From ABC affiliate in San Francisco:
Gregory Giusti's 83-year-old mother had not heard that her son had been arrested, but she told ABC7 he has a history of mental problems. She does not think he would be capable of carrying out the threat; he has never owned a gun, and she blames Fox News for getting her son worked up.
Giusti was arrested Wednesday afternoon for threatening Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi over recent healthcare legislation.
"Greg frequently gets in with a group of people that have really radical ideas and that are not consistent with myself or the rest of the family, which gets him into problems," Eleanor Giusti said. "I say Fox News, or all of those that are really radical, and he, that's where he comes from."
Well according to his mother Giusti was probably not a REAL threat to Pelosi's life, and that is good to know. However one has to wonder how many other unhinged Fox News viewers are out that that might actually have the wherewithal to follow through on their threats, and when Fox News will stop the hate speech and take responsibility for their part in creating so much anger in this country.
Yeah, exactly. They need to stop now.
ReplyDeleteDid you see that part of the interview at the Press luncheon with Murdoch where he says Fox News shouldn't be backing any political party or movement? Year, right? As if he didn't know.
He's all about ratings, control, and notoriety so how can we trust his surprise at being asked about the bias. I think he's just getting worried about his image or being held accountable.
Holding those folks accountable is what should be done. But then, Hannity was with Sarah, Michelle and Palenty, so that's not going well. those crazies were scary and boring - that's hard to do but they did successfully combine the two traits.
Oh I don't think Rupert's company will be taking any responsibility anytime soon. It behooves him to have mentally ill people threatening politicians and Americans so clueless about what is really going on they think they'll be arrested by census workers and will be interred in camps. Fear sells television and radio. FAUX is laughing all the way to the bank.
ReplyDeleteIt's so embarrassing that even Coburn (yeek) spoke up about the insanity of FAUX. They are truly dragging the uneducated and paranoid down the stupid path. But what is so sad is that Faux viewers and Limbaugh listeners are pawns. Limbaugh will have a job as long as he keeps his listeners reactionary and ignorant. FAUX will keep their viewers the same.
But they can be brought down though. Most liars are.
I'm so glad the woman spoke up about the insanity of Fox and what it is doing to us. I have a crazy sister who is very susceptible, and it's devastating. We need to start calling Fox what it is: a cult. A brainwashing, twisted cult.
ReplyDeleteBabs and Angela: I agree with your perspectives. The people who are fans of Limbaugh and Fox have very narrow perspectives. Throw into that mix, some mental instability, and there is a huge problem with the way they present their "news" as facts. This happens to some degree on local media too.
ReplyDeleteFox does need to stop now. They won a court case that makes it alright for them to lie. I don't think they will stop any devious or inferior behaviors on their own.
ReplyDeleteHow can they be held accountable when they are so aggressive and can buy legalities and past insiders like Judith Regan?
Eleanor Giusti is a jewel and I thank her for being so open. I love this woman's verve and hope others can follow her courageous example.
I think that this and other instances like it which will surely arise in the next few months actually represent one the biggest potential threats to Murdoch’s empire in the form of lawsuits in civil court.
ReplyDeleteOutside of the FauxNews sheeple flock, Murdoch is much despised. If he ends up facing lawsuits by folks like the above mother, at some point he risks the vagaries of what a jury might do in a civil trial. I think that Murdoch is probably safe from criminal charges, but civil court is another matter entirely. It is very risky for Murdoch to bet that he can prevail in any and all civil trials. Remember the multimillion dollar award for damages because McDonald’s coffee was hot? The entire panoply of FauxNews culpability would be on full display, reexamined, and dissected in the national press. It would be hard for any reasonable person to believe that incitement wasn’t the prime animus of FauxNews and of Murdoch personally. In the hands of the right lawyer with the right jury, Murdoch could face a huge loss in P.R. and in monetary damages.
It was through civil court that the Southern Poverty Law Center took down the Klan by going after their assets. In investing so much time and resources toward inciting the idiot sheeple, I think that Murdoch has made himself very vulnerable along these same lines. If attorneys view him as vulnerable, they will be on him like stink on fish. Even a single loss in civil court could mean the end of his empire.
My heart goes out to the Giusti family.
ReplyDeleteOne of my acquaintances had mental health issues and was arrested for threatening political leaders. It was so very difficult on the people who loved him, dealing with the double stigma of mental illness and that type of behavior. When he was in good mental health he was a charming, lovable person. It was not their fault.
That poor, lucid, elderly woman.
ReplyDeleteMs. Giusti is talking to lawyers, I hope.
ReplyDeleteHer son isn't the first, and won't be the last person with mental health issues who "buys" into what Fux News is selling--racism, hate and reactionary viewpoints.
Ms. Giusti and her family have my deepest sympathy. Her son's actions are the direct result of reckless and irresponsible rhetoric about the health care reform bill from folks like Limbaugh, Beck, Bachman, Palin, and Hannity. Because they are so hell-bent on thwarting this president and destroying, they are poisoning the political well in this country. Fortunately, this woman recognizes what the majority of posters on this forum recognize.
ReplyDeleteThe hard right is extremely dangerous.