Asharq al-Awsat: Fox’s politics may be to blame for Centanni’s kidnapping

posted at 3:00 pm on August 22, 2006 by Allahpundit
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Actually, there are three or four theories as to who might have taken him, but this is the one they lead with:

Despite Wiig’s wife, Anita McNaught, appealing to the kidnappers to release her husband, because “the two men are friends of the Palestinian people”, many Palestinians see Fox News as an extremist rightwing channel that promotes the views of the current US administration, especially during the war in Iraq.

It seems, therefore, that the editorial policy followed by News Corporation-owned broadcaster, is to blame for the kidnapping.

The good news is, I don’t think they’re working off any inside info here. It’s sheer speculation. The bad news is, if they’re right, he’s probably dead.

The boss wants a blogburst but she’s already lapped the field by nailing San Diego Union-Tribune TV critic Bob Laurence on his noxious apologia for media silence on the kidnappings. It’s not a political thing, Laurence implies; it’s a reaction to Fox’s haughtiness, the immensity of which is such as to prevent solidarity with two poor bastards with knives at their throats.

I ran a search on Open Secrets out of curiosity. Surprise. And here’s a column/press release he wrote back in 2004 about “Outfoxed” objecting to Fox’s “us-against-them act, that whole pious, patriotic ‘We’re telling the truth you won’t hear on the liberal media’ routine.” I’d love to know what he thinks of Asharq’s theory; I bet his answer would be loaded with nuance.

Update: I can’t believe I didn’t think of it first.

Update: Amnesty International is calling for their release.

Update: Mike Hendrix ventures where I can only dream of going.

Update: E.M. Zanotti:

Perhaps Bob Laurence missed the memo that went around CNN touting itself as the top in media, or that MTV tagline: the only news you’ll ever use (probably true, if you’re between the ages of 18-30 and spend most of your waking hours stoned). Marketing is an essential part of operating a major media outlet: Roger Ailes saw a market that was becoming increasingly disenfranchised with the offered product, and lo and behold, he used his observation to make money by providing the product they so callously desired. Now, two reporters who’ve been kidnapped by, most likely, murderous thugs, should be made to pay for his capitalistic vision, and CNN’s dismal prime time lineup.

That would be, in the words of the great Spongebob Squarepants, “kind of twisted.”

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