Peas in a Pod: Radical Muslims, American Conservatives

It's striking, isn't it? American conservatives are so like the radical Muslims taking to the streets this week. Both claim moral superiority based on religion. Both use the language of hatred as political speech. Both advocate violence against those with whom they disagree. And they both despise the concept of a free press.

Lest we forget, here are a few choice quotes to remind the Bill Bennetts of this world just what they and their friends really stand for:

"We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity." Ann Coulter

"And if Al-Qaeda comes in here and blows you up, we're not going to do anything about it ... You want to blow up the Coit Tower? Go ahead." Bill O'Reilly

"I have to say I'm all for public flogging." Ann Coulter

"(On torture at Abu Ghraib): I'm talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release? You [ever] heard of need to blow some steam off?" Rush Limbaugh

"If [Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez] thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it." Pat Robertson

"(on the kidnapping of peace activists in Iraq): "I'm telling you, folks, there's a part of me that likes this." Rush Limbaugh

"I'm thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I'm wondering if I could kill him myself." Glenn Beck

"It would be a much better country if women did not vote." Ann Coulter

"[Y]ou could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down." Bill Bennett

President Bush said of the Muslim cartoon riots, ""We reject violence as a way to express discontent with what may be printed in a free press." If he means it, he can finally call Ann Coulter to task for saying "my only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times Building."

Until then, let all these fanatics (and the politicians like Cheney who appear on their programs) be branded as the hypocrites they are. Muslim extremists and American conservatives: they're soul mates.

A Night Light