Treason: A Common Liberal Accusation

At a speech in Cincinnati, President Trump heard someone in the audience yell “treasonous” as he mentioned the Democrats' pouting at the State of the Union address. “Somebody said, ‘treasonous,'” he mused. “I mean, yeah, I guess. Why not?”

Meltdown.

The media outrage was summarized by CNN chief legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin: “It is so grotesque! It is so appalling. … I just wonder what the cost is, in terms of the future of our civic discourse!”

At this point, we should just start laughing at the press. These self-appointed watchdogs of the “civic discourse” weren't a bit outraged when liberals tossed that T-word like a Frisbee at anyone criticizing former President Obama. Here are just a few examples.

–June 11, 2014: Then-CNN anchor Carol Costello brought on leftist Cliff Schecter to promote his article suggesting leaders of the National Rifle Association are “treasonous and murderous.” Costello could only add: “I don't know. … That's really strong.”

No products found.

–July 9, 2014: MSNBC political analyst Michael Eric Dyson went ballistic over former Gov. Sarah Palin's suggestion that Obama be impeached: “The president's push towards positive and crucial change was met with treasonous accusations.”

–June 27, 2015: The Daily Beast posted an article on dissenters of the Supreme Court's same-sex-marriage decision. The headline read: “Did the Four Dissenting Justices in Gay Marriage Case Just Suggest Treason?” Columnist Jay Michaelson suggested that those criticizing the court majority created a “shocking display of treason.”

–Oct. 1, 2015: Leftist radio host Thom Hartmann was incensed that anyone could consider then-House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy for House speaker, citing some Republican inauguration-night conspiracy to deny Obama any success. He said, “(T)hey have committed treason, maybe not the kind of treason that is elevated to the level of … prosecution or firing squad … a moral treason.”

[wps_products_gallery product_id=”4345885818931, 4333823230003, 4335616426035″]

In fact, this liberal treason talk just kept going once Trump took office, but he became the perpetrator.

–March 2, 2017: On Attorney General Jeff Sessions, CNN political commentator Maria Cardona said: “He knows that he is smack in the middle of this investigation having to do with, perhaps, treasonous activities by the Trump campaign.”

No products found.

–March 28, 2017: MSNBC anchor Kate Snow brought on liberal CNN presidential historian Douglas Brinkley to discuss the Trump-Russia investigation and promoted his quote: “You told the Washington Post last week that … ‘There's a smell of treason in the air' when it comes to this investigation.”

–May 11, 2017: On ABC's “The View,” co-host Joy Behar screeched about the press having been barred from a Trump meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov: “This is … treason to me! This is un-American …”

–June 25, 2017: Hollywood director Rob Reiner uncorked treason as a Twitter hashtag, tweeting: “When Fox says that (Trump) colluding with the enemy is not a crime, the fight to save Democracy is now an all out war. US-Stay strong. #Treason.”

–July 18, 2017: In reply to the president asserting that most politicians would have met a foreign official to get negative information on their opponent, as Donald Trump Jr. had, then-MSNBC star host Keith Olbermann tweeted: “Sure! Benedict Arnold would have. And Aaron Burr. And Charles Lindbergh. And Quisling. And Marshal Petain. That's politics! Annnnnd treason!”

No products found.

Speaking of “grotesque” and “appalling” overstatements, let's consult the accuser himself, Jeffrey Toobin. On CNN on Jan. 3, 2018, he referenced former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon's suggestion that Trump Jr. is treasonous, saying, “the idea that people involved in an American presidential campaign would greedily reach out to the Russian government for dirt on their opponent, as Donald Trump Jr. and company did, does feel treasonous in a sort of colloquial sense.”

Liberals are the worst hypocrites on “civic discourse.”

Brent Bozell III is the president of the Media Research Center. Tim Graham is director of media analysis at the Media Research Center and executive editor of the blog NewsBusters.org. To find out more about Brent Bozell III and Tim Graham, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2018 CREATORS.COM