Howard Fineman Apologizes for 'Ayatollah' 'Smear' Against Norquist

Former Newsweek editor Howard Fineman apologized on Monday for his "inadvertent smear" against Grover Norquist. First reported on NewsBusters, Fineman appeared on the December 3 Hardball and slammed the President of Americans for Tax Reform. The journalist railed, "A long time before the Tea Party existed or had a name, Grover Norquist, the famous anti-tax lobbyist in Washington, was running around beginning to enforce, ayatollah-style, his edict about taxes."

Four hours after the comment, Fineman tweeted an apology, allowing, "Apologies to Grover Norquist and his Muslim wife for inadvertent slur on #MSNBC #Hardball, calling him 'Ayatollah' of GOP anti-tax movement."

Fineman has a history of showcasing his liberal bias, lashing out against conservatives. On July 16, he fumed that the "nasty" Rush Limbaugh behaves like a "werewolf."

During the presidential election, the Huffington Post editorial director railed against Mitt Romney for appealing to his "xenophobic" base.

For other examples of Fineman's bias, go here.