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The Day Before Colorado Massacre Rush Limbaugh Reveled In His Batman Conspiracy Glory
Coincidence? A day before the Dark Knight Rises massacre in Colorado, Rush Limbaugh was living it up in his Batman conspiracy theory glory.
Let’s put something to bed before it ever gets started. I am absolutely not blaming Rush Limbaugh for the tragedy in Colorado.
However, when I found out about the shooting this morning, I had two thoughts. The Joker, and Limbaugh’s conspiracy theory that he had been pushing all week.
I thought about The Joker because only a true sociopath, especially the way he was played by Heath Ledger, could go into a dark theater and shoot people, and I thought about Rush Limbaugh because of his Batman conspiracy theory.
During his radio program on Wednesday, Limbaugh said,
It has been quite instructive. This has been very, very illustrative, ladies and gentlemen. Yesterday on this program I uttered some words about the new Batman movie, and the evil villain named Bane. I made some comments about it. Doesn’t matter what. I have had more reaction to that than anything, including the Fluke thing. I’ve had my brother telling me that Twitter is going nuts. I’ve been getting hateful e-mail, supportive e-mail. More people are concerned about whatever I might have said or didn’t say about a Batman villain than they are about their own jobs. It’s incredible. But, as I say, it’s quite instructive, and it’s quite illustrative.
I have no idea whether James Holmes ever heard Rush Limbaugh’s comments. It is unknown whether or not Holmes was even political, but there is something unnerving about the idea that days after Fox News described Dark Knight Rises fans as, “ugly and threatening,” 71 people who were watching the movie’s premiere got shot.
Rush Limbaugh claimed that the use of the character Bane and the movie’s release date were all a part of an Obama plot to sink Mitt Romney. The right’s reaction has been the same as it always is when mass shooting occur. First, they scream about the Second Amendment, and then they try to explain to us how their words don’t matter.
The problem is that their words do matter. They are the pollution in the cesspool that our national dialogue has become. The right managed to take an innocent event like a summer blockbuster and politicize it to such a degree that when a horrible tragedy occurred, the question in the back of many minds was I wonder if the shooter listened to Limbaugh?
If people like Limbaugh didn’t spend their days preaching hate and division this question would never be thought of, but many conservatives seem to have taken the lead of their media and forgotten that they can be conservative, without being filled with rage and hate for those who disagree with them.
When hate and anger are their movement’s fuel, they shouldn’t be surprised that a psychological connection is made between their behavior and the hate filled act of the shooter in Colorado. This thought may not be fair, but it has been earned.
Words matter and if the right wants people to stop suspecting them every time there is a mass shooting, they should try toning down the hate.
I would love to hear what Rush has to say about the shooting, but I can’t. Rush Limbaugh took the day off.
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37 Responses to The Day Before Colorado Massacre Rush Limbaugh Reveled In His Batman Conspiracy Glory
Reynardine
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 7:04 pm
There is an I Ching hexagram: From the mouth issueth evil. I fear it has become the hexagram of our time.
Jared Drury
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 7:11 pm
The shooter isn’t a sociopath he is a psychopath.
Sociopathy is the result of social conditioning which leads to a lack of natural human values. It refers strictly to a social condition where a person knows, yet has been socially conditioned to disregard, the intrinsic human values which are believed to be universal.
Psychopathy is a personality disorder that has been variously described as characterized by shallow emotions (in particular reduced fear), stress tolerance, lacking empathy, coldheartedness, lacking guilt, egocentricity, superficial charm, manipulativeness, irresponsibility, nonplanfulness, impulsivity, and antisocial behaviors such as parasitic lifestyle and criminality. There is no consensus about the symptom criteria and there are ongoing debates regarding issues such as essential features, causes, and the possibility of treatment.
He is most definitely a psychopath.
DontHatetheGame
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Jason, thought of this immediately and have been waiting for someone to make the connection. Somehow I knew it would be you. Isn’t it interesting that coward took the day off? Right now they are scheming to somehow make this all Obama’s fault. We ain’t seen nothing yet.
PMom_GA
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 7:18 pm
It’s a stretch to tie Limbaugh Tuesday rant directly to today’s actions for this reason: the booby-trapping of the gunman’s home took time, and the time it took to assemble the needed items weren’t possible in less than 72 hours. Guns were purchased as far back as May according to reports, so this had been planned out, in some manner/shape/form some time ago.
However, I will tie Limbaugh to the timing aspect of when this kook decided to ultimately wig out and do what he did.
I think it’s called egging someone on, if not subliminal persuasion that the “others” are out to get you.
JMO.
Elizabeth
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 8:34 pm
Absolutely agreed. However Limbaugh and those of his ilk have done much to create an atmosphere of hate and anger that gives these people “permission” to act out their anger and hate. Its ok to behave this way.
Shadowulf
Jul. 21st, 2012 at 10:08 am
True this guy had been making preparations to do something like this well before Blubberella spouted off at the mouth over the radio, but his tirade could have been just enough push to give the man a target.
C.L.
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
I immediately thought of Rush Limbaugh’s craven politicization and demonization of the movie when I heard the news of the shootings this morning.
In addition to Limbaugh’s actual broadcast, there were many, many other networks (and internet sites) which repeated and “discussed” his broadcast about Bane/Bain. Who knows what was in the shooter’s mind, but I would daresay that the shooter would have had to have been in total blackout NOT to have heard or read about Limbaugh’s inflammatory speculations that the Obama campaign somehow orchestrated the movie premiere to attack Mitt Romney via the ludicrous “Bane/Bain” villain meme. For a shooter who wanted to obtain the maximum publicity for his actions, Limbaugh unfortunately added to that publicity and controversy over the movie by his insanely irresponsible comments prior to its release.
I’m not surprised that Rush took the day off….That’s what blowhard cowards do.
Kevin Shinn
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
Conspiracy nut NRA president to link the shooter to the sneaky Administration’s Secret Plan To Take Your Guns After Reelection in three… two… one
Mrs Gunka
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 8:24 pm
I wonder if the boy in Arizona would have gone on with his massacre if he had not been prodded by the media on FOX to don’t retreat, reload! Something had to stimulate these two guys. This kid was a loner and avid player of video games. Do they become so calloused that they lose all there emotions repeatedly by taking out “people/the enemy” in these games that they lose connection to reality? Would a normal, educated graduate student plan something like this? Did the years growing up in a home where FOX was always on and subliminally do something to his rational thinking. Remember, if you tell a lie often enough it can become the truth. I’ve watched hundreds of videos by the commentators on FOX and was angered when they stretched the truth or just lied about our President or any Democrat. But I also watch the opposition to FOX to be told the truth. We never had MSNBC for years, so I watched CNN on our cable. BUT, I read and watched MSNBC on the internet and realized we were hearing right leaning take on things. We no longer get the local paper (Denver Post) because of the cost. We used to get the Rocky Mountain News. My husband read them both. I was too busy raising 4 kids to read either and may get the comics read before I went to bed. Food, fashion, obits maybe, but never read the editorials. I have MSNBC on in the background most of the time and read the opposition on the internet.
Then along came Sarah Palin. The baby hoax, the lies, the stupidity, the militant talk woke me up! The fake religion, anti-women rhetoric made me angry. Separation of church and state woke me up. They tried to use the puppet to win the women’s vote and stimulate those old white-haired horny men with her winking and tongue protrusions. We watched that stupid W take our country to the edge of the cliff and leave us on the brink of bankruptcy! There is a right-wing religious faction in the country with lots of money who is trying to take over our country. Cutting the taxes for the rich, outsourcing the jobs, and then they ended up with a black man in the oval office. Racism is rampant! The mass-murderers have all been young men who are quiet and withdrawn in public. What triggers them? Hope we figure it out soon and all go to vote and get this party of NO out of office that is holding up getting our country back on track.
