The media CAN'T call the Planned Parenthood attack "terrorism".

[kpete]

:large

[oberliner]

1. BS

The Planned Parenthood attack is being called terrorism all across a wide swath of media outlets.

[TheSarcastinator]

2. sources, please

I call bullshit.

Where exactly are you seeing this decried directly as terrorism? You need to cite a source: anyone who does a quick headline search will find hundreds of articles about the "shooting" but not one about the "terrorist attack" at PP in Colorado Springs. Please demonstrate with sources how this is being called terrorism "across a wide swath of media outlets".

[oberliner]

5. Slate: Anti-Abortion Terrorism Must Be Stopped

As news continues to unfold about Friday’s Planned Parenthood shooting in Colorado Springs, one thing is clear: Domestic terrorism remains unchecked, even on the day after Thanksgiving. To label this an isolated act of violence would be naïve. In 2015 alone, there has been unprecedented harassment from anti-choice extremists, including most recently, a series of slanderous manipulated videos used to attack Planned Parenthood’s fetal tissue donation programs. And now this.

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2015/11/colorado_springs_planned_parenthood_anti_abortion_violence.html

Huffington Post: We Need to Talk About Domestic Terrorism

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/randall-frederick/we-need-to-talk-about-dom_b_8673646.html

Boston Herald: Homegrown terrorists wreak as much havoc

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/peter_gelzinis/2015/11/gelzinis_homegrown_terrorists_wreak_as_much_havoc

KCCI (Des Moines): Huckabee: Planned Parenthood shooting is 'domestic terrorism'

http://www.kcci.com/politics/huckabee-planned-parenthood-shooting-is-domestic-terrorism/36704644

Bustle: The Planned Parenthood Shooting Could Be Domestic Terrorism, & It's Important That We Recognize It

http://www.bustle.com/articles/126394-the-planned-parenthood-shooting-could-be-domestic-terrorism-its-important-that-we-recognize-it

And Yahoo News:

The gunman – a 57-year-old man – was apparently so afraid of women’s healthcare that he engaged in an act of domestic terrorism. This man apparently wanted women to be afraid to seek out necessary, basic health care services.

https://www.yahoo.com/health/colorado-planned-parenthood-attack-is-an-attack-on-180709221.html

[TheSarcastinator]

6. so you cite a presser from Mike Huckabee?

Wow, talk about desperation. You and Huckabee: comrades in avoiding truth.

[oberliner]

13. He called it terrorism and every major news outlet is reporting that

If even Huckabee is using that term, then what does that tell you?

[cherokeeprogressive]

21. You were proven wrong and your response is to decry ONE of the links...

Says a lot about you.

[still_one]

28. You are right, and I never cease to be amazed at the refusal of some to just admit their

assessment was not correct.

[JoePhilly]

9. Bustle, Yahoo?

[oberliner]

12. The Inquisitr also

Friday’s attack on Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs highlights the ever-growing problem that anti-gun control advocates continually ignore: domestic terrorism is wreaking havoc on our nation, and for what purpose? Forget the concern about Syrian refugees being secret ISIS operatives. The United States has plenty of its own domestic terrorism within its borders.

http://www.inquisitr.com/2596610/colorado-springs-shooting-an-act-of-domestic-terrorism/

Also check out The Guardian, Mother Jones, and Al Jazeera.

[Rex]

24. This is good to know, if the cable news outlets won't discuss it much there is alt news

on the WWW talking about it all over the place.

[oberliner]

26. ABC News is on it now

Planned Parenthood Standoff 'Appears' to Be Domestic Terrorism, Colorado Springs Mayor Says

http://abcnews.go.com/US/planned-parenthood-standoff-appears-domestic-terrorism-colorado-springs/story?id=35471366

I think with so many prominent people using the term "terrorism" to describe what happened, it is now being characterized that way just about everywhere.

[Rex]

27. Maybe it was just a matter of time before cable decided to go with the right wording.

Good to know this, maybe they were taking precautions out of fear of reprisal. Nobody laugh...it could happen to PP or a news station, I don't think folks like Dear are very disciminatory in their hatred. Just a hunch.

[Gman]

36. Those seem to be op-eds rather than news reporting

As they did with Paris. I'm glad the word us being used, but the MSM itself needs to use the word.

[Eleanors38]

39. Noted this as well. Editorials deserve a 3-5 second scan. nt

[wiggs]

8. CNN front page website...Huckabee calls event domestic terrorism. nt

[Chef Eric]

30. Yes, but the word "terrorism" is not part of cnn's top headline.

Meanwhile, the site still says "motive unclear," as if it's a big mystery.

It's a disgrace that major news sources won't use a word like "terrorism" to describe an act like this until they're able to quote some right-wing politician who, after a day of careful deliberation, has decided that using the word "terrorism" is not outrageously offensive to his political base (i.e., religious nutjobs).

Clearly, the media can't think for themselves.

[PeaceNikki]

3. Can you provide some examples?

[oberliner]

17. See my post above

Also, Huckabee using the phrase "domestic terrorism" in relation to this attack has helped.

[Chef Eric]

32. Well, it took him long enough.

I guess it takes him at least 24 hours to decide that being credited for saying something obviously reasonable will likely outweigh the risk of alienating his political base (i.e., the right wing religious nutjobs).

