Open Thread: Media Coverage of Troy Davis's Execution
Late last night, Georgia executed inmate Troy Davis for the murder of Mark McPhail in 1989. MacPhail, who was working as a security guard at the time, rushed to help a homeless man who prosecutors said Davis was hitting with a gun. When MacPhail came to the homeless man's aid, Davis shot MacPhail to death.
Davis's case sparked controversy around the world, with many declaring Davis was innocent due to the lack of strong physical evidence, despite a number of eyewitness testimonies. Davis's execution has previously been stopped three times since 2007, but he ran out of legal options yesterday when the pardons board and the Supreme Court both rejected his offer to take a polygraph test. Do you think the media covered the execution of Troy Davis fairly? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
According to columnist Ann Coulter,
It's nearly impossible to receive a death sentence these days -- unless you do something completely crazy like shoot a cop in full view of dozens of witnesses in a Burger King parking lot, only a few hours after shooting at a passing car while exiting a party.
That's what Troy Davis did in August 1989.
Davis is the media's current baby seal of death row. After a two-week trial with 34 witnesses for the state and six witnesses for the defense, the jury of seven blacks and five whites took less than two hours to convict Davis of Officer Mark MacPhail's murder, as well as various other crimes. Two days later, the jury sentenced Davis to death.
Many are still upset with the outcome of the trial, though. According to Fox News,
Hundreds of thousands of people signed petitions on Davis' behalf, and prominent supporters included an ex-president and an ex-FBI director, liberals and conservatives. His attorneys said seven of nine key witnesses against him disputed all or parts of their testimony, but state and federal judges repeatedly ruled against him -- three times on Wednesday alone. [...]
Davis' supporters include former President Jimmy Carter, Pope Benedict XVI, a former FBI director, the NAACP, several conservative figures and many celebrities, including hip-hop star Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.
However, with the broader anti-death penalty messages many Davis supporters were chanting yesterday, it is also important to note that he was not Wednesday's only execution.
Davis was not the only U.S. inmate put to death Wednesday evening. In Texas, white supremacist gang member Lawrence Russell Brewer was put to death for the 1998 dragging death of a black man, James Byrd Jr., one of the most notorious hate crime murders in recent U.S. history.
Do you think the media coverage of Davis's execution was fair?
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Comments
The media's coverage of any execution wouldn't be fair.
Submitted by Texndoc on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 10:24am.
"In Texas, white supremacist gang member Lawrence Russell Brewer was put to death for the 1998 dragging death of a black man, James Byrd Jr., one of the most notorious hate crime murders in recent U.S. history."
The media will ignore this one because it might provoke : "Well that guy DID deserve the death penalty."
The MSM would celebrate the
Submitted by celator on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 10:30am.
The MSM would celebrate the public execution of Cheney and Bush, I reckon. They'd make that a national holiday.
→ Doc beat me to it
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 10:35am.
"Some animals are more equal than others" comes to mind.
When Drudge listed this tidbit under Troy Davis, I thought the same thing you did about these alleged anti-death penalty goofballs.
Both of them deserved to die.
Hate crimes
Submitted by pockets64 on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 11:12am.
Wasn't there some big to-do about W not signing a TX hate crimes bill and the left was all up in a mess because Brewer could not be convicted of a hate crime on top of the murder?
My response to that: Brewer's just as dead now as he would be with 15 other charges piled on.
Yup
Submitted by Tomorama on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 10:38am.
Nobody else needs to post.
Just read Ann Coulters WHOLE column or take note of Celator above.
BOTH SPOT ON.
I don't suppose the fact...
Submitted by lesterwink23 on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 10:39am.
that Davis (a black man) was convicted of killing a white man while Brewer (a white man) was convicted of killing a black man has any bearing on the comparitively scant coverage for the latter. Not to condone either crime as they were both extremely heinous, but it's oh-so obvious which side would receive more sympathy from the LSM
7 of 9 witnesses recanted
Submitted by kata on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 10:41am.
I was unfamiliar with this case and I'd heard this line all this week. Then, I come to find out from reading Ms. Coulter's article yesterday that there were 34 witnesses and the recanted testimony is not nearly so cut and dried. It's such an easily researched and disputed fact - how can the media propogate such an obvious lie and still call themselves reporters?
