Air America source: Randi Rhodes was attacked — but it wasn’t a hate crime
posted at 4:06 pm on October 17, 2007 by Allahpundit
Let’s see. We’ve got her lawyer saying she fell down, the cops claiming there’s been no report of any crime in the area, the AAR host who accused conservatives of having attacked her now in full retreat — and a lone anonymous source within AAR telling Fox News that yeah, something’s up. But:
An Air America employee, who was not authorized to speak to the media and declined to be identified, told FOXNews.com Tuesday afternoon that Rhodes had been attacked, but said “it was not a hate crime.”
The source said that Rhodes contacted several employees at Air America on Tuesday, and had told them that she was attacked but had only suffered chipped teeth, and would be seeing a dentist. [Rhodes's lawyer, Robert] Gaulin, however, said that Rhodes had been disoriented by the fall and really was not sure what had happened.
Brian Maloney thinks there must be more to this than meets the eye (“The big question, one that is buzzing around the radio industry: was this all a big stunt?”), but I’m skeptical. Your exit question, then: Is this a deliberate attempt by the anonymous AAR employee to save a little face for the organization in the wake of debacle by claiming that the original story was sort of true, even if no right-winger was at fault? Or is he simply the victim of bad info from an obviously woozy Rhodes? And, follow-up question: How hard did Rhodes fall that it left her imagining afterwards that she’d been attacked?
Blowback
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Is it possible she was mugged by reality?
amerpundit on October 17, 2007 at 4:09 PM
ROFLMAO!! We have a winner…
lan astaslem on October 17, 2007 at 4:10 PM
To me, that still says she was drunk.
And technically, according to Newton, the ground did hit her.
Esthier on October 17, 2007 at 4:11 PM
John Gibson said it best…Pssissp…glug glug glug…I jusss felleded dowwnned…
doriangrey on October 17, 2007 at 4:11 PM
Is it possible she was mugged by reality?
Heh, now that’s just harsh…
Bad Candy on October 17, 2007 at 4:11 PM
Walking her dog, eh? Obviously needs a bigger dog.
Bobber on October 17, 2007 at 4:12 PM
How can it be anything remotely like a hate crime? Who ever suggested that line of thought must be a moron. Hate crimes by definition are based upon: race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity.
Being a loud mouthed liberal doesn’t count last time I checked (a few minuted ago).
Britcop on October 17, 2007 at 4:14 PM
Is it possible she was mugged by reality?
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on October 17, 2007 at 4:14 PM
I predict that if we ever learn the truth it will turn out that Randi got drunk, took her dog out for a walk and had a bad fall. Or maybe she was engaging in some kinky sex and fell off the trampoline or something like that. In either case her accident was embarrassing enough that she hoped to conceal the actual cause by inventing a cover story.
FloatingRock on October 17, 2007 at 4:15 PM
She was attacked by the Tooth Fairy????
georgej on October 17, 2007 at 4:15 PM
I think she was attacked by her dog. A couple quick circles around her with the leash and…
taznar on October 17, 2007 at 4:16 PM
Either way, I don’t like her, but it’s good to hear that she wasn’t hurt too badly.
StoutRepublican on October 17, 2007 at 4:16 PM
Pure speculation — could this be a domestic squabble gone too far?
Anton on October 17, 2007 at 4:16 PM
Maybe she was Fisked in the truest sense of the world: “I deserved it.”
Maybe she was attacked by an exploited victim of Capitalism and Amerikkka, and doesn’t want to perpetuate stereotypes by identifying physical characteristics of said victim.
Muggers = Victims
Just ask the Jena 6.
wordwarp on October 17, 2007 at 4:16 PM
In all seriousness it doesn’t take much of a fall to knock your noggin on the concrete and get a concussion.
Mr. Bingley on October 17, 2007 at 4:17 PM
I’m thinking it was Sybil that did it.
Time for the pink room?
Kokonut on October 17, 2007 at 4:17 PM
but is she gonna still gonna be able to talk…?
d1carter on October 17, 2007 at 4:17 PM
oh yeah… her attacker was merciless.
Is this a “fake but accurate” situation going on here?
liquidflorian on October 17, 2007 at 4:18 PM
I’ve seen this picture before. Never could figure out how they got her to smile.
Harpoon on October 17, 2007 at 4:19 PM
Was she just about to eat something?
Ochlan on October 17, 2007 at 4:19 PM
If she WAS mugged, perhaps maybe she’ll change her views on gun control.
Lots of great comments here, get a bigger dog, mugged by reality, attacked by her dog via the leash, etc all good stuff and the reason I love HotAir!
Tony737 on October 17, 2007 at 4:21 PM
Photo of the incident.
