Posted on 03/31/2012 9:22:47 AM PDT by matt04
At first glance, the death of Trayvon Martin seemed to be a straightforward example of ugly, racial conflict resulting in the killing of an innocent black teenager by a white man, George Zimmerman. But now, as evidence continues to come forward, the facts seem much more complicated and the "obvious truth" premature.
...
To make matters more complex, we found out that in the past several months, Martin was suspended from school three times, once for the possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Miami Herald reported that in the gated community in which Zimmerman patrolled, there were eight burglaries, nine thefts and one shooting in the past year. Neighbors of Zimmerman described him as being passionate about security and credit him with thwarting and cracking some crimes. It was also revealed that Zimmerman identified himself as a Hispanic and was a registered Democrat.
The facts are confounding and inconclusive. But the tendency in the first days by some, including Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and an angry chorus of followers, was to rush to judgment with little regard for fairness, due process, or respect for the terrible death of a young man.
A mob mentality seems to be in the ascendancy.
The New Black Panther Party offered a bounty for Zimmerman's capture.
Jackson said that Martin's death shows how "blacks are under attack" and "targeting, arresting, convicting blacks and ultimately killing us is big business." Apart from the obvious incendiary nature of such comments, what in heaven's name could Jackson mean?
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
There’s no “rush to judgment” in this case. It’s just a matter of believing what one wants to believe. The “belief” was already set and it only takes an event which can be interpreted as prejudice to trigger outrage. Take the Twana Brawley matter as an example.
Funny they never mention their own tendency to judge first.
it seems to me that over the past few days CNN has grown a conscience and a brain and has decided to stop participating in this exercise in black racism.
“The Miami Herald reported that in the gated community in which Zimmerman patrolled”
MSM, just stop with the “gated community” stuff.
Just. Stop. It.
The community inside the gates is a small complex of condos, with the average price around $1000,000. Many of the units run less than $80,000.
This is NOT a rich “gated community” like the media tries to spin it.
The use of “gated community” is code by the MSM and liberals for elite, rich and white. . .in other words, racist.
Sorry, Tres Von, you're going to be thrown under a bus. Only a few short days ago, you were a young boy. Now, you're a young man. By the time all the facts come out, even CNN might be saying "delinquent" or "young criminal."
That would be $100,000. . .
Dollars to doughnuts the threat of lawsuits is what is causing some of the media to turn around. The blatant lynchmob journalism has been breathtaking, I hope the settlements are also breathtaking. There has already been one settlement already in McClain v Lee, more certainly to follow, most out of court.
When the Rev Jackson says that “killing us is big business” he means that it’s big business for him....
re: A random act of journalism from CNN.
Not exactly. The author is William J Bennett, a conservative. So, in the sense that CNN actually allowed a conservative to author a commentary on their site, yes it is a big surprise.
No. A syndicated editorial from Bill Bennett.
Jackson said that Martin's death shows how "blacks are under attack" and "targeting, arresting, convicting blacks and ultimately killing us is big business." Apart from the obvious incendiary nature of such comments, what in heaven's name could Jackson mean?
a despicable lie that is completely backwards. Reality--Whites are huge multitudes more in danger of being victimized by blacks than the other way around.
This might explain it. No liberal will admit they, "acted stupidly"
Holy Cow! Has CNN swerved into the truth? Unbelievable! Journalists acting like...er well, journalists. This won’t last long...
how does a teenager with drug paraphernalia have gold teeth and expensive tats? hmmmm???????
It’s a column by William J. Bennett, the conservative author.
CNN’s journalistic integrity remains intact [ Do I REALLY need a sarcasm tag?].
So it’s wrong to call an area with access controlled by gates a “gated community” based on property values???
It’s a community with access controlled by gates... W T F do you call that????
Note that the author is former Reagan cabinet member Bill Bennett. I’m sure CNN will find space to denounce him as a racist bigot somewhere.
The drive-by media - ever advancing the “innocent until proven guilty” assertion - as long as it advances Obama.
Exactly. What’s astounding is that this is not only the case according to their proportion of the population, it’s also true in raw numbers. So the only “big business” is the racket of black violence on others, and the prisons the nation needs to lock them away from innocent potential victims. Can you imagine the difference in this country if just this one factor-the factor of black crime-was gone?
“At first glance, the death of Trayvon Martin seemed to be a straightforward example of ugly, racial conflict resulting in the killing....”
Is this Bill Bennet? In any event, in what way did it look like a racial killing at first glance?
You have a hispanic neighborhood watch guy who said he was jumped, certainly confirmed by witnesses that he was losing the fight, who shot the guy he had called police about.
There were exactly two (insufficient) facts to support a racial theory 1. That the shot guy was black, and 2. That it doesn’t appear the shot guy was in fact doing anything that merited shooting PRIOR to the fight.
Pretty weak basis to have jumped to any conclusion of a racial killing.
