I got an email from a journalist friend this morning, about the big news of the day, the massacre at Fort Hood in Texas. Here’s what it said:
“While the mainstream media is busy downplaying the shooter’s religion, just think if an O’Reilly or Goldberg book was found in his home or, God forbid, there was a talk station pre-set on his car radio or he once knew a guy who had a cousin who attended a tea party. There would be endless, mindless speculation and convoluted banner headlines about [how] the evil right-wing is sowing hatred and inspiring death.”
He’s right, of course. A lone gunman kills a late term abortion doctor in Kansas and if you watched liberal television or read liberal papers you’d think Bill O’Reilly pulled the trigger. When Timothy McVeigh blew up the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, liberals blamed conservative talking radio for fomenting an anti-government frenzy. Now we have another catastrophe, but this one is a tad inconvenient for liberals in the media. It turns out the gunman was a Muslim. Uh Oh!
This particular Muslim was a psychiatrist in the United States Army, whose name appears on comments posted on a radical Muslim Web site waxing favorably about suicide bombings; and who allegedly told a friend — as a retired army colonel told Fox News — that, “Muslims had a right to rise up and attack Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan.” So, what’s the storyline? Muslim fundamentalism? Try, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
You see the media don’t want to jump to any conclusions in this case, especially when they’re politically incorrect conclusions. But they’d jump to conclusions, wouldn’t they, if a white guy with a crew cut and overalls from the rural south walked into a local NAACP office and shot up the place. They’d conclude the guy was a racist. And they’d almost certainly be right. With the Fort Hood story there was sound reason to suspect the killer’s religion played a part in the massacre, and all we got was drivel about how stressed out soldiers are these days.
Never mind that Major Nidal Malik Hasan had never been deployed to either Iraq or Afghanistan. His stress, we are asked to believe, came to him second-hand, from the soldiers he counseled when they got home. As the headline in the New York Times put it: “Told of War Horror, Gunman Feared Deployment.”
Newsweek was just as bad. It began a piece about stress and the military with a question. “What if Thursday’s atrocious slaughter at Fort Hood only signals the worst is yet to come?” Why examine the Muslim angle when you can blame the carnage on a couple of wars the media never liked in the first place.
And then there’s the blog by Mimi Swartz, the executive editor of Texas Monthly, who seems to be blaming crummy hotels and restaurants for the massacre. “Killeen is a sea of chain hotels and chain restaurants,” she writes. “The place reflects all too well the state of today’s military, which means the people you see on the streets, almost always dressed in fatigues, are young, poor, uneducated and, invariably, stressed to the max ….”
I guess if Killen had been located in lovely Vail, Colorado Hasan would never have done what he did.
But what about that pesky religious angle? According to CNN, Major Hasan had shared some thoughts about being a Muslim in the army with a convenience store clerk he knew. “But as a fellow Muslim and someone of faith, he had a problem with having, perhaps, the opportunity in the future to have to shoot or kill or injure or fight fellow Muslims,” the clerk told a reporter. “And that is something that was weighing heavily on him. “
So, if it turns out that the motive behind the massacre had more to do with Hasan’s religion than his stress, the media once again will look foolish – and worse, untrustworthy. Political correctness is a virus running through our culture. And it is killing American journalism.
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Hi again, Bernie,
What a tragic shame it is to see American journalism “die” in this manner! I used to respect them- but that was way back! Thank God, we have people like you, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh to balance off that trend to the left! This, then is known as fair and balanced repoting at it’s best! It’s now wonder the NY Times is losing circulation as well as NBC!
People, luckily so, are just right of center- this gives us hope! Hopefully, the main strem media will “wise up”- this still the greatest country in the world! Let’s not lose it!
I try to do my bit- by pasing along by group e-mail, anything of a conservative nature- whether I write it or pick in my e-mail. That, so far is one way to pass our message to many people!
Many thanks for your time’
Wally Flint- Boonville, NY
Bernie,
I just want to say how much I enjoy listening to you on Fox News, and I applaud your down-to-earth and right-on-target comments. I wish there were more people like you out there. I have lived in Peru for the last 30+ years, and I can truthfully say that when I do return to the U.S., it hurts me to see what has happened to the country I love.