You really have to ask?
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 10:57am.
"how can the media propogate such an obvious lie and still call themselves reporters?"
We're talking about the posse who propagated a lie into the White House!
Yes.
Submitted by kata on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 11:06am.
Everyday, until I am satisfied with the answer.
Liberals change of heart
Submitted by icu4whatur on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 10:41am.
We have a legal system put in place, did these witness that convicted Davis have a gun put to there head, did they get threatened by anyone on the procecutions side to have them vote in favor of the ruling. the answer was No because the juditial system would have looked into any mis representation and this would have been overturned. But it wasn't. Only later after pressure from the left and those that do not believe in the death penalty campaigned for the overturning and then and only then did the verdict really became a news story. If this is what the left believes then we should look at all other cases where people were let out free and say we do not agree with the jury and want to put them back into jail. Crazy thought but that is why we have a jury of our piers to do this. If society is this wrong about these kind of cases then people you have only to blame for yourselves.
justice needs to be served it is not pretty.
Alec Baldwin
Submitted by elf1024 on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 10:50am.
What was really telling was Alec Baldwin's reaction to the whole thing in having his horde of hateful twitter followers attack Michelle Malkin by calling her everything but a white woman.
People know what the penalty
Submitted by rbosque on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 11:11am.
People know what the penalty is for killing someone. He shot someone so he paid the price. The law is the law. He shouldn't be excluded from execution because he's black.
What the media thinks or says
Submitted by jessieH on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 11:13am.
What the media thinks or says has become so irrelevent, it's almost funny listening to them.
NBC America’s News Leaner
Submitted by Maxwells on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 11:34am.
NBC is Nothing But Cronies for the liberal agenda, they take direction from their liberal leaders (currently Obama’s WH) and receive their talking points and positions needing reinforcement to promote their agenda.
Baldwin is only attempting to secure his position as a loyal employee with NBC by supporting the ridiculous argument for saving the life of a convicted cop-killer, Baldwin could give a rats azz over the facts and details, he has no idea who or what's involved, he only knows to throw out the names of the 'usual suspects' and his mindless trolls will follow.
Baldwin needs that paycheck coming from NBC.
Easy Call
Submitted by desert3030 on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 11:35am.
If they called it a "delayed late term abortion" every Lib on earth would call it and act of mercy, and a passing right.
Can't wait for Balboa to show up for his 3rd love.
Submitted by The Vet on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 11:35am.
Iz got the love for 2 already. Gots ta come here and proclaim the innocences of the third.
balboa: OK, TWO people, both with controversy surrounding their convictions. - Mumia and Asata, 2 convicted cop killers that use a name other than the given name under which they were convicted.
balboa: I admit that I misspoke when I said she was convicted of shooting the trooper. -- Can't get the circumstances of the crime correct but yeah, he ain't all that convinced she is guilty based upon her responses in interviews after the conviction.
balboa: I don't know if she's innocent or not -- Convicted by a jury of her peers. check. Convicted after convincing 12 people she is guilty beyond all doubt. check. She escapes from prison and absconds to Cuba where she lives to this day. check. Yeah, balboa just needs a hair bit more.
balboa: I said that there appeared to be some controversy about the conviction... --- Controversy? Was the case appealed? No. Are witnesses recanting testimony? No. Is there some issue with the evidence? No. Have the transcripts been released? Have the witnesses or prosecution ever talked about the case? No. No. What is the convtroversy then? Asata and her Aunt say she is innocent. That is the controversy.
balboa: The trooper changed his story. He said he saw Assata shoot a gun, said his partner pulled a clip of ammo out of the car and yelled to him. Then later said that didn't happen. Assata was shot with her hands up and once in the back. According to the only evidence I have read about, she could not have shot a gun after being shot. That appears to be enough of a controversy... --- All from a statement her lawyer/aunt released more than a decade AFTER she escaped prison. The prosecutors, judge, surviving officer and witnesses have said nothing in the 30 years since the conviction. And the transcripts of the trial have not been released by New Jersey. We have no way of verifying is she is telling the slightest bit of truth. But yeah, that is enough for balboa to start proclaiming her innocence here.
balboa: ..even though it was never proven that she shot a gun that day... --- She was convicted of being an accomplice to murder. There was no need to prove she shot a gun.
