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Fox News Watch: Eric Burned For Criticism of US Airways Removal of Imams
Fox News Watch/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 12/02/2006 5:19:01 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest

How do you know when you've gone overboard with political correctness? When even the liberal panelists of Fox News Watch chide you for it. Host Eric Burns normally stays above the fray. But for some reason, on this evening's show he chose to criticize US Airways for removing from one of its flights six imams whose actions had made other passengers uneasy.

Said Burns, introducing the segment: "There were two stories in the news this week about religion. First, Pope Benedict in Turkey tried to encourage tolerance between Catholics and Muslims. Second, a story of tolerance of U.S. Airways and Muslims - there wasn't any - as six Muslim religious leaders, or imams, were recently yanked off the US Airways flight for no apparent reason other than that a passenger thought they were behaving strangely. Jane, I wonder if the moral of these two stories is first that the media are not at all captivated by this Pope . . but they are captivated by stories that seem to show that anti-terrorist policies sometimes go too far."

Liberal panelist Jane Hall took polite exception: "I'm not sure I would agree. From what I read - and my source is the [conservative] Washington Times and Cal Thomas - so let's stipulate that, the reports I read said that these men were sitting in the back, went to the back, and the configuration was like the September 11th hijackers, praying very loudly and that they were speaking about al Qaeda. I mean, my shoes, 83-year-old grandmothers are searched, and so I'm not so sure this is a story of intolerance, frankly."

Jim Pinkerton was less forgiving: "Yeah, Eric, I think you misstated the argument there badly on the U.S. Airways flight."

A rueful Burns: "Couldn't you just disagree?"

Pinkerton: "I tried to say that graciously."

Liberal Neal Gabler chimed in with a laugh: "I was thinking the same thing!" It wasn't clear whether he was agreeing with Pinkerton, or with Burns' suggestion that the criticism could have been offered more gently.

But one thing was clear: Burns' allegation of US Airways anti-Muslim bias got shot down in flames.

View video here.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 911; foxnews; imams; usairways
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1 posted on 12/02/2006 5:19:05 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: Behind Liberal Lines; Miss Marple; an amused spectator; netmilsmom; Diogenesis; YaYa123; MEG33; ...

Eric-gets-burned ping to Today show list.


2 posted on 12/02/2006 5:19:36 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Bump


3 posted on 12/02/2006 5:22:47 PM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Now I know why Burns puts up with that "media writer" Neil Gabler nitwit. Burns is a nitwit, too.


4 posted on 12/02/2006 5:27:13 PM PST by RedRover (They are not killers. Defend our Marines.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Eric Burns must be the only FOX guy who doesn't read at FR, or he would know that the six imams were up to no good. Whether it was a "dry run" distraction, or a malicious prank to terrify passengers, the imams had this all premeditated.

I believe the Washington Times story had it right.


5 posted on 12/02/2006 5:27:45 PM PST by Palladin ("Open a new window; open a new door; travel a new highway.")
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

A simple reminder. When a liberal rectal orifice opens his stupid moronic mouth (read anus) it's hot methane gas that erupts. In other words this liberal stooge had a brain fart!


6 posted on 12/02/2006 5:31:04 PM PST by Doc Savage ("You couldn't tame me, but you taught me.................")
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To: Doc Savage

monk would agree


7 posted on 12/02/2006 5:32:38 PM PST by bobby.223
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Maybe Eric knew that he was going to have a panel that all agreed with each other...IOW, boring.

SOOOOO...he played devil's advocate by taking the unpopular view.

I often wonder if Alan Colmes does that just to make a friction between his side and Sean's...because I can't imagine that he really believes half of the crapola that he spews.

With Neal Gabler, you always have to assume he is agreeing with the "wrong" side...LOL


8 posted on 12/02/2006 5:32:45 PM PST by Txsleuth (Bolton/Cheney (that would be Lynne) 08)
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To: Palladin; All

For those who haven't seen it, here's the Washington Times story:

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20061128-122902-7522r.htm


9 posted on 12/02/2006 5:33:02 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I may not have noticed...but it seems to me that the last couple of weeks, they haven't had viewer e-mails on that show anymore...do they?


10 posted on 12/02/2006 5:33:48 PM PST by Txsleuth (Bolton/Cheney (that would be Lynne) 08)
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To: Txsleuth

Not really sure, I didn't watch till the end. I'd guess it's a question of time constraints plus the quality of viewer comments in any given week. I'd be surprised if they have entirely eliminated the segment since it seems to add to the show and the panel often seem to enjoy it.


11 posted on 12/02/2006 5:36:10 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: RedRover

Kneel Gobbler is the dumbest girl on TV.


Regards.


12 posted on 12/02/2006 5:37:49 PM PST by ARE SOLE (Just how gay is Al Queda anyway?)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
I'm so glad I don't watch any television.
13 posted on 12/02/2006 5:37:55 PM PST by Steely Tom
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To: Txsleuth

bttt


14 posted on 12/02/2006 5:40:46 PM PST by ConservativeMan55
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Eric Burns' opinion on the matter is quite chilling. He should be removed from a public speaking responsibility as soon as possible.


15 posted on 12/02/2006 5:43:32 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: muawiyah

I'd say this was something of an aberration for Burns, who is normally level-headed. I can only think that perhaps he hadn't really followed the story closely and was expressing an opinion blindly.


16 posted on 12/02/2006 5:46:42 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: Palladin
Whether it was a "dry run" distraction, or a malicious prank to terrify passengers, the imams had this all premeditated.

My guess is the second.

17 posted on 12/02/2006 5:59:21 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
I'd say this was something of an aberration for Burns, who is normally level-headed. I can only think that perhaps he hadn't really followed the story closely and was expressing an opinion blindly.

Either way, it is totally unacceptable.
Burns should offer an apology to his audience for falling down on the job, or he should be fired.

18 posted on 12/02/2006 6:02:26 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Wait a minute! The dweeb is in charge of the show. The story had been on the wires and media for days. He was the nitwit who asked the question. He had to have been up to speed or living under a rock like mist liberals. Besides, the guy is a tiny little man who wears tiny little shoes and should be ridiculed at every opportunity. Wimp!


19 posted on 12/02/2006 6:02:53 PM PST by Doc Savage ("You couldn't tame me, but you taught me.................")
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Eric Burns, Fox News: ...yanked off the US Airways flight for no apparent reason other than...

Lying bastard!

20 posted on 12/02/2006 6:04:12 PM PST by Petronski (I just love that woman.)
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