In addition to being the go-to place for persecuted Christians, Fox News provides warm support and validation for those parents who are, to use Fox's verb of choice, "outraged" over perceived affronts, by evil teachers, to conservative students and values. Recently, a conservative Texas mom, who has a problem with what she perceives as liberal bias in a Texas curriculum, was embraced by both Megyn Kelly and Fox & Friends. And yesterday, fresh on the heels of validating a conservative lad who claims that liberal Wisconsin teachers are bullying him, Megyn Kelly reported on the Wisconsin mom who alleges liberal bias in the classroom. This morning, the meme of liberal bias was reinforced on - wait for it - Fox & Friends - in their patented "Trouble with Schools" series. The latest "outrages" involve Wisconsin, a state where teacher unions fought the sainted GOP Governor Scott Walker. Coincidence or just more Fox News propaganda in support of an agenda?
The "controversy" involves the definition of "conservative" used for Civics class crossword puzzle for 8th graders in a Wisconsin school district. While "liberalism" is defined as “the political belief of equality and personal freedom for everyone, often changing the current system to increase government protection of civil liberties," conservatism is classified as “the political belief of preserving traditional moral values by restricting personal freedoms and encouraging prosperity through economic freedom.”
Well those were fighting words for conservative Wisconsin parent and GOP activist Tamra Varebrook who believes, as we all should, that conservatism is all about personal freedom! So she posted about it on her Facebook and sent it to a right wing radio host, Vicki McKenna who, during the conflict between the WI teachers and the governor, tweeted that all the teachers should be fired and that liberals wanted Walker assassinated. So no surprise that teabagging Tamra, who, last year, ran as a fake Democrat in order to force a primary which would delay the senate recall election, would turn to Fox which didn't mention this interesting factoid about Varebrook who lost, after having netted some campaign cash.
Alleged Fox "fair & balanced" news host, Megyn Kelly, declared, as Fox fact, that the crossword thing is a case of "political bias in the classroom." The chyron reinforced the agitprop: "Conservative Bashing Crossword, Parent Takes Action Over Homework Assiagnment." She described the parent's outrage over the "not so subtle swipe at conservatives." Kelly then played a taped "news" report on the issue which included the school's apology and Varebrook's exhortation for parents to be "involved." Kelly mocked the sincerity of the school's comment. Video here.
This morning Fox & Friends warmly welcomed Varebrook who was able to tell her tale of conservative victimization which has ended happily because the company that distributes the curriculum will no longer include the material which Varebrook finds offensive. The most noteworthy comment of the piece was from Tucker Carlson who now a regular on weekend Fox & Friends: "It's not conservatives who are trying to restrict what people eat, where they can smoke cigarettes, what kind of toilets they can have, what kind of showerheads they can have."
As Tucker didn't provide specifics for his allegations about liberals, I have to assume that he took them out of his rather ample ass. And memo to Tucker, it's just not liberals that know that second hand smoke is harmful, including many Texas (not exactly liberal) cities that have "strong smoke free protections." And while Tucker and the Texas mom think that conservatism would never restrict personal freedom, conservatives in the first quarter of 2013, have proposed 694 restrictions on a woman's right to choose what she does with her body and that doesn't include unreasonable regulations on abortion clinics that will force them to shut down.
What is a four letter word, starting with "D," that Jon Stewart used to describe Tucker Carlson?
Excellent point!
And my guess would be that the last thing Fox wants to do is show any sympathy for the parents of Newtown.
There’s a thread over at FoxNation in which the goobers are showing their ‘sympathy’ for Francine Wheeler, who gave the weekly presidential address this morning. Their humanity is astonishing.
Does anyone know if Fox has given any opportunity for these outraged parents? We know they’ve given plenty of time to Wayne LaPierre.