(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Kitchen Table Kibitzing 4/8/23: There's stupid... and then there's Fox News stupid [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags'] Date: 2023-04-08 These are apparently the lyrics under reconsideration that have Fox News so riled up: Yes, you want her Look at her, you know you do It’s possible she wants you, too There is one way to ask her It don’t take a word Not a single word Go on and kiss the girl The new lyrics have yet to be released by the songwriter. But Fox apparently already assumes they’re somehow “woke,” i.e., they actually may respect a woman’s interest in not being pawed or assaulted. And so, this is now a major topic on Fox News. Don’t get me wrong: I completely understand why a network with such a heinous reputation for hiring alleged abusers, harassers and assaulters would go berserk at the idea that their favorite Disney song could be so utterly refashioned to accommodate the idea that consensual, rather than forcible expressions of romantic interest, might be a positive thing for a film primarily aimed at young girls. The last thing Fox News needs is a generation of young women who may spurn the low-life creeps who obviously stalk its hallways. I guess I even understand why adults who’ve chosen to sell whatever shred of integrity they possess for a Fox News paycheck might pretend to get worked up about this lyrical adjustment by the song’s author. Hell, if you’re getting paid to babble about inanities like this, well, who’s fault is that but the people who cut your checks, right? Still, there’s something a little creepy about adult men who choose to devote their time to analyzing what animated (or "live action") fictional young women may or may not say. Fox reporter Eric Messersmith mocked the idea of including consent, noting, “The modern version would be, ask the girl for specific and clear consent, ask her how long the kiss should be, what kind of kiss it would be -- then it would be OK.” In Varney & Co’s second segment on the story, the chyron read “Waking up to wokeness” as Fox radio host Jimmy Failla and Fox Business host Stuart Varney bemoaned the changes to the movie in what Varney said was “one of my favorite stories of the day.” Responding to the change in lyrics, Failla stated, “You know what [kids] don’t want? Identity politics in the middle of their cartoon.” He added, “If your kids' worldview is being shaped by The Little Mermaid, you have a little problem.” This is a bold statement from a person appearing on a supposed business television channel to speak about the problem he has with a children's movie. But if you actually watch the Messersmith segment described above, you’ll notice a small problem. Go ahead, it’s only two and a half minutes out of your life: x Embedded Content If you stuck with this to the very end, you’ll note that after the smarmy chortling, cackling and faux concern, Messersmith comes out and says he actually agrees with one of the changes being made, the one that revises lyrics to “Poor Unfortunate Souls” that say this: The men up there don't like a lot of blabber They think a girl who gossips is a bore! Yes on land it's much preferred for ladies not to say a word And after all dear, what is idle prattle for? Messermith says (much to the consternation of his host and colleague), “That one, I’m actually with changing. That probably doesn’t send a great message to women as the best way to get a man.” So, in one fell swoop Messersmith completely undercuts the whole reason for this topic being on Fox News in the first place: namely, to make fun of “woke” Hollywood and (I guess) liberal, respectful and tolerant sensibilities. He agrees that a lyric basically telling women to shut their mouths to get a man ought to be changed, right after he and his fellow guest giggle about how changing a lyric normalizing unwanted sexual advances is just another example of “wokeness.” Well, which is it, guys? Seems pretty obvious. And Lis Power gets it: And now, according to Fox, consent is woke. Just think about that for a minute. But you really don’t need to think about it for even that long. I mean, look who they supported for president. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/4/8/2162815/-Kitchen-Table-Kibitzing-4-8-23-There-s-stupid-and-then-there-s-Fox-News-stupid Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/