guarantee if Nas(ty) didnt have an album to promote he would be chilling at home

I'm not sure is Fox News is racist but I feel they like to promote all the stereotypes against minorities as if it represents everyone in that culture and thats one of the many thing I hate about Fox News.

It must be tough to be a celebrity, wanting to speak out about things. It can look like you're trying to promote yourself, and then there are all those people who dismiss anything said by a celebrity.

I read way too much, I really need to watch more TV besides the news. Ohh my, Colbert Report too funny. We really need a warning, I laughed out loud –thankfully my door was closed. I love when Bill O gets fired up.

I never heard of this movement before, interesting but odd. I will do more research on the station and topic. I usually watch all the news stations including BBC.

I have been disconcerted by some of the racially charged things that network's commentators say, but I always felt more xenophobia than racism.

And I see where Nas is coming from, but I do think the original title of his album does damage his point here. I mean, that's not going to elevate the national dialogue on race, either.

I find it hard to feel bad for celebs, whether it be about people not taking them seriously enough, or the other long list of things they constantly complain about. A lot of people would find it hard to take me seriously, too, if I just spouted off about a random issue.

I also wanted to mention that although I rarely watch tv (and therefore rarely watch Fox News), I find it hard to believe that any television show or station would be allowed to be racist in this overly politically correct day and age.

"I find it hard to believe that any television show or station would be allowed to be racist in this overly politically correct day and age."

Listen to some AM talk radio sometime, tiff58. The racism may be halfheartedly repackaged as defending national culture, but the xenophobia and, yes, racism are often shockingly overt.

It's less overt on TV, especially on mainstream networks like Fox, but you can still pick it out if you pay close attention. The wording has changed and become more careful, but the underlying hate and stereotypes do rear their ugly heads from time to time.

I don't know. Around election time when celebrities are campaigning, a lot of people say things like, "Just stick to acting! Why should his opinion matter?" I would be frustrated if people wrote off my opinion just because of my profession. I mean, would anyone say that to a waitress? "Just stick to delivering salads!"

Right, Jude. It's not like, "In other news, black people are totally stupid and lazy!" but it's there. And subtle racism is, I think, much more harmful and dangerous than overt.

Very true, torg.

One disturbing example is the way that some commentators use the debate over illegal immigration to express obviously racist and xenophobic views against Hispanics, and act as if the hateful things they spout are okay because they're talking about illegals.

I totally agree. We wouldn't have nearly the fervent opposition to immigration in this country if the problem was on our northern border.

As a regular watcher of FOX among other networks I can say with confidence that a clear majority of those clips in that video were taken out of context and more than half of the people in those clips were guests being interviewed.

So what exactly does he want Fox to do? Agree to tone down the racial undertones? Admit that they are racists? The article doesn't really say what the petition is demanding

While there is publicity in this, if anyone has followed Nas they would know he really believes everything he says and has been saying it for a while - so while the motives are questionable, the message is sincere...

...on another note, his music is good, it is what real rap should be, no too much of that fake "50 cent" stuff about women and cars. Some of it, whether you agree with it or not, is very smart.

I do listen to talk radio, and don't find it to be racist. While I don't agree with them on every issue, including some of what they believe about immigration, I have never thought that what they were saying regarding immigration was racist.

Torg, I think that my point was that, unless you are a subject matter expert, there are a lot of people who aren't taken seriously about a lot of issues. Many people do take celebs TOO seriously, and I think that is a major part of the backlash against them when they are delivering their opinions, that are often not researched. A lot of people wouldn't (and don't) take my political opinions seriously either.

Isn't that what most people say when they are caught saying something slightly offensive "oh, that comment was taken out of context!" You still said it! I have watched Bill O'Reilly a couple of times and have witnessed him saying some hurtful things about both minorities and the LGBT community.

Jude, words can't express how much I agree with you. Alot of people use the topic of illegal immigration as a forum to express their racist views toward hispanics. I think Michael Savage is a good example of that.

I think the premise of a petition is great but the execution in most cases is seriously flawed. The reason for this is simple, because what you have is people being stopped randomly coming out of grocery stores etc. being told that in this case (FOX) does & says this & that. The signer hears this impassioned explanation probably never watches FOX and takes the word of the petitioner with out ever having seen and examined the evidence.

"I think Michael Savage is a good example of that."

Agreed!

That's a really good point, Hypno. When you hear someone with a petition talking about their issue, it's hard to see the other side--because you are only getting their side. But, like you said, the premise of a petition is a good one.

Ann Coulter, who is a regular guest on FOX has said some derogetory things about people of the Muslim faith. Michelle Malkin as well. These people are paid by FOX and are allowed to go on air to specifically express their controversial and xenophobic views.

I am all for free speech and I don't think these people should be censored but I do think they need to own up and apologize to the people they hurt.

I agree gitsie123 that there are certainly culturally hurtful word(s) but IMO in order to discuss topics of racism, homophobia etc. the mention of the inflammatory words is simply unavoidable for purposes of discussion. Now, if we want to say that we're made at them for using the word(s) regardless of context simply because they were uttered well that's certainly one way you can look at it. But I'm not going to call someone a racist because they uttered inflammatory speech in order to discuss an inflammatory topic.

The sad thing about people like Coulter and Malkin (great examples, by the way!) is that their careers and popularity depend so heavily on their hateful and inflammatory remarks, you know?

