Brock to Murdoch: Your Network Must Take A Stand
January 10, 2011 1:16 PM EST MEDIA MATTERS STAFF
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, January 10, 2011 | CONTACT Jess Levin (202) 772-8162 jlevin@mediamatters.org |
Washington, DC -- Today, in response to the tragic shooting in Arizona and the increasing focus on the tone of political discourse, Media Matters for America
founder and CEO David Brock issued an open letter to News Corp. CEO
Rupert Murdoch asking him to rein in Fox News personalities Glenn Beck
and Sarah Palin, both of whom frequently use violent and revolutionary
rhetoric.
The letter reads:
Dear Mr. Murdoch,
Since
the early days of 2009, I have warned your network and others in the
media about the very real dangers of extreme anti-government rhetoric
and the stoking of fear.
I cautioned against Glenn Beck's
proclamation that he was a "progressive hunter" and his statement that
the government was full of vampires before he instructed his viewers to
"drive a stake through the heart of the bloodsuckers." And against Palin
revealing her 2010 "targets" with a map showing gun sights over 20
congressional districts, including that of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords,
urging followers to not "Retreat, Instead -- RELOAD." I said on national
television that inducing fear, anger, and the use of violent imagery
creates a climate of fear, suspicion, and paranoia that could lead to
another Oklahoma City.
I hoped my warnings would be heeded. Instead, they were cast aside.Even
after evidence emerged in October that California gunman Byron Williams
was inspired by Beck to attempt to assassinate progressive leaders and I
pleaded for Palin to set an example by condemning her Fox colleague's
violent and revolutionary rhetoric, Fox did nothing to address the
situation.
On Beck's radio show, he and Palin jovially mocked
my concern. For seven minutes on air, the pair joked about my plea to
tone down the rhetoric. Beck said it was "laughable," "sad," and
compared me to the "smelly kid in third grade." Palin giggled and said I
was "silly" and that my argument was "pathetic" and "desperate" before
ultimately concluding, "I stand with you, Glenn."
Beck and Palin
are two of Fox's most recognizable figures. Before this heartbreaking
tragedy in Arizona, you were either unwilling or unable to rein in their
violent rhetoric. But now, in the wake of the killings, your network
must take a stand. (I thought it did. It did the best thing it could do. Supports the Second Amendment.)
You have the power to order them to stop
using violent rhetoric, on and off of Fox's air. If they fail to do so,
it is incumbent upon you to fire them or be responsible for the climate
they create and any consequences thereof.
My previous warnings were laughed off and ignored. For the country's sake, I hope you take them more seriously now.
Sincerely,
David Brock
Founder and CEO, Media Matters for America
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