Exclusive Montage — Media: Restricting Travel from Ebola Countries = Racist

Grabien takes a look at the mainstream media’s response to calls for restricting travel and closing the border in order to prevent a further spread of Ebola

The Ebola virus is currently mostly contained to countries in West Africa, leading many to ask why restrictions aren't being placed on travelers coming from those countries.

Maybe because ... that's racist?

At least, according to many in the media.

"Trying to do that racist," journalist Laurie Garrett curtly insisted. "Let’s us be frank about it."

A travel ban, said MSNBC's Toure, would be "immoral."

Author and columnist David Quammen said America can not cut off countries like Liberia owing to our legacy of slavery:

And people talk about, ‘Well, we should not allow any flights in from Liberia.’ I mean, we in America, how dare we turn our backs on Liberia given the fact that this is a country that was founded in the 1820s, 1830s because of American slavery. We have a responsibility to stay connected with them and help them see this through.

Today, Texas-based Thomas Eric Duncan passed away after returning from Liberia. The secretary of State, John Kerry, responded almost immediately. Laying out the steps America needs to take, he said, "we need borders to remain open."

Of course. Doing anything else would be ... racist!

Video files
Full
Compact
Audio files
Full
Compact