Kingfish17: Do you think that Mumia and Assata are innocent of the crimes for which they have been convicted?
balboa: I think there's a possibility, from what I've read. - Mumia was found feet from the dead Police Officer with a bullet from the officer's gun in his belly. His gun, the gun registered to him, was by his side, and several bullets from that gun were in the dead officer. But yeah, there is a possibility according to balboa it wudn't him.
balboa: Have you read about either case? -- Oh, you mean other than the protestations of innocence of the 2 convicted cop killers in interviews for books and magazines? No. That would just be balboa.
balboa: The thing about having two hands in the air is reference to the position she was in when she got shot... Yeah, no one ever raises their hands to eye level to sight down the barrel of a gun.
Flip a coin
Submitted by JLin on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 11:42am.
This might be one of those "He got executed for the wrong murder but he was a murderer."
The real joke was...
Submitted by Apodictic on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 12:06pm.
... Al Sharkton whining to Gnat Liar on the "Today" show this morning. He was complaining that there wasn't any DNA evidence linking him to the shooting. I LMAO. How and where could any DNA evidence be discovered in a shooting? He's such a moron.
They didn't need DNA or any
Submitted by ricklail on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 3:10pm.
They didn't need DNA or any otehr evidence. They had 34 witnesses. Maybe the fool shouldn't have shot him in a Burger King parking lot. According to the Bible it only takes 2 saying the same thing to convict. Looks like "Rev" Al would know that if he was a true "reverand."
A polygraph test? After 20 years?
Submitted by CobraMan on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 12:34pm.
I'm not surprised that his "offer" of taking a polygraph test was rejected. What good would a polygraph test do 20 YEARS after the fact? You can't get accurate results from questions asked about a situation that occurred 20 years earlier. The nostalgia factor alone renders inaccurate results.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Polygraphs do not work.
Submitted by drsamherman on Fri, 09/23/2011 - 10:58pm.
They are inadmissible in court for several reasons, not the least of which is the determination of passing versus failing a polygraph is based primarily on the opinion of a single operator and the test is not reproducible in terms of its sensitivity and specificity (as those terms are used in biomedical literature). There is simply too much bias that can be introduced, despite what polygraph operators say. There is too much variability possible from operators and their subjects.
The other problems with polygraphs are physiologic and psychiatric in nature. A multitude of available medications can alter the physical responses which the polygraph operator uses to determine whether the subject is telling the truth or not. The polygraph uses a composite of multiple readings of blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate and electrogalvanic skin response. In the case of blood pressure and heart rate, the use of various combinations of antihypertensive and antiarrhythmics can easily affect those two components. Respiratory rate is a function of cardiovascular activity and other physiologic processes that can also be easily altered with available medications. Electrogalvanic skin response is easily defeatable with anticholinergics in combination with other drugs. Additionally, an inconceivable number of stresses (e.g. infection, injury, acute anxiety, an infinite number of disease states) can cause variations in the physiologic parameters measured. For example, if you take a brittle, uncontrolled diabetic patient, they have poor circulation which distorts electrogalvanic skin response and multiple heart and respiratory problems which cause highly distorted readings on the machine. Unless the polygraph operator is a licensed and qualified physician (which the vast majority clearly are not) capable of performing an appropriate history, physical exam and evaluation of subjective and objective data, then the test would be a no-go.
The major psychiatric confounder to a polygraph is simple: the subject must be capable of conscious determination of truth versus falsehood. Any patient with any form of dissociative disorder, whether Axis I or II, or with a combination diagnosis of a moderate to severe mood disorder with dissociative features would be so detached from reality that there would be no point in administering a test to him/her.
Most psychiatrists have a deep distrust of polygraphs for multiple reasons, and I am not an exception. Having analyzed literally hundreds of polygraph tests in forensic, teaching and research venues, I trust them as much as I trust phrenology, astrology, tarot cards and Ouija boards.
Just another misguided cause...
Submitted by shooter on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 1:06pm.
Davis was just the latest chapter in the lives of "cause freaks"...in the vein of Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Further evidence that there is an outright and overt assault on white, older, straight, more educated, more successful and Christian males in this country.
