A Letter From Media Matters For America Regarding Stossel's Hostility To Civil Rights Act

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

Warren Ballentine Tells Juan Williams To ‘Go Back To The Porch’

Warren Ballentine, on The O’Reilly Factor, tells Fox News contributor and fake Democrat Juan Williams he can “go back to the porch.”

Obviously, that is not a kind statement and it will be interesting to see how people read between the lines to interpret what Ballentine meant when he said that to Williams, who is dishonestly portrayed as a liberal.

Another interesting comment, while in the debate with Williams in this clip, comes from Ballentine when he says “it is racial to real black people.”

Juan earned his money for O’Reilly.

White House Takes On Conservative Misinformation Coming From Fox News, Glenn Beck

The White House’s blog is taking on misinformation being put out on Fox News by the likes of Glenn Beck. As many of you know the far right has been going nuts about President Obama and others working hard to bring the 2016 Olympics to the United States of America. Anyone else remember some of these same Republicans criticizing the president for going overseas on so-called “apology” tours? President Obama is fighting for the U.S. to have the Olympics and many conservatives are fighting against bringing the Olympics to their own country. Where is the patriotism in these right wingers that makes them not want to work hard to bring the Olympics to the U.S. and showcase the greatness of our country? Are these conservatives now, all of a sudden, haters of America (so bitter they would rather see the Olympic games go to pretty much any other country)?

When President George W. Bush was in office this would have been deemed anti-American by conservatives.

From The White House blog:

Last night Fox News continued its disregard for the facts in an attempt to smear the Administration’s efforts to win the Olympics for the United States. In the past, hosting the Olympics has been a source of pride and unity for the country, but once again Fox News’ Glenn Beck program has shown that nothing is worthy of respect if it can be used as part of a partisan attack to boost ratings.

RHETORIC: BECK SAID VANCOUVER LOST $1 BILLION WHEN IT “HAD THE OLYMPICS.” Glenn Beck said, “Vancouver lost, how much was it? they lost a billion dollars when they had the Olympics.” [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]

REALITY: VANCOUVER’S OLYMPICS WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL 2010. Vancouver will host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games from February 12 – 28, 2010 and March 12-21, 2010, respectively. [Vancouver2010.com, accessed 9/29/09]

RHETORIC: CHICAGO IS CLOSING THE GOVERNMENT SEVERAL DAYS A WEEK BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO BE OPEN. Beck’s guest Caddell said, “Chicago is closing the government several days a week because they cannot afford to be open. They are going to go and reward — this is the biggest scandal.” [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]

REALITY: CHICAGO HAS HAD ONE REDUCED-SERVICE DAY IN 2009, AND WILL HAVE TWO MORE ON THE FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING AND ON CHRISTMAS EVE. On August 17, 2009, CBS Chicago reported, “If you planned to check out a library book, visit a city clinic or have your garbage picked up on Monday, you’re out of luck. The City of Chicago is basically closed for business on Aug. 17, a reduced-service day in which most city employees are off without pay. City Hall, public libraries, health clinics and most city offices will be closed. Emergency service providers including police, firefighters and paramedics are working at full strength, but most services not directly related to public safety, including street sweeping, will not be provided. That also includes garbage pickup. Residents who receive regular collection on Mondays should expect trash to be picked up on Tuesday. Some other customers may experience a one-day delay as collectors catch up. As part of the 2009 budget, three reduced-service days were planned for 2009, days which are unpaid for all affected employees — the Friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve; and New Year’s Eve. The City Council recently approved moving the reduced-service day planned for New Year’s Eve to Monday. The 2009 budget anticipates saving $8.3 million due to the reduced-service days. In addition to reduced service days, all non-union employees were asked to take a series of furlough days and unpaid holidays, and most non-sworn union employees agreed to similar unpaid time off.” [CBS Chicago, 8/17/09]

RHETORIC: VALERIE JARRETT WILL BENEFIT FINANCIALLY. Beck asked, “Is it possible that she is going to benefit if the Olympics come to Chicago?” Caddell responded, “Well, that’s the word. She has certainly had a lot of dealings going on in real estate.” [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]

REALITY: UPON ENTERING GOVERNMENT, VALERIE JARRETT DIVESTED ALL HER REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS EXCEPT FOR A SINGLE INVESTMENT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OLYMPIC BID. Valerie Jarrett divested all her investment real estate holdings upon entering government except for a single real estate holding that she was unable to sell. This single real estate investment has been determined by White House Counsel and the independent Office of Government Ethics to present no conflict of interest in performing her duties as a White House advisor. It has nothing to do with the Olympic bid.

