Shocking Fox News video: Guest chuckles over killing Osama, Obama

Does this Fox News contributor, Liz Trotta, really suggest what it sounds like she suggests -- the assassination of both Osama bin Laden and Barack Obama? And then laughs!

Where is the outrage?  And the apology?

(UPDATE: Finally, it came and abject it was. (See below, a good ways into the tape.)

(UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: Over at WakeUp America, Susan makes a powerful point. Jeffrey Feldman of HuffingtonPost has a strong denunciation of the Trotta gaffe and a call for greater broadcast scrutiny and care about such language because the public does not want it. Though as of late Monday he had not posted Trotta's apology.

(Yet, on the same HuffPost site there's an apparently satirical piece by Guy Saperstein quoting a hopefully fictitious Clinton campaign strategy memo saying, "Assassination is still on the table, but it is still only one of many possibilities." This is funny stuff on one page but legitimate outrage on another?

(And does anyone remember outrage a while back when Sen. Ted Kennedy called the Illinois senator Osama bin Laden?)

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Navigator7]

Man... You liberals just don't have a sense of humor!
Where was your incredulism when real bodies were dropping like flies around the clintons?

Maxine Waters wants to "socialize" Big Oil. Where is the outrage?

Liberalism has given us most of the troubles today including war and death in the middle east. Yes...I'm blaming liberalism.

You guys are the real terrorists!

[David]

This should dull the roar from the clintons and their supporters that hillary's remarks were taken out of context. Liz Trotta is no ordinary person. She is a professional wordsmith. She has spent a lifetime (she's 71) as a very hard-nosed journalist. What came out of her mouth was a confirmation of clinton's meaning. This is no smear from me. The candidate said it. The journalist said it. Both remarks disgust me. Both of those awful people disgust me.

[Royal James]

So let me see, it's okay to make a movie about the assassination of a SITTING president, but god forbid anybody say anything like this about Oblamalamadingdong.

[Ozark_Sunshine]

Shame on the LA Times and the left nut bloggers for trying to make this into something it is not. Funny how the records of assasins show how the have been leftists. You are the same people who have been screaming and crying about Bush and have wished the same on him and said so many times. You are such hypocrites. This was a comical side comment and needs to be treated as such. Come down off you high jackasses and wuit acting like your mounts.

[Carl Carter]

It appears that eveyone has forgotten Air america and the Daily Kos suggesting in no uncertain terms the assasination of President Bush. Where was the outrage when that happened? Now the liberal press is going nuts because their "favorite son" is getting similar treatment from liberal hate mongers. this would not be an issue is the candidate in question were a conservative.

[dan mccoy]

people ....its Fox News talking...we all understand their Bush agenda...if you want news from the real world flip the chanel to the BBC or NPR or Amy Goodman.

[Royal James]

Max Black posted: "This is an outrageous allegation. If it is true, the host should be fired, the show canceled, and the network reprimanded. But I cannot find a single reference on Google to this act. Do you have any proof of this? If not, then it is just another fictional "hate story" spread around to cloud the issue and distract from the real story--Fox News allows its commentators to make assassination jokes about presidential candidates."

Perhaps you should try another search engine. On the Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn in 2000, the words SNIPER WANTED were superimposed over footage of Bush addressing the Republican National Convention. In fact, CBS issued a formal apology for the stunt.

Of course, one has lost count of similar statements regarding Bush.

[TWPeck]

Her statement was a stupid attempt at a joke...and she has apologized.
Now, how about all you left-wingers having the same outrage over the all the "lets kill" jokes about Bush and Cheny. I remember Alec Baldwin on David Letterman during the Clinton impeachment talking about wanting to grab the ropes and inferring taking a lynch mob to the house republican leaders.

If you are unfortunate enough to read most any of the democrat or left-wing blogs, there is an incredible amount of untoward language and sentiment, often expressed in the fashion of "offing" their opponents.

Of course, this is part of the communist mindset whose "heroes" were very good at permanently silencing the opposition (a whole lot more people have died at the hands of atheists than at the hands of any religious believer).

Anyway, give her a break. She misspoke, said something off-the-cuff. She apologized. Let her learn from her lesson instead of censoring her (oh, I forgot, only right-wing fascists call for silencing words they don't like).

Get a life people.

[Greg Neubeck]

Nominating a man for the Presidency who in all likelihood couldn't pass an FBI background check!

