A tale of two commentators

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Accountability...

The "A" word, or accountability, is stated rather early in our lives as parents, teachers, preachers and the like seek to develop a code within their children, students, and flock which provides that words and acts have consequences.

Implied within the "A" word is that during each stage of our lives, that individuals are accountable to someone (or something) and that those someone(s) or something(s), in turn, are accountable to the individuals under their/its authority. 

In light of today's vocabulary word, this blog centers on two high profile members of the media, Tucker Carlson of the Fox Network—and Don Lemon of CNN. By now you very likely have heard or read that both of these famous men were fired by their respective companies this week due to transgressions that center upon rank misogyny in public and private statements about professional women. 

Now, accountability principles dictate that when text messages were revealed that Tucker Carlson used extremely sexist and crude language in describing Sidney Powell, one of former President Donald Trump's lawyers who pushed the “Big Lie” that Dominion Voting Systems machines were stealing votes and assigning them to Joe Biden, that the cauldron at Fox was right to get hot.

Tucker Carlson

When those offensive statements were coupled with other text messages in which Carlson objectified women in a ribald manner while discussing his legion of "post-menopausal" fans, once Fox realized that it was likely to get hammered with their star host's sexism AND lies about the 2020 election that he spread on his top rated nightly show, the die was cast which led to a record $787 billion dollars settlement with Dominion—and Carlson's summary dismissal this week!

Text messages reveal that Carlson, shown with the Trumps and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Green, wrote that he hated Trump “passionately” and was glad that the former president was getting less air time on Fox…

Similarly, Don Lemon's 17-year career at CNN saw him become one of the network's most recognizable faces—recognition that earned him a hefty $7 million per year for his efforts. Lemon, one of the leading critics of the Trump administration in the late teens, saw his fame rise even more during the early days of the pandemic as he and former CNN host Chris Cuomo became two of the most trusted sources for news about the coronavirus.

Don Lemon

But just like Carlson, Lemon's misogynistic remarks about Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley led to his undoing at CNN. Specifically, Lemon stated this past February 16th that Haley, age 51, was "past her prime" to be considered an effective candidate.

Lemon's comment was not only stupid when considering that President Joe Biden (80) and Republican front runner Donald Trump (76) are old enough to be her father, but it was hurtful in an era when women continue to struggle with glass ceilings and double standards in myriad industries that promote men as we age—but limit women's upward trajectories due to aging. 

Lemon was further exposed this week for having made inappropriate comments to former colleagues like Soledad O'Brien, one whose "Blackness" he questioned in an open staff meeting, and Kyra Phillips, his former desk mate who received menacing text messages from Lemon after she won an assignment in Iraq that he coveted in the late aughts. 

In addition to Kyra Phillips, Don Lemon had beef with former CNN colleagues Nancy Grace and Soledad O'Brien…

While the details of both Carlson and Lemon's transgressions are troubling, I find the protection that both received from their former companies even more troubling!

As I mentioned above, "accountability" is supposed to be a two-way street, and while Carlson and Lemon both got what was coming to them due to their inappropriate banter and behavior, I submit that Fox and CNN are to blame for providing those two platforms and riches because of their popularity; in the modern era, clicks, viewers, and advertising revenue trumps collegiality, decorum, and balanced journalistic integrity. 

To make it plain, both Carlson and Lemon were known to be workplace Hellions by the bosses for a long time, but so long as the financial bottom line continued to increase due to their efforts, their transgressions were overlooked. 

As to Carlson, Fox not only overlooked his sexism, but they raked in the cash as he stoked fake white grievances, real white racism, and fake news about stories ranging from the "stolen" election, to the January 6th riots being a peaceful protest by conservatives who were overpowered by FBI plants, Antifa, and Black Lives Matter operatives. 🤡

With regards to Lemon, I'm not sure how a company can not just harbor one employee who threatened revenge on another, but promote him to the most coveted time slots despite calling female colleagues "fat," openly dating a 22-year old colleague two decades his junior, and telling one of Dr. Bill Cosby's alleged rape victims in 2014 that she could have stopped the rape "by biting off his penis." 🤡

Thus, my conclusion that Fox and CNN, like the fictional Dr. Frankenstein, are responsible for creating the on-air terrors that they fired this week. And while Carlson and Lemon very likely will land with eight figure severance packages and opportunities to develop podcasts and blogs that keep them earning money and influencing their fans, I can only suggest that:

1. Both networks take a look in the mirror and realize that the deeper problem is the culture that they promote that sensationalizes non-sense and promotes behavior that harms individuals and whole classes of viewers.

2. We, the consumers, do a better job in choosing which networks, journalists, and pundits to follow so as to avoid the brainwashing that occurs far too often.