Trayvon Martin case has been poorly handled, Santorum says

Washington Post ^ | 3/23/12 | Felicia Sonmez and Nia-Malika Henderson

[AnybodyButBarry]

In remarks after President Obama made his first public comment on the matter, former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum said Friday that the handling by Florida law enforcement of the Trayvon Martin case has been “horrible” and that the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law should not apply to the shooter, George Zimmerman.

“Well, ‘Stand Your Ground’ is not doing what this man did,” Santorum said Friday morning at a campaign event in Monroe, La. “There’s a difference between ‘Stand Your Ground’ and doing what he did. And it’s a horrible case. It’s chilling to hear what happened, and of course the fact that law enforcement didn’t immediately go after and prosecute this case is another chilling example of horrible decisions made by people in this process.”

Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch captain, has not been charged in the shooting.

[Netizen]

Witness: Martin attacked Zimmerman

Updated: Friday, 23 Mar 2012, 6:19 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 23 Mar 2012, 5:47 PM EDT

ORLANDO - A witness we haven’t heard from before paints a much different picture than we’ve seen so far of what happened the night 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed.

The night of that shooting, police say there was a witness who saw it all.

snip

But one man’s testimony could be key for the police.

“The guy on the bottom who had a red sweater on was yelling to me: ‘help, help…and I told him to stop and I was calling 911,” he said.

Trayvon Martin was in a hoodie; Zimmerman was in red.

The witness only wanted to be identified as “John,” and didn’t not want to be shown on camera.

His statements to police were instrumental, because police backed up Zimmerman’s claims, saying those screams on the 911 call are those of Zimmerman.

“When I got upstairs and looked down, the guy who was on top beating up the other guy, was the one laying in the grass, and I believe he was dead at that point,” John said.

Zimmerman says the shooting was self defense. According to information released on the Sanford city website, Zimmerman said he was going back to his SUV when he was attacked by the teen.

Sanford police say Zimmerman was bloody in his face and head, and the back of his shirt was wet and had grass stains, indicating a struggle took place before the shooting.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/state/witness-martin-attacked-zimmerman-03232012

[Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears]

I’m aware of that report. It changes the whole narrative, doesn’t it?

Poor Al, Jesse and Louis.

The lib race-baiters never want the facts to get in the way of a good lynching, do they?

;-)

[Netizen]

I also think it is possible that the father retracted his original statement because that would mean the voice calling for help was Zimmerman, and he couldn’t have that. Do you suppose they have retracted this statement too?

http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/seminole_news/022712-man-shot-and-killed-in-neighborhood-altercation

On Monday afternoon, a FOX 35 News crew met with Tracy Martin who said the victim in the shooting is her 17-year-old son, Trayvon, who was visiting from Miami.

“He walked out of the house to go to the store. He was going to the store,” she said. “He doesn’t know anybody here. He just came down here, so he was bored, so he walked down to the store. He was on his way back home. I’m living down here. He was sitting on the porch and this man killed him.”

[AmericanInTokyo]

Now be honest y'all.

Any FReepers out there with late teenage or early 20s single daughters, who would allow them to date this "couldn't make the force" guy? Sheesh.

Guilty.

Gives me the shivers just looking.

As it is, too many trigger happy Barney Fife rentacops in this country if you ask me. But again, as I was not there, will just wait for the trial to bring out the facts. Still, gut level reaction ain't good.

I don't know. Maybe not guilty. What's his background? Any priors? Any "shoot from the hip" type run ins or assaults? The poor kid shot down might have also had a rap sheet and was up to no good. Doesn't look good any way you look at it.

[Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears]

I think the issue we need to be focusing on is the one the media is in hysterics about. And that is their preordained narrative that this was a WHITE GUY who shot a BLACK KID and America is a horrible place and we should all do some “soul-searching.”

Otherwise, it’s a local law enforcement issue, not a national crisis. They can’t have that.

The sooner we put that lie to bed, and the sooner the media is exposed for the racial flamethrowers they are, the better off we will all be.

Focus.

[Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears]

I did not see that previously. Wow.

So I’m a little slow here...the original report was that the kid was on the “porch” when he got killed? Help me here, I admit I’m late to the game.

What is the basic message here, because this is good.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Actually, it does appear to be a) some kind of general distraction at a very interesting time, and b) conforming to some kind of operational narrative being ginned up in this election year by both Obama and the usual race bait suspects. Could be an effort to burnish "white guilt" even deeper as it has subsided somewhat in three years when it initially helped propel "The One" into the White House. The White House knows with this kind of economy in the crapper, they are going to need a) a pissed-off base that will turn out for them, and b) a white-guilt laden majority who will give him a slide (pass) again, so they can "feel good about themselves". Weird.

So I smell a rat, but I have no conclusions, that kid could also have lost his life unecessarily, which is not right either. Who knows?

[Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears]

All that is true. But if this is just another unjustified homicide, it is local news only.

They will not allow that. Never mind that the shooter was Hispanic. The official story is he was white as a KKK sheet. That’s the only thing that matters.

Now jump on the bandwagon with Obama and stand up for racial justice!!!

lol

[Steamburg]

What has been poorly handled is Santorum’s campaign. Tired candidates with tired staff usually manage to step on important body parts and get to go home to recuperate early.

As long as it’s anybody but Obama, the nation has a fighting chance.

[AmericanInTokyo]

In analyzing your posts, I see you were disgusted the most with Newt Gingrich. You had only a few statements of support of Santorum and were not around that much at all during primary season. You had negative things to say about Ron Paul. I found nothing in your posts in opposition to MITT ROMNEY.

Question is, if you are "no longer for Santorum" as of today, what are you going to do? Whom are you going to support?

You going with Romney, whom I saw you say nothing against on FR (at least as far as I could search?)

[Maryhere]

Why should Santorum “keep his mouth shut”. He’s right the police were wrong.

[P-Marlowe]

Did you ever prosecute people based on biased news reports? If so then it is good to know you are a FORMER prosecutor.

[Georgia Girl 2]

I’m glad to hear it. Thats not the way I read it yesterday. I was disappointed to think Newt was jumping on the bandwagon. I see Santorum was on Hannity convicting Zimmerman.

[Georgia Girl 2]

To be accurate I believe that Newt said Zimmerman had a dangerous hobby and stepped outside the law. There is no credible evidence to support that. The police obviously do not think Zimmerman broke the law or they would have arrested him. I would have been a lot happier if Newt has just said wait for the investigation and left it at that.

[Las Vegas Ron]

The police are wrong eh?

First, this is not an election issue, it is a State issue.

Second, learn a little more about the case before you spout of blaming the police.

[Vaquero]

supposedly the hoodie kid broke Zimmermans nose, first.

[Alice in Wonderland]

As compared to...

[Talisker]

This former Prosecutor agrees with Rick.

This civilian is glad you're "former."

[anton]

I am going to hold my nose and vote for Romney if he is the nominee. Just like I did for McCain and three Bush elections. Someday, there will be a real conservative as a nominee. But, I am losing faith that he will be the Republican nominee.

Santorum had the best credentials of the three of them, I gave him money, and here he has jumped the shark like a moron. If you have a problem with any of that, you are not paying attention or you are not a conservative.

Please don’t tell me anything about Newt. I know more than I care to. He is a goofy twit, the 2012 version of ross Perot, and I have no use for spoilers.

[WPaCon]

So she is 100% Spanish or close to it?

I can’t feel too bad for assuming she was Italian.