Malkin Leaves Fox News Over Geraldo Comment
Media loudmouth Michelle Malkin has not appeared on Fox News or The O’Reilly Factor for well over a month now. Those who noticed only did out of relief, while many O’Reilly fans are left wondering why she was even allowed to guest host his program as well as appearing as a regular guest. The rude far right talking head seems more interested in insulting other guests as opposed to actually listening to them and considering another point of view. It seems that the reason she’s no longer appearing on Fox’s O’Reilly Factor is because of Geraldo Rivera! Hurray Geraldo!
The word on the net is that Michelle Malkin expected Fox News to “punish” Geraldo Rivera over a less than serious comment he made regarding a desire to spit on her. Although Geraldo did publicly apologize, apparently Malkin expects more. A post on youtube called “Michelle Malkin quits ‘The Factor’ over row with Geraldo?” shows the video clip and has a user posted quote from Michelle Malkin.
“Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 23:04:58 -0400
Subject: Re: Michelle no longer on the Factor?
I made the decision to quit appearing on the O’Reilly show in response to the poor handling of the Geraldo Rivera matter (the staged “apology” on The Factor was a complete farce). I won’t go into details, but please know that your support means a lot to me. You can catch me on other Fox News shows and read my daily blog posts and weekly columns at MichelleMalkin.com.Best,
Michelle”
A quote from Michelle Malkin’s web site explains further:
“Geraldo Rivera thinks I should be spit on because I believe citizens should inform law enforcement authorities if illegal aliens are living in their neighborhoods.”
In summary, Geraldo’s point is: as long as businesses entice workers into crossing the border illegally it isn’t reasonable to harshly punish them while Michelle calls it an “invasion” and expects the immigrants to be arrested. The bottom line is that Geraldo is essentially correct. It is neither ethical nor fair to dangle a carrot in front of these people and then punish them when they go for the carrot.
Isn’t the real problem the companies that are actually attracting and hiring undocumented workers? As long as politicians on both sides are in bed with big business over the issue, we will continue to hear more lunacy like building a wall and rounding up the illegal workers for deportation.
Does Michelle not realize that Geraldo is in fact Hispanic and her attack is on his own community? Not only is it expected of Geraldo to disagree with Malkin on national immigration policy, Geraldo is actually very practical in his beliefs. Malkin just falls into the same mindset as Ann Colter in a belief that all illegal undocumented workers should be rounded up and deported immediately.
The United States is a country founded on immigration by immigrants. The undocumented workers crossing the southern border are coming here to work, and they work hard. They are mostly Christian and have the same values and goals as most United States citizens. We, as Americans, offer them jobs, health care, and education for their children; that is the carrot.
Building a wall on the southern border, increasing the border patrol, and stepping up enforcement while at the same time continuing to dangle the prize carrot in front of them also seems like the formula for some kind of elaborate, nationwide television reality game show. “If you can make it though all these obstacles and dangers without getting killed or arrested, you will win the prize.” I mean, how sick is that?
In the end it is apparent that Malkin lacked the clout to influence the Fox News network in imposing some kind of penalty against Geraldo. If push comes to shove, (and it basically did) Geraldo Rivera is a much more valuable asset to Fox News than an ideologue like Michelle Malkin.
The web site Michelle Malkin is an Idiot has this story with more details from another author’s perspective.
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Huh, I agree with you too. Jeeze…
You see what is happening in Arizona? http://online.barrons.com/article/SB119882121857255395.html?mod=googlenews_barrons
This is a supply/demand issue. As long as US based businesses demand these low wage workers, Mexico and other countries will supply them. We either need to open up immigration to the point that it will meet demand, or allow the status quo and not complain about it. There is no reason to punish people for doing what we are asking of them.
It will be very interesting to see what happens in Arizona. If we stopped illegal immigration now with no increase in legal immigration, the US economy would be in real trouble.