No, James Holmes was not an Occupy member (that we know of)

[Chichiri]

This rumor that's going around seems to have two sources. The first is speculation from a private detective somewhere who noted that the villain of "The Dark Knight Rises" is modeled after OWS (which is false, as Nolan conceived the film before OWS), and therefore Holmes is an OWS anarchist who wanted to "stick it to the man." Don't ask me to explain the logic of that; I can't. But that's what he said, and right wingers are running with it.

The second source is a guy on Twitter who found a video praising OWS with accompanying music by one "James Willie Holmes." A bit of research showed that this James Holmes wrote his first song 13 years before the Aurora shooter was born.

People are saying we should not politicize the shooting, and we shouldn't. There's no reason to; with a gun related homicide occurring every 45 minutes in this country, we're already enduring the equivalent of 2.6 Aurora shootings per day. But that goes both ways: unless there is firm reason that Holmes was an OWS member, we need to resist that notion as forcefully as we can, just as the Tea Party is resisting the notion that Holmes was one of them.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. There is

A LOT of speculation going on today. A lot.

[sabrina 1]

2. So he's a Tea-bagger AND an Occupier?

Sad that people want to politicize such a terrible tragedy.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

3. Yep. Neither are valid sources.

I saw the website of that private detective. His website design made Drudge look cutting edge.

[Politicalboi]

4. These type of shootings aren't the same

These are plotted out. Most gun deaths are sudden or accidental. We will find out his politics or lack of when they open his computer.

[flamingdem]

5. This is being pushed on some conspiracy right wing sites

Very good to debunk it

[brewens]

6. The wing-nuts would just love that. You see stuff like this every time.

I remember the focus of the yokel sheriff right away at one school shooting was speculating if the kids were on drugs. It was one before Columbine if I remember right. A couple kids got the guns from an uncle, pulled the fire-alarm and shot people coming out of the school.

You could tell that the sheriff really wanted to be able to blame it all on the drugs. I guess I do it also. I always hope it's can be put on right-wing nuts.

[flamingdem]

7. One rightwing site had a supposed photo of him with an occupy sign

They know some people will get this impression and it will stick

[SoutherDem]

8. Over the next few days we will hear is was

part of every conceivable origination even if they work against each other. While speculation is going to happen, the truth will take time. Remember Timothy McVeigh was a Muslim terrorist during the first few hours after the Oklahoma City bombing.

[SalviaBlue]

9. Glenn Beck: "No, James Holmes was not an Occupy member (that we know of)"

This is exactly what he said in the opening to his show this morning.

I had my XM radio on the channel that carries his show when I started my car this morning and that is what I heard him say.

[Chichiri]

10. What a crappy coincidence. n/t