Alan Keyes Deserves Better

Israel Insider ^ | June 17, 2002 | Reuven Koret

[Paul Ross]

		June 17, 2002

		[more specials] *Flash 5 required

		Bennett M. Epstein Jonathan Friendly Michael Freund Micah D. Halpern Gila Svirsky Judy Lash Balint Charlotte West Daniel Pipes [more]

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Reuven Koret is publisher of israelinsider and CEO of Koret Communications.
publisher@israelinsider.com

More from Reuven Koret
	I am a Zionist
	The stench of hypocrisy
	The hard truth about Tom Friedman
[more]

Alan Keyes deserves better
By Reuven Koret  June 17, 2002

There are unconfirmed reports that the American cable network MSNBC, apparently buckling to heavy pressure from anti-Israel groups, is planning not to renew next season its evening current affairs program, "Alan Keyes is Making Sense." Watch his show tonight to find out why. The truth will shock you.

Keyes, who ran in the last U.S. election as a Republican candidate for President, speaks fearlessly about Mideast history, reminding viewers of the oft-forgotten truths that, in 1948, the fledgling Jewish State was attacked by five Arab armies at the moment it declared independence, and that, in 1967, Israel was threatened with annihilation before thwarting its enemies' genocidal plans, seizing territory in a self-defensive war. He speaks knowledgeably about international law and the right of a nation to retain lands from which it was attacked until conditions of a secure, negotiated peace can prevail.

Alan Keyes is an advocate for the political equivalent of parental tough love. He harbors the Palestinian people no ill will. In a recent column, he wrote this: "I have long supported the legitimate demand for Palestinian self-government. But the first prerequisite of self-government is to govern one's own passions, resentment and anger. Martin Luther King made the 20th century's racial progress possible by teaching us that even the victims of terrible oppression still are responsible for not contributing to the very culture of violence that oppresses them."

The Palestinian people, he writes, have been pitifully under-served by their leadership. "Suicide bombing," Keyes writes, "symbolizes all that such leadership offers. It accomplishes nothing except national immolation on the altar of prideful leaders preaching the martyrdom of despair." Israel, he notes, has kept its commitments, and can be expected to fulfill the terms of any bargain negotiated in good faith. "The Palestinians can have reasonable hope that such offers will be met with honorable reply from Israel. But this can't happen until the Palestinians reject the leadership now pushing them over the desperate precipice of revenge and self-destruction."

But unlike those who repeat the mantra that Israel must accept the failed Palestinian leadership, because there is supposedly no other choice, Keyes calls on Americans to support the Israeli refusal to deal with the compulsive liar who has condemned his people to a self-fulfilling wish of death and self-destruction. "If we have the toughness to join Israel in refusing to deal with such leadership, we will open the door to hope. We will help spark the Palestinian people to turn away from the cult of revenge, and to look for leaders willing to offer something better than the pointless destruction of the innocent."

The first half-hour of Keyes' groundbreaking show, which begins at 10 p.m. ET, will feature clips from "Israel and the War of Images" and "The Trojan Horse." These explosive tapes, produced by French filmmaker Pierre Rehov, contain actual footage from Palestinian Authority television documenting Yasser Arafat's call for the destruction of the Jewish people and the annihilation of Israel. They also document the brainwashing of Arab children to hate, attack, and murder Jews.

Unique to these films is that they offer no analysis or opinion, but merely show what is aired on Palestinian TV with translations in both French and English. Both tapes reportedly have been banned by French television, and never before screened in the U.S.

Keyes will also screen a third videotape, provided by Middle East Media Research Institute, documenting the training of Muslim men on how to "properly" beat their wives. Here, too, the tape merely presents actual footage from Arab television stations.

The truth of these broadcast images speaks for itself, but it takes a man of great moral courage to show them, despite the threats of apologists for the cruel and autocratic regimes that financed and cheered the 9/11 attacks on America and continue to support the elimination of the Jewish nation.

