MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd had one of the most provocative takes in all of mainstream media as news of the shooting of conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk was breaking.
“We don't know if this was the (Kirk) supporter shooting their gun off in celebration, so we have no idea about this,” Dowd said.
But he went on to say something that was clearly understood and, in the minds of many, very inappropriate.
“He's been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech. Hateful thoughts lead to hateful words which then lead to hateful actions,” Dowd said.
Tim Graham of Media Research Center says Dowd was clearly trying to blame Kirk for his own assassination.
“It makes no sense, either logical sense or any emotional intelligence, to come out of somebody being shot and saying, 'yeah, he did that to himself.’”
MSNBC quickly apologized, and Dowd was let go.
“Their reaction to it was correct, to apologize and can him. There's got to be a line somewhere where it's like, ‘that's not an acceptable thing to say on our network.’”
