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Fox and Friends: Does Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Promote Bullying?

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Fox & Friends held a debate Monday morning between George Giuliani, professor of special education at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, and Brad Stine, the conservative stand-up comedian who has become a bit of a fixture on the show. The topic? Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, the Rankin/Bass stop motion Christmas classic.

Giuliani argued that Rudolph is bullied by other reindeer and Santa Claus. His take? That not only is the bullying wrong, but even his coach (Comet) and Santa — two authority figures — take part in the bullying. “Rudolph is treated very, very badly,” the soft-spoken Giuliani said, “and that shouldn’t happen.” He goes on to add that:

“Comet is saying to children, don’t ever play with this reindeer again. And he tells him to go home and he bullies him and mocks him, and the other kids start mocking him. Can you imagine if your child’s teacher said to the class ‘Don’t ever play with this child again’?”

Host Gretchen Carlson then turned to an excited Stine, who countered by making some relatively useless conservative-liberal jokes, but recovered when he pointed out that this is a story of perseverance. “Look how he handled it,” Stine said. “He didn’t sue Santa because it was a hostile work environment. He overcame obstacles and succeeded. It’s the American dream.”

Still, Giuliani persisted, arguing that the end of the story is where the real hypocrisy comes out. “Santa Claus is saying, ‘You cannot be on my team because you have a disability.’ Now, at the end, [Rudolph] helps Santa Claus get through the snowstorm. Because he has done something extraordinary, he is finally accepted.”

Carlson tried to kick it back to Stine to wrap it up, but Giuliani kept talking. She then shouted out, “It’s a cartoon!” before letting Stine finish.

RELATED: Bill O’Reilly Does Epic Segment On The ‘War On Christmas’

Both men, somehow, make interesting points here. Giuliani is promoting a book and is probably overreacting by wanting to eliminate the special entirely (making FNC’s “War on Christmas” campaign seem surprisingly level-headed). But watching the clips back after hearing his argument shows Santa and Comet are kind of unnecessarily mean to Rudolph. It’s like watching The Sixth Sense again, already knowing the twist. Stine, for however frantic and forced-political as he is, does make a solid point that the story works because Rudolph was ostracized, and, through hard work and perseverance, he proved everyone wrong, thus serving as an example to bullied kids.

Watch video of the spirited debate below, courtesy of Fox News.

(Image credit: Classic Media)

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  • Anonymous

    It also supports the homosexual elf agenda.

  • http://twitter.com/JCP1975 JCP1975

    Fox and Friends resembles a game show more than the talk show it presents itself as.

  • Anonymous

    Hard to decide which is stupider. The idea that “Rudolph…” is a bullying issue, both guests who seem to forget that this is a children’s Christmas story about a fictional reindeer that works for a fictional slavemaster delivering fictional presents based on a fictional list, Fox & Friends itself or the amazing level of stupidity involved in deciding that this is even worth air time.

    Oh, I decided. The stupidest part is the idea that bullying is an issue that requires this level of attention from government and media. As if any amount of politically correct whining and manipulating will change the nature of children on the playground.

  • Moderate

    Thr President should assign some Cabinet member to look into the problem and report back to the him – hoping that the issue will be forgotten by the time he reports back.

  • Anonymous

    I was thrown off by the fact that someone named Giuliani was on Fox & Friends and there was no mention of 9/11.

  • Anonymous

    We wrote a college essay about this very subject 25 years ago.  I still don’t understand the popularity of something this inappropriate for children.  We have to have a talk with our children each year to assure them that Santa is not really this mean and that people that are different don’t get banished to a special island.

    Of course if Republicans had their way…

  • http://www.facebook.com/SK.MamaKat Regina McGee

    LOL!

  • Anonymous

    shhhh be quiet! It’s pretty clear that the war on christmas crowd still thinks santa is for real. Let’s don’t ruin it for them.

  • Cecelia

    Actually, the story promotes capitulation to homogeneous imperatives established by a paternalistic merchant class as a means of negating any appeal invoked by a disparate element metaphorically referenced as “the other”. 

  • Anonymous

    What kind of drugs are these people on?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2QAWUIHIDMLFEDA2CJV2QIGY7A Aquarian

    The elf in the picture looks like Steve Doocy’s Son Peter…..

  • Anonymous

    fox and friends promotes bullying..

    watching them makes you want to go beat up stupid phony white people..

  • Anonymous

    Right.  Cute stories like Bambi and Charlie Brown are SO MUCH more harmful to children’s lives than hip-hop beat downs posted on the internet and violence against women and police in music videos.  

  • Cecelia

    Actually, Rudolph is wholly accepted now that he’s proved his worth to the corporatist toy consortium.  What’s more Santa’s work shop is non-union.

