Posted on 03/25/2012 10:22:54 AM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
On Sundays Face the Nation on CBS, Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum explained that his view of the Trayvon Martin shooting differed significantly from the one held by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Gingrich was critical of President Barack Obamas reaction, but Santorum placed the blame on accused shooter George Zimmermans mental state.
Well, you know, obviously, Im not privy to whats going on in someones mind, Santorum said. Obviously, in my opinion, someone
has a very sick mind who would pursue someone like this. This is clearly a heinous act. You know, there are a lot of people who have a lot of distorted views of reality. Its a tragic, tragic case. And my heart goes out to the parents, too. I cant imagine what theyre suffering, losing their son in such a horrific way. All I would say is that, whatever the motive is, it was a malicious one, and a very, very tragic one.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
I thought he did.
I apologize.
I’ve always supported Newt for the nomination.
It appears this is Mr. Martin.
Already proven by the record and the facts, skidmark.
He had no other reason to be there.
He had no other reason to attack the watchman if his intentions were not larcenous. You don’t just attack people that are looking at you unless you are a criminal.
Take your head out of the sand.
>> “Are you threatening me?” <<
.
If he’s not, I am.
You’re a waste of skin, even the dirty skin you wear.
.
I do believe his mother lived in the community. Please don’t confuse me with the ‘Zimmerman is guilty’ crowd. I’m not jacknhoo. or Rick Santorum.
But there is enough BS going around. I don’t think we should add speculation on our side. It always makes things worse.
I’ll leave my head where it is. You might want to think about where yours is.
>> “Its like Romney is writing the script for Santorum.” <<
.
My guess was the union bosses in PA are feeding him.
I repeat, he would not have attacked unless his intentions were criminal.
.
If he stopped pursuing, how did he wind up in someone's back yard?
Zimmerman has done nothing wrong.
He was the watchman on duty, and observing intruders is a watchman’s job. There was no ‘chase.’ The fact that Martin attacked him proves his criminal intentions. Zimmerman called numerous times for help and none was available; he had no choice but to draw his weapon and shoot.
I do feel bad for Zimmerman....the public is set to crucify him no matter what. And I fully put the blame for all this on Obamas doorstep for inciting this and using his media pimps for getting it out there.
Now Santorum is using this to get the black vote and just as disgusting as Obama using this. I would have expected far far better of Santorum....but on second thought it’s so like him to stick his foot in his mouth and I’m glad he’s showing that side of him more and more......no concern for the country...just what will get him where he wants to go politically.
That’s how I’m seeing it as well....but he’s sure getting more than a bad rap by this....and the obommobile I’ll lay this at the foot of and the politicians who should not have said a word.
The same Santorum that called Staff Sgt. Bales a madman before all the facts are out.
If I were you, I’d be more concerned about this nation.
Maybe he was walking back to his truck, and it wasn’t a back yard, it was an apartment walkway. Watch the local news report.
Furthermore, if Trayvon ran away from Zimmerman, why did he come back?
Could it not be argued at that point that it was Martin who was pursuing Zimmerman?
I think so.
I would have never thought the anti-Santorum faction would be bigger than the anti-Romney, but Romney is just a moderate type Republican. Santorum is a total maroon. I don’t know if I want him NEAR the button.
I repeat, he would not have attacked unless his intentions were criminal.
17 year old boys of any race are not exactly well known for their impulse control. Could be a verbal confrontation that just got out of hand. Have seen some speculation on that in another thread, and we’ve all seen it happen first hand.
Either way, I’ll wait for the investigation and have a look at the Friday news dump to see why this month old story has suddenly blanketed the news.
I wish folks were voting for our next ADULT Commander-in-Chief, not an impulsive, argumentative teenager, given to pandering, but it is what it is.
Like you said, it’s depressing, but I have voted and now it’s in the hands of others. I pray they’ll wise up and give Newt a lot of delegates so we can have a rousing, brokered convention!
None of us has enough to make a solid conclusion here, that’s for sure.
From what little we do have, I’m thinking it went this way:
Zimmerman phoned from his vehicle; then left his vehicle to follow Martin where a vehicle could not go (the walkway behind the homes); he proceeded some distance on foot behind the homes, but had lost sight of Martin and decided to return to his truck; and before he got to it, he encountered Martin.
Now, there are plenty of scenarios within that set, which could have happened. But if it happened that way, here is how it may have looked to the 17-year-old:
A strange man in a vehicle has been staring at him and seems to be following him, so he runs, goes into an alley or walkway. Then the man appears nearby, on foot, first walking that way — then walking this way!
One assumption not in evidence: let’s say at that point the boy has hidden and Zimmerman unwittingly walks past him. Then Zimmerman concludes he’s lost the kid and should return to his vehicle. But the boy doesn’t know, until Zimmerman turns around and heads back, that Zimmerman wasn’t going home, having parked his vehicle. Once Zimmerman turns around to go back to the road — or even just in the direction where Martin is — the kid decides it’s clear this man is looking for him. Purposeful walking in one direction has been eliminated from the possibilities in the boy’s mind; that man is following him, not going about his own business or heading to his own home.
That is admittedly speculation, but it fits the meager facts of Zimmerman on foot in the back walkway, returning to vehicle. Martin, age 17, may have been unduly alarmed and was certainly not using the best judgment to have opted not to call 911. We do not know if Martin ambushed Zimmerman or confronted him (the girlfriend says he asked “Why are you following me?”)
Still, both of them used poor judgment, Zimmerman in following rather than merely reporting to police. Martin’s bad judgment depends on whether he was a thug or an innocent pedestrian minding his own business.
Justice demands a thorough investigation, and even then we may never know for sure.
That said, Rick Santorum had absolutely no right to depict Zimmerman as a man with a perverted mind or a malicious motive. I have not seen anyone here on FR go that far, and it’s gotten awfully heated here at times. Why Santorum even thinks it, much less says it, is baffling — just on terms of reasonable and fair, it is strange. Then for a presidential contender, a public figure, to say it gratuitously — incomprehensible.
Reasonable people can differ, can speculate, given the meager facts, but a public figure in a presidential race ought to refrain. Instead, Santorum (a lawyer) just tossed presumption of innocence out the window in the most incendiary terms.
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