CBS News "PublicEye" editor Brian Montopoli suggested in a recent blog post that conservatives are unfairly attacking liberal Web sites for comments posted by readers that lament that a terrorists attack in Afghanistan did not succeed in killing Vice President Cheney.
Montopoli says that both right and left-wing sites have their share of nutty commenters, which, to some degree is a fair point. There are fring loonies and flamers on the Internet on both sides of the aisle.
What Montopoli seems to miss then is that the objection conservatives like Sean Hannity have raised is not so much the sin of commission by nasty commenters but the sin of omission by Web site administrators and editors.
It's a legitimate question to ask why people wishing for the assassination of the Vice President of the United States are not banned from a politically-oriented site.
The CBS blogger also has skewed the matter by comparing this controversy with the Ward Churchill row from a few years ago:
The dustup sheds a light on an unfortunate habit of partisans on both sides, who love to publicize nasty rhetoric in order to illustrate the wrong-headedness of their ideological opponents. You might call it the Ward Churchill strategy. Churchill, as you may know, is a (once) obscure professor who wrote a ridiculous essay comparing the victims of the September 11th attacks to Nazis.
But Churchill is not your average Joe Sixpack flaming away at an online bulletin board, so Montopoli's attempt at a comparison here is odd at the very least. Churchill didn't merely say insensitive things about 9/11 victims. A review of his work proved that the professor was spoon-feeding his student error-laden propaganda and defending his unprofessional conduct under the guise of academic freedom.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Plus Churchill is a liar abou
March 2, 2007 - 12:11 ET by bigtimerPlus Churchill is a liar about his own life...in all ways from what I have heard, the propaganda fits right in for him if he can't even be truthful about his own life...his ancestry, and what he really has done in life and hasn't. Typical leftist.
What I read on HuffnPuff was past disgraceful, it was sickening. I guarantee if this was the other way around and it was a popular conservative blog site, we would still be hearing about it until the leftist had tried to get it banned or finished off.
This should of been attacked, he is our VP, wishing the things they did and the vileness of the different expressions and posts from these raving lunatic leftists should come attention of the media and the others in this country who had no clue who the rabid leftists really are...
Hypocrites.
I don't know. I don't see p
March 2, 2007 - 12:38 ET by balboaI don't know. I don't see people up in arms with the horrible things people say on here about Ted Kennedy, Helen Thomas, Rosie, Hillary, etc., and I'd imagine this is a pretty popular blog.
boa, Nobody here has posted t
March 2, 2007 - 12:42 ET by bigtimerboa,
Nobody here has posted the likes in reverse....there were scores of leftist loony-bin sick tripe with some detail of how they wanted to see Cheney dead...did you read them all?
Come on now....
bt,Funny how the Left has tri
March 2, 2007 - 13:36 ET by Chris Normanbt,
Funny how the Left has tried to link all conservatives to every kook abortion clinic bomber and survivalist terrorist, yet they get all tied up in knots over this episode (thus obscuring the original anti-Christian controversy). Hell, even President Clinton tried to link the Oklahoma City bombing to Rush Limbaugh. Did anyone on the Left object to that?
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Morning Chris...What a great
March 2, 2007 - 13:41 ET by bigtimerMorning Chris...
What a great point and memory of the blame Rush/conservatives got from Clintoon about the Oklahoma City Bombing!
bt,Good morning. I'm still ad
March 2, 2007 - 13:52 ET by Chris Normanbt,
Good morning. I'm still adjusting to the time difference out here in the MST. I tend to wake up at an EST - bummer. Back on topic: nobody - but, nobody - takes more phony offense at something than Liberals. They can summon "outrage" at the drop of a hat. I say, what's good for the goose...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
I've seen various (often mi
March 2, 2007 - 12:49 ET by sarcasmoI've seen various (often mindless, IMO) harsh posts from conservatives about all of them, but I don't think I've seen many wishes that leftwingers get killed by enemies of the USA, and when we do see stuff like that it tends to draw immediate negative commentary from Mark F. and others, rather than sitting-there until a random lefty discovers it.
JMR
They're not usually death t
March 2, 2007 - 13:08 ET by balboaThey're not usually death threats, no. But there is lunacy.
Plus you get ingenious phrases such as "hippie twat."
