“Treason” isn’t a word that should be tossed around lightly, but it might best describe what is happening on a near-daily basis on the Fox News Channel, whose motto is “fair and balanced” despite their Senior Vice President for Programming’s declaration that they are “the voice of the opposition” where the Obama administration is concerned.

 

For some time, it’s been clear to most rational Americans that Fox News commentators in general – and Glenn Beck in particular – are more entertainers than true believers in the stream of fear-mongering, fringe-friendly drivel they put forth each night. But at a certain point, one has to wonder where the line is crossed.

 

 

Several nights ago on THE O’REILLY FACTOR, Fox News contributor Monica Crowley accused the President of the United States of America of wanting to see its citizens die in order to forward his own agenda.

 

She said, in part, “I think President Obama is a true believer. What I mean by that is that he is a disciple of Saul Alinsky… who was a radical, who believed in the radical remaking of America by shattering its very foundations. I believe that President Obama… has taken that to heart.”

 

When host Bill O’Reilly said, “But he can’t want Americans to be killed!” Crowley countered with, “How else do you explain his incredibly flaccid reactions to… attacks against the United States?”

 

That’s right, a Fox News commentator suggested that President Obama wants citizens of this country to be killed by extremists as part of his “radical agenda.”

 

Ladies and gentlemen, the line has been crossed.

 

 

 

Since the election of Barrack Obama, we have seen Fox News commentators literally call our president a racist (“I’m not saying he doesn’t like white people, I’m saying he has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist.” – Glenn Beck), put aside that pesky “fair and balanced” thing in order to openly support the so-called “tea party” movement and help blatantly spread misinformation about everything from his status as an American citizen to his attempts to push for healthcare reform.

 

 

Funk & Wagnall’s standard dictionary defines “treason” as “betrayal of one’s sovereign or government” and “treasonable” action as anything “of, involving, or characteristic of treason.” So one has to ask: When does a supposed news organization go from taking full advantage of its First Amendment right of free speech to, in word and deed, taking part in actions that can be seen as “a betrayal of one’s government” and therefore treasonous?

 

If the charge seems a bit heavy handed, keep in mind that it is one the network itself has had no trouble using to suit its own purpose. For example, Beck – reacting to a rumor that had already been discredited by the White House – said that President Obama and his administration had behaved in a manner “that borders on treason.” In fact, not once, but three times within the hour, Beck used the term “treason” in conjunction with the White House.

 

Another definition of treason is “the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance.” So how is one to take it as anything but treason when O’Reilly boasts that, “The conservative media is winning now. They’re damaging the president of the United States.”

 

There is, of course, one way in which this could all be viewed as something other than treason on the part of Fox News, and that is if their allegiance is to a government other than the one we have here in the United States. But that would mean that in the childhood tradition of “he who smelt it dealt it”, Fox News has cleverly been accusing Obama and his administration of being Nazi capitalists when, in fact, it’s all part of their own wicked plot to usher in a fascist regime. So which is it, Fox? Are you traitors to your country… or the ultimate in subversive commies?

 

 

 

 

During Bill O’Reilly’s recent sit-down with David Letterman, the Fox News Channel personality worked hard to separate himself from “entertainers” such as Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, insisting at one point that he is a journalist (before quickly backpedal to say that he’d once been a member of the working media).

But one of the tactics O’Reilly’s show has used with increasing frequency — unleashing pitbullish producer Jesse Watters to harass reluctant interviewees — has come under fire from various quarters.  Interestingly in a piece on this very topic airing earlier tonight, one of O’Reilly’s own guests referred to the tactic as “ambushing”, and the host himself declared it a “legitimate brand of journalism [that has been] practiced ever since television news was invented.”

Anyone ever remember Walter Cronkite or Edward R. Murrow using these tactics?

Apparently never having seen his own show (and who can blame him), O’Reilly went on to describe the producer in question as being “polite as possible, having a conversation anyone would have” as a series of clips which seemed to validate those points unspooled… but was not shown on The O’Reilly Factor were the endless clips of Watters refusing to leave private property when asked or using much more aggressive tactics. (It’s worth noting that O’Reilly’s show has regularly taken to task the paparazzi of the world for using this exact same tactic in covering celebrities.)

All of which raises the question: Is this, as O’Reilly insists, a long-standing, valid journalistic tactic, or is the producer’s behavior rude, crude and socially unacceptable? Is this what journalism has become, and if so, where is the line drawn when it comes to covering a story?

It wasn’t all that long ago that the notion of Barbara Eden’s belly-button being exposed on I Dream Of Jeannie sent censors into a panic, or that a suburban housewife protested the risque antics of Al and Peg Bundy, despite their being Married… With Children. Now, however, it takes a lot more to get our collective panties in a bunch… which probably explains how we wound up with a plethora of incredibly rude characters populating our TV screens.

