John Stossel

[[File:6.9.10JohnStosselByLuigiNovi.jpg|thumb|right|165px|John Stossel.]]{{pundits}}
As of 10 December 2009, '''John Stossel''' {{lived|6 March 1947|}} was the latest mouthpiece of the [[right-wing]] to out himself by jumping from the "[[mainstream media]]" to [[Fox News]].  He claims to be a [[libertarian]]<ref group=note>But is he a [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]]?</ref> and [[No True Scotsman|not a right-winger]].  He claims that movie character Gordon Gekko's mantra "[[Greed]] is good" is a [[Great Recession|good philosophy for individuals and societies to follow]].<ref>Grove, Lloyd.  [http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-12-06/fitting-in-at-fox/full/ "Fitting in at Fox"], ''The Daily Beast'' website, 6 December 2009, accessed 7 December 2009.</ref>  He even made several specials for ABC-TV illustrating this belief.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/19980423155223/http://www.abcnews.com/onair/specials/index.html Example: archived ABCNews.com page from Apr. 1998]. We should note, however, that he thinks that Gordon Gekko and [[George W. Bush]] are actually [[left wing|lefty]] [[socialists]] [[Deep cover liberal|masquerading]] as [[conservatives]].</ref>

If you can believe it, Stossel was actually once an upstanding advocacy [[journalist]] in his early career on ''20/20'', exposing corruption and fraud in both the public and private sectors. In 1998, Stossel also hosted a prime time special, ''The Power of Belief'', challenging [[quack]], [[New Age]], and [[supernatural]] claims. That special also featured interviews with magician-turned-[[skeptic]] [[James Randi]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20000818172952/http://abcnews.go.com/onair/abcnewsspecials/transcripts/stossel990603_belief_trans.html Transcript], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M7Hsww20Vg Video part 1 of 6] (this Youtube user uploaded all 6 parts)</ref>  Since his conversion to libertarianism, however, he mostly deals in [[Reaganism]], [[global warming denialism]], and general fact distortion.<ref>[http://www.buffalobeast.com/?p=4052 Arm or Leg?]</ref> Unfortunately, due to his frequent criticism of various forms of [[woo]], he has suckered other skeptics into appearing with him to promote his [[laissez-faire]] bullshit and denialism.<ref>[http://www.buffalobeast.com/?p=4062 Open letter to skeptics]</ref>

In 2016, Stossel shifted to ''[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]] TV''.<ref>[http://reason.com/blog/2016/12/16/thank-you-john-stossel-for-teaching-libe Thank You, John Stossel, for Teaching Libertarians How to Do Cable News"], ''Reason''.</ref>

In 2000, one of his specials on [[organic food]] caused a stir, though at least he issued a correction on this one.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=448443&page=1 Stossel apology for organic food report.]</ref>

==Give us a break!==
His catch phrase "Give me a break!" was coined from segments he did for ABC's ''20/20'' where he would find an issue and give a slanted take on it,<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-bernstein/2020-has-slanted-vision_b_133735.html One of many examples of his bias]</ref> all the while pretending his take on the issue was the actual truth, and not an opinion. These reports also had a history of Stossel, himself, fabricating and distorting data which he then presented as "evidence" of his beliefs.<ref>[http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1727 Stossel Fabricated Data on Organics, Researchers Say]</ref> 

==Motivation==
Conversions take place for different reasons. In Stossel's case, candidates for motivations include reflection, ambition, and family ties. His older brother is Dr. Thomas P. Stossel of the [[Manhattan Institute]].

Or perhaps his motivations were more base. In a 1996 address to the Federalist Society, Stossel was asked why he gave up being a [[consumer]] advocate in favor of being a corporatist/libertarian shill.  His response:{{cquote|I got sick of it. I also now make so much money I just lost interest in saving a buck on a can of peas.<ref>[http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1371 "The Stossel Beat: Soundbite"], Fairness and Accuracy in Media (FAIR.org) report "Extra!", November/December 1996.</ref>}}

==Stopped clock==
{{Main|Stopped clock}}
Stossel, while known for advocating for truly kooky things, has advocated for some reasonable and good things. He did shows supporting ending the [[War on Drugs]],<ref> https://youtu.be/hJSPgMlkAlg</ref> legalizing [[prostitution]],<ref> https://youtu.be/Z23yQFx6MJ0</ref> opposing mandatory minimum prison sentences,<ref> https://youtu.be/7epan1vGWKw</ref> opposing regressive soda taxes,<ref>https://youtu.be/zuzxyiHyrJ0</ref> as well as opposing American imperialism and endless war.<ref>https://youtu.be/WGq7olwPbfA</ref>

==Now for the really crazy stuff==

Stossel has been known to support and defend amazingly batshit things as well. He supports the legalization of blackmail, believing it encourages people to be more moral and responsible. He once went so far as to support that on his show in response to the infamous blackmail incident involving David Letterman's affairs with his female staff members. If that wasn't enough, he also interviewed economist Robert Hanson who also supports the use of blackmail.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwmulBFHrwk</ref>

Stossel is arguably one of the most prolific poster children for [[vulgar libertarianism]]. His heavy favoritism towards capitalism and other sorts of questionable nonsense puts him in direct opposition with more genuine, consistent libertarian values.

For example: he once claimed that [[communism]] almost destroyed the American Pilgrims at [[Plymouth Colony]] with [[capitalism]] and private property saving them.<ref>http://reason.com/archives/2013/11/27/we-should-bethankful-for-property</ref> Left-libertarian Kevin Carson has taken him to task for this.<ref>http://c4ss.org/content/22792</ref>

==See also==
* [[Penn & Teller]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

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Categories: Agnostics, Authors, Conspiracy theorists, Denialists, Global warming denialists, Journalists, Jews, Kochsphere, Leftists who turned right with age, Libertarians, Living people, Murdochsphere, Pseudohistory promoters, Shysters