If one contrasts the moral clarity that characterizes the voice of Alan Keyes with the mealy-mouthed equivocation that bleats from Foggy Bottom, one longs for Secretary of State Colin Powell to do the right thing and resign himself to the lecture circuit, or perhaps a late night talk show of his own.

If MSNBC executives are so foolish or so cowardly as to turn out their network's clearest voice of reason, a man unafraid to stand strong against the moral relativism and the outright lies of the oil-slick Arab lobby, then it will be not only their loss. It will be a setback for America and a victory for those who seek to rationalize the 9/11 massacre as an understandable act of desperation of "oppressed" Muslims.

Alan Keyes makes no apology for broadcasting the ugly truth about the leadership of the Arab world. He just makes sense. He challenges those who try to distort the facts or to create moral equivalence between terrorists and their victims. He speaks truth to power. He tells it like it is, and to hell with political correctness.

If the MSNBC network execs are too intimidated by Arab boycott-mongers to keep him on their team, President Bush should consider eliminating the weak links in his own current diplomatic line-up and invite Alan Keyes to restore the integrity and credibility of America's war against Islamic terrorism. Even if MSNBC does not appreciate him, the American people deserve him at State.

Until the call from the White House comes, Keyes deserves the outspoken support of viewers who demand that his voice of morality and reason continue to be heard, loud and clear. Tune in tonight to find out why.

Views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.

© 2001-2002 Koret Communications Ltd. All rights reserved. Terms of Use. Site Credit. 

		June 17, 2002

		[more specials] *Flash 5 required

		Bennett M. Epstein Jonathan Friendly Michael Freund Micah D. Halpern Gila Svirsky Judy Lash Balint Charlotte West Daniel Pipes [more]

			Sign up for our weekly newsletter! E-mail

Reuven Koret is publisher of israelinsider and CEO of Koret Communications.
publisher@israelinsider.com

More from Reuven Koret
	I am a Zionist
	The stench of hypocrisy
	The hard truth about Tom Friedman
[more]

Alan Keyes deserves better
By Reuven Koret  June 17, 2002

There are unconfirmed reports that the American cable network MSNBC, apparently buckling to heavy pressure from anti-Israel groups, is planning not to renew next season its evening current affairs program, "Alan Keyes is Making Sense." Watch his show tonight to find out why. The truth will shock you.

Keyes, who ran in the last U.S. election as a Republican candidate for President, speaks fearlessly about Mideast history, reminding viewers of the oft-forgotten truths that, in 1948, the fledgling Jewish State was attacked by five Arab armies at the moment it declared independence, and that, in 1967, Israel was threatened with annihilation before thwarting its enemies' genocidal plans, seizing territory in a self-defensive war. He speaks knowledgeably about international law and the right of a nation to retain lands from which it was attacked until conditions of a secure, negotiated peace can prevail.

Alan Keyes is an advocate for the political equivalent of parental tough love. He harbors the Palestinian people no ill will. In a recent column, he wrote this: "I have long supported the legitimate demand for Palestinian self-government. But the first prerequisite of self-government is to govern one's own passions, resentment and anger. Martin Luther King made the 20th century's racial progress possible by teaching us that even the victims of terrible oppression still are responsible for not contributing to the very culture of violence that oppresses them."

The Palestinian people, he writes, have been pitifully under-served by their leadership. "Suicide bombing," Keyes writes, "symbolizes all that such leadership offers. It accomplishes nothing except national immolation on the altar of prideful leaders preaching the martyrdom of despair." Israel, he notes, has kept its commitments, and can be expected to fulfill the terms of any bargain negotiated in good faith. "The Palestinians can have reasonable hope that such offers will be met with honorable reply from Israel. But this can't happen until the Palestinians reject the leadership now pushing them over the desperate precipice of revenge and self-destruction."

But unlike those who repeat the mantra that Israel must accept the failed Palestinian leadership, because there is supposedly no other choice, Keyes calls on Americans to support the Israeli refusal to deal with the compulsive liar who has condemned his people to a self-fulfilling wish of death and self-destruction. "If we have the toughness to join Israel in refusing to deal with such leadership, we will open the door to hope. We will help spark the Palestinian people to turn away from the cult of revenge, and to look for leaders willing to offer something better than the pointless destruction of the innocent."

