The Black George Zimmerman
Original (overly long) post title: “If Only There Were a Case Where a White Teen Was Shot By a Black Man Who Claimed Self-Defense, We Could Evaluate Obama’s Comments That It Would Have Been Different . . . What’s That? There Is?”
And the black guy was acquitted? The hell you say!
So, as we all know, the Racial Healer in Chief included in his “historic remarks” the other day a suggestion that the Zimmerman case came out the way it did because the decedent was black:
So — so folks understand the challenges that exist for African- American boys, but they get frustrated, I think, if they feel that there’s no context for it or — and that context is being denied. And — and that all contributes, I think, to a sense that if a white male teen was involved in the same kind of scenario, that, from top to bottom, both the outcome and the aftermath might have been different.
Well, this past week, Instapundit linked to a story about a 2009 self-defense case where the shooter was black and the victim was white: the case of Roderick Scott. While no case can be similar to the Zimmerman case “top to bottom,” this case provides a compelling rejoinder to Obama’s grievance-filled suggestion that the Zimmerman acquittal was racially based.
Above: Roderick Scott, the “black George Zimmerman”
The article linked by Instapundit lacks any specific reference to the defendant’s race, but the Roderick Scott case is thoroughly analyzed at a blog called Decoded Science:
During the early morning hours of April 4, 2009, 42-year-old Roderick Scott was asleep on the couch of his Greece, New York home, just outside of Rochester. He was awakened by some noise outside.
Scott looked out the window and saw three teens attempting to break into his car. He grabbed his gun, for which he had a legal permit, put it in his waistband and told his girlfriend to call 911 before going outside.
When Scott went out, he confronted the youths, who were going through a neighbor’s car. According to Scott, he told them to stop and wait for the police. The incident ended after Scott fired two shots at Christopher Cervini, killing him.
According to 15-year-old James Cervini, one of the three, and Christopher’s cousin, Scott shot Christopher after the teen yelled, “Please don’t shoot me, I’m just a kid.” Scott, who testified in his own defense, said he only fired after Christopher came running at him in a threatening manner.
Above: Christopher Cervini, the “white Trayvon Martin”
As I see it, there were two key differences: 1) the white kid was clearly involved in illegal activity before he was shot, and 2) the white kid was not beating the shooter, but just rushing him.
Obama suggests that people in Roderick Scott’s position would be convicted in today’s AmeriKKKa if they shot a white kid.
Scott was acquitted. So much for your snarky little insinuation, Mr. Obama.
One other comment Obama made deserves a response:
And for those who resist that idea that we should think about something like these “stand your ground” laws, I just ask people to consider if Trayvon Martin was of age and armed, could he have stood his ground on that sidewalk? And do we actually think that he would have been justified in shooting Mr. Zimmerman, who had followed him in a car, because he felt threatened?
And if the answer to that question is at least ambiguous, it seems to me that we might want to examine those kinds of laws.
The answer to that is not ambiguous. The answer is clear: no. Trayvon Martin would have been justified in shooting George Zimmerman only if he reasonably and genuinely feared for his life.
Let me repeat this for the left, because this is the point that you all seem to miss, from Obama to the New Yorker‘s Amy “What was Trayvon supposed to do” Davidson to Scott Eric Kaufman:
THERE IS COMPELLING EVIDENCE THAT TRAYVON MARTIN WAS BEATING GEORGE ZIMMERMAN.
Since you probably missed that, let me repeat it:
THERE IS COMPELLING EVIDENCE THAT TRAYVON MARTIN WAS BEATING GEORGE ZIMMERMAN.
That means, Mr. Obama, that your making Martin out to be a pathetic and sad little innocent kid who could have been your son — or you, 35 years ago — is outrageous. Whom did you beat unmercifully as a teenager, Mr. Obama?
It means, Amy Davidson of the new Yorker, that when you write an article asking: What Should Trayvon Martin have done? suggesting that Martin’s biggest sin was that he “fought back,” that is outrageous. Here’s what he should have done: not beat the crap out of George Zimmerman. Simple!
It means, Scott Eric Kaufman, that when you write a blog post that illogically drones on and on about the race of people George Zimmerman called 911 about, your focus on that issue while ignoring the evidence that Martin beat Zimmerman badly is outrageous.
Why? Because:
THERE IS COMPELLING EVIDENCE THAT TRAYVON MARTIN WAS BEATING GEORGE ZIMMERMAN.
