Editor's Note: Friday’s American Morning audience was intrigued by John Avlon’s segment about his new book "Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America." Viewers argued their opinions about appropriate "wingnuts" that didn’t make Avlon’s list, while disputing his choices.
- Dan: Your equating Rep. Grayson with Rep. Bachman is the single most irresponsible thing I've ever heard on television. Grayson deals in facts and reality, whereas Bachman simply makes things up. I challenge you to fact check these folks before you label them as wing-nuts. Being passionate while being right is far different than being passionate and wrong. This is CNN's major problem – this insistence on equating one side with the other, while never identifying reality. Also, Olbermann may go over the top now and then, but again, he's dealing with reality while Beck is dangerously deluded. Or acts that way on TV. Please fact check what these people say before equating them. CNN's behavior in this matter makes you more dangerous to our nation's discourse than any of the partisan players. Try to identify reality and not just play he said/she said. It's your job.
- Ellen: Redistricting is an excellent idea. But this segment was pathetic - a list of clichés, a false equation (Beck is not Olbermann), and that sad media idiocy in which he said, she said stands in for reporting. The only example he gave of unacceptable discourse on television was calling your opponents "racist." You two smile and nod - so there is no racism in our politics? Just terrible work, guys.
- James: I appreciated the segment this morning (Friday) on Political Extremes. However, I was disappointed that your guest missed two of the most important items on this topic which makes me suspicious of his motives. (1) Right wing media extremism has a long history while left wing extremist media is quite recent. It came about as a reaction to the right wing "wing-nuts." (2) Right wing media extremists are numerous, even including an entire "news" network, FOX. I hope that these significant oversights will be corrected in the future in the quest for accuracy.
Are “fringe” groups “hijacking” American politics? Who do you think should be on the “wingnut” list? Send in your suggestions to John here.