Comments on: When it comes to Fox News, Integrity May be Dead, but Irony Certainly is Not

By: Mary Mancini

Mary Mancini — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:12:25 +0000

I guess reading comprehension is not your strong suit, Ryan. Why do you insist on defending those who continue to lie to further their agenda? Do you like to win by cheating?

By: Dean

Dean — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:06:14 +0000

Both sides will play Gotcha!, and to an broad extent, that’s fine.

But, at best, this is a case of poor journalism. If any news organization had done this to a private citizen, that citizen would have an open-and-shut civil case. I’m a staunch defender of the First Amendment, but there should be consequences to such reckless behavior.

Time to go watch hockey. Good night, y’all.

By: Kayla

Kayla — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:36:21 +0000

If these people cared at all about “the greatest nation on earth,” you’d think they’d focus more on what Obama’s appointees CAN do to improve our country. The fact that people buy into FOX’s hypocrisy and lies is appalling. http://www.newsy.com/videos/new_czar_on_target

By: Dean

Dean — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:35:45 +0000

I thought this had nothing to do with homosexuality. (Of course, sodomy is technically any sex act not designed to procreate).

“Looks like sodomy is illegal in Mass., as well…”

You realize there are no more sodomy laws, right? Thank you, Lawrence v. Texas (2003).

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:16:36 +0000

Dean, go down a couple of paragraphs..

Looks like sodomy is illegal in Mass., as well.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:15:00 +0000

I’m not a Mass. lawyer, but I know that most of the time under the age of 18 and 3 years difference in age constitutes statutory rape.

Check this out.. MGL c.272, s. 4

http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/subject/about/sex.html#18

Any child under 18.. the consent does not matter. That is true..

By: Dean

Dean — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:06:39 +0000

Under Mass. law â€” which I don’t agree with â€” the age of consent is 16. That, coupled with the fact we’re talking about a boarding school, makes the mentoring comparison extremely valid.

My children live in a state where the age of consent is 18. Thanks for asking.

The overriding point is that Fox reported the incident as statutory rape and that he covered up a crime. That is inherently false.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:04:56 +0000

Dean.. how can you compare a teacher in a high school.. who’s job is to teach and protect their students, to a college professor who has a relationship with a student?

Are those the same? No.. one case is two consenting adults.. one case is a child confiding in an authority figure when said child could be in trouble.

I wonder what you would say if the 16 year old was your own child.. would it still be ok?

This has absolutely nothing to do with homosexuality..

By: Dean

Dean — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:27:44 +0000

I’m not sure how this makes Jennings a radical. I know a lot of professors who strike up a mentoring relationship with students, and sometimes the mentoring turns to personal matters.

Since the age of consent is different than most states, and because the relationship was homosexual, it’s easy to blur the issue.

By: Dean

Dean — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:14:51 +0000

I think the point is that whereas Fox News was quick to defend Dennis Hastert, they have been extremely quick to condemn Kevin Jennings.

“… standing behind someone that has relationships with a teenager because your President picked him… ”

By the way, Jennings is not baselessly accused of having a relationship with a teen â€” he is baselessly accused of knowing about a crime but not reporting it. Since the age of consent is 16 in Mass., there is no crime.

I know libel is difficult to prove when you’re a public official, but I would thing Jennings has a case.