Celebrity Justice
"Politically Motivated" Mutilation - Real or Hoax?

Ashley ToddPittsburgh law enforcement sources tell TMZ they have serious questions about the authenticity of the alleged victim who says she had her face cut by a politically-motivated attacker.

We're told there are several things about the alleged attack that don't add up. A Pittsburgh PD official says they are conducting a "thorough investigation" and have not determined if the alleged attack is real or a hoax. But we're told there is definitely a level of skepticism.

As we reported, the alleged victim claims she went to an ATM and when she turned around, a large dark-skinned man took the money she withdrew. She says when he noticed she had a McCain/Palin bumper sticker on her car, he became enraged, knocked her down and cut a "B" in her face.

We're told the woman refused medical assistance at the scene and said she would go to the hospital the next day.

The investigation continues.




Reader Comments

(Page 18 of 18) Previous 15 Comments

256. To #246 Victoria the PC policewoman, who feels 'thug' or it's variations is racist, and that we should all grow up and not use such a word as 'thug' or its variants, I have news for you:

The word Victoria is blatantly racist, I'm tired of seeing people wear their bigotry on their sleeves. Grow up.

Victoria, clearly refers to Queen Victoria of England who presided over a colonizing empire therefore, the word Victoria "is blatantly racist".

Victoria also shares a semantic linguistic stem with Victor, from the Latin vincere, to mean, 'conquer', implying class separation and hierarchy, a blatant symbol of racism if there ever was one. Victoria "is blatantly racist".

Grow up and change your own name.

Posted at 10:07PM on Oct 24th 2008 by schizoidman

257. By now, most of you are aware of the fact that the woman has admitted lying about this attack, and that it never happened. It's also come out that she has mental problems in her history.

Let's hope this poor woman gets some help.

As for McCain, he also needs some help, because he, his campaign, and his supporters blew it again.

Before taking some time to check the facts, the McCain campaign, a number of conservative talk-show hosts and commentators, and quite a few of his supporters spewed this out into the media ... and changed the story a little for good measure. The campaign is so hungry for some good news that they jumped all over this. It's sad that the best "good news" they could find for themselves is a purported attack of a white woman by an alleged black Obama supporter.

And it's even more sad when this turned out to be a hoax and their efforts to pin this on Obama's supporters blew up in their faces.

This is yet another illustration of McCain's volatile, "shoot first, ask questions later" nature. He could have reined in his supporters and asked everyone to wait for the police to finish their investigation, but instead, he went with his "gut" and let this attempted smear of the Obama campaign fly out into the media, full force, before all the facts were in.

More than a couple times, we've seen McCain go with his gut instead of using his better judgment, and this is just another example. Do we really want a President who flies off the handle and reacts with his emotions before all the facts are in? If McCain's emotional instincts were good, this might not be a problem, but he's been wrong with his gut a lot more than he's been right, and this is quite worrisome.

I'm glad that McCain wasn't President during the Cuban missile crisis, and I'm hoping that he doesn't get into the White House now, with his volatile, over-reactive trigger-finger on the button while we're facing the serious challenges that are confronting our country today.

Posted at 12:23AM on Oct 25th 2008 by The McCain campaign shoots itself in the foot AGAIN

258. It's truly hilarious how desperate the dumber,backward Whites are getting trying to avoid KARMA.......

Posted at 5:59AM on Oct 25th 2008 by Brutus

259. I believe in innocent until proven guilty. Will wait for the ATM tapes. With that being said, I am a registered democrat and do not have one single clue as to whom I am going to vote for as of yet. Too much mud slinging turns me off to both but I can tell you, the secret past of Barrack HUSSEIN Obama is going to pay a major role in my decision. Unfortunately, I cannot forget 9/11. It is easy to forget what WE ALL endured that day when so many years have passed. It is easy to forget what OUR BOYS continue to endure to prevent that from happening here in the future. I do not believe in the US being involved in every other country's fight however when it comes to protecting my children, my grandchildren, I stand behind my President whether I agree or not with their politcal views. I do that for OUR BOYS and GIRLS who are over there so that we can continue to feel safe here at home. There are alot of unanswered questions and alot of things that the Obama campaign have avoided talking about ... people like myself who are undecided would jump right on their bandwagon if we didn't feel they are hiding something and their inability to be up front and honest about his associations with extremists will keep us from voting for him. He did not become a Christian UNTIL he decided to run for office. Everyone knows if you want political office, that's a no brainer. I really do like Biden ... too bad he is isn't running for President! My decision would be easy if that were the case. So, I guess when I get to the poles on 11/4th I will vote for whoever I feel is the lesser of two evils. My vote may be wasted but then I won't feel responsible should Mr. Obama show his true colors if elected. He scares the heck out of me to be honest.

