While some Republicans are doing some serious soul searching about how their failure to reach out to minorities cost them the presidency, Fox News is doubling down on the bigotry that - duh - does alienate minorities from the GOP. Since President Obama took office, the alternate reality of rightwing world has been suffused with the notion that because Obama is African-American, he is giving out "free stuff" to lazy, shiftless blacks. The latest iteration of this meme is the bogus "Obama Phone" which, in bizarro world, is a free phone for lazy, shiftless blacks. Not only did conservative "comedian," Steven Crowder, promote, on Fox & Friends, this right wing urban legend; but Fox & Friends used a bogus visual in the process. Last week, Steve Doocy's guest, Mark Steyn, whose paranoia about Muslims and immigrants ruining Western, white society is in a league with Pat Buchanan, cited the "Obama Phone" in a discussion about how those welfare slackers who want free stuff are ruining the country.
As News Hounds Ellen points out, this Fox & Friends segment is a reprise of the Reagan "welfare queen" meme with the "Obama Phone" as the prop designed to elicit the requisite racial animosity which is becoming standard fare on the "fair & balanced" Fox "News" channel. Last week, Steve Doocy hosted Mark Steyn to talk about the "decline" of America due to lazy moochers who want free stuff. As Steyn, a citizen of Canada which has national health care, spoke, the chyron read "America in Decline, What Government Handouts Say About the Country." Steyn got all Paul Ryan Ayn Randian with his comment about how the "takers" are overtaking the "makers" and this shows a nation in decline.
Steve Doocy nodded his head in agreement when Steyn said that we are stealing from the future '"in order to bribe people with Obama Phones." Doocy provided the requisite validation: "If you're a taker, you don't care tomorrow, you want your Obama Phone with 120 minutes now." Steyn continued to bash those who say "I've got mine, so what if it bankrupts the state" - a hypothetical comment that could be made by the Koch Brothers and other plutocrat "takers" whose low tax rates and tax loopholes are contributing to the deficit. After citing figures for the national debt, he said "in the end, you'll pay for that Obama Phone, either by paying off that share of the debt or total collapse..." Doocy sighed audibly.
Just when you think the summit has been reached on Fox's "bullshit mountain," you need to think again. This isn't the first time that Fox & Friends has provided a platform for this Drudge generated lie based on a viral video showing an African-American woman talking about non-existant, "Obama Phones." Not only was conservative Christian joker, Steven Crowder allowed a platform, on Fox & Friends, to spread the toxicity; but the Fox & Friends host made no effort to disabuse him of the bullshit. As we see from this piece, Steve Doocy even contributed his own toxic validation. As is said, "demographics are destiny." As such, minorities are a growing part of the electorate and they will continue to vote Democratic until such time as the GOP stops denegrating them as "takers" who want free stuff like a BOGUS "Obama Phone." Based on what is being said on Fox News, that doesn't seem like it will happen anytime soon. For Fox News, the race card is trump!
Please let Fox & Friends know that the Obama Phone doesn't exist: [email protected]
We’re paid, paid! to spread lies, fear and hate ‘bout the Evils of the 47%ers! If you had my income you’d lie too!