In light of the extremist rhetoric in evidence at previous tea party protests, by aggressively promoting what it has labeled “FNC Tax Day Tea Parties,” Fox News is also associating itself in advance with whatever violent, offensive, or otherwise extremist rhetoric emanates at those upcoming events.
Several Fox News hosts will be broadcasting their shows from the protests and have encouraged viewers to attend them. For example, Glenn Beck has implored his viewers: “If you can't make the one in San Antonio, please go to the one with Neil [Cavuto] or with Sean [Hannity] in Atlanta, that's supposed to be great, Greta [Van Susteren] is in Washington, D.C. Just get out and let your face be seen.” In addition, Fox News' new website, TheFoxNation.com, has featured several items on the protests, including from Fox News contributors promoting the events. Fox News has repeatedly provided organizing information for the protests and featured interviews with protest organizers.
In its promotion of the forthcoming protests, Fox News repeatedly aired footage from previous tea party protests that include protesters with signs suggesting President Obama and the Democrats are socialists, communists, fascists, and thieves.
The following images were taken from Fox News' footage of previous tea party protests:
From the April 4 edition of Glenn Beck:
From the April 9 edition of Your World with Neil Cavuto:
From the April 9 edition of America's Newsroom:
From the April 9 edition of America's Newsroom:
From the April 7 edition of Your World with Neil Cavuto:
Further, the following photos from recent tea party protests in Orlando, New York City, Chicago, Raleigh, and Tulsa, have appeared on blogs: