Before ABC News on Sunday night described Charlton Heston as “polarizing” for his conservative views and CBS News dubbed him “controversial,” the Fox News Channel aired a obituary piece which impugned Heston as “infamous for his politics, including his belief that the Bill of Rights is built upon the bedrock of the Second Amendment.”
The MRC's Rich Noyes caught the characterization on Fox & Friends Weekend, at about 7:12 AM EDT Sunday morning, in a pre-packaged piece narrated by Bill McCuddy, though he was never identified or shown, possibly because he is no longer with FNC.
The Oxford dictionary defines “infamous” as “well known for some bad quality or deed” or “morally bad; shocking.” The Merriam-Webster dictionary: “Having a reputation of the worst kind: notoriously evil,” or “causing or bringing infamy: disgraceful.”
My Monday morning NewsBusters item, “Nets Remember Heston as 'Polarizing' and 'Controversial,'” recounted:
Remembering Charlton Heston, who died Saturday night in his Beverly Hills home at age 84, the ABC and CBS anchors on Sunday tarnished the actor's political activity on behalf of conservative causes, particularly his leadership of the NRA, as "polarizing" and "controversial." Dan Harris, anchor of ABC's World News, asserted: "As President of the National Rifle Association, he became one of the most-polarizing figures in American politics." CBS Evening News anchor Russ Mitchell declared: "Once the quintessential big screen hero, in his later years he drew as much attention for his controversial politics."Those pro-gun rights views were certainly "controversial" to network journalists who disagreed with him and so hit him repeatedly from the left on the issue in 1998 and 2001 morning show interviews, especially Katie Couric....
From McCuddy's story aired on Sunday, April 6:
In his later years, Heston was known for his Republican views, but when he first became politically active, he voted Democratic -- for Kennedy and then Johnson. He was also an early supporter of civil rights, and marched on Washington....As famous as he was for his film roles, he became infamous for his politics, including his belief that the Bill of Rights is built upon the bedrock of the Second Amendment, and in 1998 began his long presidency of the National Rifle Association. It was also during this time that he underwent treatment for prostate cancer.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
No big surprise. Fox and its
April 8, 2008 - 03:58 ET by NortoNo big surprise. Fox and its leader are getting lined up to support liberal causes, at least financially. I see Mrs. Murdoch gave a fund-raiser for one of them in London.
They all want to back a winner and are hedging their bets.
Just too bad they are picking on a nice man, who would have simply shrugged his shoulders and walked away, like he did with Michael Moore.
And our liberal friends
April 8, 2008 - 04:42 ET by Indiana JoeAnd our liberal friends continue to refer to "Faux News," in spite of this kind of clearly liberal-slanted story. I guess they'll claim it's a conservative "mouthpiece" until it only runs stories that bash conservatives, like the rest of the MSM. Their definition of "fair and balanced."
And isn't it sad that liberals have this need to trash those they disagree with, even (or maybe more so) when they pass away? I hear the kids at HuffPo and DK had a fine old time at Chuck's expense. Of course, none of them would have had the nerve to say anything to his face, Alzheimer's or no.
Too bad they didn't explore the reasons that Heston, like Reagan, started as a Democrat, then switched. Of course, that would have opened up discussion of the possibility that there may be something wrong with the modern Democrat Party. And we can't have that. I wouldn't be surprised to find that Heston would second Reagan's statement that he didn't leave the Party, the Party left him.
RIP
If you ask me
April 8, 2008 - 05:26 ET by BobAnthonyThose who call Fox News Faux News, get their "News" from radical sources like say Pacifica!
"Faux" for the wrong reason
April 8, 2008 - 07:03 ET by GrannyGrump42>>And our liberal friends continue to refer to "Faux News," in spite of this kind of clearly liberal-slanted story. I guess they'll claim it's a conservative "mouthpiece" until it onlyruns stories that bash conservatives, like the rest of the MSM. Their definition of "fair and balanced."<<
Indeed. When there is a reason to at least slam the web site as "faux news" -- the propensity to use the "Daily Mail" as a source. It's a British tabloid full of "World's fattest man finds love at Elvis look-alike contest" type stories. Can't they find any legitimate news at any of their affiliates?
