Fox News Loves Black People
By Keith Boykin, in politics·race
Thursday, March 22 2007, 11:25AM
Okay, the title is sarcastic. Anyone who has been watching the news the past few years should know that Fox News is nothing but a right-wing platform for conservative Republicans. So if that's the case, why were the Democrats even thinking about holding a debate on Fox News in Nevada? I understand the whole idea of reaching out to the other side, but Fox News is not just the other side. They are the opposition. It's one thing to debate Bill O'Reilly or the Fox News anchors. Everybody knows what's going on there. It's another thing to give Fox News a forum it doesn't already have where they can pretend to be "fair and balanced."
But if the Democratic Party gets it, why doesn't the Congressional Black Caucus? Just days after Democrats canceled their Fox debate, the network is negotiating with the Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute to broadcast up to two debates by presidential candidates. Yes the CBC should have a role in the political process and yes they should have the right to sponsor televised debates. But Fox News is the wrong venue.
The CBC Institute, a nonprofit group whose directors include members of the Congressional Black Caucus, has already signed an agreement with CNN to broadcast a Democratic presidential primary debate in South Carolina and another Republican debate at a different location. So why do they need Fox News too?
"Should they go forward, what we will see is largely what we saw happen in Nevada," said James Rucker, who leads a coalition of black online activists called colorofchange.org. "They can expect a massive grass-roots backlash."
To be honest, I have to admit that I have mixed feelings on this issue. Having been on Fox News myself several times to debate O'Reilly and others, I understand the idea of going to your opponents to argue against them. And true, there might be some moderate Fox News viewers who would walk away with a better understanding of black voter concerns if they had exposure to a CBC-sponsored debate.
But in this case, the idea of the CBC holding a debate on Fox News runs the risk of legitimizing a news network that many consider to be anti-black. It gives Fox News a new audience (even for a short period of time) and allows them to argue that they are unbiased. In the end, I think it helps Fox News more than it helps the Congressional Black Caucus, and that's why I'm not inclined to support this idea.
To make the case against the news channel, a new video was released recently that underscored just how Fox News treats black people. Click on the YouTube image above to see for yourself.
Comments conceal
Dre
March 22 2007, 11:58AM
What Fox news does is simply outrageous. When I heard about partnering with the CBC that rang some alarms too, especially since I've seen this video before. But then often times I think, aren't there news shows out there with liberal slants??? To make things fair, it should at least be a consortium of news groups that would host a debate.
gs
March 22 2007, 12:28PM
I saw this before. I wasn't moved. If I was a competing network and the network had twice as many viewers as I had (like FOX does)....I'd want a video like this put out as well. Hell, there are shows on CNN, MSNBC, FOX, and Headline News I enjoy. I have no allegiance to any of them. Different perspectives are needed. Who cares....
Lois
March 22 2007, 12:46PM
Faux News? They had better have some mighty strong guidelines set up, because if not, this will blow up in their faces. Faux News has never had any interest in what ails black America,other than showing mugshots of criminals and the buffons on Cops so, why would they even consider dealing with them? Its not as if any of their "fair and balanced" viewers are going to change their penchant for right win politics. A waste of time and energy IMO.
cmoney
March 22 2007, 1:35PM
I stopped watching Fox News after their horribly racist and inflammatory coverage of Hurricane Katrina. I couldn't take anymore of that racist, lying propaganda so I blocked it from my cable box. The CBC ought to be ashamed of themselves for even considering aligning themselves with this so-called news channel. I hope that the real Democrts boycott this debate if it goes through like they did in Colorado. Dems and Blacks especially should have nothing to do with these mean spirited, hateful, racist liars posing as a news organization.
yeahisaidit
March 22 2007, 2:15PM
...as surprising as it may seem there is a Black contingent that concurs with the entire right wing slant of the Fox news channel's racial, social and political viewpoints...not all African Americans are alike and this is just more proof of that of how the game is being played...
bubba
March 22 2007, 4:10PM
No Keith, it's the Democrats that don't "get it." If you want to show up those goons for the divisive crap they have to offer, sometimes it's wise to show up on their turf and kick ass in an away game. The mountain isn't guaranteed to come your way. Bill Clinton all but bitch slapped Chris Wallace, and his counterparts had better come out swinging too unless they want '08 to be another coulda-shoulda-woulda year.
Kola Boof
March 22 2007, 5:03PM
I would like to introduce the FACT that the other "news media" is no more balanced and fair than the pig farts at FOX NEWS. I have been featured on "Fox News", "MSNBC" and "CNN", and though in the 7 years that I've been known in America--no one has been able to PROVE that I'm a "fraud/hoax", but many LIBERAL DEMOCRAT REPORTERS pulled those claims out of their hat and were just as vicious, racist and dishonest reporting my story---all because, they don't want Black Americans exposed to or listening to African women like me, they don't like my politics in the middle east and they don't like the fact that I'm not an AFRICAN MAMMY who co-signs their "multi-cultural" b.s. and their erasure of black people. The latest rumor STARTED BY LIBERAL MEDIA is that I'm a "cannibal" (eater of human flesh) who isn't even a real African (they claim I was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma). These "fair/balanced" LIBERAL DEMOCRAT REPORTERS could care less that I'm a fellow Liberal Democrat--I'm the new Farrakhan to their stupid eyes.
John
March 22 2007, 6:04PM
yeaisaidit, You are right to a point, but, that right wing part of the black community is at best 10% maybe 15% of the whole population, and for the most part, most blacks are very conservative on most issues to begin with. That percentage is the one who fell into that trap of anti-gay marriage that put Bush back in the WH along with that "faith based" rip-ff and the "pastors" who joined ranks with the same people who fought against them having basic human rights in the 1960's which is amazing.
But, then again, both parites need to fight for the black vote and not take it for granted like the Dem's have, and not totally write of off like the GOP has done and still does.
Mark Corece
March 23 2007, 12:46AM
Wow! That's nuts (the video). I can't believe what they get away with.
TGI
March 23 2007, 12:29PM
You consider the video attacks on blacks? Many black people believe what is stated in those comments. But I guess if you don't look for the government to solve your problems, that doesn't make you black . . .
Screw Obama, Condi for Prez!
The Captain
March 25 2007, 8:26PM
I believe those comments in this video to have truth.
dw
March 27 2007, 10:36PM
whatever!
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