Nationally syndicated cartoonist Antonio Branco drew a cartoon depicting a table with a Hamas member seated on one side, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the other, and John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, in the middle. With one hand, the Hamas member holds a baby with bombs strapped around his tiny body. On the other hand, the Hamas member holds a sheet of paper. The top line, in bold letters, reads, "DEMANDS," below which, also in bold letters, reads "DEATH TO ALL JEWS." Turning to Netanyahu, Kerry says, "Could you at least meet him halfway?"
For retweeting this cartoon and for other pro-Israel tweets about the Hamas-Israel war, Dr. Benjamin Neel, a prominent cancer doctor and director of a cancer center at NYU Langone, says the center "unceremoniously dumped" him. He filed a lawsuit claiming breach of contract. Perhaps in discovery, the center could explain how Dr. Neel's "biased" tweets affect his competence as its director.
This brings us to the blatant, vulgar, hateful anti-Trump and anti-Republican tweets by Los Angeles local television news writer John Cyrus Smith. Smith's X (Twitter) bio reads: "Writer. Emmy-winning TV news producer. B---s---t (letters deleted) Detector. Knows politics, parks & people. Fox is not news & Trump IS Putin. Vote Blue while you still can." His LinkedIn bio reads: "Currently News Writer for KTLA-5 in Los Angeles. Former Journalism Instructor at USC Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism."
KTLA is owned by Nexstar, a large publicly traded media company. Its website says, "We pride ourselves in producing local and national news content that is fact-based and unbiased and meets the highest standards of journalistic integrity."
As to journalistic integrity, does Mr. Smith's anti-Trump, anti-Republican bias affect his ability to do his job as a "fact-based news writer"? Consider this two-week sample of Smith's tweets:
Nov. 19, 2023: Smith posts a photo of former President Donald Trump next to a photo of Osama bin Laden. The caption reads, "To anyone saying Trump didn't participate in the insurrection, remind them that Bin Laden didn't fly the planes."
Nov. 16, 2023: Smith posts a photo of Trump seated at the litigants' table in a courtroom. Above the picture, Smith writes: "Pos."
Nov. 16, 23: Above a CNN article about Nikki Haley, Smith tweets, "Way better than Orange Hitler."
Nov. 15, 2023: Smith, referring to Trump, writes, "Mob boss. Liar. Con. Hitler2."
Nov. 14, 2023: Smith, referring to Trump, writes, "Just like Hitler. Wake up America. Vote blue. While you still can."
Nov. 14, 2023: Smith writes: "Trump is Putin is Hitler. And he's got a TV network, a hit list and a cult."
Nov. 13, 2023: Above a screenshot of Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz appearing on Fox News, Smith writes: "Pure propaganda Trump TV... defending a f---k---g (letters deleted) insurrectionist and lying to the Cult."
Nov. 11, 2023: Smith reposts an anti-Trump tweet posted by President Joe Biden. Biden says, "If you don't respect our troops, you can't lead them." Smith writes, "Trump is a 5-time draft-dodging p--sy (letters deleted)."
Nov. 10, 2023: Smith, referring to Trump, writes, "Such a felon."
Nov. 10, 2023: Above a CNN article about a possible government shutdown, Smith writes, "F-ing Maga Republicans."
Nov. 9, 2023: Smith writes: "F Jill Stein. She's a Russian Asset. Friend of Putin. Just like Trump. You maga (sic) morons are getting played like fiddles by America's enemies.
Nov. 9, 2023: Above a graph about U.S. oil production, Smith writes, "Only maga morons blame President Biden for high gas prices."
Nov. 6, 2023: Smith writes, "Stop the F-er. Vote blue. While you still can."
Nov. 6, 2023: Smith retweets a post with a link to a video of two bikini-clad women in a boxing ring taking turns spanking each other. Smith, referring to the person who posted the video, writes, "Morons who like this s---t (letters deleted) are the reason a-holes (letters deleted) like Trump get elected."
As for oncologist Dr. Neel, his rational pro-Israel stance cost him his job as cancer center director. Yet Mr. Smith remains employed notwithstanding his unhinged, profane hatred of Trump and Republicans, publicly expressed, and despite station owner Nexstar's commitment to "journalistic integrity."
Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host. To find out more about Larry Elder, or become an "Elderado," visit www.LarryElder.com. Follow Larry on Twitter @larryelder. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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