Bizarre Tom Smart Statement On Larry King Show

Larry King Show ^ | June 12, 2002

[PJ-Comix]

GRACE: Well Tom, I would have to agree with you. If police are searching the area with helicopters looking for this guy, that leads me to think that he's got some very important information that they want.

Tom Smart, message to the kidnapper tonight, what do you have to say?

[PJ-Comix]

I just heard Bill O'Reilly talking about a bizarre statement that Tom Smart, uncle of Elizabeth Smart, made on the Larry King Show last night (Nancy Grace was the host). Here is the excerpt of Tom Smart's statement. Also another troubling thing about Tom Smart is how he blocked a sketch artist from speaking to Elizabeth Smart's sister even though the father, Ed Smart, approved of the interview. Somehow Tom Smart has the veto power in that family, even on life and death issues. Strange.

[WIMom]

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[Williams]

Maybe, but if this young girl was actually abducted by a mentally ill person, the family is in the position of needing to appease that person and perhaps convince them they understand his motives and are not being judgmental. I think that analyzing the behavior of people in horrific situations which we cannot possibly understand is fruitless and to some degree cruel. I can tell you this is my worst nightmare and I have no idea how I would be acting if it actually happened. My daughter's survuival would be my only motive.

[NormsRevenge]

He was a Microphine Hog today at the news conference, He jumped in front of the mike a couple of times ... Hmmmmm?

He may be a prima donna, maybe .. or this is his thing and he is riding it for all he can???

[GovernmentShrinker]

What exactly do you regard as bizarre in that series of comments? It's a bit rambling and incoherent, which doesn't really surprise me under the circumstances, but "bizarre"?

[JHawker]

bizarre statement ... Strange.

They are Mormons aren't they?

[bonfire]

Different brother.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

Also saw O'R and he said that Larry did not ask a follow up question.Typical of LK.

[exnavy]

wow, is he on drugs or what?

[PJ-Comix]

Also saw O'R and he said that Larry did not ask a follow up question.Typical of LK.

Larry King was off last night. The host was Nancy Grace.

[KellyAdmirer]

the family is full of compassion towards everybody because this is a wonderful story, in a lot of ways.

I don't understand. How is this abduction a wonderful story in a lot of ways? Does he know who did it?

[PJ-Comix]

It wasn't just his statement that was bizarre but also the fact that he CANCELLED an interview by a professional sketch artist with Elizabeth Smart's sister even tough Ed Smart approved of this.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

She's not the brightest bulb, either!

[spectre]

PJ, I saw the interview..The uncle is acting strange. Something isn't right. Maybe on the hour, Larry King will have more or FOX will. Very troubling statement.

sw

[Jhoffa_]

Is he the uncle?

Cause if he is I saw that guy talking to the press earlier and he looked like he was having a little too much fun.

And that rambling statment, what the hell is that all about?

"..issues, we have all got issues"

It's like they are interviewing Otis from his cell in Mayberry.

[jackbill]

I just heard Bill O'Reilly talking about a bizarre statement that Tom Smart, uncle of Elizabeth Smart, made on the Larry King Show last night (Nancy Grace was the host).

Then you probably heard the guest say that in Mormon families, the eldest is the leader, and the others give in to him. If that is why Elizabeth's father is not allowing the sketch artist to talk to his other daughter, what can you say? You want to say, well then live with what happens. But that means that Elizabeth may not be found alive. What I would say is "tough $hit", we're going to talk to her.

I'm generally not an intolerant person, but I've got a lot of problems with those Mormons. I wouldn't be surprised by any - and I mean any - resolution of this case.

[Vinomori]

because this is a wonderful story, in a lot of ways. Because it's about, foremost, a beautiful, little angelic girl. But it's also about -- everybody has issues no matter what. It crosses the boundaries on everything. It's an amazing story.

This is all about love, really. We believe that everything is done out of love, so, therefore, this is wonderful. This abduction and the chance we've had to go in front of the cameras is a blessing, an amazing blessing to us. You just thought it was awful because you have been programmed by our people's enemies to think that way.

[Ditter]

Maybe this girl wasn't 'abducted' at all. Maybe she ran off with someone, like a cousin, like this uncles son, perhaps. Maybe this uncle knows it & is just trying to get them to come back. But I completely agree with you about not knowing how we would behave in this terrible situation. We don't know till we have been there.

[f.Christian]

bigamy too!

[GovernmentShrinker]

He may well be on some kind of drugs to keep him going through all of this. He also probably hasn't had much sleep. And he's also trying to juggle a long and frequently changing list of instructions from the police, profilers, etc. on what snippets of information not to let slip out, what snippets to be sure and get on the air, what impression to try to convey to the abductor who may well be watching, etc. The snippets which aren't supposed to be let out would often be the very same things he was just talking to investigators or other family members about minutes earlier, making it especially difficult and nerve-wracking to keep track of it all.

I really think we need to be careful about jumping on everything these people do or say that strikes us as strange or out of place. Of course, it's POSSIBLE that there is something sinister going on involving the family, but there are plenty of more likely explanations for what we're seeing, and under the circumstances I think the family deserves the benefit of the doubt.