Michael “Mikey” Weinstein is trying his hardest to get the attention of FoxNews so that he’ll get more air time, and presumably more funds, as a result of the publicity. Thus far, he’s been unsuccessful, despite his dishonest attempt to accuse Fox News of “defamation.”

He went further this week, claiming the US military almost exclusively watches FoxNews, which presumably magnifies the gravity of Megyn Kelly’s characterization of Weinstein as an atheist. Weinstein says [internal ellipses original, emphasis added]: 

If you go on military installations around the world, and we have about a thousand of them in 150 different countries…not to mention ships at sea and airplanes…the one network news show that you’ll see on in common areas or even with commanders…the commissary, the barbershop, wherever you go, is Fox News…

If you’re on a military installation, where 80, 90 percent of the time when you look at a TV it’s Fox News […] why, that’s an obstacle to want to contact me or our foundation, if you’re thinking that I’m an atheist or our foundation is only for atheists. So, Megyn Kelly is a liaress; she is a liar — female version, ‘liaress’.

Weinstein provided the data to prove the military’s reliance on FoxNews:

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It would seem his words are, again, intended to sensationalize the situation — despite the truth.

Anecdotally, the most common TV channel watched in US military common areas is probably a sports channel, though based on their profession, many troops do want to watch the news.

Weinstein specifically cites US installations “around the world,” and that is ultimately his undoing. US troops “around the world” — outside of the United States — don’t even have the option to watch FoxNews. Their only option is to watch the American Forces Network, or AFN — the DoD’s conglomeration and re-publication of American television (minus the commercials). AFN does have a news channel, and its programming is public. It does, indeed, show FoxNews. It also shows MSNBC, CBS, CNN, and the Today Show, among others — all on the same channel.

A quick look at their public programming guide shows that programs from FoxNews “around the world” for US troops is hardly “90%” of anything.

Within the United States, where US bases do have access to regular American cable programming, TVs in military common areas may or may not favor a specific channel. Statistically, it wouldn’t be too surprising if it was FoxNews — simply because of the leading success of FoxNews among the greater American public.

But — to be truthful — Weinstein has no idea which channel is on “90%” of TVs on US military bases. Making such an accusation is just another weak attempt to sensationalize his plight and get attention.

Weinstein has never been terribly successful at supporting his accusation with facts. His recent statements, however — in which his organization admits they’re using melodramatic language for the explicit goal of getting attention — have been particularly flagrant.

Weinstein is getting desperate.

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