FOX again attacks US allies
March 23, 2009 1:16 pm ET by Jamison Foser
In 2005, three Fox hosts reacted to the terrorist attacks on London's mass transit system with callous comments that drew heated denunciations abroad. Brit Hume, for example, said his first reaction upon hearing the news was to see the attacks as a way to make a quick buck in the futures markets. John Gibson suggested the real tragedy was not that the attacks happened, but that they didn't happen in France.
Now Fox has insulted Canada, attacking the country's military even as four Canadian soldiers were killed in attacks in Afghanistan:
The Canadian government has demanded an apology from Fox News for "despicable" and "disgusting" comments made on one of its late-night programs.
The government was incensed by a recent talk-show segment on the American conservative cable network that poked fun at Canada and the Canadian military.
A group of pundits took turns trashing Canada and its reliability as an ally in fighting terrorism last week as four more Canadian soldiers were killed in separate attacks in Afghanistan.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay requested an apology just before leaving for Canadian Forces Base Trenton, where he was to attend a repatriation ceremony with the families of the latest soldiers killed.
"It's crass, it's insensitive, it's in fact disgusting, given the timing," MacKay said.
"There should be an apology - to the families in particular, and to the Canadian Forces and to Canada generally - given the sacrifice and the commitment that we've demonstrated in Afghanistan."
Canadian soldiers have been fighting in Afghanistan since 2001 and have spent the last four years in the country's most violent region.
Canada has lost 116 soldiers in Afghanistan.
Classy.
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These comments deserve some serious apologies and some international pressure on the Fox News people to knock it off.
I want Fox to run the names of the 116 Canadians who died in Afghanistan.
Then they need to set up a college fund for the children of the dead and take it out of the pay checks of these 3 Fox hosts. Any licenses to rebroadcast Fox in Canada need to be held up and the price increased 400 percent unless and until there are some serious apologies and some financial remuneration to the families of the dead.
Why the focus on the money? Because unless there are serious financial consequences this kind of comments will continue. Making this cost them money is really the only thing that will make them knock off the sick comments. The power of the purse is really the only thing that they listen to.
I see that someone at Fox issued an apology
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2009/03/22/8847666-sun.html
<blockquote>
In a statement issued to Sun Media by the U.S. network today, Greg Gutfeld, who led the panelists in the tirade making fun of Canadian soldiers and the RCMP, said sorry for the offending remarks.
“The March 17th episode of Red Eye included a segment discussing Canada's plan for a ‘synchronized break,’ which was in no way an attempt to make light of troop efforts. However, I realize that my words may have been misunderstood,” Gutfeld said in the statement. “It was not my intent to disrespect the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military, and for that I apologize. Red Eye is a satirical take on the news, in which all topics are addressed in a lighthearted, humorous and ridiculous manner.”
Defence Minister Peter MacKay called the segment “crass” and “disgusting” and demanded an unqualified apology.
“They should simply retract these remarks and apologize to the families, most particularly to the memory of these soldiers and to Canadians more broadly,” he told CTV News today.
</blockquote>
Frankly I don't think that is good enough. The Canadians are some of the bravest, smartest people I know. This insult demands more than just a "My words may have been misunderstood." We all understood them just fine. This was not a misspoken comment with no intent to disrespect. It WAS designed to disrespect. They did make light of the sacrifice made by Canadians and especially the Canadians in the military.
As I said above, there needs to be a more serious apology, on camera and in writing on the Fox website from ALL the participants. And then some money needs to flow from FOX to the Canadian war dead. This is the only way that Fox will get the message that you do not mock the dead.
If I was connected with either Canadian military or Canadian political circles I'd be demanding some thing much more serious from Fox News. Roger Allies level apologizing. If they don't more pressure need to be placed on any attempt to get Fox rebroadcast into Canada (which is something that they want) and if that doesn't work an advertiser education program to the RedEye advertisers is a suggestion to see if they want to keep supporting this kind of program.
Although I have Faux Snoose as part of my cable package, the likes of Hannity and O'Reilly are enough to keep me from watching it, except for the few times when my blood pressure needs a boost. Hannity is unequalled in his dishonesty and ego, while O'Reilly is a bullying boor who tells the truth only when he can't get a lie to fit.
A so-called "news" network that gives air-time to proven liars like Jerome Corsi, and to certifiable lunatics like Malkin and Coulter, gives up any right to claim that their shows are "fair and balanced".
It is damn time that everyone realized that Fox News has always considered the deaths of soldiers funny and necessary. At least this Greg Douchebage has the balls to admit it on air.