Legislator receives racist death threat from Rush Limbaugh fan

[MattParker]

And, yes, the person making the threats does listen to right-wing talk radio.

A Rush Limbaugh fan faxed death threats to state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, on Wednesday morning, according to his spokesman.

The threats came more than a week after Yee asked Limbaugh for an apology for “mocking the Chinese language” and the country’s president on his popular conservative radio program, Yee spokesman Adam Keigwin said.

READ MORE: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/crime/2011/01/leland-yee-receives-racist-death-threat

The spokesman also is quoted as saying the language was "direct and threatening" and the letter used "racist terms" to be describe California state senator Yee and Barack Obama. Reportedly Yee received similar threats after publicizing last April how much Sarah Palin was paid to speak at a Cal State campus. Yee's spokesman added the Pima County, AZ sheriff's office is investigating a possible link between the threats sent to Yee and the recent Tucson shooting.

After Rush mocked the Chinese language and president, Yee said he should apologize. The next day Rush attacked Yee. Then Yee received the death threat which specifically mentioned Rush (i.e., "Rush will kick your ch*k ass").

If an individual who shouts "fire" in a crowded theater is legally responsible for ensuing panic, then an incendiary talk show host is similarly responsible when he incites violence.

 

[UpstateNYBill]

Now is this really surprising?

A satan worshiper like Rush is going to attract his fair share of wacko followers. You will find people like this guy who made the threats on both the right and left wing extremists.

 

[almaniac27]

The big story here is that someone still faxes in 2011.

I doubt this is the first time something like this has happened, and unless Rush specifically told his listeners to threaten this guy then there's nothing anyone can do, with that pesky First Amendment and all that. While there are plenty of normal, responsible citizens who listen to talk radio, there are also a significant number of weak-minded idiots who will believe whatever the man on the radio machine says, and there are some who will take that to extremes, like this moron who sent death threats.

And I'm willing to bet Rush will either shout "conspiracy" or spin this to make him look like the victim. That's just his MO.

 

[quadraphonic]

It used to be "one nutjob."
Now it's "inciting panic."
The only panic is among people trying to blame some of talk radio for nutjobs.

 

[MattParker]

It used to be "one nutjob."
Now it's "inciting panic."
The only panic is among people trying to blame some of talk radio for nutjobs.

Rush-Hannity-Beck's target audience is the nut job demo.

 

[UpstateNYBill]

It used to be "one nutjob."
Now it's "inciting panic."
The only panic is among people trying to blame some of talk radio for nutjobs.

The Golfer, Wallbanger, and the Hemmoroid with Ears seem to get lots of nutjobs that follow them and their every word.

 

[quadraphonic]

It used to be "one nutjob."
Now it's "inciting panic."
The only panic is among people trying to blame some of talk radio for nutjobs.

The Golfer, Wallbanger, and the Hemmoroid with Ears seem to get lots of nutjobs that follow them and their every word.

Since you're quoting Savage, wouldn't that automatically place you among "lots of nutjobs that follow them and their every word?"
Just sayin.

 

[DonTheTrucker]

I remember when journalism was a trade in which we dealt with verifiable facts. It's not like these people are above false flag operations.

 

[quadraphonic]

It used to be "one nutjob."
Now it's "inciting panic."
The only panic is among people trying to blame some of talk radio for nutjobs.

Rush-Hannity-Beck's target audience is the nut job demo.

Yeah, there's three shows targeting .1% of the populace.

And who's going after "the lazy journalist demo" and the "throws out a lot of pejorative demo?"
[read: "What shows does MattParker listen to?" ;D]

 

[quadraphonic]

I remember when journalism was a trade in which we dealt with verifiable facts. It's not like these people are above false flag operations.

Yee also got death threats last April. But that info is only coming out now, piggybacked on this "new story."
It's weird how it wasn't "news" until now, ain't it?

 

[DonTheTrucker]

Yee also got death threats last April. But that info is only coming out now, piggybacked on this "new story."
It's weird how it wasn't "news" until now, ain't it?

If a journalism student turned that story in, he'd get expelled. It's outright slander, and the rubes buy it up like it's gospel. Scary stuff, really.