I've taken just about all I
March 2, 2007 - 13:34 ET by Jack BauerI've taken just about all I can from you balboa.
I shall now track you down and kill you.
Please provide me with precise details of your address and a convenient time. Thanks.
PS
Weekends are good for me.
Jack!Laughing my rear off...y
March 2, 2007 - 13:46 ET by bigtimerJack!
Laughing my rear off...ya gotta stop, you're killing me here!
...thanks buddy, you gave me something to chuckle about the rest of day...
You have such a way with words....
Bal...Sometimes we here get
March 2, 2007 - 13:45 ET by Tim the EnchanterBal...
Sometimes we here get into name-calling a bit (most of the time, there's more than a grain of truth in the name), but I have yet to see someone here say anything close to what I read on HuffyPo. Like it or not, this man is the duly-elected Vice President of the United States. He's the VP of ALL Americans. If some can't deal wih that, renounce your citizenship and find some more compatible country. I've never wished the Clintoons or Algore dead, or wish that someone else would kill them. I just want them to go away and leave us nice folks alone. There's a world of difference in those two attitudes I've just pointed out. Don't you agree?
BTW- I don't recall seeing "hippie twat" anywhere. Was it in reference to Jane Fonda? Just guessing.
TimI did call an evil truth
March 2, 2007 - 13:54 ET by Jack BauerTim
I did call an evil truths-out-to-lunch troll who posts here an "evil twat."
But then he calls wonderful people like Debra Burlingame (the sister of Flight 93 co-pilot and tremendous 9/11 momument advocate) a liar.
So he deserved it. And I am happy with my seemingly intemperate language in this case.
"hippie twat" was
March 2, 2007 - 14:03 ET by balboa"hippie twat" was on the Dennis Miller/The View post.
Nowhere have I said that it's OK for these guys to threaten the VP with mortal injury. I'm more than willing to admit there are lots of lefty kooks.
Bal - our reasonable Liberal
March 2, 2007 - 14:11 ET by Chris NormanBal - our reasonable Liberal - although "kooks" doesn't begin to describe some of these hate-filled, acid -dripping leftist posters. I'll admit there are folks here who use very intemperate language to describe their feelings, but I think the worst of them pale in comparison to the attitudes I've seen on some of the liberal web sites. Also, the worst of the posters here get a dressing down by the powers-that-be when they go over the top. Wouldn't you agree?
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Sometimes they get a dressing
March 2, 2007 - 15:17 ET by balboaSometimes they get a dressing-down on this board, but not often.
Liberals, all squishy with their feelings, are more apt to have their ugly members post online. So, yes, liberals are more likely to get nasty online that conservatives, at least in my experience. But then my experience is limited to here, Malkin occasionally.
I have little outside blog-
March 2, 2007 - 15:26 ET by sarcasmoI have little outside blog-experience, too, but given this link, might I offer some unsolicited advice to the left? Go ahead & curse-occasionally if you want to for impact, but when you're doing it this-much it loses impact, while letting the right make fun of you. Do you really want that? And what do you think the average American apolitical-person thinks when he/she sees y'all THAT far "ahead" in the cuss-department? Mightn't just a little more logic and a little less emotion do the left some intellectual good, anyway?
JMR
I wish they would take up y
March 2, 2007 - 18:05 ET by balboaI wish they would take up your advice. It cheapens their argument.
"Also, the worst of the
March 3, 2007 - 02:45 ET by schmidt"Also, the worst of the posters here get a dressing down by the powers-that-be when they go over the top. Wouldn't you agree?"
Of course the powers that be allow continual over the top comments on here as long as they are right wing .
Newsbusters has lost site of what a conservative is since they never allow open debate with anyone that disagrees with their philosophy.
