TheLoop21.com

By: Devona Walker (Add to your loop)
Wed, 08/19/2009 - 00:00

ColorOfChange.org is campaigning against FOX News' Glenn Beck.

The minority-run ColorOfChange.org is campaigning against the ultra conservative commentator Glenn Beck. They have persuaded more than 20 advertisers including CBS, Wal-Mart, LexisNexis-owned Lawyers.com, Procter & Gamble and Progressive Insurance to pull their ads.

Why is this important? 

We have watched FOX News attack President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and Black America. Bill O'Reilly called for the death of murdered abortion doctor George Tiller only months before his death. Remember, too, it was the FOX-owned New York Post who printed the monkey cartoon. It was also FOX News who lashed out against Hurricane Katrina evacuees, arguing they were to blame for an increase in homicides. Yet, the network tried to cover up the incompetence of the Bush administration that led to the deaths of many Blacks in New Orleans.

FOX News has been veiling racism with conservative values for years. Among its cache of extreme talking heads, Glenn Beck is arguably the most out there. Here’s Beck on Muslims. Here’s Beck on the John Birch Society. Here’s Beck’s Nancy Pelosi death fanatasy.  Here's Beck crying over illegal immigration.

Folks have criticized Blacks for being unengaged in the political process, for allowing things to happen to us, and whining. But in 2008, we increased our votes by two million people, to 64.7 percent—on par with white America and nearly 20 percent higher than other racial minorities. And now, it’s Black activists who are trying to silence the radical racism and race-baiting on the far right so the grown folks can get back to debating policy.

Q&A with James Rucker, the man behind the Glenn Beck campaign and co-founder of ColorOfChange.org:

How important do you think the issue of race is in this political environment?

I think it's central. The birthers phenomenon makes it pretty clear. The heart of the birthers argument is a xenophobic and racist one. Folks are so distraught over having a Black president that they embrace a theory that's been clearly debunked.  

Some would make the criticism that when liberals protest it is viewed as "democracy in action" but when conservatives do it, it is viewed as an angry mob. What is the difference?

The difference is that the birthers are peddling falsehoods, and the Republicans are fear-mongering based on misinformation. It's a key difference. If reporters did their job correctly, they could surface that this is the case.  

What is the endgame in the Glenn Beck campaign?

The endgame is to reduce the size of Beck's platform and force FOX and other cable news organizations to pull back from the brink.

In terms of the term “racist.” It appears that Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, etc, folks many minorities would feel epitomize the word racist, are the ones who keep throwing the word around. Do you have some clarity on this strategy? 

Yes, it's brilliant and they need to be called out on it. They're pulling the teeth out of the term— basically accusing anyone who is talking about race and, in their mind, not being fair, as a racist. White people don't feel equipped to challenge them (impaired by our society's general fear and inability to talk about race), and the Black folks who could push back have yet to find a platform on par with theirs to do so.

Devona Walker is TheLoop21.com's lead political/finance reporter and blogger. She has worked for The New York Times Regional Newspaper company and The Associated Press. She may be reached at devona@theloop21.com.

Should Obama officials continue to appear on Fox News?

Yes

No

I'm not sure