Dancing with the Devil

Color of Change has launched a campaign to let the Congressional Black Caucus know what people think about their co-sponsorship of a Presidential debate with right wing smear artists Fox News. I urge you to sign their petition and also to contact members of the CBC directly. My congressman, John Lewis, is a member of the CBC and below is the letter I sent to his office.

Congressman Lewis-
I am writing to express my displeasure with the CBC Institute's decision to co-sponsor a Democratic presidential debate with Fox News. As you know, Fox News is not an unbiased reputable news organization. It has a clear Republican agenda that runs from the top to the bottom of the organization. One should expect no less from a media outlet headed by a former Republican media consultant.

Fox News exists solely to propagate Republican talking points and slander Democrats. They have shown their true colors over and over again, most recently with their lies about Senator Obama. Not only did they claim that the Senator was educated at a madrasa, but also called his church racist. Not only were both stories factually false, but they had clear roots in the right wing noise machine.

There is absolutely no reason for the CBC Institute to legitimize Fox News' propaganda. This is not only a principled position, but also a practical one. Over 80% of Fox News viewers supported the re-election of President Bush in 2004. There is absolutely nothing to be gained by hosting a debate on this network. In fact, it provides Fox with unwarranted legitimacy and allows their talking heads more opportunity to launch unsubstantiated attacks on our candidates.

I hope that you will use your influence to reverse course on this incredibly wrong decision on the part of the CBC Institute.