By Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
With leaders from all sides of the political spectrum coming together and calling for a Grand Jury investigation into the senseless slaying of teenager Trayvon Martin, surely there has to be one wacky voice. And who better than Fox & Friends contributor, Geraldo Rivera. On the show, Rivera recently blamed Martin’s hoodie as the culprit for the fatal attack:
I believe that George Zimmerman, the overzealous neighborhood watch captain, should be investigated to the fullest extent of the law, and if he is criminally liable he should be prosecuted. But I am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters particularly to not let their children go out wearing hoodies. I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was.
Rivera had opened the bidding with an equally inane column styled, “Trayvon Martin Would Be Alive but for His Hoodie.” There, after deriding low slung pants, he admonishes parents to take the hoodies off their kids too, imploring them, “don’t let your child go out into the hard cruel world wearing a costume that is really a sign that says ‘shoot me.’” Fleece as fomenter? Really?
That stupidity brought immediate comment from the saner and hipper side of the planet. “i didn’t even know geraldo still did stuff ppl listened to. damned if i listen to him now. but #BEATEMDOWNhoodies ARE on sale for $25,” media personality Bomani Jones tweeted. “Dear Geraldo Rivera: I’ll use small words so you can follow me, okay? Hoodies don’t kill people. Paranoid racists with guns kill people,” tweeted Wil Wheatonof Los Angeles. “That’s like saying Martin should not have left the house while being Black. As the Million Hoodie marches emphasize, there is nothing inherently devious about hoodies. It’s our culture’s racist stereotype for “suspicion” that makes hoodies worn by people of color — not soccer moms or Anderson Cooper — an act that could be met with violence,” journalist Kristen Gwynne wrote on AlterNet.
With President Obama saying that if he had a son he’d look a lot like Trayvon Martin, and Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum both calling for a Grand Jury inquiry into the matter, and calling the case a “tragedy” and a “horrible case,” respectively, Rivera looks like an old gum-shoe newsman looking for a story and some notoriety.
Clothing manufacturers must have thought the same thing. American Apparel, who makes the popular outerwear, noted its product is bought by “every type of person you can imagine—pink hoodies to toddlers, black and navy hoodies to businessmen and successful entrepreneurs, as well as plenty of college students of all backgrounds and everyone else in between. We even sell hoodies for dogs.” Creative Director Marsha Brady (no, not that Marsha Brady) added, “To say that this classic garment implies that its owner is a dangerous criminal to be ‘feared’ is absolutely ridiculous. We’re incredibly sorry about the young man who was shot while wearing one, and feel very strongly that oversimplifying the discussion by criticizing the victim’s clothing does the country, Trayvon Martin, and all those who support the end of crimes such as this one a massive and dangerous disservice.”
So it seems the journalist who brought us the underwhelming mystery of Al Capone’s vault on live TV, and who regaled us with wild claims about a million Satanists lurking among us and raping children during secret rituals, now finds himself saddled with another self-inflicted wound.
Blaming a hoodie for a shooting? If that’s true, innocent African-American kids and other hoodie affectionadoes like New England Patriots football coach, Bill Belichick, had better look out.
Source: msnbc
~Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
for kids sometimes hoodies are their armor.
and trayvon had every right to defend himself against a stalker. he tried to de-escalate the situation by leaving and zimmerman pursued.
geraldo is just a dick with a large mustache.
Gene H, I guess this would be “tripling down” if there’s such a word.
Sean Hannity On Trayvon Martin: ‘Is It Possible That This Was Just A Horrible Accident?’ (VIDEO)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/23/sean-hannity-trayvon-martin-accident_n_1374917.html?ref=media
PS Could it be those trying to get respect here, who choose hoodies.
In my teens it was the football jocks on the sidelines who wore them during the match.
Continuing—-
“…Rivera said he supported the laws, and then brought up hoodies again.
‘I’m telling you, half of it is the way the young men look,” he said. ‘…If a cop looks at three kids on the corner, and they’ve got those hoodies up ,,,,,
Walking and stood on Wilshire Blvd in LA, 1963, waiting for the light to go green, glanced at the two cops standing in the crossing—not a common sight, even in traffic hours. One came over and asked my business:
“I live over there and going to xxxx to get me a hamburger.”
Got reported for loitering (at a red light). 3 warnings and would get DA attention. Was white, not wearing a hoodlie or equivalent.
And was not swinging my hips or waving a limp wrist. Why? Go figure.
Testerone cops, maybe
Florida is just Jim Crow and blackie don’t vote no mo’, I figure.
.
Geraldo Rivera Doubles Down On Trayvon Martin Hoodie Comments: ‘Half Of It Is The Way The Young Men Look’ (VIDEO)
“Rivera admitted that his own son told him he was ashamed of him. But he stood staunchly behind his comments when speaking to O’Reilly. The two began talking about New York’s controversial ‘stop and frisk’ laws, which disproportionately affect people of color. Rivera said he supported the laws, and then brought up hoodies again.
‘I’m telling you, half of it is the way the young men look,” he said. ‘…If a cop looks at three kids on the corner, and they’ve got those hoodies up — and this is where I got in trouble with the Trayvon Martin case — if they’ve got those hoodies up, and they’re hanging out on the corner, the cops look at them and say, ‘Hmm, hoodies. Who else wears hoodies? Everybody that ever stuck up a convenience store, D.B. Cooper, the guy that hijacked a plane, Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber…’
O’Reilly said supportively that Rivera was merely trying to protect people.
