THERE'S A FOX IN THE HEN HOUSE...

The Fox television network has done it again. This right-wing citadel of conservatism proudly operates under the slogan “Fair and Balanced” news which is about as untrue and disgraceful as its programming – has decided to poke its fat nose into New York City’s Manhattan borough president’s race. You’d think the Fox network had more important things to do – like making more money and bashing all Democrats.

Fox is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. Rupert was born in Australia and made his billions by buying TV stations and scandal mongering newspapers all over the world. One of his rags was the first to publish the headline breaking story, “Baby Born with Glasses…Both Parents Have 20-20 Vision.” Another paper’s front page claimed that “There is only one Olsen twin.” It’s up for a Pulitzer Prize.

When he came to U.S. he continued building his empire and is now America’s extreme right-wing, political powerbroker par excellence. His Fox News is the leading cable news channel in the U.S. Rumor has it that the cable news channel is considering putting on new shows hosted by the likes: David Duke, Attila the Hun, the BTL killer and the head of the KKK who’s show will be called “Fun Under The Sheets.”

Why would this wealthy corporation concern itself some local political campaign? Do you care who is elected Manhattan borough president? What exactly does a borough president do? They’re about as important as a photographer at Reader’s Digest. Fox’s local affiliate WNYW/Channel 5 has refused to run a campaign ad for a Democratic politician running for Manhattan borough president. The reason? The TV ad lampoons President George W. Bush. Hell, George W. lampoons himself every time he speaks.

The offending ad superimposes the Prez’s head on a naked torso. The ad, produced by Brian Ellner, an openly gay candidate opens with a close-up of Bush’s face and zooms out to show from the hips up, with a voice-over saying, “New Yorkers know the emperor has no clothes.” Geez, it’s not like the ad showed George W’s skinny legs…or skinny salami. Ellner also introduced his male partner during the 30-second commercial. The report didn’t say if his partner was clothed or showed his ‘Johnson.” By rejecting the campaign ad Fox proves once again that it’s bigoted, narrow minded, up-tight…and more importantly lacks humor.

“Fox claims that this ad is disrespectful to the president. What is truly disrespectful to Manhattan voters is to deny them the chance to hear a serious message from a candidate for public office,” Ellner said.

I didn’t know that the media was obligated to be respectful to any politician, did you? A spokesman for Fox’s WNYW/Channel 5 said the channel was not running the ad, but declined to say why. “It’s censorship and it’s un-American. It’s either anti-gay because I introduced my partner, or it’s anti-free speech because I criticized the president,” claims Ellner.

Just in case immigrant Murdoch doesn’t know it – American newspapers have always poked fun at politicians especially the President. It’s called freedom of the press. Remember when newspapers claimed that President Chester Arthur had the I.Q. of a horse’s hoof? That Grover Cleveland cremated his wife and brought marshmallows to the ceremony. Or, that Millard Fillmore liked to sit on an air hose. Those stories weren’t censored. Those politicians fortunately faded into obscurity which the Fox network should do.