# Conservative pundits advocating murder against fellow Americans **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 20, 2005, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813 "2005-05-20T23:25:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/1 "2005-05-20T23:25:23Z")
I guess this is just another of those “red state” values the right keeps tooting about… :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > [**O’Reilly: LA Times editorial board won’t “get it” until terrorists cut off Michael Kinsley’s head**](http://mediamatters.org/items/200505190003) > May 19, 2005 > > Fox News host Bill O’Reilly said that _Los Angeles Times_ editorial board wouldn’t understand his objection to legal representation for detainees at Guantànamo Bay, Cuba, until terrorists “grab (editorial page editor) Michael Kinsley out of his little house and they cut off his head.” He further opined: “And maybe when the blade sinks in, he’ll go, ‘Perhaps O’Reilly was right.’” > [@](#): > > [**Radio host Glenn Beck "thinking about killing Michael Moore"**](http://mediamatters.org/items/200505180008) > May 18, 2005 > > Clear Channel radio host Glenn Beck said he was “thinking about killing [filmmaker] Michael Moore” and pondered whether “I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it,” before concluding: “No, I think I could.” ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/2 "2005-05-21T00:06:58Z")
I was at home in rural East Tennessee for my grandmother’s funeral last fall. It happened to be the week of the county fair, so I went with my mother,aunt, uncle and cousins. I saw a man at the fair with a T-shirt that said “Imagine what a great world it would be if everybody killed one liberal.” I was stunned. This guy was wearing a t-shirt advocating political violence in front of his children. I really wanted to go up to him and say “I’m a liberal. Do you want to kill me? Do you want your children to see you killing me?” I didn’t do it because I figured he would kill me. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/3 "2005-05-21T00:20:16Z")
That should be “pundit”, not pundits (“it would serve you right” is not the same as “Kill him!”). Whatever Ann Coulter and Ward Churchill have must be contagious. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/4 "2005-05-21T00:33:14Z")
Oh, lordy. Okay, let’s say that what the so-called “progressive” rag reports are accurate in terms of what they have quoted. Neither quote is a threat to kill anyone, nor the advocacy of murder. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/5 "2005-05-21T00:36:43Z")
They may not be threats, but they are still pretty damn stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/6 "2005-05-21T00:41:29Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > They may not be threats, but they are still pretty damn stupid. They sure are. I wonder if rjung realizes how stupid he looks, constantly getting his tail feathers in a twist over stupid shit people in the entertainment industry say? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/7 "2005-05-21T00:54:25Z")
Wait, you’re giving us quotes from two people in the field of punditry? You’re lamenting the fall of the republic because you found an opinion of 2 people you do’t like? Bye-bye SDMB. How much say do either have in policy? Thought so. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/8 "2005-05-21T01:07:19Z")
These aren’t threats? Why - because they don’t say “I’m going to kill Michael Moore,” or “I’m going to cut off Michael Kinsley’s head?” How fucking dense do you have to be? Okay, what are they doing, then? Why is it not reprehensible? If I were to say the same about a poster here, I am positive that I would be warned by a moderator for violating the rules about wishing harm. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/9 "2005-05-21T01:07:56Z")
Did anyone call in to object? I believe they have pretty big audiences. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/10 "2005-05-21T01:08:37Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > How much say do either have in policy? As much as Newsweek? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/11 "2005-05-21T01:12:56Z")
The Beck quote, if accurate, is pretty stupid. O’Reilly hasn’t even come close to advocating murder in this case. Not even close. This qualifies for a “misleading title” thread. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/12 "2005-05-21T01:27:29Z")
It’s kinda funny: a few weeks ago, the conservatives on this board were outraged over college students attacking conservative speakers with… …pies. But we liberals should just lighten up when conservatives talk about killing liberals. Hokay… ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/13 "2005-05-21T01:30:47Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > They sure are. I wonder if rjung realizes how stupid he looks, constantly getting his tail feathers in a twist over stupid shit people in the entertainment industry say? Heh heh No Comment. I’ve been guilty of it too many times myself. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/14 "2005-05-21T01:48:00Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > It’s kinda funny: a few weeks ago, the conservatives on this board were outraged over college students attacking conservative speakers with… > > …pies. > > But we liberals should just lighten up when conservatives talk about killing liberals. > > Hokay… Personally, I thought the throwing of pies was pretty funny, and intellectually about on par for most liberal arguments, but how you equate someone saying “I bet he’d change his tune if a terrorist was cutting off his head” with advocating murder is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/15 "2005-05-21T01:58:28Z")
It was still a dumb thing to say. What some sick, twisted, scummy piece of filth does “over there” should have no bearing on how WE treat prisoners. According to our way of doing things, detainees should have legal representation. Either treat them as prisoners of war with the appropriate treatment as we signed up to in the Geneva Convention, or arrest them as terrorists, bring formal charges, hold a trial (not a secret tribunal), and live with the verdict. At least one Supreme Court Justice already said the same thing, a while back. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/16 "2005-05-21T03:11:57Z")
The O’Reilly quote does not remotely represent advocating murder. Come on. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/17 "2005-05-21T03:14:21Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > Personally, I thought the throwing of pies was pretty funny, and intellectually about on par for most liberal arguments, but how you equate someone saying “I bet he’d change his tune if a terrorist was cutting off his head” with advocating murder is beyond me. I skipped right by that remark. I was thinking of: > [@](#): > > BECK: Hang on, let me just tell you what I’m thinking. I’m thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I’m wondering if I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out – is this wrong? I stopped wearing my What Would Jesus – band – Do, and I’ve lost all sense of right and wrong now. I used to be able to say, “Yeah, I’d kill Michael Moore,” and then I’d see the little band: What Would Jesus Do? And then I’d realize, “Oh, you wouldn’t kill Michael Moore. Or at least you wouldn’t choke him to death.” And you know, well, I’m not sure. That sounds to me like not just _advocating_ murder, but expressing a willingness to _commit_ murder. The guy with the t-shirt described by **vibrotronica** was advocating murder, however. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/18 "2005-05-21T03:22:57Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I skipped right by that remark. I was thinking of: > > That sounds to me like not just _advocating_ murder, but expressing a willingness to _commit_ murder. > > The guy with the t-shirt described by **vibrotronica** was advocating murder, however. Yes. T-shirt:murder. Beck: murder. O’Reilly? Not. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/19 "2005-05-21T03:35:32Z")
> [@](#): > > **Weirddave** : I wonder if rjung realizes how stupid he looks, constantly getting his tail feathers in a twist over stupid shit people in the entertainment industry say? I find actors, musicians and comics entertaining. I’ve never considered political pundits who revel in the death of the opposition to be “in the entertainment industry.” O’Reilly and Limbaugh knowingly give birth to t-shirt men. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813/20 "2005-05-21T05:09:52Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > The O’Reilly quote does not remotely represent advocating murder. Come on. If **rjung** sat next me to me at a Dodger game, I wonder if he thought I was really advocating the murder of the right handed pinch hitter? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-pundits-advocating-murder-against-fellow-americans/304813.md?page=2)