The Radio Equalizer: Brian Maloney

18 July 2006

Joe Wilson, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Geraldo Rivera

TALK RADIO VS JOE

Wilson Claims Threats, Plus: Libs Can't Take A Joke





Since Joe Wilson is the guy supposedly trying to force the Bush Administration into accountability, shouldn't we expect the same from him?

So when the former ambassador / lionized leftist claims that fans of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity's radio talk shows are threatening him with bodily harm, could we politely ask for evidence that backs up that assertion? We're having trouble understanding why, while menacing Mr. Wilson, crazed stalkers would identify their favorite talkers.

Perhaps it sounds something like this: "Wilson, you're a dead man! And by the way, mega-dittos."

Worse than that, Wilson claims his mortal enemies extend beyond just the listenerships of Limbaugh and Hannity, to exactly where, we're not sure. Jerry Springer, maybe?


Sure enough, this exchange took place on Keith Olbermann's MSNBC show. From where else could we expect such riveting entertainment?

Mark Finkelstein at NewsBusters has the full rundown:


Joe Wilson wants the world to know that in the wake of the disclosure of his wife's identity, he and Valerie have been threatened, and NOT just by "Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity listeners."

But as documented by MRC, after the Oklahoma City bombing liberals like Bryant Gumbel pointed the finger at conservative talk radio: "Right-wing talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh . . . and others take to the air . . . the extent to which their attitudes may embolden and encourage some extremists has clearly become an issue."

Will the left wing please make up its mind? Which is it? Are conservative talk-show fans harmless fuzzballs, or potentially dangerous mind-numbed robots?


Meanwhile, some (most?) libs just can't take a joke.

While interviewing Geraldo Rivera about the mob hit once placed against him, Bill O'Reilly had some fun with it, which of course infuriated 'net lefties, as well as our old friend Mr. Olbermann.

From Media Matters:


O'Reilly on Mafia hit man: "Couldn't he have killed Jerry Springer?"

During a discussion with Fox News host Geraldo Rivera on the July 13 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, host Bill O'Reilly wondered aloud if Mafia hit man Tommy "Horsehead" Scafidi -- who was allegedly ordered to murder Rivera -- could "have killed [Air America radio host] Jerry Springer" instead.

After laughing, Rivera responded: "I can name a couple of other people off the top of my head." O'Reilly then suggested another potential target: former MSNBC host Maury Povich.

From the July 13 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

RIVERA: Well, what "Horsehead" said he said was, "John, you can't kill Geraldo or any of these high-profile people. It will just bring down more heat on us."

O'REILLY: All right, but I've got a question. Couldn't he have killed Jerry Springer?

RIVERA: [laughing] I can name a couple of other people off the top of my head.

O'REILLY: Yeah, I mean, Maury Povich? All right. So they didn't kill you.


Like clockwork, Olbermann gave O'Reilly and Rivera a combined "worst person in the world" award on his very next show. Earth to Keith: it was a joke!

At Expose The Left, Ian has the video.

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Wilson image: CNN, Rush: rushlimbaugh.com

2 Comments:

  • Like id anyone killed Keith O., would anyone really notice?

    By Blogger PCD, at 18 July, 2006 08:04  

  • LO - Neither Jerry Springer nor Maury Povich are President of the United States.

    There's this little thing called The Law - speficically, 18 USC 871. Craig Kilborn probably went over the line with his "Assassin Wanted" joke back in 2000. Randi Rhodes walked right up to that fine line between speech and threat with her gunshot skit, but remember also that the line has moved somewhat between 2000 and 2005-6. And it's location is not entirely solid even now.

    My reaction when Rhodes did her thing was, "Eh." My reaction to O'Reilly's interview with Jerry Rivers is much the same.

    But if you're looking for an exact parallel, it ain't there, nor should it be. There are some things that you just don't "joke" about.

    By Blogger SierraSpartan, at 18 July, 2006 12:16  

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