Posted at 5:15AM on Oct 26th 2008 by sunny

260. PEOPLE WAKE UP, I AM SO ASHAMED OF PEOPLE OF ALL RACES. WHEN WILL WE GET IT WHEN WILL WE REALIZE THAT WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AS A WOMAN WHO WAS MARRIED IN A INTERACIAL REALATIONSHIP AND ALMOST MURDER BY MY HUSBAND AND FATHER OF MY CHILDREN, I DID NOT THINK ABOUT THE COLOR OF MY SKIN IN MY 17 HOURS OF DEATH. WHEN WILL WE GET IT!!!! BARACK IS MULTIRACAL ALL HIS LIVE HE HAS HAD TO PROBABLY MAKE A CHOICES ABOUT WHO TO BE LOYAL TO, NEVER WANTING TO HAVE TO CHOSE SIDES CUZ I AM SURE HE LOVED HIS FAMILY ALL OF IT WHITE,BLACK. I AM SO SICK OF THIS MY CHILDREN DESERVE NOT TO HALF TO GO THROUGH THAT EITHER. BUT THEY DO. A BASIC ? A MAN OF PALE SKIN COULD BE A MIXTURE FRENCH, SWEDISH, ENGLISH. ALL THREE DIFFRENT COUNTRYS AND COULTURES SHOULD WE SPLIT YOU IN THREE SO U MAY BE LOYAL TO ALL OF YOUR HERTIAGE. A MAN OF COLOR MAY BE MIXED WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN, JAMICAN, AND HAITIAN , SHOULD WE CUT HIM IN THREE SO HE MAY BE LOYAL TO HIS TRUE RACE.
THERE IS ONE RACE ONLY AND THAT PEOPLE IS THE (HUMAN RACE) MAY WE REALIZE THAT, AND GROW UP AND TEACH OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS TO LOVE EVERYONE, AND GET RID OF THIS HURT PAIN!
ASK ANY PERSON OF MIXED HERITIAGE WHAT IS THE COLOR OF LOVE AND I PROMISE THEY WILL TELL YOU LOVE KNOWS NO COLOR.

Posted at 2:01PM on Oct 30th 2008 by MOM IN FLORIDA

261. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS A HOAX OR NOT HOWEVER I AM SICK OF OBAMA SUPPORTERS
I AM AN EDUCATED VOTER AND I PERSONALLY WILL NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA
YOUR IGNORANCE AND LANGUAGE IN YOUR COMMENTS TELLS ME THE TYPE OF PEOPLE HE HAS SUPPORTING HIM. THIS IS SCARY BECAUSE HE COULD WIN THIS ELECTION WITH IGNORANT LIBERAL PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY HAVE A CLUE AND DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THE GOVERNMENT RUNS. DO I THINK GEORGE BUSH IS A GREAT PRESIDENT/? NO NOT THE BEST WE HAVE EVER HAD. I DO NOT AGREE WITH EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE. BUT YOU NEED TO REALIZE HE NEED HE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING ON HIS OWN AND THE CONGRESS AND SENATE HAS BEEN DEMOCRATS FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS PEOPLE!!! I AM SICK OF OBAMA PEOPLE PROCLAIMING HIM AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAM GET REAL!!! WAKE UP!!! THIS IS OUR COUNTRY WE NEED TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK NOT HAND IT OVER !!!! OBAMA SUPPORTERS WAKE UP STOP BEING RIDICULOUS YOU KNOW NOT ALL McCAIN SUPPORTERS ARE GOING TO BURN A B INTO THEIR FACE FOR ATTENTION IF THIS IS A HOAX SHE NEEDS HELP IF NOT SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS HELP EITHER WAY OUR COUNTRY IS IN TROUBLE AND WE ALL NEED HELP
WE DO NOT NEED TO BE FOOLED STOP BEING SOFT START BEING WHAT WE NEED WE NEED STRONG AMERICANS TO GET OUR COUNTRY WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE LIBERALS WAKE UP!!! ABORTION RIGHTS NOT THE ANSWER GAY MARRIAGE NOT THE ANSWER HOLLYWOOD NOT THE ANSWER STRONG AND PROUD AND PRODUCTIVE AMERICA THAT IS THE ANSWER

