On The Five on Friday (1/6/12), the gang discussed Chris Kyle, the most lethal Navy SEAL sniper in American history.” Kyle has a new book out and he had been a guest on The O’Reilly Factor the night before. Brian Kilmeade, guest co-host for The Five, opened the discussion by saying, “But before we get into that (Kyle’s military work), listen to what I think is his greatest takedown ever.” Kilmeade was referring to Kyle’s claim to have punched out former Navy SEAL Jesse Ventura for “bad mouthing” the Iraq war, President Bush and America. Co-host Eric Bolling was even more pleased. Over at "civil," "tolerant" Fox Nation, they were also approving.

In a clip from The O’Reilly Factor, Bill O’Reilly asked Kyle, “Why would you punch Ventura?”

Kyle answered, “Bad mouthing the war, bad mouthing Bush, bad mouthing America.”

Bolling called Kyle a “true American patriot hero” and seemed to justify the attack on Ventura by saying, “He’s got issues with 9/11 truthers.”

“Good for you. Fantastic. Thumbs up,” Bolling said.

Fox Nation went into more detail as to why Kyle attacked Ventura – from Kyle’s perspective only. Assuming it’s accurate, one can sympathize with Kyle’s anger:

Kyle, the recipient of five Bronze Stars and two Silver Stars, revealed to O’Reilly why he punched former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, knocking him to the floor. Kyle said that he encountered Ventura at a bar while attending the wake of a fallen SEAL, and that Ventura started bad-mouthing America, then-President Bush, and the Iraq war. When Kyle asked him to tone it down so as not to upset the family, Ventura said, “You [the Navy SEALs] deserve to lose a few guys.” Kyle then punched him and took off running!

But sympathizing with anger is one thing. This is cheerleading an assault.

Apparently, the cheerleading continued in the comments section where the readers regularly root for deaths of people they don’t agree with. The comments are now closed - Fox Nation’s customary reaction to violent comments posted on deliberately inflammatory threads.

Can you imagine if some liberal decided to deck Donald Trump for bad mouthing President Obama with the completely discredited birther baloney? And a couple of MSNBC hosts plus the DailyKos cheered it on?

Sadly, The Five’s Bob Beckel joined in the pile on against Ventura by saying, “There is a testament to steroid use right there.”

Shame on them all.