An attorney for Air America radio personality Randi Rhodes is disputing on on-air report by a colleague that the liberal talk show host was attacked on a Manhattan street, according to story in Newsday.
Air America talk host Jon Elliot reported the mugging on air Monday night.
Baroosk at Talking Radio picked up the story Tuesday that Rhodes (KPTK m-f, 5-8p) was
mugged and brutally attacked while walking her dog Sunday night near 39th Street and Park Avenue, in New York but the NYPD wouldn't confirm the report.
Elliott strongly hinted the incident was a hate crime influenced by Rhodes' progressive politics, pointing out that Rhodes was wearing a jogging suit and displayed no purse or jewelry, "This does not appear to me to be a standard grab the money and run mugging."
The Newsday story says, however, Rhodes attorney says Robert Gaulin confirmed that Rhodes was injured after she was knocked down by "something or someone" as she strolled the streets of Manhattan's Murray Hill district around 8p, but wasn't sure herself what sent her tumbling to the pavement.
"She hit her head on the street and was disoriented," Gaulin said. "She's not sure what happened. She didn't see anything." He added that she never reported the incident to police.
Air America released a statement saying that "the reports of a presumed hate crime are unfounded." Elliott followed that up with a retraction.
"I shouldn't have speculated based on hearsay that Randi Rhodes had been mugged and that it may have been an attack from a right wing hate machine. I apologize for jumping to conclusions based on an emotional reaction," he said in a written statement.
The other blog jumps pretty quickly to the conclusion that that was a "political" attack and that Randi was the "target" of unspecified right-wing forces. At this writing there is absolutely no evidence of this; people get mugged in NYC all the time. The news is bad & sad enough without getting tangled up in weird conspiracy theories.
Posted by: TomF | October 16, 2007 at 10:59 AM
Immediate update: Rhodes' lawyer says never mind the right-wing conspiracy to silence here, she was not even mugged. She just fell down while walking her dog. NY Daily News:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/10/16/2007-10-16_air_america_host_randi_rhodes_wasnt_mugg.html
So all this "right-wing mugging" stuff is 100% bogus.
Posted by: TomF | October 16, 2007 at 11:02 AM
Ooooooh, sounds like a case of the ground coming up and grabbing her. I recall that happening to me while in college...I was several sheets to the wind. ;)
Posted by: Duffman | October 16, 2007 at 11:21 AM
Oh crap, she fell down. Still not funny, but a relief. Hopefully the posters on the left leaning blogs don't find out too fast. It has been kind of fun reading some of their conspiracy theory postings.
Maybe a right-wing goon threw down a banana peal to trip her up. Maybe the same Republican bastards that maintain the sidewalks in Seattle maintain same in NY.
That's it, the Bush-Cheney crowd deliberately raised a section of sidewalk to trip her and silence her. It is all a right-wing conspiracy. Congress should hold hearings.
Posted by: chucks | October 16, 2007 at 11:21 AM
Geez, Michael. Could you take the time to validate your sources before getting everyone here all whipped up over something that's not true? Things get exciting enough around this place without that kind of bottom feeding.
Posted by: fordman | October 16, 2007 at 11:44 AM
Sorry to hear that she fell.
Wow, she's kinda cute in the picture, too bad about her voice, makes her sound like my aged aunt.
Posted by: brian | October 16, 2007 at 11:49 AM
Ooops T008, so much for your 'breaking news service' ;)
(Careful: Dori could be watching...)
Posted by: Duffman | October 16, 2007 at 12:11 PM
If I could stay awake that late, I would listen to Jon Elliott tonight to hear where he got his information..it was picked up by a lot of major newspapers across the country, even in the UK....
Posted by: sparky | October 16, 2007 at 12:49 PM
Sure got quiet around here.
Hmm..
Posted by: chucks | October 16, 2007 at 03:49 PM
Randi fell and smashed her face while walking her dog. Police say no crime was committed. No reports on whether she fainted after seeing her latest dismal Air America ratings.
