Yet One More Head Shaking Day

Sad Story

Know Your Audience

On air, Fox News host Tucker Carlson questioned the patriotism of double-leg amputee Iraqi Purple Heart winning U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth. In fact, he declared that “these people hate America.” Carlson also called her a “moron,” “silly” and “unimpressive.” The next day, after getting ripped by almost everyone, Carlson doubled down and labeled Duckworth a “coward.” Carlson did not serve in the military. But if he had, he’d been brave, no doubt.

What causes me to shake my head is not that a Fox News host criticized Senator Duckworth, a hated Democrat. And frankly, the Senator does not get a pass for her disability or for her military service. It’s Carlson’s language, his tone, his take-no-prisoners approach to journalism, and the fact that his audience is primarily made up of born-again, white, evangelical Christians.