Trayvon Doesn’t Matter to the Left

FrontPage Magazine ^ | March 28, 2012 | Ben Shapiro

[SJackson]

Posted By On @ 12:32 am In Daily Mailer,FrontPage | 5 Comments

The death of Trayvon Martin was surely a tragedy, no matter what the facts are. Nonetheless, the media coverage of and political response to the killing have been absolutely disgraceful – exploitative, cynical, and counterproductive in the extreme.

Let’s begin with the media. The initial narrative they seized upon was one of George Zimmerman, a “white Hispanic,” targeting Martin for wearing a hoodie, tracking him down, beginning a fight with him, and murdering him. Afterward, the narrative goes, Martin was not arrested by the police because either the police were racist, or they completely misconstrued Florida’s “stand your ground” law.

To make this narrative work, the media had to paint Martin as a saint, and George Zimmerman as a devil. If they had cared about accuracy, they would have realized that the character of both the supposed victim and perpetrator was irrelevant – only the events of the night in question matter. Instead, they decided to tell the American public that Zimmerman was a racist pig, while Martin was a clean-cut young man with no history of suspicious behavior.

So they released a picture of Martin that was several years old and emphasizing his youthful innocence rather than a more recent picture showing his gold chains and tatts. They suggested that Martin was a model student, rather than a troubled young man suspended from school for carrying an empty marijuana baggy.

Meanwhile, Zimmerman was portrayed as a latent member of the Ku Klux Klan, even though he was a mentor to two teenage kids of a black woman in Florida, and helped in a fundraiser for a black church.

So what’s the real story? According to police, Martin attacked Zimmerman by punching him and knocking him down; he then began slamming his head into the sidewalk. Witnesses corroborated this account. Zimmerman then shot Martin in the chest. Zimmerman was found with bloody lacerations to the back of his head and a swollen lip, consistent with his story.

Did the media do anything good by pumping it as a racial narrative without clear evidence? Of course not. But they made hay, turning a local killing into a national issue.

And that, of course, opened the way for the politicians to make hay of their own. President Obama quickly chimed in, stating, “”When I think about this boy, I think about my own kids. And I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this and that everybody pulls together — federal, state and local — to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened … You know, if I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon. All of us have to do some soul-searching to figure out how does something like this happen.”

This is sheer and exploitative nonsense. Obama’s color has nothing to do with the story. Americans don’t have to do soul searching about this killing, because Americans weren’t involved in this killing – Martin and Zimmerman were. In fact, Obama’s comments helped taint the potential jury pool for Zimmerman, if he is indeed indicted and tried.

But Obama is hardly alone in inserting himself into this situation. As we’ve seen since the Martin shooting, liberals have moved into full court press, blaming everyone from Rush Limbaugh to the law itself for the killing. Nobody has isolated the case to the actual shooter, Zimmerman, or the alleged victim, Martin. Nobody has worried about what happens if and when the case is actually prosecuted. Nobody cares about any of that.

All they care about is making hay. That’s why serial race-baiters Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are down in Florida raising a hullaballoo, with Jackson going so far as to state, without basis, that Martin was shot in the back of the head. Media members are condemning Mitt Romney for not speaking up about the case – even when that’s precisely the proper response to a pending legal matter in which the facts are unclear. That’s why Occupy Wall Street thugs are using the Martin killing as an excuse to run around New York tearing up fences and climbing statues.

The Trayvon Martin case is murky. The facts are unclear. The motivations are uncertain. But one thing is crystal clear: nobody ought to be jumping to conclusions, speaking up without evidence, or manipulating for the sake of politics.

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URL to article: http://frontpagemag.com/2012/03/28/trayvon-doesnt-matter-to-the-left/

[SaraJohnson]

Zimmerman created the entire situation he finds himself in. Why anyone would think a kid walking down the street ‘looks suspicious’ is beyond me. I’m insulted by this notion alone. And really, what the hell was Zimmerman doing with a gun? Did he think he was Deputy Dog? The ‘neighborhood watch’ people out there better learn a lesson from this situation.

---

He was legal in carrying his gun. He was in a high crime area - hence the need for the neighborhood watch and being armed while out and about. Have you ever lived in a high crime area? It is a real dangerous pain in the ass. If you are being harmed by young black males in crime, you are going to look at black males you don’t know as a possible problem. You would have to be p.c. retarded not to. He has black friends who are vouching for him and he tutors black children so the race bait is bs.

The media are the ones making neighborhood watches into a “deputy dog” slur like they made Sarah Palin into a stupid slut. They made a Hispanic guy into a racist white man. It’s called yellow journalism.

I bet if Zimmerman had it to do over again, he would have moved rather than sticking his neck out and trying to improve life for himself and his neighbors.

[MasterGunner01]

Yikes!

[rawcatslyentist]

>"If however, Zimmerman was walking towards Trayvon (after having followed him in his car for sometime)

Not illegal and within the rights of ANY CITIZEN.

and Trayvon turned around and attacked him out of fear,

Understandable. I doubt any one fearful wouldn't do the same

then Zimmerman was being the aggressor and he ultimately murdered Trayvon.