It’s nice to see more and more people stepping up to combat this blatant misinformation being spread all over the place (not to mention the ridiculous and unfair attacks on the good people of Chicago).

The White House Blog:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Reality-Check-Turning-a-Point-of-Pride-into-a-Moment-of-Shame/

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Tags: Barack Obama, blog, Chicago, George W. Bush, Glenn Beck, Michelle Obama, Olympics, Valerie Jarrett, White House

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Bill O’Reilly And His Biased Use Of Polls

October 1, 2009

The O’Reilly Sucks Blog has a nice post about something I’ve frequently discussed in blogs: Bill O’Reilly’s consistent and flat-out dishonest use of polls to serve his own selfish and right-wing agenda.

The Daily Gallup tracking poll out today has Obama at 53% job approval, with 38% disapproval. Yet O’Reilly never says a word about it. And in fact, he is claiming the Obama job approval numbers are crashing, when they have held steady at 51 to 52 percent over the last two months, and in the last few days they actually went up.

Monday night O’Reilly used the biased Rasmussen poll (that has Obama at 49% approval btw) to say the Obama job approval numbers are crashing, like they have fallen by 10 points over the last month or so. When it’s all right-wing nonsense, because the Obama job approval numbers have not dropped at all in the last two months.

This is hard evidence that O’Reilly is a partisan Republican, who uses lies about the Obama job approval numbers to make him look bad. Because nobody but a partisan Republican would do such a dishonest attack on the president. This is the kind of thing you expect from Hannity, Coulter, Beck, and Limbaugh, not a man that claims to be a nonpartisan independent with a no spin zone.

O’Reilly has frequently cited this bogus Rasmussen poll which is almost always to the right of true mainstream American opinion. O’Reilly picks and chooses is poll and data from polls based on how he can spin it to complement his right-wing perspective.

The O’Reilly Sucks Blog:
http://www.oreilly-sucks.com/

Juan Williams Did Host A Recent O’Reilly Factor, But Don’t Be Fooled

Juan Williams is supposedly one of the “liberals” on Fox News even though he is nothing of the kind. Williams is, at best, a moderate. But, in all honesty, he barely fits that description based on upon how often he is in agreement with Bill O’Reilly. It is impossible to be considered a liberal or even a moderate when you agree with O’Reilly as much as Williams does.

Now, I can imagine Bill O’Reilly putting Juan Williams in the anchor chair for self-serving purposes as a fill-in host of The O’Reilly Factor. He uses the reputation of Williams as “a liberal” to portray himself as more fair and balanced than he is (since most of us understand that O’Reilly is neither fair nor balanced). Williams is being pimped by O’Reilly. Williams is very well paid for services rendered, I would imagine, so he must be cool with this role as the pretend liberal.

O’Reilly is certainly free to have whoever he wants host his show, but it’s laughable to try and portray Williams as anything but a right-leaning moderate (who generally is double teamed, when offering up liberal opinions) by Mary K. Ham and O’Reilly.

Here is a comment from The O’Reilly Sucks Blog:

Juan Williams filled in for O’Reilly so there was no TPM. Juan made the Obama agenda the top story and had the White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton on to discuss it. They talked about health care, cap and trade, etc. Juan sounded just like O’Reilly, he hammered Obama on every plan he has, and did not have one good thing to say about anything Obama plans to do. He asked a series of long questions to Burton with criticism of Obama in every question. Burton answered his right-wing spin questions, and it was pretty much just like O’Reilly was asking the questions. In fact, I would not be shocked to find out O’Reilly wrote the questions for him.

Juan is the so-called Democrat on FOX but he sounded more like Newt Gingrich than he did a Democrat. All his questions were full of Obama criticism and right-wing spin, just as if O’Reilly or Crowley were there asking them. It was just like having O’Reilly there, with just a different person to ask the questions. I would bet O’Reilly wrote those questions for him, because they sounded exactly like the questions O’Reilly would spin out. So if you thoughtBlogger: Best Seat In The House - Create Post the Factor would be any different with Juan Williams hosting you would be wrong. It was no different than if O’Reilly had been there, except without all the screaming and yelling.

Well said. Juan was brought in there to play a role and when you’re hosting the O’Reilly Factor, whether you’re Bill or not, you’re expected to be a right winger. Williams did what he was paid to do. He played his part well so as not to be punished.

The O’Reilly Sucks Blog:
http://www.oreilly-sucks.com/