As NewsBusters reported Tuesday, Bill Maher on NBC’s Tonight Show offered Donald Trump $5 million to prove that he wasn’t “the spawn of his mother having sex with an orangutan.”
Later in the day, MSNBC’s Martin Bashir actually echoed Maher’s contention challenging Trump to come out and disprove it (video follows with transcript and commentary):
MARTIN BASHIR, HOST: For decades, scientists and clinicians have labored in vain to develop a theory that would help explain Donald Trump. But it’s the nation’s top political humorist who may finally have cracked the puzzle that’s perplexed some of our finest minds.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL MAHER: The color of his hair and the color of an orange orangutan is the only two things in nature of the same color.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASHIR: Now of course, we need much more data, research, maybe even a clinical trial to determine if Mr. Trump really is the son of a big, fat, hairy ape. You have to admit that it would help explain some things about the man, and that’s why we’re hoping that he’ll come forward and answer this conundrum if not for the good of science then at least to help one of his favorite charities.
Now imagine for a moment a conservative comedian had made such a comment about a Democrat like Barack Obama for example, and a Fox News host not only covered the story, but supported the contention albeit likely in a humorous fashion.
Think that person’s career might be over?
But when these kinds of attacks are directed at folks on the right, they’re done so with the knowledge that liberals are allowed to say anything they want with total impunity.
MAHER: I'm willing to offer $5 million to Donald Trump if he will come, that he can donate to a charity of his choice: Hair Club for Men, the Institute for Incorrigible Douchebaggery, whatever charity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASHIR: There you go, Mr. Trump. For a man who likes to apprentice for anything, the ball is now firmly in your court.
And this is what passes for an acceptable story on a so-called cable news network today.
It's a metaphysical certitude every anchor, host, and commentator on MSNBC would be thoroughly outraged if such a piece about a Democrat - especially a black one - was aired on Fox.
Why are people like Bashir so oblivious to their own double standards?
