Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) said Tuesday that he believes Fox News host Bob Beckel deserves to keep his job after apologizing for using the ethnic slur “Chinamen” on air.
A day earlier, Honda had called for Fox News to fire Beckel after the network’s token liberal used the slur last week during a tirade about Chinese immigrants.
Beckel apologized during Monday’s episode of “The Five,” which he co-hosts.
“I made some comments last week about Chinese people which apparently upset some people for which I apologize,” Beckel said.
Beyond that statement, though, Beckel wasn’t contrite. He went on to say that he would not apologize for the specific things he said about China “because there are too many China apologists in this country.”
Honda said Tuesday in a statement emailed to TPM that he appreciated Beckel’s apology. When asked to clarify whether he still wanted Beckel to either be fired from the network or resign, Honda said that depended on the host’s conduct going forward.
“If he refrains from using derogatory and racist terms, and engages in an informed discussion of the issues, then he should keep his job,” the congressman said in another emailed statement. “If he continues to use slurs like these, however, then Fox News should end his employment.”
California state Sen. Ted Lieu (D), a candidate for U.S. Congress, and Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) had also called for Beckel’s resignation over the weekend.
I would note that unlike Leiu and Chu, Honda is Japanese.
It does not make his statement invalid, but his status as a non Chinese Asian does not confer any greater credibility either.
Geez, it was a typical Republican apology… “I’m sorry that the people who got offended by what I said were whinny ass titty babies”
Englishman, Frenchman, Irishman, Chinaman and Scotsman? What am I missing here?
JayCee’s jackass, you California lame-raisin Dems: Beckel’s not REAL, he’s an ACTOR, like Reagan but unelectable
And it’s the frickin’ JOB of the Actor Beckel to portray some variation on a peculiar form of thoroughly-rogered creature known as a “Fox liberal”.
He’s TOLD to come out with bullcrap like “Chinamen”, to portray and MAKE MANIFEST the conservative myth of ‘Them libruls is ever bit as bad cracker-ass bigotty racist as we all, just better liars, and all them black, brown and yellow morons er just too stoopid to see thru it.’
Fox News has a bit to do with foxes, less to do with news, and nothing whatsoever to do with portraying reality. Hey Cal Dems: next time you feel all hot and bothered about a character on a Fox show, pick on a soap opera or a cartoon - it’ll be way more effective.
[Lame asses: I support a party full of lame asses.]
Here’s one Irishman who doesn’t understand how Chinaman is a slur.