Stephen M on October 17, 2007 at 4:23 PM
Whatever it was, I hope she recovers fully and soon, and if somebody did punch her in the yap, that he gets a ride in the black and whites.
You don’t hit women. Even annoying whiny insane liberal women. That’s Rule Number One in the Real Man book. (Corollary to that: don’t spit on women–which is cross-referenced under rule 56: “Don’t spit on people unless your name is Josey Wales”.)
If she got drunk and fell down, well, that’s sad and I hope that doesn’t happen again. And if this is a problem with her and not just a rare indulgence, I hope we’ll all treat her more respectfully than the other side treated Limbaugh.
see-dubya on October 17, 2007 at 4:27 PM
I’ve been slapped up side the head by reality a couple of times, but chipped teeth seems a bit extreme. Now “A couple quick circles around her with the leash” sounds entirely possible. Been there.
High Desert Wanderer on October 17, 2007 at 4:27 PM
I’m going with “too embarrassed to admit she was falling-down drunk, so blame it on someone else.”
Splashman on October 17, 2007 at 4:27 PM
Judging from the picture AP posted she was savagely beaten with the ugly stick.
Mike Honcho on October 17, 2007 at 4:29 PM
Here’s a thought (from one of Ace’s commenters): she was mugged and the mugger was a person of high-melanin concentrate, but she doesn’t want to say so due to twisted–and racist–Left-type reasoning about why some minority individuals commit crimes.
baldilocks on October 17, 2007 at 4:30 PM
Don’t know why Air America gets so much press on blogs like this. Fact is, I have never heard it. I’ve looked for it on the dial, but all I can find on AM is spanish stations. Do they even broadcast, or just yell out the window of some NY building?
Masscon on October 17, 2007 at 4:31 PM
Or a smaller dog that won’t pull her to the ground. Damn flexi-leads!
robblefarian on October 17, 2007 at 4:32 PM
For what its worth, October is the beginning of the new Arbitron ratings period for radio stations.
Look at all the free pub these tools are getting.
Publicity stunt? Last ditch effort? Just saying.
RobG on October 17, 2007 at 4:33 PM
Yeah apparently it’s hard to pin motive on a concrete sidewalk.
Spirit of 1776 on October 17, 2007 at 4:35 PM
Does Captain Morgan have an alibi?
Jack M. on October 17, 2007 at 4:35 PM
baldilocks … that’s a pretty scary thought. You don’t report crime because the perp is a minority?
Anyway … another possibility is “rehab” enters the picture soon …
darwin on October 17, 2007 at 4:35 PM
The next ratings period starts tomorrow…for the record.
October 18 – November 14
RobG on October 17, 2007 at 4:36 PM
Sure is.
baldilocks on October 17, 2007 at 4:37 PM
Honestly
I’d leave this one alone until the facts come out. Regardless of Ideology, a woman getting attacked or falling down (lets be sympathetic – when she’s well and recovered then we can shred her opinions) The fact was she was injured lets wish her a speedy recovery as a fellow american and a Christian. Honestly I take no joy in her situation as its being spun into something bigger by people on both sides.
Lets leave it alone
EricPWJohnson on October 17, 2007 at 4:39 PM
I think it’s clear that she made up the “attack” since she chipped her teeth and had to come up with some explanation.
I don’t think it occurred to her that it would be used as an opportunity by an idiot with a mike to bash Republicans and get the truthers agitated.
Buy Danish on October 17, 2007 at 4:39 PM
The dog aspect of this story is being over-looked.
How often does a woman walking her dog get attacked without the dog defending her, and how many people are stupid enough to attack a woman with a dog? Maybe her dog doesn’t believe in violence. Oh wait! The dog was paid off by Bush!
I’d be willing to bet two things …
One, she was never attacked.
Two, the dog is much smarter than she is.
Gregor on October 17, 2007 at 4:40 PM
Remember that scene in the original “Dirty Harry” movie when the bad guy Scorpio paid some broham 3 Benjamin Netanyahus to beat him into a meat loaf so he could claim for the TV cameras that Dirty Harry roughed him up???
extremely unlikely in this case, but since paranoia is now the coin of the realm, by Odin’s Raven i say: curious.
Mike D. on October 17, 2007 at 4:41 PM
Tune in tomorrow for the *3rd* and final version of this fascinating story!!
georgej on October 17, 2007 at 4:42 PM
If you “leave it alone” … the facts will NEVER come out.
“Leaving it alone” is exactly how conservatives are currently losing every battle being fought.
Gregor on October 17, 2007 at 4:44 PM
I’m still going with “domestic dispute”
beefeater on October 17, 2007 at 4:45 PM
I Demand 10/16 Truth!!