Flat out WRONG.
Following some one especially in a restricted area is NOT AGGRESSION.

Trayvon nor anyone has the right to beat any ones brains against anything. If you think it alright to tackle and brain beat someone there is a real problem with your reasoning abilities.

[The Sons of Liberty]

TWO U.S. SOLDIERS ARRESTED FOR OFFERING ASSASSINATION SERVICES TO MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL

0bama's version of bringing jobs back to America? I thought the Cartels' hit squads were fully staffed.

How did they apply? Did they send resumes through CareerBuilder?

[Arrowhead1952]

The final alleged member — Corley’s cousin, Jerome Corley — was shot to death while federal agents moved in to arrest the men.”

I love happy endings!! I know there were / are Mexican Mafia members in the military.

[bgill]

The msm is more fictional than a weekly sitcom. I’ve learned in recent years to ignore their lies.

I know one man who committed suicide because of the vicious lies the msm spred about him. They are disgusting monsters.

[bgill]

Halfrican American.

He hates his white part and the American part. The American part is still up for debate.

[soycd]

You can take the recruits out of the hood...

[Mustangman]

If you have something to add that will convince me that I’m wrong in my analysis of this tragic situation, I would apreciate it. Simply calling me a name makes you look like dullard.

I clearly stated that Zimmerman should be considered innocent if was retreating to his car when Trayvon attacked. It’s hard to imagine any othe scenario where he would be considered innocent in a court of law? A man is dead and he’s dead because he was being followed for no apparent reason.

[Mustangman]

I have considered the situation you are suggesting to me: Does a man have the right to turn around and attack simply because he is being followed? In all fairness, I would have to say, “Yes.”

Put yourself in a neighborhood you are not familiar with. Heck, put yourself in East Oakland or lower Manhaten—your choice. Now, imagine there is a car trailing behind you by 50-75 feet for a couple of blocks or more. You would definitely consider this a threat!!! Wouldn’t you? Be intellectually honest. With this in mind, Trayvon could definitely have been justified in attacking Zimmerman.

BUT, if Zimmerman was indeed ‘backing off’ as he has claimed when the attack occurred, I would concur that Trayvon’s attack was not justified as the ‘following’ would have no longer been occurring.

It’s a mess because I strongly feel Zimmerman truly had no evil intentions but, I can certainly understand why Trayvon would think otherwise.

[GOPJ]

The media has already started killing the story, they had to because the truth is coming out.

You're right. They don't even have the decency to correct their lies err, mistakes...

[Mustangman]

I understand your sentiments completely. I’m not talking about sentiments, though. I’m talking about the law.

It’s completely understandable why Trayvon might have felt threatened by Zimmerman from a legal standpoint in my opinion. The truth is, if Zimmerman wasn’t ‘retreating’ to his car as he claims he was, I think he’s going to be in big trouble because it is very easy to see why Trayvon believed he was being stalked and therefore threatened.

Like I said, “It’s a big mess.” Zimmerman got in way over his head all by accident but, that’s why he should have called the police..

[Mustangman]

Flat out WRONG.
Following some one especially in a restricted area is NOT AGGRESSION.

This is a matter of law, not your opinion or my opinion, unfortunately.

Following someone could definitely be considered an act of aggression as far as I’m concerned. If I’m walking down the street and someone is tailing behind me in their car, I feel threatened and if it continues long enough I would definitely feel justified in attacking my stalker. Still, I do agree with your point about how the law may be a bit different in a Gated Community as Gated Communites might be considered as ‘Private Property’ rather than as Public Property.

Still, if you are wrong about the laws in a Gated Community, I still say Trayvon had the right to turn on his ‘stalker’ unless Zimmerman was returning to his car as he stated.

Again, it’s a mess.

[Erik Latranyi]

Now, imagine there is a car trailing behind you by 50-75 feet for a couple of blocks or more. You would definitely consider this a threat!!! Wouldn’t you? Be intellectually honest. With this in mind, Trayvon could definitely have been justified in attacking Zimmerman.

You can't be serious.

The liberals are howling because Zimmerman called the police and they told him to back off. Libs claim Zimmerman did not back off and that makes him a murderer.

So, if Martin called the police and said he was being followed, do you think they would tell him to confront them or attack them? Of course not!

Now, if you want to say that Martin had the right to confront Zimmerman and ask why he was being followed, then yes, I agree.

It all comes down to who started the physical violence.

PS: Still waiting for the toxicology reports.

[Mustangman]

Look, I just think a legitimate case can be made that if you are being stalked, you have a right to turn and fight. I’m not saying Zimmerman had any nefarious intent towards Martin. In fact, I highly doubt that he did. With that said, it’s not unreasonable for Martin to have concluded otherwise. You have to look at it through his eyes.

Again, it’s a mess.

Let’s just hope for Zimmerman’s sake he was indeed returning to his car as he has stated when Martin attacked him because if he wasn’t a jury might throw the book at him.

Also, I agree that if Martin had steroids or other drugs in his sytem it will help Zimmerman’s case. Still, following someone you notice on the street is never a good idea.

IT’S A MESS!!!!!