A Murderer's Bookshelf: Hannity, O'Reilly, and Savage On Killer's Reading List

[Joanne98]

This morning I wrote (in "Monster") that Sean Hannity et al. might bear some share of moral responsibility for the killings in Knoxville. Sadly for everyone concerned, that may be true.

This evening we learn from the Knoxville News that officers entering the home of murder Jim Adkisson "found Liberalism is a Mental Health Disorder by radio talk show host Michael Savage, Let Freedom Ring by talk show host Sean Hannity, and The O'Reilly Factor, by television talk show host Bill O'Reilly."

The presence of somebody's books in a mentally disturbed person's home does not make them accessories to a killing. But right-wing rhetoric toward liberals and humanists like those who attended the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church has been exceptionally violent for years. Liberal groups are often called "Nazi" or "Nazi-like" by O'Reilly (he even said that about our own Arianna Huffington). Savage says he'd "hang every lawyer" who tried to establish constitutional rights for Guantanamo prisoners, describes Obama as an "Afro-Leninist," and said the folks at Media Matters were "brownshirts." He describes Rep. Wexler as a "Nazi" and calls Nancy Pelosi a "Mussolini."

As for Hannity, he said that "there are things in life worth fighting and dying for and one of 'em is making sure Nancy Pelosidoesn't become the speaker (of the House)." Think about it: "worth fighting and dying for."

And that's just a sampler.

Ann Coulter says liberals should be beaten with baseball bats and tried for treason (she's not clear about the order in which these events are to take place.) Dick Morris says they're "traitors" who should be decapitated.

I had a friend at Clear Channel (yes, I have a broad group of friends) who described some of these people as "entertainers." Don't you get it, guys? You use inflammatory images that equates your fellow Americans with violent enemies of the nation. Then you act surprised when a mentally ill person believes you and kills. You use the language of war and then say you're not to blame when somebody enlists in your imaginary struggle.

Their next step will be outrage - outrage! - at the idea that they may be morally accountable for this action, the possible fruit of their rhetoric.

We all need to be thoughtful about the impact of our words. But the Right has made it their business to promote a particularly virulent brand of hatred. Would Jim Adkisson have killed without all that prompting from the vituperative chorus of the right? We'll never know. But it's looking less likely with every passing hour that he would ever have entered a church filled with children and started shooting.

If they found something I wrote in a killer's home, I'd stop what I was doing and begin some serious self-reflection. I'd write about it, consider my errors, and try to make amends. Wouldn't you? Not that censorship isn't the answer. Not every reprehensible act can be legislated away. Sometimes the most effective way to change people is to hold them accountable. That includes not only Fox News, in this case, but also CNN - who recently gave the anchor chair to hate-speaker Glenn Beck.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/a-murderers-bookshelf-han_b_115497.html

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. There are laws on the books that proscribe this sort of incendiary speech:

>>>Ann Coulter says liberals should be beaten with baseball bats>>>

The question is... who's going to bring them to trial? Someone... some prosecutor, some DA ... has to bring an indictment.


We are insane... and frankly, complicit in our own destruction... if we allow corporate media demagogues to literally aid, inspire and abet our own murder.

[Cherchez la Femme]

2. I don't see why they can't be held liable

they're preaching Hate Crimes, fer God's sake!

Remember the trial(s) (Judas Priest, for one -- Ozzie for another I think) that claimed that their album's subliminal or 'back-masking' (term?) advocating suicide, brought to courts? (BIG apologies for the grammar, just got up and am still a bit groggy). IIRC, the only reason they weren't found liable was that the juries (sp?) found no proof that there WAS subliminal messages in the tracks advocating what was alleged. In any event, they crossed the law in that they were able to be sued in an U.S. court, so there obviously are laws on the books dealing with this sort of thing.

These messages from the Freeper talking heads are NOT subliminal -- they are outright exhortations of murder of a certain group of people. Otherwise known, if the 'right' group, as Hate Crimes.
Period.

I remember being shocked that --here my memory is slipping, but I believe these basics are true-- the murder of the family of that one Federal (?) female judge was never prosecuted as a Hate Crime; nor were Freeper talking heads brought to court as being liable
--after all, those same Freeper(s) --Druggie Limbo in particular IIRC-- sent out the word to their unbalanced, hateful minions to kill what he called "Liberal judges"! That judge not being home, well her family had to suffice to satisfy the perp's blood lust and sate his feeling of revenge. :(


If anyone recalls the specifics here, please let me know; and better, if I am incorrect in any assertation, please correct.


Anyhow, K & R; absolutely!
If we can get together enough to do ANYTHING, we ought to bind together to insist upon this being prosecuted as a Hate Crime, AND bring to court those who talked such bloody, murderous rhetoric and sue them and their parent corporations for every last penny they have and will ever make!

[MotorCityMan]

6. This is similar to when Matthew Shepherd was killed

"Their next step will be outrage - outrage! - at the idea that they may be morally accountable for this action, the possible fruit of their rhetoric."

There was talk when Matthew Shepherd was killed, how right wing, "religious" talk radio was inciting violence.

All these right wing blowhards can blame rock music, video games, etc. for violence, but they are not responsible for their hateful language.

[Cherchez la Femme]

7. That's the thing

they are the one's who crow and gripe about responsibility, and the lack of people taking up their own, yet when it comes to THEIR own responsibility for their OWN words and actions, they're off limits!
Who, THEM?!

But then it is indeed obvious from their rhetoric and actions: Some people ARE more equal than others -- and they are those certain people!

[MotorCityMan]

8. The hypocrisy these last 7 years has driven me nuts

Dumbshit * actually campaigned on "personal responsibility" and has taken responsibility for NOTHING.

I am going to be 44 next month, and I stopped giving a shit who knows I'm gay a long time ago. I'm lucky enough to work for a gay friendly company. But, with all this right wing hate talk, and times being bad and people needing someone to blame, I get very nervous sometimes.

Most of us learn at a young age that our words can have repercussions. If Rush and company continue this, and they will, it could get ugly.

There was a good movie I saw thru Netflix, I think it was called "Hate Crime" (I've seen so many movies thru Netflix, they run together at this point). It had a scene where they showed a service in a Unitarian church, where they were preaching loving EVERYone, intercut with a scene in a Fundie church where they were preaching about hating gays and everyone else who didn't agree 100% with your world view. It was very powerful, and I was reminded of it after the church shooting last weekend.

[mwb970]

3. The right-wing haters stir up the cretins who listen to their crappy radio shows.

And read their crappy books, and watch their crappy shows on Fox. How convenient that unstable right-wing wackos are the ones who love guns and are always "packing heat". That makes it easy to simply kill anyone who might disagree with their insane views.

America - love it or leave it? Then I'm outa here. I love America, but I no longer can respect or tolerate its deeply pathetic citizens.

[Ian David]

4. Thanks, Rush....

http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/19192/

[philly_bob]

5. Suggested spin: respect RWers free speech rights, bring back fairness act.

Under the old broadcasting fairness act, if you had 20 minutes of right-wing talk, you'd have to have 20 minutes of left-wing talk.

Filing a lawsuit against Hannity, Coulter, etc. for writing books found in a murderer's library puts you on a slippery slope towards thought control.

Of course, to bring back fairness act, you'd need a Democratic president to appoint a Democratic majority at the FCC.