Topic: WorldNetDaily
An August 2 WorldNetDaily article misleadingly claims that "Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly today suggested on her 'America Live' program that the Bible prohibits blacks and whites from getting married." This is followed by supposed Bible expert Joseph Farah insisting that "there is nothing in the Bible to suggest marital unions between whites and blacks is sinful."
But WND is falsely framing Kelly's remarks. In fact, she was pointing out that others have used the Bible to argue against interracial marriage, as WND's quoting of Kelly's remarks makes clear:
In an interview with Robert Jeffress, one of the organizers of the Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, Kelly said:
“This country has a long history of discrimination against certain groups. Eventually we wind up getting it right. Right? Against women, against blacks, the civil rights movement and so on. And in justifying that discrimination when it was in place, some folks turn to the Bible and turn to their religious beliefs and said we have to have slavery because it’s in the Bible. Women have to be second-class citizens because that’s in the Bible. Blacks and whites can’t get married because that’s in the Bible. That wound up in a case. A judge wrote that in an opinion, which the Supreme Court ultimately struck that down, saying that’s not right, judge, because of the equal rights clause. What’s the difference with gay marriage?”While Jeffress answered the question, he did not address the premise: The Bible nowhere suggests blacks and whites cannot get married.
Kelly simply didn't say what WND and Farah suggest she said. Farah refuses to concede Kelly's accurate point that people have used the Bible to argue in favor of slavery and banning interracial marriage. Farah also doesn't provide any evidence to support his interpretation of the Bible as the only possible one or for why his interpretation should be trusted.
Further, Farah's Bible interpretation is irrelevant to the issue. Kelly never claimed the Bible views she forwarded as her own, let alone a correct interpretation. The "premise" is not about what the Bible actually says about interracial marriage; it's about whether others have used the Bible to make that argument, which is indisputably true.
Anyone surprised that WND is engaging in such dishonest tactic? We're not, either.
UPDATE: WND has pulled the story and posted an unusually abject apology:
Yesterday, WND posted a story involving Fox News “America Live” anchor Megyn Kelly that incorrectly attributed to her the view that the Bible prohibits mix-race marriage.
On further examination, it’s clear that Ms. Kelly wasn’t representing such views as being her own, but was summarizing the views of others – including a Virginia judge – who in the past have cited the Bible in their attempts to justify slavery, the subjugation of women and the prohibition of interracial marriage.
WND sincerely apologizes to Ms. Kelly and has deleted the article from our archives. We also thank the many readers who took the time to point out the problems with the article.
If only WND were capable of doing the same thing regarding its discredited birther obession...
A copy of the now-deleted WND article is posted here.
