54 Comments
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Barbara Vasile's avatar

I am an adult, and as such, can listen to someone’s opinions and process them, while perhaps not agreeing with them.

Given Mr. Kirk’s well-documented racist, anti-LBGTG+, sexist, and authoritarian viewpoints, Matthew Dowd was neither wrong nor too honest. IMHO, it was cowardly of MSNBC to fire him.

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Susan Cooper's avatar

I agree wholeheartedly. Too many people have been characterizing the act of recounting Charlie Kirk's "well-documented racist, anti-LBGTG+, sexist, and authoritarian viewpoints" as representing the opinion that his murder was justified.

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Wendy's avatar

You summed up my thoughts on this situation very well. I prefer to look at truth in my life, but I find that is not what society teaches or rewards. It feels like truth has been pushed to a fringe product because it can't be monetized.

MSNBC wasn't high on my list of trustworthy sources to begin with, but they are now completely off my list of any interest whatsoever.

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Barbara Vasile's avatar

Well said.

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Barbara Vasile's avatar

Thank you, Susan. And I want to state my unequivocal belief that political violence in any form is completely unacceptable.

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SUZANNE OBRIEN's avatar

Truth…and the Pedodent throws truth to the ground daily. He has trained CK and his cult well on what to be shocked over. It’s purposeful and will destroy our country if he and they aren’t removed from power.

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Bucky Buchanan's avatar

Good stuff...needs to be said. i have a list of horrific things Charlie said. Yes, i might have been too soon for TV but it still needs to be heard...and how about the 95 dems that voted yea on the resolution honoring CK?

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Berta's avatar

Exactly! What the hell with their decision?!

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Georgine's avatar

Saying no would have caused even more attacks against the left. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. They control the narrative. We need to start honoring our fallen and see how they respond.

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TSmale's avatar

Are you REALLY surprised? I'm not. He was one of them, right up the stinky orange ass.

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Marjorie's avatar

Right out of the gate, tRump slams, blames, vilifies the "radical left." But Matthew Dowd loses his job because he dared to mention the cultists' hate speech? Same with Jimmy Kimmel.

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Valegirl's avatar

I think msnbc needs a new president that’s not so rash in their decision making. If you don’t want to hear what the analysts have to offer then don’t invite them on. Just deliver the news, the facts.

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Lois Lannigan's avatar

He did not justify murder only stated facts. I can not believe he was fired over this. Brian Kmeade at Fox called for murdering the homeless with no repercussions.

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Joanne Steacie's avatar

The world today is upside down. Backward. Truth is frowned upon. Lies are elevated. I think of Walter Cronkite, Edward R Murrow, Peter Jennings of the great news pioneers tradition and other great news people of the past. What the main stream news media has become a

makes me mourn the loss of truth and integrity. President's and CEOs of media today are cowards and whimps. Thank God for Substack writers like this one.

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Dawnie's avatar

The news greats of yore would be appalled at what our news has become. Dan Rather is still around and on Substack, and speaks often of it.

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Maureen Staley Cary's avatar

He should not have been fired but we live in a world where shareholder value is more important than the truth.

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nathlie White's avatar

I agree with the comments here. Hate can not be ignored. When you speak the truth you have to be ready for whatever comes back.

Matthew has always spoken his mind. It was his choice. He could have waited a bit but who knows for sure if even that would have made his employer's action different.

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Rosemary Mackillop's avatar

and here we are two weeks in September and Jimmy Kimmel gets fired for criticizing Trump about Charlie’s death! Just goes to prove that the USA is heading towards a dictatorship. So happy to be a Canadian.

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Wendy's avatar

Are you open to adopting an American refugee? I'm house trained. ;)

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TSmale's avatar

Me too, and so are my dogs!

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Bill Bagwell's avatar

MSNBC is essentially no different from other corporate media. I haven't heard one word of defense for Dowd by any of the other paid colleagues of Dowd.

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Pam Humphrey's avatar

Exactly. Lots of criticism and hand wringing over Kimmel and Colbert, but not one word about Matthew Doud. I thought at least we’d hear sbout the unfairness of his firing from Rachel Maddow or Lawrence O’Donnel. But, no. Crickets. Fear is a terrible thing.

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Wendy's avatar

Me neither and I find that disturbing.

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Arctos's avatar

Well said. It strikes me as incomprehensible how 'truth' has become lost in all this. "Hateful thoughts do become hateful words, and hateful words can become hateful acts.” Its perfectly OK to state the facts as we know them. Our job is to somehow change this narrative and subsitute kindness, compassion and empathy for hate. It needs to start young. Oh naiive me at age 70?

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TSmale's avatar

I'm right there with you, 70 right around the corner, always hoping for a world that is peaceful, kind, and generous- as opposed to cruel and greedy.

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Evelyn Summers's avatar

Processing two things at the same time isn't hard, unless you are unable to chew gum and walk. Context should always be included in commentary, it was.

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donna almond's avatar

You can’t change the truth

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Carol Plumb's avatar

Dowd was right.

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Mary E's avatar
4hEdited

Many news programs begin with an introduction such as Hi, I’m Mary E and welcome to [name of show or network].

Perhaps, going forward, all comments on a death/murder, as Mr. Dowd’s were, can begin with:

‘let me take a moment to express, what at this time, is most important, that is my sincere condolences to the family, to the friends, to the supporters/followers of [deceased].’

Then, comments such as Mr. Dowd made can be presented. Then again, perhaps because I agree 100% with Mr Dowd’s comments, I don’t fully grasp Ms Kutler’s decision.

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Bad Bunny's avatar

I'd omit condolences to his followers. They made their choices; they can comfort each other. He himself claimed empathy is woke and they cheered.

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Dee Williams's avatar

My problem is that I can't even fathom a world where this is a question to debate. Hate kills. Full stop.

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