Posted on 06/19/2002 9:45:47 PM PDT by kattracks
An anti-Israeli Internet petition critical of MSNBC's "Alan Keyes is Making Sense" has Keyes fans wondering if the cable network succumbed to pressure from radical Muslims when it announced it was yanking the pro-Israeli commentator from its prime-time schedule.
MSNBC said earlier this month that it was dropping the conservative firebrand from his 10 p.m. time slot after just a five month run. Shortly before the announcement, a pro-Muslim petition calling on the network to remove Keyes began circulating online.
"It is our intent the undersigned to express our disapproval of the content and manner in which Mr. Keyes explicitly promotes his Zionist biased views and ideologies on national TV," begins the petition, addressed to MSNBC, on the website www.RamallahOnLine.com.
"His views are extreme right wing and are so supportive of Israelis aggression and atrocities," the petition continues. "We do hope that you will consider our views and opinions by either removing Alan Keyes of(f) the air, or having him refrain from such practices and indulge in fair journalism," urges the petition, which began circulating in early June.
After the network announced its decision to ax "Making Sense," one visitor to RamallahOnLine.com posted this message:
"Congratulations!!! MSNBC has announced that Keyes will be cancelled. Keep up the good work!"
In his short time on the air, Keyes has distinguished himself as one of Israel's strongest backers in the war on terror. This week, for instance, he broke the media embargo on a devastating video showing Palestinian children being indoctrinated in anti-Jewish hatred.
Another detail that has Keyes fans wondering about MSNBC's decision to give him the prime-time heave-ho: the ratings for "Making Sense" were no worse than the average nighttime show on the cable network.
"It is becoming clear that this is an ideological decision - none of the new MSNBC prime time lineup is conservative or pro-Israel," a Keyes supporter told NewsMax.com.
The network offered to move "Making Sense" to an afternoon time slot but so far Keyes has turned thumbs down on the idea. As of now, "Alan Keyes is Making Sense" is scheduled to broadcast its last show on July 11.
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I included that as a conservative minority (which as a FREEPER I consider myself to be) I have to wonder if discrimination didn't play a part in their decision...
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