CBS & NBC Fail to ID Hasan as Muslim; ABC's Raddatz Relays: 'I Wish His Name was Smith'

Newsbusters ^ | 11/5/2009 | Brent Baker

[markomalley]

Neither the CBS Evening News nor NBC Nightly News, in their East coast feeds Thursday night, noted the Muslim religious beliefs of the mass killer at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas, but ABC anchor Charles Gibson wasn't cowed by political correctness as he teased World News, “Fort Hood tragedy: An Army officer, a Muslim convert, is the suspect in a shooting spree...” Introducing his first story, Gibson referred to how Major Nidal Malik Hasan “an army officer, a Muslim, opened fire with handguns...” (With a range of frequency, during late afternoon/early evening coverage, CNN, FNC and MSNBC all identified Hasan as a Muslim.)

Cryptically, ABC's senior foreign affairs correspondent, Martha Raddatz concluded a story on reaction at Fort Hood: “As for the suspect, Nadil Hasan, as one officer's wife told me, 'I wish his name was Smith.'” So, a concern this will lead to groundless fear of Muslims?

The CBS Evening News avoided any mention of Islam or Muslim faith as Katie Couric provided this benign description: “Today, according to the Army, a soldier opened fire....He's identified tonight as Army Major Nadal Malik Hasan, a licensed psychiatrist and drug and rehab specialist from Bethesda, Maryland.” NBC anchor Brian Williams: “The soldier, identified as the initial gunman here, is an Army psychiatrist, Nadal Malik Hasan. He's an officer, a Major, and he was apparently armed with two handguns.”

[republicangel]

They really wish his name was Bubba

You know that is so right and they wish they could find Palin's book, but alas it is too soon.

[scooby321]

This guy did not do this alone, this was a well planned terrorist attack that they have tried since Ft. Dix.

[AmericanMade1776]

They say.. De “nial” is not just a river in Egypt.

[IrishPennant]

What we have to be the most concerned about is that fact that the large majority of this country is conservative..of that I am certain. But I am also as certain that many of those folks have no idea of the muslim/islamic beliefs. God, please show me wrong because I see this day as a near 9/11 event/

[massmike]

No wonder I never watch the network news anymore...

[niteowl77]

ABC's senior foreign affairs correspondent, Martha Raddatz concluded a story on reaction at Fort Hood: “As for the suspect, Nadil Hasan, as one officer's wife told me, 'I wish his name was Smith.'”

WTF? Am I not getting something here?

[TNoldman]

“So, a concern this will lead to groundless fear of Muslims”

I think there is a reason to fear muslims. Islam is a religion of hatred. While I don’t fear muslims - I do fear what our Government is letting them get away with.

I will no longer knowing do business with any muslim business or business person. I will advocate that no mosques or islam schools be permitted in the USA. I will also advocate that no muslims be given citizenship in the USA or allowed to enter the USA or hold any elected or appointed government position.

I will undoubtedly be offending some people including some members of my family and church - but I have had enough!

[cripplecreek]

John Carter was saying that one of the officers he talked to said that he heard both small and automatic arms fire.

[1scrappymom]

As a SMITH I must say I am deeply offended by this horrible
sterotyping of my fellow SMITHS.

I demand an apology now or my entire SMITH family will boycott ABC news.

Oh wait, we already do.

/Sarc off

I refuse to call this media whores journalists. They’re nothing but opinionists.

[azishot]

What dopes. They act like we would never find out.

I’m so tired of PC...so very tired.

[Palladin]

Yes, he was a civilian contractor, a base policeman. Brave man...a hero.

How many more would have died if he had not acted swiftly?

[DuncanWaring]

...one officer's wife told me, 'I wish his name was Smith.'”

That officer's wife is either a moron or a Muslim herself.

Or both.

[Islam=Murder]

Today was terrible, but it’ll be even worse the day B. Hussein Omoslem pulls out a pistol and starts shooting American soldiers.

You think Obama wouldn’t shoot our troops if he thought he could get away with it?

He’s HAPPY these Americans were killed today. We know this b/c he’s onstage CRACKING JOKES and giving cheerful SHOUT-OUTS, 20 minutes after the shootings happened.

He’s just hoping the victims are all WHITE.

[Bulldawg Fan]

I will call Raddatz a liar. I dont believe any Officer’s wife said his name should be Smith. I believe Raddatz made that up from political correctness, no where else.

[Bulldawg Fan]

That’s correct, the hero police officer who killed this raghead died also.

[niteowl77]

That officer's wife is either a moron or a Muslim herself.

Or both.

That or Raddatz is projecting.

I thank God that the wife of one particular Ft. Hood SPC is the very antithesis of this supposed officer's wife.

[Thrownatbirth]

as one officer's wife told me, 'I wish his name was Smith.'”

I seriously doubt anyone you told that, Martha.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Gee, I would know why anyone should ever fear mass murdering Muslims.

[7thson]

I will bet a dollar to a donut that before his administration comes to an end, he will slip up and say Allah vice God.

[La Lydia]

...groundless fear of Muslims?... Groundless? A Muslim (not a Hindu or an Amish fellow) just killed a bunch of our soldiers, there have been countless bloodthirsty plots stopped, not to mention 9/11, and these fears are "groundless"? We are biased against them? How many of us have to die for the sake of diversity and tolerance before we have reasonable "grounds" to fear these people? What a bunch of MSM IDIOTS. How much more of this are we going to have to tolerate?