Right-Wing Media Rush To Quran-Burning Pastor's Defense

[This is excerpted from an article on Media Matters.  Click here for the entire article, which presents some background.]

After controversial Pastor Terry Jones led a burning of the Quran that sparked riots in Afghanistan and led to dozens of deaths, the right-wing media has come to the defense of Jones, absolving him of any responsibility for the riots. But there were warnings, including by Gen. David Petraeus -- and by Defense Secretary Gates, who called Jones personally -- that the planned Quran burning could lead to deaths in Afghanistan, and Petraeus has said that Jones's actions have harmed the war effort in Afghanistan. 

Hoft Claims Jones Was "Right" When He Claimed "I'm Not Responsible" For The Riots.  In an April 3 post on Gateway Pundit, Hoft quoted Jones claiming "I'm not responsible" for the deaths in Afghanistan. Hoft responded: "He's right. Pastor Terry Jones went on to say that the radical Muslims will find any excuse to attack us. He's right about that, too." [Gateway Pundit, 04/03/11]

Red State: "UN Staffers In Afghanistan Killed Due To Barbarism, Not A Burned Koran." In an April 2 RedState.com post, Lori Ziganto quoted President Obama urging "all parties to reject violence and resolve differences through dialogue." Ziganto responded:

Oh, really President Obama? They killed 20 people because of "differences" (like the burning of a Koran) that can be resolved if only people would have a nice rap session? I suppose he can now pat himself on his smug back for being such a good multicultural Citizen of the World ™. While President Obama and the media prostrate themselves at the altar of multiculturalism, what they are actually doing is proving themselves to be fools and racists.
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This line of thinking, which condones such barbarism and persists in delusional moral equivalency is revolting.  It is excusing evil acts by taking away any culpability people have for their own actions. They are showing their bigotry by saying that people just don't know any better or are willing dupes easily led, not of their own accord. This must end. This is also not a "difference to be resolved with dialogue".

Some things are just right or wrong. Some things are just good or evil. Some evil people commit acts of barbarism because they want to. Unlike President Obama and his fellow travelers, I refuse to excuse it and I refuse to ignore that reality. [Red State, 04/02/11]

Red State Calls Condemnation Of Jones's Quran Burning "Utterly Revolting." In an April 3 RedState.com post, Ziganto reported that lawmakers are considering formally condemning Jones's actions and called such proposals "utterly revolting." The post went on to say that "[Sen. Harry] Reid flat-out says that Terry Jones caused the murders -- murders committed at the hands of other people.  People apparently so simple-minded that they cannot think for themselves and cannot possibly know the difference between right and wrong." The post further condemned Sen. Lindsey Graham, claiming the only cause of the deaths were "evil barbarians" and said "It also puts [troops] at risk when you remain willfully ignorant to that fact and, instead, attempt to put the blame on others." [Red State, 04/03/11]

Powers Complains Of "Clamp[ing] Down On Somebody Who Burned A Book In Florida." In an April 4 post on MichelleMalkin.com, Doug Powers discussed proposals to formally condemn the Quran burning and wrote:

If somebody, say, puts a crucifix in a jar of urine and calls it "art," some on Capitol Hill not only won't press for hearings, but they might even give it federal funding in spite of how many Christians it might offend. But in this instance free speech seems to be subjective.
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People were murdered in Afghanistan and members of Congress are pondering how to clamp down on somebody who burned a book in Florida. Now that's problem solving, DC-style. [MichelleMalkin.com, 04/02/11]

Hot Air: "Jones Was A Publicity Hound Looking For Attention," But "That Doesn't Make Him Responsible For Murder." In an April 2 post to Hot Air, Ed Morrissey wrote:

Interestingly, I had a conversation about this with a family member yesterday. While I agreed that Jones was a publicity hound looking for attention, that doesn't make him responsible for murder. The only people responsible for murders are those who commit them, and those who specifically incite them to kill.  Any other position eventually wipes out free speech, free religious practice, and freedom altogether.  If we held others responsible for the acts of every nutcase whose violent reactions may or may not have connections to something they did or said, we would have no speech at all -- a point we made repeatedly during the Left's Loughner frenzy, which they conveniently forgot during the Madison protests. [Red State, 04/02/11]