The nomination of Maria Sonia Sotomayor is proving to be the biggest gift to the Democratic Party since Obama took the oath of office on that cold morning in January. We've had Newt Gingrich twittering against her from Auschwitz; we've had Republicans choosing "empathy" as the latest noun on which they wish to wage war; we've seen Peggy Noonan forced to admit that Republicans are acting like little children, and John Cornyn forced to attack both Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich.
Just when it seemed it couldn't get any better, it does. Now Bill O'Reilly has gotten into a pissing match with both Michelle Malkin and FreeRepublic founder Jim Robinson in an attempt to make himself look good by contrast.
It started on Wednesday when O'Reilly did his usual nutpicking number, singling out a couple of comments made on Free Republic and on Hot Air--including a comment suggesting that since Sotomayor has diabetes, she might not live as long as other justices--to exemplify the irrational opposition to Sotomayor on right-wing blogs:
In the process, he essentially equated FreeRepublic and Hot Air with DailyKos, which he again called "the most hateful site in the country". The oh-so-hateful DailyKos comment that O'Reilly chose to single out to morally equate with wingnut hopes for the death of an American jurist?
The only people who won't be offended are white bigots--an ever-vanishing group.
Oh my goodness, pass the smelling salts. I'm overcome with the death-wish hatred.
But false equivalences aside, where this story gets really good is in the responses from Michelle Malkin and Jim Robinson of FreeRepublic. You see, Jim Robinson has diabetes, and he doesn't take too kindly to Bill O'Reilly singling out one of his commenters for suggesting that Sotomayor might die earlier due to diabetes. Robinson responded with a post charmingly titled Hey O'Reilly! Stuff a sock in it you bloviating windbag!:
Re: Your on-air bashing of Free Republic
So, you think that because one poster on FR comments that a diabetic supreme court nominee might not live to a ripe old age that all 350,000 of us are insensitive right-wing loons?
Got news for you pal. The owner of Free Republic (namely me) is diabetic and I've already lost one leg due to this despicable disease and the other leg looks like it's ready to fall off any day now. My sister died of complications brought on by juvenile diabetes at the tender age 43. I've out-lived her in years, but I don't think I'll be signing on to any life term judgeships. And I sure as hell wouldn't wish this disease on anyone else.
Hey, what can I say. My political enemies make fun of the one-legged old gimp every day of the week. Good thing I'm not as sensitive as you about such nonsensical non-issues.
And if it's impossible for a minority to be racist, then it's impossible for a diabetic to be insensitive. /sarc
But, I do agree with you on one thing. We FReepers are a bunch of right-wing loons, bitterly clinging to our guns and religion. And proud of it you elitist gasbag!
Name and town, name and town:
Jim Robinson Free Republic, LLC PO Box 9771 Fresno, CA 93794
Then there's Michelle Malkin who responds with a poorly edited post titled Thanks for Smearing Our Site, O'Reilly:
Sit back and marvel as the boss segues righteously from a rant about whether Obama is targeting Republican-owned Chrysler dealerships for closure into an indictment of big-media denigration of blogs, using last night’s sandbagging on the Factor as an example. The obvious questions at this hour: Will taking a shot at him on air force him to respond tonight? And how long will we have to wait for the inevitable retaliatory Jesse Waters ambush interview outside Michelle’s home?
It's hard to say what's more amusing here: is it Bill O'Reilly hammering righty blogs for hate speech and nutpicking their comment threads, even as commenters on his own site have repeatedly wished death on candidates and public officials without significant moderation? Or is it Michelle Malkin's and Jim Robinson's fury at being denigrated as mere purveyors of useless, hateful ranting?
Like Noonan, O'Reilly's just smart enough to realize that attacking Sotomayor is a one-way ticket to disaster for the GOP. But it's too late: the base will have none of it. As John Cole says, it's way too late for the GOP to dial back the crazy on this one. They've set the crazy fringe wheel in motion, and the ugly consequences are here to stay.
And in any case, the food fight is fun to watch.
From the comments at Free Republic, in reference to O'Reilly:
I was absolutely sickened when I happened to catch it. I detest this man. He’s no different than Obama. It’s ALL about HIM.
Kudos for Jim calling the elitist Gasbag what he is. ‘bout time someone called him on it.
Bill O’Reilly, fair and balanced???? We report. You decide.
They distort and deride...
BORing has a site?
Who knew.
He's a perverted bully.
http://www.themightymjd.com/...
I don't have any trouble boycotting O’Reilly. Maybe all Freepers should boycott his show.
I'd much rather listen to Glenn Beck, Hannity, and Rush on the radio.
O’Reilly is full of himself and an apologist for Obama.
O’Reilly is nothing but a middle of the road suck up. I’ve actually grown to detest him. I don’t know how Laura Ingraham or Ann Coulter can stand going on his show, he’s unbelieveably dense most of the time.
O’Reilly is clueless about a lot of things: Muslims, perverts, liberals, Al Sharpton, Micheal Savage, et al.
Laura Ingram does a much better job substituting than OR.
He is nothing but a media whore. No different than Oberman.
He is un-watchable. Used to watch him several years ago. He is the most vain person on television.
Keep in mind that we haven't even gotten close to the confirmation hearings for Sotomayor yet. Pass the popcorn: the GOP implosion is just getting started.