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| Written By Rick
Ellis, Friday, December 10th, 2004 As longtime readers of this site know, I have often been critical of some of the management decisions at MSNBC. Too often, it continues to be a cable channel in search of a soul. It's part hard news, part conservative talk, and more often than not, it does neither particularly well. The executives at the head of NBC News want the ratings garnered by Fox News, but don't want to get their hands dirty. They stick their toe lightly into the conservative talk arena, but then bail when a host crosses some imaginary line of behavior. For whatever reason, MSNBC continues to employ Pat Buchanan, even when he's long past the point of political relevance. One network insider once told me that he's "our Bob Novak," and the statement might be the ultimate example of 'faint praise.' Buchanan guest-hosted "Scarborough Country" on December 8th, and the resulting conversation turned into a weird, oddly anti-Semitic complaint about the Jews in Hollywood. The opening segment was a comparison of the Oscar chances for Mel Gibson's "Passion of The Christ" and Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11." His guests for the segment were radio talk show host Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, the director of the Liberty Film Festival, Govindini Murty, the president of the Catholic League, Bill Donahue, and Jennifer Giroux from Women Influence Influencing the Nation. Early in the segment, Bill Donahue turned the conversation in an unexpected direction, complaining about the power Jews have in Hollywood. "Hollywood is controlled by secular Jews who hate Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular. It's not a secret, OK? And I'm not afraid to say it. That's why they hate this movie. It's about Jesus Christ, and it's about truth. It's about the messiah. Hollywood likes anal sex. They like to see the public square without nativity scenes. I like families. I like children. They like abortions. I believe in traditional values and restraint. They believe in libertinism. We have nothing in common. But you know what? The culture war has been ongoing for a long time. Their side has lost. You have got secular Jews. You have got embittered ex-Catholics, including a lot of ex-Catholic priests who hate the Catholic Church, wacko Protestants in the same group, and these people are in the margins." Okay....secular Jews who hate Christianity? Aside from the factual problems, this sure doesn't sound very Christian. Buchanan then begins to move away from the Jewish comments, but ultimately can't stop himself from agreeing with Donahue. After a minute he directs a question to Jennifer Giroux: "What is your explanation for why the almost among-in the Jewish community, it is almost universal, except for folks like Michael Medved, the contempt and hatred and revulsion at what we consider a beautiful movie?" And Giroux's answer was even more perplexing: "Well, I think way more Jewish people saw the value in this film, the artistic value, the historical value, than is let on in the national media, OK?" Ahhh.....I understand now. Jews actually DO like "Passion Of The Christ," but that darn liberal media won't report on it. After Giroux finishes her comments, Buchanan moves to Govindini Murty, and once again, he just can't help himself from continuing the Jewish Hollywood references: "I do think-for example, Maia Morgenstern, who is a Jewish gal, a woman from Rumania, played the blessed mother, I found her powerful and moving. And if she got a nomination for best supporting actress, I don't see how anyone could object to that based on grounds of the artistic talent that she showed." A "Jewish Gal"? Sheesh can Pat Buchanan possibly sound more out of touch and insulting? Actually, he can. Click Here For Part Two |
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