A Hate Crime in My Neighborhood?

Hearing that a volunteer for the McCain campaign had been attacked and mutilated in my Pittsburgh neighborhood -- indeed, at the very ATM I most often use -- filled me with embarrassment for such mistreatment of a visitor and sympathy for the pain of a fellow being. Disbelief didn't enter my head. Not then.

It was only later, when outside observers (including conservative blogger Michelle Malkin) said the details of the attack didn't pass the "smell test," that I started questioning the story myself. While local police are not specifying what they're calling inconsistencies in the young woman's story, I can see some obvious question marks.

OK, first of all I will admit that I hope the story isn't true, because I am proud of my mixed-income, multi-racial neighborhood, though I also have to admit that we're not without crime or conflict. And the pro-Obama spirit did indeed inspire some local kids into minor vandalism, i.e. they ripped out Hillary Clinton lawn signs during the primary.

Given all that, I have a hard time believing the worst. The alleged attack happened on a very active, pedestrian-friendly street at about 9 p.m., when all the bars and many of the restaurants (including the one across the street) were still open. I would expect people to still be strolling along the avenue, yet there were no witnesses. Workers at the nearest bars and restaurants were questioned by police, and reported seeing or hearing nothing. Trust me, this is definitely not the sort of place where people don't get involved in other people's problems. There would have been other people near this corner in the mid-evening, and they wouldn't have ignored an unconscious, bleeding woman on the street.

Also, what I haven't seen in national coverage is that there is a major hospital a scant two blocks from the ATM in question, yet the young woman did not attempt to go there for immediate medical attention, although she would have had to pass the place (you really can't miss it; it dominates the neighborhood) to go to the friend's house she said she did. News reports say she didn't visit a hospital emergency room until 1 a.m. Yes, such a seemingly bizarre reaction to the crime and the pain could be the result of shock. Was it?

I hope the truth comes out, one way or another, and the cloud of suspicion is dispersed for either this young McCain worker from Texas, or for my home turf.

Comments

[huffthemagicdragon]

It was only necessary to look at the language used to describe the alleged assailant to see instantly that this story was fabricated.

[Pere]

Hey "POLE WATCHER" Would you have been proud if you had succeeded, gotten McCain elected? To commit FRAUD upon the AMERICAN PEOPLE and the CONSTITUTION, to steal the election and DENY DEMOCRACY? Thank God you are such a PATHETIC FAILURE - GUILTY OF CRIMES AGAINST DEMOCRACY!

[MaryC3]

Maybe Drudge Report could have held off on giving this incendiary story the Page One headline treatment for a bit.

People in my house who saw her picture yesterday immediately commented and questioned the odd and very smooth, upside-down scar on her face. It really did arouse one's suspicion right away. Why was this then blown into such a BIG BIG story so fast? The media should show a little caution in these matters.

That said, this poor girl certainly has problems, and she REALLY does need some help.

[Michale32086]

@ Ms Pilecki

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filled me with embarrassment for such mistreatment of a visitor and sympathy for the pain of a fellow being. Disbelief didn't enter my head. Not then.
{{{{

The fact that you didn't immediately start castigating and attacking the "victim" is to your credit. It shows me that you are not a political bigot..

Unfortunately, you are the exception that proves the rule....

A perfect case in point..

@honestpolitician

}}}}
I think we all know that McCain/Davis was behind this....
}}}}

And you "know" this exactly..... how???

Michale.....

[SamThornton]

Those darn facts just keep popping up to embarrass perfectly sane ideologues, gosh darn it. All the major news outlets reported this AM that Pittsburgh police had determined the "attack" was a hoax and that the "victim" herself had admitted it was a hoax. Go figger.

[Michale32086]

So, how does this "prove" that McCain/Davis was "behind" this??

Can you answer that without sarcasm???

Michale.....

[jhNY]

Truth is out. Story was toal crap. Your worst fears allayed for now, until the next fake attack.

[honestpolitician]

Confirmed....The GOP Volunteer beating story is a HOAX....She LIED....I think we all know that McCain/Davis was behind this....

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