Yesterday, Eric Bolling provided a full and unopposed platform for what can only be described as a full frontal attack on Islam from filmmaker, Eric Bell, once a tolerant liberal, who now embraces full tilt hatred towards Islam. Today, "devout Catholic" Bolling, who has a history of anti-Muslim rhetoric, doubled down in allowing Bell, in two segments, to continue his hateful screed which, according to the Fox messaging chyrons, is "the truth about radical Islam." Today's "truth" had, as a bonus, the patented Islamophobic "creeping Sharia" meme. But as Fox & Friends is an "opinion" show on the otherwise "fair & balanced" "news" network, I guess it's all good...Here's one of today's Bolling hate segments.
In response to Bolling's question about "prevalence" of radical Islam in US, Bellclaimed that, according to experts, 80% of mosques have been radicalized in some way." Fact Check - this right wing "zombie lie" is based on a 11 year old discredited smear based on one, unsubstantiated statement by California Muslim cleric who admitted that his criteria was "a focus on the Palestinian conflict.Bell, reminded folks not to forget that "Islam is to force the world to submit to Islam" and "that's what's taught in mosques." He directed viewers to his website, Global Infidel (no bias there) where he has "documents" related to the nexus between American mosques and radicalIslamic terrorism. The chyron continued the Fox "message" about the "truth" of this blatant anti-Islamic propaganda: "Mega Mosque Mistake, Documentary Filmaker Discovers True Story."
While Bolling remained silent, Bell accused a Muslim, connected to the Tennessee mosque, of "uploading photos of known Islamic terrorists" to his MySpace page. (Like who even uses MySpace?) He said that "nothing has been done" and the "media couldn't be less interested." (Cept for Fox "News") Bolling then did the classic "some say" when he alleged that " Bell agreed and then sited famous anti-Muslim Frank Gaffney who is, according to the Center for American Progress' report, "Fear Incorporated," a "misinformation expert." As he spoke the chyron continued the Fox message that this blatant propaganda is the "truth": "Truths Uncovered, Bell Researched Terrorism and Read Islam Books." Bell claimed that Gaffney's anti-Islamic group, Center for National Policy, shows evidence of "stealth jihad." He provided more information that can be found on any, garden variety anti-Islamic website. Not surprisingly he trashed the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) which he noted was an "unindicted co-conspirator" in the Holy Land Foundation trial. He didn't say that CAIR's designation was dropped by a federal judge.
He continued his line of Islamophobic paranoia that would make folks like Pam Geller proud when he said that groups like CAIR "are clearly using our media, our legal system, our academic system...to try to destroyAmericafrom the inside." He then whined about how his former liberal friends "broke up with him through text messages" after which he made the ludicrous point that some friends support him because he "stays on point with human rights." (WTF?) He whined about "hostile e-mails" and "name-calling" and how people call him a "hate monger." (Ya think!) More whining about loss of "livelihood," "reputation," (Ya think!), car, credit - but he knows that he's going in the right direction.
The words of an old "Doors" song come to mind: "People are strange when you're a stranger; faces look ugly when you're alone." At any rate, chalk off another segment on a network where "you can bash Islam with impunity."
And BTW, the title of the Fox video - "Documentary Filmmaker Reveals Truths Of Radical Islam." Perhaps it should be retitled "Bizarro Islamophobic Wingnut Reveals Depth Of His Bigotry and Anti-Islamic Paranoia."
Do you hate Christians?
Do you hate Hindus?
Do you hate Buddhists?
Do you hate Athiests?
Do you Hate Sikhs?
Do you hate Jews?
Do you hate all religions beside Islam?
Do you hate lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders? Do you think they should be killed?
Do you think women are the lesser of the human race?
Do you think women should not interract with any men besides their husband or face harsh punishment.. i.e. beatings?
Do you believe that all who do not convert to Islam should be killed?
Do you believe women should be stoned to death for adultery even if they are raped?
Do you think women should be covered from head to toe in a burkha? Do you think harsh punishment is okay if any skin is exposed.
Do you think it’s okay for men to marry young girls and consummate?
Then you would make a perfect Radical Muslim!! Yay.
The same could be said for Roman Catholicism and evangelical Christianity, And anybody who would espouse that view of Christianity would not be welcome on “fair & balanced” Fox. There are unsavory elements in many religions but that doesn’t mean that the religion, in total, is a bad thing. Bell is not an Islamic scholar. But his view is being taken as gospel by Fox. Somehow I doubt that Fox’s token Muslim, Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, would agree with Bell. Right – Zuhdi Jasser is a Muslim so according to Bell he might not be a terrorist but he follows a religion of terrorism.
Funny, prior to the “reconquista” of Spain, the three major religions all got along and produced a rich cultural life. Funny, things changed when the Christians took charge. And interestingly, Christians and Jews fared much better in Muslim societies than Jews and Muslims did in Christian societies. Wonder if Mr. Bell and Eric Bolling know that!
