Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > MacNN Lounge > Political/War Lounge > Canadian Gov't Demands Apology from Fox News

Canadian Gov't Demands Apology from Fox News
Thread Tools
ShortcutToMoncton
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: The Rock
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 23, 2009, 02:48 PM
 
So a late-night Fox News show just started spouting a ridiculous tirade against the Canadian military, mostly in reference to their current activity in Afghanistan, and its planned pull-out in 2011. (Insert crass jokes about the planned pull-out of Bristol Palin here.) The entire thing mostly just seemed to be a series of backward, ignorant comments about Canada in general.

It was put on YouTube, and made it to outraged Canadian Facebookers everywhere this weekend. Now a national newspaper has just written a front-page piece since the government picked up on this, and is apparently demanding an apology from Fox. (It probably doesn't help that our military lost 4 soldiers in an offensive this past weekend.)

I'd be interested in getting some US opinions on this, because the Canadians I've talked to have displayed utter disgust. In fact, I would imagine it's effectively turned most Canadians off Fox News entirely, even the right-wing crowd who normally don't mind it (perhaps because they also seem to support our military strongly?).

Article here (includes YouTube). YouTube alone here, entitled "How to Lose Friends and Alienate Countries."

Thoughts?

greg
Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
     
subego
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 23, 2009, 03:07 PM
 
All I knew was when you said "late-night Fox News show" it just had to be Gutfeld.

I didn't watch the clip, but snarky rants are his schtick.

FWIW, his show is one of the few places where I gather FOX explicitly drops the pretense that it's news. He does doodles of TV journalists and puts them up on the air. I remember a doodle of Anderson Cooper's butt drawn on a napkin.


Edit: Also, one of the gimmicks of the show is that it has an "ombudsman", which is a guy who watches the show and during a segment that plays at the middle and the end, very eloquently tells Gutfeld how much of an asshole he's being.
( Last edited by subego; Mar 23, 2009 at 03:45 PM. )
     
subego
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 23, 2009, 03:27 PM
 
Was this what you posted to the "Funny Comedians" thread?

FWIW, when in my OP I mentioned "[t]wo "right wing" comedians, who I think are funny, but their comedy is way different from the 99% listed above", Gutfeld was one of them.

Edit: I still haven't watched the clip, but will gladly do so when the time presents itself.
     
ShortcutToMoncton  (op)
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: The Rock
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 23, 2009, 06:06 PM
 
Hahaha....actually no, that was another guy. But at least he is a straight-out comic.

greg
Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
     
Laminar
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 23, 2009, 08:50 PM
 
Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton View Post
Canadian Facebookers
Truly a group to be feared.
     
Eug
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Caught in a web of deceit.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 23, 2009, 09:13 PM
 
Considering well over 100 Canadians have died so far in that war (including 4 last week), it was remarkably stupid thing to say. He did get his desired publicity though.

The apology was pretty piss poor too:

“I realize that my words may have been misunderstood. It was not my intent to disrespect the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military, and for that I apologize. Red Eye is a satirical take on the news, in which all topics are addressed in a lighthearted, humorous and ridiculous manner"

Nah. His words were crystal clear, and somehow I think it's pretty difficult to make real-world soldiers being blown up lighthearted. Even if it's possible, this guy failed miserably.
     
Eug
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Caught in a web of deceit.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 23, 2009, 09:36 PM
 
More free publicity: Twitter message

"My apologies to the Canadian military, they probably could at least beat the Belgians"
     
CRASH HARDDRIVE
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Zip, Boom, Bam
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 23, 2009, 10:24 PM
 
*yawn* I'd wager that only liberals and maybe now "Canadian Facebookers" even watch whatever the hell show that is, just to take the bait and get "outraged". Pretty lame all around.
     
subego
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 12:45 AM
 
Well, I watched the clip.

Wow. Just wow.

My US opinion is that for having taken this so seriously, now I want to make fun of you too.
     
ebuddy
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: midwest
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 07:03 AM
 
My first thought is this is going to do wonders for at least doubling the current 18 viewers of Red Eye.

My second thought is of Rick Mercer who has essentially made a career of mocking Americans. Get over it.