    Let’s just say the North Pole is a red state.

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    Giuliani is a RINO, you know? Any Guiliani.

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    We can say with complete confidence that Santa Claus is not a Republican. Were he, no poor children would receive any Christmas presents.

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    I don’t know about that, but I do know that there is very little secular Christmas music I like, and I particularly dislike “Rudolph” and “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer”. This year’s favorite, so far, is the classic “Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant”.

  • huffnnoccupyn

    Next on Fox News: Why is the 1970 cartoon Santa Claus Is Coming To Town pro-liberal with a major character promoting equal distribution of toys to children, and anti-conservative by making a villain out of a government leader who puts low-income children to work cleaning the town?

  • Anonymous

    Truthfully – even as a child I could not stand this show for the very reason that no one liked Rudolph – just bothered me to death for the poor guy that no one liked him. Looking on it now – it is freaking bullying at its finest. I can assure you if this weren’t a classic today, it would never make the airwaves. Same for Charlie Brown – I love snoopy and all but seriously Lucy calling him a “blockhead”, “loser” and “no one would care about you Charlie Brown” would never work if it were released today.

    Shows like this are not for the tender hearted.

  • Cecelia

    Of course Santa is a Republican. 

    If he weren’t toy districution would be funded by tax payers  and so awash in regulations on everything from who could give Santa milk and cookies to reindeer prancing and pawing, that Santa would get home in July.

  • Cecelia

    Well, that’s because you think it was written about you.

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    ‘Fox & Friends’ would cover this non-story instead of covering actual victims of bulling who commit suicide??

    Totally ridiculous!!

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    Did you mean “toy destruction” or “toy distribution”?

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    That would be “How Great Thou Art”.

  • Anonymous

    I think I heard this same discussion on an old South Park episode. 

  • Anonymous

    Interesting. In the North Pole all the elves were considered failures if they choose to pursue a career outside of the toy factory and buck the system. After all, a toy making elf was the pinnacle of success in the NP. The elf who went on to dream of becoming a dentist was mocked for his ambition and became a hero just as much as Rudolf. 

  • Cecelia

    Well, I have my faults, but thanks…

  • Cecelia

    Depends if they’re naughty or nice..

  • Anonymous

    There’s a Youtube video that covers a lot of this – posted in 2006.  The theme is “Santa is a Jerk” using examples from the Rudolph animation.  It’s pretty good.  (I don’t know the person who created this or posted this, I’m just a fan of the piece)  Check it out here: http://youtu.be/SIGeUBz1kpY

  • Anonymous

    Tomorrow: “Frosty the Snowman” and how it promotes the liberal agenda of so-called global warming.

  • Anonymous

    But he agreed to free dental care for his employees, for which I assume is coming out of his pocket.  Or does he pay any of his employees?

  • Anonymous

    You know, I have to agree. The US media in general is just putrid but this is infantile. MSNBC is no better.

  • Anonymous

    Wait, I thought Rudolph made Republicans gay.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1353384968 Michael Silvers

    The Christmas Czar?

  • Anonymous

    Victim this, victim that, and a seven year old was accused of “sexual harassment” for kicking his attacker in the groin. Get a life, people, and try to find some common sense- it certainly is in short supply these days. “Rudolph” is just a silly, Christmas song that Burl Ives recorded once upon a time. Get over it.

  • Anonymous

    >> Huffnnoccupyn: “Next on Fox News: Why is the 1970 cartoon Santa Claus Is Coming To Town pro-liberal with a major character promoting equal distribution of toys to children.”

    >> Jupiter8: “Tomorrow: “Frosty the Snowman” and how it promotes the liberal agenda of so-called global warming.”

    Actually, if you were going to use an old Christmas Special for that, the one that’s SUCH a natural fit — so much so that it just cries out — would be THE YEAR WITHOUT SANTA CLAUSE. It was also produced by Rankin/Bass (who made RUDOLPH) and was released in 1974. And its central plot, as well as two of its main characters, would be pitch perfect. That’s because it featured stepbrothers HEAT MISER and SNOW MISER constantly arguing about the weather, and whether things should be hot or cold.

    I mean, come on — now THERE’S your kiddy global warming TV special.
    And it’s been sitting around for 37 years!

  • Anonymous

    >> Quote: “Carlson tried to kick it back to Stine to wrap it up, but Giuliani kept talking. She then shouted out, “It’s a cartoon!” before letting Stine finish.”

    Gee, funny how that works. Suddenly when it suits her purpose, Carlson gets a clue and realizes it IS just a cartoon — which, in turn, makes this a ridiculously silly topic to be wasting ANY air time on.

