The Associated Press, in story carried at Channel 6 in Lawrence, reported (HT Twitchy) that a Kansas University professor has been "placed on administrative leave" after he issued the following tweet concerning Monday's Navy Yard murders: "The blood is on the hands of the #NRA. Next time, let it be YOUR sons and daughters. Shame on you. May God damn you." A NewsBusters post by Ken Shepherd yesterday, since updated to note his placement on leave, noted that Guth is an avid gun-grabbing advocate and that his Twitter account links to KU.
The AP apparently wants those who peruse its national site to skip their story on Guth. The item's headline belongs in the "this is boring, don't waste your time" wing of the Journalism Hall of Shame:
Guth isn't just "taking heat" AP (awww, the poor baby). He's been "placed on leave," a phrase containing only five more characters than "takes heat," and a phrase which should have been in the headline — that is, if motivating readers to actually read past the headline was the goal.
Also note how reporter Roxana Hegeman attempts to portray the matter as artificially ginned-up. How many times has the AP similarly described leftist discoveries of much milder but supposedly "controversial" statements by Republicans and conservatives days after their origination? Answer: Darned near zero.
Later paragraphs of Hegeman's report indicate that Guth is playing the victim card:
Guth said Thursday that gun rights advocates had orchestrated a social media campaign against him.
"I respect their First Amendment rights and it would be nice if they would respect mine," Guth said. "And, by the way, I even respect their Second Amendment rights.
"Frankly, my plan is to be the calm in the center of the storm," Guth said.
While not at all apologizing for wishing death on the kids of NRA-member parents.
You stay classy, David.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
