Keller @ Large: Reader Says I'm 'Dead Wrong'

BOSTON (CBS) - In response to yesterday's commentary about how the birther craziness fits right into a bi-partisan tradition of political character assassination, I received a very nice, thoughtful letter from a gentleman in Scituate arguing that I was "dead wrong."

Listen to Jon's commentary:

He writes: "When you compare the extreme rantings of the political left and the right you are stating a political and moral equivalency that is just not there. You pointed out that the 'birther' and other related sideshows are demeaning and have nothing to do with President Obama's leadership. I agree. On the other hand, you mention the harsh criticism from the left towards President George W. Bush. I agree the phrase you used, ['bloodthirsty idiot'] is over the top but it still was related to and in the context of President Bush's leading us into a unprovoked war; that is, his policy, not his personhood."

Sir, I would argue that calling someone "bloodthirsty" is the epitome of an attack on character. And smarter observers than me have noted how the "birther" conspiracies fit into a broader framework of extreme suspicion about what President Obama's administration represents, a set of beliefs apparently alien to what the conspiracy theorists believe is truly "American."

By your own questionable standard, their extremism is policy-related as well.

My correspondent insists that a favorite conspiracy of the left (which I never mentioned, by the way), that George W. Bush stole the 2000 election, is not comparable with "birtherism," but I would argue it is, in the sense that no contrary evidence will ever convince its adherents to let it go.

And he concludes by claiming "there is no equivalent on the left to people like Donald Trump, Michelle Bachmann, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Newt Gingrich."

Hmm.

Don't tell that to George Soros, Rachel Maddow, Dennis Kucinich, John Edwards, and Keith Olbermann. You'll hurt their feelings.

Sir, I don't know what "moral equivalency" is or how it's measured. I just know that no part of the political spectrum has a monopoly on nonsense.

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.