AP Swims Against Tide With 'Good Neighbor' Angle for George Zimmerman Story

 Here is an interesting "nut graf" (JOURNALISM!) in a story from the AP about George Zimmerman, the fellow in Florida whom you may have heard (unless you watch FOX*or read Drudge) is claiming self-defense after shooting an unarmed teenage boy while muttering "fucking coons" under his breath.

Now, suddenly, people are wondering if the 28-year-old Zimmerman is an earnest if somewhat zealous young man who was just looking out for his neighborhood, or a wannabe cop who tried to take justice into his own hands.

Interesting take there, AP! Is he a zealous, wonderful guy, or is he a zealous, wonderful guy? (You'll note that nowhere in AP's binary-choice-system is there an option for "fucking racist motherfucker looking to cap some fucking coons.")

And here's a little nugget:

Zimmerman, who was captain of the neighborhood watch and licensed to carry a gun, made 46 calls to police since 2004, according to department records.

 Every other news source in the known universe is citing 46 calls to the police since 2011. "Since 2004" would also be strictly accurate, we guess, in that 2011 comes after 2004? Well, there's just no knowing who's right.

But what about what everybody's getting sooooo het up about. Is George Zimmerman a racist? What do you think, AP?

In a letter to the Orlando Sentinel, Zimmerman's father said his son wasn't a racist. Zimmerman's mother is Hispanic. "He would be the last to discriminate for any reason whatsoever," Robert Zimmerman wrote.

What, no "there may have been a racist slur muttered on the 911 recording"? Nothing? Well, that's one way to play it. AP went on to quote lots and lots of neighbors who luuurve George Zimmerman. Great guy, or GREATEST GUY? You make the call!

*Funny story! A lady from FOX wanted to speak with Your Wonkette about its "inaccurate" coverage (based on the work of the fine fellows at ThinkProgress) of FOX's lack of coverage of the Trayvon story. There had been at least 12 items on Trayvon on FOX, she claimed (dubiously). Why, that would make Wonkette's post "inaccurate"! But when asked for a list of times those pieces had aired, she could only cite times after Your Wonkette's story had run? Which would not make Your Wonkette's post "inaccurate" in the slightest? Your Wonkette hopes that FOX is paying that lady lots and lots of lovely money, or failing that, Whore Diamonds. [ AP ]