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Rush to judgment in Trayvon Martin case
CNN ^ | William J. Bennett

Posted on 03/31/2012 9:22:47 AM PDT by matt04

At first glance, the death of Trayvon Martin seemed to be a straightforward example of ugly, racial conflict resulting in the killing of an innocent black teenager by a white man, George Zimmerman. But now, as evidence continues to come forward, the facts seem much more complicated and the "obvious truth" premature.

...

To make matters more complex, we found out that in the past several months, Martin was suspended from school three times, once for the possession of drug paraphernalia.

The Miami Herald reported that in the gated community in which Zimmerman patrolled, there were eight burglaries, nine thefts and one shooting in the past year. Neighbors of Zimmerman described him as being passionate about security and credit him with thwarting and cracking some crimes. It was also revealed that Zimmerman identified himself as a Hispanic and was a registered Democrat.

The facts are confounding and inconclusive. But the tendency in the first days by some, including Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and an angry chorus of followers, was to rush to judgment with little regard for fairness, due process, or respect for the terrible death of a young man.

A mob mentality seems to be in the ascendancy.

The New Black Panther Party offered a bounty for Zimmerman's capture.

Jackson said that Martin's death shows how "blacks are under attack" and "targeting, arresting, convicting blacks and ultimately killing us is big business." Apart from the obvious incendiary nature of such comments, what in heaven's name could Jackson mean?

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: billbennett; blackonblackmurders; cnn; revjackson; trayvonmartin; williambennett; zimmerman; zimmermantimeline
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A random act of journalism from CNN.
1 posted on 03/31/2012 9:22:59 AM PDT by matt04
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To: matt04

There’s no “rush to judgment” in this case. It’s just a matter of believing what one wants to believe. The “belief” was already set and it only takes an event which can be interpreted as prejudice to trigger outrage. Take the Twana Brawley matter as an example.


2 posted on 03/31/2012 9:27:16 AM PDT by davisfh
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To: matt04

Funny they never mention their own tendency to judge first.


3 posted on 03/31/2012 9:27:38 AM PDT by bcsco
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To: matt04

it seems to me that over the past few days CNN has grown a conscience and a brain and has decided to stop participating in this exercise in black racism.


4 posted on 03/31/2012 9:27:55 AM PDT by chris37 (Heartless.)
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To: matt04

“The Miami Herald reported that in the gated community in which Zimmerman patrolled”

MSM, just stop with the “gated community” stuff.

Just. Stop. It.

The community inside the gates is a small complex of condos, with the average price around $1000,000. Many of the units run less than $80,000.

This is NOT a rich “gated community” like the media tries to spin it.

The use of “gated community” is code by the MSM and liberals for elite, rich and white. . .in other words, racist.


5 posted on 03/31/2012 9:28:30 AM PDT by Hulka
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To: matt04
rush to judgment with little regard for fairness, due process, or respect for the terrible death of a young man.

Sorry, Tres Von, you're going to be thrown under a bus. Only a few short days ago, you were a young boy. Now, you're a young man. By the time all the facts come out, even CNN might be saying "delinquent" or "young criminal."

6 posted on 03/31/2012 9:29:28 AM PDT by Tax-chick (The Commie Plot Theory of Everything. Give it a try - you'll be surprised how often it makes sense.)
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To: Hulka

That would be $100,000. . .


7 posted on 03/31/2012 9:29:41 AM PDT by Hulka
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To: matt04

Dollars to doughnuts the threat of lawsuits is what is causing some of the media to turn around. The blatant lynchmob journalism has been breathtaking, I hope the settlements are also breathtaking. There has already been one settlement already in McClain v Lee, more certainly to follow, most out of court.


8 posted on 03/31/2012 9:29:52 AM PDT by HerrBlucher (.)
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To: matt04

When the Rev Jackson says that “killing us is big business” he means that it’s big business for him....


9 posted on 03/31/2012 9:30:21 AM PDT by MS from the OC (Obama foreign policy"If you're an enemy we're sorry; if you're a friend, you're sorry" Abe Greenwald)
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To: matt04

re: A random act of journalism from CNN.

Not exactly. The author is William J Bennett, a conservative. So, in the sense that CNN actually allowed a conservative to author a commentary on their site, yes it is a big surprise.


10 posted on 03/31/2012 9:30:53 AM PDT by rusty schucklefurd
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To: matt04
A random act of journalism from CNN.

No. A syndicated editorial from Bill Bennett.

11 posted on 03/31/2012 9:31:20 AM PDT by P-Marlowe
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To: matt04

Jackson said that Martin's death shows how "blacks are under attack" and "targeting, arresting, convicting blacks and ultimately killing us is big business." Apart from the obvious incendiary nature of such comments, what in heaven's name could Jackson mean?

a despicable lie that is completely backwards. Reality--Whites are huge multitudes more in danger of being victimized by blacks than the other way around.

12 posted on 03/31/2012 9:31:20 AM PDT by Cubs Fan (if it weren't for double standards the left wouldn't have any standards at all)
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To: matt04
Editor's note: William J. Bennett

This might explain it. No liberal will admit they, "acted stupidly"

13 posted on 03/31/2012 9:31:26 AM PDT by dragonblustar (Allah Ain't So Akbar!)
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To: matt04

Holy Cow! Has CNN swerved into the truth? Unbelievable! Journalists acting like...er well, journalists. This won’t last long...


14 posted on 03/31/2012 9:32:02 AM PDT by alice_in_bubbaland (Anyone But Obama in November !!!)
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To: matt04

how does a teenager with drug paraphernalia have gold teeth and expensive tats? hmmmm???????


15 posted on 03/31/2012 9:33:07 AM PDT by biggredd1
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To: matt04

It’s a column by William J. Bennett, the conservative author.

CNN’s journalistic integrity remains intact [ Do I REALLY need a sarcasm tag?].


16 posted on 03/31/2012 9:34:20 AM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: Hulka

So it’s wrong to call an area with access controlled by gates a “gated community” based on property values???

It’s a community with access controlled by gates... W T F do you call that????


17 posted on 03/31/2012 9:34:59 AM PDT by Keith in Iowa (Willard Romney, purveyor of the world's finest bullmitt. | FR Class of 1998 |)
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To: matt04

Note that the author is former Reagan cabinet member Bill Bennett. I’m sure CNN will find space to denounce him as a racist bigot somewhere.


18 posted on 03/31/2012 9:35:08 AM PDT by Humble Servant
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To: matt04

The drive-by media - ever advancing the “innocent until proven guilty” assertion - as long as it advances Obama.


19 posted on 03/31/2012 9:36:11 AM PDT by Twinkie (John 3:16)
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To: matt04
This from CNN? One of the great water carriers for Zero? Unbelievable.

HURT: Brutal week for Obama, the worst of his presidency
20 posted on 03/31/2012 9:37:57 AM PDT by Cheerio (Barry Hussein Soetoro-0bama=The Complete Destruction of American Capitalism)
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