The Spectacle Blog
A gunman who opened fire during a Florida school board meeting before apparently committing suicide left a “testament” on his Facebook page that blamed the “wealthy” for his crime.
Clay Duke, 56, pulled a pistol during a Tuesday school board meeting in Panama City, Fla., and fired several shots, according to press accounts. A security officer for the school system shot and wounded Duke, who then fatally shot himself, police told reporters.
Before pulling the gun, Duke used a can of red spray-paint to make the letter “V” inside a circle on a wall of the meeting room. This was evidently a reference to the 2006 movie V for Vendetta, in which a character uses terrorist tactics to fight an oppressive government. While holding board members and the superintendent at gunpoint, Duke complained that his wife had been fired by the school system.
According to ABC News and other sources, state records show Duke had a criminal record, having served a four-year prison term for aggravated stalking and other charges.
On his Facebook profile, Duke left a diatribe portraying himself as the victim of an unfair system:
Some people (the government sponsored media) will say I was evil, a monster (V)… no… I was just born poor in a country where the Wealthy manipulate, use, abuse, and economically enslave 95% of the population. Rich Republicans, Rich Democrats… same-same… rich… they take turns fleecing us… our few dollars… pyramiding the wealth for themselves. The 95%… the us, in US of A, are the neo slaves of the Global South. Our Masters, the Wealthy, do, as they like to us…
Duke’s Facebook page quoted a statement that investor Warren Buffett recently made to Ben Stein: “There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.” On his Facebook page, Duke also described his religion as “humanist” and referred visitors to the Web site, The Progressive Mind.
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Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 12.14.10 @ 10:32PM
Bye Bye Funny Humanist Man!! Well there you go, there's one less whining liberal progressive to "have to" deal with anymore. Blame the Rich? Blame yourself douche (you see, I won't call you evil or a monster, just a douche)!!
Madame Defarge| 12.14.10 @ 11:21PM
The guy was upset about having to pay an extra half cent sales tax to keep the schools open. That doesn't sound like a whining liberal progressive.
Howard Ino| 12.14.10 @ 10:37PM
Blame Bush!
Madame Defarge| 12.14.10 @ 11:19PM
He is right about the wealthy exploiting the rest of the people, but the school board members were not part of that cabal. He directed his vengeance towards the wrong people, but this is how the elites win at class warfare. They create conditions of desperation so that ordinary people start fighting among themselves instead of uniting against those culpable.
David W| 12.14.10 @ 11:27PM
"There's class warfare, all right, but it's my class, the rich class, that's making war, and we're winning."
If Mr. Buffett said that, then why hasn't he opened his checkbook and given away his billions?
Surely he, as well as Mr. Gates and Mr. Moore and Ms. Oprah and the other rich liberals (I heard that Al G is worth close to $100 million, and even the President is worth around $10 million) could be giving their money away to help the less fortunate right now. They don't have to wait for the heroic Democrats kill the evil the tax "cuts".
They could give their money right now to Obama (oops, sorry, the US Treasury) or to organizations that could more effectively and efficiently distribute the money to the needy.
But no, all these liberals can do is say how taxes need to be raised on the "rich". Why, because they know taxes for them really won't go up but they feel good because they can now say they tried.
truthywood| 12.15.10 @ 3:19AM
Yes he has already donated his half assets and still donating more . He is not filthy greedy like Republicans.
beebop| 12.15.10 @ 5:27AM
From CNN regarding Al Gore's charitable contributions:
EyebrowsWASHINGTON AllPolitics, April 15 In a 34page 1997 federal tax return, Vice President Al Gore and wife Tipper reported giving $353 to charity, an amount much lower than donations the family has made in previous tax cycles.
That figure is less than onetenth the typical contribution amount for someone with the Gores adjusted gross income of $197,729. (income, mind you -- not WEALTH -- which in Gore's case was considerable)
Don't let anything like facts get in the way of your tiny thought process.
By the way, school boards are elected in Florida.
Steve-O| 12.15.10 @ 9:44AM
No, Mr. Buffett is not greedy. He only supports the death tax because the rich have enough already, and if they do want to pass their assets to their children, they can buy a nice (expensive) life insurance policy from one of his many insurance companies. Everybody wins (sarcasm)!
jo blo| 12.15.10 @ 3:36AM
His family should sue the media, academia and democrat politicians for inciting this poor man to do what he did. He was obviously mentally unstable, and their incendiary rhetoric clearly sent him over the edge.
