"On the night of February 26, 2012, after enduring a prolonged physical attack from Trayvon Martin, screaming for help countless times and receiving no help and all the while in fear for my life, I shot Trayvon Martin in self defense. I did not shoot to take his life, I shot to save my own."
George Zimmerman, from the web site The Real George Zimmerman.com
With those two breathless sentences our man, George Zimmerman begins to plead his case in the court of public opinion and solicit donations for his defense fund. He also claims he is suing NBC who he says edited the tape of a phone call he made, intentionally making him appear to be a racist. In addition he accuses NBC of exploiting the shooting to create an opportunity to make a profit.
He doesn't mention how NBC could, or would profit from any of this. It might be that he believes their portrayal of him as a racist drove up the audience ratings for the corporation and therefore increased the amount of advertising they were able to sell. That would be an iffy thing to prove. Especially given that NBC probably has two floors worth of accountants who can bury any numbers they want and contort the ones they don't to the point that it might look like they actually lost money when they aired broadcasts about George Zimmerman. No, it is probably best to stick to good old fashioned libel, George. Unless, of course, you get convicted, then you're fucked in too many ways to count.
CBS is reporting that lead defense attorney, Mark O'Mara is asking for a delay in the trial that is scheduled to begin in June. O'Mara believes the prosecution has been slow in turning over evidence and wants to push the date back to November of this year so that he can properly prepare his case.
He is also soliciting donations for the defense fund. Well of course he is. He is the one getting paid, or hopes to get paid, big money to keep Brother Zimmerman out of a Florida correctional facility. He insists his client is innocent, but after all we aren't a bunch of communists here. Beyond his own services there are investigators and expert witnesses who need to be called in and every man jack one of them is entitled to make a buck.
According to O'Mara the defense fund has brought in $314,000 so far. He says of that money $95,000 has been spent on bail, $56,100 on security and $62,000 on Zimmerman's living expenses. Anticipating some rather pointed questions about that last figure he claims it is inflated because Zimmerman has been forced to hunker down in various extended stay hotels until he can find a safe place to rent. He also blames the court for the extra cost, because it has forced Zimmerman to remain in Seminole County while awaiting trial. He is quoted as hoping donations will amount to around $30,000 per month.
When the circus finally does kick off look for Trayvon Martin to be put on trial by Mr. O'Mara and his crew. It will be a vicious and unrelenting attack on the young man who won't be there to defend himself against whatever charges they might level. It is the only real defense George Zimmerman has.
In other news National Rifle Association president, David Keene has decided around 85% of American adults are wrong. That is the percentage of people that most polls show approve of universal background checks for firearm purchases. He asserts that required checks for private sales of weapons by individuals, either at home, or at gun shows, will not prevent criminals from securing weapons. The immediate question one could reasonably ask then is, why are you against it? What skin would it off your nose, Dave? His answer: "the burden would be too high for individual gun sellers." As my kids used to say, "Well, duh." The whole point here is to regulate and slow the sale and proliferation of weapons. As the polls show, the vast majority of people don't give a rat's ass if a background check burdens a seller. No burden is too great if it stops even one deadly loon, if it saves just one life.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that the NRA loves for criminals to have guns. As long as they do their leadership can whip out the "more guns for self defense" argument. Their goal is an angry, paranoid, society filled with a population that cannot envision itself wandering outside anywhere at anytime unarmed.
In other words, fear is good.
That is their vision of freedom.
The loud whirring sound you hear is the founding fathers spinning in their graves.
1-31-13
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