Randi Rhodes was mugged Sunday night while walking her dog near her Manhattan apartment.

According to Air America Radio late night host Jon Elliott, Rhodes was beaten, losing several teeth.

Elliott opened his show by saying "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." Saying that Rhodes was wearing a jogging suit and displayed no valuables, Elliott went on to say 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. "Are we threatening them. Are they afraid that we're winning. Are they trying to silence intimidate us."

Several blog posters also expressed concerns that the attack was a hate crime. Others said we need more facts before making judgements.

According to Elliott, Rhodes was resting in her New York City apartment and was not hospitalized.

source: TalkingRadio.com