Rick Sanchez: Comments about Jon Stewart were "Narrow-Minded"

[sabra]

Source: CBS News

Nearly a week after calling "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart a bigot and suggesting that members of the Jewish faith control the TV networks, former CNN anchor Rick Sanchez confirmed in a statement Wednesday that he has apologized to Stewart. Sanchez also called his comments "narrow-minded" and said he was excited about whatever opportunities lay ahead of him after being fired from CNN.

Sanchez said that he opposes "hate and intolerance in any form" in the statement released by CNN. In an interview with satellite radio host Pete Dominick Thursday, Sanchez said that Stewart is bigoted toward "everybody else that's not like him." CNN fired Sanchez Friday.

In his written statement, Sanchez referred to his controversial comments as "tired and mangled," confirming words his wife posted to Facebook Monday that the comments were the result of "exhaustion from working 14 hr days for 2 mo. straight."

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20018777-10391698.html?tag=stack

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Read Sanchez's full statement below:

On October 4th, I had a very good conversation with Jon Stewart, and I had the opportunity to apologize for my inartful comments from last week. I sincerely extend this apology to anyone else whom I may have offended.

As Jon was kind enough to note in his show Monday night, I am very much opposed to hate and intolerance, in any form, and I have frequently spoken out against prejudice. Despite what my tired and mangled words may have implied, they were never intended to suggest any sort of narrow-mindedness and should never have been made.

In the aftermath of these comments, CNN and I have decided to part ways. However, I want to go on record to say that I have nothing but the highest regard for CNN and for my six wonderful years with them. I appreciate every opportunity that they have given me, and it has been a wonderful experience working for them. I have tremendous respect for everyone there, and I know that they feel the same about me. There are no hard feelings -- just excitement about a new future of opportunities.

I look forward to my next step with great anticipation.

[Safetykitten]

1. And now from Narrow Minded World News Action Desk...Rick Sanchez!

[Supersedeas]

8. his old desk will be replaced by someone just as likeminded but who has yet to be exposed

both Glenn Beck and Rick Sanchez had their own shows at CNN. Who is CNN catering to anyway?

[roguevalley]

24. since when is anti-semitism 'inartful'? and why do you have to

say you may have offended anyone. you did. apologize genuinely and don't make it into a letter to bridge to your next job.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Interesting.

But I still think his career is doomed after this. Too bad, because he was one of the few outspoken voices on CNN. Thanks for posting...

[Broderick]

7. I agree n/t

[ThomasQED]

3. Huge difference between his reaction and Dr. Laura's

Dr. Laura blamed others for her situation, Sanchez takes responsibility.

I wish him well in the future.

[Merlot]

23. his mangled words were the result of working 14 hour days for 2 months?

so how is claiming that he's overworked taking responsibility? It's a lame excuse. If you didn't believe (for example) that climate change was a hoax, would you start believing it was just because you've worked long days for a couple months?

BTW, 14 hour days for 2 months wears him out? that's just pathetic

[Zax2me]

4. Ya think?!

Then how could a professional broadcaster make such an error?
That would be like a hairdresser, I don't know, bringing a hammer to work instead of scissors. Forgiveness is possible but give us a plausible mistake to forgive. This one is just hard to digest.

[KurtNYC]

5. So Rick Sanchez thinks that Rupert Murdoch is jewish ?!

And Walt Disney (ABC) and GE (NBC) and Frank Carlucci (CBS) ??

They shouldn't have fired him for his comments, they should have fired him for channeling Richard Nixon circa 1971. What an idiot.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

11. You really need to read this 2008 LATimes article by Joel Stien

How Jewish is Hollywood?

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-stein19-2008dec19,0,4676183.column

snip

How deeply Jewish is Hollywood? When the studio chiefs took out a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times a few weeks ago to demand that the Screen Actors Guild settle its contract, the open letter was signed by: News Corp. President Peter Chernin (Jewish), Paramount Pictures Chairman Brad Grey (Jewish), Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Robert Iger (Jewish), Sony Pictures Chairman Michael Lynton (surprise, Dutch Jew), Warner Bros. Chairman Barry Meyer (Jewish), CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves (so Jewish his great uncle was the first prime minister of Israel), MGM Chairman Harry Sloan (Jewish) and NBC Universal Chief Executive Jeff Zucker (mega-Jewish). If either of the Weinstein brothers had signed, this group would have not only the power to shut down all film production but to form a minyan with enough Fiji water on hand to fill a mikvah.

snip

The Jews are so dominant, I had to scour the trades to come up with six Gentiles in high positions at entertainment companies. When I called them to talk about their incredible advancement, five of them refused to talk to me, apparently out of fear of insulting Jews. The sixth, AMC President Charlie Collier, turned out to be Jewish.