The first half-hour of Keyes' groundbreaking show, which begins at 10 p.m. ET, will feature clips from "Israel and the War of Images" and "The Trojan Horse." These explosive tapes, produced by French filmmaker Pierre Rehov, contain actual footage from Palestinian Authority television documenting Yasser Arafat's call for the destruction of the Jewish people and the annihilation of Israel. They also document the brainwashing of Arab children to hate, attack, and murder Jews.

Unique to these films is that they offer no analysis or opinion, but merely show what is aired on Palestinian TV with translations in both French and English. Both tapes reportedly have been banned by French television, and never before screened in the U.S.

Keyes will also screen a third videotape, provided by Middle East Media Research Institute, documenting the training of Muslim men on how to "properly" beat their wives. Here, too, the tape merely presents actual footage from Arab television stations.

The truth of these broadcast images speaks for itself, but it takes a man of great moral courage to show them, despite the threats of apologists for the cruel and autocratic regimes that financed and cheered the 9/11 attacks on America and continue to support the elimination of the Jewish nation.

If one contrasts the moral clarity that characterizes the voice of Alan Keyes with the mealy-mouthed equivocation that bleats from Foggy Bottom, one longs for Secretary of State Colin Powell to do the right thing and resign himself to the lecture circuit, or perhaps a late night talk show of his own.

If MSNBC executives are so foolish or so cowardly as to turn out their network's clearest voice of reason, a man unafraid to stand strong against the moral relativism and the outright lies of the oil-slick Arab lobby, then it will be not only their loss. It will be a setback for America and a victory for those who seek to rationalize the 9/11 massacre as an understandable act of desperation of "oppressed" Muslims.

Alan Keyes makes no apology for broadcasting the ugly truth about the leadership of the Arab world. He just makes sense. He challenges those who try to distort the facts or to create moral equivalence between terrorists and their victims. He speaks truth to power. He tells it like it is, and to hell with political correctness.

If the MSNBC network execs are too intimidated by Arab boycott-mongers to keep him on their team, President Bush should consider eliminating the weak links in his own current diplomatic line-up and invite Alan Keyes to restore the integrity and credibility of America's war against Islamic terrorism. Even if MSNBC does not appreciate him, the American people deserve him at State.

Until the call from the White House comes, Keyes deserves the outspoken support of viewers who demand that his voice of morality and reason continue to be heard, loud and clear. Tune in tonight to find out why.

Views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.

© 2001-2002 Koret Communications Ltd. All rights reserved. Terms of Use. Site Credit. 

[Paul Ross]

For those who, out of some mis-directed rage against authentic conservative philosophy, classified Alan as having turned leftward, I think you should be watching tonight.

[Dave S]

If the MSNBC network execs are too intimidated by Arab boycott-mongers to keep him on their team, President Bush should consider eliminating the weak links in his own current diplomatic line-up and invite Alan Keyes to restore the integrity and credibility of America's war against Islamic terrorism. Even if MSNBC does not appreciate him, the American people deserve him at State.

Just what Bush needs, an idiot like Keyes with a big mouth pontificating to one and all how they should live.

For the last time I will tell you, Keyes show is being cancelled because its boring and Keyes is preachy. He never built an audience. No audience, no ad revenue. Thats the story. There is no arab boycott that did Keyes in. He did it himself. Maybe some of you Keyes supporters cant see it but I hope Keyes isnt so delusional that he knows why his show was cancelled.

[Dave S]

Good luck. Similar posts about this arab boycott have posted during the past week or so.

[Keyes For President]

Keyes' ratings have been about average compared to MSNBC's average ratings. MSNBC averages about 230,000 households per day which is about what "Alan Keyes Is Making Sense" has been averaging.

MSNBC isn't canceling it's liberal shows that are doing poorly, but they are canceling their only conservative show, which also happens to be very supportive of Israel in their war on terror.