QUICK DETOUR FROM THE MAIN POINT JUST BEFORE THE END: Now, as regards SEK, I would like to say a couple of other things. He has taken actions on my behalf in the past, including standing up for me in a situation where I was being called a liar, and writing this post backing me up on the Brett Kimberlin saga. That latter post, especially, was courageous and relatively rare among the left. I continue to fundamentally think he is a good guy.
Second, I think my reader DRJ had an excellent point: that many of the supposed 911 calls made by Zimmerman may not have been 911 calls. Let me quote her comment in its entirety:
I think it could be unfair to criticize Zimmerman for calling 911 over potholes and animals. The Sanford FL Emergency Services website states:
The Emergency Communications Center also provides after-hours dispatch services for the Animal Services Division and other county operational departments and divisions.
We don’t know if Zimmerman called 911 or if he called another number and was routed or directed to 911 because his call was after hours. Look at the log of Zimmerman’s calls linked by SEK. Most of the calls SEK found objectionable occurred in the evening after the Animal Control and Maintenance departments were closed.
Excellent point. I may have done Zimmerman an injustice by agreeing that he had abused the 911 system.
BACK TO THE MAIN POINT: This is rather obvious, but Barack Obama is not post-racial. He continually finds racial grievances to emphasize in cases that don’t call for them (see: Henry Louis Gates, Trayvon Martin). His latest remarks are just the latest example of his opening his yap in an inappropriate way to stoke racial tensions.
UPDATE: Thanks to bobbingdale for the idea of adding the photo of Cervini.
Ding.
Patterico (9c670f) — 7/21/2013 @ 12:35 pm1. Roderick Scott claimed he observed suspicious activity, just as George did. As people said in the George/Trayvon case, observing suspicious behavior doesn’t make George (or Roderick) judge and jury.
2. Roderick exited his home with the intent to confront, with gun loaded, chambered, and pointed at *suspects*.
3. One witness, the cousin, claims Christopher begged not to be shot. Roderick claims Christopher rushed him. Any evidence to support Roderick?
While there are many similarities in the cases, I do think there are some noteworthy differences – ones that clearly fly in the face of statements made, attacking Zimmerman, by Trayvon supporters.
(not arguing guilt against Roderick or anything, just pointing out my observations about the cases and the differences/similarities.)
sarainitaly (f5ed4b) — 7/21/2013 @ 12:37 pmDarn! Beaten out again for the first comment!
Our honored President asked:
Actually, yes he could. The trouble is that this was not an argumentative standoff, but a situation in which one man assaulted the other, and it is more probable than not that it was Mr Martin who assaulted Mr Zimmerman rather than the reverse.
The Dana who's alot smarter than our President (af9ec3) — 7/21/2013 @ 12:38 pmHe didn’t call 911, but the non-emergency number, just as he did the night he shot Trayvon.
sarainitaly (f5ed4b) — 7/21/2013 @ 12:39 pmPatterico: maybe the “Daily Caller” needs to send in a high school student to ask Carney if POTUS has heard of the Roderick Scott case, and would he care to comment regarding it’s similarities and differences from the Trayvon Martin case?
Simon Jester (f9c105) — 7/21/2013 @ 12:39 pmHere is the link:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/311785-carney-gets-into-tense-exchange-with-high-school-student
I’m not a big fan of Tucker Carlson, but he handled it exactly right.
Simon Jester (f9c105) — 7/21/2013 @ 12:41 pmOh, and one more thing: did Mr. Scott get to keep his firearm?
There may well have been preferential treatment involved, indeed.
Simon Jester (f9c105) — 7/21/2013 @ 12:42 pmWorth noting that TalkLeft offers one of the very few columns from the left side of the political spectrum that the rapidly becoming official narrative of what happened on Feb. 26, 2012. The columnist decries how the President mistreated or outright ignored the known facts of the case, and highlighted several other flaws in the President’s version of the events and his conclusions about the tragedy and its aftermath.
Bob (3fbe69) — 7/21/2013 @ 12:44 pmAnd thanks for the Twitchy widget, which led me to the story about the lovely Melissa Harris-Perry’s tampon earrings. She really needs to use them as a tongue ring, considering what flows out of her mouth.