As a proud Jew, I want America to know about our accomplishment. Yes, we control Hollywood. Without us, you'd be flipping between "The 700 Club" and "Davey and Goliath" on TV all day.

So I've taken it upon myself to re-convince America that Jews run Hollywood by launching a public relations campaign, because that's what we do best. I'm weighing several slogans, including: "Hollywood: More Jewish than ever!"; "Hollywood: From the people who brought you the Bible"; and "Hollywood: If you enjoy TV and movies, then you probably like Jews after all."

[KurtNYC]

18. those are jewish people working for corporations -- they aren't in control

of the corporations; they are employees. And they work in the sub-divisions of those companies that make feature films. Feature films are an increasingly small piece of the media pie. Video games are a bigger slice than feature films.

When you look at who has produced major television shows (that, again, are bought by corporations at their discretion) there is a diversity that includes Oprah Winfrey, Joss Whedon (Buffy vamp Slayer), Michael Landon (Little House, Highway to Heaven), Alexis Martin Woodall (Glee), William Borden (High School Musical), Bill Cosby (The Cosby Show), Benny Hill, Monty Python, and Nygel Lythgoe (American Idol). That is a lot more than The 700 Club and Davey and Goliath right there and there are many, many others.

Historically most of the major players in the feature film business are not jewish. The list includes (among many): George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorcese, Alfred Hitchcock, Walt Disney, Howard Hawks, Robert Altman, Mel Gibson, George Harrison, Michael Moore, Ronald Reagan, and Arnold Schwartzenegger.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

19. you are either in denial or desperately in need of some reading comprehension classes

[KurtNYC]

20. no - they are employees

they don't control the corporations. SAG = film (eg "SCREEN actors guild")

I gave you a huge list and your answer is a personal attack -- seems like you are the one in denial.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

21. I read your lists ....thanks for the chortles

[KurtNYC]

26. Again -- is that all you have ? Weak and lame personal attacks??

For every jewish person you can name in the business, I can name 2 or 3 non-jews with just as much or more power. In fact you name the jewish person and I will name their boss. How's that?

I challenge you to debate me on the FACTS -- Give me your Jewish correlates for these:

Rupert Murdoch ?
Frank Carlucci ?
The entire Board of GE ?

[Tansy_Gold]

22. Benny Hill? BENNY HILL????!!!???

Oh, and Michael Landon was Jewish.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Landon




TG, NTY

[No Elephants]

6. No matter how tired I get, I never say Jews control all media and are not a minority group.

What he said about Stewart was was mild compared to what he said about Jews and "people like Stewart" (meaning Jews).

[spooky3]

10. that was my reaction, too

tiredness/exhaustion may lead someone to scream or lash out, but it doesn't create bigoted thoughts.

[spooky3]

13. Keith O. is blasting this (partial) non-apology on WPITW.

[AngryOldDem]

9. So has he signed on with Fox yet? n/t

[davidinalameda]

12. I bet a lot of people would like to work 14 hour days for 2 months

and get paid the money that he was making

[Blue_Tires]

27. That was my thought as well...

[Taverner]

14. He don fucked up, and got spanked for it

Case closed as far as I'm concerned

[Heddi]

15. Ya know what, I'm an RN and I've worked 12+ hour days for over 4 years straight

many times I've worked several stretches of 16 hour days.

I work in a level 1 trauma Emergency Room. Pretty stressful if you ask me.

And yet I've never made bigoted comments like Rick did. I'd say that the majority of RN's and CNA's and such that regularly work 14+ hour days don't make comments like Rick did.

To blame it on the "hours worked" is a bullshit excuse.

[jmm]

17. +1

My record is working 23 days straight without a day off. I've worked over 24 hrs straight, 80 plus hour weeks. It made me sick, exhausted, but it didn't make me rant like he did.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Rex]

25. So he only worked 14hr days for 2 months! What a loser!

I did that gig for 3 years without a holdiay or time off! Sorry, but I hope he ends up doing the weather at a local channel. We don't need his pomp actually affecting people on a daily basis (unless it is weather).

Thanks Rick, goodluck in your future careers! Just repeat after me, 'want fries with that order?' :rofl: