Immediately After Arizona Shooting, MSNBC's Russert Suggested ObamaCare Backlash Was the Cause
During MSNBC's live coverage immediately following Saturday's attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), correspondent Luke Russert theorized that the shooting was probably a violent reaction to the passage of ObamaCare, for which Giffords cast an affirmative vote.
"Remember, this is the deepest fear that was in the back of everybody's mind going through the health care debate. A lot of members were threatened," Russert warned during coverage of the shooting. "It looks sadly like it's come to fruition today."
Russert's comment came during the 3 p.m. EST hour of MSNBC News Live; the network was in ongoing live coverage of the event, which occurred around 10:15 a.m. local time, 12:15 p.m. EST.
Though the health care bill was opposed by groups on the far-Left because there was no "public option," or because it did not constitute a Canada-like "single-payer" model, the much louder opposition came from conservatives.
In his commentary, Russert noted that many "fringe groups" opposed the health care law and felt the federal government was "overstepping its bounds." From this statement it is clear that he was referring to either conservative or anti-government groups who opposed ObamaCare, since the chief conservative criticism of the bill is the government "overstepping its bounds" by requiring Americans to purchase health insurance under penalty of law.
"In the back of everyone's mind, there was this fear that this type of attack could happen," Russert continued. He predicted that the coming week will bring a sharp reaction from Congress to Saturday's shooting, and a condemnation of all politically-motivated violence.
A transcript of the segment, which aired on January 8 at 3:34 p.m. EST, is as follows:
LUKE RUSSERT: Remember, this is the deepest fear that was in the back of everybody's mind going through the health care debate. A lot of members were threatened. Congresswoman Giffords' windows at her district office were broken. That same thing happened to Congresswoman Slaughter, a Democrat from New York. Congressman Clyburn had a noose – an African-American – faxed to him. In the back of everyone's mind, there is this fear that this type of attack could happen.
There is a lot of fringe groups that were very upset with the health care law, felt that the federal government was overstepping its bounds, and that was in – within everyone's mind. It looks sadly like it's come to fruition today. Look for that to be a big message next week from both parties saying there should be an end to this type of violence. And look a lot of folks to say, "You know what? It looks like it's incumbent on all leaders on both the left and the right to say that these things are not acceptable in any way. Look for that next week.
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Comments
Senator Klyburn is
Submitted by billb on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 1:51pm.
Senator Klyburn is responsible for many years of inflamatory rhetoric. RACE BAITNG. The man is an out and out liar and deserves NO respect from the American people or his constituants!
Absolutely
Submitted by Gat New York on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:17pm.
No sooner did this event happen and he was out leading the dispicable charge of blaming conservatives and Sarah Palin for inciting this nut case.
What they fail to understand is that his own former classmate said that he was a pot smoking left wing nut job.
But why should facts get in the way of bottom feeders like Clyburn and Leahy.
Wow.
Submitted by Unsilent_Minority on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 1:52pm.
Not a lot to be added to this idiot's assertion. To make a jump to this kind of conclusion, even before the suspect was clearly identified, is awful journalism. Now, I'm no journalist, but neither is this clown, based on his body of work here.
Gone to the Dark Side, Luke?
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 1:51pm.
We all know that Little Russert didn't get his job at NBC because he was a qualified journalist.
But does he have to remind us with each of his reports?
He, along with serpent head,
Submitted by ricklail on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:19pm.
He, along with serpent head, James Carville, used to have a sports show on Sirius/XM entitled 60/20 Sports. I think they finally took it off because it was a POS. Who wants to listen to a show that is supposed to be about sports but talks more about politics. I turn to the sports talk as a haven from the political talk.
No Luke, I believe Loughner
Submitted by Barack_must_go..... on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 1:52pm.
No Luke, I believe Loughner shot those people because you're an imbacile.
Barack_Must_Go.....
duplicate post
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:08pm.
(dupe)
Russert draws a link between the Tuscon shootings . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:13pm.
. . . and Giffords' vote on Health Care Reform, but why not her vote for John Lewis to be Speaker rather than Pelosi (which pissed off blogger "BlueBoy")?
Or her support of Second Amendment rights?
Or maybe the shooter doesn't like astronauts' wives?
Imperialist astronauts
Submitted by Agnostic on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:23pm.
are invading space for the evil US military complex. We already know what many of the left think of Imperialist and the US military.
