On Hardball: Dems to Turn Joe Wilson into Sheehan-like 'Clownish Figure of Ridicule'

September 10th, 2009 6:53 PM

You know Cindy Sheehan's star has really fallen with the liberal media when the likes of Mike Barnicle, compare her to GOP Congressman Joe "You lie!" Wilson. On Thursday's "Hardball," Barnicle, substitute hosting for Chris Matthews, declared, "Democrats hope to turn Wilson into the Cindy Sheehan of the anti-health care reform movement. A clownish figure of ridicule who hurts his own side, more than he helps." As the MRC's Brent Baker noted, now that she is opposing a Democratic president, the media have turned on Sheehan.

The following is from Barnicle's opening to the September 10 edition of "Hardball":

MIKE BARNICLE: The insult heard ‘round the world! Let's play "Hardball!" Good evening. I'm Mike Barnicle in for Chris Matthews. Leading off tonight, the gift. When Congressman Joe Wilson shouted, "You lie!" at President Obama last night he gave the Democrats a gift they hope just keeps on giving. Wilson was forced – and that does seem to be the word, forced – to apologize today. And his Washington office has been mobbed mostly by right wing supporters. Democrats hope to turn Wilson into the Cindy Sheehan of the anti-health care reform movement. A clownish figure of ridicule who hurts his own side, more than he helps.