HARRISBURG – Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason called on Senator Arlen Specter to cancel his fundraiser with Ted Turner, a man almost as famous for his intolerance and hateful speech as his media conglomerate.
“Ted Turner’s views about people of religious faith, Fidel Castro, and Israel are so offensive, Arlen Specter should be renouncing him, not joining him for a fundraiser,” Gleason said.  “How can Senator Specter claim to support religious tolerance when he is associating with such a despicable man?  Senator Specter should renounce Ted Turner’s hateful views and cancel this fundraiser.”

Turner has mocked and ridiculed Christians for many years:

• ·         In 1990, Turner told an audience at the American Humanist Association that “Christianity is a religion for losers.” (National Review, 02/11/03)
• ·         In 1999, Turner ridiculed the Pope, saying the Pope should “get with it. Welcome to the 20^th century.” (Lifesitenews.com, 04/21/05)
• ·         In 2001, he derided CNN employees for observing Ash Wednesday, saying “What are you?  A bunch of Jesus freaks?” (National Review, 02/11/03)

Turner has also been a longtime fan of the Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, calling him “one hell of a guy.”  This love affair goes back to 1982, when Turner met Castro and said, “Fidel ain’t a communist.  He’s a dictator just like me.” (CNSNEWS, 11/30/01)

Finally, Turner has equated Israel’s legitimate defense of its homeland to terrorism.  In 2002, he said, “Aren’t the Israelis and the Palestinians both terrorizing each other?  The Palestinians are fighting with human suicide bombers, that’s all they have.” (News Busters, 09/30/06)  Turner has also trivialized the Holocaust, comparing the slaughter of millions of Jews to his inability to purchase a broadcast television network. (ADL, press release, 07/11/95)

For these statements and others, Turner has long been criticized by watchdog groups like the Anti-Defamation League.

According to reports, media mogul Ted Turner will be hosting a fundraiser on Specter’s behalf on March 21^st in Atlanta (Roll Call, 03/12/10).

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