Fox regular and radio host Mark Steyn is under fire for outrageous remarks made while substituting for Rush Limbaugh on his program. In discussing the San Francisco’s “shelter-in-place” order due to the coronavirus, Steyn referred to the city as a “big gay town” and the order as an effort to prevent “all the gays dropping dead.” While Steyn (who is a regular and substitute host on Tucker Carlson’s show) is known for controversial statements but this is clearly beyond the pale of acceptable commentary.
In discussing the order, Steyn asked “Why are they doing that? Why is San Francisco the first to do that? Because they’ve got all the gay guys there.” He then went from bad to worse:
“It’s a big gay town, San Francisco, and they’re the ones with all the compromised immune systems from all the protease inhibitors and all the other stuff. And they don’t want all the gays dropping dead on the San Francisco mayor’s watch. So that’s why they’ve got all that sheltering in place there.”
Steyn explained further that if “there was a big gay apocalypse” then “Trump would get blamed for it.”
The commentary was inexcusable even if meant in jest. No one is suggesting that he does not have a free speech right to express himself but that does not mean Steyn should not be criticized for offensive comments. There has to be some level of decency left in commentary, particularly when referring to a pandemic that has left millions in isolate and thousands facing serious and potentially lethal illnesses.
When one employed the phrase: “Beyond the Pale”. One is referring to the Palitinate. That is a territory. It has nothing to do with Sarah Palin.
In discussing the San Francisco’s “shelter-in-place” order due to the coronavirus, Steyn referred to the city as a “big gay town” and the order as an effort to prevent “all the gays dropping dead.” While Steyn (who is a regular and substitute host on Tucker Carlson’s show) is known for controversial statements but this is clearly beyond the pale of acceptable commentary.
You associate with Pecksniffs, and you think they’re normal.
“The commentary was inexcusable even if meant in jest.”
What part of the story did Turley miss? Yes, the statement was biting and it could also insult people but what he said was the truth. Steyn’s words don’t kill. Turley’s PC attitude, protect and promote, can
Grow-up Turley.
On the other hand, offensive or not, Mark may have a point. SF was on the point of reopening bath houses–famous for their hygiene–before the virus hit.
With the needles, filth, rats, and low lifes living in their streets SF residents were already self quarantining in some respects.
I do not look Left to learn what is ‘acceptable’ discourse.
Gee, are democrats supposed to mock Ohio and West Virginia because they have an opioid problem?
WTF is wrong with Republicans these days. Bunch of sick nasty a..holes with just the right guy as their leader.
You forgot South Beach….closeted black politicians taking diqq up their rumps after doing booty bumps of meth all the while preaching to his devoted Woke audience about truth, power and love trumps hate
Must have been a bad batch of meth for Andrew possibly from the Clinton Global FUNDation
I can’t stand gay men and think they are a horrible group of people, and I would not mind a bit if somebody did say something bad about them. But try as I might, I can not find anything controversial in the least about what Steyn said. It was simply the TRUTH.
San Francisco is full of queers, 60,000 gay men IIRC, and around 25% of them are HIV positive. The Chinese Flu could wreak Hell with them. Not to mention all the Sodomites who are drug addicts, or have STDs out the wazoo.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
I can see that the fans of Steyn, like him, must be of the
STOMP LOUDLY CAUSE I HAVE A TEENY TINY STICK (AND BRAIN) CLUB.
Stereotype your fortè? Ridiculous.
What is controversial? Anyone with HIV / AIDS is at dire risk from Corona due to compromised immune system! Hopefully, some were warned by blunt talking Steyn.
Silly
Gays do not drink Corona. They drink Stoli with a splash of Cranberry
HIV + patients on successful treatment (which are the majority) are not immunocompromised.
Patients with Diabetes, Heart disease, Hypertension, Stroke, Stents to coronary arteries, Obese….all immunocompromised. Their vascular system and immune system are perpetually in flux due to inflammatory cascades, cell death and cytokine storms hence immunocompromised
But don’t let the facts ruin your right-wing bubble. Troll on
Yes and gays wear black leather pants with the ass-cheeks cut out, so they get lots of fresh air. Between that and the “splash of cranberry,” I say they’re an exceptionally healthy group! 🤣
so Turley is not a free speech guy?
