Mediaite: Fox News Fires Liberal Voice Bob Beckel

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http://www.newsmax.com/PrintTemplate.aspx/?nodeid=652252


Newsmax
Mediaite: Fox News Fires Liberal Voice Bob Beckel
Thursday, June 25, 2015 04:21 PM

By: Jason Devaney

Fox News has parted ways with Bob Beckel, a liberal voice on the network's "The Five" lineup.

According to Politico, which received comment from a Fox News official regarding the matter, the split was not on good terms.

"We tried to work with Bob for months, but we couldn't hold 'The Five' hostage to one man's personal issues," said Bill Shine, executive VP of programming. "He took tremendous advantage of our generosity, empathy and goodwill and we simply came to the end of the road with him."

The news was first reported by Mediaite.

Beckel has been off the air since February following back surgery. In May, it was reported that he was in rehab after becoming addicted to pain medication.

Beckel has a history with drug and alcohol abuse, the Washington Times reported.

Beckel joined Fox News as a contributor in 2000 and has appeared on a number of shows, including his regular stint on "The Five" that began four years ago. He has also become a regular guest on "Hannity" and the network's news shows that air during the day.

Despite his liberal views, Beckel has stirred controversies over the years by things he's said on the air. In 2013, for example, he argued that the United States should suspend giving out student visas and that Muslims should stop building mosques on U.S. soil.

"I will repeat what I said before: No Muslim students coming here with visas," Beckel said. "No more mosques being built here until you stand up and denounce what's happened in the name of your prophet."

Beckel said last fall he was asked to run the Democratic National Committee, which he turned down.

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[DCPatriot]

Let's face it...he was a ticking bomb set to explode with language not suited for FOXNEWS channel.

It's like he always needed a shower...unkempt and disheveled, with a dash of in-your-face cynicism.

[massadvj]

I had the sense he was an out-of-touch, hard-drinking union man whose party had long ago moved on. 

[DCPatriot]

I had the sense he was an out-of-touch, hard-drinking union man whose party had long ago moved on.

It did get to a point that his rebuttals to points brought up by the others sitting at that table were pompously delivered, lacking any credibility.

[truth_seeker]

As Rick Perry learned, pain meds are mind altering.  Reading between the lines, it appears Beckel is strung out on them, again.

The most important thing for him each day is getting his drugs. The most important thing for him each day, should be NOT using drugs.

[musiclady]

I had the sense he was an out-of-touch, hard-drinking union man whose party had long ago moved on.

And who had no filters......

Underneath, I think there's a decent guy, but he's got no self-control about anything, and has no place on a rational news channel.

[DCPatriot]

And who had no filters......

Underneath, I think there's a decent guy, but he's got no self-control about anything, and has no place on a rational news channel.

Agreed, ML.

And even Juan Williams is sort of pathetic...sometimes his offered opinions are so contrarian that you swear he's only trying to 'earn' his $2 million annual salary contract since being released by NPR.  But at least he has as you say, "filters". 

[Bigun]

I had the sense he was an out-of-touch, hard-drinking union man whose party had long ago moved on.

Personally I doubt that he is EVER completely sober when he is awake.

[truth_seeker]

I believe that after years of sobriety, Beckel got re-addicted to pain meds after his recent back surgery.

Pain meds are highly addictive, and unfortunately, in my opinion, doctors do not handle the process well, of getting people off them.

I was on pain meds for 4 weeks, 22 month ago. It was due to a serious fracture of my shoulder, and surgery thereon. Two weeks before the surgery, and two weeks after.

It was left to me, the patient, to get off the meds. I don't fault the doctors. They will send you to a pain management or an addiction specialist, but they generally won't force you off the meds, if you say you need/want them.

Beckel probably got re-addicted to this mind altering, highly addictive chemical substance.

I believe Rick Perry was on pain meds from his back surgery, when he flubbed during the debate in 2012, btw. Did I say mind altering? Yes, intentionally. You say and do weird things, sometimes.

The fact is, addicts and alcoholics are susceptible to re-addiction. Call it what you want. Some will of course deem it to be further evidence of moral shortcomings.

I prefer to call it expression of human fallibility. I wish Bob Beckel well. I would enjoy a cup of coffee with him, to share addict/alcoholic stories over.

Beckel, per wiki:  "During his absence, Beckel stated via his Twitter account that while many conservatives sent well wishes for a recovery and return, many on the left never said anything.[24]"