Conservatives Should Not Be Allowed On Television!

With the coming backlash related to comments of one Ann Coulter in the recent Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), it is becoming clear that conservatives are being met with increasing hostility by liberals in the media on the pretense of saying controversial or outrageous things. A number of newspapers have dropped Coulter’s column and a number of other media outlets are refusing to book her for this reason. Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean has made his views on the matter clear by calling on practically every Republican everywhere to condemn her words and disassociate from her immediately.

The effective blacklist levied against Ann is only the most recent attack by liberals in the media against conservative or even differing viewpoints. Liberals dominate the media. Take that as simplistic or misguided, but it is a statement of fact. The left dominates the three-letter broadcast networks, CNN and MSDNC in cable news, NPR, and the lion’s share of American newspapers. What’s more is they constitute a vast majority of the nation’s editors and reporters. Just ask them. Of course, the left is not content with owning the majority of the nation’s media outlets; they want to control them all, as they once did. They want to bring back the “Fairness Doctrine” in order to silence conservative talk radio. They want to return to the good old days where all Americans (and a good portion of the Vietcong) received their nightly dose of news from Uncle Walter.

In so condemning Ann Coulter for her “hate speech,” the left is showing the rest of America how committed they are to freedom of speech (which, the last time I checked, was still part of the First Amendment) and how tolerant they are of differing viewpoints. And it’s not as if the left is just reacting to extreme statements in general. Contrast the visceral “holy-water-poured-on-Satan” reactions to Ann Coulter’s statements with their reaction to what Bill Maher said recently. What, you hadn’t heard? Maher said as many on the left’s blogosphere did that he wished the recent assassination attempt against Vice President Cheney had been successful. So let’s recap: Ann Coulter insults a presidential candidate and is blacklisted by the American media, Bill Maher openly wishes the Vice President of the United States had been killed and is ignored or even praised.

The recent inconsistency of the left in this matter should come as no surprise to anyone who has not had a large portion of their brain removed. Democrats have always been committed to upholding two sets of standards: one set for conservatives and a different set for themselves. It’s simply hatemongering for Senator Trent Lott to congratulate a southern statesman on his 100th birthday, but it is perfectly acceptable for Senator Robert Byrd to say the n-word on national television. It’s OK for Randi Rhodes to imply killing the President of the United States in front of her dozens of listeners across the country, but it’s not OK for Rush Limbaugh to do pretty much anything these days. The simple truth in this matter is that conservatives are committed to freedom of speech and are tolerant of views that differ from their own and liberals, quite simply, are not. Just ask the pack of Democrat presidential candidates who won’t appear on Fox News.