Conservative Talk Host Walks Out During HLN Segment After Panelist Says The Right Wants ‘Christian Sharia’
Appearing on HLN this afternoon, conservative talk radio host Steve Deace got so upset when a Muslim guest said that hardcore Christians also want a form of sharia law that he pulled his microphone off and left before the segment was finished.
During a panel discussion on the upcoming Supreme Court pick and how stances on certain moral issues might shape the court, SiriusXM host and Daily Beast columnist Dean Obeidallah mentioned that Christian conservatives like Mike Huckabee want to “turn America into the Christian version of Saudi Arabia.”
When the conversation got back to Deace, who recently said teaching kids about Pride Month is “right out of the pit of hell,” the CRTV host criticized anchor Carol Costello for not condemning Obeidallah’s remarks.
“Once you say certain things like that, that might be great for Dean’s audience on SiriusXM — of all people that agree with him,” Deace exclaimed. “I can play with the game too. Nothing gets accomplished. Right away, I made an attempt to have a higher-minded conversation. Instead, we go right to pro wrestling.”
After Costello said she should have pushed back on the “Christian sharia” thing, Obeidallah pointed out that that “sharia is shorthand for turning religious believes into the law of the land.”
He continued, “I’m not going through the Bible and saying turning this or that. To me that’s what sharia is. I’m not sure why you would be upset. We don’t want laws based on the Bible.”
As Obeidallah was making his point, Deace could be seen ripping his mic off and left the conversation, causing Obeidallah to say it was “ironic he said we don’t have conversations and he walks away from a conversation.”
“I think he felt put upon and, in fairness, he felt you were accusing him as being part of Christian sharia and that’s why he walked out,” Costello noted. “Perhaps I should have pushed back but I know where you’re coming from, right. And he was there and he was welcome to do what he did…but I’m sad you’re gone, Steve.”
Deace took to Twitter after and sent out several tweets about his walkoff:
My appearance on @HLNTV — which I abruptly ended when it was clear they wanted a straw man and not a real conversation. Judge for yourself whether I acted properly or not. https://t.co/KnWi3QNfJc
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) July 6, 2018
I hadn't heard of Dean before, but though I work in this industry I'm not a mass consumer of media and that's on purpose. So there's lots of people I don't know. My default setting is to give people I don't know a fair shake at first. Unfortunately, that wasn't reciprocated. https://t.co/XxPyJMrF3O
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) July 6, 2018
Um, I actually didn't vote for Trump, and just posted something critical about how the #SCOTUSnominee was trending this morning. Do you make it a habit of stereotyping people you don't know, while claiming to be for tolerance and diversity? https://t.co/2DFM1bppLN
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) July 6, 2018
Thank you, Curtis…the stuff of alt-Left comments' sections like "Christian Saudi Arabia" should not be mainstream debate, anymore than race-baiting from the alt-Right should be. I received a conciliatory note afterwards from @CarolHLN, which I appreciated as well. https://t.co/AeRvavqB2q
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) July 6, 2018
That's fair. My experience has taught me when someone lobbies — repeatedly and unprovoked — such demogaguery such a dialogue simply isn't possible. You're in Herod's palace. He wants the show, and the whole thing is maybe six minutes. https://t.co/RfCG7AegKn
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) July 6, 2018
Being told you're for a "Christian Saudi Arabia" on national television is "respectful." https://t.co/XgpnyTRcGf
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) July 6, 2018
If you don't support killing women before they're born, you're just like those who are for killing women after they're born, or something. https://t.co/dJdr2TJyiH
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) July 6, 2018
It's clear from mentions many on Twitter believe you're only entitled to a shred of dignity if they share your views. While I don't believe much of America believes this way, much of the media coverage America is subjected to is sadly driven by these Twitter sentiments.
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) July 6, 2018
Watch the clip above, via HLN.
