MSNBC's Martin Bashir Compares Santorum to Mass Murdering Communist Joseph Stalin

MSNBC host Martin Bashir isn't one to shy away from issuing far-flung comparisons. This time, however, the unabashedly liberal newscaster may have gone several steps over the line. Bashir, in his "Clear the Air" segment, compared GOP contender Rick Santorum to mass-murdering, Communist dictator Joseph Stalin.

During one of his typical ravings, the MSNBC anchor connected the former Pennsylvania senator to George Orwell's Big Brother from 1984. This was merely the icing on a cake, however, as Bashir saved his harshest comparison for last: "If you listen carefully to Rick Santorum, he sounds more like Stalin than Pope Innocent III." 

To provide a backdrop for his slander, Bashir played a clip of Santorum where he then contrasted, "...When we last saw the Republican front-runner Rick Santorum speaking before a crowd yesterday, all we could think of was George Orwell's novel 1984 about a society dominated by the most extreme form of totalitarianism." Before showing a clip of the movie version of 1984, he added, "See if you can spot the similarities."

The diligent crew at Newsbusters brings us the video clip. Transcript follows below:

RICK SANTORUM: -The loud voices that support the Republican Party and the conservative cause!

BIG BROTHER (from 1984): One week from now, in this very square, we shall have a demonstration of our resolve.

BASHIR: The similarities with George Orwell's novel and that movie are not just superficial. No, Rick Santorum holds some pretty stern views on a number of important issues and he regularly sounds like a theocrat. For example, he has asserted that the right to privacy does not exist and has equated same sex relationships with bestiality.

BIG BROTHER: Brothers and sisters, the endless catalogue of bestial atrocities that will inevitably ensue from this appalling act, must, can, and will be terminated.

BASHIR: Mr. Santorum has pledged to repeal all federal funding for contraception and says individual states should be allowed to outlaw any kind of birth control.

BIG BROTHER: The forces of darkness and the treasonable maggots who collaborate with them, must, can and will be wiped from the face of the Earth!

BASHIR: In reviewing his book It Takes a Family, one writer said "Mr. Santorum has one of the finest minds of the 13th century." But I'm not so sure. If you listen carefully to Rick Santorum, he sounds more like Stalin than Pope Innocent III. Thanks so much for watching.