You must understand what you don't consider rascist is rascist for someone else. Look at the recent poll, most white people think that relationships with blacks are greatly improving, yet most black people don't think so.
Imus - "Nappy Headed Hos"
Fox - "Obama when to a Muslim school" when it was found untrue, they kept saying it
Fox - "Obama refuses to say the Pledge of Alligence" - WRONG - he has led the Pledge on the Senate floor.
Fox was caught darkening the color of Obama in pictures they use on their news show.
Fox on the Obama fist bump - "Terrorist Bump"

I say Fox is racist and not at all fair and ballanced.

i agree with hypnotic on everything said. I listen to Fox News regularly and have never heard anything racist...unless it came from another media outlet skewing things that Fox has said.

hypno, I understand and agree with your argument but I am talking about things like Malkin referring to Barack Obama's wife as his baby mama. No one at FOX thought that was even a little bit racist not to mention extremely sexist?

I find it interesting that Nas had to get this on a non-news program to get coverage. If this is really happening, why aren't the other real news programs attacking like voltures? Answer - because this is a spin on the truth.

I actually signed that petition and make no mistake that fox is most certainly racist, and i say this not as someone who doesnt know but as an African American and as recent grad who majored in Media Culture and Society. There's alot of issues about fox and their biased coverage even though it claims to be fair and balanced that i wont even get into (which has signiifcant implications for a large majority of their demographic who are not the most media literate people) but the way that fox portrays minorities, african americans especially, is horrible and it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure that out.

in addition the fact that Nas is the focus of this discussion and not Fox's questionable practices is telling in itself.

You are correct Jude C, Malkin and Coulter have built their careers on controversy. I don't know which one is worse, they both come off as uneducated when they discussing their viewpoint or topic.

Could you elaborate Molambert? I'd like to know some specifics where FOX has been racist.

SmuttyPop, the one thing that can be said of Coulter is that she at least didn't accuse Rachael Ray of wearing a keffiyeh in a Dunkin' Donuts commercial and refer to the Arabic practice of wearing a keffiyeh as "Jihadi Chic".

I hear you gitsie123, for example I can not stand Sean Hannity. If I can turn that fool over my knee I would. But for every twisted slant he pitches there is a counter pitch to match his point. Now you can say that Mr. Hannity is a far right cooc and I agree that he is but there is always his co-host and a number of liberal guests on to debate him on those points which make it a balanced discussion.

I actually can't believe the petition wasn't made before.

I agree with you Hypno!

And lets keep in mind that Fox News is not the only place Ann Coulter goes, so are we going to accuse GMA and CNN of being racist too for having her on?

The fact is that people like to hate Fox News. Fox News is the devil blah blah blah... so of course they'll find racism there, ANYONE can find racism ANYWHERE if they look hard enough and are sensitive enough.

As far as celebrities, they are absolutely entitled to their opinions, but its not the same as you or I spouting off because you and I don't have a captive audience of millions. Therein lies the difference. Then you have the celebrities that simply will not shut up about their political views no matter uniformed they are. That is irritating and they deserve any criticism they get for that. The best celebrities are the ones that realize they are just normal people and their opinion counts no more and no less than anyone elses.

"As far as celebrities, they are absolutely entitled to their opinions, but its not the same as you or I spouting off because you and I don't have a captive audience of millions. Therein lies the difference. Then you have the celebrities that simply will not shut up about their political views no matter uniformed they are. That is irritating and they deserve any criticism they get for that. The best celebrities are the ones that realize they are just normal people and their opinion counts no more and no less than anyone elses."

Very nicely put, cab!

I don't even particularly enjoy it when celebrities come out in favor of the candidates or issues I support. It always makes me worry that their advocacy is going to seem frivolous and off-putting to people who are on the fence.

I totally agree Cab.

Oh Jude I totally agree!

I think McCain could have done without the Montag endorsement!

Luckily here on the conservative side we don't get many celebrities so we don't have to worry! But I often think how it would bug me if I were on the other side.

And I think Obama would also do fine without the Pamela Anderson endorsement. Or that really creepy Scarlett Johannsen thing that was going on.

You guys have Chuck Norris, right?

Cabaker you are absolutely right it is not fair to only single out Fox News we should hold MSNBC and whatever news station Lou Dobbs works for responsible for their comments as well.

Ha! Yep, Chuck Norris was for Huckabee.

Also, it seems like the McCain camp is embracing Speidi's endorsment isn't she going to Iraq with his daughter to "preform"?

Gotta admit that was pretty enviable!

*(I meant getting a Chuck Norris endorsement.)

I'm hoping Speidi never come back from their trip to Iraq.

*perform sorry!

I forgot about Chuck Norris!!! Yea thats the one good one we've gotten in years!!

You know his tears can cure cancer....

The Scarjo/Obama thing was weird! She seems like kind of an oddball.

It just seems to me like Heidi and Meghan McCain have become friends. I don't associate it directly with his campaign.

Scarlett is an oddball IMO! Did you see that list that she had of her "father figures?"

We also have Tom Selleck... Having Magnum PI on your side is pretty sweet but I hear Higgins is on the fence.

I watch Fox News pretty regularly and they are ABSOLUTELY not racist or biased. I flip between O'Reilly and Jon Stewart - I like to see all sides and I find O'Reilly to be very level-headed.