Air America Skit Crosses the Line

Via (Drudge)

The Secret Service is investigating a skit that ran during the opening minutes of the Randi Rhodes Show on Air America last night:

The red-hot rhetoric over Social Security on liberal talkradio network AIR AMERICA has caught the attention of the Secret Service, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

Government officials are reviewing a skit which aired on the network Monday evening -- a skit featuring an apparent gunshot warning to the president!

The announcer: "A spoiled child is telling us our Social Security isn't safe anymore, so he is going to fix it for us. Well, here's your answer, you ungrateful whelp: [audio sound of 4 gunshots being fired.] Just try it, you little bastard. [audio of gun being cocked]."

Michelle Malkin notes this rhetoric is nothing new for the Randi Rhodes show.

The government is taking the threat seriously:

"Even joking about shooting the president is a crime, let alone doing it on national radio... we are taking this very seriously," a government source explained.

White House Spokesman Scott McClellan called the clip "very inappropriate and over the line."

Note: Air America’s dismal ratings were released yesterday. Byron York has the scoop. If this was a ratings ploy, it is one of the sickest attempts I’ve ever seen.

Update: Democratic Underground is saying on their discussion board that the "Right Wing is Now Trying to Shut Air America Radio Down". Breaking News DU: It's not us! You are doing it just fine on your own without any help from us. Blame the right wing all you want, but if and when Air America fails, you will have no one to blame but yourselves. But you won't: You will still blame us even when the cruel truth stares back at you in the mirror.