Here are the kind of people we're dealing with. Warning, there's some rough language in there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s4YfBKs39Y

 

[KMGX]

Yee also got death threats last April. But that info is only coming out now, piggybacked on this "new story."
It's weird how it wasn't "news" until now, ain't it?

If a journalism student turned that story in, he'd get expelled. It's outright slander, and the rubes buy it up like it's gospel. Scary stuff, really.

Here are the kind of people we're dealing with. Warning, there's some rough language in there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s4YfBKs39Y

But wait, I'm being told that all the hate is only on one side, how can that link be true?

 

[MattParker]

[read: "What shows does MattParker listen to?" ;D]

Matt Parker listens to...

Morning Edition and All Things Considered (regularly)
WNYC's On The Media (regularly)
WHYY's Fresh Air (occasionally - when the subject interests me)
Stephanie Miller (occasionally)
Thom Hartmann (occasionally)
NJ101.5 (occasionally)

 

[DonTheTrucker]

But wait, I'm being told that all the hate is only on one side, how can that link be true?

I know, right? The funny thing is, every single death threat in that video is directly attributable to someone, as opposed to an anonymous "Rush Limbaugh fan".

 

[Kelly Watts]

Both sides seem to haive their fair share of "Looney Birds." HOWEVER, according to the "left" they are only on the right. God that sounds like an old country song.

 

[almaniac27]

Both sides seem to haive their fair share of "Looney Birds." HOWEVER, according to the "left" they are only on the right. God that sounds like an old country song.

And I've heard from the right that they are only on the left. Kind of like Fox News getting morally outraged by a Democratic congressman equating conservatives with Nazis (which I don't condone, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law) when Fox News hosts use Nazi analogies almost every day. Of course both sides have their share of nutcases, but it seems the right-wing ones are getting cockier these days.

 

[DonTheTrucker]

And I've heard from the right that they are only on the left. Kind of like Fox News getting morally outraged by a Democratic congressman equating conservatives with Nazis (which I don't condone, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law) when Fox News hosts use Nazi analogies almost every day. Of course both sides have their share of nutcases, but it seems the right-wing ones are getting cockier these days.

You realize you just did the same thing that you accuse Fox News of, right?

 

[quadraphonic]

And I've heard from the right that they are only on the left. Kind of like Fox News getting morally outraged by a Democratic congressman equating conservatives with Nazis (which I don't condone, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law) when Fox News hosts use Nazi analogies almost every day. Of course both sides have their share of nutcases, but it seems the right-wing ones are getting cockier these days.

You realize you just did the same thing that you accuse Fox News of, right?

He's outraged. Let him vent. It's about all you can do, seems like.

 

[almaniac27]

And I've heard from the right that they are only on the left. Kind of like Fox News getting morally outraged by a Democratic congressman equating conservatives with Nazis (which I don't condone, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law) when Fox News hosts use Nazi analogies almost every day. Of course both sides have their share of nutcases, but it seems the right-wing ones are getting cockier these days.

You realize you just did the same thing that you accuse Fox News of, right?

Blatant hypocrisy? I don't see it.

 

[KeithE4]

And I've heard from the right that they are only on the left. Kind of like Fox News getting morally outraged by a Democratic congressman equating conservatives with Nazis (which I don't condone, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law) when Fox News hosts use Nazi analogies almost every day. Of course both sides have their share of nutcases, but it seems the right-wing ones are getting cockier these days.

Depends on who's in power, especially in the White House. I recall a whole lot of hate and rancor from the left side of the political aisle during the Reagan and George Dubya Bush years, as well as from the right during the Clinton presidency (Carter and Daddy Bush got it from both sides pretty regularly, IIRC).

But as far as saying "Rush Limbaugh fan threatens public official," not only should that wacko be jailed for threatening, but Limbaugh himself should sue the guy for Defamation of Character for associating him with the threat of bodily harm.

Maybe my memory is fading, but I don't recall Limbaugh or any other talk show host advocating the harm of any public official, liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat. They know better, not to mention that they wouldn't particularly care for a visit from their local police or the Secret Service.