Ron HartView other columns by Ron Hart
The bitter tone the left has taken toward the GOP, both in media and entertainment, made the shooting of Republicans practicing baseball quite predictable. Instead of debating policy differences, those on the left resort to calling their opponents "evil," and then seek to vilify, humiliate and destroy them. This is done nightly by hosts of the late-night shows.
The condescending "comedians" of late night have slowly abandoned humor and replaced it with belittling vitriol aimed at Republicans.
It has been a long time since late-night comics were funny and fair. Jay Leno tried to be balanced, but even he did 10 jokes making fun of Republicans for every two slamming a Democrat. Currently, late-night jokes run 90 percent against Republicans - about where they have been for a decade or so.
Instead of sharp humor, it now seems they try to outdo each other with profanity-laced diatribes against President Trump and his family and, by extension, you his supporter. It is done in a smugly self-satisfied way, devoid of humor or cleverness. It's just mean.
The mainstream "comics" of late night are supposed to be more mainstream. Here are the jokes they did last Wednesday, the evening after the shootings of GOP lawmakers, staffers and two U.S. Capitol Police at the baseball practice. Before this, their jokes were even meaner:
- The nicest late-night host is Jimmy Fallon, who said this:
"Sean Spicer sent Trump a card. It said, 'Today, I'm toasting to you.' Inside it said, 'Because you're the reason I drink every day.'
"During his testimony yesterday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that he hasn't been asked to do anything illegal by Trump since taking office. Then he said, 'And frankly, I'm starting to feel a little left out.'"
- Jimmy Kimmel, the second tamest late-night host, said on the evening after the shooting:
"Donald Trump turned 71 today. Donald Trump was just a little baby, with little hands and feet, going 'wah-wah-wah' all day long. And nothing has really changed since then."
- Seth Meyers said this:
"Following Monday's first official cabinet meeting, the secretary of Veterans Affairs said that President Trump does not 'script' the cabinet members, adding, 'We're given the ability to say what's on our mind.' Which explains why Ben Carson said, 'Cucumber luggage hula hoop.'"
- And Stephen Colbert, who thinks his native South is so dumb he worked to change his Southern accent, said about Trump's birthday:
"Two hundred Democrats got together to give the president something he might like. But instead, they're suing Trump over foreign payments to his businesses. At least they got together to give him this card: 'Congratulations, birthday boy, you've been served.'"
- Courtly Englishman James Corden said:
"Turning 71 is a big occasion. To celebrate, I think Trump should take the day off, I do - and the week, and the month, and the next four years."
- Conan O'Brien said this:
"Today, President Trump said the GOP health care bill that passed through the House was 'mean' and 'difficult to defend.' Then Trump said, 'In other words, I love it.'"
Keep in mind, these are the mainstream comics, on the night after the GOP shootings when civility should have existed. The normal nightly jokes are even harsher and more relentless. I know because I DVR them and used to watch - until they got so mean and unfunny.
Far-left loons like Samantha Bee, John Oliver, Trevor Noah and Bill Maher are even less funny. Sadly, there is not a right-of-center late-night comic. Thus, CBS, NBC, ABC, TBS, HBO, Comedy Central, etc., all have free rein to brutally hate on President Trump and his family as "dumb" and "evil."
They deliver their piously self-righteous, messianic musings with such utter contempt that they just speak to their echo chamber of Northeastern libs. It's classic Saul Alinsky: When you cannot win in the marketplace of ideas, you destroy your opponents.
Given the one-sided verbal assassination of the right, is it any wonder how, in his mind, the MSNBC-watching shooter justified his actions?
Contact Ron Hart, a syndicated op-ed humorist, author and TV/radio commentator, at Ron@RonaldHart.com or Twitter @RonaldHart.