The grossed out Dana (af9ec3) — 7/21/2013 @ 12:45 pmAfter listening (painfully) to Rachel Jeantel’s interviews, I noticed in some she claims she told Trayvon that Zimmerman might be a rapist. In others, she explains her creepy ass cracker comments to mean he was “like police”. She also said that Trayvon saw George on the phone, when he was still in his car.
Sounds to me like Trayvon, in those 40 minutes after he left 7/11, smoked a blunt, and then freaked out because a *cracker* was following him. He saw him on the phone, perhaps reporting him for engaging in illegal behavior… Trayvon had a lighter on him, it appears he had those three guys at 7/11 buy him a cigar, and he takes 40 minutes to walk home in the rain. I don’t think he was scared for his life, I think he was afraid of getting busted with pot, again.
sarainitaly (f5ed4b) — 7/21/2013 @ 12:46 pmTo make the article perfect, you should add an angelic picture of the 17-year-old “white Trayvon Martin” (see google images).
bobbingdale (58413c) — 7/21/2013 @ 12:48 pmBob – thanks for posting that! Can’t wait to read. Did you see this one? Trayvon Martin’s Cell Phone Records
sarainitaly (f5ed4b) — 7/21/2013 @ 12:49 pmRegarding the abuse of 911: Here in the suburban Upper Midwest, I went out of my way to try and call a non-emergency number to report a property crime. I’d been living in Los Angeles for the last 11 years and I assumed that 911 was for real emergencies (whatever else leaving your cars doors unlocked so people can come take your stuff is, it’s not an emergency in any way that I understand the word). The police department purposefully re-routed my call to 911. I left a detailed message with the operator and a detective called me back to take a report.
So, I can attest that in some places 911 has morphed from emergency calls to general police business calls.
Fritz (a69d99) — 7/21/2013 @ 1:03 pmif we shoot ALL the loser children we’re not going to have very many left
happyfeet (8ce051) — 7/21/2013 @ 1:09 pmThat case was NOT like the George Zimmerman case.
Roderick Scott was not assaulted.
He also knew where to find the person he was looking for.
Sammy Finkelman (6f9f42) — 7/21/2013 @ 1:13 pmThis is rather obvious, but Barack Obama is not post-racial.
Of course not. If he truly were post-racial, the adoring media would have to acknowledge that his is a failed Presidency led by an incompetent administration.
JVW (23867e) — 7/21/2013 @ 1:22 pmI think at this point there’s no point of even asking the WH about anything. If I were in a position to do so I’d just publicly mock the hypocrisy coming from the administration.
No AG except for a black AG could refer to his own race as “my people” and get away with it. Which is exactly what Holder said when Congress questioned him about the NBPP case.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/0311/Eric_Holder_Black_Panther_case_focus_demeans_my_people.html
Seemed to? Of course he did. The cowards on race always try to shut down the conversation when it threatens to get too honest by taking offense.
In all honesty if I were a public figure I’d simply call them out on their hypocrisy. How they view a case depends on which end of the gun Eric “my people” Holder’s people have to be on.
There is racism in this country. But as Thomas Sowell observed in one of his recent syndicated columns it’s not largely coming from whites anymore.
http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2013/jul/15/thomas-sowell-dont-look-to-leaders-to-solve-race/
Yeah, let’s have that honest conversation on race.
Steve57 (2dd692) — 7/21/2013 @ 1:37 pmAnother thing – fearing blacks has NOTHING TO DO with the old pre-1960s racism.
Interesting. Things were getting really worse just at the time that the civil Rights movement was gaining.
Sammy Finkelman (6f9f42) — 7/21/2013 @ 1:39 pmjust a thing on 911 … I used to live in Kenner Louisiana and any type of call to the police was okay to go through 911. I don’t know if it is still that way, and I recall other localities doing the same thing. Got a call for the police or animal control or anything, you were encouraged to call 911. Was this also the case in FL?
I also find if funny the same folks who love the “See something, Say something” are now complaining that GZ called about things he saw too often … especially when it seems there was a bit of a crime situation going on there.
JP Kalishek (9b6108) — 7/21/2013 @ 1:40 pmAs I said before, JEF needed to detract from Friday’s damning IRS testimony that proves the scandal goes directly to the WH. Mission accomplished-even on this site, sadly
Gazzer (68c295) — 7/21/2013 @ 1:45 pmDid anyone think obama would be any different after attending wright’s hate America and hate white people church? shelly is the same and with obama and shelly in the background the girls will be the same.
