# Fox News show mocks soldiers in Afghanistan... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 24, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548 "2009-03-24T03:12:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/1 "2009-03-24T03:12:10Z")
…but it’s ok because they were only [mocking CANADIAN soldiers](http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jwPb9gtJ2Rs2rSzhpvHueufM-F4g) > [@](#): > > OTTAWA (AFP) — Defense Minister Peter MacKay on Monday blasted US broadcaster Fox News for mocking Canada’s military for needing a rest after its Afghanistan combat mission ends in 2011, after nine years. > > He was referring to Fox late-night host Greg Gutfeld’s ridicule of a Canadian general’s suggestion that his troops would need a year-long break in operations to regroup and restock equipment after Afghanistan. > > The episode appeared on March 17 at 3:00 am, but a segment has since circulated online, provoking angry reactions in Canada. > > “I think it is an uninformed view,” MacKay told CTV. “It is crass. It is insensitive and it is in fact disgusting given the timing, when Canada is just receiving back four fallen heroes today.” > > “There should be an apology to the families in particular and to the Canadian Forces and to Canada generally, given the sacrifice and the commitment that we have demonstrated in Afghanistan,” he added… > > …On his show, Gutfeld criticized the Canadian military for planning to take a “synchronized break” after its Afghanistan withdrawal. “Meaning, the Canadian military wants to take a breather to do some yoga, paint landscapes, run on the beach in gorgeous white Capri pants,” he said. > > “Isn’t this the perfect time to invade this ridiculous country? They have no army!” he quipped. > > Panelist Doug Benson, a comedian, replied: “I didn’t even know they were in the war. I thought that’s where you go when you don’t want to fight. Go chill in Canada.” For those unfamiliar with Gutfeld he’s the host of an abysmally bad “satirical” show called “Redeye” that airs on Fox News at like 3 in the morning. I believe it’s the single worst show on any cable news network and one of the worst shows on all of television. The example above is perfectly representative of the level of wit and knowledge typically heard on the show. The host, Gutfeld, is a tool who must be seen to be believed, even by Fox News standards. He specializes in tough guy rants about how he’d like to smack liberals in the mouth (rants which are rendered rather unconvincing by his doughy physique and vaguely effeminate – one might even suspect closeted – demeanor). Canadian forces in Afghanistan protect US soldiers by going into some of the very toughest spots and are highly respected by the Americans. To date, 116 Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, including 4 the same week of Gutfeld’s witless “Redeye” segment. It goes without saying that Greg Gutfeld has never seen combat in his life. Why should that stop him from feeling qualified to ridicule the masculinity of soldiers who have been fighting as our allies for 7 years? Gutfeld issued a half-assed, bullshit non-apology after Defense Minister MacKay demanded one from Fox: > [@](#): > > “The March 17th episode of Red Eye included a segment discussing Canada’s plan for a ‘synchronized break,’ which was in no way an attempt to make light of troop efforts,” host Greg Gutfeld said in a statement issued Monday. > > “However, 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.” His words were “misunderstood?” In what way? If his intent was not to disrespect Canadian military personel, what was it? Imagine if someone on a Canadian show had pissed all over American troops like this. This same cunt, Gutfeld, would be _outraged_. All of Fox News would be wallowing in righteous indignation. If this douche ever came face to face with an actual, seasoned Canadian infantry veteran fresh from Afghanistan, I wonder if he’d have the guts to make any cracks about “white capri pants.” I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/2 "2009-03-24T03:27:33Z")
“It was not my intent to disrespect the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military, and for that I apologize.” He’s apologizing for his lack of intent? Most media ‘apologies’ use very careful language to weasel their way through. I’m not sure this guy even knows what he’s trying to say. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/3 "2009-03-24T03:34:13Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > “It was not my intent to disrespect the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military, and for that I apologize.” > > He’s apologizing for his lack of intent? Most media ‘apologies’ use very careful language to weasel their way through. I’m not sure this guy even knows what he’s trying to say. Maybe he is apologizing for being a rampant asshole. It doesn’t change the fact that he is still an asshole. Just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/4 "2009-03-24T03:36:08Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > For those unfamiliar with Gutfeld he’s the host of an abysmally bad “satirical” show called “Redeye” that airs on Fox News at like 3 in the morning. … He specializes in tough guy rants about how he’d like to smack liberals in the mouth (rants which are rendered rather unconvincing by his doughy physique and vaguely effeminate – one might even suspect closeted – demeanor). It sounds like the remark was exactly as offensive as he intended it to be, and I suspect he’s enjoying every minute of this publicity. I’d never even heard of this guy before, and now I have. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/5 "2009-03-24T03:36:09Z")
