Van Susteren: Texas Cartoon Contest ‘Recklessly’ Endangered Police (VIDEO)

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Fox News host Greta Van Susteren slammed Pam Geller and her anti-Islam group, the American Freedom Defense Initiative, for putting police in danger by holding a Muhammad cartoon contest near Dallas over the weekend.

“Protect our police. Do not recklessly lure them into danger, and that’s what happened in Garland, Texas, at the Mohammad cartoon contest. Yes, of course, there is a First Amendment right and of course it’s very important. But the exercise of that right includes using good judgement,” Van Susteren said on her show, “On The Record,” on Tuesday evening.

Van Susteren said that while the group has the right to exercise free speech, they should not have knowingly endangered police officers by doing do.

“It is one thing for someone to stand up for the First Amendment and put his own you-know-what on the line. But here, those insisting they were defending the First Amendment were knowingly putting others’ lives on the line,” she said. “Everyone knew this event would unglue some who might become violent and the police had no choice but to do their jobs and be there to protect against violence.”

“Was it fair to the police, to knowingly put them at risk by this unnecessary provocation?” Van Susteren asked. “I say no.”

Two gunmen were killed on Sunday after they opened fire on officers outside the Muhammad cartoon contest in Garland, Texas. Police had developed an extensive security plan for the event due to previous issues with the American Freedom Defense Initiative.

Van Susteren’s colleague at Fox News, Bill O’Reilly, seemed to agree that the event may have been unnecessarily provocative. He said on Monday that he would have done it “another way.”

Watch the clip via Fox News:

H/t Mediaite

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Off topic, but I’d be interested in knowing who hired the unarmed security guard for the event. Talk about “reckless endangerment.”

    “Yeah, we’re going to host this event where we have a contest on who can draw the best (worst) cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad. It should be a good time. We need you in uniform right at the door to give the appearance of security and safety. Maybe you could obtain identification or something while you’re there, you’re getting paid $9.00 for this gig, so do what security guards do. What? Dangerous? Don’t be ridiculous, there will be police there, nothing to be worried about! This isn’t France and Charlie Hedbo, this is Texas and America! This is a good gig, keep asking questions and I’ll get someone else to do it!!”

  2. Greta, you ignorant slut.

  3. Take note, Pam Geller. Even Fox News finds you odious.

  4. If anyone knows about recklessly endangering the country, it’s Fox.

  5. Ha! An angle I hadn’t even thought of. I stand by my previous argument that the only thing Grand Dragon Geller didn’t get out of this incident that she wanted was an innocent attendee in a bodybag. I suppose a cop in a bodybag would have been just as, if not better, for riling the RWNJ islamaphobe bigots.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

16 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for brooklynmichael Avatar for artemisia Avatar for blandsten Avatar for imkmu3 Avatar for fargo116 Avatar for commiedearest Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for mh26 Avatar for meangreen Avatar for sniffit Avatar for frankly_my_dear Avatar for weatherservo9 Avatar for ottnott Avatar for eric_jaffa Avatar for dnl Avatar for jam_econo Avatar for beattycat Avatar for ennuithereyet Avatar for antisachetdethe Avatar for gekkobear

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: