Fox Host to Caller: "You're Sticking with Obama, Because He's ... a Brother"

By Brian J. Levy, Media Matters for America. Posted April 13, 2008.

On the April 9 broadcast of Fox News Radio's The John Gibson Show, host and former Fox News Channel host John Gibson told a caller, "[Y]ou are the third or fourth caller in a row who is -- has identified yourself to [associate producer] Christine as African-American. And when I talk to you, you obviously are smart, well-educated, well-read, and all that, and I think that your loyalty to [Sen. Barack] Obama here is an issue that goes beyond the issues." When the caller asserted, "No, it's not -- it's not beyond the issues," Gibson said, "It is a racial solidarity bond you have with Obama. Tell me -- I dare you to deny that." Moments later, Gibson added: "You're sticking with Obama, because he's ... he's a brother." Gibson also asserted about Obama: "He is lying to your face but he knows you are so -- you so identify with him on the basis of race, you will not even see the lies."

From the April 9 edition of Fox News Radio's The John Gibson Show:

GIBSON: OK, OK. So I'm supposed to vote for Barack Obama because he has this exquisitely superior judgment. I know that because he's always telling me he does. And since he must be believed, I must believe it. However, if his judgment is so great, why was he sitting there listening to that America-basher in his church, and isn't Jeremiah Wright still an issue?

Chris in Georgia.

CHRIS: Hi, yeah, you know, I don't think he -- he's as big a issue as we want to make out because, you know, we've all got involved with people or went to rallies or things that we, you know, just out of curiosity or maybe we were going that way --

ANGRY RICH: Give me a break.

CHRIS: -- but --

GIBSON: For 20 years? Did --

CHRIS: Well --

GIBSON: Did you go to those demonstrations for two decades?

CHRIS: Well, you know what? I have friends that I don't like everything about them, but they still come over my house.

GIBSON: Yeah, but I'm not going to elect you president, Chris. I mean, we're talking about --

CHRIS: But you know what?

GIBSON: -- we're talking about a guy -- Chris, honestly, he says, "My judgment is what qualifies me for president."

CHRIS: People like Lanny Davis will say, "Oh, well, he wouldn't even answer the question about whether he would have voted on the war," when, in essence, he said he didn't have the intel that they had to make the decision standing in front of a camera --

GIBSON: Chris, can I -- can I be --

CHRIS: That's good judgment. He's not going to say, "Yes."

GIBSON: Can I be blunt with you?

CHRIS: Yes, you can.

GIBSON: All right, Chris, you are the third or fourth caller in a row who is -- has identified yourself to Christine as African-American. And when I talk to you, you obviously are smart, well-educated, well-read, and all that, and I think that your loyalty to Obama here is an issue that goes beyond the issues --

CHRIS: No, it's not -- it's not beyond the issues --

GIBSON: It is a racial solidarity bond you have with Obama. Tell me -- I dare you to deny that.

CHRIS: And McCain can't even remember who we're fighting half the time. He's got a buzzer in his pocket. If I say "Sunni," and you get buzzed, just automatically say "Shia."

GIBSON: Well, Chris, why won't you answer my question? You -- you're stick --

CHRIS: [unintelligible]

GIBSON: You're sticking with Obama, because he's --

CHRIS: He's the [unintelligible]

GIBSON: -- he's a brother.

CHRIS: You want a bare-faced liar in the White House or a guy that can't remember who his enemy is?

GIBSON: Well, how about -- Obama has lied right to the face of Meredith Vieira. She said, "Why do you keep misstating what John McCain said about Iraq and the hundred years?" And he said, "Well, I didn't say that." We could play it. He did say it. He said it a hundred times. He is lying to your face but he knows you are so -- you so identify with him on the basis of race, you will not even see the lies.

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Brian J. Levy is a member of the research department at Media Matters for America.

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