The Silencing of the Lions
by Rovin

So, in the period of one week three lions of conservative talk radio are "lionized", impugned, and smeared by an almost methodical (well planned) duration of diatribes. Bill O'Reilly , Rush Limbaugh, and Michael Savage are now categorized as racial, military hating bigots according to the democratic left. Somewhere there has to be a offensive attack on Sean Hannity. From Harry Reid and Tom Harkin to the San Francisco Supervisors, government officials are now entering the fray. Isn't there something in the first amendment that prohibits the government from restricting free speech?

Much of this barrage is emanating from a far left web site called Media Matters run by a one time conservative David Brock. It has been reported that Brock is being paid around 200k a year to take comments and opinions out of context to fit the liberals contention that conservative thought is filled with (insert your own adjective).

With the fallout of MoveOn.org's "betray-us" ad in the New York Times, the left has been pulling out all the stops in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Or, as AnonymousDrivel (a CQ commenter) puts it, " a dream Karl Rove could have never envisioned" :

"Hmmm. Maybe the MSM poll du jour can ask who has more credibility: Harry Reid's Democrat-led Senate or Rush Limbaugh... assuming the people they poll even know who Reid is?

The "Betray Us" ad is providing sweet, delicious schadenfreude the likes of which a Karl Rove could have never envisioned. As the Democrats throw spaghetti at the fridge to try and rehabilitate themselves from their Soros-funded complicity, we observe the wonderful, and thankfully more transparent, theater that is politics.One would have to engage in the willing suspension of disbelief to think that Democrat wailing will tarnish Rush's known and undeniable support of the military. The Left's distraction can be seen for what it is and Rush has just been given more ammo to fire at his critics. It'll be a turkey-shoot."

While much of the attention is on Rush's comment about "phony soldiers" where it is obvious that he was referring to the Jesse Macbeth's fabrications, Savage is being attacked by the "kings and queens" of hypocrisy, the San Francisco Supervisors.

From the WorldNetDaily:

San Francisco supervisors condemn Savage: Officials pass resolution against talker for 'hate speech'

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors today condemned nationally syndicatedradio talk-show host Michael Savage, whose program originates in city by the bay, for "hate speech."It was the board's second attempt at a resolution to condemn Savage for his criticism of illegal aliens in the U.S.In August, a single vote by a member whose grandfather emigrated from China seven decades ago halted a similar resolution in its tracks.The previous vote was 9-1, with third generation San Franciscan Ed Jew turning in the veto vote, after getting up and affirming Savage's First Amendment right to express his opinion.Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval had introduced the resolution in August to condemn the radio talker. After the vote, he called for the tally to be rescinded and the proposal sent to committee, which essentially is a polite way of letting the issue die."For the record, I do not agree with comments allegedly made by Mr. Savage, but the First Amendment gives him the right to make those comments," Jew said.Sandoval responded with a personal challenge to Jew."If this commentary was directed at the Chinese-American or the Asian community, you would not be resorting to this rigid formalism on your part," he said.

Daniel A. Horowitz of Oakland, Calif., wrote to Savage after Sandoval introduced his resolution."You have a strong federal civil rights action that you can file against Supervisor Sandoval and the city of San Francisco," he advised. "You have a constitutional right to state your political opinions and no city official has the right to lie about what you said or to call for a mob to come to your door to threaten you and to try to have you fired...............

It seems apparent that our dear friends on the the left are in the mode of a total meltdown when it comes to the first amendment rights that have stood as a bedrock for democracy. Many have also suggested that this is a precursor to bring back the "Fairness Doctrine", a sure fire way to "silence the lions".

Update: The influencepeddler (a site devoted to the lefts hypocrisy) has an excellent post up here.

Update # 2: Mike at Flopping Aces has a post up called "Phony Congress/Phony Patriots" that illustrates the hypocrisy of the democratic leadership.

Update # 3: Sharon at Gold Plated Witch on Wheels exclaims "If it wasn't obvious before, liberals hate free speech."

Update #4: Rush takes on Harry Reid