    Yet meanwhile, this is the SAME woman who will get her panties in a bunch and become all indignant — and I’m talking downright Hulk-like anger, where she’ll furrow her brow and stamp her feet and have lasers shooting from her eyes, at which point she’ll speak in a terse, mean, condescending tone — just because some department store decided that it wanted to run a Sunday ad for a “Holiday sale” versus a “Christmas sale.”

    There’s another semi-current article at Mediaite that talks about how Roger Ailes is trying, behind the scenes, to shift Fox more to the middle. Basically, so it can genuinely be more balanced and reputable and what not. Well, as they do that, all I can say is that hopefully Ailes and the network suits will realize that Gretchen Carlson really is one of their WEAKEST links when it comes to Fox’s on-air personalities.

    Seriously, even if you wanted to replace her with another Right-leaning female, you CAN’T tell me that nationwide — given all the untapped talent that’s out there — that Fox couldn’t find just ONE woman that would be more professional and smarter than her. Because, honestly, she flat-out stinks as a reporter and commentator, and whenever she’s on or is hosting a segment, it inevitably leads to some truly groan-inducing segments.

  • Anonymous

    George Giuliani IS obviously delusional, psychotic.  He see bulling where is does NOT exists.  Tha tis a common feature of the mentally sick homosexuals.  George Giuliani should NOT be allowed around children.  Homosexual DO rape children.

  • Anonymous

    Man, you really hate gay people. Not cool.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Stacey-Eckenrode/1212783397 Stacey Eckenrode

    I remember being excited about  watching this movie each year as a child. It was my favorite movie. As a child I never thought that bullying was OK. I felt sad for Rudolf and was glad he got to lead Santa sleigh. Plus I thing what i remember most of this movie was the adventure part. Island of misfit toys, the abominable Snow Man. etc.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Stacey-Eckenrode/1212783397 Stacey Eckenrode

    Please don’t stereotype Homosexuals. I have had friends that are Homosexual and they are upstanding citizens.

  • Anonymous

    It is ridiculous that Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer promotes bully anyone that believe that is crazy. It’s a special that air around holiday season.

  • http://twitter.com/usorthem3 Skooter McGoo

    This man is not gay but molested 103 kids, so explain your point about gay people if you can. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/22/national/main6232428.shtml

  • http://www.facebook.com/orinj3 Nelson Franks

    Where is that planet destroying asteroid when you need it!
    This is beyond stupid. This Giuliani freak shouldn’t be allowed within 50 feet of a child for fear that he would infect the child with his mental disorder. Rudolf wins; bullies lose! What in the world is the problem?

  • Anonymous

    ” W.T.F ” is going on in this country….we call u.s.a a free country and we let people b%$ching about rudolph…..next they will be b$%ching about frosty the snowman melting because of global warming. FFS when is this mindless complaining going to stop.

  • Anonymous

    Gay  is a rationalization the homosexual use delude thenselves from facing the fact that they are mentally sick homosexuals.

  • Anonymous

    Agreed!!  To think that a classic CARTOON is the most damaging thing to those being bullied is a joke!

  • Anonymous

    This is so stupid, does this man live on this planet. What a panty waist!  It’s a cartoon and I love it, I was bullied like crazy as a kid for years.It certainly never made me feel any different about Rudolph. I love the little cottage on the island that they get to bunk in before Ruldolph take off, so cute!  No one seems to mention at the end of the show that everyone apologies to Ruldolph. Human beings can be mean due to something they have experienced at the hands of another human being. Babies are not born bullies. I guarantee you that any kid who bullies is because something bad is going on at home and that is their way of re-acting to it and their pain.  Parents take responsibility for what is going on in your home and what you are teaching your kids about proper manners and behavior.  Manners, what’s that, people don’t even know how to hold and knife and fork anymore, and think wearing pajamas in public is ok, ugh.

  • Anonymous

    Your trying to tell us something aren’t you?

  • Anonymous

    OK ENOUGH with the ANTI-BULLYING! Listen Congress and President Obama, bullying is a life lesson that as kids we all have had to deal with. STOP emphasizing on bullying and START emphasizing on teaching kids how to OVER COME the bullying and the rejection. By creating LAWS to prevent bullying, you are only setting this generation up to FAIL as adults. What is wrong with people??? I’m in NO way in favor of bullying. I was bullied from elementary through junior high and then when it came time for high school, I finally stood up for myself. Those kids that bullied me NO LONGER bullied me because I wouldn’t take it anymore. Once someone knows you fear them, they feel they have power over you. I would not be where I am today, if I had not experienced those life lessons. We need to do more CHARATER building in school and at home. Teaching kids that they are the only ones that have power over themselves NO ONE else. NO ONE else can make you do something you do not want to do. NO ONE else can control your thoughts or feelings only you! The moral of Rudolph, is that he over came being picked on and ended up the LEADER and SAVING Christmas. 

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