Air America host attacked, beaten

Rogers Cadenhead

Watching the Watchers

Air America Radio host Randi Rhodes was mugged near her Manhattan apartment Sunday night, losing several teeth in a brutal attack that has knocked her off the air while she recuperates, fellow host Jon Elliott announced on his show early Tuesday morning.
"It is with sadness that tonight I inform you that my Air America colleague Randi Rhodes was assaulted last night while walking her dog near her New York City home," Elliott told his listeners this morning on Air America.

The attack took place near the corner of 39th Street and Park Avenue, Elliot said.

Because Rhodes was wearing a jogging suit and had neither a purse nor jewelry, Elliott speculated that "this does not appear to me to be a standard grab the money and run mugging."

"Is this an attempt by the right wing hate machine to silence one of our own?" he asked on the air. "Are we threatening them? Are they afraid that we're winning? Are they trying to silence intimidate us?"

Rhodes has been with Air America Radio since it launched in 2004, becoming a mainstay of the national liberal radio network. Her show airs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern weekdays. Lionel filled in for her show Monday afternoon, but no announcement was made of the reason.

An Air America representative confirmed Tuesday morning that Rhodes was mugged. Calls have been made to Rhodes and the New York City police department's press office, and as more details become available they'll be reported here.