"This is going to get very dark," reads the headline of a blog posting late Thursday by TalkingPointsMemo's Josh Marshall.

Marshall was referring to news reports stating that the alleged primary shooter killed in today's rampage at the army base in Fort Hood, Texas, has a "Muslim-sounding" name -- and what that will mean for the political debate surrounding the shooting in post-911 America.

"The fact that the primary assailant has an Arabic name and is presumably, though we don't know this yet, of Muslim extraction if not a practicing Muslim, is going to be the focus of attention," Marshall wrote.

And indeed, no sooner had Marshall made his prediction than Fox News made that prediction come true.

In an interview with US Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Fox host Shepard Smith asked: "The names tells us a lot, does it not, senator?"

http://rawstory.com/2009/11/name-tells-us-a-lot/

Disheartening. But discrimination and judging of books by their covers is not under the sole purview of conservatives.

in light of what happened, I think it's important to focus on what shep said...

tpm is to be excused, as they posted this in real time...you posting it this morning? predictable...

'muslim sounding name'

ah, he is a muslim. this isn't bigotry, this is the truth.

he didn't 'snap' just like a suicide bomber doesn't 'snap'

they both have / had an agenda.

deal with it ----

"Dark" seems to be media code for the unseemly aspect of the right. Not sure there is something similar for the unseemly aspect of the left. I think it's that characterization and, frankly, the underlying stereotyping which disturbs me.

I don't think the guy's heritage is unimportant here...

The fact that many witnesses heard the nutjob saying "Allah Ahkbar" while mowing them down should be ignored.

Josh Marshall is a fucking joke.

can you provide a link to that? I haven't heard that.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/06/...in5549394.shtml

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091106/ap_on_...t_hood_shooting

"Did he say anything as he was carrying out this act?" Smith asked Cone.

"There are reports, unconfirmed, that he was saying, 'Allahu Akbar," ' Cone replied.

So the people who were shot are lying?

This was an act of terror. It's time for people to get their heads out of their ass.

"How do officials confirm such reports, General?"

Hasan was allegedly called a "camel jockey". Focus on what matters.

I am not saying they are lying. I was just showing that when an issue like this arises people often jump to conclusions before the facts are known. That is what this whole thread is about. He might end up being an Al Qaeda operative. But until that comes out it is just assumptions people are making.

I am guessing they finish interviewing the witnesses who were at the scene.

Why would it matter one way or the other?

Because Ralph, how will they be able to continue the "Clash of Civilizations" mythology if they can't use the mutterings of a psycho as representative of Islam.


Fucking pea brains.

The mass murderer was the one using "clash of civilization".

The proof is in the pea brain. :spaz:

Sounds like the kind of thing that's going to turn out to be bullshit. It just ties everything up with a neat little bow too well.