Tucker's Racist Text and Nikki Haley's Horrible Tape
Tucker's Racist Text and Nikki Haley's Horrible Tape
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This Week in Dumb Stuff Politicians (and Their Apologists) Said
Carlson’s Text That Alarmed Fox Leaders: ‘It’s Not How White Men Fight’ (The New York Times)
SUMMARY: A text message sent by Tucker Carlson that set off a panic at the highest levels of Fox on the eve of its billion-dollar defamation trial showed its most popular host sharing his private, inflammatory views about violence and race.
[This is the text message sent on January 7, 2021 to a producer.]
“A couple of weeks ago, I was watching video of people fighting on the street in Washington. A group of Trump guys surrounded an Antifa kid and started pounding the living shit out of him. It was three against one, at least. Jumping a guy like that is dishonorable obviously. It’s not how white men fight. Yet suddenly I found myself rooting for the mob against the man, hoping they’d hit him harder, kill him. I really wanted them to hurt the kid. I could taste it. Then somewhere deep in my brain, an alarm went off: this isn’t good for me. I’m becoming something I don’t want to be. The Antifa creep is a human being. Much as I despise what he says and does, much as I’m sure I’d hate him personally if I knew him, I shouldn’t gloat over his suffering. I should be bothered by it. I should remember that somewhere somebody probably loves this kid, and would be crushed if he was killed. If I don’t care about those things, if I reduce people to their politics, how am I better than he is?”
The text alarmed the Fox board, which saw the message a day before Fox was set to defend itself against Dominion Voting Systems before a jury. The board grew concerned that the message could become public at trial when Mr. Carlson was on the stand, creating a sensational and damaging moment that would raise broader questions about the company.
MY TAKE: Carlson supporters will wonder what the fuss is about. Sure, he shares some dark thoughts, but he then redeems himself with an expression of regret and sympathy.
Except for this part: “Jumping a guy like that is dishonorable obviously. It’s not how white men fight.” The implication is that White men fight with honor while non-White men fight without honor. He further implies that the reason he is able to pull back from his non-White dishonorable thoughts is because of his White honor. Right there is the seed from which White supremacy grows and spreads.
If you’re at all surprised by this, then you haven’t been paying attention these last few years as he promoted White nationalism again and again. Nor can we credit Fox with suddenly growing a conscience or having journalistic ethics by firing him. They crunched the numbers and saw Carlson as a financial liability (he’d already cost them nearly a billion dollars.)
Despite our delight in his public humiliation, Fox News continues to promote Carlson clones that spout the same whitewashed misinformation. Nothing in this news cycle will make any difference. You know what would make a difference? If ethically minded companies refused to advertise on Fox News programs. That would be a real act of patriotism.