I just love how these
Submitted by Iron Tigers Vet on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 1:56pm.
faux journolistas give their "professional" opinion (spin) to this killing spree in AZ.
Luke.. Obama's not your fahtha!
"Context"
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:25pm.
Notable Leftwing "journalists" like Bill Moyers refer to a reporter's opinion as context.
Dan Rather touched on this after Memo-gate, when he stated that he (the journalist) knows what the Truth is, and therefore, it doesn't matter whether the evidence he offers to validate that Truth is fact or fiction, as long as it aligns with the Truth.
Moyers writes that journalists need to put more context into their reporting.
Galvanic
Submitted by well99 on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:45pm.
Funny you should mention that.Shep was useing "Context" when he first reported the shootings.Shep was showing his bias as usual in reporting.He refered to it as context.As far as Pablum Boy on the video clip well I doubt he could spell journalist let alone be a real one.
Just the typical liberal
Submitted by Beukeboom on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:50pm.
Just the typical liberal rebranding and redefinition of words and phrases to make them more palatable to the "ignorant masses."
Like using the word "investment" as a substitute . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 5:01pm.
. . . for the word tax.
Legos Russert is afraid Clyburn may be lynched?
Submitted by SickofLibs on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 1:57pm.
LOL
I'm glad Tim isn't around to
Submitted by Bruzilla on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:13pm.
I'm glad Tim isn't around to see his son make a fool of himself and an embarassment of the family name.
Ding Ding Ding
Submitted by donabernathy on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:39pm.
We have a WINNER
WELL SAID.
roflmao
I doubt that maggot-infested kook even knows what Obamacare is
Submitted by Dave. on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:22pm.
BTW, Lukey Luke, one of the myriad reasons the majority of the people in this country opposed Obamacare was because unlike you, they have a fundamental understanding of the Constitution.
You remember the Constitution, don't you? It was the document this nation was founded upon, and it put very strict limits on what the federal government could do.
Perhaps you could trouble yourself to read it sometime.
It's too bad you couldn't come up with something useful to do with your life other than being a propaganda-regurgitating robot for those who are working to destroy freedom and liberty in America.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Young
Submitted by grammajane on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:38pm.
Luke, todd, guthrie etc are young reporters who have been swept up by the 60's hate America so-called hosts to spew all this bias reporting. With American's wising up about the media, these youngsters will probably be out of jobs as their audience will be zero.
"...out of jobs as their audience will be zero?"
Submitted by no tingly legs on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:37pm.
Haha, this is MSNBC you're talking about. That ship has sailed. If they cared about ratings, ALL their on-air "talent" would have been out of work long ago. As the Helen Hunt character in "As Good As It Gets" said: "Do you have any control over how creepy you allow yourself to get?". The MSNBC loons obviously do NOT.
Talk about being born on 3rd base...
Submitted by Forbus on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:42pm.
if the guy's name was anything other than Russert that little pissant couldn't get a job on a 30-watt radio station in Mud Puddle, Oklahoma.
Nicely put.
Submitted by Texndoc on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:48pm.
I'll never forget this Ace reporter doing a story one day and the next being a guest on a panel of three about his story and Scarborough having to keep saying "Luke, what do you think?" "Luke, Luke?" "Hey, Luke!" while he sat there looking like a deer in the headlights, unable to form a coherent thought. "Hey, Luke, this is YOUR reporting! Luke? Luke???????"
But Air America would've
Submitted by Beukeboom on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:48pm.
But Air America would've welcomed him with open arms.
This is what Happens
Submitted by donabernathy on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:47pm.
when a Ward Boss gives a "real job" to a snow day shovel dufus. Of course looking at the condition of the dying media, the description fits many.
roflmao
Luke Russert is bringing
Submitted by Beukeboom on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 2:47pm.
Luke Russert is bringing great shame to the family name when it comes to "journalism."
He went to Boston College. Do
Submitted by ricklail on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:12pm.
He went to Boston College. Do they even have a journalism school?
Apparently BU does.
Submitted by Beukeboom on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:19pm.
Apparently BU does.
Journalism schools produce weak journalists
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 5:24pm.
Longtime CBS News correspondent Roger Mudd once talked about the advice he always offered to aspiring journalists. (I paraphrase here) "Don't major in journalism or communications. They merely teach you about the media. Major in liberal arts. Get some background in English composition and literature, history, geography, math, art, and the sciences. Having knowledge about the way the world works is far more important to sound reporting than understanding how journalism works -- that knowledge you can absorb your first weeks on the job."
