Is this a Hate Crime?? ya think?

First of all, I don't believe this story for one minute. Come on, you're attacked at an ATM, but out of the range of the bank's cameras? Then you are robbed, only to have your attacker notice that you have a McCain sticker on your car? For having the McCain sticker, the robber gets you to be quiet enough and still enough to carve a backwards "B" on your face? lol Right. The girl evidently was looking in the mirror (the reason it's backwards) when she carved the "B" on her own face. It's certainly not very deep cut and not likely to leave a scar. Get real. Then there is the fact that she refused medical treatment. Can you say HOAX? If I didn't already think it was a hoax, I certainly would after hearing her say it was a black man. Some people will fall for anything!

Of course, 0bama's speech to get in the face of McCain supporters had nothing to do with this.

It is difficult to figure out who exactly is doing the "riling up". To prove anything, you would have to have someone directly saying or clearly implying that they wanted criminal acts to be done, vandalism, ect. If you just have an energetic speech or something, you can't really prove anything. People often come to events with pre-conceived ideas and hear what is said through that lens, this is how things become distorted in the minds of some. Regardless of political opinion, property damage is a crime, and the person's who actually did it should be the ones getting in trouble. Where they got the idea we probably can not know for sure, likely it was in their own minds. Vandalism is usually an act of anger, so if they were angry before, anything could set them off. Is it a hate crime? I don't know, it is a crime against a group for belonging to the group. I guess you could call it a hate crime in a way. I would think, most of these victims probably had yard signs right? that's how they knew whose property to damage. They have a right to have their yard signs for whichever candidate they want. Vandalizing someone's property because of a yard sign seems to be more of an attack against there right to free speech than a "hate crime" in the sense of someone attacking a person because of race.

Now that we know she faked this crime, I guess it is self-hate.

There have been violent acts against both McCain and Obama supporters. I think that the problem is that the people who commit these crimes are not wrapped too tight. They have hatred in their hearts and are just looking for an excuse to take it out on someone. So whatever situation that comes up that makes someone else not on the same side as them will do.

When are people going to accept the fact that there are bad elements on BOTH sides? What happened to that girl is completely unacceptable but it's equally outrageous to deny that Palin was instigating people at her rallies into an ugly frenzy. Does anyone remember McCain being forced to defend Obama and being booed at his own rally because of the things that Palin had been putting into people's heads? Does anyone remember the man who stood up and told McCain that he was "scared" or the old woman who believes that he's a muslim? NO ONE should be made to be afraid...on either side! This entire thing has gotten out of hand and it ALL started with the fear mongering coming from the McCain camp...pals around with terrorists...Rev. Wright will be in the White House...muslim. So, now people on both sides are angry and it WILL get uglier. I hope the McCain camp is proud that they turned loose the pit bull with lipstick and instigated so much hatred. It was very irresponsible to turn the campaign in that direction.