Too bad for them. They will grow up into a latin America. blacks will continue to be the minority forever and the hispanics won’t have any guilt complex.
Jim (823b10) — 7/21/2013 @ 3:14 pmWell maybe he didn’t remember, like Clinton and DOMA;
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/07/21/Obama-Co-Sponsored-2004-Bill-Strengthening-Self-Defense-in-Illinois?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
narciso (3fec35) — 7/21/2013 @ 3:54 pmif we shoot ALL the loser children we’re not going to have very many left
Comment by happyfeet (8ce051) — 7/21/2013 @ 1:09 pm
Concerned you are, Why? For aborting babies in womb, you are! Concerned for them being shot after being born, yet you are, difference being what? Sense to Yoda, it does not make!
Yoda (a84075) — 7/21/2013 @ 5:03 pmyes
happyfeet (8ce051) — 7/21/2013 @ 8:15 pmI have been going through the Tampa Bay Times’ database of supposedly “stand your ground cases.” if you follow this link you will get the third installment of that analysis.
Of particular interest is the Murdock case, where a black man shot an unarmed white man… and was never even charged with a crime. Basically he was treated like Zimmerman, with a little custodial interrogation and then when they felt good about the story they let him go… only in Zimmerman’s case, there was a racist uproar, while in Murdock’s case, there wasn’t. So Murdock has lived a relatively normal life since then and Zimmerman was still charged anyway, put through a ridiculous trial, might face federal charges and might very well get lynched.
Aaron "Worthing" Walker (23789b) — 7/21/2013 @ 8:31 pmI’m sorry to disagree but I don’t think the zero gives a damn about race.
MaaddMaaxx (981b21) — 7/21/2013 @ 8:51 pmThe Zimmerman case and his remarks are a distraction to keep his various scandals off the news.
The IRS noose is tightening around him the state department is imploding and the DOJ… I’m reminded of the joke about the piano player and the whore house.
By concentrating on the sheer stupidity of his remarks we are assisting him in covering up his crimes.
Excellent posts, Aaron. Thank you for posting that information.
DRJ (a83b8b) — 7/21/2013 @ 8:57 pmZ can always move to ND or MT. Once the DOJ gets off his back.
gary gulrud (dd7d4e) — 7/22/2013 @ 5:50 amhttp://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/nyregion/23trial.html?_r=0
Foo Bar (d0e310) — 7/22/2013 @ 7:12 amThanks for the link, Foo Bar. Judging from only the NYT article, the White family got a raw deal.
ropelight (22a223) — 7/22/2013 @ 7:37 amI couldn’t find this story on any of the three posts available at the link.
Hube (4d0abc) — 7/22/2013 @ 7:50 amNever mind. Found it. It’s under the “Patrick Lavoie” header.
Hube (4d0abc) — 7/22/2013 @ 7:57 amAs I review the comment I left, I can’t seem to find the part where I asserted that there was a perfect parallel between the two cases.
Foo Bar (d0e310) — 7/22/2013 @ 8:09 amSo far, Foo Bar, you haven’t mentioned anything except what wasn’t there. But, perhaps you see things others don’t.
ropelight (22a223) — 7/22/2013 @ 8:19 am# 33, you haven’t mentioned anything except what wasn’t there. But, perhaps you see things others don’t.
ropelight (22a223) — 7/22/2013 @ 8:20 amSorry for the double post, my comment at #34 didn’t show up, I got a duplicate notice, so I changed the intro and now find both the original and a near duplicate.
I assumed from recent experience that Foo Bar’s name might be the problem. But it must be something I did. I’ll try to be more careful.
ropelight (22a223) — 7/22/2013 @ 8:24 amA couple of incidental points about the Scott case:
1. Roderick Scott was acquitted even though NY is a “duty to retreat” state; there is no right to stand your ground. Theoretically, he had a route of escape.
2. There was no groundswell of support for prosecuting Scott. Aside from Christopher Cervini’ s family and friends, the only people who wanted his scalp were gun control activists.
3. Scott was prosecuted by a Dem DA, Mike Green, who was later nominated for a federal judgeship by Mr. Obama upon the recommendation of Sen. Charles Schumer. None of those three men have a reputation as a white racist. After all, they’re Democrats, so by definition they can’t be racists, can they?
Red_Right_Returning (ad4e49) — 8/2/2013 @ 9:35 pm