"Following the memorial service for the victims of the tragic shooting in Tucson, several in the right-wing media attacked and mocked the inclusion of a Native American blessing as part of the invocation.
Hume: "While I'm Sure [Native American Ritual] Has An Honorable Tradition With [Gonzales'] People, It Was Most Peculiar." After Fox News aired the Tucson memorial live on January 12, several Fox News anchors commented on the service. Brit Hume said he thought the "sobriety you might have expected was not to be found" at the service and attributed this "tone and atmosphere," in part, to the "opening blessing" by Gonzales, which he called "most peculiar."
Malkin: "Native American Gives Rambling Speech While Holding A Feather...Mercy." On a January 12 blog post covering the rally, Michelle Malkin wrote:
Native American gives rambling speech while holding a feather. His remarks are frequently interrupted by whoops and cheers. He gives a shout-out to his son serving in Afghanistan. Brags about his ethnic Mexican background. Babbles about two-legged and four-legged creatures and the feminine energy that comes from Mother Earth.
Power Line: "Opening 'Prayer' By Native American" Was "Ugly," Invocation "Could Have Used More God, Less Mexico." In a January 12 post after the service, the conservative blog Power Line attacked the Native American prayer as well as Gonzales' comments on his Native American and Mexican ancestry. The post concluded that the invocation "could have used more God, less Mexico, and less Carlos Gonzales.""
Get the Story:
Conservative Media Attack Native American Blessing At AZ Memorial Service
(Media Matters 1/13)
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during Arizona memorial (1/13)
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