sherriww
Jul. 21st, 2012 at 3:44 pm
“AMEN” To You,for sure! The voters who follow and believe this set of Repubs,will wake up to the “Nightmare of their Life”,if somhow”Mittens”Romney wins! My wish is,that all the ones who want him,and his kind,could be put in one place,one state,all together,and be under his “Rule”,and that the rest of us could move someplace all together,with President Obama looking out for us! How long does anyone think it would be,until those folks were BEGGING to come where we all are? Not Long,for sure,but I don’t want to see people who have no idea what they are getting into,drag the rest of us down into their bottomless pit!
get real
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 8:24 pm
If Rush’s words ‘don’t matter’ then why does he speak at all?
Darlene Matthews Brown
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
I have never brought Florida Orange Juice since the day that Rush advertized it, and I live in Florida.
I’m a Liberal new age Christian, The ‘Christian’ right are neithor ‘Christian’ nor ‘right’, unless they propose to follow behind Jesus toting a people shooting gun, singing “We will conqur in his name” and slaughtering all who try to stop the insanity.
Reynardine
Jul. 22nd, 2012 at 12:20 am
I haven’t given up on Florida orange juice. I have a tree.
Anthony
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 9:41 pm
I was immediately disgusted after reading your head line. The thought of a journalist using a horrible tragedy as the one last night to gain views on their online article offended me. However, upon reading your article I could not agree more. I was previously unfamiliar with the “batman conspiracy” and your insight intrigued me. Amazingly well written article and great points Jason. This is my first visit to this site but I will defiantly return. Thanks.
mikeyhatesit
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 9:46 pm
I completely empathize with the victims in this situation, but I would see no quandary in tying Limbaugh to Holmes’ actions. Glenn Beck has a link to Byron Williams, who shot at police on his way to kill people at the Tides Foundation. It’s well known that prisons often tune the TV to FOX, so James McVay can be reasonably expected to have formed his hatred for the president’s policies despite his solitary confinement. Bill O’Reilly famously re-iterated his meme “Tiller the Baby Killer” until the doctor’s murder at the hands of Scott Roeder.
So Limbaugh’s claims of an Obama/Hollywood Elite conspiracy can only be one of two things: an outright hyperbolic falsehood that he 100% knows is without merit; or the laziest lack of research ever demonstrating a spectacular failure for a supposed journalist to know either what a homonym is or googling Batman’s cast of villains.
Free speech is very important to me, but nobody- Left, Right, or Centrist- should disregard the impact of language in today’s technological culture. How many major news outlets mangled the recent Supreme Court ruling about the ACA? How many people watching certain of those networks still believe the initial “unconstitutional” tag? I would hate to see anyone’s civil rights violated. After all, we need clearinghouses like fstdt.com to let us know where the loonies are, and how close to a “second amendment solution” certain of our citizens are.
Here’s the “but”. The instances I listed above say to me that we affect each other more than we’d like to admit. If Holmes can be demonstrated that Rush’s characterization of Bane/Bain the economic terrorist was the switch that set him off, then by all means he should be held accountable. Williams practically stood up from his barcalounger and walked out the door during Beck’s rant against Van Jones and the Tides Foundation. Should Rush see jail time, as a co-conspirator? Not necessarily- maybe a charge of incitement, but that still butts up against Free Speech. Maybe a severe fine and suspension of air time levied by the FCC and/or the Justice Department.
No matter what, Limbaugh knew that what he was doing was disingenuous, and definitely a breach of journalistic ethics to conflate a fictional supervillain (and one of the crappiest concepts ever!) who “broke the Bat” as a stand-in for a corporation run by a political candidate that is heavily documented as actually committing economic terrorism against American citizens.
We should call this chapter in American socio-politics “Seduction of the Ignorant”.
Chuck
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 9:57 pm
He’s a NUT !!
m_thomas
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Jason Easley, you are not alone in your first impressions. I too connected the event and Limbaugh — immediately. It is my custom to scour “reader comments” at a variety of news sites, especially within the first hours after a major event when information is sketchy and speculation (revealing suspicions and fears) runs emotional, and spontaneously.
