Tucker Carlson Defends Lies to Tillman Family

Tucker Carlson says he understands the Pentagon’s lies to the Tillman family because, as he puts it: “Telling the truth is really hard.”

Media Matters:

On the October 23 edition of MSNBC’s Tucker, host Tucker Carlson repeatedly attempted to justify the Pentagon’s decision, in Carlson’s words, to “lie” to the family of former pro football player and Army Ranger Pat Tillman about how Tillman died. Tillman was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan, but the Defense Department strongly suggested that Tillman had been killed by enemy fire, stating only that he died in combat “when his patrol vehicle came under attack.” Carlson said that he “understand[s]” “the lie” because “[t]elling the truth actually is difficult. Look, let me speak on behalf of anyone who has ever told a lie. Telling the truth is really hard.”

In a discussion about a column criticizing the U.S. government by Tillman’s brother, Army Ranger Kevin Tillman, New York radio host Sam Greenfield said the government “hid” the cause of Pat Tillman’s death and “that stinks so bad, someone’s soul should implode.” In response to Greenfield’s criticism of the government, Carlson said: “[L]et’s be honest. That’s a tough thing, I think, for anybody to want to tell the parents of a fallen soldier.” Moments later, he added: “[L]ooking in the face of parents and saying, ‘Actually, your son wasn’t killed by the Taliban, he was killed by his fellow soldiers,’ you know, I must say — I’m not defending the lie. I’m merely saying I understand it.”