Obviously, with all the talk from Sheriff Dupnik and others about what blame to assign to the media after the events of Saturday, a media outlet was bound to make the rounds of Tucson’s talk radio hosts and their listeners.
From the New York Times:
Phone calls poured in to stations across the AM dial to denounce Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik, who said at a news conference over the weekend that Arizona had become “the mecca for prejudice and bigotry” and that local TV and radio hosts should do some “soul-searching.” “I would say that his comments have incited stupidity around the world,” said Garret Lewis, host of The Morning Ritual on 790 AM. “People have the image now that we’re a bunch of racist bigots and there are shootouts in the streets. Again he has absolutely no proof that any of this is true.”
Steve, a caller on the Jon Justice Show on 104.1 FM, said Mr. Dupnik’s statements “showed him for the buffoon he is.” Later, a called named Lee called the sheriff “a blithering idiot.” Caller after caller came up with their own colorful descriptions.
This article appears in Jan 6-12, 2011.
said Garret Lewis, host of The Morning Ritual on 790 AM. “People have the image now that we’re a bunch of racist bigots and there are shootouts in the streets. Again he has absolutely no proof that any of this is true.”
Actually Garret between 1070 and the events of Saturday almost everything you just said is backed up by proof.
In my time in Tucson just before the election I had 3 business owner customers make private death threats against Obama. Also one blatant unabashed racist told me in the company of 5 or 6 others that if he didn’t have things going on in his life he would blow him away himself. the scary thing is that he didnt seen to have much going on.. For most of the people I dealt with I was the only person they Knew who would admit to voting for Obama.
I will bear witness, the town is full of racists and bigots. Not that it had anything to do with the shootings. but not suprised