Meanwhile, cnn.com is still saying "motive unclear," as if it's all a big fucking mystery.

Our MSM are an absolute disgrace.

[wiggs]

4. By itself, this doesn't count as 'wide swath' but CNN yesterday definitely discussed

the event in terms of domestic terrorism...the guest agreed...might have been a terrorism expert named Baeir. Was listening on Sirius so didn't catch name.

[oberliner]

18. By wide swath I mean US, international, and web-based media

As opposed to just the old guard of CNN/ABC News etc.

[ck4829]

43. Put that on Wikipedia

See how quickly it gets reverted.

[treestar]

7. Why is it so important to use that label?

We've been obsessed since 2001. Like if it's not able to be labeled terrorism, it isn't serious.

[JoePhilly]

11. I tend to disagree here.

Attacking any location to further a political intent, an intent you can't obtain through the democratic process, is terrorism, I think.

A guy attacking a PP clinic is trying to scare (terrorize) the people who work there, and those who would use PP services in any location into not doing so out of fear. To me. that's terrorism.

The GOP calls abortion murder, then makes up incredible lies about PP, and then a "lone wolf" straps on his bomb vest, or in this case grabs his guns, and heads out to die for the cause his "leaders" call for.

Its terrorism.

[malaise]

16. Plain and simple

+1,000

[Rex]

25. That is it right there.

In this case it was butane tanks.

[treestar]

33. Oh I can agree with that

It is still a thing, you know in the news today. Ever since 911. This case fits - but it seems no matter what happens, we have to try to argue for the label for it.

[hifiguy]

44. +1. Nailed it.

[PeaceNikki]

14. Because that is what it is called when one uses violence intended to intimidate or coerce society

Why are you so reluctant to use the proper term for such behavior?

[Orrex]

15. It fits the dictionary definition as well as the FBI's definition of terrorism

Why do you resist the term so strongly, when it accurately describes the incident?

[treestar]

34. I'm not resisting it strongly

Only saying that we seem to think we have to be able to get that label onto any happening in America.

Then we get into a debate about whether it is or is not.

[Orrex]

35. Well, you posted nearly identical messages in simultaneous threads to protests its usage

Whether the term satisfies you or not, the shooting at Planned Parenthood appears to qualify as terrorism according to the official definition.

I'm not aware of anyone on DU who thinks that we need "to get that label onto any happening in America." Who is doing that, exactly? Can you give citations?

[treestar]

37. I don't know why you misrepresented me

as opposing it strongly when what I did was find the issue interesting and bring it up more than once.

Why so worried that anyone might think it just a crime? That would not mean it was evil enough? I'm just interested in how 911 made us all so invested in having anything that happens get that label.

[Orrex]

40. It is a crime. It is also terrorism.

Why so worried that anyone might think it just a crime? That would not mean it was evil enough?

Why not simply call vehicular homicide a moving violation? Do you think the intent is to make one crime seem more evil than another? Or might it be that the different crimes are committed with different intent, degree, impact and repercussions, such that the response to each might justify a specific designation?

Further, you're proposing a false dichotomy, of course; a shooting can be both a crime and a terrorist act.

I'm just interested in how 911 made us all so invested in having anything that happens get that label.

Now that's a misrepresentation. Absolutely no one wants "anything that happens" to "get that label." You're proposing a strawman.


To sum up, the tone of your posts suggested strong (and curiously condescending) opposition to the use of an entirely appropriate term, especially when bolstered with fallacious arguments against the term's use. If you don't want people to perceive your intent that way, perhaps you might reconsider your framing.

[nashville_brook]

42. +100000 (and then some for the condescending part)

[2pooped2pop]

10. and they themselves have helped in inciting the violence n/t

[Rex]

19. Too true! They didn't call Bundy and his armed thugs terrorists either. Even after they threatened

to kill law enforcement officers! Strange how some have different laws when it comes to belief system and skin color.

WTF America?

[Jack Rabbit]

22. Catch 22

If the media doesn't call it terrorism, the terrorism won't even begin to stop.

[Iggo]

38. If they don't call it terrorism, that means there isn't any terrorism.

Hey!

We win!

Woo-hoo!

[Jack Rabbit]

41. Here's an American mainstream journalist getting information about right wing terrorism

[center]

[/center][font size="1"]Credit: DailyMail.co.uk
[/font]

[Le Taz Hot]

23. Perfect!

K & R

[Kablooie]

29. Seems fully half or more of the US thinks this is not a problem.

Killing for the bible is just fine to them.

[Duval]

31. Your insight is remarkable!

K&R

[WillyT]

45. K & R !!!

[Proserpina]

46. That's a good point, I never thought of it that way

Because then the religiously fanatical would have to face the error of their ways...and the consequences of their rhetoric. THEY would have to change, or accept criminal liability. Or at the very least, moral liability.

Perhaps this latest fatal attack will do for Planned Parenthood what the escalating police murderers and brutality did for all of us...point out in un-fudge-able facts what has been going on all along, and demand an accounting and a meaningful cessation of these crimes against the People.

It is a time of revelations, indeed! Decades of cover, blown to bits.