It appears Bill Maher and Rachel Maddow have now totally forgotten the new civility edict issued after Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' (D-Ariz.) was shot this past January.
On The Rachel Maddow Show Tuesday, Maher said of the protesters demonstrating near the homes of some New York millionaires earlier in the day, "If a brick came through Rupert Murdoch’s apartment, yes, I have a feeling Fox News would be a lot more gentle on the Wall Street people." Maddow thought that was funny (video follows with transcript and commentary):
RACHEL MADDOW, HOST: I wonder though if you just think back on this year, even just the year in stupid punditry, and the amount of power that has been ascribed to the Tea Party movement. I mean, they're seen as essentially driving all Republican political decisions at this point. Is that in part because they were seen as being so potentially, because they were seen as being potentially violent, because they were seen as an unruly mob?
What kind of nonsense is that?
There wasn't any violence at Tea Party events. Quite the contrary, they were so peaceful that police forces around the country gave attendees far more leeway than they do most protesters.
But Maddow like so many of her MSNBC colleagues isn't one to let facts get in the way of her point:
MADDOW: I was thinking about that as we see Eric Cantor and these other Republican Congressmen denouncing the Occupy Wall Street people as, you know, an angry mob and somehow dangerous to the country. I wonder if a sense of dangerousness is what gives them power.
BILL MAHER: Well, yeah, I think so. I don't think anyone feels that we're in a country like so many in the world. Let's remember we are luckier than most where violence is really going to rule the day and effect policy. But, yeah, people can be intimidated by that kind of thing. I mean, this idea that they're marching now on millionaires' homes, I couldn't help but think of that scene in the Martin Scorsese movie "Gangs of New York" where the riots break out in New York and Martin Scorsese has that cameo where he plays the rich guy. You know, he's in his Fifth Avenue apartment and a brick comes through the window. Well, you know, if a brick came through Rupert Murdoch’s apartment, yes, I have a feeling Fox News would be a lot more gentle on the Wall Street people.
MADDOW: [Laughs]
I guess it's okay for a liberal media member to suggest damage be done to someone's property - even in jest - if the innocent victim is a rich conservative.
What should we expect from a man who back in 2007 expressed remorse that the Taliban's assassination attempt of former Vice President Dick Cheney failed.
As for Maddow's laughter, just remember that she's considered by most of her admirers in the press to be one of MSNBC's finest commentators.
Need I say more?