Tucker Carlson Gets Hyperbolic Over Michael Vick
From MediaiteLast time I checked (and hey, I could be wrong), professional bowtie wearer Tucker Carlson wasn't a member of PETA who was against all forms of animal mistreatment and believer in the animal rights math of rat = chicken = dog = person, but apparently he thinks pro-footballer Michael Vick should have been executed for his role in a dogfighting ring he ran. But since we don't do capital punishment for people who torture and kill animals (just people who torture and kill people), he did 19 months in prison instead. For some reason, serving time in prison isn't enough of a punishment for crime for Carlson. Apparently prison is supposed to be a permanent scar, not about punishment or reform, but about marking a person to walk the world as one of the damned in a separate caste system.
Someone alert Martha Stewart to give back that TV show! She's an ex-con!
From Mediaite:
There’s no question Vick has done terrible things, but to hear a pundit openly opine that a prominent person should have received the death penalty – and being completely sincere in doing it – is not something you’ll see too often.
Maybe Tucker is just a dog lover. Which, more than likely, he probably is. Still ... no. Based on his assessment, if we started murdering people for dog murder logically we would also have to lock up people who own and operate slaughter houses, charge people who hit stray animals on the highway with vehicular dogslaughter, lock up folks who run puppy mills with 20 year sentences, label animal hoarders the same way we label child sex offenders and treat sport hunters like serial killers.
Being that Tucker is a conservative and most conservatives are for the right to kill animals for food and sport, I can't imagine he meant what he said unless there was a sea change in his views. Especially considering in 2006 he went up against PETA over a comic book warning children to keep their pets away from their fathers who like to fish. In the interview, Tucker, an animal lover, admits that he enjoys catch and release fishing, which, again, based on his capital punishment for dog murder logic would mean he is as serial fish kidnapper and torturer and should be punished accordingly.
But, no. This really isn't about dogs or animals and cruelty towards them. This is really about who Michael Vick is, what he represents and how people feel about our prison system.
President Obama praised the second chance given to Vick by the Philadelphia Eagles after Vick served his time, went through counseling and pledged to turn his life around. He was allowed to return to the league and play because at the end of the day, he's still a great quarterback. He can still help a team win and make the Eagles lots of money. But for some individuals prison is not enough of a punishment. Especially if you have a violent past, even if it involved animals. Even if under our laws all animals, even your beloved pets you call your children, are essentially treated as property.
Tucker's hyperbole is something that is often reserved for African American pro-athletes who, when they misbehave, are made symbols of the out-of-control, decadent culture of pro-sports. Like a fist fight in the NBA or the NFL comes with a harsher punishment than a fist fight in the nearly-all white of sport hockey, where the fights are considered part of hockey's "culture." Mind you, they're skating around with weapons in their hands and on their feet, yet in basketball if you even stand up from the bench to get a better look during a fight you could get fined or suspended.
It's not Ben Roethlisberger who gets to be the symbol of hedonism and violence. He gets the "let's wait until all the facts come out" treatment.
Countless ex-cons, many of then with drug offenses, return to civilian life to find they can't get jobs due to the fact that they were in prison, leaving them in a no-man's land. If they return to a life of illegal activity and get caught their punishment will be ever more severe. But if they try to stay within the law, they have few reform options. America is not about reforming people in prison, but instead creating a separate caste system where it doesn't matter if you were a kid still growing and impressionable, a drug addict, a drug dealer, a petty thief, a bank robber or violent.
You're all treated the same by the system. No one cares what you were inside for. You were inside. You're an outcast.
It's understandable that as an ex-convict someone would have a harder time after getting out. That people would be leery and distrustful. You're supposed to work to win that trust back. But it makes no sense to continue to punish Michael Vick when he did his time, went through rehabilitation and is so far staying out of trouble. You don't have to like Michael Vick. You don't have to like what he did. You don't have to like ex-cons. But he went to prison. He did 19 months, more than what most people get when they hurt other people. If you can't bother to get up in arms over other celebrities and pro-athletes who've committed crimes or were accused of doing terrible things to other human beings, maybe you need to take a hard look at yourself.
Accepting Vick's punishment is not accepting what he did. It's accepting that you already participated in his punishment by paying the tax dollars that keep our prison system running. He was punished. If you're still mad, you don't have to watch the Eagles play. You don't have to support the NFL. But don't get upset with other people who have moved on.
Danielle Belton | 26 Comments | Share Article | Email Article | Print Article | tagged Barack Obama, Michael Vick, NFL, conservatives, crime, football, justice, law enforcement, media, pundits, sports, tucker carlson 
Reader Comments (26)
"In the interview, Tucker, an animal lover, admits that he enjoys catch and release fishing, which, again, based on his capital punishment for dog murder logic would mean he is as serial fish kidnapper and torturer and should be punished accordingly."
Done at serial fish kidnapper & torturer!
