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The Spectacle Blog
To its credit, the Columbia Journalism Review has posted a piece by Joel Meares that’s critical of the media for its rush to blame conservative political rhetoric for the Tucson shooting in the absence of any evidence to support that narrative. After noting that sometimes it’s just the nature of breaking news that early reports (such as a few that claimed Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was dead) are often wrong, Meares continued:
We do not object to the condemnation of violence and violent rhetoric; such a sentiment feels absolutely appropriate. But the association between Saturday’s shooting and recent “violent political rhetoric”—which has in the last two years come to specifically mean the Tea Party, Sarah Palin, birthers, etc.—is so far unproven. At this time, there is no evidence that Loughner targeted Giffords for any clear or clearly understandable political reasons or that he was inspired by “vitriol” in political rhetoric.
Mears concludes:
With the story quickly unfolding, and information and misinformation dashing rapidly across Twitter and the blogs, and with everything about Loughner’s motivations still unclear, it might be time to call for a “slow-analysis approach.” There will be time as more facts come to light and more is revealed about the assassin’s motivations for the pundits to stake out their positions. There will be ample room and time to debate the important issue of political rhetoric and its effects—regardless of its role in Saturday’s incident—as well as the security of our elected officials, and significantly, gun control laws in Arizona and throughout the country. But all arguments will better served in the light of day, buoyed by information that is confirmed, static, and undisputed.
View all comments (10) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Philip Klein
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/01/10/columbia-journalism-review-cri
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Richard Baker| 1.10.11 @ 5:22PM
Small point, Mr.Klein. It's Tucson. I remembered it from school, phonetically, as Tuck-San, to aid in spelling.
LiveFreeOrDie| 1.10.11 @ 6:07PM
Hey Phil what's your point? Is THIS supposed to be the example of the moderate left?
"But the association between Saturday’s shooting and recent “violent political rhetoric”—which has in the last two years come to specifically mean the Tea Party, Sarah Palin, birthers, etc.—is so far unproven. "
"Violent Rhetoric" as defined by Mr. Meares only comes from the right. Mentioning by name the Tea Party, Sarah Palin and opponents of murdering children.
"...is so far, unproven."
He still leaves the possibility open that there may be evidence which will show this is Palin's fault and not the man who committed the crime. If the man was a Tea Party member, Palin supporter and against abortion then what? Would Palin then somehow be responsible?
Interested Conservative| 1.10.11 @ 6:15PM
Good thing "Rush" was an adjective here rather than a noun.
Clint| 1.10.11 @ 6:39PM
This Is The Liberal Media Agendists & The Liberal Politicians Attempting Ad Nauseum To Slander,Smear & Marginalize All Who Dare To Oppose Their Agenda.
We Are In A Media War With Liberal Agendists.
We Tea Party Patriots Don't Allow Agendists to "Define" Us.
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.
Carpe Diem.
PCC| 1.10.11 @ 6:52PM
This is the act of a demented individual. The suicide bombings and religious murders throughout the Muslim world are the acts of demented individuals. Analysis complete. Next question.
tonypal| 1.10.11 @ 9:33PM
To all my fellow conservatives, please go to this link to see what the Democratic Leadership Council did on their website in 2004. It's a bullseye map targeting republicans. Go to the link, copy it and put it out there. Get in on your facebook page or any other place you can post links. It's time to play hardball with the left.
http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm.....;subid=171