Obama, whose father was a practicing Muslim and whose mother was a radical Marxist, has stated that his mother: "Was the dominant figure in my formative years; and, the values she taught me continue to be my touchstone in the world of politics". Common sense deductive reasoning suggests that Obama's rearing as a child, and his extended 20yr relationships, and obvious conformity, with anti-American fanatics such as Rev. Wright ( the Pastor of his church that promoted the doctrine of Louis Farrakhan ) , and Frank Davis and William Ayers are in fact reflective of Obama's true psychological makeup. A conclusion rigidly re-enforced by Obama's San Francisco commentary denigrating folks from small-town America. Obama's affinity for questionable associates such as Tony Rezco raises a myriad of questions. Further, his increasingly frequent petulant responses to legitimate criticism is troubling. This man's refusal to wear an American flag lapel pin and to place his hand over his heart on the singing of our National Anthem are conditioned reflexes from his protracted association with disaffected elements in our society; visual images that Obama is certain to attempt to obfuscate in future campaign appearances; even though, he has openly admitted: "I didn't want to offend Muslims and others who don't like America.". Further, Michelle Obama's angry commentary directed at our country is telling. Fifty-seven (57) State Obama's comments that he would use Tactical Nuclear Weapons against Pakistan, a Nation that he mistakenly believed to be Arab; his indecision/confusion as to whether Iran poses a serious regional threat; while in other commentary, stating that he would halt the U.S. military's development of advanced weapons systems demonstrates a profound ignorance of the geopolitical threat environment confronting America. Obama is indeed the real-life Manchurian Candidate. Greg Neubeck

[Debbie]

It's a damn shame that people can't say anything anymore without the thought police tearing them to shreds over it. Trotta is definitely not for Obama and she told us that with her witty, yet colorful comment. I don't think she would really wish for him to be killed. This business of not being able to discuss or mention anything about Barack Hussein Obama is a sure sign that he may be an anti-christ. Whoops! I hope they don't come and get me for saying that!

[Big Daddy]

Boycott Fox TV NOW!!

[Robert M]

Where was the outrage when CBS ran a photo of President Bush with cross hairs from a rifle scope over his head. How many hundreds of times has someone from the MSM talked about killing Bush or his family. Left wing hero Michael Moore has mentioned killing Bush on numerous occassions. It's amazing how much of a double standard there is. It's okay to talk of killing Bush but everybody goes crazy when its said about Obama.

[Robert M]

I'M SO SICK OF YOU OBAMA SUPPORTERS, EVERYTHING SAID ABOUT OBAMA IS RACIST AND OVER THE TOP. FIRE EM ALL THROW EM IN JAIL FOR SAYING THIS ABOUT OUR MESSIAH" GET A LIFE. NONE OF THIS IS EVEN 10% AS BAD AS THE NETWORKS HAVE SAID ABOUT BUSH. EVEN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE TALKED ABOUT KILLING BUSH AND NOTHING WAS DONE. OF COURSE THERE'S ALWAYS MICHAEL MOORE AND MOVE ON.ORG WHO HAVE PUT OUT WANTED POSTERS ON BUSH, TOUGHEN UP OR SHUT UP.

[Ronald Loui]

Don and Malcolm, are you really moderating this board? Some of these statements don't seem to meet your standards.

Trotta's comments should cost her her job. Fox should be mocked and shunned by its peers for its consistent stupidity. Meanwhile, I am certain that anyone who made threats against Bush or Cheney was open to prosecution (at that point, the choice belonged to the AG or to some entity within Justice). Such people were probably subject to intense scrutiny and investigation, actual loss of some civil liberties, and legally justifiable monitoring of their movements and communications.

There is no double standard here. It is simply out of bounds and un-American to let people break this law without taking a really good look at what would be an appropriate sanction.

People who want to minimize the event (for political reasons, or perhaps because they have quite dark souls) should try making incendiary threats the next time they get on an airplane.

[Janis]

I think this comment by Trotta is nothing compared to the comments and sermons of that so-called "Christian" Mr Wright. Or the comments by the self avowed domestic terrorist Ayers and his hippie wife, who by the way, actually did do harm, and wished to do more. As usual, the liberal, socialist wing, speak outrage over everyone else but their own followers and whack jobs.
Just a note to these morons...no one but your own groups and the whack jobs, believes or takes seriously anything you say. In fact, you're just a cause for head-shaking and chuckles.

All I can say is, Hillary keep on running, because the longer it goes , the more we learn about the candidates. It's been very revealing , however tiring. "Out of the mouth, the heart speaketh", and neither of these losers deserve or are qualified for the office.

[Richard]

So when does the call for the arrests of Michael Moore, Craig Kilborn, Bill Maher get posted on this site?
Oh, that's right, I forgot. It's okay for liberals to threaten to kill a GOP President or Presidential candidate.
Silly me.

[Brian McMahon]

I have watched the FOX video and and disgusted. I was a student when RFK was assinated and remember the great sense of loss the whole world felt. How has America got to this level of hate, when a person can laugh over the possibility of murder? I believe that the American people are better than the tripe FOX News promotes. I am an Australian and love America, but am saddned by this outrageous development. Robert Kennedy was a shining light to my generation 40 years ago and his loss was the Worlds loss.

[Whatever]

Ok, fine. Trotta should be fired and Fox should be excoriated because Trotta's comments are imputed to the network as whole.

Using that same logic then, the DNC should be excoriated and shunned because of Hillary's comments as she is not only a member, but a leader in the DNC.

Furthermore, she should be "fired" as Senator and dismissed as a presidential candidate to never to be heard from again and forever disgraced as human being.

RIGHT?

(Keep it up libs. You're torpedoing both of your candidates at the same time!!!! This is GREAT!!!)

[Post em]

Correct - noone from either side should threaten to kill the president, or candidate, per US law. SO!

