Although Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church is famous for picketing funerals because "God hates fags," for some reason Fox Nation has decided to call them a "left-wing cult." And did you know that Phelps is a Democrat? In Fox Nation he is. (H/T/ Aria) UPDATED
In a post called, "Bikers Turn Out to Protect Newtown Mourners from Westboro Baptist Church," Fox Nation captions its photo with, "Bikers Turn Out to Protect Newtown Mourners from Left-Wing Westboro Cult."
Later, it describes Phelps by saying, "Conservative bikers turned out yesterday to protect Newtown mourners from Democrat Fred Phelps and his Westboro cult from protesting."
In the first place, it's highly unlikely that Phelps is a Democrat. But even if he were, why is that relevant in this story?
UPDATE: According to Conservapedia, Phelps has been a Democrat. But his church owns the website BeastObama.com. You can guess what the content is. So I doubt any of them are Obama supporters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txjXBx9-2c0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpPesCjgGzM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smy0xGbBtrE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuZjVX_3PKA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBiIQEGt7R4
The point of my post is that Fox tried to use the WBC to demonize the left. Presumably, someone at Fox reads the post they put up before it gets put up. I can give them a pass on the Phelps is a Democrat thing but there’s simply no excuse to call the group a left-wing cult.
Actually, I did notice it. Almost all, if not all, of Fox Nation’s posts are re-posts from elsewhere.
I suppose I should have noted that the post came from elsewhere and I will update the post.
But ultimately, I don’t see why it makes a difference. Presumably, Fox Nation reads the posts it uses beforehand and it’s still a whopper of misinformation.
Oh, we know… Fox Nation posts articles from everyone. You know how they have those little tabs at the bottom that say “read more at…”? That’s how they credit where they got it.
The point is that Fox Nation had no problem spreading the lie, then they either altered the article into oblivion, or outright deleted it when it bit them in the bud. I know this because when I submitted the grab, I had been looking for the article for a while- most of the people who beat us to this, their link to it didn’t work.
That’s why Ellen had to link to an article about it, not the actual article.
They not only showed less integrity than usual on this one, but they showed some Grade-A cowardice on the fallout.
But a Merry Christmas to you, buddy.
The idea that Fox Nation is now trying to throw out a trial balloon painting these people as left wing is, yes, desperate. The Westboro people are frankly hateful toward anyone and everyone else, regardless of political stripes. Nobody needs urging to condemn their behavior. And shame on Fox Nation for trying to play this kind of a game with them.
It just provides a good overview of his activity before he went apolitical. I don’t think Daily Beast is particularly reliable, but every now and again, they say it best for what the right is willing to admit.
In this case, what’s admitted is that Phelps went apolitical during Clinton’s re-election, and one of his first acts as a wild card was going after Clinton’s 2nd inauguration.
Almost 2013, Phelps hasn’t been accomidating to one side or the other since 1996. do the math on that, Fox News apparently can’t.
Oh, and here’s something that bothered me: The Tea Party is the only group I have never seen Phelps actually attack- Ever. When he feuded with them over their knee-jerk reaction to speculation he was silent because he approved, he seemed to be very toned down, in comparison to how he talks about his other critics.
Funny how Fox News never weighed in on that.
But you look up quotes from him, and the only difference between him and Fox News is the language. If you cleaned him a little, you honestly would be hard pressed to tell the difference between him and Huckabee… or O’Reilly.
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Fred_Phelps
Holiday greetings and best wishes to everyone at News Hounds for a New Year of happiness in a world of peace.
I cannot say the same for Fox.
Have a cool Yule, all!