburgh"
"Republican Leader’s Home Vandalized; Blames McCain Campaign Sign ..."
Then we have Obama supporters actually changing the vote of a disabled person from McCain to Obama
"Mentally challenged man says his vote wasn't right"
I could go on and on, but the point is clear...
Now, I am sure you will pooh-pooh these crimes as nothing major...
Which simply proves my point..
Look, I am not saying that the Right is good and pure.. I am completely apolitical.. I am a registered NPA which means NO POLITICAL AFFILIATION.
What I *AM* saying is that, in my opinion, the Left has NO claim to the moral high ground in this issue..
And the FACTS back up my opinion...
That's all I am saying, this bogus report notwithstanding...
Now, if you have FACTS to dispute my facts, then by all means.. Display them...
Michale.....
Maybe Michale/Drudge could supply the links to sources for the above facts. You know, little things like police reports, pictures, names of witnesses, dates, news organizations. Otherwise we can all list whatever we want here and have it accepted. For instance;
"Michale is the secret screen name for Drudge"
"Democratic leader's home vandalized for hypoctitically pointing out that Drudge is a liar"
"Mentally challenged woman votes for Obama and Drudge beats her up"
"Obama worker assaulted while peeing in a public restroom. Drudge claims he just had a wide stance"
"Drudge lies on a daily basis and everyone who believes him is insane"
I could go on and on, but the point is clear...
Now, I am sure you will pooh-pooh these crimes as nothing major...
Which simply proves my point..
You(Michale) are Drudge
Now, if you have FACTS to dispute my facts, then by all means.. Display them...
And the plot thickens...
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/mccain_aide_gave_reporters_inc.php
STILL MORE
Tuesday, October 20
A bear carcass was dumped with Obama signs strung around its neck at the base of the statue at the entrance to the Western Carolina University campus in Cullowhee, North Carolina, where tensions have recently been heating up between conservative locals and liberal college students.
October 21, 2008
Someone took an Obama yard sign and replaced it with a large Confederate flag in the yard of an elderly African American minister. That night, after the flag had been replaced with a new Obama sign, a car drove by several times, honking and yelling at the family. The next day, the car returned again, honking and yelling in broad daylight, "No Change!" while a reporter interviewed the family in the yard. The minister told a local reporter that he had a simple message to pass on to the culprit, "I love you, and God does too." The Baptist minister also told the reporter, "I feel like this is somebody with a lot of hatred in their heart. It's our job to help the guy try to do better in life."
MORE
Saturday, October 18
Incidents have even occurred at Obama events. In Fayetteville, North Carolina, someone slashed the tires on more than 30 cars during an Obama rally, leaving women and children stranded. Lynne Steenstra, whose tires were slashed, believes it was meant to intimidate Obama supporters, to prevent them from casting their votes.
Sunday, October 19
The car of an Obama volunteer was trashed (rear windshield smashed, spray painted, stolen Obama signs shoved into the backseat) while he was out to dinner with friends.
Sunday, October 19
In Princeton, West Virginia, a crowd of McCain-Palin supporters gathered to heckle and intimidate mostly black voters as they arrive to vote at an early voting location. When journalist Christina Bellantoni asked the sheriff if the protesters were allowed at the early voting location, the sheriff showed no concern of voter intimidation and merely answered, "They're fine."
October 19, 2008
In Fairfield, Ohio, Mike Lunsford hung an Obama effigy from a noose in a tree in his front yard. He attached a campaign sign to a ghost figure, wrote "Hussain" (yes, it was misspelled), put a noose around its neck, and strung it up in a tree.
I have found no reports of Obama supporters retaliating or otherwise engaging in violence in this campaign.
@plooger
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Now that the hoax is exposed, Jeffrey, take a look at how Drudge is covering it, today..
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It's had TOP billing for the last couple hours...
In all objectivity, if Drudge wanted to bury the story, he easily could have...
The simple fact that he doesn't seems to belie your criticisms of him..
Speaking objectively and free from bias or bigotry, of course..
Michale.....
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