My third thought was that the Canadians have quietly been the most effective ally the US could ever hope for and mocking their military would likely be last on my list of acceptable shticks. That's comedy for ya. I can personally guarantee that our US military appreciates their contribution in material support, command assistance, and lives to Iraq and Afghanistan, their intel, their escorts, and their cover. Often.
ebuddy
     
BadKosh
Professional Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Just west of DC.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 07:28 AM
 
Canada HAS A MILITARY?
     
Wiskedjak
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Calgary
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 08:39 AM
 
Originally Posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE View Post
*yawn* I'd wager that only liberals and maybe now "Canadian Facebookers" even watch whatever the hell show that is, just to take the bait and get "outraged". Pretty lame all around.
You're wagering that *liberals* are getting outraged over someone insulting the military? From the few people I've spoken with about it, the ones that are "outraged" are generally conservatives who feel that the lives of Canadian soldiers lost in Afghanistan have been insulted by this "news commentary". They're also not people who watch the show, but heard the hub-bub and watched the segment posted to YouTube. It's the *Conservative* party of Canada that's demanding an apology.
     
ShortcutToMoncton  (op)
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: The Rock
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 09:34 AM
 
Originally Posted by ebuddy View Post
My first thought is this is going to do wonders for at least doubling the current 18 viewers of Red Eye.
It's on at like 2:30 in the morning or something like that, isn't it?? I thought everyone just played those late-night call-number ads at that time.

My second thought is of Rick Mercer who has essentially made a career of mocking Americans. Get over it.
Nawww, Rick Mercer is actually a very funny political satirist who has a weekly show (the "Rick Mercer Report"). He's very amusing; I love the guy (although admittedly we share the same motherland). Having said that, he was mocking Americans over their lack of knowledge about Canada. Isn't that what this current kerfuffle is also about??

My US opinion is that for having taken this so seriously, now I want to make fun of you too.
See, it's that whole bit about "4 soldiers dying at the same time" and all that. Plus, this type of prototypical US ignorance about what's going on outside its own borders is very galling.

greg
Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
     
Chongo
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 01:01 PM
 
Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton View Post
Nawww, Rick Mercer is actually a very funny political satirist who has a weekly show (the "Rick Mercer Report"). He's very amusing; I love the guy (although admittedly we share the same motherland). Having said that, he was mocking Americans over their lack of knowledge about Canada. Isn't that what this current kerfuffle is also about??
greg
It's sad that when many US American's think of Canada, this what comes to mind.

Have there been calls for apologies from Comedy Central or Trey Parker and Matt Stone? South Park mocks Canada on a regular basis. ("Blame Canada" was nominated for an Oscar ®) South Park is one of Comedy Central's highest rated shows.
45/47
     
Dakar V
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The New Posts Button
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 01:06 PM
 
Originally Posted by Chongo View Post
It's sad that when many US American's think of Canada, this what comes to mind. .
According to who?
Originally Posted by Chongo View Post
Have there been calls for apologies from Comedy Central or Trey Parker and Matt Stone? South Park mocks Canada on a regular basis. ("Blame Canada" was nominated for an Oscar ®) South Park is one of Comedy Central's highest rated shows.
Yeah, it's weird how people know the difference between a comedy channel and a news one.
     
Person Man
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Northwest Ohio
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 01:10 PM
 
Originally Posted by Chongo View Post
Have there been calls for apologies from Comedy Central or Trey Parker and Matt Stone? South Park mocks Canada on a regular basis. ("Blame Canada" was nominated for an Oscar ®) South Park is one of Comedy Central's highest rated shows.
I don't know. I think South Park is mocking the way Americans mock Canada, actually.
     
subego
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 01:42 PM
 
Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton View Post
See, it's that whole bit about "4 soldiers dying at the same time" and all that.

See, it's that whole bit about the soldiers dying on March 20th, and the clip is from March 17th.


Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton View Post
Plus, this type of prototypical US ignorance about what's going on outside its own borders is very galling.

I can completely understand why you don't find it funny, but you're missing the target of the joke. It isn't the military, it's the dynamic between our countries. The point behind the routine isn't that your military sucks, it's that it's small. The reason it's small is not because Canadians suck, it's because your closest ally is big. Most militaries can't suspend combat operations for a year to re-equip, because in most combat situations that's known as defeat. Yours can. Tell me little brother, why is that the case?

