American Morning
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April 22nd, 2009
06:00 AM ET
What’s on Tap – Wednesday April 22, 2009
Here are the big stories on the agenda today:
- Developing… President Obama has opened the door to prosecutions related to alleged torture techniques used on al Qaeda suspects during the Bush Administration. At the same time, Republican officials have released a memo from the president’s own Intelligence Chief, suggesting these “harsh interrogations” like waterboarding, may have prevented attacks. Where do you stand? Call 877-MYAMFIX and become part of the newscast.
- Craigslist CEO live. One sheriff has called the classifieds site the world’s biggest “bordello.” Now the section labeled “erotic services” is getting more dreadful publicity – after a 22-year-old, clean-cut and engaged med student is arrested for allegedly murdering a woman who offered massages on the site. Should Craigslist do more to protect its users and clean things up?
- Turbulence Paralyzes Woman. A South Texas woman remained paralyzed Monday and in intensive care, after her flight experienced severe turbulence. Her attorney says she hit her head on the bathroom ceiling as the plane dropped.
- A new most wanted terrorist. The FBI has posted a photo of a California animal rights activist alongside those of 23 operatives from al Qaeda and other groups, marking the first time a domestic terrorist is featured on the bureau's "Most Wanted Terrorists" list. The FBI announced the addition of Daniel Andreas San Diego to the list, hoping a burst of international publicity associated with the move will help investigators find him after six years on the run.
- Abusing Women Online. Perez Hilton stirred controversy when he referred to Miss California as a "dumb b-itch" on his blog. While some might dismiss the post as just part of his usual snarky commentary, this kind of sexist language toward women is not uncommon online. In the best case scenario such language can create a hostile environment on social networking and video posting sites. In the worst case scenario it can serve as a red flag for people who commit violence against women in the real world. Such was the case with Anthony Powell, a college student who posted numerous YouTube videos with sexist language about a young woman on his college campus. He eventually shot her in a campus classroom before killing himself.
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Perez Hilton's stupity has set the Gay movement back years. He says he wants people to be open minded and except everyone. What he really means is as long as they agree with him. It is okay to disagree but what he did is unacceptable.
I was watching the report about Miss California and wondering why CNN was not asking pagent officials why they employed a radio talk show host known for his rude banter. Miss California was asked her opinion and she shared it respectfully. She is now being attacked by Mr. Hilton as result of his employment by the pagent. Is the pagent trying to change its image to more of a reality TV feel? Both Mr. Hilton and the Miss USA Pagent owe Miss California an apology.
Jealousy is rearing it's ugly head in the form of Perez Hilton. Miss California is more than a woman than he is!
People have always held opinions like those expressed, be it racist, sexist or anti-gay. The only reason this is being considered an issue is the internet’s wide reach and a persons newfound ability to get their opinions and views out to a mass audience.
The same First Amendment rights that protect your (CNN’s) freedom to report the news also protects the freedom of individuals to express opinions that may be considered inflammatory, derogatory or prejudiced. Having an opinion is not a crime, acting in a way that violates individuals rights, such as censoring those opinions, is illegal.
Perez Hilton's hateful rant against a beautiful, intelligent and poised woman is the big reason American has no tolerance for gays.
April 21st, 2009 8:23 pm ET
Miss California is a beautiful lady and if she wants to show it that is her right just as gay and lesbians have the right to have sex but I would think that the abomination of gay and lesbian sex would anger God much more! We are setting up the abomination that God/Jesus said would happen in the end times where it should not be, in the new world based on Christian values, with liberty and justice for all!
i never understood why craigslist could allow erotic services to be advertised anyway. and nothing in the CEO's answer cleared that up for me.
ok how bout this for a solution to the torture thing. Tatoo them in arabic on their torso and arms, "I talked, i gave the americans information" whether they say anything or not, then threaten to release them and send them home if they dont talk. Obviously what the pro torture people dont get is that you have to kill someone after you torture info out of them, the files have to be sealed and burned or else u end up with public debate.
It is typical of the right wing to not look toward the future, (ie bush debt), but ok so we got some valuable information, what about the strengthening of anti american sentiment. Don't you people get where the jewish/muslim tension comes from? I'll tell you: FROM PAST ATTROCITIES!!!! We have bred a whole generation of iraqi and other muslim passionate american haters. Go to starbucks get a double espresso
The one thing CraigsList should do, which I have asked them, is part of their message flagging options should be notify authorities, this would get the prostitutes off the list. Once they advertize its not entrapment to set up a meeting and arrest them, ask the guys arrested by dateline (hint hint hint, cnn). Other than that, its not the lists fault this guy was looking for venture capital by attacking prostitutes/massures.
He is a bigger idiot than anyone would have thought, the internet leaves traces DUH. Word to those who want to meet, dont meet off instant message services, demand phone contact, I have always insisted upon this and when asked why, I reply well if i disappear, yours will be the last call to my cell phone make sure your number isnt blocked, and your address will be on my mapquest search list. But i guess people get greedy or horny and dont protect themselves
oh i forgot happy earthday miss california is hereby invited to kiss and eat dirt from mother earth, the same earth that spung homosexuals and heterosexuals.
ok fancy this thought, If i were black in the 60s and someone told me i didnt have the right to marry a white, because god and their white trash upbringing told them it was wrong. Using the word dumb B**** to describe the person uttering the verbal trash would be a very very very very mild way to respond. I can cover 50% of the remaining alphabet with other words to describe this stupid misguided woman, there are 3... 🙂 that i can use
You tell me what else you can do with these maggots who live and breed off the dead! They preach and work for the destruction of western civilization and have plans now to do it! So what else could you do? The people who have been water boarding these top al Qaeda have gotten useful information without really any pain to these maggots they deserve a lot worse for their terrorist activities they have committed! What would we do just put them to trial then kill them merciful while they have information of further atrocities against mankind! The law should be changed!
I thought that all the boasting americans do about freedom of speech was being stretched. I guess its a freedom on paper, but does not apply to real life. The poor Miss American contestant. I don't have to agree with her to appreciate her truth.
Today is "Earth Day". Everyday should be earth day, without planet earth we would have nothing. "Green" is nothing more than marketing at it's best.
I believe that there are techniques of interrogation that would lead to valuable information that would not require torture. President Obama is trying to establish an America that the rest of the world can look to with respect. Quite a novel idea!
While the event that transpired with Craiglist oneline ad was tragic, lets not forget that killers have abused every medium since the beginning of time to pray on others. If this had been a newpaper ad, we might never have tracked and found the killer so quickly. Humans will continue to have their societal problems to deal with, regardless of what new technologies we use and abuse. Looking to Craigslist (or other online technologies, such as FaceBook) to solve our failings as humans is just shifting blame away from the real problem; ourselves.