Ohio Blogger's Online Debate With New York Times Reporter: Loons Jump In With Death Threats

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Ohio Bizzyblogger Tom Blumer's online clash of the economic Olympians that pitted him against New York Timesman David Cay Johnston has been marred by death threats against Johnston. Cincinnati-area blogger Blumer commendably reports that he will actively cooperate in any effort to pursue those who expressed intention to hurt or menace the Pulitzer Prize winner.

Blumer and Johnston were engaged in heavy but not heated sparring while debating Johnston's analysis of personal income data -- whether incomes had grown during the George Bush years. Unfortunately, somebody jumped in and suggested extermination for Johnston and his family. He is the father of eight.

Blumer is an economic conservative who has described himself as an independent Republican, and his post about the death threats correctly denounced them. Blumer noted that Johnston told him the threats were based upon his blogging.

"Of course, I condemn those threats unconditionally, and I encourage David to pursue those who have made the threats, and to contact appropriate authorities. I will co-operate in any way I can. Yes these posts have been contentious . . . But how anyone can get so bent about posts relating to the accuracy and propriety of reporting on economic and tax data boggles the mind."

Blumer views death threats as serious business that shouldn't be tolerated or ignored. Another right wing blogger earlier this month seemed to feel that they shouldn't be taken seriously and were part of life on the worldwide web. John Hawkins of Right Wing News said nobody should have gotten worried when Sen. John McCain's life was threatened via the 'Net.

"However, here's an honest question: Is there any well known public figure in the United States of America who isn't occasionally getting death threats? More of the point given the article, is there a single U.S. Senator who hasn't received a death threat in the last year? My guess would be that there isn't.

"Unfortunately, that's just the nature of the beast as you make a name for yourself in a world where people believe that they can get away with saying anything they want, anonymously, over the Internet."

Blumer's reaction was the superior. He would not accept evil as the nature of the beast. And, of course, threats and intimidation can lead to criminal prosecution.

Ohio Blogger Who Loves Michael Moore: Wants CNN's Larry King Murdered

CINCINNTI (TDB) -- An Ohio blog appears to be advocating the murder of CNN talk show host Larry King because the cable news network is having a dust up with filmmaker/activist Michael Moore over the accuracy of Moore's move, Sicko. The blog may have opened the door to a legal question: Is it a crime in Ohio to post threatening statements on the Internet?

Four years ago, lawmakers took steps to include threats transmitted over the Internet in the criminal code.

Moore's movie depicts the flaws in the American health care system. Critics contend the picture presented in Sicko is unjust -- and so the debate rages. However, the blog took things to a detestable level but putting a target on King's head under a headline saying he must die. Ironic defense of Michael Moore, who made the movie Bowling for Columbine to state his disgust of easily accessible guns and gun violence.

Perhaps the Larry King Must Die blog post was a joke, a very sick joke, a joke that abused the First Amendment right of free speech. Calling for a person's execution over a purely political dispute -- over a movie review -- smacks of Fatwa. Advocating the death of people who transgress personal or cultural standards is the stuff of Dark Age Inquisitors, Nazis and skinheads, the Muslim Brotherhood and Hezbollah. It does not belong in the Ohiosphere.

That said, the death threat against Larry King quite possibly could be seen as a criminal act. Ohio has a statute, 2903.211, that criminalizes menacing by stalking. It says that no person should cause another to believe they will be subject to physical harm or mental distress. The law makes it clear that threats posted on the Internet can be prosecuted.

"No person, though the use of any electronic method of remotely transferring information, including but not limited to. any computer network, computer program, or computer system, shall post a message with purpose to urge or incite another to commit a violation of . . .this section.

"Whoever violates this section is guilty of menacing by stalking."

Up until now, most cases have grown out of domestic disputes. However, there have been suggestions it could be invoked to prosecute people who harass celebrities and political figures. Larry King's reaction to the blog post is unknown. He couldn't be reached for comment.

For the record, in addition to the headline with the target on King's head, the blogger wrote:

"As many of you know I'm moving to NYC this month, and I'll tell you I'm scared...if I run into Larry King in a dark alley I fear I will pummel him until his heart stops beating. He's so busy loving himself and his 50 years of intriguing interviews, that he seems completely oblivious to what's happening on his show. The man should really be put to sleep."