Dear Sandy,
For the second time in less than a week, Fox News' John Stossel has used his platform at Fox to stick up for "the right to discriminate."
Tuesday night on The O'Reilly Factor, Stossel continued to call for the repeal of a portion of the Civil Rights Act -- the section that protects people from racial discrimination in public accommodations and businesses.
That's right: Instead of apologizing for his inflammatory comments about the Civil Rights Act, Stossel doubled down, praising his own "consistency" on a "complicated" issue.
The truth is, it's not that complicated. Fox should fire John Stossel instead of continuing to give him a megaphone for his out-of-touch views. We at Media Matters for America are joining with Color of Change to send this message to Fox and News Corp.
Tell Fox News: John Stossel has to go.
"Private businesses ought to get to discriminate," Stossel told Fox host Megyn Kelly last week. He also claimed -- against the evidence of history -- that we should wait for "free-market competition" to take care of racial discrimination. Stossel is sticking up for the rights of those practicing racial discrimination, not those who have been discriminated against.
Tell Fox News: John Stossel has to go.
Civil rights activists fought hard and braved real danger to end segregation and pass the Civil Rights Act, and the fight for equal justice and civil rights continues today. By promoting abhorrent comments like Stossel's, Fox disrespects that struggle.
What's more, Stossel's comments show ignorance not just of history, but of the ongoing challenge of racial discrimination. Stossel's opposition to this key civil rights protection would take us back to a time when restaurants, movie theaters and swimming pools could pick and choose who they let in based on race. He'd protect the right of racists to actively discriminate, and oppose basic rules to ensure fairness for everyone.
Fox has a troubling history of racially-charged statements by hosts and guests. Now, Stossel has made it clear where he stands -- but where does Fox stand? Does it support its employee's comments about the "right to discriminate" and his insistence on rolling back a critical portion of the historic Civil Rights Act?
As a Fox contributor, Stossel represents the network, and Fox bears responsibility for what it airs. By airing Stossel's repugnant comments, Fox legitimizes his indefensible position and treats it as a valid point of view. That's a disservice to those who still consider Fox a legitimate news outlet.
Thousands have already spoken out against Stossel's comments, but he isn't getting the message. Please join us in holding Fox and News Corp accountable. They shouldn't provide a platform for Stossel to promote the right to discriminate. Tell them to fire John Stossel.
Tell Fox News: John Stossel has to go.
Thank you for your support.
Eric Burns
Media Matters for America
2 comments:
I say let these people continue to speak. Perhaps it will help break down the illusions that some have; that this is a post racial society. That would include Black folk who actively promote a similar pure ideology.
Hathor
The one good thing about letting people like John Stossel speak is that he exposes the people he in some ways represents (Tea Party, libertarians). When people like this speak it helps draw a distinction. Republicans, however, will continue to alienate people when men like John Stossel and Rand Paul seem to represent their images.
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