Politicians are more rotten than ever. The “lame stream” media, as you so well call it, is not interested in the truth anymore. Traditional values and virtues have all but disappeared. Can you imagine wanting to call a Christmas tree a “Holiday tree.” Or taking “In God we trust” off the currency. How ridiculous can you get? What will they do with Thanksgiving. Who are we to “thank”? Our founding fathers wanted to leave us a nation where God could be worshiped freely–liberty FOR religion, not FROM religion.
And look at the outcome of all these changes: What is happening to young folks–the violence, ignorance, lack of culture and morals, the loss of traditional values and service to others. From a recent survey on Fox, young Americans knew the names of the latest movies and Hollywood stars, but didn´t even know the name of the VP of the United States. Unbelievable! And if Obama continues to lead us to the far (socialist) left, they won’t even know who George Washington was a few years from now. In fact, I sometimes wonder if Obama studied traditional American history. After all, he grew up in Indonesia during his formative years.
I feel like the girl without a country!
Bernie
I watch you on the Orielly show all the time. I hear you asking why Journelists are not speaking up. But I noticed that all of you dance around the fact that our President is a Muslim. Afraid that you would be accused of saying that he is capable of doing the same as the Muslim did in Fort Hood. Maybe he is a card carrier of the SOA also.
You should try and get on the Glenn Beck show. At least there you can say what is on your mind.
Dave Reid
Defuniak Spirgs Fl.
As a Christian and a veteran I swore loyalty to my country, I don’t remember any clause in there about not having to go to a war zone where our enemies might be Christian also.
And to think I wouldn’t have had to go to Viet Nam, I could have claimed Pre-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder before I went.
Hey Bernie, On his Fox News show, Sean Hannity misleadingly aired video from the 9-12 March on Washington while discussing Rep. Michele Bachmann’s (R-MN) much smaller November 5 anti-health care reform rally to claim that “twenty-thousand plus” people showed up to Bachmann’s protest. Hannity’s video switch-up — which Jon Stewart highlighted on The Daily Show — is just the latest example of Fox News hosts’ extensive history of deceptively using video and photos to advance a false or misleading story line.
Fox News has history of deceptively using video to advance dubious storylines, but you are indifferent, when Fox News does it. How come?
Bernie,
You are a straight shooter and a refreshing light on the “lame media”.
Political Correctness was a bad experiement that does not work. You are absoltuley right on when say that PC is killing the press; and it is killing Americans.
I hope people will stop and think out this issue. When they do they will see that the clarity of a Politcal Correctness posture is wrong; and the truth of that is blinding!
You are a great balance to the Fox News Shows you appear on; and tighten the focus of each the those shows commentators who are equally enlightening.
Keep it going.
Steve
Having almost been killed on 9/11/01 by muslim jihadists, I take GREAT offense to the way the media is spinning the Fort Hood attack. These media whores could care less about the safety and security of this country. And don’t tell me they aren’t taking their marching orders from the terrorist loving White House. Wasn’t there speculation just a few weeks ago about “the media showing signs of nobility?” HA! That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in months. I’m not stupid, even though the Ivy League, liberal elitists in the media think I am. I know the difference between peaceful, law-abiding muslims and criminal, psychopathic jihadists who use religion as an excuse to commit murder. How about the geniuses who make millions of dollars in the media doing their jobs and informing the American people of the facts and stop providing cover for both Obama and his policies and the Islamic terrorists who are killing our people? Is that too much to ask? You should all be ashamed of yourselves.
I’m also disgusted with the Army and our intelligence agencies, who knew well in advance that this guy was communicating with an Al-Qaeda recruiter in Yemen and still allowed him to remain in the Army. The guy had an announcement on his business card, SOA, soldiers of Allah and still nothing was done. I’m telling you, this attack was just a warning. I give it one more year and we’re really gonna get hit with the big one. And when it happens, the media and the government will have blood on it’s hands. It really makes me sick.
What he did was domestic terrorism. That’s simple fact. However, Islam doesn’t have a lock on killing people based on religion. Dr. Tiller was killed by a “pro-life Christian” (in quotes because I believe he was neither) in a terrorist attack. Both showed signs of what they were going to do and both were ignored.
Noticed another subtle example of bias on the weekend. Starting Saturday afternoon, everyone on CNN started pronouncing Hasan’s name as “Howsen”, rather than “Hassan”. Wonder why they’d do that? (Tongue firmly planted in cheek). It’s amazing how these people operate.
