CNN's Anti-Gay Erick Erickson Suggests Shooting Census Workers

When CNN decided to hire Erick Erickson as a political consultant for their new TV show John King, USA, they really picked a winner. Erickson has long had a history of radical, scary comments. He has bashed LGBT people who work in the White House. He called a former Supreme Court Justice a "goat f*cking child molester," and he once called Michelle Obama a "Marxist harpy wife."

A real class act, CNN. But it doesn't stop there. This week on his talk radio show, Erickson spelled out exactly what he would do if a census worker came knocking at his door.

"This is crazy. What gives the Commerce Department the right to ask me how often I flush my toilet? Or about going to work? I'm not filling out this form. I dare them to try and come throw me in jail. I dare them to. Pull out my wife's shotgun and see how that little ACS (American Community Survey) twerp likes being scared at the door. They're not going on my property. They can't do that," Erickson said, delivering some red meat to the masses.

OK, so maybe CNN overlooked the fact that Erickson called a former Supreme Court justice a child molester. And maybe CNN overlooked the fact that Erickson has called women's rights activists Nazis. And maybe CNN has overlooked the fact that Erickson said that Senator Chris Dodd was akin to a suicide bomber for supporting health care reform. But does CNN really want to overlook Erickson's statement that he'd take out his wife's gun and point it in the direction of an innocent Census worker?

Over 4,500 people have signed our petition to the producers of John King, USA, urging them to drop Erickson from their "news" show. Erickson may know how to dish up the red meat. But CNN is supposed to be "America's most trusted news network," not a vehicle for talk radio hosts with big mouths. If you haven't signed the petition yet, tell CNN to get rid of Erickson. Now.

Erickson tried to backtrack fast, realizing that he stuck his foot in his mouth. As Politico.com notes, Erickson is blaming folks on the left for taking his "grab my wife's gun" comments out of context. But in what context is it ever OK to say that you'll pull a gun on a census worker? Politico continues to say that Erickson, despite telling CNN that he'd be on his best behavior, is just showing his true colors.

"Erickson demonstrated much of the same rhetorical flare with his anti-census rant that prompted liberal groups to blast CNN for hiring the conservative firebrand," Politico writes. Rhetorical flare is one way to put it. Racist, sexist, and homophobic flare is another way.

Want to listen to Erickson's census rant? Check out Media Matters.

Want to send CNN producers a message that there are much more tactful folks out there who can articulate a Republican position without resorting to the type of radical rhetoric that Erickson loves? Click here.

And by all means, if there are any Girl Scouts reading this, please don't go knocking on Erickson's door to ask him to buy some cookies.

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