Was Mancow’s Waterboarding a Hoax? UPDATE: Linda Shafran Spams TGI with Mancow’s Response
BY: NCViking
Rumors abound that the waterboarding stunt by Eric “Mancow” Muller was actually a hoax. The blog Gawker.com reveals some inside information including emails from Mancow’s Chicago-based publicist Linda Shafran, whose clients also include Jerry Springer and Steve Wilkos. The below memo is what is stoking the controversy. Apparently it is in relation to when the person hired to administer the waterboarding was unable to do it so at the last second the show had to find a replacement, Marine Sgt. Clay South.
From: [redacted]
Date: Thu, May 21, 2009 at 1:38 PM
To: [redacted]
Cc: [redacted]
Subject: Re: URGENTYou are a ROCK STAR!!!
It is going to have to look “real” but of course would be simulated with Mancow acting like he is drowning. It will be a hoax but have to look real. Would be great if they could dress in fatigues and bring whatever is needed. We will supply the waterxxxx
Linda Shafran
Jerry Springer Show
454 N. Columbus Dr.
Chicago, IL 60611
PH: [redacted]
cell: [redacted]
Email: [redacted]
Then Linda Shafran sent this from Mancow in response:
BORED BLOGGERS ARE ALL WET
By Mancow Muller May 29, 2008I am not a magician. Many news cameras were there!
Obviously, it was on the radio and I wasn’t in prison. I’m also not a radicalized Muslim terrorist. But it was not a hoax! I repeat: NOT A HOAX.
We kept telling management, the insurance companies, and the local Chicago cops we weren’t really going to do it – until we did. Otherwise, they weren’t gonna let us do it! We got a U.S. Marine that told us he had studied how to do it and he volunteered to waterboard me in return for a mention of his charity.
I was on a decline and I was waterboarded. Was I in chains? No. Does that make it less real? I am failing to get the point attempted by my detractors. We never claimed it was an exact recreation.
The CIA technique is exactly what we did:
1. Keep the chest elevated above the head and neck to keep the lungs “above the waterline.”
2. Incline the head, both to keep the throat open and to present the nostrils for easier filling.
3. Force the mouth open so that water can be poured into both the nose and mouth.
Sorry, I thought for years it wasn’t torture and now I do. The video is there for all to see.The left has taken my message and distorted it as well. Would I waterboard to save my daughters (or any American children)? Yes!
The three terrorists that were waterboarded at Guantanamo were done so by military professionals. And it was done to save lives with America’s best interests at heart. Mine was a silly radio time filler in comparison. Its apples & hand grenades!
It would be insane to equate what I did with anything that happens in prison. I am simply a free man in a radio studio that always tries to get inside the big issues. This is an ugly issue with no easy answers. But I now see it’s easier for some to dismiss me than to do any real soul searching on this very heady issue.
On our post of the demonstration, we had red-flagged it as being not entirely accurate, but believed Mancow’s pronouncement and published it as such.
Mancow Gets Waterboarded, says it’s “Absolutely torture!”
There was only one problem with the demonstration: according to the memos that revealed the practice of “waterboarding” (used on only three individuals), it involved covering the nose and mouth with a cloth and pouring water over that cloth to create a drowning sensation. Mancow had water poured directly up his nose and in his mouth. The cloth was only covering the bridge of his nose and eyes. I am unsure if that makes a difference or not but it should be duly noted.
Here is a more accurate waterboarding carried out by Vanity Fair’s Christopher Hitchens:
Gawker goes on to say how they thought it was fishy but wanted to give Mancow the benefit of the doubt. Did he in fact dupe us all with a publicity stunt? He says not, but who knows. It’s just a little more noise in an already heated debate.
UPDATE: Linda Shafran Spams TGI with Mancow’s Response
Note to Ms. Shafran: If you had actually read our entry as opposed to spamming us with Mancow’s response, you would have seen we published it in the post. I guess some blogosphere damage control must be underway …
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BORED BLOGGERS ARE ALL WET
By Mancow Muller May 29, 2008
“I am not a magician. Many news cameras were there!
Obviously, it was on the radio and I wasn’t in prison. I’m also not a radicalized Muslim terrorist. But it was not a hoax! I repeat: NOT A HOAX.
We kept telling management, the insurance companies, and the local Chicago cops we weren’t really going to do it – until we did. Otherwise, they weren’t gonna let us do it! We got a U.S. Marine that told us he had studied how to do it and he volunteered to waterboard me in return for a mention of his charity.
I was on a decline and I was waterboarded. Was I in chains? No. Does that make it less real? I am failing to get the point attempted by my detractors. We never claimed it was an exact recreation.
The CIA technique is exactly what we did:
1. Keep the chest elevated above the head and neck to keep the lungs “above the waterline.”
2. Incline the head, both to keep the throat open and to present the nostrils for easier filling.
3. Force the mouth open so that water can be poured into both the nose and mouth.
Sorry, I thought for years it wasn’t torture and now I do. The video is there for all to see.
The left has taken my message and distorted it as well. Would I waterboard to save my daughters (or any American children)? Yes!
The three terrorists that were waterboarded at Guantanamo were done so by military professionals. And it was done to save lives with America’s best interests at heart. Mine was a silly radio time filler in comparison. Its apples & hand grenades!
It would be insane to equate what I did with anything that happens in prison. I am simply a free man in a radio studio that always tries to get inside the big issues. This is an ugly issue with no easy answers. But I now see it’s easier for some to dismiss me than to do any real soul searching on this very heady issue.
——————————————————————————–
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—————–
Forwarded Message:
Subj: Mancow Statement
Date: 5/29/2009 2:08:00 P.M. Central Daylight Time
From: LShafran
To: LShafran
STATEMENT FROM MANCOW
BORED BLOGGERS ARE ALL WET
By Mancow Muller May 29, 2008
“I am not a magician. Many news cameras were there!
Obviously, it was on the radio and I wasn’t in prison. I’m also not a radicalized Muslim terrorist. But it was not a hoax! I repeat: NOT A HOAX.
We kept telling management, the insurance companies, and the local Chicago cops we weren’t really going to do it – until we did. Otherwise, they weren’t gonna let us do it! We got a U.S. Marine that told us he had studied how to do it and he volunteered to waterboard me in return for a mention of his charity.
I was on a decline and I was waterboarded. Was I in chains? No. Does that make it less real? I am failing to get the point attempted by my detractors. We never claimed it was an exact recreation.
The CIA technique is exactly what we did:
1. Keep the chest elevated above the head and neck to keep the lungs “above the waterline.”
2. Incline the head, both to keep the throat open and to present the nostrils for easier filling.
3. Force the mouth open so that water can be poured into both the nose and mouth.
Sorry, I thought for years it wasn’t torture and now I do. The video is there for all to see.
The left has taken my message and distorted it as well. Would I waterboard to save my daughters (or any American children)? Yes!
The three terrorists that were waterboarded at Guantanamo were done so by military professionals. And it was done to save lives with America’s best interests at heart. Mine was a silly radio time filler in comparison. Its apples & hand grenades!
It would be insane to equate what I did with anything that happens in prison. I am simply a free man in a radio studio that always tries to get inside the big issues. This is an ugly issue with no easy answers. But I now see it’s easier for some to dismiss me than to do any real soul searching on this very heady issue.
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