R.I.P. for this poor soul.
martin j smith| 12.15.10 @ 7:34AM
I am not especially well off but according to a "friend" of mine I am rich--well maybe rich in love that I grant you. The problem is with this shooter and my"friend" ( who is not violent to my knowledge ) is this: As long as in their minds their is a scapegoat or enemy there is the possibility among some of violence. Class envy class hatred is a cancer in our society. It has eroded our civility and if unchecked can only make our lives. What I hope that the new congress does is attack class envy as Anti_american and anti-civilization. Make a mockery of Obama's class warfare for he too is "rich" he is a millionaire !!!!!!!!!!!!!
martin j smith| 12.15.10 @ 7:56AM
Class warfare with the symptom of class envy( envious of other persons wealth no matter how much the amount ) should be considered a mental disorder. In point of fact many existing Personality disorders including Anti-Social, Narcissistic and others really are about people who see blame in anyone but themselves. This ought to be the focus treatment in any of these kinds of patients. Taking responsibility for ones actions. I suspect that this guy was a far more sick ( mentally ) than your average complainer. But then again when does one draw the line between the complainer and the terrorist ? From idea to action can occur at any time. That is why Class Warefare-class envy is a cancer the we need a cure for.
Ryan| 12.15.10 @ 8:21AM
V for Vendetta was a graphic novel (long-form comic book to you uninitiated) before it was a movie, and the movie more or less screwed it up - V wasn't much of a hero (intentionally) - there weren't many good guys in the thing.
Booger| 12.15.10 @ 9:16AM
Maybe he was referring to "V" the television show. The school board could be alien lizards in disguise.
emlak haberleri | 12.15.10 @ 9:55AM
I don't think there's any American out there who believes you should work all of your life to find that when you die, 55 percent of [your estate] has got to go to the government...
a very good opinion on me.Thank you for sharing
squalis| 12.15.10 @ 10:07AM
Didn't Republicans get blamed for shooting of abortion doctor's because of public statements? Why aren't Obama and the Dems/Liberals blamed for this, and the arsons in MA?
Dale Cord| 12.15.10 @ 10:19AM
"V for Vendetta, in which a character uses terrorist tactics to fight an oppressive government". How pray tell would you fight an oppressive government? With words?How about your nose in the crack of their butts? or I know like we have always fought our government with a jar of Vaseline, and bent over a fence post with our pants down?
Luminal| 12.15.10 @ 10:46AM
This guy's friends are saying he was a HUGE Glenn Beck fan.....
beebop| 12.15.10 @ 10:57AM
Have you made an appointment with your physician to discuss the chronic side effects? Seriously. Knee. Jerk.
Double Dutch Politics | 12.15.10 @ 4:24PM
My opinion piece on Clay Duke and the terrible event at the school board meeting in Florida yesterday. How unfortunately his story could become more common in this tough economic climate.
http://www.doubledutchpolitics.....mic-times/
Business Owner 1099 FTW| 12.15.10 @ 5:29PM
Maybe that white trash piece of shit should have used that half brain of his to start a business or a corporation so he can write off his expenses and lower him and his wife's tax bracket. That's what happens when you're on a W-2. You got to work to kiss the bosses ass and trade your time for money instead of building a company like Sam Walton, Bill Gates, or Christopher Gardner. Anyone in America can become wealthy. I bet you he probably got pissed when some guy from Bethlehem, who can't speak a lick of English, came here and became a Millionaire in Sacramento.
Business Owner 1099 FTW| 12.15.10 @ 5:29PM
Maybe that white trash piece of shit should have used that half brain of his to start a business or a corporation so he can write off his expenses and lower him and his wife's tax bracket. That's what happens when you're on a W-2. You got to work to kiss the bosses ass and trade your time for money instead of building a company like Sam Walton, Bill Gates, or Christopher Gardner. Anyone in America can become wealthy. I bet you he probably got pissed when some guy from Bethlehem, who can't speak a lick of English, came here and became a Millionaire in Sacramento.
Dale Cord| 12.28.10 @ 12:43PM
2011 a year that will live in Infamy. Future school history books will read: The year the Muslims conquered the United States of America. With not so much as a whimper from its cowardly military leaders, and name calling armchair patriots. Disgraceful,Shameful there are no words to adequately describe her defeat. As the 300 Spartans strength and ingenuity conquered all of those who challenged them, so a small band of renegades conquered the greatest country the world has known. When Davids rock slued Goliath. It also foretold a warning. "The bigger they are,the harder they Fall." Our country lost its battle of survival when it became intoxicated with its deceptive mentality, that it did not need its Creator anymore, and wisdom no longer was apart of its citizens physiology to survive
spogee| 7.19.11 @ 7:07PM
His family should sue the media, academia and democrat politicians for inciting this poor man to do what he did. See this collection of funny Facebook Status and messages.