# Fox News employee advocates assassination of Obama **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 25, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597 "2008-05-25T21:29:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/41 "2008-05-26T15:54:26Z")
Whatever happened to the good old days when you joked about assasinating people and got visits from the Secret Service? It happened to my crazy ass father-in-law when he was off his meds (RIP). ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/42 "2008-05-26T15:55:19Z")
[QUOTE=42fish] Anyone else notice that about 90% of the time the ‘But it was taken out of context’ defense is offered for comments for which there is virtually no context in which they wouldn’t be offensive? [/QUOTE] Al Franken joked about that after the whole “[homos and abortionists caused 9/11](http://dir.salon.com/story/people/feature/2002/04/20/franken/)” thing from Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. The interviewer’s questions are in bold, with Al’s responses following them: > [@](#): > > \*\*This was on Robertson’s show, “The 700 Club.” But then later Falwell said he was misquoted. \*\* > > He didn’t say he was misquoted; he said he was taken out of context. Somewhere here I have the [transcript from “The 700 Club”] … Here it is. He said: “I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way – all of them who have tried to secularize America – I point the finger in their face and say, ‘You helped this happen.’” > > \*\*That was Falwell speaking to Pat Robertson? \*\* > > And Pat Robertson said, “I totally concur.” That’s what he said. And so immediately after [Falwell] said it was taken out of context, I got the quote. My biggest laugh has been that the only way [the quote] could have been taken out of context is if he immediately preceded it with, _“I’d have to be a fucking nut to say …”_ So it’s possible. Anyone got the preceeding 4 seconds from that clip? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/43 "2008-05-26T16:03:46Z")
Here’s [the full three-minute segment](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T5eDDL1WuM). The fact that something is couched as a “joke” doesn’t change the message. For example, we have a rule on this message board about wishing death on another poster. You can’t get around the rule by making a joke out of it. Imagine if Keith Olbermann ended a report on John McCain’s cancer with “Well, maybe we’ll get lucky and he’ll drop dead before the election … ha ha!” Would that be acceptable discourse? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/44 "2008-05-26T16:07:42Z")
[Tritter has apologized…sort of](http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0508/Fox_analyst_apologizes_for_Obama_assassination_joke.html) > [@](#): > > With an uproar in the blogosphere, Trotta appeared around 9:40 this morning to apologize. Anchor Bill Hemmer reminded her that people have been criticizing her remarks. > > ``` > Trotta: Yes, I am so sorry about what happened yesterday and the lame attempt at humor. I feel all over myself, making it appear that I wished Barack Obama harm or any other candidate, for that matter, and I sincerely regret it and apologize to anybody I have offended. It is a very colorful political season, and many of us are making mistakes and saying things we wish we had not said. > > ``` Somehow, that doesn’t really seem to cut it with me. She offers no explanation for her remark and make it seem as though it was an unintentional gaffe or slip of the tongue. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/45 "2008-05-26T16:16:54Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] [Tritter has apologized…sort of](http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0508/Fox_analyst_apologizes_for_Obama_assassination_joke.html) Somehow, that doesn’t really seem to cut it with me. She offers no explanation for her remark and make it seem as though it was an unintentional gaffe or slip of the tongue. [/QUOTE] I don’t know what else she could have said besides “Sorry, didn’t mean it”. On with the chastising and, hopefully, some penalization. Don’t think FOX will do any penalizing though. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/46 "2008-05-26T16:36:36Z")
That’s a good apology, actually. The more you explain something, the more it sounds like you’re trying to justify it; and that is the province of weasels. Just say “I’m sorry,” and move on. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/47 "2008-05-26T16:52:42Z")
Good apology. “I feel all over myself” makes me chuckle. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/48 "2008-05-26T17:32:36Z")
I think it was actually a better apology than we normally see in this sort of situation. It’s a far sight better than, “I’m sorry if anyone was offended by my words”. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/49 "2008-05-26T17:33:01Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] She offers no explanation for her remark and make it seem as though it was an unintentional gaffe or slip of the tongue. [/QUOTE] Because it probably was, duh. Sheesh, you really _are_ a cynic. “Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/50 "2008-05-26T17:55:59Z")
