Michelle Malkin » Randi Rhodes wasn’t mugged, Air America credibility plunges to NYTimes stock-level depths

Randi Rhodes wasn’t mugged, Air America credibility plunges to NYTimes stock-level depths

By Michelle Malkin • October 16, 2007 01:38 PM

Update 10:45pm Eastern. I’m thinking of selling these. Whaddya think:

And the logo on the back:

Update 8:30pm Eastern. “It was the brownshirts!”

Lord, what fools these moonbats be.

Air America radio host Randi Rhodes is temporarily off the air, but claims she was brutally attacked near her Manhattan apartment are bogus, her lawyer and a police source said today.

Fellow host Jon Elliott claimed on the liberal radio network that Rhodes had been mugged while walking her dog, Simon, on Sunday night. Elliot, who said Rhodes lost several teeth in the attack, waxed about a possible conspiracy.

“Is this an attempt by the right-wing, hate machine to silence one of our own?” he asked on the air, according to Talking Radio, a blog. “Are we threatening them? Are they afraid that we’re winning? Are they trying to silence intimidate us?”

A police source said Rhodes never filed a report and never claimed to be the victim of a mugging. Cops from Manhattan’s 17th Precinct called her attorney, who told them Rhodes was not a victim of a crime, the source said.

Rhodes’ lawyer told the Daily News she was injured in a fall while walking her dog. He said she’s not sure what happened, and only knows that she fell down and is in a lot of pain. The lawyer said Rhodes expects to be back on the air Thursday. He stressed there is no indication she was targeted or that she was the victim of a “hate crime.”

The nutroots are sorely disappointed. But the truth isn’t likely to stop them from believing that it’s the Reich-wing’s fault.

Rush Limbaugh tripped her! Ann Coulter silenced her! Karl Rove poisoned her dog!

Newsday: Talk show host apologizes for faulty report of NYC mugging…

Air America released a statement saying that “the reports of a presumed hate crime are unfounded.” Elliott followed that up with a retraction.

“I shouldn’t have speculated based on hearsay that Randi Rhodes had been mugged and that it may have been an attack from a right wing hate machine. I apologize for jumping to conclusions based on an emotional reaction,” he said in a written statement.

***

It was my fault!

Ed Morrissey is amused: “Another Liberal Fantasy Hits Hard Reality.”

Radio Equalizer Brian Maloney takes a step back and traces the anatomy of the non-mugging on the Internet.

***

Here’s a screenshot of the left-wing blog that disseminated the “hate crime” rumors (click for full-size):

A sample of Daily Kos diatribes:

Posted in: Air America

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#147645

On October 17th, 2007 at 8:50 am, The Raging Republican said:

Michelle Malkin said: Air America credibility plunges to NYTimes stock-level depths

Now Michelle, are you saying that Air America has ever had credibility??? Because if you are, I would have to respectably disagree.
#147654

On October 17th, 2007 at 9:01 am, The Raging Republican said:

Are they afraid that we’re winning?

Bush derangement syndrome at its best!
#147701

On October 17th, 2007 at 10:02 am, max said:

From AP “Gaulin confirmed that Rhodes was injured after she was floored by someone _ or something _ as she strolled the streets of Manhattan’s Murray Hill district around 8 p.m., but wasn’t sure herself what sent her tumbling to the pavement. ”

… see, this is the passive-aggressive lib stuff that annoys me…she leaves open the possibility that somebody actually did clock her from behind, when in actuality she most likely tripped or did a face-plant into a signpost while babbling on her cellphone…
#147722

On October 17th, 2007 at 10:20 am, pressto said:

Randi Rhodes Truth Movement.

1. No one just falls down. I walked down the street and never fell, so it must have been a sinister outside force at work.

2. I then proceeded to act as if someone behind pushed me and never did I fall on my face. Therefore someone must have been holding her hands behind her back to make her fall on her face.