I'm not getting the whole dogs+ cats = people either. When I was a kid, we had two dogs who lived OUTSIDE. And! We did not cloth them in ridiculous sweaters or booties. Nor did we buy special doggie car seats so they could drive to Safeway with us.
Okay; okay. If on the RARE occasion it snowed, we'd let them hang out in the garage.
If there is ANY correlation to dog fighting and animal = human, I guess you could compare it to boxing. Either way, I'd rather not watch either. Vick may be a prick, but execution is a bit much. Under those conditions, Sarah Palin and her bear/ moose-hunting cronies should be on trial RIGHT now. We should all demand an investigation.
Tucker Carlson is a smarmy little bastard. He's the kind of guy to start a fight then litigate. I went to middle school with guys like him. We took their lunch money and made them eat pube sandwiches. I miss those days.
Completely agree. My husband is a big Eagles fan and completely loves Vick. Every time someone brings up, "But what Vick did to these dogs..." Nick retorts, "What about a rapist? Is that less worse?" And they always shut up immediately.
I don't like Tucker Carlson and his statement about the death penalty is obviously ridiculous, but I think you should pick better victims to champion. A wealthy man who runs an activity that tortures animals for human enjoyment for money is not someone I'd rush to defend.
Duh -- That being convicted of a crime can ruin your reputation and cause you to be despised forever is one reason some people try to avoid crime. At least Vick has a good source of employment. A lot of ex-cons don't.
@Reader
No one is making a "champion" of Vick. Just saying that he did the crime, he did the time. Get over it.
@dewfish
I haven't given the guy a thought. But if some people haven't gotten over it, I don't blame them. And I'm certainly not going to defend him.
@ Reader
What I wrote wasn't a defense of Vick nor did I champion him as anything. I wrote that I understood people being angry and if you're still angry you don't have to watch him play or contribute to things that would support his career. But ultimately, he was sentenced and served time in prison. Wanting additional punishment (like Tucker's call for death) outside what he was given by the justice system seems a little misguided at best. Most animal abusers pay fines. He went to prison. People wanted him punished and he was. I don't know what Vick's critics expected him to do after prison. Ray Lewis was charged with murder once, but was able to plea down to obstruction of justice. Mike Tyson was convicted of rape and served his time in prison, then after his conviction and went back to boxing. I don't like or support any of these individuals, but I didn't expect them to stop participating in life because of their issues. Ultimately, if you wanted justice for human victims or dead dogs you got it when they went to prison or were put on probation or were charged and fined.
It isn't a matter of whether they were punished or not. It's about whether the punishment was enough and how the justice system is our primary way of punishing people who break the law. Wanting something beyond a legal recourse or to turn non-capital cases into life sentences makes no sense.
"No one is making a "champion" of Vick."
Actually Vick is making an NFL champion of Vick, and good on him for that. He was selected today for the Pro-bowl.
I've known arrogant little turds like Carlson all my life, he is the sort of racist asshat that sees Vick as an uppity N word who has made good despite being an uppity N word who went to jail. The hypocrisy in arrogant little s***ts like him runs so deep you'd need an off shore oil rig to get through it. The sad part is there are people who take him seriously; he's not worth it.
Big Ben? Can we talk about how we just NOW found out about Favre...TWO YEARS after he "allegedly" harrassed a woman who worked for the Jets? Two. Years.
And it's not like Mike Vick is living large. he lost $120mil, he can't pocket more than $350K/yr no matter what he makes, and in order to pay off his debts, he'd have to play til 2015 (unlikely) And what kind of job/money can he make post-NFL? The man will pay for his crimes FOR LIFE. Get OVER it folks.
It's amazing how angry people about some damn dogs. I'm not saying that what MV did was ok but come on. He went to jail. If you're going to keep punishing someone for a crime, why bother sending them to jail? How much money can we save if we get rid of the penal system since people are punished by public opinion? LOL Just kidding. I notice that the same people who are bitching about MV don't seem to have a problem with white collar criminals. They actually hurt people. Just ask someone who's had his or her retirement stolen.
Open your eyes. He doesn't give a dang about fighting or dead dogs. His message is coded in racist symbolism. He wants blacks to stay in the place he thinks they should be in...below the status if dog. He values the life of a dog more than that of a black man. This is not simply about Michael Vick. This is his deepest desire surfacing using the Vick angle. Puhlease. Since the election of the first black president, I've finally taken the time to learn the white mans language they have been using for years to keep us boxed in. The code got muffled during the election of Obama because God had His hand in that to ensure equality. But, that hasn't stopped them. They continue to send out the code to one another while they fill our heads with rap music and stories of Jay Z and Beyonce's success. We can only be successfull in sports and entertainment? Tsk! Don't just hear people. Listen.
