He’s Back: Tony Perkins Makes First Fox News Appearance Of 2012
January 11, 2012 3:31 pm ET by Carlos Maza
Ten days. That’s how long Fox News was able to last in 2012 before inviting Tony Perkins – president of the anti-gay hate group Family Research Council (FRC) – back on the air.
On Wednesday – after an entire month of Perkins-free airwaves – Fox News invited the hate group leader to discuss a Supreme Court case dealing with federal restrictions against obscenity on television:
As Equality Matters noted last December, Fox News has developed a close relationship with Perkins, frequently inviting him to comment on issues ranging from LGBT equality to the GOP presidential primary while failing to identify him as the leader of a hate group.
The question now is whether networks like MSNBC and CNN will follow Fox’s example. Both networks frequently hosted Perkins in 2011, but have not used him as a guest since early December.
One major test will come next week. Over the weekend, some of the country’s most prominent conservative Christian leaders will be meeting in Texas to discuss which GOP presidential candidate they should rally behind. Perkins has already stated that he won’t be able to attend the meeting, but he’s frequently been relied upon by news networks to speak on behalf of social conservatives.
Will MSNBC and CNN mimic Fox, continuing to treat Perkins as a legitimate source of political analysis while whitewashing his extreme, anti-gay credentials?
Or will 2012 be the year that MSNBC and CNN finally decide that career hate-mongers shouldn’t be treated like harmless commentators on national television?
UPDATE: Hours after appearing of Fox News’ America Live, Perkins was a guest on MSNBC’s Martin Bashir to discuss – surprise, surprise – the GOP presidential primary:
Perkins last appeared on MSNBC during the December 8 edition of Jansing & Co.
Previously:
FRC, Focus On The Family: Homosexuality Is “Evil,” Akin To Pedophilia
MSNBC Hosts FRC's Perkins To Provide More Repetitive Campaign Commentary
Fox Invites FRC's Tony Perkins To Discuss Atheists' "War On Christianity"