Mr. Goldberg:
Where were you when Barook Goldstein, a NY Emergency Room physician, opened fire on innocent Muslims who were praying at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Israel, killing several of his victims? The fact is that all the terrorism problem that the United States is facing stems from the criminal acts of Israel.
It is in Israel’s interest that American Muslims be demonized which will help it influence American opinion for the expansion of its illegal Settlements. Israeli agents like yourself are given a certain role to play which you play in your own subtle ways.
All that anti-Muslim propaganda in the U.S. is not by mainstream Americans. One can always trace it to people with extra-territorial loyalties. It is the Israeli agents who got America involved in the Iraq War under false pretense killing more than 5,000 Americans. Now Senators Joe Lieberman and Arlen Specter want another 5,000 American heads blown by attacking Iran so that Israel could feel better. Do you or your Israeli mentors ever think in America’s interest?
There is a Nidal Hasan listed on Obama’s Thinking Anew – Transition Team Roster page 29 – listed as “Uniformed Services University School of Medicine” Nidal Hasan. Is he someone Obama knew? Is it just a coincidence or an error or a fake? Anyone know?
Fort Hood Police Sgt. Kimberly Munley deserves the Presidential Medal of Freedom…or at least a visit by Barack Obama. How long do you think we’ll have to wait for either? (Way longer than breath can be held, I’m guessing.)
Mr. Goldberg,
The President should have gone to Fort Hood. Any use of the word orator applied to him is wrong, for oratory requires memory, not a teleprompter. It also requires the ability to persuade people. For all the Pesident’s pandering and placating I have not heard of an increase of American Arabic speakers joining the military, FBI, and CIA.
We are not getting support from Muslims in America. A previous writer is correct in that Muslims (I believe it is apparently the majority) want to enjoy the benefits of this country, but not make the sacrifices.
Compare the Muslim in America of the present to the Nisei of World War II. They saw their people incarcerated and property confiscated, yet they earned the most combat decorations in the European Theater.
(If you allow this on your site, please use my full name.)
Will the Lame Stream Media take responsibility for mainstreaming radicals like Hasan?
First it was Bill Ayers – MSM portrait him like a college professor instead of unrepentant terrorist.
Coo-coos like Wright and Farrakhan who MSM portrait as religous philosophers instead of calling them for what they are – hatemongers.
Anderson Cooper referred yesterday to Hasan as “Doctor Hasan” every time he mentioned his name – almost leaving the impression Hasan was giving flu shots to the solders not shooting bullets at them.
Bernie and others that are concerned about the Lame Stream Media and the erosion of “journalism” in America. Here is the “Code of Ethics” for the “Society for Professional Journalists” It is well worth the read and you can see the likes of CNN and MSNBC and the major networks ABC, CBS and NBC are all not so ethical, especially in their very own handling and censorship of the news and bing in the tank for Obama.
here is the website:
http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp
and a few high points:
“Journalists should:
— Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
— Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.
— Identify sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources’ reliability.”
Oh and wait there is more:
“— Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
— Avoid stereotyping by race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status.”
WAIT FOR IT>>>>>>>>
“— Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.”
I would think “openly advocating for Obama” as MSNBC would mean that MSNBC is “not a real news network” and that would apply to CNN as well.
There is more:
Under the Act Independently it is equally laughable when applied to the Current Lame Stream MEdia:
“Journalists should:
—Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
— Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
— Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, ****political involvement****, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
— ****Disclose unavoidable conflicts.****
— ***Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.****
— Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
SO the so called “Professional of Journalism” is not quite as ethical, and furthermore will the Society for Professional Journalism call out the media for being so biased? IF not what is this association worth??
In his little speech day after the masacre Obama refused to call the act of terrorism for what it is and prolonged the unemployment benefits in the same breath. It was like Mary-Antoinette throwing cakes to a crowd.
People don’t want unemploiment benefites – they want jobs.
Muslims don’t need nice words – Middle East is like a barrel of gun-powder – they need leadership.
Ironically Hasan tried to participate in the Democratic proses inspired by Obama’s appeasing words and signed for a task-group on foreign policy at a University. Then he realized Obama is just words and has zero solutions for the Middle East. Obama is spitting false hopes. He needs a reality check – fast.
Recently Obama signed a new “hate crime” bill. I suppose we have a great opportunity to “test” it on this murderer.
Great point!
Bernie
After 9/11 Bush was able to unite the nation. We saw and we agreed on what we saw.