I agree with the posters who said Carlson is a full of shit little turdbag who doesn't give a RAT'S ASS[no punintended] about those dogs and neither do a lot of people attacking Vick they are racist dumb bitches who are so racist they make the Klan look like boy scouts by comparison. OMG you have got to be kidding me!! These are the very SAME people who think the world of Sarah Palin depsite her shooting and killing animals ON NATIONAL TV while bragging about it later. Not only that animals are beaten,abused,tortured,killed alll the time where's all the fucking outrage for that?! Phillies pitcher Brett Myers punched his wife in public,Raiders coach Tom Cable attacked his asst. coach and admitted he's a wife beater,ex pitcher Jim leyritz KILLED someone drinking and driving,and Marv ALbert was accused of biting and raping a woman,Blackhawk player Patrick Kane beat an elderly man over a cab fare. I have NEVER heard vilification of those sleazebags from Carlson or any white males in the media bit I'm sure that little thing they have in common has absolutely NOTHING to do with it. Right and I'm marrying into the royal family tomorrow move over Kate I'm the baddest bitch!
@raoul duke
LOL!! That's a good line I'm so stealing it.
Finally, yes code language, they have their own language, example, in the year so and so, the white man will be the minority, an alert to other white's, from who? The white new's media.... example code, do you think sarah palin is going to run for president, code word's! The white new's media continue's to drive this everyday, why? They want this to reach sarah palin, to pump her up! Knowing she is not qualified, but, if they can get her, to thitnk about being the president, she will run! why? Because they would love, for her to win and maybe, just maybe she could win over a black man! why? To shame him! pay attention people, yes, theyshould leave vick alone, but, they never will! why? Well, according to their standard's, michael vick, should be poor! broke and hungry! My prayer is that, this young black man will, not be caught in a snare, for trust me, they are watching him like a hawk! I pray vick has smart people around him, for michael vick cannot be trusted to roam around on his own! He is not aware of the tactic's of the white man! But he is not alone, black men of today, seem to forget! They are black men! Code word! Black!
This passage was edited by the site moderator, The Snob, because it was originally posted in ALL CAPS. Please do not post comments in ALL CAPS. It makes everyone think you're yelling and they don't read your comments.
How about a single sentence in all caps? Seems like this Tucker nonsense calls for it. Here goes: TUCKER CARLSON's TV CAREER SHOULD BE EXECUTED. Ha ha hahhahaha!
Tucker Carlson is a certified clown. Don't waste anymore time on him. He has been canceled more times than airplanes during a snow storm. What a deuche!
I could go on, but I think the original post pretty much covered his ignorance.
Justice
Its all about being contrary to anything that Obama says or does. He needs to take his side part/nerd steez and kick rocks. I love mt dogs, pitbull owner, could not imagine putting him in such a predicament but if he ran out into the street and got hit by a car, I would be satisfied with a genuine apology and compensation for vet bills/ compensation for my loss. I would not need a manslaughter charge.
And further more, there are thousands of breeders around the country who put dogs/puppies to death for not having the right color or an over-bite, Should they be labled mass murderers and put in a cell next to Manson? Really.
Mike Vick has done his time and trying his hardest to make a wrong back right. These people will not let this go no matter what Vick does or says...
"Michael has done his time." That's the qualifier for saying leave him alone when in fact he shouldn't have had to do any time at all. Yes, I said it, he should not have had to do any time at all. When the system starts sending Catholic Priests to jail for rape, sodomy and molestation instead of different parishes to rape more children, then come hollar at me about Vick. I could go on and on, but I won't, but do understand Vick was crucified because he is black - plan and simple.
If people were so concerned about the brutality, we would still be discussing lynchings and the like.
The comments that we are making sometimes leads us to criticism, making us the enemy of many. Tucker Carlson is known for his bow ties and feisty commentary, and his recent stint subbing for Sean Hannity is no exception. After attacking Obama for telling Philadelphia Eagles team owner Jeffrey Lurie that it was admirable that he signed Michael Vick to a contract, Carlson made his personal opinion clear. Tucker Carlson shared his personal opinion that Vick should have been executed.
Tucker Carlson should be executed for being a racist a-hole. So what if that isn't a capital crime, it should be.
using one group getting off for criminal activity to justify someone else getting off for criminal activity is about the silliest logic ever.
btw, not everything happens because you're black. sometimes, you're an idiot. and if you're an idiot, don't get mad when people treat you like an idiot.
@LOL
You are missing the point ENTIRELY this isn't about dogs this about the racism of the media and how they selectively persecute black males. You expect black men to be perfect?! Won't happen and that doesn't justify them being singled out especially when you have a white male athlete TWICE accused of rape but the media wants to complain about some dogs. If that's the case then why don't you go into a room of 250 women some of them rape survivors and explain your logic and see how that's works out. One poster mentioned the Catholic priests raping children where's all the outrage for that could that have nothing to do with the race of said pedophiles?! That is certainly something that should never EVER under any circumstances be excused.