
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In exploring the new, I do a lot of channel-switching and Internet exploring. ; I happened to be watching MSNBC’s Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace  ;at the time Matthew Dowd was responding to the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. ; His comments were not merely tone deaf. They were disgusting beyond imagination. ; Dowd saw the shooting as a response to Kirk’s rhetoric. ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Dowd opened his comments with a head-scratching absurdity. He said, “We don’t know any of the full details of this yet. <strong>We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration </strong>or — so we have no idea about this.” (My highlight.)</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Good journalists avoid excessive speculation, but Dowd’s theorizing a happy fan accidentally shooting Kirk is bat-guano crazy. ; Even in the early stages of the reporting that was not even within the realm of rational possibilities.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">But that was not the worst of Dowd demented comments. ; He called Kirk “&#8230; one of the most divisive — especially divisive younger figures in this — who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups.” ; (A bit incoherent, but you get the point.) ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Dowd was on a roll. ; And then there was his closer, “I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And finally, “You can’t stop with these sorts of awful thoughts you have, and then saying these awful words, and not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we’re in.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In other words, as far as Dowd is concerned, Kirk deserved what he got. ; He caused it.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">BUT (ß another big but) &#8230; the most despicable thing about Dowd’s comments is that he was lying – slandering, maligning a man who was just shot doing nothing but engaging in free speech dialogue. ; A man who would later be declared dead,</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Charlie Kirk is not given to hate speech. ; <em>Au contraire</em>. ; He lives by his own ethical code of civil discourse. ; His hallmark was engaging with audiences – friendly or hostile – in a polite and calm manner. ; He set the example that we should all emulate. ; Kirk was not the man Dowd so viciously and heartlessly smeared.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It appeared to me that Dowd was cut off in mid-statement. I theorized that even the uber left-wing MSNBC could not condone Dowd’s comments. ; My impression was confirmed when MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler later issued a statement calling Dowd’s comments “inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” and confirmed that both the network and Dowd had apologized. ; (Although never heard Dowd, himself, apologize.) ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Even the normally acerbic Trump/MAGA hater was a bit toned down. ; Although she did say Kirk was “an advocate of the most extreme policies”. ; Like what? ; Appearing on campuses, closing the border, supporting capitalism, locking up criminals, advocating for the Constitution, etc., etc., etc.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It did not take long for my personal shock and disgust to spread through the news outlets and social media. ; They mostly shared my belief that Dowd needed to be fired. ; And he was. ; That should not be the limit of accountability, however. ; Dowd should be exiled to the abyss of anonymity. ; ; No appearances on other news platforms. ; No down-the-road redemption. ; ; The decent world should be done with him. ; The only difference between his evil and the shooter’s is that Dowd did not take up a gun to express his hatred. ; He just lied and maligned.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If you think I have lost my free speech extremist credential in proposing that Dowd be shunned and shut down, please remember that the first Amendment does not protect slander, inciting riots or promoting violence.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It was <strong>not</strong> Kirk’s rhetoric that motivated the shooter, it was the vicious, hateful and mendacious rhetoric of folks like Dowd.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Memo to Dowd: ; Any apology you may have given – or will give &#8212; is not accepted. ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, there ‘tis.</p>

Matthew Dowd is a despicable human being
