There seems to be quite a bit of controversy surrounding former Vice President Al Gore’s recent speech sponsored by MoveOn.org. As usual, conservatives jumped on this as an opportunity to smear Gore’s reputation and make him out to look like some sort of raving madman. The view from the right that has been airing all over your “liberal media” since the speech was given can best summed up by Tucker Carlson’s words on yesterday’s episode of Crossfire. “Democrats in Washington are so consumed with soul-killing hatred for George W. Bush, they can barely think straight. And yet — and here’s the funny part — they continue to give speeches anyway,” Carlson said. He went on to say, “If you hate George W. Bush so much that you have gone completely insane, then MoveOn.org is just the site for you and also for Al Gore. Gore’s speech today was furious and incomprehensible and very, very long.”

It is important to note that neither Carlson nor any of the other conservative critics I have seen have responded to any of the actual information in Gore’s speech. They simply scream as loud as they can that, “Al Gore is being mean to us!” Of course, they can’t criticize anything that Gore actually said because everything in his speech was so obviously true that it hardly needed to be pointed out. He said what he said with a great deal of passion, but he said nothing that was untrue. So apparently, the conservatives trying to cover for “President” Bush consider an acceptable defense to be, “We don’t like what you have to say about us.” Well, what can I say? The truth hurts.

I suppose these same critics would consider it a suitable defense of Hitler to be to say, “People who say Hitler is a murderer are being mean.” But wait. I forgot. Conservatives have deemed all historical comparisons to be off limits.

Were Gore’s criticisms of Bush harsh? Yes. But this does not make them invalid. Given the extreme actions Bush has taken during his presidency everything Gore said in his speech was quite justified. I only wish he had spoken with such conviction prior to the 2000 election. I might have had more respect for him if he had.

Yet now conservatives have gone to the extreme of calling the former vice president mentally ill for opposing Bush. In fact, any opposition to Bush is put down with two words–”Bush bashing.” No longer is there any debate of the actual issues. Now you either agree with us, or you’re a hateful lunatic.

So where is this righteous indignation at conservative extremism, extremism like that demonstrated by George W. Bush who has taken this country further right than it has ever been in recent history? Indeed, this is probably the closest America has ever come to fascism in its entire history. Yet extreme convervatism is considered by many to be perfectly acceptable. On the other hand, if you are on the left you are nothing but an extremist. And most accused of such are not even on the far left. Howard Dean practically defines the center, but he was criticized throughout his campaign as being too liberal.

Of course, I suppose I can hardly blame Republicans for resorting to mud-slinging. Bush’s actions have left them with no other way of defending their glorious leader. Still, one has to respect the audacity of people shouting about their opponents being “haters” when their argument relies on little more than petty name-calling.

I have an idea since Carlson likes making challenges so much, like his insulting challenge on the February 5, 2004 episode of Crossfire, “Who in his right mind would give money to Howard Dean at this point? Well, if you’re one of those who did, we want to hear from you. Explain yourself to CROSSFIRE@CNN.com. I’m fascinated by that.” Well, I have a challenge for you. If you or any of your conservative friends can respond to any of Gore’s criticisms of Bush in a manner that is actually logical and doesn’t simply resort to name-calling, please feel free to respond here. I would really love to see a conservative who understands the rules of logic. I’m fascinated by that.