Fox Continues Cheerleading For King's Anti-Muslim Hearings

Fox figures and guests have continued their aggressive promotion of Rep. Peter King's (R-NY) upcoming hearings on the radicalization of American Muslims.

Fox Figures And Guests Rally Behind King And His Anti-Muslim Hearings

Fox Guest Catherine Mann-Grandy: People Should “Applaud Peter King For Having These Hearings.” During the March 8 edition of Fox News' America Live, host Megyn Kelly interviewed Catherine Mann-Grandy, who was reportedly removed from her husband's conservative talk radio show for comments about Islam. During the interview, Mann-Grandy stated that there is “stealth jihad ... going on in our country every single day” and encouraged people to “applaud Peter King for having these hearings.” [Fox News, America Live, 3/8/11]

Hannity Guest Schlapp: King “Ought To Be Praised For What He's Doing.” During a March 8 Hannity segment on King's hearings, which were referred to in the on-screen text as “Terror Hearings,” GOP strategist Matt Schlapp stated that King “ought to be praised for what he's doing.” During the segment, Hannity defended King's hearings by calling President Obama “timid” and “gutless.” [Fox News, Hannity, 3/8/11]

Peters: King Is “100 Percent Right On This.” During the March 8 edition of Fox Business' America's Nightly Scoreboard, Fox contributor Ralph Peters stated that King is “100 percent right on this” regarding the hearings. Peters later added: “It's not [King's] job to hold hearings on radical Presbyterians, but upon the danger to our country from Islamic radicalization. Good for him.” [Fox Business, America's Nightly Scoreboard, 3/8/11]

Fox's MacCallum To CAIR Spokesman: “I Believe You Should Be Supportive Of Hearings” On Muslim Extremism. During the March 8 edition of Fox News' America's Newsroom, Martha MacCallum hosted Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) spokesman Corey Saylor, who opposes King's hearings. During the interview, MacCallum said to Saylor, “I believe you should be supportive of hearings” that would investigate Muslim extremism in the U.S. [Fox News, America's Newsroom, 3/8/11]

Fox & Friends Guest Chris Plante: “It's About Time We Got Around To” King's Hearings. During a March 8 segment on Fox News' Fox & Friends, guest Chris Plante stated: “I keep hearing these words like 'demonization' and 'witch hunt.' The problem that the Muslim community has is not Congressman Peter King -- it's the repeated murderous attacks by people committing these crimes, these terrorist attacks, in the name of Islam.” Plante later said that “it's about time we got around to” King's hearings. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 3/8/11]

Trump: King's Hearings On Radical Islam “Very Appropriate.” During a March 8 interview on Fox & Friends, guest Donald Trump said that “as long as the hearings are fair, I think this is fair game” and said that “there's problems in the world, and the problems seem to be centered around this one group.” Trump later stated of the hearings, “I think it's very appropriate.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 3/8/11]

Fox Figures And Guests Previously Hyped King's Hearings

Fox Previously Hyped King's Hearings, Dismissed Critics' Concerns. On March 7, Fox aggressively promoted King's hearings, which including hosting King to promote his hearings and dismissing the concerns of protesters. [Media Matters, 3/8/11]