How stupid is 2020? So stupid that a Senator calling a liberal hack a liberal hack is now going into it’s second full day of coverage. Of course, that’s only happening because the culprit is a Republican, in this case Arizona Sen. Martha McSally.

The latest news is that The National Press Club, which sees itself as the gatekeeper of journalism, has chimed in with a forceful condemnation of McSally’s quip. Hands are being wrung so hard that I think they’ll need some Gold Bond later for the chafing.

Joint statement issued by @PressClubDC & @NPCInstitute in support of @CNN's @mkraju: "Manu Raju is a consummate professional who is respected by his journalistic peers and the people he covers, politics notwithstanding. Stating the contrary is factually and ethically wrong." pic.twitter.com/DjgxI9aVpy

— National Press Club (@PressClubDC) January 17, 2020

Manu Raju is a lot of things. A consummate professional is not one of those things. This is the same guy who much of the last three years fluffing Russian collusion conspiracies, including writing an article that was proven false. He never retracted it or apologized for his bad reporting because serving in the legacy media means never having to say you’re sorry.

What struck me, though, is just how hypocritical this all is. For example, did you know that Nancy Pelosi called a reporter “Mr. Republican talking points” while delivering an angry tirade at a press conference? That’s literally the same thing as calling someone a partisan hack, which is what McSally did to Raju. Yet, there was no outrage, no condemnation letters, and no hair burning on CNN. Weird, right?

But that’s not even the most start evidence of The National Press Club’s rant hypocrisy. Anyone remember this dust-up?

“Not interested. I have nothing to say to the Daily Caller. You're trash. I won't answer questions to the Daily Caller, period! You're trash! Don't keep harassing me or I'll call Capitol Police!,” Sen. Bob Menendez told me earlier today when I asked about the Green New Deal…

— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) February 13, 2019

At least McSally had the restraint to not threaten to call the police on Raju. I’ll also go out on a limb and say that calling someone trash is worse than calling them a partisan.

Yet, not a single word from The National Press Club was uttered in response. We didn’t get Chris Cuomo ranting about how awful Menendez is, nor did The Washington Post push out fifteen op-eds all saying the same thing. The treatment of Rodgers, who is a legit reporter for a large outlet, was brushed aside, laughed at even by many on the left.

But now I’m supposed to be gravely outraged at how evil McSally is (or be mad that Trump “corrupted” her)? Yeah, that’s not how this works. It’s long past time Republicans woke up and realized what they are dealing with. There is nothing to be gained by playing nice with this people.

https://twitter.com/JesseKellyDC/status/1218027121479704577

If journalists don’t want to be called liberal hacks, perhaps not acting like liberal hacks would be prudent. There’s no stipulation in the Constitution that denotes Republicans must respect and dutifully bow before CNN or any other outlet that has steadfastly shown itself to simply be a mouthpiece for one party.

Further, the ridiculous overreaction from these people only makes them look worse. Thoughts and prayers I guess.

Journos: *Copy and paste DNC talking points all day, act like Liberal Hacks*

McSally: "You're a Liberal hack"

Journos: pic.twitter.com/JI1kN83NvK

— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) January 17, 2020