As was mentioned a few times in the clip, most countries who would suspend combat operations get invaded. Instead, you get some trash talk on a show that "stands out because it might well have been knocked together by a bunch of stoners who, while trying to concentrate on their dissertations, keep getting distracted by pictures of monkeys and strippers." This is a spot-on analysis BTW.

So your stoner big brother pulls the "why are you hitting yourself" routine, and your response is to (literally) make a frigging federal case out of it?

Post hoc indignation + not getting the joke + reacting way out of proportion = intense desire to ridicule.


To put it another way, if you go and tell on me to mom like that again, you get a wedgie, or a Native American burn. Your pick.
( Last edited by subego; Mar 24, 2009 at 01:52 PM. )
     
DBursey
Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 03:10 PM
 
I suppose it might be akin to someone from a Canadian media outlet mocking Americans who died on 9/11.

We've been leading in Afghanistan's most dangerous province for the past 7 years and the vast majority of Americans likely still don't realize that.

....but just when I think you're ALL a bunch of self-obsessed naval-gazers ...

My third thought was that the Canadians have quietly been the most effective ally the US could ever hope for and mocking their military would likely be last on my list of acceptable shticks. That's comedy for ya. I can personally guarantee that our US military appreciates their contribution in material support, command assistance, and lives to Iraq and Afghanistan, their intel, their escorts, and their cover. Often.
... it occurs to me that the best of you actually do get it.
     
ShortcutToMoncton  (op)
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: The Rock
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 03:26 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
See, it's that whole bit about the soldiers dying on March 20th, and the clip is from March 17th.
Does that matter?

I can completely understand why you don't find it funny, but you're missing the target of the joke. It isn't the military, it's the dynamic between our countries. The point behind the routine isn't that your military sucks, it's that it's small. The reason it's small is not because Canadians suck, it's because your closest ally is big. Most militaries can't suspend combat operations for a year to re-equip, because in most combat situations that's known as defeat. Yours can. Tell me little brother, why is that the case?
We can because we hope to have other NATO allies who will relieve us after having spent 9 years in Afghanistan under the organization. Those allies might include US troops, yes.

As was mentioned a few times in the clip, most countries who would suspend combat operations get invaded.
So your logic is: countries who don't carry on combat operations in other countries are more likely to get invaded?

Is this the argument you're making? Having all the troops in Canada will make it more likely that someone will attack us? Hmmmmm? Yessssss?

I gather... you probably watch this show a lot, huh?

greg
Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
     
Wiskedjak
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Calgary
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 08:11 PM
 
Originally Posted by Chongo View Post
Have there been calls for apologies from Comedy Central or Trey Parker and Matt Stone? South Park mocks Canada on a regular basis. ("Blame Canada" was nominated for an Oscar ®) South Park is one of Comedy Central's highest rated shows.
Comedy Central is "comedy". Fox News is, presumably, news. Though, there might be a cultural difference here; in Canada we don't consider our new sources to be "comedy".
     
lpkmckenna
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Toronto
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 08:39 PM
 
Mountains, molehills, etc. I expect Fox programming to be stupid. I'm tired of hearing about this "issue" on the news.
     
Chongo
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 09:18 PM
 
Originally Posted by Wiskedjak View Post
Comedy Central is "comedy". Fox News is, presumably, news. Though, there might be a cultural difference here; in Canada we don't consider our new sources to be "comedy".
The National is a news show?
45/47
     
Wiskedjak
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Calgary
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 09:31 PM
 
Originally Posted by Chongo View Post
The National is a news show?
I'm not certain if you're spinning for a joke, have a piece of comedy from the National that was portrayed as news (in which case I'd be disappointed in The National, even though I don't watch it) or if you're just misinformed, but, yes, I'd consider The National to be a source of news.
http://www.cbc.ca/national/index.html
     
subego
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 24, 2009, 10:58 PM
 
Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton View Post
Does that matter?

The event you want me to be indignant about happened four days earlier than the deaths, and could have had no conceivable affect on the outcome. As the person who's asking me to associate the two, explain to me how that doesn't matter.


Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton View Post
Is this the argument you're making? Having all the troops in Canada will make it more likely that someone will attack us? Hmmmmm? Yessssss?

I think you need to reread my post. The point is that no one will ever attack Canada, because they'd need to get through us first.

Listen to the clip. The discussion segment begins with "isn't this the perfect time for us to invade this ridiculous county?" The blonde made the point that Sarah Palin needs to look out because maybe the Russians are eying Canada.

I'm not saying you have to think these are knee-slappers, but you can't think these were serious questions and statements.

Look. I think if you were to compare (like, in a fight) the Canadian military to the American military on a one to one basis, the Canadian military would kick our asses. I would be shocked to find that the Canadian military doesn't have a much higher proportion of personnel who are there because that's what they want to do, rather than because it's what's available.

This is in large part because Canada doesn't share the brunt of protecting the United States, Japan, Korea, Mexico, keeping the Europeans from blasting the hell out of each other, and um... what did I miss? Oh! Canada.

Your military deserves enormous respect. I was quite humbled to learn that there were a roughly equal number (by percentage of population) of Canadians and Americans in WWII, but that until the end of the war every single Canadian was a volunteer.

That your military deserved, and continues to deserve, this level respect doesn't make them something other than what they are, and what they are is based in deals our respective civilian governments made with each other. This is what they were discussing. Consistent with the analysis in the article you posted, they're highbrow people doing lowbrow humor. They're not going to spell it out for you that "yes, we actually are smart enough to know the Canadian military is good and deserving of respect... Now back to the strippers and monkeys!"

Maybe Doug Benson needed to. He was pretty high. I can't believe he's had shows in Canada cancelled in protest over this. If you won't accept my argument that the others were making jokes, do you think it's just maybe possible the professional comedian was making a joke?
( Last edited by subego; Mar 24, 2009 at 11:34 PM. )
     
subego
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 25, 2009, 12:26 AM
 
Originally Posted by Wiskedjak View Post
Comedy Central is "comedy". Fox News is, presumably, news. Though, there might be a cultural difference here; in Canada we don't consider our new sources to be "comedy".

I'm guessing this is cultural. We have four 24-hour news networks, and they have a lot of time to fill.

Most of them have tried gentle forays into comedy. Usually a "funny take on the news" type thing, done like a normal program, stuffed at 2 in the morning on a Sunday. FOX tried to do a full out copy of The Daily Show targeted to the FOX demographic, which was an utter failure.

That's evolved into to shows like Red Eye (though I believe it predates the Jon Stewart ripoff), or D. L. Hughley Breaks the News, where it is assumed the viewer is sharp enough to know what's serious and what isn't.

Of course, each network is constantly finding its niche. FOX pioneered the "opinion" show (which isn't news), and now puts out Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck (all opinion shows) as their big guns.

MSNBC has Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow, and Keith Olbermann. A "panel discussion" show, an "opinion" show and a actual news show as their big guns. As a counter to FOX, they have decided to have their news show be news with an openly left-leaning slant, and let the panel discussion and opinion show be openly left-leaning as well.

HLN (formerly Headline News, and still a part of CNN) has Nancy Grace and Jane Velez-Mitchell up front. This is "legal discussion" and "mostly legal discussion" respectively, so the slant is generally indignant. They also have an "entertainment report" show IIRC. They're reorganizing after losing Beck. I'll note this is one of those rare instances where I could have just used the word "loosing", and it would have been equally appropriate.

CNN has Anderson Cooper (which they play twice in a row) and Larry King, which would map to what most people think of when they think of a news channel doing straight news/interviews, with an attempt to appear impartial. Peoples' opinions on Cooper vary (standard American print/network TV bias IMO), but I'd say King is such a lightweight that his show, in effect, is impartial.
( Last edited by subego; Mar 25, 2009 at 11:26 AM. )
     
Monique
Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: back home
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Mar 25, 2009, 11:45 AM
 
The military should be off limit to anyone.

They have the courage to do the job not many people today have the courage to do.

I have written a letter in a few newspaper pledging my support to them.

If you do not agree with a political decision making it known but leave the soldiers alone.
     
   
Thread Tools
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:42 PM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,