[Gelato]

BUMP!

[Keyes For President]

btt

[LarryLied]

Similar posts about this arab boycott have posted during the past week or so.

Anyone find proof that is why the show is leaving?

Amazing how politics change. I remember not too long ago when Jewish groups put Alan Keyes perhaps one circle below Pat Buchanan in the hierarchy of pure evil.

[EternalVigilance]

I remember not too long ago when Jewish groups put Alan Keyes perhaps one circle below Pat Buchanan in the hierarchy of pure evil.

Care to back that up with any facts, sir?

Alan Keyes has been known to be a friend of Israel for many many years...throughout his days in the State Department until the present...in fact, he is a friend of Bibi Netanyahu of long standing.

You're making stuff up.

[Doc On The Bay]

WHATEVER Dr Keyes may be, he is NOT an "IDIOT!!;" ANYONE who SO UNDERESTIMATES Dr Keyes is, unfortunately, "Highly Delusional!!"

IMHO, Dr Keyes is one of our BEST Constitutional Scholars!!

His Opinions re; Israel, are Worthy of SERIOUS State Dep't consideration!!

There are Literally Hundreds of Thousands of us--who have studied & formed "well-thought-out Opinions" about America & Israel--who regard Dr Keyes Opinions as a "VALID REFLECTION" of our OWN!"

Dr Keyes represents a LARGE percentage of the "Thinking & Engaged" Population of America!

MSNBC is apparently "angling For" the "Lowest Common Denominator....."

Dr Keyes speaks to the "Best & the Brightest!!"

So Be It!!!

Doc

[Rowdee]

That is certainly how I recall things, EV....all the stuff I've read from Keyes and talks/speeches, he has been consistent in his approach to Israel.

I can remember back in campaign days the great speech the Jewish crowd was given by Keyes--as I recall they were very polite in their applause, as someone noticed they didn't want to hear something or other that he had said.

[Rowdee]

Amazing isn't it....how any explanation of history or diplomatic activities is 'boring'...unless of course, it is followed by giving away the store! LOL....

[Registered]

Anyone find proof that is why the show is leaving?

Amazing how politics change. I remember not too long ago when Jewish groups put Alan Keyes perhaps one circle below Pat Buchanan in the hierarchy of pure evil.

Anyone find proof that backs your statement up?

[LarryLied]

Ok. I was wrong. Gore didn't get 80% of the Jewish vote in 2000. Alan Keyes did. Newt or Jerry Falwell would have split that vote with Alan but they were not running. Alan got 91% of the black vote too and the media mislead us there also.

cheezzzzz....

[SJackson]

Anyone find proof that backs your statement up?

William Carto?

[Dave S]

Keyes' ratings have been about average compared to MSNBC's average ratings.

But Keyes ratings were one forth of what Greta had in her show on Fox at the same time period. Ratings a lot lower than CNN as well.

[SJackson]

Needless to say, William=Willis

[Registered]

What % of the Jewish vote did Bush get versus Gore and would that indicate that some Jewish groups put W. perhaps one circle below Pat Buchanan in the hierarchy of pure evil?

cheezzzzz....

[LarryLied]

Bush came close to being in the most damned circle when he made that comment about believing in Christ. Alan is in the running for worst because of his stance on abortion alone. There might be one but I cannot think of an issue aside from Israel on which Alan would get majority Jewish support.

[Torie]

Keyes' show tonight was excellent. But the suggestion that is Keyes' views on the mideast that caused his show to be sent into the showers is totally unsupported by any evidence. There are certainly other possible reasons, including such matters perhaps as low ratings, that might be remotely relevant. Thus this piece is one with an agenda using Keyes as a vehicle.

[Dave S]

WHATEVER Dr Keyes may be, he is NOT an "IDIOT!!;" ANYONE who SO UNDERESTIMATES Dr Keyes is, unfortunately, "Highly Delusional!!" IMHO, Dr Keyes is one of our BEST Constitutional Scholars!!

Perhaps but he's a lousy political candidate and poor TV host.