Hey, don’t blame us for the horrible, irresponsible reporting on the shootings

Commentators on the right were quick to condemn their perennial adversaries, including The New York Times, for drawing a cause-and-effect relationship between overheated political rhetoric and the shootings.

“Besides the senseless violence, there is another disgusting display sweeping America, and that is the exploitation of the murders by political zealots,” Bill O’Reilly opened his show on Monday night. “The merchants of hate who are peddling this stuff should be accountable. So let’s begin with The New York Times.”…

The Times editorial did not actually blame the right for Mr. Loughner’s actions, saying, “It is facile and mistaken to attribute this particular madman’s act directly to Republicans or Tea Party members.” Mr. O’Reilly, who did not read that sentence on the air, did read the section of the editorial that said “But it is legitimate to hold Republicans and particularly their most virulent supporters in the media responsible for the gale of anger” that has produced an increase in the number of threats toward members of Congress and the judiciary.