Well, the family can get away with not talking to the media -- but talking to Colorado law officials is another thing. Word is that balloon boy charges are imminent -- not against the balloon boy himself (Falcon Heene) but against the father, Richard Heene.
(NEWSCOM)Photos (1 of 1)
Balloon boy charges are imminent - Twitter reacts with joy (mostly)
By Jimmy Orr | 10.17.09
Oops. Richard Heene is probably regretting his decision to put his son, Falcon, on CNN the other night. Things don’t look very good for the father of the Balloon Boy. Charges are a-comin’.
Speculation that Thursday’s flying balloon scare was a hoax ramped up when Falcon told Wolf Blitzer that he didn’t come out of the attic when called because “it was for the show.”
Then everything unraveled for Mr. Heene. Blitzer, who was a complete marshmallow during the interview, weakly followed-up on Falcon’s comments but quickly backpedaled when the elder Heene feigned expressed outrage that he question the validity of the event.
What Blitzer didn’t do, the rest of the media did. Heene’s appearance on the Today Show was a disaster and made the senior Heene look even worse by having his son appear on the show despite being visibly ill.
There was already talk, of course, that the whole balloon affair might have been a concocted media event before the Wolf Blitzer appearance because of Heene’s history in and apparent love of the media — including an appearance on the TV show “Wife Swap.”
Now comes word that the father of the balloon boy is about to be charged. Colorado officials announced this evening that they will file criminal charges against Heene.
“We were looking at Class 3 misdemeanor, which hardly seems serious enough given the circumstances,” Sheriff Alderden told reporters. “We are talking to the district attorney, federal officials to see if perhaps there aren’t additional federal charges that are appropriate in this circumstance.”
In the meantime, “Balloon Boy” is becoming a hot topic on Twitter again. Most Tweeters are having fun with the story either expressing joy that Heene is getting charged or coming up with their own unique angles on the affair.
Put Elektrckevin in the “expressing joy” category:
elektrckevin: Absolutely!!! This gets better everyday!!! Balloon boy daddy is getting busted!
Others are predicting a fad…
nancynaigle: I do bet … that Halloween will be full of people in tinfoil .. being the balloon boy!
The Internet is really fast….
elnerito: LOL! I just scored 23 on Balloon Boy Game. Try and beat me: http://www.balloonboygame.com
Death by a thousand cuts?
reasongonemad: AP has **7** reporters on Balloon Boy coverage. We’re digging good journalism’s grave with this nonsense, friends.
Yeah, maybe you’re right, but Gawker’s got a really interesting piece by a guy who said he helped Heene create this hoax.
Start spreading the news….
Ieatmykidzsnack: I can’t wait for Balloon Boy the musical.
More joy….
willfullyblind: Balloon boy’s family must be related to Octomom. Criminals charges for exploiting kids & being burden for tax payers. Thank you
Deja Vu?
Joseph68: FAA definitely will press charges against balloon boy’s family, same happened to Lawn Chair Larry.
Hmmm…. Lawn Chair Larry? He was one of the original Darwin Award nominees. Here’s his story…
ReminisceSmith: Was I the only one who didn’t care about the boy being on a balloon?
Yeah, probably.
And our favorite tweet so far comes from a man who has no problems with self-awareness.
bevanhouston: I’m seriously considering buying this commemorative Balloon Boy t-shirt. http://bit.ly/4jYK6w Incidentally, I’m an idiot.
We don’t think you’re an idiot, Bevan. But don’tcha think someone could make a better t-shirt? It’s only been three days though….
Anyway, Colorado officials will be holding another press conference tomorrow on the issue at 11am (Mountain Time). As long as the football games won’t be interrupted, we’re fine with that.
In the meantime, we could embed a video from today’s press conference, but we’d rather go with this music video from the 80s.
———-
Hey, we’ll never file charges against you. But if we change our minds, we’ll let you know on Twitter. So follow us!
<< Pumpkin carving designs — the political edition | MainComments
2. Saint Subversive | 10.18.09
Great news! I hope they throw the book at both parents, after I heard the obviously bogus 911 call from the mother, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt it was a setup from the start. Get that household thoroughly investigated, the father is abusive to both his wife and children. They also shut down a major airport with their little stunt, and what if their “UFO” had hit a plane? That should be enough to make it federal, and then Heene can do his investigations from inside a real prison cell.
3. Randy Matthews | 10.18.09
There is so much talk about what Richard Heene did to make suckers of all the people he may have fooled, (like me) who were glued to our tv sets in concern for a six year old.
Even more talk about the expense from the law enforcement, emergency agencies and such [not to mention the National Guard] but no one seems to be as disgusted or downright appalled at the exploitation of his child.
My two children are now grown and I would never dream of using either of them for my own personal gain.
Although there are far worse things going on in the world I find this to be in the category of child abuse.
4. Angelene | 10.18.09
The amount of stress that they have put their child under is disgusting. Asking a child to lie, in any instance is wrong but to that extent is truly something else. No wonder that little boy was physically sick.
5. Arthur Baum | 10.18.09
I have watched America’s Funniest Videos enough to know that Richard Heene’s stunt backfired.
6. johnzero | 10.18.09
Two hundred years from now, scholars in leading universities (which will all be in China BTW) will reference this event, and our compulsive fascination with it, as an object lesson in why America declined.
8. Jamaicafest | 10.18.09
Its interesting that initially the authorities didn’t think that there was any hoax. They must have discovered something that changed their minds.
9. YO MAMA | 10.18.09
Okay so let me get this straight….if I’m on a reality show and I’ve got an emergency come up, I’m going to be questioned if wether I’m doing this for publicity or acutally need help WTH???? Leave the family alone and let’s get REAL news like how many americans are dying in a war that bush started.
