In a February 10 open letter to the Comcast Board of Directors, MRC President Brent Bozell, 22 retired admirals and generals, and other distinguished military leaders asked Comcast to demand an apology from NBC for NBC News correspondent Ayman Moyheldin's smear of Iraq war hero as a "racist" whose military missions were "killing sprees."
Mr. Brian L. Roberts, Chairman
Mr. Michael J. Angelakis, Vice
Chairman
Comcast Corporation
One
Dear Messrs. Roberts and Angelakis:
We are deeply concerned by NBC News correspondent Ayman Mohyeldin’s suggestions on the Thursday, January 29 airing of Morning Joe that Chris Kyle, the real “American Sniper,” was a “racist” whose military missions were “killing sprees.” Mohyeldin’s remarks reveal him to be callous and ignorant.
The full transcript of these bigoted comments is attached.
Mohyeldin’s
statements were an inexcusable slap in the face to the widow of Chris Kyle and
to all those in the armed forces who continue to serve our country in harm’s
way. Such rants do not add anything to a
thoughtful discussion of public policy regarding
As a Navy SEAL who tirelessly protected his comrades and killed terrorists, Chris Kyle undoubtedly saved hundreds, if not thousands, of lives, both military and civilian.
He is a hero, not a talking point for a smug journalist.
It has been more than a week since Mohyeldin uttered his hateful, thoughtless smears on air. Despite a massive outcry from the public, NBC News has neither apologized nor taken responsibility for these comments.
We understand that as members of the board of Comcast, the parent company of NBC, you may not be privy to how NBC News responds to such situations. However, your stockholders, advertisers, NBC News viewers, and the public have a right to know: Is it the policy of NBC News to allow its own reporters to make inaccurate and insulting editorial comments on its airwaves, aimed at our soldiers who gave their lives for their country? Is it the policy of NBC News to ignore the scandal and hope it goes away?
NBC News’ continued refusal to acknowledge and apologize for Mohyeldin’s malicious remarks about Chris Kyle is as disappointing as it is shocking. Chris Kyle’s family, veterans everywhere, and the public at large deserve from NBC News a strong, unequivocal public statement condemning Mohyeldin’s vile hate speech.
We request NBC News issue a sincere, on-air apology through Mohyeldin. Until then, viewers and the veterans that NBC News has offended will continue to demand that the network show at least a basic amount of civility to slain veterans and their priceless sacrifices for American freedom.
We ask that you, as members of the board of directors of Comcast Corporation, demand this be done.
We eagerly await your response.
Sincerely,
L. Brent Bozell III, President,
Lt Gen William G. “Jerry” Boykin, US Army (Ret)
MG Paul E. Vallely, US Army (Ret)
Lt Gen Thomas G. McInerney, USAF (Ret)
MG Gary L
Adm James A. Lyons, Jr., USN (Ret)
Lt Gen Leroy J. Manor, USAF (Ret)
Lt Gen Bruce L. Fister, USAF (Ret)
MG Sid Shachnow,
Maj Gen James L. Hobson Jr., USAF (Ret)
MG Richard Scholtes,
Maj Gen Robert B. Patterson, USAF (Ret)
Maj Gen Jeff Cliver, USAF (Ret)
Maj Gen Richard V. Secord, USAF, Ret)
RADM Jim Carey, USN (Ret)
RADM Hugh D. Wisely, USN (Ret)
RADM George Worthington, USN (Ret)
RADM Pierce J. Johnson, USN (Ret)
BG Joseph S. Stringham,
Brig Gen Rudolf F. Perskens, USAF (Ret)
BG Gary M. Jones,
BG Ronald S. Mangum,
CAPT Larry W. Bailey, USN (Ret)
CAPT Norman H. Olson, USN (Ret)
CAPT Walter K. Steiner, USN (Ret)
CAPT David L. Woods, USNR (Ret)
CAPT Daniel I Puzon, USN (Ret)
CAPT Ronald E. Yeaw, USN (Ret)
CAPT Dean R. Larson, USN (Ret)
CAPT William H. Fleming III, USNR (Ret)
CAPT Larry Pearson, USN (Ret)
CAPT Robert C. Beavins, USN (Ret)
CAPT Robert Bernardon (Ret)
CAPT Joseph R. John, USN (Ret)
CAPT Michael P. Smith, USN (Ret)
CAPT Theodore T. Mason, USN (Ret)
CAPT Kent S. Webber, USN (Ret)
CAPT, MC, George J. Hill, USNR (Ret)
CAPT Howard J. Sartori, USN (Ret)
Additional signers:
CAPT Robert Carey, USN (Ret)
Rear Admiral James J. Carey, USN (Ret)
Noel Koch, Director, Special Planning, Department of Defense, 1981-1986
CC: Mr. Kenneth J. Bacon, Mr. Sheldon M. Bonovitz, Mr. Edward D. Breen, Mr. Joseph J. Collins, Mr. J. Michael Cook, Mr. Gerald L. Hassell, Mr. Jeffrey A. Honickman, Mr. Eduardo G. Mestre, Mr. Ralph J. Roberts, Mr. Jonathan A. Rodgers, Dr. Judith Rodin
;
TRANSCRIPT:
AYMAN MOHYELDIN: It is a very compelling, very thought-provoking, very emotional movie.
JOE
MOHYELDIN: When you juxtapose it with the real Chris Kyle and what has emerged about what kind of personality he was, in his own words --
WILLIE
GEIST: You're talking about the stories when he was back home in
MOHYELDIN:
A lot of his stories when he was back home in
MOHYELDIN: When he was involved in his -- on assignments in terms of what he was doing. A lot of the description that has come out from his book and some of the terminology that he has used, people have described as racist.