Hello Morethanamolehill, Any kind of an attack like the one reported here is very, very difficult to believe -- that our fellow (fill in the blank... Democrats, Republicans, potato soup lovers) could ever do such a thing. Though, let's remember that the perp is, first and foremost, a brutal street thug whose apparent motivation for the 'crime' was armed robbery. I would urge those folks who are jumping all over this as a fraud (without any corroboration) to take a moment of pause, embrace your own humanity, offer a bit of empathy, and wait for the authorities to work this out. If Ms. Todd's claim is above reproach then you folks will have given yourself an ugly black eye for being so quick to demonize this young woman, for being a victim. If it turns out that Ms. Todd's allegation is fraudulent, then I'm sure that everyone, Democrat & GOP, will condemn her. I know that my reproach will not be bridled if it turns out that this is some attempted fraud. In the interim, I will give this young woman the benefit of the doubt because an equally unthinkable attack against a campaign worker happened in my own state, during the re-election cycle of Bill Richardson (2006). A campaign worker for his GOP opponent was beaten with a tire iron by what was believed to be a politically motivated thug (speculation has it that it was a contract job, but the allegation cannot be proven). The perp was never caught, yet Paige McKenzie, "The spokeswoman for Republican gubernatorial candidate John Dendahl’s campaign in New Mexico was severely beaten in a roadside incident and was hospitalized in critical condition.... Her jaw was shattered and her teeth were splintered.... the flat tire had "apparently been slashed.” http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/10/5/164341.shtml?s=ic http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/1714689/posts Paige McKenzie was similarly attacked in a bank parking lot, and was also parked out of the angle of the view of any camera. http://deseretnews.com/article/content/mobile/1,5620,650196469,00.html?printView=true To those who say that the "B" is backward: look a the picture again. If Ms. Todd was on the ground when the letter was carved (or scraped with a knife tip, as it appears), then the letter would appear just as it does -- if the perp was kneeling on her left, above the area of her head. I find it unfathomable that Ms. Todd would have stood (standing) still while someone carved her face. Suggesting that she must have already been on the ground. If people sincerely question the veracity of this claim, then I suggest that they do the responsible thing: Check it out! Don't just spew venom! Below is the name and phone number of the original reporter who reported this incident for the Pittsburgh Trib. Call her and ask if the veracity of Ms. Todd's claim is being questioned by the police or medical staff. Jill King Greenwood can be reached at jgreenwood@tribweb.com or 412-321-2160. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_594853.html Oh, and I'll add that I sure as shootin' wouldn't have gone to the hospital in that ambulance, with media in tow either -- unless I was unconscious! Heck no, I'd want as little fanfare as possible. And, who's to say that her friend didn't drive her to a medical facility -- on the sly???

First, let me say if this is true it's absolutely horrible and whoever did it should be put away for a long, long time. However, is it true the "B" was backwards? Did they see anything in the ATM video camera? I find it really hard to believe that someone would hold still for a mugger to carve a letter in their face and I find it even harder to believe someone would decline medical attention following such an attack. Say this girl's story is 100% true, is that a reason to blame all Democrats or the Obama campaign? I'm not acquainted with any muggers, but I somehow doubt if they're generally very politically active. Second, you said, "there are stories all over of Republican Campaign workers being attacked and having their property destroyed," yet you only mention this one here. What are some other examples? Needless to say, these kinds of actions are despicable but I really fail to see how the Obama campaign is responsible for anyone doing these things. Annie

This is just way beyond horrible..I sure hope they get the creep who did this..

I am not sure what is significant about the B being forwards or backwards. Last time I checked the letter B had nothing to do with either campaign. You would think if she had done this to herself that she would have carved an O in her face. At least that would have made sense. Plus it wouldnt look backwards. I do not know if the photo has been retouched or not but I can tell you one thing for certain if that is a real injury it is deep and was more than likely done with a knife. Have you ever seen pictures of an abused woman? I have seen someone beat harshly, and the photos taken later barely show a bruise. For those marks to show in a picture she was hit hard and cut. IF the photo was not enhanced. I will be glad when this whole thing is over, it has gotten to the point that I do not believe in the government or our process very much. People are ignorantly hurting people for what? Go vote if you want to do anything at all productive but stop screaming and yelling racism, hatred and bull.

I have to say it sounds like a hate crime, a hate crime against herself. I watched the footage and studied the picture and it sure enough that she did it to herself. For starters no matter what you can tell the B is backwards, So there for she had to been standing in front of the mirror and also if it was a knife then the wound should have been deeper. So this is what I came up with, If I was to take a knife and try this stunt I would not push the knife all the way into my flesh cause it hurts and if someone would have really done it to her then the wound would be deeper and you can tell that it is not that deep. I believe she is making it up so that she can try to get pity votes for McCain. I think she should just come out and tell everyone what really happened. The way I see it is that no matter who gets in everyone will have opinions. I feel that everybody should just sit back and see what happens instead of being violent and immature.

Elections are always bad and they are getting worse each day. Lies, half truths and untruths are being traded. God Bless the nation.