Schmidt, you apparently don't
March 3, 2007 - 03:07 ET by gfrrmanSchmidt, you apparently don't read much of what is posted around here. Those that go "over the top" either way usually get slapped down....right or left. This IS a sight that looks for BIAS IN THE MEDIA. There is nothing but open debate here. Sure lefties get slapped around more on this site, only because there are fewer of them. If I were to post at any one of the lefty sites(dKos, HufPo. DemUndeground, etc) I'd expect to get slapped around. Only difference I've noticed at those sites, is there is NO DISSENT. You get banned immediately. You've been on this site for half a year right? I rest my case your honor.
reply to Tim the Enchanter
March 3, 2007 - 03:41 ET by JudithEvery reader/writer on this blog should have read the comments on www.Fark.com. It was sickening what was said about Dick Cheney. He is a good and compassionate guy. I did not feel well for the rest of the day. Are these lefties insane? They seem to have no respect for any Republican in office; its because they have no self-respect. Just look at the ranks of the Democrat party and you can see the clues. BTW, that last comment was a killer, I am still laughing. It had to be traitor Jane.
balbozo the democrat's favorite apologist
March 2, 2007 - 13:54 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasWell balbozo, I see you can't resist apologizing for anything a lib or super-lib does...but then you aren't a decision maker in the real world so we don't expect much...back to you balbozo at the Democrat's apologylooza.
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal. Go Rudy!
What apology where?
March 2, 2007 - 14:05 ET by balboaWhat apology where?
The one in the mirror
March 2, 2007 - 14:09 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasThe one in the mirror staring back at you.
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal. Go Rudy!
Seriously? "The one in
March 2, 2007 - 15:23 ET by balboaSeriously? "The one in the mirror staring back at you"?
Snxxx....
March 2, 2007 - 15:29 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasOkay, you have become instantly boring at this point...just repeating what I have said, but then you are an apologist for libs and super-libs, so what's new? I am sure the Lifetime Channel you regularly watch has something for you today instead of being here, or maybe you could pursue that Associate's Degree in Psychology from your local community college that you always wanted, eh balbozo? Snxxxx...next please!
Shut up and blog! If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal. Go Rudy!
I only watch Fox News so that
March 2, 2007 - 15:35 ET by balboaI only watch Fox News so that I can get my associate degree in journalism by pure osmosis.
Whew, that was a good one, Ba
March 2, 2007 - 14:41 ET by Roger the ShrubberWhew, that was a good one, Bal!
...he's a regular barrel of o
March 2, 2007 - 14:51 ET by bigtimer...he's a regular barrel of obvious laughs this mornin'....
Yeah...
March 2, 2007 - 15:04 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasYeah...just a real zinger...apparently Shrub you are a bit desperate for a laugh today...but hey, don't let me steal the pleasure you get from Jay Leno humor...sheesh.
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal. Go Rudy!
Bal The Liberal Defending Liberals
March 2, 2007 - 17:15 ET by emjem24Bal...
What horrible things have we said about libs like Teddy, Helen, Rosie, Shrillary, et. al.? Have we wished for their untimely demises? Have we wished for Teddy to feel the same kind of pain as his female companion who he left abandoned to drown?
It's called SARCASM. That little ole device that your liberal pals over at Huff n' Puff used to praise the attack on VP Cheney. I don't see you condemning that which just shows what an intolerable hypocrite you are as well.
Your comment is yet again pretty typical of liberals who can attack without impunity but not the other way around. A lot of the time it's just plain humor about these whitless wonders that you and other liberals worship. These people are destroying the country but you don't give a damn. You just seek "understanding" of conservatism but no real solutions to the secular-progressive, permissive, twisted world view agenda these people like Rosie the Rivetless continually push on America.
As usual.....you missed the point entirely.
The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little longer. Air Force Motto
emjem says: When your brain's stuck on liberalism it self-destructs.
Golly, where to begin.So sa
March 2, 2007 - 18:04 ET by balboaGolly, where to begin.
So sarcasm is OK when you do it, but not when the left does it?
And I have admitted when people on the left were being idiots. But there's no real reason for me to do it often when you guys do it so well...
"Destroying the country" is the kind of hysterical comment that I don't agree with.
You have to stop saying I missed the point. I haven't.
I have NEVER said that the left gets to attack without consequence. All I have said is that it's preposterous for the right to act as if they're above it.
reply to Balboa
March 3, 2007 - 03:48 ET by JudithPssssssst!
Reply to Judith
March 3, 2007 - 03:53 ET by NeoConfirmedI see your new here.
Please stop beginning each post with 'reply to...'
Thank you and have a nice day.
Dont we judge all organizatio
March 2, 2007 - 12:45 ET by Dan The Man 2Dont we judge all organizations by its members?
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark. -- save my gun, shoot a liberal.
Montopoli...Shut up and blog...
