How the Left Behaves Like the Right

When Rep. Joe Wilson shouted "You Lie!" in response to Barack Obama's assurance that illegal aliens would not receive federal heath care benefits, conservatives rushed to Wilson's defense.

When Glenn Beck revealed that Obama's green jobs advisor Van Jones had signed a petition for a new investigation into the events of 9/11 which contained language implicating the Bush adminisration in the attacks, Jones was forced to resign. What did the left do? They rushed to Jones' defense.

Joe Wilson demonstrated his discourtesy and stupidity, since he should know that the current draft of the health care bill already contains a clause preventing the federal government from giving illegals health care benefits.

Van Jones is also stupid, since he is evidently in sympathy with the conspiracy kooks collectively called the 9/11 Truthers.

But the left have made Jones a political martyr, dragging out their favorite old fetish object, McCarthyism. The analogy to McCarthy's red baiting is invalid. Unlike the targets of McCarthy's false accusations, Van Jones is guilty as charged of believing that the government was complicit in the 9/11 attacks, despite a complete lack of supporting evidence.

All week long I've heard Jones defended by radio talk show hosts Brad Friedman and Richard Green and their callers. Quite a few of the people defending Jones probably sincerely believe in some 9/11 conspiracy. Others know better, but believe that not to defend Jones is giving up ground to Beck and his ilk. Either way, it's intellectually dishonest and sad.