(Video: MSNBC)
In what proves to be a stunning lack of self-awareness, MSNBC host Ari Melber effectively described actions taken against many on the right over the past 4 to 5 years in bemoaning Elon Musk’s seemingly successful takeover bid for Twitter — the deal still has to go through.
The left is in an uproar over an acquisition that was driven by a concern for the free speech principle and they are already pushing for congressional regulation that they’ve shown little interest in before now — some will argue that their fear is not necessarily over allowing free speech, but about losing the ability to control the speech of those who disagree with them.
This deal is dangerous for our democracy. Billionaires like Elon Musk play by a different set of rules than everyone else, accumulating power for their own gain. We need a wealth tax and strong rules to hold Big Tech accountable.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) April 25, 2022
And this is where Melber comes into play. In lamenting the big story of the day, he described what was long suspected of being done to many on the right, beginning with Donald Trump. The anti-Trump cabal is shaking in its boots over the possibility that Musk will reinstate the former president’s Twitter account.
“So, what is happening here? This is far bigger than Trump or Elon Musk,” Melber pontificated. “They are symptoms of the world we’re living in where technology has outpaced any of our ability to deal with it. That’s true whether you’re a parent trying to figure out what you can and can’t let your kids do at various ages.”
“It’s true if you are a democracy like the United States that used to regulate media ownership and say Rupert Murdoch can’t have too many local TV stations and newspapers in one town, they have laws for that are still on the books but the Congress hasn’t gotten around to limiting whether someone can own all of Twitter,” he continued.
“And as we discussed in one of our special reports just last week, if you own all of Twitter or Facebook or what have you, you don’t have to explain yourself. You don’t even have to be transparent. You could secretly ban one party’s candidate or all of its candidates, all of its nominees,” Melber continued. “Or you could just secretly turn down the reach of their stuff, and turn up the reach of something else and the rest of us might not even find out until after the election.”
Sound familiar?
“Elon Musk says this is all to help people because he is just a free speech, philosophically clear, open-minded helper, a world helper if you will,” Melber concluded. “Is that true? Should you take him at his word? Should you care about this whether you have a Twitter account or not? This is important stuff.”
Here are but a few responses to the remarkable hypocrisy on display here:
This is called projection.
— Jon Gordon (@JonGordon11) April 26, 2022
MSNBC “talent” suddenly realizes the owners of Twitter can rig the entire site. This is amazing to watch. Does he not realize all of this was already done to Republicans? pic.twitter.com/Gmc0nVx2jF
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 26, 2022
In which @AriMelber describes a scenario too horrible to contemplate
except when you do it to the other guy of course pic.twitter.com/5yx6CHsXhi
— Ron Coleman (@RonColeman) April 26, 2022
Imagine. If. That. Happened. https://t.co/EFLFwp08Zh
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) April 26, 2022
- Trump: Maduro will take back Tren de Aragua gang members AND even supply transportation - February 1, 2025
- FBI Academy photo perfectly captures Trump’s war on DEI - February 1, 2025
- Mel Gibson speculates on whether there’s a ‘purpose’ behind devastating LA fires - January 11, 2025
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.