Reasonable Debate and 'Angry' Liberals

I've gotten pretty tired of Republicans comparing anyone in the Democratic Party who isn't actively appeasing them to Michael Moore, as if he were some sort of insane, frothing-at-the-mouth radical who was only spouting nonsense. Recently, Chris Matthews on MSNBC was comparing the rhetoric of Osama bin Laden to that of Michael Moore.

As far as I know, Michael Moore hasn't suggested poisoning anyone, even in jest, much less a Supreme Court Justice.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Conservative commentator Ann Coulter, speaking at a traditionally black college, joked that Justice John Paul Stevens should be poisoned.

Coulter had told the Philander Smith College audience Thursday that more conservative justices were needed on the Supreme Court to change the current law on abortion. Stevens is one of the court's most liberal members.

"We need somebody to put rat poisoning in Justice Stevens' creme brulee," Coulter said. "That's just a joke, for you in the media."

As Paul Waldman points out at the Gadflyer, Ms. Coulter enjoys "joking" about killing people she disagrees with. Others on the right, like Pat Robertson, Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck, also talk about killing or assasinating people, and aren't so quick as Ms. Coulter to slap an "I'm joking" bandaid over it.

The talking heads on the right seem to be the most fond of calling for the death of their political enemies. Shouldn't they be compared with Osama?

Why is it that Michael Moore, a genial guy who just gets pissed off by corporate greed and hypocrisy in politics, is the symbol for whacked-out political discourse? Why is it that Democrats are supposed to be ashamed of what their supporter says?

And why is it the left that gets accused of cheapening the political discourse, and engaging in "irresponsible rhetoric?"