So which characters or personalities currently being invited into millions of homes on a weekly basis tend to display behavior most unbecoming of a guest? Here’s our take, in ascending order, on the 10 rudest folks on television. Take a look, and then let us know who you think should have made the cut!

10) Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory, CBS)

Look up the words “socially inappropriate” and you’ll find a picture of this theoretical physicist. To be fair, Sheldon’s worst offenses tend to revolve around his inability to understand the intricacies of human interaction and feelings. “Oh, I’m sorry,” he once reacted with genuine surprise. “Is your body mass somehow tied to your self worth?”

9) Gabrielle Solis (Desperate Housewives, ABC)

Given everything Gabrielle has been through, you’d think she might have learned a bit about empathy… and you’d be wrong. They don’t come more self-centered than this former model, who often confuses bluntness with honesty. When a friend suggested that money can’t buy happiness, Gabi set her straight by responding, “Oh, please, that’s just something we tell poor people to keep them from rioting.”

8) Chuck Bass (Gossip Girl, CW)

Chuck is the kind of guy everybody hates if only because they secretly envy his penchant for saying anything he wants… and getting away with it. But make no mistake about it: While we may love to hate the character, in real life… we’d just hate the guy.
7) Stewie Griffin (Family Guy, FOX)

 Over the years, Stewie has insulted anyone and everyone to cross his path, from prostitutes (“So, is there any tread left on the tires, or at this point, would it be like throwing a hot dog down a hallway?”) to his sister, Meg (“Yes, yes, this is the thing that will ruin your reputation, not your years of grotesque appearance or your awkward social graces or that Felix Ungerish way you clear your sinuses.”) We’d bend this child knee and give him a good spanking if we weren’t fairly convinced he’d get a perverse thrill out of it.
6) Bill O’Reilly (The O’Reilly Factor, FOX NEWS)

The conservative commentator and self-proclaimd “culture warrior” needs to be reminded that in polite society, people don’t yell to make their points, nor do they tell people to shut up. Nemesis Keith Olbermann of MSNBC regularly proclaims O’Reilly to be the “Worst Person In The World”, and we’d move the pinhead closer to the top of our list… if it weren’t so darn hard to take him seriously.

5) Dr. Gregory House, MD (House, FOX)

Okay, sure, the guy is a genius and the first person we’d want on the other side of the stethoscope if we came down with a rare disease. But bedside manner is definitely not his specialty. “Treating illness is why we became doctors,” he once explained to a co-worker. “Treating patients is actually what makes most doctors miserable.” On the other hand, he is an equal-opportunity offender, never forgetting to belittle those he works with as well as the patients. His typical approach? “I thought I’d get your theories, mock them, then embrace my own.”  What a charmer.

4) Ari Gold (Entourage, HBO)

This ruthless agent never met an inuendo he couldn’t sexualize or an obscenity he couldn’t make dirtier. He’s offensive, obnoxious, uncouth and one of the best liars you’ll ever encounter… all of which might explain why the guy recently admitted that if he weren’t an agent, he’d have become a lawyer.

3) Simon Cowell (American Idol, FOX)

Yes, the judge is almost always correct in his assessment of the people who wind up receiving his harshest criticism. That doesn’t, however, make his declarations as to their lack of talent any less rude… or original. Every bad singer can’t be “the worst I’ve ever heard in my life.” He could take a page from the book of his much classier former boss, Nigel Lythgoe, who, when judging contestants on So You Think You Can Dance offers actual helpful criticism as opposed to nasty nuggets of negativity.

2) Michael Scott (The Office, NBC)

As with the law, ignorance of one’s rudeness is no excuse. But if it was, Michael might just get a free pass because… well, they don’t come much more ignorant. Perhaps the least self-actualized person on the planet, he wants desperately to belong and to be liked. Of course, the harder he tries, the worse he makes any given situation. Take his opening remarks at a seminar regarding sexual orientation: “The company has made it my responsibility today to put an end to 100,000 years of being weirded out by gays.” Classy.

1) Gordon Ramsay (Hell’s Kitchen, FOX)

What must it be like to become a world-renowned chef… only to be best known for yelling insults at people? Any given episode of this popular reality show finds half of the foul-mouthed foodie’s remarks being bleeped out by censors. Of course, the spittle flying from his mouth and flinching faces of those at whom it is directed give you a pretty good idea of what he’s saying.  Sadly, thanks to our fascination with watching others be humiliated, Ramsay is cursing all the way to the bank.