Couple Mistaken for Radical Faces Backlash

[maddezmom]

LA HABRA, Calif. - A couple whose home was wrongly identified on national television as belonging to an Islamic radical has faced harassment, and police are providing special protection.

After the report ran on Fox News on Aug. 7, people have shouted profanities at Randy and Ronnell Vorick and spray-painted "terrorist" (spelling it "terrist") on their property.

"I'm scared to go to work and leave my kids home. I call them every 30 minutes to make sure they're OK," Randy Vorick said.

John Loftus, a former federal prosecutor who appears on the Fox News segment "Inside Scoop with John Loftus," gave out the house address during the broadcast.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050825/ap_on_re_us/fbi_probe_house

Fox response...mistakes happen. :mad:

[Mari333]

1. lawsuit! take faux down

[laylah]

29. Exactly,

Mari! That asshat at Faux News has endangered them and their family. I hope to hell they OWN Faux before it is over with! :mad:

Jenn

[calimary]

33. Truly! WHY DON'T THEY SUE???????

I mean, this is libel and slander at its worst, and the proof is there in the videotape.

I don't know why these people aren't fighting back? WHY DON'T THEY SUE? ANY lawyer would take this on a contingency basis. Seems like a VERY easy and compelling win to me. These people have had their lives endangered, for heaven's sakes!

WHY DON'T THEY SUE????????? If it were me, I'd be talking to the nastiest, most blood-thirsty lawyers I could find.

[nashville_brook]

2. terrist -- they spell the way their "leader" speaks

[Zenlitened]

9. That guy with the "Morans" sign really gets around, doesn't he?

:crazy:

[LisaM]

3. Why would they give out ANY home address on national TV?

This is wrong on so many levels. Fox should pay for the security and if it continues, Fox should buy them a new house.

Says a lot for Fox viewers, doesn't it?

[patdem]

5. DAMN right! even our forum forbids giving out addresses/phone

numbers of ANYBODY...even people we like..unless it is allowed by the person who's address/phone number is given out...grr...I think faux news should be sued!

[krkaufman]

7. Yep, they should get a nice new house for this one.

It's the only way to insure their safety.

[sabra]

4. WTF?!?

This is one of the craziest things I have seen in awhile. Faux needs to pay for this one!

[wicket]

6. Mistakes happen MY ASS

Someone should be fired over this! :grr:

[durablend]

8. Haw haw hardee har snicker

"See we never said they WERE a couple of terrorists...we said they COULD BE a couple of terrorists. Obviously somebody took what we said out of context.

OOPSIE!"

See if I'm right...

[sonicx]

10. Couple mistaken for radical faces backlash (FOX 'News' gave out address)

LA HABRA, Calif. - A couple whose home was wrongly identified on national television as belonging to an Islamic radical has faced harassment, and police are providing special protection.

After the report ran on Fox News on Aug. 7, people have shouted profanities at Randy and Ronnell Vorick and spray-painted "terrorist" (spelling it "terrist") on their property.

snip

John Loftus, a former federal prosecutor who appears on the Fox News segment "Inside Scoop with John Loftus," gave out the house address during the broadcast.

He said the home belonged to Iyad Hilal, whose group, Loftus said, has ties to those responsible for the July 7 bombings in London. But Hilal moved out of the house about three years ago.

snip

"John Loftus has been reprimanded for his careless error, and we sincerely apologize to the family," said Fox spokeswoman Irena Brigante.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/12475582.htm

[gademocrat7]

11. Faux news needs to be taken to the cleaners

I hope the victims sue faux for all they can get.

[bpilgrim]

12. "reprimanded for his careless error," DELIBERATE targeting is more like it

http://media.globalfreepress.com

peace

[Tin Man]

24. LMAO @ your Mann Coulter .gif

that's hilarious, thanks!

[VegasWolf]

13. "terrist", humm, obviously a Bush disciple. nt

[nofurylike]

14. "has ties to those responsible"?? like *'s to OBL?? twisted times. eom

[northzax]

15. that 'sincere apology'

should be accompanied by a seven-eight figure check and a photocopy of John Loftus' pink slip.