The shoe is never on the other foot
April 8, 2008 - 06:53 ET by GrannyGrump42I remember obituaries for Milan Vuitch, the erstwhile "back alley butcher" who flaunted the D.C. abortion law in order to get arrested and challenge it in court. He got a ruling that effectively nullified the law. This made him a hero, despite the fact that he went on to kill TWO of his legal abortion patients with his slovenly practices. But when he died, he got obits singing his praises and not mentioning the dark side of this man. Compare what he was:
http://en.wikipedia....
with this obituary:
http://query.nytimes...
Interesting, nu?
This kind of proves Fox is living by it's moto
April 8, 2008 - 07:13 ET by c5thenFair and Ballanced. This network who gives air time to Brit Hume and Bill O'Reilly and at one time Tony Snow (hopefully again soon) also gives air time to Geraldo Rivera and Bill McCuddy. Not that every story will be "fair and ballanced", but if you get your news from there, you will get both sides of the political spectrum.
And, yes Mr. McCuddy, the Bill of Rights, is almost meaningless if the 2nd amendment is abolished, gutted or judicially emasculated. Because without the ability to enforce their rights, the people will be powerless to stop a Government from taking them away.
Think about the reverse...if the legislatures passed laws but there was no police to enforce those laws, they would be pretty meaningless wouldn't they?
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
McFuddy is infamous for his
April 8, 2008 - 08:45 ET by mattmMcFuddy is infamous for his propagandism. (if that's a word)
cnn
April 8, 2008 - 09:04 ET by jaywlCNN had a screen shot of Heston and a blub below that said he marched in Washington with King BUT then his politics turned to the right. As if he wouldn't have marched after they perceived a rightward turn. BS.
So what's going on here? Is
April 8, 2008 - 09:13 ET by balboaSo what's going on here? Is FNC slowly becoming CNN?
Well aren't all the celebs
April 8, 2008 - 09:25 ET by ahusserWell aren't all the celebs today "Heroes" of the Revolution. The list is very long. No one in the media gives any thought to their politics. Why aren't they "infamous" for their politics. Because of course they are on the correct side. This is madness. I am becoming very pessimistic.
I'm starting to grow very
April 8, 2008 - 09:35 ET by marpelI'm starting to grow very weary of Fox News Network. Their morning show, Fox and Friends, is one of the worst shows on TV. I prefer Morning Joe, but we all know Mika needs to please SHUT UP and stop twisting around (maybe she has Tourettes?) Then there's Geraldo and Greta, who are, no doubt, the worst on TV (next to Mika); Train Wrecks! Bill O'Reilly has become way too hideous for words (he's just another Mika who's a tad bit smarter and a lot louder with his interruptions of guests). I'm losing a lot of faith in Fox. Seems like they've become a tabloid network. They better not lose Brit Hume in the afternoons or Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday. If they do, their viewers will not be able to change the channel fast enough.
McCuddy
April 8, 2008 - 10:02 ET by iveseenitallI don't like this guy McCuddy. He a typical liberal--immature and ignorant. Never heard an intelligent phrase come from his mouth. A 30-something teenager. Not much of a man either, truly in touch with his "feminine" side. But he is a fair representation of the world that has been created by the "media". Ignorance is bliss on the boob tube and You Tube. Unfortunately, reality in America is reflecting it, big time. Sad.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Well, yeah - Heston's
April 8, 2008 - 11:58 ET by Chris NormanWell, yeah - Heston's politics were infamous to the liberal twits in the entertainment industry McCuddy sucks up to. In McCuddy's small vapid world, they're the only people that matter.
McCuddy who? "Never
April 8, 2008 - 16:59 ET by bigtimerMcCuddy who?
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill