As I reported yesterday, Fox & Friends seems to have taken up the cause of the church of the perpetually outraged right wingers whose newest source of agita is the removal of Lee Greenwood's right wing hymn and national anthem, "God Bless the USA" (Also known as "Proud to be an American."), from a kindergarten graduation ceremony. Thanks to Fox and numerous right wing websites, the African American school principal, who made this decision, has been the subject of racist taunts that seem to echo the sentiments of Fox Nation *comments on this topic. Yesterday, Fox & Friends did a segment on what they described as an organized protest, by the school's students, during which they sang Greenwood's song. No mention was made of the fact that it was a press event that was organized by the GOP candidate for the US Senate, Bob Turner. This morning, Brian Kilmeade, in showing video of a heckler at the event, continued the mythology of a student led rally.
Kilmeade began with commentary about some heckling done to "elementary school kids "who joined Republican Bob Turner to sing "God Bless the USA." He described the rally has "having been organized in protest of the school's decision to cut patriotic songs from the kindergarten graduation ceremony."
Kilmeade is wrong about "patriotic songs." The only "patriotic song" that was pulled was Greenwood's. The principal didn't feel it was age appropriate and she didn't want to offend other cultures. Kilmeade didn't mention that. He also didn't mention that present at this "rally" were parents who support the principal. Kilmeade didn't provide the real time context for the sing-a-long which was part of an organized press event staged by Rep. Turner.
The Village Voice has the details:
"As school bells signaled the end of the day, students at PS 90 in Brooklyngreeted their parents. Moments after students began exiting the school doors, senate hopeful Rep. Congressman Bob Turner and his staff arrived and a showdown between two factions of angered parents took place.The congressman was there to chime in with kids singing Lee Greenwood's patriotic anthem, God Bless the U.S.A., which had been removed by PS 90's principal from a kindergarten graduation ceremony... Despite previously arranging to sing the song on the school's Neptune Playground, the congressman was refused entry as school security said a rental company was picking up supplies from a carnival and would not be able to move. One of Turner's staff angrily argued with the school's security for several minutes before saying, "Fine we'll just do it on the sidewalk!" A random group of children were gathered in group, with Turner's staff asking them "Don't you want to be on TV?" Each child was given an American flag, a sheet with the lyrics to the Lee Greenwood song and a copy of Greenwood's book "Does God Still Bless the USA?"
So while perhaps technically correct that the "rally had been organized" as a protest, Kilmeade neglected to say that the organization was done by Turner's people. And while the heckler was being rude, there were others who made cogent points about students being used by politicians. At least he didn't show the photo of the principal, as did Alysin Camerota in yesterday's hit piece.
Who needs context when you have propaganda to push!
The second video has more details in which the role of Turner's staff is quite obvious.
*Comments on that thread have been shut down. Wonder Why?
Douchey said Turner was “invited” to the event – no word about who actually put the event together; neither was there a mention about Turner having one of his campaign signs in there with the kids (which was tacky to say the least).
Btw, I think the “burn in hell” remarks were totally out of line especially since kids were there
Also, I’m wondering if there might eventually be a PS 90 school ambush video aired by BOR (as he threatened to do). I say this because I find it rather, um, interesting that BOR would send Watters to do an insipid tattoo report from Coney Island considering that the school is located only a few blocks away from Coney Island and the kids’ graduation was scheduled for yesterday. Things that make you go hmm.
And, OMG, what was with Watter’s turned up polo collar in his video?! Is he still into the preppy look? For crying out loud, even the Abercrombie & Fitch crowd don’t do that anymore. Bwaaah!
They could play it when they normally run an advertisment, and then voluntarily give back on their salary for the lost revenue. This way you won’t have to force it on little kids, and give it to those who want it. Problem solved.
