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Showing Original Post only (View all)"If Trayvon Had Only Answered In an Appropriate Manner There Would have Been No Problem" [View all]
Last edited Tue Apr 3, 2012, 08:26 PM - Edit history (8)
On Anderson Cooper 360 yesterday, I heard an interview that I had to search for on the internet and listen to several times to believe what I was hearing.
VIDEO: http://www.examiner.com/unsolved-cases-in-national/anderson-cooper-interviews-friend-of-trayvon-martin-s-killer-video
Cooper asked Taaffe to describe Zimmerman. He said, George Zimmerman was a very congenial, amiable admirable person. He was very very kind to everyone in our community and I really appreciated and so did the rest of our residents that he stepped up and took over the position as neighborhood watch captain to ensure the safety of all the residents in our community.
When asked if he was aware Zimmerman was armed with a gun, Taaffe said, I was extremely shocked to the fact that he was carrying a gun, yes.
Asked what shocked him most, Taaffe said, The lethal weapon, it wasnt George. As I said, he was a very congenial, amiable man. The use of a lethal weapon, a deadly lethal weapon, as the 9 millimeter that he used was very shocking to me. It didnt fit the person.
Cooper asked Taaffe to describe his neighborhood and to discuss if there had been burglaries. Taaffe said, I have lived at Twin Lakes since 2006, July 2006. In the last 15 months, we have experienced 8 burglaries. One, which was perpetrated during the daylight hours. Most, the majority of the perpetrators, were young, black males.
When asked to reflect on whats happened, Taaffe said, This was a perfect storm. You had a neighborhood that was experiencing extremely high tension and anxiety and with the burglaries we, pardon my phrase, we were a Defcon-5." Cooper brought up the topic of race because so many people have said they consider Zimmerman a racist and that Martin was shot because he was black.
When asked if he believes race played a factor in Trayvons death Taaffe said, Absolutely not. When asked why he felt so strongly he said, George is not a racist. He was just performing his duties as watch captain. Whether it be African American, Latino, Asian, or white, he wouldve done the same thing. He would have approached the person and asked him 'Whats your business here?' and if he had just answered him in an appropriate manner, 'Im just here visiting. My mothers house is around the corner,' and be upfront and truthful, there wouldnt be any problem.
This is, without a doubt, the most shocking and reprehensible thing I have heard said to date about this case. Why Anderson did NOT followup on these outrageous statements, I cannot imagine. But this man CLEARLY is putting the blame on this murderered young man for his own death.
I wonder how many more in that community feel the same way. Evidently, the police there feel the same.
Absolutely outrageous.
Taafe was also quoted in an article as saying that after the housing crisis they had been forced to "rent to low-lifes and gangsters."
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/17/v-fullstory/2700249/shooter-of-trayvon-martin-a-habitual.html
Latest Taafe comment to MSNBC:
Taafe: "George was no Rambo. He was a caring person. It is really sad he has already been convincted by the public media and already sentenced to the gas chamber."
MSNBC: "Do you think he had anger issues?"
Taafe: "I think he had "Fed Up Issues. I think he was Mad as Hell and he wasn't going to take it anymore."
UPDATE: 4/3/2012: "You plant corn, you get corn." Taaffe back on TV, grilled by Soledad O'Brien: http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/03/zimmerman-neighbor-fmr-neighborhood-watch-captain-prior-burglaries-were-by-young-black-males-if-you-plant-corn-you-get-corn/
(Also posted at Daily Kos)
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"If Trayvon Had Only Answered In an Appropriate Manner There Would have Been No Problem" [View all]
K Gardner
Mar 2012
OP
This is what so scares me about living in Florida and the ease with which people can carry a gun
HockeyMom
Mar 2012
#3
I carry everyday and everywhere I am allowed to in Florida. Even my store has a gun.
L0oniX
Mar 2012
#49
Maybe you could help by working with the religious right on that "sick society".
L0oniX
Mar 2012
#205
So, HOW exactly does that work? If it wasn't his employment ... ? He just starts showing up in a
patrice
Mar 2012
#194
There are so many questions. I wonder if, as you say, "the area" = the gated-community in which his
patrice
Mar 2012
#207
I believe there's actually a law that says movies actually have to change stuff like that around
Downtown Hound
Mar 2012
#137
I certainly wouldn't want to live in an area where I am subject spot interrogation....
Liberal Veteran
Mar 2012
#7
Yeah apparently it was confirmed. He was self-appointed but not on the team. n/t
vaberella
Mar 2012
#168
You are not going to like this but your comment is in fact a text book example of racism
MattBaggins
Mar 2012
#64
Free public education malls, open 8a - 8p, 365. Cradle to grave free education.
patrice
Mar 2012
#231
His father was not the custodial parent and may not have known the exact reason
csziggy
Mar 2012
#249
You created an account just to revive this thread and slam a murdered child?
K Gardner
Mar 2012
#250
It tickles me to no end to see all of the "angst" over the "younger pic" used
Number23
Mar 2012
#259
I have no idea why they are trying to smear Trayvon's reputation now, after he is dead.
