When those in the right wing decide that a certain issue needs publicizing, Roger Ailes inseminates it (metaphorically speaking) into the Fox media reproductive organ where it is fertilized and given birth as a full fledged propaganda meme. Such is the case with Fox's patented Christian right trope that American Christians are constantly besieged by the slings and arrows of godless secularism which, according to Ailes, is a "wall threatening to cut America off from its Judeo-Christian roots." Tuesday, Megyn Kelly expanded Fox's "war on Christians" meme to include Christians in the Middle East, whose persecution by Muslims also serves to advance Fox's always popular Islam is evil meme, when she allowed her anti-Islamic guest to promote the persecution narrative as well as bash the president - another favorite Fox meme. But that was Fox "opinion." On Thursday, official Fox News took up the cross meme.
Thursday, Chris Wallace, filling in for Bret Baier on Special Report, set the propaganda message immediately. He started off with the phrase "freedom of worship" - something that Fox enthusiastically supports but only when it is being invoked by right wing Christians who want the freedom to impose their views onto others which, of course, is a real violation of the First Amendment. Wallace proclaimed that freedom of worship "is one of the founding principals of this country." Only 12 seconds in, he claimed that "there are questions about the level of commitment to this principal on the part of the Obama administration." He then played video done by Fox News uber Christian (Liberty University) and Miss America runner-up Shannon Bream who shares, with Fox's Todd Starnes, the honor of being a Fox champion for homophobic lies disguised as "freedom of worship."
The anti-Obama agitprop was front and center with commentary, from a Georgetown professor, about how it "ought to be a source of very deep concern" that "our government is not on top of" religious liberty issues. Bream stated that "new reports highlighting threats to religious freedom are raising questions about how committed the Obama administration is to combating them." She quoted from the report which was done by - wait for it - The Liberty Institute, which is a pro-Christian, anti-gay organization that says stuff like Satan is behind the campaign to allow gays to join the Boy Scouts. Naturally, the report makes claims about rampant persecution of American Christians which, according to Bream, include efforts "to tear down veterans memorials containing religious symbols" (Actually, Christian crosses on public lands) and OMG the news that the Air Force, "under pressure from outside groups" (evil atheists) may take "so help me God" from the Academy's honor oath.
She reported that uber right wing Jesus-won't-allow-global-warming Senator Jim Inhofe sent a letter to Secy of State John Kerry in protest of how Christians are treated internationally. While footage of Islamic countries was shown, Bream talked about threats to Christians in these countries that don't respect religious freedom. Video of Kerry was shown. She worked in another slam on Obama when she referenced the recent resignation of the US ambassador for international religious freedom and how, before this woman took the position, it took Obama 15 months to name a nominee.
Let's rate this meme:
- Bash Obama - check
- Discuss persecution of Christians - check
- Suggest that Islam is part of the problem - check
Another Fox meme continues to thrive. As Pope Urban said, when he called the First Crusade, "God will it" - in this case substitute God for Roger Ailes.
That’s why we call them cafeteria Catholics. They refuse to address this issue in the church. If they won’t address we will, and tell the world how these clowns try to bury the story.
How can the President dare incur the wrath of the Leader of the War On Christmas Army? General William James O’reilly Junior, (Old Crud & Guts) himself?