Posted at 12:13PM on Oct 25th 2008 by SICKANDTIRED

262. > 259. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS A HOAX OR NOT ...

The woman who reported this "attack" has confessed that she lied about it, and that it never happened. How much more evidence do you need that it's a hoax? Or are you one of those people who live by the creed "Don't confuse me with facts and logic; I've already made up my mind"?


> ... THE CONGRESS AND SENATE HAS BEEN DEMOCRATS FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS PEOPLE!!!

Congress was controlled by the Republicans until 2006. It's only been 2 years, not 4, that the Democrats have had a majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives. You either have a problem with basic arithmetic (2008 - 2006 = 2), or you are just totally ignorant of what is really going on in this country.

The American public voted in 2006 to give Democrats control of both houses of Congress for the first time in many years because they are sick and tired of what the Republicans have been doing to the country. Furthermore, it looks like Congress will be even more strongly Democratic after this current election, which means that the American people are even more convinced that the Republicans will hurt them more than the Democrats will.


> I AM SICK OF OBAMA PEOPLE PROCLAIMING HIM AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAM GET REAL!!! WAKE UP!!!

Most people who are called "African Americans" in this country were not born in Africa, nor were any of their parents nor grandparents. Their lineage goes back to Africa because of more distant relatives. However, with a father who was born in Africa and a mother who was born in America, the moniker "African American" applies perfectly to Obama. And by the way, Barack Obama _was_ born in Hawaii, so I hope that you are not going to try to propagate the lie that he somehow was not really born here.


> THIS IS OUR COUNTRY WE NEED TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK NOT HAND IT OVER !!!!

Take our country back from _whom_? Hand it over to _whom_? Please be specific about whom you are referring to. Or is this just some sort of poorly thought out, paranoid fantasy that you cannot explain?


> OBAMA SUPPORTERS WAKE UP STOP BEING RIDICULOUS YOU KNOW NOT ALL McCAIN
> SUPPORTERS ARE GOING TO BURN A B INTO THEIR FACE FOR ATTENTION IF THIS IS A HOAX
> SHE NEEDS HELP IF NOT SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS HELP

This is the first intelligent-sounding statement you have made so far in your post. I agree with you.


> EITHER WAY OUR COUNTRY IS IN TROUBLE AND WE ALL NEED HELP WE DO NOT NEED TO
> BE FOOLED STOP BEING SOFT START BEING WHAT WE NEED WE NEED STRONG AMERICANS
> TO GET OUR COUNTRY WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE LIBERALS WAKE UP!!! ABORTION RIGHTS
> NOT THE ANSWER GAY MARRIAGE NOT THE ANSWER HOLLYWOOD NOT THE ANSWER
> STRONG AND PROUD AND PRODUCTIVE AMERICA THAT IS THE ANSWER
>
> Posted at 12:13PM on Oct 25th 2008 by SICKANDTIRED

Please try to engage your brain and think about this question before answering it: the U.S. currently rewards American companies with tax breaks for out-sourcing work to people in other countries. The Bush administration has been in favor of continuing this policy, and McCain also supports this policy. How is this helping our country be "strong and proud and productive"? It causes American jobs to be lost, and it causes salaries to be paid to people in other countries instead of being paid here.

This policy also forces salaries that are paid to Americans to go DOWN, because we are now competing with people in other countries who work for a lot less. Many people believe that this is a good thing, and maybe you are one of these people. If so, I'd like to hear your arguments.