‘Parents, don’t let your kids go out wearing these damn hoodies!’ Rivera continued. He called the negative association with the clothing ‘repugnant’ but said it was ‘reality.'”
What a genius.
This is worth cross-posting I think:
“R for Republican and—-
reactionary, redundant, redolent, raging, ridiculous, rapt (as to bribes), ruptured (brains and morals), replaceable, rank, reptilian brained, rapturous at the sight of power, roaming (hands), reeking (feet and genitalia), reckless (with other people’s possessions), remarkable (in stupidity), roaring, rye (drinkers), rattle (as in snake),——add your own
When my children were in grade school/high school, there were ‘dress code’ policies that prohibited them from wearing certain clothing styles and even certain colors which were considered ‘gang colors’ (red, blue, black, etc). I was and still am angry about that. However, I see Geraldo’s silly statement as the extension of those policies, namely, if one tries to LOOK like a ‘gangsta’, one will be so perceived. While I disagree with that position, for MANY people that is reasonable and logical.
eniobob,
Thanks for the link and that is a very real and possible explanation. As you know, LeBron James is an influential young man with the young people in the Cleveland-Akron area and has been ever since his junior year at St. V’s high school in Akron.
Otteray-
Click on “APPAREL” and get your FoxNation Hoodie before they disappear.
http://www.co-store.com/foxnation
Elaine M.
Thank you for your, as always, appropriate links. I’m circulating them.
Interesting post from Salon:
“J T
Friday, March 23, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Back in 1986 Geraldo Rivera really made a name for himself uncovering the so-called vaults of famous criminal and hoodlum Al Capone. Nearly every picture I see if Capone has him wearing a suit and tie, so should I assume that every suit and tie wearing individual I see is a crime-syndicate running gangster?
Well, on second thought, given the recent financial system crisis and that I work in Washington, DC, maybe I should.”
Blouise,
Your daughter’s comment support a new realization this week.
The kids are faster and more savvy than I/we was/were.
Two days, and they’ve got the whole 1,024,512 apps all figured out.
In the meanwhile they complain: “ain’t got nothin’ to do now, Mama?!!”
How different from when I listened to the “Shadow” on the radio.
Post memo I guess:
“Earlier Friday, Fox News Channel commentator Geraldo Rivera said on “Fox & Friends” the hoodie Martin wore when he was killed was as much responsible for his death as the man who shot him. Rivera later said his comment was “politically incorrect”
http://www.thegrio.com/sports/dwyane-wade-speaks-out-on-shooting-death-of-trayvon-martin.php
Blouise:
This post kind of touches on what you are saying.
eniobob and mespo, it does seem like a never ending circle- someone defending becomes the aggressor, then the defender, then the aggressor.
etc. Sort of like playing ‘hot potato’
I hadn’t heard of this stupidity until reading mespo’s post.
Now the quip my granddaughter made this morning makes sense.
She came over to mow the lawn and asked Tex if she could borrow one of his hoodies as it is chillier up by the lake. As she was walking out the door to start the lawn she looked at me, winked, and said, “Don’t worry, I’m not drinking iced tea.” I nodded but thought to myself, “What in the hell is she talking about?”
Now I know.
The absurdity of Rivera’s remark has even made its way into the world of the 18 year olds.
Gingrich says Obama’s comments on Martin ‘disgraceful’
By Perry Bacon Jr.
7:46 PM on 03/23/2012
“Former House speaker Newt Gingrich called President Obama’s comments on the Trayvon Martin shooting “disgraceful” and “appalling” in a interview Friday, accusing the president of being divisive by noting Martin’s race.
Hours after Obama had described the shooting as a “tragedy” and said, “if I had a son, he would look like Trayvon,” Gingrich slammed the president in an interview on the radio show of conservative Sean Hannity”
http://www.thegrio.com/politics/gingrich-says-obamas-comments-on-martin-disgraceful.php
Mespo
Bush’s opening his mouth may have trial consequences.
Just as Obama confusing his CIC role with his legal role to not get involved by “opinioning” Manning pre-trial.
But what can you expect from someone who wants royal death decree rights worldwide. Hubris has no limits. How do we check him when Congress and SCOTUS are cowed, and his gun is out.
shano:
Your link shows the defense of the undefenable,Pratt and Rivera the days modern Frick & Frack
“”Frick and Frack” has become an English slang term used in two ways. One is to refer to two people so closely associated as to be indistinguishable; the other way is as a term of derision for any two people, on par with calling one person a “Bozo” or three people “Stooges”.[2]”.
“One minute of fame, one minute…..?
Do I hear any bids for ONE minute of notoriety? Any bids…..?”
A guy named Lee was standing in the street just down from a grassy knoll and this motorcade came right at him. He stood his ground and these motorcylces and big limos kept coming right at him. He was in fear of his life and pulled his rifle and fired. Some big shot got killed and another one by someone else’s gun but Lee got blamed for it all and never got to present his defense because some fat head walked up in front of a roomful of cops and shot him dead. It was all on national tv yet now one brings up the stand your ground thing.