Ok, I won’t harp on the apology. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/51 "2008-05-26T18:03:56Z")
**Q.E.D.:** > [@](#): > > Because it probably was, duh. Sheesh, you really are a cynic. But it _wasn’t_ an unintentional gaffe or slip of the tongue. She herself calls it “a lame attempt at humor.” She knew exactly what she was saying; she just thought it was funny. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/52 "2008-05-26T18:12:56Z")
Being mistaken about what is and what isn’t funny (in real time, on live TV) is a pretty good example of a gaffe, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/53 "2008-05-26T18:21:00Z")
[QUOTE=Gadarene] She knew exactly what she was saying; she just thought it was funny. [/QUOTE] I disagree, her attempt at face-saving notwithstanding. Her laughter after she made the remark sounded very uncomfortable to me; of the “oh, dear, did I just say _that_?” variety. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/54 "2008-05-26T18:42:27Z")
[QUOTE=Gadarene] **Q.E.D.:** But it _wasn’t_ an unintentional gaffe or slip of the tongue. She herself calls it “a lame attempt at humor.” She knew exactly what she was saying; she just thought it was funny. [/QUOTE] Exactly. I realize that anchors are chosen more for their looks and “presence” than their intelligence or journalistic savvy these days, but with that microphone and seat comes responsibility. She failed miserably at it and her “apology” was as shallow as I suspect she is. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/55 "2008-05-26T20:30:15Z")
Well frankly, I appreciate any sort of apology, and this one wasn’t too bad. What I’d like to see though, is an admission by Fox News management that they should have immediately backpedaled after Tritter’s remark. Specifically, Shawn and his producers should let us know what they _should_ have done under such circumstances. I have some sympathy for those who say things they regret. But is it too much to ask that Fox News maintain a prohibition on jokey advocacy of political murder? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/56 "2008-05-26T20:35:13Z")
Now it just remains for the rest of the network to apologize for being shameless partisan hacks and toadies. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/57 "2008-05-26T20:51:16Z")
Wow. I saw this clip earlier today and it was really disturbing, actually. The Netherlands has experienced a couple of assassinations in the last couple of years and quite some politicians are being protected around the clock now, as I’m sure lots of American politicians must be. If any journalist or pundit or talking head or whatever so much as suggested violence against a politician they’d be sacked even before the show went off the air. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/58 "2008-05-26T22:31:38Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] **Exactly**. I realize that anchors are chosen more for their looks and “presence” than their intelligence or journalistic savvy these days, but with that microphone and seat comes responsibility. She failed miserably at it and her “apology” was as shallow as I suspect she is. [/QUOTE] (bolding mine) I’m confused by this. You seem to be in complete agreement with what was said in the quote you responded to: > [@](#): > > But it wasn’t an unintentional gaffe or slip of the tongue. She herself calls it “a lame attempt at humor.” > > She knew exactly what she was saying; she just thought it was funny. … but hose statements contradict one another. The first one claims that her attempted humor missed the mark. The other that she did, in fact, think it funny. Can you help me here? If you were registering agreement with the last line, is that just an opinion, or has she stated that it was 1) a joke and 2) a funny one? ---
**Author:** ![initech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/439d5e/32.png) [@initech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/initech)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/59 "2008-05-26T23:03:20Z")
Her apology is appropriate, and it’s all she can do. Fox News Channel, on the other hand, has yet to reprimand her for displaying an obvious political bias. On a channel that markets itself as “Fair and Balanced,” for something so outrageous, she should probably be fired. This is me, holding my breath. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597/60 "2008-05-26T23:22:53Z")
[QUOTE=initech] Her apology is appropriate, and it’s all she can do. Fox News Channel, on the other hand, has yet to reprimand her for displaying an obvious political bias. On a channel that markets itself as “Fair and Balanced,” for something so outrageous, she should probably be fired. This is me, holding my breath. [/QUOTE] If contributors are to be reprimanded by news networks for displaying bias, Keith Olbermann would be out of a job. News anchors should avoid bias (IMHO), but really, that’s it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-employee-advocates-assassination-of-obama/450597.md?page=4)