He also said, “My apologies to the Canadian military, they probably could at least beat the Belgians.” The Belgians - the people who gave us the FAL (the “right arm of the free world”) and the M-249 machine gun that the United States Army uses to this day. This stupid bastard should read a book or even a Wikipedia article about the history of firearms, then he might not make such an idiotic remark. > [@](#): > > If this douche ever came face to face with an actual, seasoned Canadian infantry veteran fresh from Afghanistan, I wonder if he’d have the guts to make any cracks about “white capri pants.” I doubt it. I sincerely hope that such an encounter takes place in the very near future. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/6 "2009-03-24T03:49:49Z")
My guess is that Gutfield is toast. Fox media personalities have said a lot of stupid things over the years and gotten away with it but this remark will offend their demographic. Fox will denounce and fire him. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/7 "2009-03-24T03:51:17Z")
What an asshole. Sorry not more creative…it’s hard to post from an iPod. But a well deserved pitting… ignorant asshole. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/8 "2009-03-24T04:11:55Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I sincerely hope that such an encounter takes place in the very near future. This is apparently entirely possible. He’s scheduled to do a standup show in Edmonton in [two weeks.](http://neatesager.blogspot.com/2009/03/international-court-to-hear-case-of.html) Edmonton. Home of [CFB Edmonton](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CFB_Edmonton), military headquarters for western Canada. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/9 "2009-03-24T04:14:33Z")
BTW, the Canadians were the only armed force that accomplished their stated mission on D-day. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/10 "2009-03-24T04:53:21Z")
> [@Spartydog](#): > > BTW, the Canadians were the only armed force that accomplished their stated mission on D-day. To be fair, we had the easiest beach. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/11 "2009-03-24T05:24:09Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > For those unfamiliar with Gutfeld he’s the host of an abysmally bad “satirical” show called “Redeye” that airs on Fox News at like 3 in the morning. I…He specializes in tough guy rants about how he’d like to smack liberals in the mouth (rants which are rendered rather unconvincing by his doughy physique and vaguely effeminate – one might even suspect closeted – demeanor). You mean he’s not out? He makes Richard Simmons look macho. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/12 "2009-03-24T05:25:10Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > To be fair, we had the easiest beach. That is sooooo Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/13 "2009-03-24T05:33:12Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > You mean he’s not out? He makes Richard Simmons look macho. Actually, he started out as a [model for Men’s Health.](http://gawker.com/272928/) ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/14 "2009-03-24T06:04:52Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > That is sooooo Canadian. Even Minnesotans aren’t that nice! Must be a direct geometric increase of niceness by latitude. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/15 "2009-03-24T06:33:16Z")
Fox News is programming by and for horrible people. Why would anyone be surprised by this? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/16 "2009-03-24T07:20:44Z")
Jeepers! A comedy news show poked fun of Canada’s military. I’m glad the vigilant OP brought our attention to this so we can all do what we can yo make sure that the first time this happened will also be the last! By thank goodness for YouTube, so this rare occurrence can be kept for evidence for posterity that it actually happened. [Unbelieavable!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPmXKEsm-HE) By the way, **Dio**. As an American, I appreciate you’re vigilance. Tell me, can we count on you to monitor all airwaves in search of comedians saying stupid shit they think is funny? I gotta say, I think you’re our man. Sempre ha! ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/17 "2009-03-24T07:22:57Z")
Ah, there’s that respect for the military I was expecting. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/18 "2009-03-24T07:25:10Z")
Why does saying it’s “comedy” make it ok? I don’t get the joke. “Canadians soldiers are fags lol.” That’s the joke? How is that funny? ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/19 "2009-03-24T07:33:28Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Why does saying it’s “comedy” make it ok? I don’t get the joke. “Canadians soldiers are fags lol.” That’s the joke? How is that funny? For reference, [here](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090323.wfoxapology0323/BNStory/International/home)is one of _our_ comedians pointing out the difference: > [@](#): > > “They should be ignored,” said political satirist Rick Mercer, who hosts his own show on CBC. “If you’re going to do satire, three of the most important rules are you have to tell the truth, you can’t be a bully and don’t be an asshole,” he said, adding: “Being a bully is not satire.” Like the woman said: sure I have a sense of humour; you’re just not funny. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548/20 "2009-03-24T07:44:23Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Why does saying it’s “comedy” make it ok? I don’t get the joke. “Canadians soldiers are fags lol.” That’s the joke? How is that funny? It doesn’t make it funny. But that just makes it bad comedy. It makes it fall into the category I mentioned: stupid shit. I find him and the show majorly annoying and unfunny. But you posted this to characterize his dumb rant as a serious, albeit satirical, position held by—SHRIEK—“Fox News”. Don’t you ever get tired of this shit? Seriously, it’s old. Real old. You need new material. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-show-mocks-soldiers-in-afghanistan/490548.md?page=2)