Tuesday, November 22, 2011

idiot: Fox's Megyn Kelly - Pepper spray's 'a food product' and other reasons people protest @foxnews #p2 #tcot @andrewbreitbart



Fox's Megyn Kelly has been taking some heat (hi-yo!) for what looks like her dismissal of the seriousness of the UC Davis pepper spraying incident and other similar incidents around the country by asserting that pepper spray, "is a food product, essentially." And that's undoubtedly an idea that deserves to be slapped down, so it's no surprise that it has been, with actual science, no less.

The ridicule has been plentiful, of course. (Mustard gas is a condiment! Bullets are nutritional supplements!) But if you watch the entire video, Kelly actually comes off as being at least within spitting distance of reasonable. Though it should be said that a poop-flinging monkey could likely do the same if he was sitting opposite Bill O'Reilly, who goes out of his way to imply both that the pepper spraying is OK because UC Davis is a liberal campus, and that say that people "don't... have the right to Monday morning quarterback the police."

Lots of larger questions are raised directly, or at least implied, during the three minute discussion. Is pepper spray an appropriate application of police force for such a low-level infraction? Is it reasonable for police to resort to its use prior to any attempt to arrest? Instead of any attempt to arrest?

But here's what struck me in the exchange. Both O'Reilly and Kelly note with raised eyebrows that it was reportedly Chancellor Linda Katehi who ordered UC Davis police to use pepper spray on the protesters, and that police chief Annette Spicuzza and two of the officers who complied with those orders have been placed on administrative leave while the chancellor refuses to step down.

The pepper spraying is undoubtedly a huge issue that deserves all the attention it's getting and more. But how perfect an illustration of the dynamics of what we'll call "one percenter-ism" is it that the chancellor gives the orders and it's those down the food chain who suffer the consequences?

Now, it may well turn out that the police return to their jobs while the chancellor is ultimately forced from her position, but it'd be an exceedingly rare instance of this particular brand of justice if it did. And I'm not saying that's the preferred outcome, either. The facts of the case are still too unclear to be able to reach that particular conclusion.

But it's certainly telling that as Fox's stars put their heads together to find ways to stand up for the UC Davis police and administration in the face of national outrage, even these two one-percenters can't help but stumble onto one of the chief arguments of the ninety-nine percent—that justice is two-tiered in this country, and its scales are tipped heavily in favor of those already hoarding the wealth and power.


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