There is an ongoing debate about whether "political correctness" promotes sensitivity about racial and gender issues or stifles free exchange of ideas. But there is no debate that Fox & Friends hates it because, I guess, it prevents them from really expressing their bigoted, right wing views which they still manage to communicate, political correctness notwithstanding. The last time that Fox & Friends discussed the evils of political correctness was when they interviewed a potty mouthed, dirty old Santa Claus impersonator. This morning, they brought on the right wing, Republican actor Robert Davi who proffered his view that political correctness is squelching our free speech and that things were so much better in the good old days of racial slurs, ethnic jokes, and fine family entertainment like "Amos & Andy," a show with African-American actors who played to black stereotypes. He was validated by Brian Kilmeade who wants the freedom to call women, "sweet broads." Yeah, you read it right!
Gretchen Carlson who hates political correctness at Christmas and interfaith religious services, was all smiles as she introduced Robert Davi as an actor who has been in immortal films like "Die Hard" and the "Goonies" and "who is also not afraid to speak his mind, particularly about how political correctness, he believes, is affecting America." Davi, sporting a Frank Sinatra fidora, discussed his his recent tweet about how "political correctness is a lose, lose situation," he said that when the questioning of the Boston bombing stopped he realized that when he was a kid there was no political correctness. Doocy shouted "there wasn't any." (Ah, yes, the halcyon days of the 50's when you could say the "N word" and tell ethnic jokes with impunity). Steve Doocy grinned as Davi asserted that "everybody laughed" at racial slurs used by "The Rat Pack."
Brian Kilmeade asked if political correctness is "hurting freedom of speech." Davi said that it's crushing our society and added that he needs to watch what he says in Hollywood. (And he's such a star) As Davi spoke the chyrons read "Gone Too Far, Political Correctness In America" and "America Silenced." After he said that he is concerned about bullying buzz words, he discussed how in 1914, Russia was on the verge of an economic boom but communism came and controlled the speech which, in turn, caused the economic collapse of society. (WTF!!?? The Russian economy suffered as a result of World War II and an agricultural system that still had not adjusted to the end of the serf system. In 1914, Russia was still ruled by the Tsar. The communists didn't get control of the government until after the 1917 Russian Revolution.)
Brian Kilmeade lamented that no television network will show repeats of All in the Family and the Jefferson. Davi mentioned Amos & Andy as an example of something that would be politically incorrect today. (Ya think?) He complained that feminists have "boxed us into a corner where there is an antagonism." Kilmeade "joked" that "if we see what Steve calls a hot tamale, we can't say there's a sweet broad." Doocy joked that he's talking about an entree. Gretch giggled. Davi referenced the controversy surrounding Obama's comment about Kamala Harris and said "c'mon we can't say Gretchen is a pretty woman with nice legs." (And Fox knows how to use them!) Gretch thanked him and laughed. He said that even though he's Italian-American he was never offended if people thought he was a Mafia member. A clip from his newest movie, The Iceman, was shown in which the F-bomb was bleeped.
So Davi wouldn't be offended by all the degrading words used to describe Italians? Does he think that the word, traditionally used by white racists to describe African-Americans is fine? Offending people's ethnicity and sexual orientation is just dandy because it's free speech? Referring to women in sexual terms is flattering to them? (Certainly not a problem for Kilmeade). Nice to see the "America's Newsroom" bringing Americans together - not!!!!!
Earth to Davi and other rightwingnut neoKKKon repubs (oops, I called them two names!):
Much of the “concern” over perceived “political correctness” that I hear, seems to be nothing more than rightwingers upset over the fact that they cannot freely use the N-word in general, and towards the President in particular.
Lemme let you in on a ’lil secret:
Contrary to your constant braying, your free speech has NOT been taken. You are ACTUALLY FREE to call someone else whatever derogatory name you want, including the N-word.
You just have to be willing to accept whatever response, and whatever consequences, follow as a result.
You can do that, can’t you? Think of it as some of that “personal responsibility” you always lay claim to being the party of.
As for precisely what form that response/consequences takes, I cannot speak for ALL of my fellow African Americans, but I will say this: the response will vary, depending on who you say the N-word to, and where you are when you say it.
If you choose to call President Obama a N*gg*r to his face — presuming you got close enough to do so — I doubt a response would even come from him, he’d simply defer the response to the Secret Service Agents guarding him.
Should you direct that racial slur to, say, certain denizens of South-Central LA, Chicago’s South Side, or Buffalo’s East Side, I daresay they may respond more directly.
And should you use it on me, depending on my particular mood, I may respond in kind, with a derisive laugh, more “directly”, or not at all.
The choice is yours . . .
.
But I suppose TV One isn’t a “television network” by whatever standards Kilmeade decides to use today.
I can easily visualize Carroll O’Conner’s character Archie Bunker watching Fox News and listening to Rush. In real life the late Mr. O’Conner was very liberal.
Of course when it comes to political correctness, just have anyone make the slightest crack about Christianity and watch Gretchen and Fox Nation go ballistic.
I enjoyed the interview.
Barbara Ricci, Publisher of The Westchester News
