Fox News denounced comments made by host Jeanine Pirro over the weekend, when she insinuated that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has an “adherence to Sharia law” over to the Constitution because she wears a hijab.
In a statement to TPM, Fox said “we strongly condemn” Pirro’s comments.
“They do not reflect those of the network and we have addressed the matter with her directly,” Fox News said.
Pirro also clarified that she did not mean to suggest Omar was anti-American.
“I’ve seen a lot of comments about my opening statement from Saturday night’s show and I did not call Rep. Omar un-American,” she said. “My intention was to ask a question and start a debate, but of course because one is Muslim does not mean you don’t support the Constitution. I invite Rep. Omar to come on my show any time to discuss all of the important issues facing America today.”
Omar, the first of two Muslim women to serve in Congress, has become the target of conservatives’ ire in recent days over her criticism of pro-Israel advocates. Those remarks have been denounced by many in her own party as anti-Semitic. In an attempt to quell tension, House Democrats voted on a resolution last week to formally condemn anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
Jeanine Pirro only said that wearing a hijab was unconstitutional and un-American, not that Rep. Ilhan Omar was un-American because she wears a hijab. See the difference?
Pirro’s argument was ridiculous. – like arguing that because someone wears a cross they believe that Biblical rules should be imposed on everyone and that this is clearly unconstitutional because said rules call for putting witches to death.
It’s the old Goldilocks line they’re trying to walk here. You don’t want to be insufficiently hateful and inflammatory, but neither do you want to be overly hateful and inflammatory. You want to be just hateful and inflammatory enough.
Pirro’s actual ‘apology’ - I’m sorry I got myself into trouble with my paymaster. It wasn’t my intention to offend the boss.
“Fox News denounced comments made by host Jeanine Pirro over the weekend…”