Air America host Randi Rhodes wasn't mugged (oops)

NY Daily News ^

[mnehring]

Air America radio host Randi Rhodes is temporarily off the air, but claims she was brutally attacked near her Manhattan apartment are bogus, her lawyer and a police source said today.

Fellow host Jon Elliott claimed on the liberal radio network that Rhodes had been mugged while walking her dog, Simon, on Sunday night. Elliot, who said Rhodes lost several teeth in the attack, waxed about a possible conspiracy.

"Is this an attempt by the right-wing, hate machine to silence one of our own?" he asked on the air, according to Talking Radio, a blog. "Are we threatening them? Are they afraid that we’re winning? Are they trying to silence intimidate us?"

A police source said Rhodes never filed a report and never claimed to be the victim of a mugging. Cops from Manhattan's 17th Precinct called her attorney, who told them Rhodes was not a victim of a crime, the source said.

Rhodes' lawyer told the Daily News she was injured in a fall while walking her dog. He said she's not sure what happened, and only knows that she fell down and is in a lot of pain. The lawyer said Rhodes expects to be back on the air Thursday. He stressed there is no indication she was targeted or that she was the victim of a "hate crime."

Rhodes started with the Air America when it launched in 2004. Her show airs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

The network released a statement that said Rhodes "experienced an unfortunate incident."

"The reports of a presumed hate crime are unfounded," the statement read by a receptionist at the network's New York offices said. "Ms. Rhodes is looking forward to being back on the air on Thursday."

Still, the tale lived on in the blogosphere.

"What the %$#$ is WRONG with you people?? Are you that SICK in the head that just because you don’t agree with someone’s political views you believe that they deserve to be mugged? Are you on the right that DEMENTED??," a blogger called neddlenosehanty posted on watchingthewatchers.org.

Another blogger shot back, "I very seriously doubt if this unfortunate woman was mugged by a conservative. To jump to the conclusion that she was mugged by someone on the right is bigotry of another kind. Think not?"

[ConservaTexan]

Rhodes' lawyer told the Daily News she was injured in a fall while walking her dog. He said she's not sure what happened, and only knows that she fell down and is in a lot of pain.

That sounds like a drinking game at the Kennedy compound.

[xcamel]

liberals lie. period.

[peggybac]

I’m curious who started the rumor in the first place. Either way, she’ll apologize, go to rehab then all will be well, and her ratings will go up 50% (3 listeners.)

[Inwoodian]

As Emily Litella would have said, “Never mind”.

[FormerACLUmember]

"More chardonney, chico! I need some more wine before I take that g**d*mn dog for a walk!"

[Dr.Deth]

Do Alec Baldwin and Jackson Browne have alibis?

[Holicheese]

She’s a hottie alright!

[trisham]

Yikes. She looks like a giant mouse.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Fellow host Jon Elliott claimed on the liberal radio network that Rhodes had been mugged while walking her dog, Simon, on Sunday night. Elliot, who said Rhodes lost several teeth in the attack, waxed about a possible conspiracy.

BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
ERR AMERICA can't even get it right when they're talking about their own staff!!

Oh yeah, they're a real POWERHOUSE when it comes to intelligent talk radio!! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

Oh, man, what a bunch of friggin' idiots....too much.

[Republican Red]

We have a winner!

Was Talk Show Host Randi Rhodes Jumped By 14 Ketel Ones?

Randi Rhodes was no more assaulted by a right-wing fanatic on Monday than Dick Cheney was. She, in fact, fell down and injured her teeth outside of a Midtown Irish bar at around 6 o’clock Sunday evening after downing about fourteen Ketel One Bloody Marys. She was abusive to the barstaff and generally gross, crass, loud, and pretentious. I genuinely hope she has a speedy recovery. I never would’ve disclosed this (I believe that anyone should feel free to hang out at Irish pubs at any time and not be concerned about someone publishing their behavior) if Air America hadn’t grossly interpreted a drunken indiscretion and allowed it to be morphed into some bullish rhetoric on air. Whatever journalistic integrity the station may have ever had is now completely compromised. The manipulation of the public diminishes any cause, whether just or fabricated.

[FormerACLUmember]

Yikes. She looks like a giant mouse.

A Giant wine-guzzling Rat to be precise!

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Maybe somebody should be talking to her significant other. This has all the classics symptoms of battered wife/girlfriend syndrome.

[sticker]

bar crawling with ms dowd?

[Bon mots]

She may be a lot of things, but I wouldn't say she's ugly.

They usually aren't when they use 20 year old photos to promote themselves. She is much heavier and older than in that photo. The wrinkles and imperfections have been airbrushed out...

[socialismisinsidious]

But the truth doesn't matter b/c a right winger could have attacked her!

The ends justifies the means to loony liberals. Make up a story and run with it if it furthers the agenda (something really needs to be done about the new media and their ability to find and spread the truth). ; )

[FormerACLUmember]

Randi Rhodes was no more assaulted by a right-wing fanatic on Monday than Dick Cheney was. She, in fact, fell down and injured her teeth outside of a Midtown Irish bar at around 6 o’clock Sunday evening after downing about fourteen Ketel One Bloody Marys. She was abusive to the barstaff and generally gross, crass, loud, and pretentious.

Ketel One: Proud Assault Team Member of the Republican Party. Taking down moron enemies since 1691.

[FormerACLUmember]

Randi Rhodes was no more assaulted by a right-wing fanatic on Monday than Dick Cheney was. She, in fact, fell down and injured her teeth outside of a Midtown Irish bar at around 6 o’clock Sunday evening after downing about fourteen Ketel One Bloody Marys. She was abusive to the barstaff and generally gross, crass, loud, and pretentious.

Ketel One: Proud Assault Team Member of the Republican Party. Taking down moron enemies since 1691.

[libs_kma]

"I think Simon should be given rabies shots, just in case she bit him during her tumble......"

Simon says "Someone save me. This lady is a whack job."

[Hoboken]

Hilarious! Hey, could you add some flying pink Republican elephants?