After Fort Hood Obama continued to divide the nation trying to convince people that what we saw is not what we saw.
Somehow we have to believe that terrorist is not a terrorist,
that a person who lists himself in the mosque list as Palestinian is just a guy from Virginia,
that the victims of the terror are just collateral damage,
that Fort Hood is not a place Obama have to go today, but Pelosi’s office is.
People in America believe their eyes – when Obama bows to the Saudi King – we see a bow, when a terrorist attack our homeland we see a terrorist attack.
The Fort Hood deaths were preventable. Officials of all levels did not act on many red flags. In the Obama era of political correctness nobody wanted to spy on an American Palestinian Muslim – no matter how crazy his behavior.
People are afraid if they act on leads like that Sharptons and Jacksons will be on their door, in their yard screaming and yelling. That is why nobody acted on the signals.
If I was a POTUS I would send him to Gitmo as a symbolic act to send a message . Terrorist is a terrorist no matter if homegrown or foreign raised.
The fact that Hasan is an American does not make him “not a terrorist”.
The fact that he is a Muslim does not make him “terrorist”
The fact that he committed a terrorist act makes him “a terrorist”
LSM is not asking why Obama found no time to visit Fort Hood or at least USS New York ceremony.
We remember – yes – we remember – but our President doesn’t.
He may fly his wife to Broadway to see a musical, but send Hillary or Biden for the 9/11 anniversary or 9/11 remembrance ceremony like the one we had today.
LSM discussed at length if a caterpillar is too scary for the terrorists in Gitmo – but will not ask if Nidal Hasan hurt on daily basis our solders in need of help in a his government office.
Media’s credibility is gone.
They are afraid to call out his Palestinian descent, his Islamic religious upbringing.
They are afraid to call his victims – victims – they call our braves “collateral damage”.
They refuse to investigate if his patients were his victims too. Hasan probably hurt American heroes for years – may be not physically, but mentally – in his office – and we all paid for this psycho to torture our brave men and women.
They investigate if the music was too loud at Gitmo, but will not investigate what happened in this terrorist’s office.
the media is only part of the problem – when poopystinians are given refuge in America – you have a problem – America has been too welcoming and accomodating and now people are afraid to speak out against the Mohammedans and the poopystinians.
Political correctness = death.
I am surprised the American people are allowing this worthless president and evil congress to be in place, it is a shame for America.
Wally
Sydney, Australia
I agree with ALL you said , however , there were hundreds of thousands of American-Italians fighting in both theaters of operations ; being of Italian descent and having MANy friends & relatives in the service during WW II I felt neglected , but keep up your good work .!
This is a little off topic but I cannot believe that no one is reporting on Obama’s “shout out” to an Indian at a press conference and then going through another 2 minutes of intros and nonsense before even commenting on the terrorist attack. This was one of most un-presidential, shameful and inapproprite acts I’ve ever witnessed by a President. The only sight even mentioning it is the Drudge Report. Where is Fox on this? What an incredible slap in the face to Americans that were expecting a solemn and firm repudiation and instead he got a “don’t rush to judgement”.
it disgusting icouldnt believe what i was watching i agree whom ever voted for that guy should be embarrased what a disgrace
Thanks Bernie.
Bernie:
As usual, you’re right on target.
Take a trip back in time and look how we, as a nation, viewed Germans, Japanese and Italians. During World War II we did not hesitate to identify the bad guys and see the threat they posed to us.
The mainstream media needs to understand that the enemy is not us, but a twisted form of religion.
Up and until then, they will gloss over the facts so that no one gets offended. As they say in news, “Never let facts get in the way of a good story.”
Keep up the good work.
Steven
There is no such thing as a “moderate” Muslim. At what point will we all wake up and understand that the real enemy of the USA is Islam? Islam is simply not compatible with western democracy. They hate our freedom as much as out Judail-Christian religious traditions. I truly doubt there is any hope of negotiating with a committed Muslim. One side will have to secure unambiguous victory at some point in the near future. Let’s hope it’s those who love freedom and liberty!
Where are all the “good, kind, PEACEFUL” followers of the Muslim religion, when something like this happens?!! You know…..the ones that LOVE America and its people??!! They should be organizing in the streets, by the THOUSANDS, to express thier ANGER and OUTRAGE and SADNESS……………….I!!! am outraged!!!
