Megyn Kelly Out of Control Again over DOJ Actions

MoonHowler

This video best exemplifies why I have zero respect for Fox News. Kirsten Powers is a regular contributor on Fox News. Megyn Kelly is rude, out of control, and is bullying a regular contributor. At one point Kelly threatens to cut her guest’s mic.

There is much controversy over this case as to wrong doing. Apparently the one main witness who speaks out on Fox News is Christian Adams who is a right wing activist and was with the DOJ under George Bush. I don’t think anyone is disputing that the black panther, Samir Shabazz, intimidated voters and was in the wrong. The dispute seems to be over the charges that DOJ did nothing.

According to thinkprogressive.org:

This afternoon, Kelly invited New York Post columnist — and regular Fox contributor — Kirsten Powers to debate the importance of this story. Kelly bemoaned that “no one seems to give a darn” about the allegations promulgated by former Bush DoJ lawyer J. Christian Adams. The conservative activist claims that the Obama Justice Department dropped voter intimidation charges against the New Black Panther Party due to racial considerations. Contrary to the claims, the Obama DoJ has issued an injunction against the member of the NBPP who was seen engaging in voter intimidation tactics, prohibiting him “from displaying a weapon within 100 feet of any Philadelphia polling place through 2012.”

Powers effectively dismantled the faux scandal for what it is, telling Kelly, “You can put me in the same category of people who don’t really give a darn.” “You don’t seem to know what you’re talking about,” Kelly immediately responded, growing more enraged as the two wrestled, jabbed, and bickered over the facts:

POWERS: The minute I challenge you, you tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about?

KELLY: Because you don’t.

POWERS: You just want people to come on and just agree with you –

KELLY: No, I want informed people.

POWERS: — that what you’ve been doing and the way you’ve been completely doing the “scary black man thing.”

All evidence indicates that DOJ did prosecute the case. The contention seems to be that they didn’t go far enough with sanctions.

I have not put up a thread over the story because I felt we were lacking on actual facts. When Fox News is leading a story, I have to have a back up from another source. It wasn’t there. No one disputes that Samir Shabazz is a creep. No one disputes he was wrong. No one disputes that voter intimidation took place. The dispute is over the action taken by DOJ. Apparently action was taken–Just not enough to suit out onf control Megyn Kelly, Christian Adams, or Fox News.

Background information

[UPDATE:  This Link leads to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Black Panther Report]

FCC Swear Word Ban Policy Ditched By Federal Court

MoonHowler

From Huffington Post:

NEW YORK — A federal appeals court on Tuesday struck down a government policy that can lead to broadcasters being fined for allowing even a single curse word on live television, saying it is unconstitutionally vague and threatens speech “at the heart of the First Amendment.”

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan threw out the 2004 Federal Communications Commission policy, which said that profanity referring to sex or excrement is always indecent.

“By prohibiting all `patently offensive’ references to sex, sexual organs and excretion without giving adequate guidance as to what `patently offensive’ means, the FCC effectively chills speech, because broadcasters have no way of knowing what the FCC will find offensive,” the court wrote.

“To place any discussion of these vast topics at the broadcaster’s peril has the effect of promoting wide self-censorship of valuable material which should be completely protected under the First Amendment,” it added.

The court said the FCC might be able to craft a policy that does not violate the First Amendment.

It cited several examples of chilled speech, including a Vermont station’s refusal to air a political debate because one local politician previously had used expletives on the air and a Moosic, Pa., station’s decision to no longer provide live coverage of news events unless they affect matters of public safety or convenience.

“This chill reaches speech at the heart of the First Amendment,” the appeals court said.

In a statement, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said: “We’re reviewing the court’s decision in light of our commitment to protect children, empower parents, and uphold the First Amendment.”

Carter Phillips, a Washington lawyer who argued the case for Fox Television Stations Inc., called the decision satisfying. He said the court had “sent the FCC back to square one to start over” by not only tossing the FCC’s fleeting expletive policy but also a broader indecency policy as unconstitutionally vague

I am not so sure this is a good thing. Talk is trashy enough on TV as it is. On the other hand, what difference does it make if the show is network or cable. It seems the burden of decency is all on network TV and radio and not on the satellite and cable stations. Do our contributors think this is a good plan or not?