_________________________________________
"An armed society is a polite society" -- Robert A. Heinlein
The misinformation spread by
Submitted by Beukeboom on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 1:08pm.
The misinformation spread by the MSM and anti-death penalty regarding the Troy Davis case is simply mind-numbing.
tookie
Submitted by jon_torlin on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 1:19pm.
They did something similar for Tookie Williams before he got executed.
They tried to ignore the fact that he was the founder of the Crips.
-Jon
My Daily Reminder
Submitted by Blonde on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 1:38pm.
Okay fellow NB'ers....please hit the donate thermometer up there by your account information.
Let's show our favorite bloggers we have their backs!
(BTW Matt, you should sell votes on the donate page, $5 per vote. We could see who is the superstar here).
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
thermometer
Submitted by shooter on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 2:23pm.
I would donate if they improved the commenting feature, which is what I thought they were going to do the last time I donated.
If they did "improve" it, you could have fooled me.
I'd like to see:
1) Sign up for emails when you get a reply to your post
2) A thumbs up or down rating system
_________________________________________
"An armed society is a polite society" -- Robert A. Heinlein
shooter
Submitted by Agnostic on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 2:32pm.
1) that would be a lot of e-mails for some
2) never did like the rating systems myself
True it allows response without thought but it also allows response without thought and personally, I'm aware most disagree, I would rather have no response than a 'like' or 'thumbs up' if for no other reason then the potential for real thought provoking feed back. Personally not ready for a Sally Fied - Oscar winning moment.
When I went by Dunkin Donuts
Submitted by ricklail on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 3:04pm.
When I went by Dunkin Donuts this morning I saw the sign that said they had pumplin. Around this time through Thanksgiving they have pumpkin muffins. I went in to get a couple and surprise, surprise they didn't cost $16 dollars each. Now if there was a muffin worth $16 this would be the one.
never
Submitted by russedav on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 7:58pm.
These antiChristian bigots couldn't tell the truth if their lives depended on it, even though it does. May God grant them repentance of their lives of sin before they burn in hell forever for rejecting Christ for the lie of ego.
DEBATE CHAT TONITE?
Submitted by Blonde on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 8:24pm.
Thoughts anyone?
I can open a chat room if NB isn't going to host.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
DEBATE CHAT
Submitted by Blonde on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 9:03pm.
Chat room is closed.
Until and unless Matt opens an official NB Room.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
DEBATE CHAT
Submitted by Blonde on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 9:58pm.
We've got a couple of people at the link, above.
Join us if you are watching and want to discuss.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Debate Chat link above
Submitted by Boudin on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 9:59pm.
Easy, come and enjoy
I am against death Penalty in most cases
Submitted by Jimme on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 11:06pm.
Unless Identification of the perpetrator is beyond doubt. There are just too many cases of convictions being over turned decades later due to DNA or death bed confessions. Fact is especially in the 80s early 90s there were many over zealous DAs and detectives who had no qualms railroading suspects even when they had no evidence. Even omitting evidence that would have proven innocence.
So for me the cons far out way the pros in capitol cases since putting to death even one innocent person is unthinkable. Now if a person is caught dead to right in the process or willingly confesses or is seen on video or caught on DNA evidence then I would have no problems flipping the switch my self. One good example is the Connecticut case where the two men burned down the house with a mans family in it. Those people need to die fast with much pain.
Were those just generalities, Jimme?
Submitted by UpNorth on Fri, 09/23/2011 - 2:17pm.
Davis was "caught dead to rights", he was seen by 34 people killing Officer MacPhail. "Seen on video or caught on DNA evidence". The video cameras available at the time of this murder would not have been sufficient to ID anyone. DNA was in it's infancy at the time. The audio recording of Ofc. MacPhail chasing Davis indicated that he'd run past Coles and only Davis was in front of him. He was shot in the chest, by a person in front of him, not in the back. Coles was behind him. The bloody clothing, which was excluded at trial, had blood on it, included in the samples of blood, was MacPhail's blood.
And, you're again reaching for the "CSI effect" .
FREE MUMIA!!!
Submitted by bigdaddy on Fri, 09/23/2011 - 1:40pm.
...After you inject a lethal cocktail of drugs into his bloodstream...