Martin Bashir Finds It 'Incredible' That 'Third Century' Santorum Would 'Blame the Media'

Scott Whitlock

February 23, 2012 - 5:08pm

Liberal MSNBC anchor Martin Bashir on Thursday declared it "incredible" that Republican candidates such as Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich would "blame the media." A few seconds after making the comment, the host smeared Santorum as having "third century Constantinople" views when it came to social policies.

Bashir mocked the GOP presidential candidates for their debate performances and insisted that Republican voters don't like them. He chided, "They don't seem to see the obvious signs of dissatisfaction. They don't hear the criticism. Instead they just blame the media."

Bashir added, "It is incredible to hear the fab four complain about the media." A few seconds later, Bashir, part of the media, was hurling vicious insults at the Republicans. [MP3 audio here [1].]

Bashir snapped, "Mr. Paul, for legalization, isolation, and the evisceration of the entire government. Mr. Santorum, transparent about his wish to return American social policy to third century Constantinople."

He continued, "Mr. Romney, tortured by his gilded life at Bain Capital and his inability to be authentic about anything. Mr. Gingrich, toxic and currently the most loathed and disliked political figure in America. "

Bashir finds it "incredible" that these individuals would complain about the media?

On February 14, the left-wing journalist shockingly compared Santorum to mass murder Joseph Stalin [2].

On January 6, Bashir lobbied Gingrich to stop his comments before someone gets killed [3].

A transcript of the February 23 segment, which aired at 3:58pm EST, follows:

MARTIN BASHIR: It's time now to clear the air. And last night we, had the 20th, yes, the 20th, opportunity to hear the Republican candidates lay out their vision for the future of this country. In a debate format that contained no difficult questions and virtually no supplementary challenges whatsoever, it was the perfect opportunity to dominate the stage and steal the spotlight. And yet after 20 opportunities to do so, not one of them has been able to lay out a plan that stirs the heart or captures the imagination. And that's not my view. That's the view of Republican voters. According to the latest Gallup poll, 55 percent of Republicans are dissatisfied with the field and would like to see someone else enter the race. And this after 20 debates. Unfortunately, these candidates are not listening to their own party. They don't seem to see the obvious signs of dissatisfaction. They don't hear the criticism. Instead they just blame the media.

NEWT GINGRICH: I think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country.

RICK SANTORUM: We're going to be running against a president with the national media behind him.

RON PAUL: I think, too often, all of us are on the receiving end of attacks from the media.

BASHIR: It is incredible to hear the fab four complain about the media. but in reality, these debates have been wonderfully illuminating in terms of what they have revealed about the candidates. Mr. Paul, for legalization, isolation, and the evisceration of the entire government. Mr. Santorum, transparent about his wish to return American social policy to third century Constantinople. Mr. Romney, tortured by his gilded life at Bain Capital and his inability to be authentic about anything. Mr. Gingrich, toxic and currently the most loathed and disliked political figure in America. Transparent, tortured, and toxic. That's what we have learned from the debates. Thanks so much for watching.

-- Scott Whitlock is the senior news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here [4] to follow him on Twitter. [5]