Bozell on Gumbel Incident: “How Can CBS Not Fire Him?” - Press Release - July 3, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3, 2000

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Katie Wright (703) 683-5004, ext. 132

Bozell on Gumbel Incident: “How Can CBS Not Fire Him?”

ALEXANDRIA, Va. --- Media Research Center Chairman Brent Bozell is raising the question of Bryant Gumbel’s future at CBS in the aftermath of Gumbel’s obscene, on-air outburst against the Family Research Council’s Bob Knight. Gumbel, co-host of CBS’s Early Show, interviewed Knight last week on the subject of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that upheld the rights of the Boy Scouts to exclude homosexuals from being scoutmasters. The interview was contentious, but shortly after the segment concluded and the show had begun a weather update the picture cut back to Gumbel who can clearly be seen saying the words “What a f***ing idiot.”

“The question clearly becomes how can CBS not fire Bryant Gumbel after what he’s done this time? CBS fired Jimmy ‘The Greek’ Snyder for making what the network considered to be racially insensitive on-air remarks about black athletes. If a CBS news reporter had been caught calling Jesse Jackson, Kweisi Mfume, Hillary Clinton or any other liberal ‘a f***ing idiot,’ on the air, wouldn’t he be fired immediately? There is absolutely no question about that,” Bozell said.

Bozell pointed out that Gumbel’s television career at both NBC and CBS has been replete with biased reporting, biased interviewing, and biased commentary – all biased against conservatives. The Supreme Court ruling on the Boy Scouts and homosexuals was a victory for social conservatives, and Gumbel couldn’t contain his fury.

“Throughout his 20 year career on network television Bryant Gumbel has shown absolutely zero tolerance for conservatives, conservative ideas and principles, or conservative institutions. He has gone over the line many times, only to have his network employers look the other way. If CBS doesn’t fire Gumbel it is openly supporting his anti-religious bigotry. If a forest fire is burning out of control how can you not put it out? Likewise, if Mr. Gumbel is repeatedly insulting American citizens on the air, how can CBS not fire him?” Bozell said.

Media Interviews
To schedule an interview with Mr. Bozell please contact Keith Appell at (703) 683-5004, ext. 112.