10. justme | 10.18.09
How very sad that this family would do this. I saw them on wife swap and was shocked by their chosen family “values”.I feel most sorry for the kids
11. Priscilla Protasowicki | 10.18.09
American people are usually willing to give the government the benefit of the doubt, so when will the government give it back? Balloon Hoax?
12. ginger | 10.18.09
I could not and will not judge the parents at all. Has anyone thought …..
Falcon to be a bit younger mentally than most children his age ? Did anyone
interview the older children in the family ? Someone did mention the parent’s
to be storm chaser. The family was on a T.V. show. So that may be all Falcon
was thinking about when questioned. I feel for the whole family. Come on let’s not be so quick to judge…….!
13. linda Rogers | 10.18.09
TRUTH AND LIES
What child doesn’t dream of flying,
the only way out of a nightmare or
unimaginable sadness, the monster
under the bed or the shadowy midnight
shape in the door. Leaving is a child’s
vocation, getting lost in a book or plans
for the future, running away from home
with a little suitcase, but not crossing
the road because it’s against the rules.
Don’t most of us secretly wish to come home
to embrace an apron smelling of freshly baked
bread, even if it’s no longer/never was there?
What is Falcon thinking as he crosses the
Mid-west in his father’s helium balloon?
Will he be punished or will these few hours
of freedom be worth the consequences? What
comes next is the question every child asks
until this life is over. Isn’t it a father’s
job to teach his son to fly? Falcon has closed
his eyes.No one has taught him the difference
between fantasy and reality, truth and lies.
What he sees Is real: the bird’s eye view of
the earth passing beneath him, fish rushing
upriver to spawn, rows of tiny pumpkins,
all the trees on fire with the colours of
autumn. His parents are only specks.Does he
smile and wave? Do they really miss him?
Is he afraid to come down from his hiding
place before the television cameras are ready?
Linda Rogers, Poet Laureate Victoria BC Canada
14. Mo | 10.18.09
I’d like to know if the police actually weighed the boy. They did a lot of tests on the “balloon” using 37 pounds which they claimed Falcon weighs but that is really light for a 6 year old boy. I know he’s thin but 37 pounds puts him in less then the 10th percentile.
16. BaileyJo | 10.18.09
I knew from the moment the balloon touched down something wasn’t right with this. I continually told those around me this was a set up. They were appalled I could say such a thing, but now they’re eating their words.
Watch Heene’s old interviews during the aftermath. He cannot look at the camera because he knows he’s lying. Heene continually looks at the floor or other areas because he’s trying to come up with a new “improved” answer. Furthermore, what parent in their right mind would keep an ill child on TV during an interview? The parents are obviously looking for attention and this is definitely the wrong way to do so. Apparently he’s a wanna-be TV reality star whose hopes and dreams have been shattered by his own web of lies. Dig your own grave, Richard, don’t have your kids do it for you!
I feel bad for what the kids have to deal with and hope they are put into a nice foster home. These kids don’t deserve parents like this, much less the parents don’t deserve kids, period! It’s because of incompetent parents like these that today’s youth is so arrogant, selfish, mean and can’t think of more creative words to use than 4-letter cuss words. It’s sad to see where our world is heading.
17. Stoney Burke | 10.19.09
When I played the 911 call, the voice and cries of the woman sounded so pretentious.
Too bad the country was so focussed on this event. As usual, very typical of our media.
I agree with the quote below why our nation is declining. There are so many real events happening outside our nation and how disinterested the American people seem to know about. Blame it on the media. If it’s not Hollywood - the outside world does not exist.
6. johnzero | 10.18.09
Two hundred years from now, scholars in leading universities (which will all be in China BTW) will reference this event, and our compulsive fascination with it, as an object lesson in why America declined.
18. Aleasha | 10.19.09
I cannot believe so many people keep writing on and on about this story! IF this was a hoax and IF their entire plan was to get more attention THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE GIVING THEM. But of course American media does not get that and they always have to be the first one to get the scoop even though they are giving the stupid people exactly what they want. But WHATEVER.
19. Scott | 10.19.09
Lock up the parents, this is ridiculous. It’s obviously just a huge publicity stunt, and this fraud cost 1000’s of $$ to the tax payers.
Unacceptable - lock up the dad.
20. Sam | 10.19.09
These people are horrible parents. How can you tell your child to lie and lie again to get media attention? Even more disturbing is the way that they are using the kids to get sympathy even after the fact. I think these kids should be taken away and the parents sent to jail. Obviously, their addiction to publicity is getting in the way of their parenting and is negatively affecting their kids. The parents need to be taught a lesson, and (although unfortunate for the children) their stupid, self-centered parents involved them, and they must now pay the price.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
Leave a Comment
We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. The comments feature is a forum to discuss the ideas in our stories. Constructive debate - even pointed disagreement - is welcome, but personal attacks on other commenters are not, and will not be published.
Tip: Do not write a novel. Keep it short. We will not publish lengthy comments. Come up with your own statements. This is not a place to cut and paste an email you received. If we recognize it as such, we won't post it.
Please do not post any comments that are commercial in nature or that violate copyrights.
Finally, we will not publish any comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence.
Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Kevin | 10.18.09
wow…balloons always seem to deflate on me. i’m a bit sad..knowing i’ll never see the same balloon again..kinda like, “no two snowflakes are ever the same”, makes me a little sad that this thing is over…”balloon boy daddy charged”…i mean it can only get boring from here on out. NEXT!!!…Quick!…Everybody OUT!!!!!!