At 1pm ET today, I noted this for my journal, and left it at Reuters:
Yesterday, Rush Limbaugh put into the minds of right-wing Conservatives the bizarre notion that the latest Batman film was an Obama propaganda device against Romney. A new, entirely fabricated, “overnight” conspiracy theory was hatched. At Reuters (U.S), no poster drew the line between the dots; most expressed fear that Obama would take away their “2nd Amen” right of gun ownership.
Whether today’s killer ever heard of Rush Limbaugh is immaterial; Limbaugh and his cohort incendiaries at Fox and the Tea Party, along with countless right-wing Conservatives and “lumpen” they control, want war at home. Should one occur, it will financed by billionaires.
Later, I asked my 26-year old worker – an avid movie goer – what she thought of today’s headline. “I’m not surprised,” she said calmly, “the movies today are nothing but murder, killing and war”.
—Recommended:
The truth about American violence:
rt.com/usa/news/mass-year...
—News:
According to a Warner Bros. spokeswoman, the studio pulled its trailer for an upcoming film, “Gangster Squad,” which is set for release in September. In the trailer, which was shown at some screenings of “The Dark Knight Rises,” but not in the Aurora theater, men are seen shooting up the crowd in a movie theater.
- 30 -
Shiva (Moderator)
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 10:34 pm
Look at our favorite movies, prime time tv shows, they are all shoot em up and killem dano
Jim H.
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 10:15 pm
I wonder if Rush’s taking time off today was his idea or his producer’s because Rush has shown that he lacks the basic impulse control of most human beings. When he spent three days railing against Sandra Fluke, then whined about the backlash of people contacting his sponsors, he seems oblivious that there are consequences in the real world.
majii
Jul. 20th, 2012 at 10:51 pm
I don’t think it’s wrong to think about possible connections between what these peddlers of propaganda like Limbaugh, Beck, and the Fox crew say and things that happen here and in other places. I was appalled to learn that Beck was tied to the Egyptian protests against Sec. of State Clinton. Beck’s propaganda reached halfway around the world and led to the protests against her. He put her life in danger and is pretending that he had nothing to do with it. These people are extremely dangerous. I think Limbaugh took the day off after he heard about the massacre in Aurora, CO. It’s just like him to wimp out and make himself scarce after using inflammatory statements based on nothing but BS. Many people look upon Limbaugh as a strong person because he talks big. They fail to see that he is a coward who wouldn’t have the stones to say 1/10000 of the things to people in person that he says about them while sitting in his studio at home.
Kevin
Jul. 21st, 2012 at 12:10 am
All this back channel conspiracy stuff is totally irrelevant. What is relevant is that any incident that threatens action or provides politicians or others with the rationale for restricting our rights, is dangerous. We all need to be on guard that ANY such events do not further erode our rights.
Look at 911 before and after. Scans at airports, drone planes surveillance, right to strip search, supreme court upholding police rights over citizen rights, and it goes on.
Is this the America that we really want. One where children think that it’s normal to not have freedom? This loss freedom is extending into EVERY SINGLE corner of our lives.
Let’s not allow isolated nuts control our freedoms. Those isolated nuts not only live in Colorado. Most of them live in Washington, DC.
Dan Skinner
Jul. 21st, 2012 at 12:20 am
the only thing that can possibly stop the hate and bigotry spewing from this blowhards ugly mouth is his long overdue stroke.
tifosa
Jul. 21st, 2012 at 12:54 am
I wonder if Rush has launched his “RushBanes” Facebook group yet….
Rachel
Jul. 21st, 2012 at 2:58 am
Was the Batman movie shooting imitated from scene in 1986 comic?
By: Sean Higgins
The Washington Examiner
j
Jul. 21st, 2012 at 6:28 am
I also hate to tie this to anyone, but I seem to remember one of the FOX people egging on the murder of Dr Tiller, calling him a baby killer every day. when it happened they went quiet for a few days, but really know how to come back and inspire hate on innocent people.
