Journalists demand apology from Fox for ‘irresponsible comments about Islam’ (Video)

Journalists demand apology from Fox for ‘irresponsible comments about Islam’ (Video)

A group of journalists is demanding that Fox News apologize for a remark one of its hosts made last week while discussing the horrifying death of photojournalist James Foley at the hands of an ISIS terrorist.

On the Aug. 20 airing of FNC’s noon commentary program, “Outnumbered,” co-host Andrea Tantaros said that the problem of radical Islam is nothing new–it’s been going on for centuries. She then suggested that the best way to solve it was “with a bullet to the head.”

The Asian American Journalists Association issued a statement Wednesday that, while admitting that the “killing of photojournalist James Foley was disturbing, [and] appalling,” it condemned Tantaros for condemning “an entire faith.”

After making its complaint, the group noted that “Fox News representatives did not respond to multiple AAJA inquiries about Tantaros’ statements.”

Tantaros’ full remarks were:

If you study the history of Islam. our ship captains were getting murdered. The French had to tip us off. I mean these were the days of Thomas Jefferson. They’ve been doing the same thing. This isn’t a surprise. You can’t solve it with a dialogue. You can’t solve it with a summit. You solve it with a bullet to the head. Its the only thing these people understand. And all we’ve heard from this president is a case to heap praise on this religion, as if to appease them.

Watch the exchange below. Story continues after clip.

http://youtu.be/zgiN_FGjtu4

Social media took note of the group’s complaint, and Twitchy was on hand to record it all.

The panel was clearly talking about radical Islam, and Tantaros made her comments on that basis.

But more significantly, this was clearly her opinion. That’s the whole purpose of the show–to offer opinion on the news.

“Outnumbered” is a popular program havng a rotating panel of four women and one man discussing current events. It’s not news–it’s the commentary of that day’s five co-hosts, none of them acting as news anchors.

Opinion is clearly speech protected by the First Amendment. This is something an association of journalists should jealously defend–not destroy.

Michael Dorstewitz

Michael Dorstewitz

Michael Dorstewitz is a recovering Michigan trial lawyer and former research vessel deck officer. He has written extensively for BizPac Review.

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