Major Hogwash
Mar 2012
#260
Smearing his reputation is the first tactic to discrediting the international
Number23
Mar 2012
#266
Lol boy gets suspended from school. therefore he must be such an asshole he deserves getting shot...
DFab420
Mar 2012
#158
Who gives a MOTHERFUCK about his school suspension? What's wrong with you?
DisgustipatedinCA
Mar 2012
#232
oops....I see this POS has been tombstoned, without an "ex" Freeper having the chance to defend him
DisgustipatedinCA
Mar 2012
#233
zimmerman had prior ARRESTS...not sure if he was ever suspended for being late to school though
noiretextatique
Mar 2012
#244
That is exactly what they're taught in order to come back home to their mother alive...
vaberella
Mar 2012
#171
So many options depend upon what/whose game one plays. Get suckered, or intentionally choose, THEIR
patrice
Mar 2012
#147
And it was not civilized of Zimmerman to chase Martin around the neighborhood that night
fishwax
Mar 2012
#218
So anyone who thinks that there are a variety of responses, other than "Fuck you!", many of which
patrice
Mar 2012
#235
so, mr taffe knows how trayvon answered? how's that mr taffe? and what is the 'appropriate manner'?
spanone
Mar 2012
#17
"These racist fools cannot even see that the very idea of blaming the victim..."
Hell Hath No Fury
Mar 2012
#124
I'm not surprised at all that there weren't any follow up questions. He's just another newsmodel,
Guy Whitey Corngood
Mar 2012
#18
The fact that you think you're entitled to be rude to others because of how they treat
lose the pain body
Mar 2012
#45
It IS possible that some people are thinking that ANYONE in that position should do what it takes
patrice
Mar 2012
#237
That Is The Appropriate Answer, Ma'am, and What Anyone Interfering With A Stranger Should Expect
The Magistrate
Mar 2012
#60
Yes and perhaps you will yeild that, amongst all possible reactions to this answer, that particular
patrice
Mar 2012
#144
People Who Accost Strangers In Public, Sir, Ought To Be Made To Feel Small
The Magistrate
Mar 2012
#155
Not an absolute. Some of us feel that private victories can be the sweetest. That said, it is
patrice
Mar 2012
#160
Such behaviors aren't always about that particular person feeling "above themselves and their
patrice
Mar 2012
#161
My Assertion, Sir, is Simply That People Have A Right To Go About their Peaceable Way Without Bother
The Magistrate
Mar 2012
#170
Agreed. With the caution that that way should, in fact, be peaceable and not visit, intentionally or
patrice
Mar 2012
#186
Yes, so TM's reaction, whatever it was, is justifiable. But WHO in the neighborhood knew
patrice
Mar 2012
#159
One of the first articles I read after hearing news of the tapes on the radio,
AnotherDreamWeaver
Mar 2012
#187
Yes, that kind of stuff. Have you tried to get a job lately? Personality assessments are
patrice
Mar 2012
#188
Could neighborhood legal involvement be one of the reasons PD was trying to bury it?
patrice
Mar 2012
#197
+1000 that is the correct answer to any asshole who thinks they can judge "where you belong"
noiretextatique
Mar 2012
#239
No one has to answer anyone! You don't even have to answer the police ...and you shouldn't.
L0oniX
Mar 2012
#25
I was just about to post this! Now we have to answer "correctly" to "Watch Captains", or DIE?!
WinkyDink
Mar 2012
#52
Personally, I'd be wondering if some SOB, crazy enough to interrogate me, might also be crazy enough
patrice
Mar 2012
#243
So you read what you posted and cannot see that Anderson was simply allowing for the other side to
lose the pain body
Mar 2012
#32
Where is the cigar in this case? I'd like to be able to identify it but the problem I'm having
sabrina 1
Mar 2012
#112
Agreed. All characterizations of THEIR conversation are hypothetical. But the conversations
patrice
Mar 2012
#246
Black Men must must explain to people who we are & what we're doing for no reason at all...
HipChick
Mar 2012
#51
That was my first takeaway. "Most committed by Black males," should have had a followup question.
ieoeja
Mar 2012
#142
"It was Zimmerman that did not answer in an appropriate manner and not the other way around."
qanda
Mar 2012
#181
When all is said and done, and the books are written. Taaffe will come off worse than Zimmerman...
Junkdrawer
Mar 2012
#100
Jeez. Since when does someone have to answer another about what they are doing on a public way?
AllyCat
Mar 2012
#108
Why does the young man have to tell this person anything? He was just walking and doing nothing
southernyankeebelle
Mar 2012
#115
In my opinion, the problem occured long before Trayvon spoke a single word.
ZombieHorde
Mar 2012
#131
There are way more than 2 polar possibilities & the choice depends on way more than the 2
patrice
Mar 2012
#145
Well first off you can tell by the interview this man doesn't know Zimmerman or associated with him.
vaberella
Mar 2012
#167
I have put Trayvon's image with that of other innocents who motivate my somewhat
patrice
Mar 2012
#196