3. There is no way this is just an accident and sinister outside forces must have caused this to happen.

http://www.randirhodestruthmovement.com
#147723

On October 17th, 2007 at 10:20 am, StandardDeviation said:

Maybe someone tried to rob her of her credibility and were frustrated that they were going to walk away empty handed.
#147726

On October 17th, 2007 at 10:20 am, purplepeep said:

max said:
From AP “Gaulin confirmed that Rhodes was injured after she was floored by someone _ or something “

she leaves open the possibility that somebody actually did clock her from behind

Or maybe she wnats to leave it open to having to confess the “something” was actually premium vodka.
#147728

On October 17th, 2007 at 10:21 am, JWS said:

Speaking of manufactured crises, anyone hear anything about the noose hanging on the teacher’s door crisis?
#147737

On October 17th, 2007 at 10:31 am, pressto said:

Speaking of manufactured crises, anyone hear anything about the noose hanging on the teacher’s door crisis?

Good question. Last I heard the University released the tape to the police and then silence on this.
#147750

On October 17th, 2007 at 10:39 am, purplepeep said:

JWS said:
Speaking of manufactured crises, anyone hear anything about the noose hanging on the teacher’s door crisis?

Just this recent opinion article in the NY Daily News, Oct 15th, 2007 -

Hate jury too quick to judge

snippet:
“As far as I am concerned, the noose incident at Columbia University could easily be something far less than a hate crime, no more than a bad joke or an attempt to manipulate.”
#147752

On October 17th, 2007 at 10:41 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

#179 and #180, Crickets chirping..
#147778

On October 17th, 2007 at 11:00 am, allie said:

The shirt is an XLNT idea! When and where to buy one?
#147840

On October 17th, 2007 at 11:57 am, radio relay said:

Ya know life is damned hard for leftwing nut cases these days.

They thought they had a winner with the Lacrosse gambit. The leftwing propagandists were running and howling with the dogs, and it looked like they were going to hang some rich, white boys. Sadly, their “bought and paid for” DA couldn’t pull it off… too many honest people got involved.

But, they got their mojo back on when they hounded Imus off the air for trying to get too cute when commenting on hairdo’s of black female bubble bouncers (the ultra protected class). Got a republican senator to almost resign, too (better be careful where you tap your toes).

Well, that renewed their energy! The Propagandists were back in action, and the dogs wanted fresh meat.

So, they decided to try to accuse one of the most patriotic people in the United States of being unpatriotic. Even got their hand picked, talking weasels in the politburo to denounce him, and write a letter to his boss. However, Rushie proved to be too clever for them, and their propagandists refused to get on board… Too bad… once again the lefties had egg on their faces.

Ok, so now they’re grasping again. We now have a noodle brained, leftwing raver (aka talk-show host) falling on her face. Both literally and figuratively. She even makes sure to knock out a tooth. Yet, no coverage of this latest “conservative outrage”.

The left is getting disparate, folks!

They’re draping hackneyed symbols of racism on door knobs. Screaming about Bushie bringing down the WTC. Hooping and hollering about how the evil USA is the sole cause of “Gaia” getting all warmed up. Conservative meanies are beating up “the children”, and laughing at them when they get sick. God knows what other evil, conservative faux controversy has gone down. Nobody seems to care!

I guess they’re hoping that if they through enough poop at the wall, some of it will stick…. So far, it’s just bouncing back on them.
#147992

On October 17th, 2007 at 1:49 pm, RetFireman said:

On October 16th, 2007 at 7:36 pm, Laree said:
Well Someone did tell Marty and thank goodness she was able to spin it into a right wing terrorist, later this same day.

That would be me. Couldn’t let it ride.
#148110

On October 17th, 2007 at 3:18 pm, GaijinBob said:

Air America is now playing Randy Rhoads? Sweet! Classic Ozzie doesn’t get much air time nowadays.

What? That wasn’t a typo? Oh.

So, uh, how’s the dog?
#150697

On October 20th, 2007 at 10:19 am, Boot Hill said:

Bill trips, plants one in an intern and it’s the fault of the vast right wing conspiracy. Randi trips, plants one on the pavement and it’s the fault of the vast right wing conspiracy.

I can’t wait to see what’s next?