Posted by: bobo | October 16, 2007 at 04:07 PM
chucks: is this not the 'loudest' quiet you've ever heard...
Posted by: Duffman | October 16, 2007 at 04:21 PM
what else is there to say? A nighttime radio host got erroneous information and started a rumor that wasnt true. He issued an apology for doing so this afternoon. Gee, maybe he should have followed in Rush/Hannity/Beck/Gibson/Hume's footsteps and deny ever getting something wrong and then get everyone on TV to come to his defense?
There is more important stuff going on, guys..like how Putin, he of the " I could see his soul" has warned the US not to invade IRAN, and oil prices went over 88$ a barrel.
Posted by: sparky | October 16, 2007 at 04:38 PM
and please dont try to tell me that if this rumor had been about Ann Coulter or Michele Malking that all the right winger talk show guys wouldn't have been SCREAMING that it was the work of some crazed liberal.
Posted by: sparky | October 16, 2007 at 04:41 PM
Hell yes sparky.
I'd been all over this story like a fly on honey if it had gone the other way. Maybe not for Ann, but certainly for Michelle.
I just want to hear the truth about what happened. Was she drunk or stoned (been there myself in a past life)? Trip over the dogs leash? Seattle quality sidewalks? Definitely do not wish her ill health. Pain sucks.
Heck with it. I am going back to B'lams pink undi picture. Pretend I'm thirty years younger and still liberal.
Posted by: chucks | October 16, 2007 at 04:58 PM
If it was a Malkin or Coulter this wouldn't have happened. They both have been assigned 6'8" bodyguards by Maloney, who wants to protect his investment.
Also they wouldn't have been out walking their beautiful, sweet puppy at night in NYC anyway. I think this shows a very human, caring side to Randi that she would risk herself that way for the sake of her puppy. Can anyone honestly see Ann Coulter doing same?
Posted by: jeeramya | October 16, 2007 at 05:00 PM
Has anyone noticed that last year KIRO (especially Dori Monson) was promoting the hell out of Gutter Helmet. Now it's all Leaf Filter.
Please give me a REFUND!
Posted by: Gutter Helmet | October 16, 2007 at 05:47 PM
This is for you Randi. Lets all sing along now.
Posted by: nevets | October 16, 2007 at 07:00 PM
There is a rumor making the rounds, which I will nip in the bud, that Randi fell outside of an Irish pub after drinking "14 Ketel One bloody marys." They go on to claim that she was abusive to staff, did'nt tip well, etc.
But since she had her dog with her, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL IN NYC for her even to enter a bar. IT DIDNT HAPPEN. God these right wing conspiracys are getting lamer and lamer.
Posted by: jeeramya | October 16, 2007 at 07:10 PM
This site has gone downhill. It's more angry and hateful. It's more devisive. It's more biased. It used to be more balanced in how it looked at the local talk radio market, and then let the posters discuss whatever the issue at hand was. Now he's in this routince of being neutral and soft with the lefty hosts, and more predjudice against the righties. I also get the feeling like he's trying to be Media Watch, the Seattle Chapter, sometimes. Trying to incite people into hatred or action by trying to convince us that this or that righty said something outrageous. Anyway, that's my two cents. I guess this is part where you kiss-asses, who don't have the balls to think independently, step in and say everything is wonderful here. PS, in advance of all the hate-posts I'm going to get for telling the truth... go fuck yourselves.
Posted by: DT | October 16, 2007 at 07:33 PM
uh oh...DT's gonna blow..take cover!
Michael, thank you for the belly laugh at the end of a long 13 hour day!
Posted by: sparky | October 16, 2007 at 07:37 PM
Always suspected that DT was acronym for delirium tremens and now it's confirmed. :(
Posted by: Duffman | October 16, 2007 at 07:38 PM
Did anybody see her with a dog. Could that just be a cover story?
Hmmm..
I heard that Hannity and Colmes were fighting and she got nailed trying to seperate them. Of coarse that info came from my neighbor, the barber. He tends to tell story's that lack truth. But hey, he can't be all bad, He still has a kerry 2004 bumper sticker on the back of his Hyndai.
