As the media mouthpiece for the homophobic radical right, Fox has been a conduit for misinformation and slurs directed against the transgender community. And now, Fox is attacking Chelsea Manning, formerly Pfc Bradley Manning who was convicted of espionage for giving classified information to Wiki Leaks. When Manning requested a name change, she was mocked on Fox & Friends and "The Five." Fox & Friends lied about Manning and used a slur to describe her. This past week, Manning (who, on Fox, is still referred to as a "he") was attacked, on Fox & Friends, for getting "special" medical treatment at taxpayer expense. As if that wasn't bad enough, Martha MacCallum hosted right wing lesbian Tammy Bruce for more of the same. Just when you thought that Fox couldn't go lower...

Fox has a rather unsavory history with regard to transgender issues. Fox's Dr. Keith Ablow, who attacked Chaz Bono, said, among other scientifically inaccurate and offensive things, that being transgender is akin to drug addiction. Fox provided a platform for the "bathroom hysteria" of the "family values" crowd who opposed a law protecting transgender students. And, as I mentioned, they are keeping hate alive with their attacks on Manning.

Last week, MacCallum, while filling in on the Kelly File, reported that "one commentator" has "observed" that veterans have allegedly died while waiting for care from the VA "while the army is going to great lengths to treat convicted traitor Bradley Manning for gender identity disorder. She summarized Tammy Bruce's contention that it is unfair that Chelsea Manning (MacCallum used "Bradley") is getting, as described on the chyron, a "VIP Sex Change," while veterans are dying because of the problems with the VA health care system.

She introduced her guest Tammy Bruce. For those of you unfamiliar with Bruce, she is an openly gay woman who might have coined the phrase "gay gestapo" when she complained about what she felt was gay intolerance towards those who don't accept same sex marriage. She supported Arizona's "religious freedom" bill which would have allowed discrimination against gays. She endorsed the anti-gay Greg Abbott for TX governor. Oh yeah, and she hates Pres. Obama, liberals, and GLAAD.

Bruce opined that "both situations, on their own, are remarkable and unacceptable." She claimed that "so many men and woman have died" as a result of the VA. She then described Chelsea Manning as a "traitor" even though she was NOT convicted of treason and asserted that the military "is moving heaven and earth" to get Manning "what he wants" at taxpayer expense. She described Manning as getting "VIP health treatment." She said that "our veterans are dying and a traitor is being treated like he is royalty."

MacCallum whined "why are they doing that." Bruce responded that an anonymous military source said that the military feels that to deprive Manning of the treatment would be "cruel and unusual punishment" and that "doesn't seem to be a consideration for our veterans." She speculated that this treatment is "political correctness" that's part of a "political agenda." After noting that DefSec Hagel has intervened to get Manning a transfer to a civilian prison, she cited the cost of hormone treatment for Manning. She repeated her claim that this is about being "politically correct" and claimed that it "fits the administration's agenda."

MacCallum then tried to smear President Obama by accusing him of "pushing off" the problems of the VA. On cue, Bruce referenced the arrest of Prof. Gates, the Zimmerman trial, and gays and transsexuals in the military as example of how the President can respond quickly. Bruce said that "as a gay woman, it's particularly offensive because it's as though they're using those issues to pander to people while destroying the lives of those who make a country like this fabulous for everybody including minorities." After politicizing Chelsea Manning, Bruce said that the President "will be in a lot of trouble" if he continues to ignore the VA problem which, of course, he isn't.

Pretty slick. Fox is using the VA situation, which is dreadful, to attack Chelsea Manning and also using Chelsea Manning to attack Obama. "News" host MacCallum allowed Bruce nearly four minutes to spout her right wing agitprop. Fox News, fair & balanced as always!