So now we're supposed to believe that Trayvon Martin was a drug using gangbanger

[Hugabear]

Or as the right-wing would say, He was black, wasn't he? - in their minds, every black teenager is a potential murderous gangbanger.

This is the transformation that's being attempted right before our eyes. From Geraldo making a big issue of Trayvon's hoodie, to the "empty marijuana baggie", and now that Trayvon supposedly was trying to grab Zimmerman's gun.

I'm surprised that they haven't accused Trayvon of flashing gang signs, although I'm sure that's not far behind. Or that the hoodie he was wearing was somehow "gang colors".

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Just watch. Pretty soon they'll have Trayvon be the one that was hunting someone with a gun,

rather than the other way around.

[arcane1]

2. And Zimmerman was a "captain" n/t

[Rex]

3. Yep! The cops SO wanted his body to comeback positive for drugs!

Strange they didn't test Zimmerman...I mean he just murdered someone! Why not test him too!?!? This is one of the worst racial profiling cases I've ever read about! And Trayvon HAS been accused of flashing gang signs and being a gangster! Not that it is true, but the RWing understands their prey - the kid is dead and cannot tell HIS side of the story...so expect things to get far more outragous as the days tick by.

[Bluerthanblue]

7. it should be SOP that anyone who is responsible for causing the death of another

is subject to a blood test.

It seems the very least that should be required.

If you fire a gun that ends anothers life, proof that you weren't impared matters.

[Rex]

10. YES!

That really really really bugs the shit out of me!!! WHY OH WHY would you test the DEAD BOY and NOT his KILLER???

If a person hits another and kills them in a car wreck...you better believe they will be tested for drugs!!! WHY is a GUN any different then a CAR?

[uponit7771]

4. I KNOW!!! He was "suspeneded" from school because "resedue"

CNN is posting that he was suspended as if it fuckni matters

[Life Long Dem]

6. Yeah, the RW already said he was killed because he was suspended from school.

They can't keep tagging on reasons for the killing. As if any of this is relevant.

[Bluerthanblue]

5. sadly it'll probably get much worse than this before we're done.

I'm so sick of the media spinning all kinds of gossip and crap.

[MADem]

8. Well, I think more kids than not have smoked a little weed in high school, n'est pas?

The odds go way down if you are a female Asian American teen, and way up if you are a Caucasian female or African American male...so the statistics say, anyway. If you play sports, the odds go down...unless you're employed (I guess it helps to have money to buy the stuff).

From just over a year ago:



http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/marijuana-use-in-high-school/

About 40 percent of high school students have tried marijuana, although teenagers who take part in sports or other extracurricular activities are less likely to use the drug, a new study shows.

The findings are based on a survey of 4,097 Connecticut students in the ninth through 12th grades. Although the research is not a nationally representative sample, the results are similar to other national studies and offer a glimpse into the recreational life of a high school student.

The survey, which included 1,906 boys and 2,191 girls, found that while about 40 percent of girls and boys had ever tried marijuana, regular use was also common. In the study, about one in five girls and slightly more than one in four boys reported having used marijuana in the past month. The study was published in The Journal of Addiction Medicine.

The most likely users were 11th and 12th graders, as well as teenagers who had average grades in the B to C range or lower. Teenagers in single-parent households were more likely to report marijuana use than those in two-parent homes.

Much more at link. Warning--the article has a "finger wagging" quality about it so I'd advise people to also read the comments along with the article where one can see that there is a diversity of opinion with regard to the topic expressed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Of course

What color was that hoodie? It will be relevant soon.

[RZM]

11. The baggie isn't at all relevant to what happened that night

It's only relevant to the larger backstory in that it's a new development. Previously we were told he was suspended for tardiness, now it's the weed baggie. None of that has any bearing on what happened that night, other than the suspension being the reason he was in Sanford.

[SoCalDem]

13. "Backstory" always muddies the waters, and it's what the press feeds on

As a parent, it was always important for me to remind my sons as they were growing up that EVERYTHING in their lives, that was verifiable, "could" return to haunt them, no matter how insignificant it might be.

All it takes is for a BIG event to become "newsworthy", and every little thing comes spilling out even if YOU are the victim.

NO ONE lives a totally virtuous life, but fortunately for most of us, we get to choose to whom, and what of our past we "tell".

Once the media gets into the mix (especially now), there is very little that remains private, even if it's of no consequence.

Millions of kids get suspended today for things that once-upon-a-time would have been a laugh-out-loud prank, or just a teen-thing.

[appleannie1]

12. Well, if someone is pointing a gun at me, I am going to try and get it off that person. Just sayin

[JDPriestly]

14. That's the same argument they use with women.

Well, she wore short skirts and lived with her boyfriend when she wasn't married, so she asked for it.

No. Zimmerman is the killer here. Trayvon's character and behavior prior to the incident is completely irrelevant -- especially since Zimmerman did not know who Trayvon was when he killed him.

[sadbear]

15. I'm sure all the talking points are coming straight from the Heritage Foundation

[arthritisR_US]

16. Right now the PD there looks like a limp

dick and so to try and erect it they will do so by besmirching the name of the murdered lad, makes me sick!

[LynneSin]

17. Won't be long until they are implying he had a few baby-mama's on the side

And nothing personal but if someone who had about 90lbs on me and jumped me with a gun - I'd probably try and grab the gun too.