GA: Pretty Sure Dogfighting Is Always 'Redneck' Behavior, Fox News

August 19, 2011
Bob Beckel horrifies co-hosts

A Fox News “The Five” panel member apologized repeatedly Friday for using racially-tinged language on air.

The panel was discussing the possibility of Michael Vick – the NFL player who was once convicted of dog fighting in Virginia and served 19 months in prison -- getting a dog. Beckel then slipped into a Southern twang and explained his view of the type of people who watch dog fighting.

“What?” asked panelist Andrea Tantaros after Beckel described them as being consumers of “RC Cola” and “MoonPies.”

“I’m sorry. I’m talking about a bunch of rednecks down in that place where he was running those things,” Beckel responded as he tried to cue a commercial break. “I used to be a redneck, I can talk about rednecks.”

Later on the show, Beckel apologized. “When I talk about rednecks; blacks are rednecks, whites are rednecks, I was a redneck, Chinamen are rednecks.”

“Go to break,” Tantaros said amid further confusion and exasperation among the panelists.

In the next segment, “Red Eye” host Greg Gutfeld turned the camera to another Beckel apology.

“If I upset anybody, which I do all the time, in particular in the Chinese community. It was a joke,” Beckel said. “I apologize if I hurt anybody’s feelings. And I really mean that, except well, nevermind,” he trailed off.

Gutfeld suggested Beckel needed to get a new dictionary.

“I don’t need a damn thing … I’m a liberal and I can get away with this stuff,” replied Beckel, who helped run the campaign of Democrat Walter Mondale in 1984.

Later, Gutfeld tweeted, “That was a show.” The remarks stirred the #thefive hashtag on Twitter, with some calling for Beckel’s ouster. “Greg... I love ya, man. But. Bob. Must. Go!” messaged one viewer.

Representatives with Fox News did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Beckel's remarks were first reported by Mediaite, which has the clips.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/0811/Bob_Beckel_horrifies_cohosts.html