Not cool, "Red Eye" host Greg Gutfeld (Disrespecting Canadian Military)

[featherlou]

Canadian soldiers have been dying in Afghanistan because YOUR country was targeted for terrorism; we're over there because of our military commitments, and because we thought it was the right thing to do. Comments like,

Gutfeld mocked the Canadian Forces, noting Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie's recent comment that the military may need a year to recover after Canada's mission in Afghanistan ends in 2011.

"Meaning, the Canadian military wants to take a breather to do some yoga, paint landscapes, run on the beach in gorgeous white Capri pants," Gutfeld said.

and

"I didn't even know they were in the war," panellist and comedian Doug Benson added. "I thought that's where you go if you don't want to fight. Go chill in Canada."

and

The panellists continued by joking about soldiers needing a break for "manicures and pedicures," how Canada should be invaded and poked fun at the RCMP.

are beyond ignorant. (Story here.)

We have had more soldiers killed per capita than the United States, fighting in the most violent regions of Afghanistan since 2001. We are doing our part, and dying for a larger cause, and this lack of appreciation (not even being aware of the contributions Canadian soldiers are making) is appalling. I don't expect much from Fox, but even on Fox you shouldn't be talking completely out of your ass. He has apologized, but there was no misunderstanding - there were just very disrespectful, ignorant men shooting their mouths off. Not cool at all.

[leander]

That show is such a waste of space, and that guy is such a slimy douchebag. If I were Fox I'd be ashamed to have him on the air, even at 2am -- but then again, this is Fox, the News network that cannot seem to sink low enough.

Btw, he issued an apology, though I'm guessing it was only after someone pointed out it's not a good idea to piss off an entire nation of consumers.

[Rigamarole]

Fox sucks, but come on, Canadians are practically the only ethnic group left that it's OK to make fun of. Don't take that from us.

[Claptree]

Fox sucks, but come on, Canadians are practically the only ethnic group left that it's OK to make fun of. Don't take that from us.

True. But be magnanimous. There's just so much about Canadians to mock and belittle that leaving their military alone shouldn't really have much of an impact.

[ivan astikov]

But they gave you - and the world - Celine Dion! How could you be so uncaring to them?

[Muffin]

. . . he issued an apology . . .

His apology was: "I realize that my words may have been misunderstood." That is not an apology. That is an insult on the intelligence of Canadians. We quite understood what he said, and what he said was truly ignorant. Shame on him.

[Claptree]

But they gave you - and the world - Celine Dion! How could you be so uncaring to them?

You're right, you know. I take it back. They deserve no clemency. Mock them without mercy! Taunt them until the moose come home and then taunt them some more.

[BooBoo]

But they gave you - and the world - Celine Dion! How could you be so uncaring to them?

I believe that's grounds for invasion all by itself. Gotta stamp out the scourge at its source, you know.

[Myrnalene]

Guys, stop. Canada has given us this God of a man. Show some respect for His sake.

[Canuck_Kat]

Featherlou I was also appalled at the jokes being made at the expense of our Canadian soldiers. I couldn't help but think of the families of the soldiers who are over there or have lost someone in Afghanistan. And I agree with Muffin that it wasn't really an apology but more of a dig that somehow we misinterpreted what they were saying. There wasn't an awful lot to misinterpret.

[jali]

Their comments were embarassingly disrespectful - bad enough. Then we see the disgraceful excuse for an apology.
I'm so sorry.

[Julie]

The comments were ugly and disgusting. The apology wasn't an apology.

[featherlou]

. . . he issued an apology . . .

His apology was: "I realize that my words may have been misunderstood." That is not an apology. That is an insult on the intelligence of Canadians. We quite understood what he said, and what he said was truly ignorant. Shame on him.

Exactly. We knew damned well what he said and why he said it. I would say Canadians have a fairly easy time laughing at ourselves and not taking things too seriously, but this wasn't funny.

[silenus]

Send Gutfeld to Afghanistan. Gunless. See who kills and skins him first. Reality television at its finest.

[featherlou]

Send Gutfeld to Afghanistan. Gunless. See who kills and skins him first. Reality television at its finest.

There ya go - give him an up close and personal look at what Canadians are doing in Afghanistan.

[hatesfreedom]

There's only one thing more irrelevant than the Canadian Army and that's the US Navy.

I'm just sayin'.

Also, I will personally offer a cash reward to the first Canadian soldier who knocks out a fox news correspondent.

Earlier in the day a Twitter update from Greg Gutfeld read,

My apologies to the Canadian military, they probably could at least beat the Belgians.

Yeah, he sounds sincere.

As well, Doug Benson (the other unfunny comic guest of the show) was scheduled for an appearance at the Comic Strip Club in Edmonton in early April.

However club management contacted his agent and told him his gig was cancelled because they could not guarantee his safety.
Apparently, people were going to buy a ticket just to show up and throw a beer at him.

When Canadians are willing to waste a beer, you know this is a pissed off country.

(My first post! ~ Hi everybody!)

[jali]

Earlier in the day a Twitter update from Greg Gutfeld read,

My apologies to the Canadian military, they probably could at least beat the Belgians.

Yeah, he sounds sincere.

As well, Doug Benson (the other unfunny comic guest of the show) was scheduled for an appearance at the Comic Strip Club in Edmonton in early April.

However club management contacted his agent and told him his gig was cancelled because they could not guarantee his safety.
Apparently, people were going to buy a ticket just to show up and throw a beer at him.

When Canadians are willing to waste a beer, you know this is a pissed off country.

(My first post! ~ Hi everybody!)

Hi Meek! Yay for the first post.

[dread pirate jimbo]

Gutfield is obviously a cock. However, he wouldn't keep pushing that button if it didn't get him a bunch of praise from his mouth-breathing audience. Now if we can take all those asshole aside and beat some sense into them, we'll really be getting somewhere...

[featherlou]

<snip>
When Canadians are willing to waste a beer, you know this is a pissed off country.

(My first post! ~ Hi everybody!)

Got that right.

(Hi Meek!)

Today, from this site:

On last night's Red Eye, Gutfeld addressed the controversy. "We're one of the most vocal supporters of the brave work done by those who defend their countries, particularly those fighting side-by-side with American troops on the frontlines in the war on terror," he said.

Yes, he is a vocal supporter of Canadian troops, now that someone has informed him of their existence.
A cock, indeed. No, that's not right; cocks are useful things; he is no cock. More like an appendix; just a useless thing that sometimes spews garbage.

[vison]

I like the word douchebag myself. But on mature reconsideration, I realize that no woman would ever touch a douchebag like that and I think "steaming pile of shit" comes closer to the mark.

I am one of those who think Canadian troops should leave Afghanistan. I think they should never have gone there. I mentioned on the other board that one of my cousins is a high-ranking military officer who was in the first wave. He was quickly convinced it was all a big mistake. He was right. Canadians and others are dying over there for the usual "nothing".

Nonetheless, Canadian military men are as deserving of respect as any other and more than many. Canadians fought and died in their many, many thousands before the progenitors of Fox newspeople decided to win WW II for us all.

I know that most Americans are perfectly nice people, despite a lot of evidence to the contrary. Why, some of my best friends are Americans. They can't help it, they were born there. There is no need for nice Americans to apologize for this moron's spewings, we Canucks know who our friends are and we know if you get the chance you'll put the boots to him. Caulked boots, as worn here in BC. New caulked boots, while the spikes are still really sharp.

It is, indeed, a serious matter when a Canadian thinks of wasting a beer, eh? Mind you, it wouldn't be Molson's or Sleeman's. It would be imported crap, like Bud or something.

[Jaglavak]

I couldn't even get through the entire clip. The man is a giant throbbing hemorrhoid. And now that he's pissed off approximately 200,000,000 folks, we can at least hope he'll soon meet his personal Preparation H.

[featherlou]

That would be awesome. I'm old-fashioned enough to think that you shouldn't be rewarded for being an ignorant douchebag.

[featherlou]

Rick Mercer's take on Gutfeld's comments:

"They should be ignored," said political satirist Rick Mercer, who hosts his own show on CBC. "If you're going to do satire, three of the most important rules are you have to tell the truth, you can't be a bully and don't be an asshole," he said, adding: "Being a bully is not satire."

(Rick Mercer is an actually funny Canadian satirist.)
Missed on all three counts, Mr. Gutfeld.

[OtakuLoki]

Shit that's appalling.

I know that some of you have said that you don't want, nor need, apologies from those of us who know what your military has been doing. Not just in Afghanistan, but in concert with US and NATO forces through the 20th century.

I still feel the need to apologize. That's fucking unsat. There's no excuse for it. I am sorry that there are any Americans who think that this crap is funny, or defensible.

Had he hit funny, that might be one thing. He didn't. He didn't even make funny nervous. He's just being a complete toadwhistle and his refusal to back down from his statements is even more appalling.

The thing of it is, that there are ways, I believe, one could make jokes about the Canadian military that could be funny. "A spokesperson for the Defense Ministry has admitted that there have been errors in the execution of plans in Afghanistan. The point was made that had the funding for the AVRO Arrow not been cut, the Canadian military would be in a much better position for its current mission."

Of course that would require general knowledge of history for most Americans to see the humor there.

[featherlou]

Oh, don't get me started on the Avro Arrow. Stupid Diefenbaker.

Yeah, there are many jokes that can be made about Canada, including our military, and most Canadians will laugh along at them. Have you heard the one about our submarine fleet?

[Spoons]

Oh, don't get me started on the Avro Arrow. Stupid Diefenbaker.

Yeah, there are many jokes that can be made about Canada, including our military, and most Canadians will laugh along at them. Have you heard the one about our submarine fleet?

You mean the one in West Edmonton Mall?

[featherlou]

Yup, that's the one.