A political activist believes one Democrat's decision to shy away from Al Jazeera shows that he doesn't want to be associated with an anti-American image.
California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has announced that he will not work for Al Jazeera -- the network that has purchased Al Gore's Current TV (see earlier story). According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Newsom says he will not work for the pro-Arab network because of possible legal issues. The Democratic public official doubles as the host of the "Gavin Newsom Show," and working for a network owned by a foreign government could present legalities.
Baron Night, a member of the Republican Party Central Committee of Orange County, sees where Newsom is coming from.
"I guess he had to make a decision as to whether or not he wanted to be associated, because Al Jazeera does not have a very positive image with reference to how they view America and Americans and the Western world," Night notes.
"Personally, I think probably it was a good decision, because the network that you're on is a reflection of you. Be that as whether it's good, bad or indifferent -- perception is sometimes reality."
Before the lieutenant governor's announcement, analysts wondered if he would work alongside the Middle Eastern network since he has been a proponent of climate change.
According to a statement issued by Newsom's office, the Democrat's agreement with Current TV is set to expire, and he had already decided to "move in a new direction."
Al Jazeera America, the name of the U.S.-based news network, is slated to begin broadcasting later this year. Media Research Center, a conservative media watchdog, has described the purchaser -- Al Jazeera Media Network -- as an "anti-Western terror mouthpiece bankrolled by the emir of Qatar."