essaysfromtheedge

Jon Elliot Update

A First For The Left



Jon Elliot, radio host for Air America, got caught with his pants firmly around his ankles on Tuesday when he accused right-wingers of the non-existent attack on his fellow AAR host, Randi Rhodes (see yesterday's blog). He said, "Is this an attempt by the right wing hate machine to silence one of our own? Are we threatening them? Are they afraid that we're winning? Are they trying to silence intimidate us [sic]?"

Well, as we now know, Randi fell on her face while walking her dog. No attack.

So, Jon released the following apology:

"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"

Well said, and we must applaud Jon for his willingness to admit his mistake and apologize. That takes guts, not just only on the left, but on the right, too.

Talk show host apologizes for faulty report of NYC mugging

But, unlike the call from race pimps for the firing of Imus after his "nappy-headed hos" remark, don't expect calls for Elliot's ouster from AA to be heeded, or even publicly acknowledged.

Let's see what those on Randi's blog have to say about this. First, the die-hards:

"It is SOOO tempting, out of sheer frustration but also relief at Randi's relative well-being at this point, in the face of so much conflicting information, to draw conclusions and fall into the trap the right-wing satanics always have laid for us."
        -scottymac54

"However, I believe he [Elliot] did say that she was attacked. I have no problem with those that believed that report and then posed theories about the possible motivation/perpetrator(s). He is a host of a show that seemed to have knowledge about something that happened. Why should we think he was lying about it? When new information came out, we adjusted. That all seems appropriate to me. You take the evidence you have and use your best judgment as to it's credibility.

Also bear in mind that we still don't know for sure that she wasn't attacked or by whom. The way this whole thing was handled and the various statements just don't pass the smell test. Something is just off."
        -bisonlawyer@yahoo.com

"THIS IS JUST SO DAMNED TYPICAL OF THE NEOCON RIGHT AND THE NEW YORK POST! OF COURSE THEY BLAME RANDI'S ACCIDENT ON ALCOHOL!! THAT'S BECAUSE THEIR PRESIDENT IS A DRUNK, DRUG ADDICT PRICK WHO DOES NOTHING BUT START WARS AND MURDER INNOCENT PEOPLE! IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR THEM TO ATTACK HER, DID IT!!?" [this in response to the "report" that Randi had 14 bloody marys before falling.]
        -laura

OK, enough of the hate-mongers. There are actually some on Randi's blog who get the bigger picture:

"THIS NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. If AAR had a frickin clue, this whole incident would have died a natural quick death.
Shame on you AAR!"
        -RAD4155

"and, again, i'm not trying to offend or attack anyone. i just think it is important, to take a deep breath, take a few steps back and examine our own actions in this, and to admit that there were some reckless errors made in jumping to conclusions, and (more importantly) understand how/why those mistakes were made --- without trying to make justifications for our mistakes. and really, everywhere you went and posted things that are untrue, you should go back there with sincere apologies."
        -brooklynHero

Thanks RAD4155 and brooklynHero.

If the left had more people like you, there just might be hope of reaching some sort of middle-ground. Over a good stout, of course (I'll buy)!



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posted by Tomás @ 10/19/2007 08:42:00 AM