Comments on: Is Lack Of Big Media Coverage Of Oklahoma Explosion OK?

[okiedude04]

buckwheat23, YOU and people like you are the ones that harm the nation\'s image. Simply because I put out a different argument out there doesn\'t mean I am on the \"terrorist\'s\" side. I have never set foot inside of a mosque. Your automatic assumption that Islam is a terrorist religion is flawed. There are more Christian terrorists in this world than there are Islamic ones (N. Ireland, Serbia). I am a Christian, but I am intelligent enough to know that 99.99999% of people of Muslims are not terrorists, just like 99.99999% of Christians are. I dislike conspiracy theories and I am not even that conservative. I just think unless there is solid, not circumstancial evidence showing Hindrichs\' suicide was more, there is no need to make a national story out of it. The second there is evidence supporting a claim that he might be part of something larger, it should get more attention. Right now, everything is just hearsay and sensationalism.

[barakmoore]

Here\'s an excellent summary of everything out there on the topic: Was the Oklahoma Suicide Bomber an Islamist Who Missed His Target? http://www.iris.org.il/blog/archives/388-Was-the-Oklahoma-Suicide-Bomber-an-Islamist-Who-Missed-His-Target.html

[neuro-con]

Vaughn, Thank you very much for putting this story out there. The MSM silence has been very dismaying. Terrorism is the number one issue in this country (not just to me but to a plurality of Americans in numerous polls). Yet, the MSM has failed to keep an \"eye\" on this and other relevant stories (e.g., bombs found at Georgia Tech and UCLA; the Sami Al-Arian trial and the jihadi financial networks; extremist imams recruiting in US prisons, etc, etc). Unfortunately, Bill Felling\'s response is wholly inadequate. How much more do they need to \"look into?\" Can\'t they report at least what is known -- even if Hinrichs was not a jihadi, isn\'t it this unique suicide an interesting story, combined with the still-vulnerable nature of our public facilities? The Public Eye could do a true public service, as well as enhance CBS\' public trust, by pressing Bill Felling for a more detailed answer about how he decided this is not yet newsworthy. Does he have a reporter on the scene? Has he been in touch with the local CBS affiliate (which has curiously run only AP stories and has been scooped by its local competitors)? What questions would he like answered, and why doesn\'t he run a story about these interesting questions that still need to be answered? Without answers to these questions, one can assume a number of explanations for CBS\' curious lack of curiosity. And none of these explanations is favorable to CBS (or the rest of the MSM).

[buckwheat23]

Okiedude04 What mosque do you go to?

[sooner-dave]

And anyone with a $20 bill could buy a ticket from any one of *hundreds* of people selling them outside the stadium for *hours* prior to the game. To imply he couldn\'t have a ticket if he didn\'t buy it from the University is asinine on its face. OKC media has \"backed off\" the fertilizer claim? Hardly. All three major local outlets ran personal interviews with the manager of the store who personally attested to Hinrichs\' inquiry about purchasing it. Lastly, I don\'t recall any local media claiming he had any Jihad material - *that* was from \"fringe\" websites. I\'m as conservative as they come, and HATE conspiracy theories. But I don\'t understand why so many are so eager to encourage the MSM NOT to cover this in more detail. -soonerDave http://thedavechronicles.blogspot.com

[okiedude04]

Local media (KWTV) also reported that OU records show Hinrichs did not buy a ticket to the game, so obviously they wouldn\'t allow him into the game (You have to use your student ID/debit card to buy or pickup tickets). \"University spokeswoman Catherine Bishop said OU officials have reviewed their ticket records and determined that Hinrichs did not buy a football ticket from any university outlet. \"She said university officials have heard nothing to indicate Hinrichs attempted to buy a ticket from one of the fans selling tickets outside the stadium.\" http://newsok.com/article/1636015/ Additionally, the local media has also backed down on the \"substantial quantities of ammonium nitrate fertilizer\". That was exaggerated as well as the \"Islamic jihadist\" claim. \"A completed review of University of Oklahoma stadium surveillance tapes by the FBI did not spot Joel Henry Hinrichs III trying to get inside.\" http://www.kotv.com/main/home/stories.asp?whichpage=1&id=91508 The FBI, school administration, and Norman police have all said there is no evidence of anything relating to a larger \"plot\" or anything other than a suicide. All the rumors and conspiracy theories do is get a lot of people worried about nothing. That is reason enough for the national media to not cover it.

[sooner-dave]

Amen, norweaver, amen. All we\'re asking for is a legitimate media *investigation*. To date, all they\'ve done is ignore it. -David http://thedavechronicles.blogspot.com

[norweaver]

Mousie, It\'s difficult to evaluate something journalistically if you\'re going out of your way to ignore it. Without trying to investigate, you\'ll be sure not to find any answers you don\'t want to know. Think about it.

[sooner-dave]

I was at the Tulsa and KSU games, and there was no \"patting down\" of anyone at either game. Standard security procedures were in effect. For anyone who thinks this was just a lonely kid who committed suicide, you\'re either a) fooling yourselves, or b) haven\'t bothered to pay attention to what coverage has been done. Local media has confirmed Hinrichs attempted to purchase substantial quantities of ammonium nitrate fertilizer (remember the Murrah bomb in OKC?) *that week*. Same local media reports he attempted to enter the stadium *twice*, but refused to allow his backpack to be searched. This isn\'t lunatic fringe hysteria, it\'s documented Oklahoma City media reports. Geez, how much more probable cause do you need to investigate? David http://thedavechronicles.blogspot.com

[okiedude04]

\"Why were the bomb squads present that night at the game? Why were fans being patted down as they entered the gates (the fans for the Tulsa game 3 weeks earlier weren\'t)?\" -dchance75702 It is standard procedure for bomb squads to search the parking garage adjacent to the stadium before the game and the general area around the stadium. I don\'t know what entry you went in the game, but there was not patting down occuring in the one I went (#7) in nor another a friend of mine went in (#12). What entry to the stadium did you go in?