As we saw from the imbroglio over Duck Dynasty, not only does Fox News believe that conservative entertainers have the right to free speech, but they also have a right to an audience. Such was the case, last week, when Fox News provided an audience for the latest victimized right wing entertainer. Maria Conchita Alonso left a San Francisco production of "The Vagina Monologues" after a backlash to an ad, for a Tea Party candidate for governor, Tim Donnelly, in which she appeared. Alonso is no stranger to Fox, so naturally, Fox wasted no time in giving her airtime during which her sad story of being "forced to resign" was validated. But, at no time during the interviews, was Donnelly's connection to the radical anti-immigrant Minutemen (He was founder of the California chapter) brought up - a connection that tells the whole story that Fox, in its attempt to present yet another persecuted conservative, doesn't want to tell.

On Sunday, January 16th, Fox & Friends' Clayton Morris played part of the ad in which Alonso appeared. As reported on Think Progress, the ad is "surreal" in that it includes conversation about who is more sexually attractive, Alonso or Donnelly's wife. Alonso, who speaks in Spanish throughout the ad, also cites Donnelly's "big ones," presumable referring to his testicles.  

Alonso told Morris why that her support for Donnelly is based on his political positions, one of which is opposition to big government which she equated to communism. The chyron, citing Donnelly's "hard stance against illegals" made the case for why the Hispanic community was upset about her ad. After Morris showed the statement from the show's producer, she complained about the First Amendment and "freedom of speech." She claimed that those who exercise their right to free speech are "attacked for speaking out" and that she has been called "horrible" names. (Like "abortion Barbie - a term coined by right wing Eric Erickson to describe Wendy Davis?) When she said that she was "sad" that she had to leave the play, Morris responded that "we are sad, but thank you for sticking to your guns and standing by something you believe." In closing, Morris said "we love you."

On Monday January 20th, Alonso was interviewed by Megan Kelly. After playing part of the ad, Kelly dramatically intoned that this video has "cost" the actress her job and this is "unbelievable." Alonso "admitted" that while she didn't know that Tim was with the Tea Party, she agrees with some of his positions. Kelly summarized the position of the theatre where Alonso worked; i.e. that what Alonso said, in the ad, wasn't what they believe. Alonso claimed that she quit because the theater was being threatened. After Kelly provided some quotes from Democratic Hispanic representatives that were critical of Alonso, the discussion centered around accusations that Alonso was demeaning Hispanics because she named her dog, Tequila. Alonso concluded with the comment that while she believes in helping those "without papers," she believes that those who are a "burden" should be "kicked out."

Tim Donnelly is not just your garden variety teabagger. He is a champion of the virulently anti-immigrant Nativist Movement and recently addressed the anti-immigrant hate group, the Social Contract Press. His connection to the Minutemen, another anti-immigrant group, is not something that will endear him to Hispanics. Thus, it is understandable that after Alonso appeared in his campaign ad, there would be blow-back. And given that these details might work against the narrative, it's understandable why Fox News would avoid them. If innocence is bliss, Fox viewers must be in Nirvana!