Posted by: chucks | October 16, 2007 at 07:38 PM
DT is Dick Cheney
Posted by: coiler | October 16, 2007 at 07:46 PM
Ah well Chucks I'm bored. BTW, what's your opinion on Swedish sea serpent Storsjoodjuret? Why is it you always hear about the Loch Ness monster but coverage of SJ is non-existent? They didn't even cover when the Swedish parliament took SJ off the endangered species list.
Posted by: jeeramya | October 16, 2007 at 07:50 PM
I want to see some proof that any of us are kiss asses (Duffman excluded) or that we don't think independantly. I'm going to pull a Duffman by just saying that everything DT posted was patently absurd. Not worthy of a real response.
Posted by: Andrew | October 16, 2007 at 07:50 PM
&dru, would you please quit stalking me. Get back to work; your burgers are burning. ;)
Posted by: Duffman | October 16, 2007 at 07:53 PM
Atleast when I cut you down it's firmly footed in reality. You bitches have nothing on me so you decided to pretned I work fast food - I don't. How very sad you all are. I'll have you know fast food workers are respectable, hard working and they make delicious meals when you're on the go. Your mocking of them is despicable.
Posted by: Andrew | October 16, 2007 at 08:01 PM
Duffman & PugetSound are a couple of flat liars, and now we've got proof. Just the other day they had Andrew working the fry station, and now they've got him as grillman. Fry station is where they put the rookies, and grillman has to be experienced AND fast. You don't just switch from frier to grill willy nilly like that.
Posted by: jeeramya | October 16, 2007 at 08:03 PM
maybe they eat at places where quality doesn't matter like Mc Shit.
Posted by: coiler | October 16, 2007 at 08:12 PM
Why the obession with fast food to begin with? Are you wives/boyfriends cooking that bad?
Posted by: Andrew | October 16, 2007 at 08:22 PM
I just read that the RNC has 9 full time staffers working on Randi Rhodes stuff. I still don't discount the possibilty that this whole thing's a setup. If it's a case of blackmail against Randi, anything's possible.
Posted by: jeeramya | October 16, 2007 at 08:34 PM
Too bad...What do expect ? she was trying to grab attention in light of her sagging ratings and it probably worked. She may not have been mugged, but maybe she was - so what !
We may never know the true story from her, basically because she has a hard time handling the TRUTH. She has proven that over and over again with her hysterical rantings on her show and her evasiveness when being confronted with the truth and her mantra that all conservatives are evil ! She is the left's counter to Ann Coulter
Posted by: KS | October 16, 2007 at 08:42 PM
I would give her credit if she did not publicize the mishap any more than it already has - briefly say how she is doing and move on...doing her talk thing.
Posted by: kS | October 16, 2007 at 08:56 PM
Then you have to give her credit since she hasn't publicized anything.
Posted by: coiler | October 16, 2007 at 09:11 PM
Oh man! I always start on the oldest thread when catching up. Guess I'll have to start on the most recent from now on.
Klueless, you are still CLUELESS.
Posted by: joanie | October 16, 2007 at 11:30 PM
jeeramya
I have been watching Lake Chelan for the legendary serpent that has been seen by many vacationing Evergreen State students through the years between Chelan and Manson.
The Sweds are just going to have to tend to their own issues.
The barber is reporting that Randi tripped and broke her bong while trying to light it and keep her evil puppy under control. Even Evergreen students know you tie the dog to a tree while lighting your pipe. I hope she learned something from this incident.
Posted by: chucks | October 17, 2007 at 09:08 AM
14 bloody marys is quite a skinfull!
Posted by: mark | October 17, 2007 at 09:23 AM
Per NY Post:
"A canvass of half a dozen Irish bars in the area turned up nothing."
Be honest and tell all, Mark. ;)
Posted by: Duffman | October 17, 2007 at 10:04 AM
Her attorney says she was injured in a fall walking her dog and has no recollection what happened.
of course - happens all the time.