[norml]

16. "and spray-painted "terrorist" (spelling it "terrist") on their property"

Sounds like a typical Fweeping Fox News fan.

[DELUSIONAL]

17. The terrorist here in this case is John Loftus

because he has directed attention by wacko idiots on an innocent couple.

[Robeson]

19. I agree.

[schultzee]

18. Could this mean a big lawsuit?

[Catchawave]

21. I hope Faux Pas News is punished for millions!

I saw the segment on Olbermann last night and couldn't believe how stupid Faux was for allowing such information to be broadcast to the public. EVEN IF IT WAS correct information, wouldn't that hinder any ongoing investigations?

I feel so badly for that family :(

[Eugene]

20. Even if Hilal lived there, this is inexcusable.

The article goes on to say that Hilal is not suspected
of any terrorist activies. Loftus drummed up hysteria
based on guilt by association.

Loftus was irresponsible even if he named the right address.

[TankLV]

40. An apology is woefully inadequate.

I say they OWN all of Loftus' assets! Every single dime!

I sure hope and pray they sue everybody even remotely involved.

[matcom]

22. Just saw this on CNN

fucking FAUX 'news' has DESTROYED this family! :grr:

[skip fox]

23. It's not the mistake, but the absolute, mind-numbing repetition of the

SAME MISTAKE, and an absolutely stunning ("stunning" like getting struck in the face with a pan) manner in which they make a PATTERN OF IDEOLOGICALLY SIMILAR MISTAKES, creating new credibility thresholds for the understanding of such phrases as "bald-faced liar," right?

[durablend]

30. They're just "pushing the envelope"

Nothing to worry about!

:sarcasm:

[MissMarple]

31. Faux is not a part of the reality based community.

It's like they're all on crack or something. And where is the FCC? Michael Powell is far more obsessed with Janet Jackson's boobies to care about the compromised safety of an American family.

[Webster Green]

25. Mr. Vorick on Ed Schultz: :"Address & map put on Free Republic"

I hear him on Ed's show yesterday, and he said the freepers had put his personal info on their site. He wasn't sure of the name, was saying "freedom republic", or something, but it was pretty obvious to me who he was referring to.

[The Stranger]

26. Interesting -- this is what African Americans and other minorities endured

for centuries.

[Launch Pad]

27. I saw that this morning.

Reminds me of Richard Jewell. He came out with a ton of money. These people should sue the hell out of Faux News.

[NeoConsSuck]

28. Oh, how I would love..

to be on that civil suit jury. Their stockholders would be in tears.

[pimpbot]

32. This needs to be picked up by a big group

Help this family out.. Free legal advice at least. Its worth it to bring down faux news.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

34. The members of this family are in fear for their lives

Apparently, the threats have been so numerous and ongoing that the police have had to park police cruisers on their street round the clock. Considering some of the nuts out there, they are very lucky that nothing serious has happened.

This is extremely reckless and wanton on the part of Fox News and, if something had happened to this family, I would suggest that there could be possible criminal liability for the executives at Fox News for letting this story be broadcast. The first amendment does not protect speech that places another in a situation of an imminent threat of physical harm.

[kbm8795]

35. Absolutely sue the crap out of that Faux News nonsense

They knew better than to give out an address like this....Republican thugs threatening people!

[leesa]

36. Is Loftus still a lawyer? If so, he should be disbarred.

How on earth cn they get away with giving out someone's address??

[calimary]

37. Could we get messages to the family via the La Habra police?

A message exhorting them to SUE?

[brentspeak]

38. Freerepublic had posted maps and directions to the house

But they pulled that thread when it was learned that Loftus gave out the wrong address.

Anyone get a snapshot of that freerepublic thread?

[IndianaGreen]

39. It happened on Faux News

some "expert" gave the name and address of a terrorist, which turned out to be that family's address.

A Freeper spray painted "TERRIST" on the house (Freepers can't spell shit!), and the family is truly terrified.

Here is what they should do: retain a good lawyer and sue the pants off Newscorp.