Tim Russert was no
Submitted by celator on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:09pm.
Tim Russert was no conservative, but he would have been among the first to denounce the MSM attempt to link the Tuscon tragedy to ObamaCare, Palin, Limbaugh or anyone else. He would have been, I believe, one of the voices of reason through all this.
And he would have, by now, have taken his dopey kid to the woodshed and taught him a thing or two about what journalism should be all about.
This is a shame*
Submitted by cajun2 on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:08pm.
Met an old acquaintance ( a liberal ) this morning at the post office. She says "regarding this tragedy" that what we need to do in this country is "just asll be Americans" . One party, one voice and all this divisiveness would be gone.
It was too cold for me to stand there exposed to such stupidity. There are many people who think like her. That is a shame on the education system and the state of our country today.
You should have
Submitted by HockeyKid on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 4:50pm.
agreed, and asked her when she was going to register Republican.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
More journalistic excellence from junior Russert...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:11pm.
"Remember, this is the deepest fear that was in the back of everybody's mind going through the health care debate. A lot of members were threatened...It looks sadly like it's come to fruition today."
Based on what, Luke? Got any facts to back up your bs contention? A short 3-4 hours after the shooting occurred, when no one really knew anything concrete about this loon, and Russert goes the on the air, mouths off about something that he had no real information about, and makes an a$$ of himself. This was all pure uninformed opinion on his part, and yet he tries to package and sell it as "news"...What a miserable little nothing he is..I wonder what his father would think about this.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
faxed a noose??
Submitted by jon_torlin on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:21pm.
Was there any proof of that or was that just more of Klyburn's story telling?
-Jon
He was also faxed spit. At least that's what they say.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:28pm.
Just horrible.
Let us know if any evidence
Submitted by Beukeboom on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:30pm.
Let us know if any evidence is actually produced. His word on it can't be trusted.
IF this happened, why hasn't Clyburn...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:39pm.
released some type of proof of it? Where's the photo of the fax?
I don't believe a single word that Clyburn says about that whole episode.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Frankly I wouldn't believe
Submitted by Beukeboom on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:54pm.
Frankly I wouldn't believe anything Clyburn says.
Agreed...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 4:14pm.
My sentiments exactly.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
double
Submitted by SickofLibs on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:28pm.
double
Health Care
Submitted by fastaire54 on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:39pm.
The libs already have their no lose situation figured out on this health care issue as it concerns this shooting. If the shooter went on his rampage because of the passage of Obamacare it will be the "rights" fault for promoting opposition to health care. If it turned out that the shooter was for Obamacare it will be the "rights" fault for trying to repeal it that set him off. All of this notwithstanding the fact that the rampage more than likely had nothing to do with politics.Luke Russert - Never had a chance...
Submitted by Wawaashkeshi on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:50pm.
This callow kid (Luke) never had a chance; the day his father (Anakin) passed away, the same people kissing daddy's ring started grooming his kid to join the dark side - and so far they've succeeded.
Good analogy.
Submitted by Beukeboom on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:53pm.
Good analogy.
Nepotism, ain't it grand
Submitted by WarEagle66 on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 3:53pm.
Nepotism, ain't it grand Luke?
Funny how 60% of the
Submitted by mang on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 4:07pm.
Funny how 60% of the population against Obamacare is a "fringe group".
Luke, your father
Submitted by HockeyKid on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 4:52pm.
is spinning in his grave. You are the sorriest excuse for a journalist I've seen in a long time.
And that's saying a LOT, in this country.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Is Russert that dumb, or just
Submitted by Cowboy on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 4:58pm.
Is Russert that dumb, or just that dishonest?
Or both?
Submitted by Beukeboom on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 5:01pm.
Or both?
LUKE THE FLUKE
Submitted by Herbster on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 5:18pm.
If it wasn't for his father, this idiot would be picking sh_ _ with the chickens. How anyone would credit this cretin with an ounce of credibility is beyond me. Maybe he and Contessa Brewer could do a show together. They could call it, "When Morons Meet!" NBC is a disgrace.
Is Luke really Tim's son...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Tue, 01/11/2011 - 9:01pm.
...they have tests for this stuff...