Posted at 1:32PM on Oct 25th 2008 by Try to use your brain for a change.

263. I agree with comment #30, why would you even post this item without knowing all of the facts. There are people (bigots) coming out of the woodworks to spue all of their racist comments in the name of politics! And TMZ how dare you encite this kind of nonsense. We have more than enough problems regarding race in this country and don't need you to make that any worst. We should be able to agree to disagree without being racist about. And for some reason, if a black man is accused of a grusome act, it is automatically beleived by whites WITHOUT FACTS! Who gave you the right to be someone's judge and jurior!!! STOP THE RACISIT BEHAVIOR.

Posted at 3:30PM on Oct 29th 2008 by D. gee bee

264. Please try to engage your brain and think about this question before answering it: the U.S. currently rewards American companies with tax breaks for out-sourcing work to people in other countries. The Bush administration has been in favor of continuing this policy, and McCain also supports this policy. How is this helping our country be "strong and proud and productive"? It causes American jobs to be lost, and it causes salaries to be paid to people in other countries instead of being paid here.

Posted at 1:32PM on Oct 25th 2008 by Try to use your brain for a change.


Well then, how about trying to engage YOUR brain and wrap it around some FACTS for a change?

Tax breaks for the off-shoring of jobs do NOT exist, what does exist is a provision in the U.S. tax code that allows U.S. companies earning profits in a foreign country to defer payment of corporate tax in the United States until those profits are returned to the U.S. If those profits remain abroad and are reinvested there, the company can more or less avoid the (very high) corporate taxes in the United States. And this is what many companies do when they set up operations overseas, regardless of whether this involves outsourcing of jobs.

Although in many cases this does result in a loss of some blue collar manufacturing jobs in the United States and creates a lot of resentment among the voter pool, it also keeps U.S. companies competitive in countries where the corporate tax rate is much lower.

This whole "tax breaks for big bad corporations OUTSOURCING" fairy tale by the left, is misleading as this particular U.S. provision has been in place for decades, and the setting up of overseas operations by American corporations is an economic reality that cannot be turned around merely by changing the tax code. Simply put, those American companies with manufacturing and service set-ups abroad haven't made these "arrangements" to take advantage of the tax deferral.

They have done it because of lower operational costs, or because of the proximity to target markets, or for other reasons that may have nothing to do with tax breaks or outsourcing of jobs. Changing the tax code to remove the deferral will only create a barrier that will reduce the ability of U.S. companies to compete in today's global marketplace.

Make sense now?

I highly doubt it!

Posted at 3:06PM on Oct 26th 2008 by Mr. A

265. Oh, I am so sick of all this hate! I am going to tell you what my best friend said when I asked her who she would vote for...She said she would love to go in and write her ballot down for McCain as President and Obama, not Hussein Obama, as alot of you want to say, but the man, Obama but unfortunately it doesn't work like that. Wish it did sometimes. I am sure that alot of people do. But Palin as our President would be a tradgedy if something should happen to McCain. We think we have it bad now! She doesn't have a clue!! And I personally think Obama should be President. And we will all just see what happens!! Ha! Ha! I hope you all eat your words when it happens!

Posted at 9:11PM on Oct 28th 2008 by Makinley\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

266. This is the very reason why we have been suffering a racial divide, political party divided & soon a unrepairable nation divided. The planet is too small for any prejudice being race,sex,health,religion,wealth or age. If an natural catastrophe such as all the fault-lines in the U.S. were to crack open as wide causing a ripple effect of earthquakes throughout the nattion the would colapse buildings like the WTC in N.Y. but this would be nation wide. Then the same person you hate would probably be the same person that you would need to save you(if you were lucky enough to survive) then it wouldnt be who or what you are that saved you but just that LUCKY. If we want other countries to respect us then we first would have to respect ourselves. Prejudice is the Ebolia Virus to the planet. Once it destroys a certian sector it moves to the next, and the next, and the next and so on and so on. The world we live must find a PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION if we are to have a brighter future for our children. Our kids want to be friends with other kids for life but we wont let them. GROW UP PEOPLE.. Bring our troops home. PLEASE!!!

Posted at 1:08AM on Nov 6th 2008 by DEATH EARS

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