Fire Can’t Melt Steel Buildings
Fire Can’t Melt Overpasses
$1.00 Can’t Show Up More Than Two Time On The Price Is Right Wheel
Non-Conservatives Can’t Chip Teeth
BohicaTwentyTwo on October 17, 2007 at 4:46 PM
Maybe the dog tried to make a run for it, dragging her foward Marmaduke-style on her teeth. Michelle’s t-shirt just might belong to the dog.
clghitis on October 17, 2007 at 4:50 PM
She Erred …. America
Kini on October 17, 2007 at 4:52 PM
I guess it’s not a crime to be escorted out of a bar.
roux on October 17, 2007 at 4:54 PM
Chipped teeth, eh? Perhaps she tried to dry-hump Danny Bonaduce?
Blacklake on October 17, 2007 at 4:56 PM
Gregor
I understand your feelings but a woman getting hurt is not a subject of ridicule, glee (not by you) or even debate. Let her handlers be boorish and snide – as if they were not going to otherwise and leave it alone because we don’t know what happened to her
I’d leave these little explosive hand grenade issues alone
EricPWJohnson on October 17, 2007 at 4:56 PM
Isn’t she always imagining she’s being attacked?
Let’s not denigrate her physical appearance, guys. Don’t her emotional and intellectual shortcomings give us plenty of ammo as it is?
Jim Treacher on October 17, 2007 at 4:59 PM
anyone heard anything on the noose incident?
tomas on October 17, 2007 at 5:00 PM
Geez, see-dubya,
I don’t recall Rush or his minions claiming that his issues were the result of being attacked by the left wing “brown shirts”.
Sack up!
there it is on October 17, 2007 at 5:01 PM
+1
RushBaby on October 17, 2007 at 5:05 PM
I’m a lot bigger than Rhodes, and I’d probably be wobbly long before my 14th Ketel One Bloody Mary.
My money is she indeed did a faceplant.
Has anyone questioned the dog yet?
JammieWearingFool on October 17, 2007 at 5:06 PM
It was ‘satire’.
Limerick on October 17, 2007 at 5:07 PM
My guess is Al Franken popped her during a dispute over money.
Gregor on October 17, 2007 at 5:07 PM
Man, she even LOOKS wacky. Lots of weed smoking and substance abuse in her past/present.
RW Wacko on October 17, 2007 at 5:08 PM
“Don’t spit on people unless your name is Josey Wales”.
Excellent, see-dubya. Are you gonna pull those pistols or whistle Dixie?
Mike Antonucci on October 17, 2007 at 5:09 PM
How often does a woman walking her dog get attacked without the dog defending her…
The dog’s name is reported elsewhere as… “Simon”. That answer your question?
drunyan8315 on October 17, 2007 at 5:11 PM
there it is–
Fair point. So as concerns this ‘nozzle Jon Elliot, who jumped out there to put this bogus hate-crime spin on the whole thing, I hope those words get thrown in his face for the rest of his miserable little career.
see-dubya on October 17, 2007 at 5:12 PM
If you’re gonna pound ‘em down with the big boys in an Irish pub, ya gotta man up when you kiss the curb. The lefty got soused. The lefty fell down. The lefty — of course — wants it all to be someone else’s fault. Sorry, hon, you’re way too long in the tooth to pull this embarrassed college girl routine.
Rational Thought on October 17, 2007 at 5:15 PM
Randi, what’s the frequency? What’s the frequency, Randi?
peacenprosperity on October 17, 2007 at 5:19 PM
Sensitive little spoil sport.
peacenprosperity on October 17, 2007 at 5:20 PM
Here’s what happened. She met her connection in the alley behind the bar, the lid was light and she got mouthy. Dude gives her a fat lip, takes the stash and the cash leaving her drunk, disoriented, and in need of a cover story. Of course that is just biting satire on my part. Obviously.
Barntender on October 17, 2007 at 5:22 PM
I have a scar on my knee from the time my black lab stopped short and I did not, thereby tumbling over him. I could very easily have landed face first, so it’s not inconceivable that this was an accident. If she did land on her head, it’s understandable if she was dazed and confused. What is not understandable is how quickly her colleagues were willing to accuse their favorite bogeymen based upon absolutely no evidence whatsoever. These people are the reason for the expression, “Hit rock bottom and started to dig.”
DrMagnolias on October 17, 2007 at 5:23 PM
Ace has a pic of her in a bar at some Air America function. Look on the wall behind her. Is that a picture of Hitler?
Barntender on October 17, 2007 at 5:29 PM
With a name like Randi, maybe it was just rough sex.
petefrt on October 17, 2007 at 5:31 PM
Let’s see – Randi is in Manhattan, the AAR Headquarters are in NYC, and AAR is bleeding money like Imelda Marcos in a shoe shop.
What’s the likelihood that this was an inside job? Maybe the
AAR Board of Directors tried to gang up on her and take her out.
