For Fox News, the Pledge of Allegiance, along with the cross of Jesus (on public property) and the American Flag, has taken on a cultic, religious significance and any attempt to curtail it (especially the "under God" part) is considered an affront to the foundations of America. Fox host Dana Perino even said that if you don't love the pledge you should leave the country. Fox's "patriotism" is laughable given that it uses these "outrages" to attack other Americans and further sow the seeds of national division which, after a recent "Kelly File," even elicited some patriotic death threats. Earlier this month, Megyn Kelly and Trace Gallagher reported that Sioux Falls South Dakota veterans are livid because a local high school has dropped the Pledge. The school board, which subsequently got death threats, claims that Kelly's show misrepresented the case and want an apology. On Friday, Kelly didn't apologize and was all set for more agitprop (the school board hates vets) when her plans went awry.
Kelly reported that the controversy, over the dropped Pledge, got "national attention" (Thank You Fox News) when veterans petitioned the school board to require the Pledge. She noted that the Board agreed to do that for grade and middle school; but said "it would be too challenging" to say the daily Pledge. She alluded to some past "confusion" before telling the audience that one of her guests would be the school board president. (Her prior report didn't mention that the Pledge was expanded for the lower grades)
Her first guest, veteran James Boorman, responded that the Pledge is important because it shows respect for the country. He lamented that without the Pledge, students won't know where the country "came from." He brayed about "the high cost of liberty and freedom" and asked how these students will be able, in the future, to "lead our country." In a mocking tone of voice, Kelly mentioned that the school board says that there isn't enough time to say the Pledge. Not surprisingly, Boorman, disagreed and said that "we're working with intelligent, well educated managers and teaching professionals and I think that they can accomplish anything they wish to accomplish.'
Kelly sowed the seeds of an anti-veteran conspiracy and in so doing was sure to generate more hatred for the school board: "Do you feel that there is, in any way, some motive to slight the veterans or do you feel that this is an honest misjudgment on their part?" Boorman noted that the Pledge was dropped 15 years ago and that non-public schools not only say the Pledge but have school prayer. Kelly thanked him for his service and being on the show. And that's when things got really interesting.
After setting the propaganda premise of the piece, Kelly introduced her second guest, the president of the Sioux Falls School Board, Douglas Morrison. She used "the veteran" in phrasing her opening question: "Our last guest, the veteran said, he thinks that educated people can find a way to find time in the day for high schoolers who don't have home room to say the Pledge." He agreed. To her question of why this wasn't done, he explained that, after public input, the Pledge was added to the elementary and middle schools. He also said that after polling the community, a decision to restore the Pledge to the high school was made and will be voted on by the school board.
Her third guest, a Republican Sioux Falls State Rep. said that the school board's decision will take care of the immediate issue but that the same problem could come up in other districts. In response to her question of whether the Pledge could be mandated, he said that time for the Pledge could be mandated. In response to her scripted question of why the Pledge is important, he spoke about - wait for it - freedom. The chyron summarized his views: "Wick: You Degrade the Country and Patriotism If You Take Pledge Away."
If the policy hadn't changed, Kelly would have had the perfect propaganda piece. Veteran, prompted by Kelly, would lambaste the school board. Kelly would lambaste the school board head. GOP Rep. would lambaste the school board head. Poor Megyn didn't get to badger the witness as she did with the representative from the humanist group. But there was lots of patriotic pro-Pledge talk so it was all good....
They can use this example:
“Since Fox “News” refuses to apologize for their misrepresentation of our school board we have no other choice but to tell Sioux Falls residents to turn off Fox “News” Channel in their homes. This city-wide ban of the network should send a strong message."
Tracy is one of those low-life cafeteria Catholics with no dignity. We don’t expect this Toreros to apologize anytime soon.
The Barbie Megyn has become a very bitter woman. She must be suffering from post baby blues. We don’t expect an apology from this aging broad either.
I just wish someone would remind the good Foxers that the Pledge was written by a REAL Socialist. (You think that might change the network’s support for the Pledge?)