Neighborhood watch people call the police all the time to report “suspicious” persons. Most such calls don’t pan out but it’s better safe than sorry.
MAJOR POINT: If Zimmerman wanted to “just shoot” Trayvon, he wouldn’t have been on the phone to police getting them there so they could check it out.
Too late CNN.
The music has stopped & this time it’s ABC News without a chair. Shades of Rathergate & CBS News. Keep pushing The Myth, ABC.
‘we found out..’
You mean you HID CNN.
No, it was Bill Bennett writing an editorial.
The media malpractice is massive.
Initially, there was clear disinformation reported.
Secondly, the media made ZERO effort to read the police report, interview officers, witnesses and emergency personnel who treated George Zimmerman.
It was precisely because the media ignored the FACTS of this case that criminals like Sharpton were able to distort the story to fit their narrative.
The criminality is 100% on the part of liberal journalists who, once again, thought they were going to get firearm owners, white males and conservatives.
A random act of journalism from CNN.
Nonsense. They mention Trayvon was suspended for drug paraphernalia. How about getting caught with jewelry and a screwdriver? How about possibly assaulting a bus driver?
CNN mentions Zimmerman was Hispanic and a Democrat like those are disqualifying factors for wrongdoing. Speaks volumes about where they’re coming from. “He’s a Democrat therefore he couldn’t be racist.”
To me they’re just walking it back after they’ve realized they’ve gone too far out on the limb. They’re still the slimebag liberals they were yesterday.
I grew tired of the pictures of a six, or 12 year old : )
Reminds me of the Richard Jewell case who was blamed in the Atlanta bombing and the Duke lacrosse case. I noticed that they keep posting an old picture of Martin (just saw it on cover of Peoples mag.). I am surpised they have not yet started presenting baby pictures. HLN is full time covering this story. I read MSNBC actually doctored Zimmerman’s 911 call.
” MAJOR POINT: If Zimmerman wanted to “just shoot” Trayvon, he wouldn’t have been on the phone to police getting them there so they could check it out.”
Kinda shoots the “gotta shoot the black guy” all to hell.
Apartments and condos everywhere have gated entrances. . . but they are never called a “gated community.”
Tell me when, if EVER, a condo area was referred to in crime reporting as a “gated community.”
So why now? Why is this condo area (where the units are the same size of apartments) called a “gated community?”
The answer is simple for even the most simple-minded: the MSM and liberal race-baiters wanted to convey an inaccurate image.
If you are honest you would admit you thought something along the lines of “exclusive” rich area when you heard the term.
>>>I will wager you envisioned a community of mansions when you first heard “gated community.”
How much??
You’d lose. In my world, “gated community” is any area where access is controlled by gates. Doesn’t matter what kind of housing is behind the gates.
"I am sick of Trayvon"
The notion that Zimmermann just gunned some 10 year old black kid down for jollys offends my sensibilities.
Jesse Jazzmo and Al Sharpton offend my sensibilities
Barack Obama and Rick Santorumn offend my sensibilities.
I am amazed CNN would give Bennett a platform. Good for them.
Still...it’s a rarity. Maybe they are beginning to see that they too...have become part of a lynch mob.
They see the way this is going and want to appear to have been impartial all along.
It still irritates me when the newspapers (and even FNC) show the picture of Treyvon when he was 12 years old, not the 17 year old thug that he was when he died.
>>>If you are honest you would admit you thought something along the lines of “exclusive” rich area when you heard the term.
If you were honest, you wouldn’t be trying to make this such an issue.
Facts are stubborn things. The area in question is access controlled - by gates. It’s a gated community.
They see the way this is going and want to appear to have been impartial all along.
Bingo
Self preservation?
How far did the bullet travel? Where did the bullet strike the young man? How many rounds were fired? What position was the young man’s body in? I don’t care what Jesse Jackson feels....what are the facts?
BINGO!!! Out of some strange masochistic urge I've continued to watch the utterly vile, despicable, and degraded Shep Smith, a Fox News “journalist,” continue to “report” on this story. It's obvious he bitterly hates it that somebody corked his pie hole. His body language, inflection, tone and selective “reporting,” along with letting others report exculpatory facts, show how bitterly he hates having been housebroken in his reporting of this case.
I win. You are not honest.
Middle to lower middle class community for sure.
Initial reports said nothing about Zimmerman’s broken nose or bashed in head. It was just a white man followed and killed an angelic looking Black kid.
“it seems to me that over the past few days CNN has grown a conscience and a brain and has decided to stop participating in this exercise in black racism.”
Either that or they’re starting to try to immunize themselves against the coming defamation of character lawsuits.
One of the things that bugs me is that Trayvon died on Feb 26.
Barack gave himself the power to control the entire country with martial law on Mar 16 via executive order, and now here we are on Mar 31 with this dog and pony show stirring up civil unrest and division.
It is clear to me that Obama is shaping the national consciousness to his own ends.
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