Fox News Successful Hatemongering?
Reported by Priscilla - September 12, 2011 -
While we know that correlation doesn't necessarily imply causation, we're still not sure about the sequence of chickens and eggs. And that's why we need to ask the question about whether Fox News creates bigots or if it just reinforces and enhances the base bigotry of its audience. A new study, by the Brookings Institute in conjunction with Public Religion Research Institute, has some interesting and not surprising results about attitudes of Fox viewers vs. viewers of other media. Put it this way, Fox viewers do have some metaphorical pitchforks in their arsenals!
Here's the data on those Merka lovin, Jesus praisin, librul hating, teabaggin fans of Fox:
"Nearly 7-in-10 Americans who say they most trust Fox News say that discrimination against whites has become as big a problem as discrimination against blacks and other minorities. In stark contrast, less than 1-in-4 Americans who most trust public television for their news agree."
"Approximately two-thirds of Republicans, Americans who identify with the Tea Party movement, and Americans who most trust Fox News agree that the values of Islam are at odds with American values. A majority of Democrats, Independents, and those who most trust CNN or public television disagree."
"Among Republicans who most trust Fox News, more than 7-in-10 (72 percent) believe that Islam is at odds with American values."
"Nearly 6-in-10 Republicans who most trust Fox News believe that American Muslims are trying to establish Shari’a law in the U.S. The attitudes of Republicans who most trust other news sources look similar to the general population."
"Among Americans who most trust Fox News, however, a slim majority (52 percent) agree that Americans Muslims want to establish Shari’a law in the U.S."
"Among Americans who most trust Fox News, however, fully 60 percent report that they disagree that American Muslims are an important part of the U.S. religious community."
Comment: Given Sean Hannity's promotion of the narrative that whites are really the ones who are discriminated against, it's not surprising that Fox viewers would share this view. Given that Fox provides a platform for those who promote Islamophobia, particularly in its coverage of and ongoing references to the so called "Ground Zero Mosque," the anti-Islamic views of its audience are understandable. As cited in the Center for American Progress report, "Fear Inc," Fox News , as the go to network for those who promote the meme of "creeping Sharia," is part of the greater "Islamophobic Network."
So are these Fox fans the real patriots in the most "exceptional" country that Jesus ever created. As said in "Team America," "Fuck Yeah!"
