October 20, 2010
Dear Friend,
What has Glenn Beck's response been to the revelation that his false and paranoid attacks on the Tides Foundation inspired viewer Byron Williams to target Tides employees for death?
Doubling down.
Beck dedicated his Friday night Fox News show to yet another extended attack on the Tides Foundation, accusing the progressive institution of subverting churches, turning children against their parents and spreading "anti-human" theories.
A week ago we told you the story of Williams, who was incited by the conspiracy theories of right-wing media figures to try and assassinate employees of the progressive Tides Foundation and the ACLU. The same lies and smears that Williams said "blew my mind" go on every day at Fox.
Instead of recognizing the danger and taking appropriate action, Fox News is allowing and encouraging Beck's violent rhetoric, abdicating the responsibility the public expects of a powerful broadcaster. That is why targeting Glenn Beck's advertisers is no longer enough -- we need to hold the entire network accountable.
Tell major advertisers it's time to drop Fox.
Thanks to the help of dedicated people like you, hundreds of sponsors have refused to advertise on Beck's program -- but Fox still stands behind Beck. News Corp. claims the lost ad dollars from Beck simply move to other shows.
On Friday, Drummond Pike, the founder and CEO of the Tides Foundation, issued an impassioned call for advertisers to leave Fox News entirely or be complicit in their promotion of Beck's anti-government extremism and unhinged conspiracy-mongering. Pike noted:
"Businesses that pay to broadcast commercials on Fox News are subsidizing Glenn Beck's television show by continuing to pump money into the network. It has become clear that the only way to stop supporting Beck is to stop supporting Fox News.
"I respectfully request that you bring this matter of your company's sponsorship of hate speech leading to violence to the attention of your fellow directors as soon as possible. I believe no responsible company should advertise on Fox News due to its recent and on-going deplorable conduct."
We agree. That is why, along with People For the American Way, we're launching a new campaign to get Fox's major advertisers to stop supporting the network and its promotion of a climate of fear and suspicion that could lead to another Oklahoma City.
Fox News provides Beck a platform for rhetoric and lies that have real, and potentially deadly, consequences. Whether they realize it or not, these sponsors support it with their advertising dollars -- and they need to hear from you that funding Fox and Beck is wrong.
Click here to see a list of major Fox News sponsors and demand they stop supporting Fox and Beck with their dollars.
Tell major advertisers it's time to drop Fox.
Thanks again for your support.
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