On CNN's Reliable Sources, Howard Kurtz noted that Fox News hosts and contributors played a prominent role at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and asked, “Is this what Fox News contributors and hosts should be doing?” Indeed, numerous Fox News figures -- including Glenn Beck, who gave the conference's keynote address -- spoke at CPAC and used the platform to attack President Obama and Democrats and to make outrageous and inflammatory comments.
Fox News figures use CPAC platform to attack Obama, make inflammatory comments
Written by Eric Schroeck
Published
Fox News figures use CPAC platform to attack Obama and make outrageous comments
Beck: “Progressivism is the cancer in America and it is eating our Constitution.” In his CPAC keynote speech, Fox News host Glenn Beck claimed that "[p]rogressivism is the cancer in America and it is eating our Constitution, and it was designed to eat the Constitution -- to progress past the Constitution." Beck further suggested that a liberal “minority” has “hijack[ed]” America and asserted that an "[e]conomic holocaust is coming."
Gingrich: The “radical left is a secular, Socialist machine” that will destroy America. In his CPAC speech, Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich claimed that the “radical left is a secular, Socialist machine” that will destroy America.
Santorum suggested that military officers have been “indoctrinated” to support repeal of DADT. In a question-and-answer session at CPAC, Fox News contributor Rick Santorum suggested that military officers have been “indoctrinated” to support the repeal of the “don't ask, don't tell” law banning gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military. Santorum further claimed that “political correctness is reigning in the military.”
Bolton: Obama “doesn't care that much about national security.” In his CPAC speech, Fox News contributor John Bolton claimed that Obama “doesn't care that much about national security.” Bolton further said of Obama, “We will not let you reduce American sovereignty. We will not let you make America vulnerable.”
Fox News personalities blanketed CPAC throughout the weekend. In addition, Fox News personalities Mike Huckabee, S.E. Cupp, Tucker Carlson, Monica Crowley, Andrew Napolitano, and Fred Barnes addressed CPAC audiences throughout the conference.*
Kurtz: “Is this what Fox News contributors and hosts should be doing?”
Kurtz notes Fox figures at CPAC, asks, “Is this what Fox News contributors and hosts should be doing?” On the February 21 edition of CNN's Reliable Sources, Kurtz said: “Glenn Beck has a very popular show on Fox. ... Some of the others who spoke at the conference -- Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Tucker Carlson, John Bolton -- they're all Fox News contributors. Is this what Fox News contributors and hosts should be doing?”
This item initially listed Tobin Smith and Dick Morris as having appeared at CPAC based on their names appearing on the conference agenda. However, the agenda notes only that Smith and Morris were featured in a film screened at CPAC. Media Matters regrets the error.