Just sayin’…
Timothy S. Carlson on October 17, 2007 at 5:32 PM
That’s just our president.
/moonbat
Bad Candy on October 17, 2007 at 5:32 PM
Maybe the guys that attacked Randi were the same guys who are looking for “Kenneth” to find out “what the frequency” is? Dandy Dan Rather couldn’t help them.
Mallard T. Drake on October 17, 2007 at 5:42 PM
I should have read all the comments. You beat me to it…..
Mallard T. Drake on October 17, 2007 at 5:44 PM
But how would anyone tell the difference?
Hollowpoint on October 17, 2007 at 5:48 PM
We’re already on the 3rd version (she was attacked, she fell but wasn’t attacked, she fell after being attacked)- tomorrow could bring the 4th version. 5th if you include the “she was drunk” version of the story.
Hollowpoint on October 17, 2007 at 5:53 PM
Boyfriend? Up to no good?
pat on October 17, 2007 at 6:14 PM
I’ve tripped over a chiwauwau once, (you know…one of those very small Mexican doggies…so I’m a rotten speller).
Still have all my own teeth…the doggie didn’t make it through though.
Sgt. Khe Sahn
1GooDDaDDy on October 17, 2007 at 6:21 PM
TNR is reporting that she was hurt while rescuing her dog from a APC that had veered to the curb trying to slice the dog in half.
pedestrian on October 17, 2007 at 6:23 PM
Was there a white plane flying around before this happened?
SouthernGent on October 17, 2007 at 6:33 PM
Brit Hume just reported that Elliot has apologized for the “right wing” comment.
photom on October 17, 2007 at 6:58 PM
How can you tell who is who?
Wade on October 17, 2007 at 6:58 PM
You guys are all wrong. “Walking the dog” is a euphemism for stumbling outside a bar to vomit excessively.
Dork B. on October 17, 2007 at 7:05 PM
Are you saying she has a great face for radio?
eanax on October 17, 2007 at 7:06 PM
Not according to:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=walking+the+dog
pedestrian on October 17, 2007 at 7:19 PM
If she isn’t sure what happened, how does she know she was attacked? Attempting to get ratings for a sinking ship by lying? Wouldn’t surprise me a bit.
katieanne on October 17, 2007 at 7:26 PM
Don’t drink and walk your dog! It’s dangerous!
TheBigOldDog on October 17, 2007 at 7:32 PM
she was drunk.
maybe she was being an asshole, someone got in her face over her assholish behavior and she fell backwards. hence, an apolitical “assault” which she doesn’t have a clear memory of.
who gets blind drunk on a school night? i hope bottom isn’t too far down for her and she gets help soon.
jummy on October 17, 2007 at 7:45 PM
btw, have we forgotten all about the hoax-watch on the noose hung on the professor’s door? is there timing to be questioned here?
jummy on October 17, 2007 at 7:50 PM
I am sorry but until i see a picture of the toothless witch i dont believe any of this .
Mojack420 on October 17, 2007 at 8:01 PM
HA! I stand Corrected! She should’ve had her mouthpiece in!
Dork B. on October 17, 2007 at 8:08 PM
Mugged by gravity.
ZK on October 17, 2007 at 8:27 PM
I think if anything this was a hate crime against the poor sidewalk by RR.
Mojack420 on October 17, 2007 at 8:35 PM
I think a full grown male Alaskan moose farted in Randi Rhodes’s face, causing her to fall.
radjah shelduck on October 17, 2007 at 8:42 PM
Does this mean the sidwalk can sue her?
allrsn on October 17, 2007 at 9:14 PM
This link is to John Gibson’s radio talk show.
http://homepage.mac.com/mkoldys/iblog/C168863457/E20071016191728/index.html
They have about 2 or 3 people who are reading the on-line rantings from Thick Progress, DK , etc… there’s a guy who sounds really gay , it’s really funny, he starts at 3:10 into it.
VinceP1974 on October 17, 2007 at 9:16 PM
Truthiness; it’s an ephemeral thang…
Claire on October 17, 2007 at 9:23 PM
Domestic violence?
CrimsonFisted on October 17, 2007 at 9:28 PM
From the article
Assuming she was drunk…
As luck would have it I spent the last 2 days on Park and 39th.
I walked down Park 38th/39th and 40th looking to buy some smokes last night.
If I had to guess she spent the night at Bogart’s
Or possibly the Irish Pub on 40th and Madison.
F15Mech on October 17, 2007 at 9:53 PM
WHAT’S THE FREQUENCY, KENNETH!?
Warner Todd Huston on October 17, 2007 at 10:38 PM
Just more proof that liberalism is a mental disorder as much as it is an ideology.
Lawrence on October 17, 2007 at 11:12 PM
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