Joan Belanger
Jul. 22nd, 2012 at 12:29 am
That person from FOX new was bill o’reilly. He is in part responsible for the death of George Tiller. I think that he should be in jail, not on television.
P Cobbs
Jul. 21st, 2012 at 9:21 am
I really like the way these liberals try to blame everybody but themselves.
It is a sad day in the USA. A gun has never killed anything, people do. Crazy libs are ripping this country apart.
Shiva (Moderator)
Jul. 21st, 2012 at 10:49 am
That is without a doubt one of the dumbest things a person can say
craigtamy
Jul. 21st, 2012 at 3:37 pm
I agree with you Shiva, some people are just too stupid to function.
sherrie heckendorn
Jul. 21st, 2012 at 1:56 pm
Beg to difer with you, its not the libs that Rush defends no, its the ‘cons’ that follow theGOP (guarding one percenters) that are derisive and hate filled.
Sandbur
Jul. 21st, 2012 at 11:08 am
Seems that Holmes has been amassing arms and ammo over the last 3 months; long before Rush’s Bain/Bane delusion. No relationship!
sherriww
Jul. 21st, 2012 at 3:26 pm
I too,could not help but wonder that maybe there is some connection.Not that this guy wasn’t planning SOMETHING,but maybe he wasn’t quite sure what it was yet.The problem with these hate mongers,and some are right in the Republican side of the U.S. Congress,and Senate,is that,while a few of them are actually mentally “off”themselves,it is the long time Repubs,WHO KNOW BETTER,and used to be decent,that are really the worst now!Why? Because they are NOT mentally ill,but they LET the crazy ones say all the crazy hate stuff,and THEY KNOW it is very likely to stir up some nuts to do something they might otherwise not do! SHAME on ALL the “used to be decent public servants”long time Repubs! John McCain has his “moments’too,but at least he comes out of it and says”Enough is Enough!
bushsworstnightmare
Jul. 21st, 2012 at 4:51 pm
coincidence? I think not.
Facts are palin incited the gifford’s massacre, and limbaugh incited this idiot.
actions have consequences people, rush must resign and be taken off the air by the F.C.C.!
mitt doesn’t stand a chance with bacikers like these.
Reynardine
Jul. 22nd, 2012 at 12:26 am
The authorities stated that this man was acquiring arms, armor, tear gas, and explosives for three months at least, but whether he had intended this target or was inspired to choose it at the last minute is an open question.
Inez
Jul. 22nd, 2012 at 11:34 pm
lIMBAUGH IS A POMPUS “FOOT IN THE MOUTH” INDIVIDUAL. HIS RHETORIC IS SO DISTASTEFUL TO ME THAT I HAVEN”T LISTED TO HIM IN YEARS.His antagonistic attitude sickened me. Hope his sponsors get hundreds of phone calls. He should be offair permanently!
joan sinclair
Jul. 23rd, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Cannot blame old Rush Limbaugh for the actions of Holmes but limbaugh says very hateful things about people and sometimes it incites the nuts. This is not to say it is limbaughs fault but he should learn to keep his big mouth shut. Hill Billy Rush does not have any class.
I just with they would shut his radio show down.
Scott
Jul. 24th, 2012 at 11:46 pm
It’s funny.
People are saying How Horrible Limbaugh is, as if they actually Listen to him, instead of listen to Reports About him.
So–If you think Rush Sux, you Have to listen to him to know that. Then again–Why would you listen to someone who Sux?
And–oddly enough, no gun in the history of the world ever woke up one day, went out and shot someone. So Gun Control isn’t about guns–it’s about Control.
All of this is Also about pitting Americans against each other–racial tension, gay/straight, Dem/Rep, class warfare…It’s all to keep our focus away from the 1%–who are stealing the future of this country right out from under us in Broad Daylight, and NO elected official seems to want to take responsibility for letting them do it.