March 2, 2007 - 13:48 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasMontopoli...shut up and blog!
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal. Go Rudy!
My, how topical!This was in t
March 2, 2007 - 14:47 ET by Roger the ShrubberMy, how topical!
This was in today's award-winning Shrub Report®...
Rog...I noticed NB wasn't o
March 2, 2007 - 15:13 ET by Tim the EnchanterRog...
I noticed NB wasn't on the list. What gives?
...conservatives are unfairly
March 2, 2007 - 15:15 ET by JDW...conservatives are unfairly attacking liberal Web sites for comments posted by readers that lament that a terrorists attack in Afghanistan did not succeed in killing Vice President Cheney
The dems never take on their 'opponent', they either back down or defend the enemy. Churchill is not on my side.
The news media is focused on Cheney who has done anything but back down. He addressed everything thrown at him including Pelosi's pro al-Qaeda stance.
Cheney travels included refute of terrorism while news media and dems endorse the Churchills?
JDW
Wounded skier, beware of mistakes.
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
Conservatives only attack l
March 2, 2007 - 15:29 ET by Tim the EnchanterConservatives only attack liberals by quoting them. Most unfair.
Those who quote the dems ar
March 2, 2007 - 15:43 ET by JDWThose who quote the dems are in turn targeted.
JDW
Wounded skier, beware of mistakes.
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
You First Bri
March 2, 2007 - 17:04 ET by emjem24Don't you love the hypocrisy and condescension of this doofus? He has the witless gaul to call on us "nasty" conservatives to stop being so mean to left wing bloggers. Why? Because a lot of these bottom feeders openly expressed their DISAPPOINTMENT that the Vice President had not been assassinated.
How disgusting and reprehensible is that? I never wanted Al Gore dead. He's much too funny alive. The left wingers think that calling VP Cheney "darth" a "liar," and a "murderer" means they're really having any kind of intellectual exchange of ideas. All they're doing is lowering the level of discourse with all the name-calling they're accused conservatives of doing.
What separates the left-wing wackos from conservatives in general is death. Left wingers pray for the death of our VP and President and make no bones about it. When you confront them they'll only say it's just "sarcasm." How is that "sarcasm?" Conservatives on NB have never wished for the death of any dem politician...only their removal from office.
I think this commentary by ole Bri is just plain disengenuous. While left wingers openly write death threats against the VP and President Bush, ole Bri thinks conservatives are acting like Ward Churchill, yet another commie-loving, dishonest, overpaid professor. Hardly. Churchill is more the style of left wing bomb throwers who don't think twice of slandering a sitting president and VP when their former glorious leader Clintoon was a hair's breath away from being impeached.
The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little longer. Air Force Motto
emjem says: When your brain's stuck on liberalism it self-destructs.
BJ Clinton was impeached.
March 2, 2007 - 17:26 ET by Tim the EnchanterBJ Clinton was impeached. However, the lilly-livered Senate would not vote to convict him.
EARTH TO BRIAN, "BITE ME
March 2, 2007 - 17:33 ET by TOEEARTH TO BRIAN, "BITE ME!"
At least he used the word rid
March 2, 2007 - 19:06 ET by Andrew H.At least he used the word ridiculous and Churchill in the same sentence--now if he continues the CBS mode of liberals being the center of compassion and tolerance--he merely proves himself a liar. He has turned a deaf ear to the radical socialists of our time--who would restrict freedom and take us into a world of sorrow. He had best open his mind or he will go down along with CBS where no credibilty lives in true peace and freedom.
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
Internet sites
March 2, 2007 - 20:01 ET by pbthinkerI don't tend to go to real hateful sites, either right or left wing. One of the things I enjoy about NB is the thought put into most of the posts. There is plenty of research and a lot of intellect associated with many of the posts. I have, however, ventured onto sites, such as Huffington and even the local PB Post site and have found some really nasty comments posted. Also, the Washington Post's website is not for the faint of heart. If you go there, be prepared to argue your points and have them thrown back at you , if you don't have your facts in hand. For the most part, the Washington Post site is pretty good.
After the Mark Foley scandal hit, the PB Post site was filled with some of the most hateful remarks I had seen, up to that time. Liberals are definitely more hateful, and most appear to have less facts involved in their hate, that I've seen on sides associated with the right.