Why not let the free-market-place of ideas and speech determine what is aired and spoken? If this speech is rejected it will show in the ratings…
But everyone who knows Mr Steyn knows this is parody… parody with an ounce of truth, which is what makes it so effective..
Paint lambs blood on your door posts so the angel of death will pass by
Outstanding!
Until now, I thought better of Mark Steyn.
Re your opinion above:
I am sure we are all devastated. (Sarc/off)
“The commentary was inexcusable even if meant in jest. There has to be some level of decency left in commentary, particularly when referring to a pandemic that has left millions in isolate and thousands facing serious and potentially lethal illnesses.”
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You can’t talk about gays now? Even if it’s about saving them? Are they the Left’s new sacred cow? San Fran is assuredly a “big gay town”; a big “poop town” and a “big “leftist town.” That shouldn’t surprise anyone with a TV and not offend them. It’s reality. Steyn merely voices the sentiment that a lot of folks have which is that gays are entitled to universal acknowledgement of their civil rights but not universal approval of their lifestyle.
“For now, no evidence to show that people with HIV are at greater risk of coronavirus,”
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Really? For weeks, we have been hearing that people with compromised immune systems are at great risk. If you are HIV+, you immune system is compromised.
And besides, even to venture into the demented snake pit of supposed reason used by Steyn, it’s too late…, the stock market has already impeached Trump. It’s not a ‘culture war’ that will remove Trump, clearly. Seems there’s plenty of market capacity for that in America.
It’ll be the worst fears Wall Street had of Trump going in: his wild unpredictability and complete failure at being a calming and stable source during a time of crisis. It’s why Wall Street favored HRC in ’16.
Agreed, Jon. These are the diminishing returns of a culture that needs boatloads of shock to justify itself. Time to flag this cultural disease for what it is.
My HIV+ son is in SF and I’ve worried that he would be hit the hardest also. There is truth to his commentary.
It appears that Mr. Steyn, who can be very perceptive, did not try to educate himself before opining. The British HIV Association released a statement about HIV-positive persons. Its supposition is that HIV-positive persons are at no greater risk of contracting the disease or suffering a serious illness therefrom if their CD-4 cell counts are at 500 or higher. (Roger Peabody, “For now, no evidence to show that people with HIV are at greater risk of coronavirus,” http://www.aidsmap.com/news/mar-2020/now-no-evidence-show-people-hiv-are-greater-risk-coronavirus. March 2, 2020)
Postscript: If Mr. Steyn were expressing an opinion, even provocatively, based on fact, it would not sound offensive. I add that his remarks do not strike me as betraying a dislike or hatred of gays, only an opinion on their susceptibility to the disease and the reaction of the local government.
Well, A supposition is just that. Something offered up as an answer with no verifiable evidence to support it’s hypothesis! All I know is that Individuals with Compromised Immune Systems are at a Greater Risk of Covid19 Infection and Possibly Death! I also learned a long time ago that Individuals with HIV had “Compromised Immune Systems”
to the point of Lethality without any added complications from a Covid19 Virus!
So I don’t think that it’s a Stretch for anyone to think that an individual with HIV, such as a Gay man might be more at risk if infected with the Covid 19 Virus!
By thinking this would go over well shows the basic underbelly of Trumps base in the true sense of the word
Michael is an excellent guest and guest host and he does not sugar coat his comments. Some of the stuff I do not take Michael serious. I give Michael a pass.
Its a double standard, its OK of Washington Post or NY Times reporters say the same thing about Trump supporters. Its OK CNN and MSNBC reporters and so called guest can say the same thing about Trump and Trump Supporters.
But, the Main Street Media and left will try to ruin him.
I support Michael.
A lot of gays have dropped dead in San Fran over the years, including two of my brothers. I do not find this offensive.
Mr.Schulte:
While you may not find Mr. Steyn’s remarks offensive, they may be offensive to others. His remarks are subject to criticism just as from any other person might be. Remarks and criticism thereof are to be judged on their own merits. (Which merits and how those are judged are the difficulties).
Al O’Heem – criticize away. Just saying I have skin in the game and I am not offended.
Al:
“While you may not find Mr. Steyn’s remarks offensive, they may be offensive to others. His remarks are subject to criticism just as from any other person might be.”
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So gays and the governments who deal with them are not immune from criticism?