Right-wing TV and radio personality Glenn Beck, deflecting allegations that angry rhetoric from the likes of him or Sarah Palin somehow drove Jared Loughner to shoot Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords on Saturday in Tuscon, has issued a challenge to all Americans: Reject violence.

Perhaps Mr. Beck should take his own advice. Here's what he said on his syndicated radio show on May 17, 2005:

"I'm thinking about killing Michael Moore. Could I kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it? No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out."

I know Mr. Beck would like to think he's part of the solution. But in fact, he's part of the problem.