Given this is the same man who said this -- Pat Buchanan: Todd Palin Ought to Take Levi Down to the Creek and Hold his Head Underwater Until the Thrashing Stops -- I guess this latest statement should not come as any big surprise. After being asked about the protester who was beaten up at the Palin-McCain rally over the weekend, Pat Buchanan defends what they did to him.

Buchanan: Andrea if someone goes to a rally to disrupt it and shout down the speaker and deny the speaker their 1st Amendment rights and they get punched in the nose, I'm afraid that's their fault.

Mitchell: Well, assault is assault Pat, you know there's... (crosstalk)

Buchanan: The government gives people the right to speak at these rallies and for someone to go in there and disrupt the rights of 8000 people let's say that was in Nevada, that's an outrage and they ought to be thrown out of the hall. If they get punched in the nose I'd say that may be a simple assault and the guy may be charged, but they incited the assault and some people would feel maybe they're getting what they deserved.

Mitchell: Well some people may feel that way but you know, there are police there as well.