Dear Richard:

Please post the quotes of Craig Kilborn and Bill Maher. (Personally I think Michael Moore wants to kill everyone, so wouldn't be surprised). Video confirmation like the above would be great.

Dear Robert M:
I'd also like a list of the members of Congress who threatened to kill Bush. Reference of quotes required, especially if it's Congress.

Thanks.

[YourBoss]

Liz Trotta is a Democrat, who works at the pinko New School. She spoke about killing Osama bin Laden, the last remaining complaint of the open traitor Democrats. And in misspeaking, her fellow party members seek censorship, yet again. Big surprise. The thousands of murders by Woodrow Wilson didn't bother Democrats, the tens of thousands of murders by Franklink Roosevelt didn't bother Democrats. And the worst treason in human history by the child molesting Bill Clinton doesn't bother Democrats, because the party of slavery isn't bothered by any crime their fellow members commit, because they are crime.

[Mike]

This is still America, and free speech is one of the reasons I still have faith in the system, although if the Obama's of the world have there way, your guns, speech, control over your life, will be gone. He truly would love a social system where every one is supposedly the same, the lame ass welfare precipitants and the Information Technology professionals, and even the steel worker or waitress would be socially the same.... Well wake up, socialism will never happen in my America. And no price is too large to insure we keep our basic liberties. Although I don’t expect you liberals out there to even have the basic idea of what I am talking about..

[Don Andrews]

What’s the big deal? I didn’t here anyone complaining when the same remarks were made toward President Bush, or does it only apply to certain people. The jerks even made a movie about him being assassinated; now that’s irresponsible. If you want to complain, complain about that idiot Carter. He should be charged and jail for revealing state secrets. Carter’s actions have put an ally at risk and endangered the lives of many Jewish citizens. This man should have a keeper and not be allowed in public

[Mr. Unite Us]

Suggesting it would be good to kill one of our elected officials should not be tolerated. Liz Trotta should be fired.

[Audrey]

I am absolutely disgusted that this woman is on the air. Really - author and journalist? of what? 5 year old remarks? I hope that you are assassinated. Oh, haha, I sin-CERE-ly apologize. The emphasis on certain sy-LAB-bles show how completely insincere this knuckle-crawling troglodyte is. Any network that needs to scream FAIR AND BALANCED on its crawler is anything but. Sorry Fox, your decreasing ratings still don't merit stunts such as this.

[Karl La Fong]

Do ANY of you people have ANY grasp of proper English grammar and syntax?

I have NEVER seen such badly written examples of the English language as some of these posts display. We should have a LITERACY test for voting again, because dumb sons of bitches who are too stupid to know how to WRITE properly can't possibly make informed choices when it comes to VOTING.

Get your damned candy assed GenX noses out of the video games and TV shows written by Downs Syndrome coke and meth heads, STP TXTG EEC OTHR, and read some good books, for God's sake, written by authors who don't speak in grunts or listen to music not recorded by rappers who chant in brain damaged ebonics or foreigners who can't even speak their own language properly.

[Karl La Fong]

AUDREY reminds me that I forgot something.

Do some damned RESEARCH before engaging your GenX mouths and making stupid statements.

In industry polls, Fox News was just named #1 in news networks.

"Declining" means "dropping", Audrey. A networking that is "dropping" in popularity could NOT, by definition, be named #1 in an independent poll.

"Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right,
Here I am, back in the middle again."

[Jim Townes]

I wonder if when the decoded the human genome, if they found a "hate" gene. If so I'm sure 90% of Foxnews would be have it.

That apology was so lame many people in this campaign season have made inappropriate remarks - saying Hillary is pimping Chelsea Clinton and advocating killing someone are both inappropriate but not quite in the same league.

[silvertongueone]

Numbnutz says:
Liza Trotta should be arrested and Fox News should have its license yanked.

So should Rush Limbaugh, who publicly called for riots at the Democratic Convention.

Tsk Tsk.....don't Democraps believe in freedom of speech?

[Maxie]

well I guess the left is still on the Wright side of fairness...............

[Toploader]

The masses are incurably ignorant...the beat goes on.

[werwerwer]

Finally someone witha sensible suggestion. Stand your ground, Liz Trotta, dont back down!

[Saijanai]

"Both if we could" is no more a joke than "First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers." Both portray genuine sentiments of the person (or character) stating them. On the other hand, obvious parody is obviously a joke, by definition.

[Karl La Fong]

BRIAN MCMAHON says "It was a terrible thing when RFK was 'assinated'."

Yeah, it was pretty terrible when he was 'ASSASSINATED", too.

ARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH. They don't even know how to use a SPELL checker, which you would think would be the first tool a dumbshit would employ.

What were you a student OF, Brian? Besides doobie sucking, I mean.

[JerseyGrrl]

I don't know why the FCC hasn't stepped in. Using public airways to promote knocking off a public official is supposed to be a crime.

They fine DJs for using 4-letter words

Comparing Sen. Ted Kennedy's mis-stating Illinois senator Barack Obama's name as "Osama bin Laden' to a desire for an assasination is comparing apples to oranges. Assisnation is a crime.

[Mabel]

Liza Trotta should be arrested and Fox News should have its license yanked.