Bernie,
So true. My husband is in the Air Force and I have found most of this media coverage insulting and shameful. I’m so sick of all this PC crap.
Bernie- You hit the nail on the head. Nidal Malik Hasan’s homocidal rampage appears to be inflicted during a “Jihad” mental high. Comments from his granny over in Ramallah, WestBank say he wanted out of the military. If I remember correctly, commisioned officers can give up their commission unlike enlisted personnel that are bound by their committment. In any event his reluctance to serve in Afghanistan is farcical. His reason that he didn’t want to fight fellow Muslims is baloney. I’m sure all medical doctors are in the front lines shooting folks. Face it, another Muslim, Muhammad Ali, didn’t want to fight for our country allegedly because of religious and his non-violence beliefs. Knocking people in the head until they lose consiousness isn’t violence in his eyes-I guess. These people want to make money here and enjoy the freedoms our forefathers fought for yet don’t want to help defend our country. Hmm-sounds like many in the Congress and White House. You can’t be a part-time American. It’s all or none.
Who in the helldo you think you are. You clame that PTSD is like SECOND HAND SMOKE, GET REAL THIS CLOWN IS NOTHING MORE THEN A PEICE OF CRAP. YPU ARE ONE OF THE ONES THAT HAS NEVER BEEN IN THE MILITARY, BUT DOES NOTHING BUT BAD MOUTYH US . THAT RIGHT I’VE DONE MY TIME. BEFORE YOU BAD MOUTH US, COME YOU LOUD MOUTH PEICE OF CRAP, COME FOLLOW US INTO COMBAT. iF NOT THEN SHUT THE HELL UP
Bernie,
I just wrote to NBC News and told them I had changed the channel to Fox News after hearing reporter Jack Jacobs pretty much blaming the Army, etc for the Fort Hood shootings. In addition to the PTSD that Nancy above mentions, how can anyone get on TV with a straight face and say this guy was upset over being teased about his religion? A grown man, a doctor, soldier – or that he is scared about being deployed to Iraq? NBC in the same report said he went to his place of Muslim worship every day – and he isn’t secure in his beliefs? Let me tell you why the warning signs were not reported – because a reporter like Jack Jacobs would have a story on NBC News complaining of “profiling” the guy. Perhaps the other 3,999 soldiers who practice Islam are nice people, but this guy is a terrorist.
Tracy
Exactly right! Thanks
Bernie
Thanks, Bernie for your sights on the “lame-stream media.” You are absolutely correct when you say the lame stream media is killing America. At what point is the gov able to silence any dissenting voices to the point that remaining voices cannot stop the tusnami of totalitarianism? Have we already reached that point. If we get gov health care, our freedom may be lost without a shot being fired.
“We don’t want to spark any more uncertainty towards Muslims living in America who are peaceful.” – What we should do, my dears, is use psychobabble jargon to explain that this evil fascist country forced him to do it because of our “jingoistic practices” and “culture of hate and war.” Thank goodness I don’t watch Bill Maher, because I might want to throw something dependent on his guests this evening. What a disgrace… for to dismiss any portion of reality, no matter how unpleasant, is only done at one’s increased risk.
It’s so difficult to truely understand the mainstream media. How can they be so dumb?
But Bernie, I thought it was the Internet that was killing the tired, old lamestream media. LOL They really don’t get why they’re dying a slow death do they? I bought the Boston Globe everyday for 25 years and finally stopped. It’s always been a silly little liberal propaganda sheet but it’s gotten worse so I decided to assist it’s suicide by not buying it.
“Political correctness is a virus running through our culture”. The irony on this virus -it’s the “washing of hands” Pontius Pilate avoidance ritual that spreads it.
Bernie–
Thanks once again for so succinctly (and correctly) pointing out the rank hypocrisy of the US media. I caught the daily news briefing today and saw all the jockeying of some trying to get at the PTSD angle. Hmm, Timothy McVeigh was in the military wasn’t he? Anybody look into whether HE had PTSD? Oh of course not, white people don’t get that as a convenient excuse. Hmm…maybe we can use the new hate crime law against this guy who obviously hated everyone who wasn’t a muslim. Again…only christians need apply. Shame on US for settling for such shoddy and deceptive so-called journalism..
Nancy
Great observation about McVeigh being in the military. Like you, I don’t remember anyone wondering if he had PTSD. I may “borrow” that line for future use. Thanks.
Bernie