Posted by: mark | October 17, 2007 at 10:19 AM
I'll be interested in the full story on this if/when it ever comes out.
Posted by: Duffman | October 17, 2007 at 10:43 AM
We may see on U-Tube, since I hear that there are 'many' security cameras in this area.
Posted by: Duffman | October 17, 2007 at 10:54 AM
Now that a few more details have emerged, the far right once again has egg ALL OVER YA FACE. The report of attack by conservative thugs was changed to a report of a fall, and they heckled and jeckeled over this. The allegations of an Irish bar & lousy tipping fell apart. There was NO Irish bar in the area.
Now we learn that in fact Ms. Rhodes has NO RECOLLECTION of what happened. It doesn't seem likely to break several teeth in a fall. And as a man of action I can attest that when your bell is rung, you can usually remember the preceding moments and how it happened. UNLESS, that is, it is a case of being blindsided by conservative thugs, and you DONT KNOW what happened.
So at this point, it does seem that we are back to the story that she was probably attacked. That's right, EGGALLOVA YA FACE, goonbats.
Posted by: jeeramya | October 17, 2007 at 05:46 PM
No egg jerr. So what you are saying is that you, if fact, know what happened. I really do not myself know what really happened.
I just defer to the barber.
Do you know that her bong was or was not broken during the fall.
Did she tie the dog to a tree before she tried lighting said pipe?
We just want to know the truth. Not that we really care all that much. Not that it is any of our business. Now that we know that she was not seriously hurt, we just want to flip her a little shit.
All kidding aside, I am glad that she is going to be ok. But I believe that it was a left wing loon that hurt her. She is not as extreme left as some may like her to be. Although she is in the top 10% of the left, it was probably somebody in the top 2% left that hit her. Just speculating here, but it is just as likely as any other speculations.
Posted by: chucks | October 17, 2007 at 06:19 PM
Chucks I didn't mean to include you in the goonbats. I OReilly and Limbaugh. Note that both sell the heavy, ceramic coffee mugs that would be perfect for this type of attack. OReilly also has on clearance sale 'No Spin' hoodies that could be useful for a getaway. Thugs know that studies show that a hooded face is almost impossible to ID. Shaved heads operate on the same principle.
Moving on...chucks do you notice that the sea serpents are mostly cold water beasts. Don't you feel the least bit guilty that your global warming could spell their doom?
Posted by: jeeramya | October 17, 2007 at 07:14 PM
They survived the global warming that killed off the Flintstones. I figure that they will survive our mini-akgoreglobal warming.
Gotta go
good night
Posted by: chucks | October 17, 2007 at 09:22 PM
Chucks I have reached a fairly momentous decision. I have decided to drop 'Jeeramya' as a handle, and change to 'Storsie,' after the swedish sea serpent storsjoodjuret. I hope that each and every message will now serve as a reminder of the issue of global warming.
For those who are curious, storsjoodjuret is a 200 foot long serpent from Lake Storsjon, Jamtland Province, Sweden. It has been sighted many hundreds of time. The male of the species has a mane of sorts. It is classed as a 'many-humped' serpent by those who study such things.
Posted by: jeeramya | October 17, 2007 at 09:52 PM
algore will be proud of you, Storsie. I think we need to get the UN involved. We can confiscate billions of dollars from the rich American tax payers and divert it to saving the serpents of the world.
I feel a new movement coming.
Of coarse Nessie will have to be the poster serpent. Popular familiarity and all.
Posted by: chucks | October 18, 2007 at 07:45 AM
We are off topic. Best to knock it off and get back on task.
Will Randi be back on the air tonight?
Posted by: chucks | October 18, 2007 at 07:48 AM
I heard 'Simon' may be filling in...more dependable and able to remain standing... ;)
Posted by: Duffman | October 18, 2007 at 07:58 AM
Much like Randi, they're starting to DROP
Posted by: Duffman | October 18, 2007 at 08:22 AM