Terry Gross and Chip Berlet

On June 18, 2009, Fresh Air's Terry Gross interviewed Chip Berlet about his new book: "Toxic to Democracy: Conspiracy Theories, Demonization, and Scapegoating". She was really softball with him, not challenging anything. Here's what I wrote to Terry/NPR:

Today's (June 18, 2009) Chip Berlet interview left much to be desired. Terry, I expected better from you, great interviewer that you are.

Mr. Berlet smears--rather than answers--the 9/11 truth movement with the claim that identifying the perpetrators of the September 11 disaster will, according to the truthers, solve all the problems of American society.

You should have called on him to clearly state who said or made that claim. Clearly Mr. Berlet doesn't want to answer some of the serious questions being raised by serious scientists, academics and politicians. So he resorts to straw man tactics to dismiss them. Again, you should have called him on it.

Better yet, why don't you invite Dr. David Ray Griffin, professor emeritus, to discuss his new book "Osama Bin Laden: Dead or Alive?", or one of his other books such as "Debunking 9/11 Debunking".

Or, how about Bob McIlvain, Philadelphia area resident (Oreland), and father of a dear son he and his family lost on September 11? He's also seeking answers and simultaneously working to better our world.

Come on Terry, which pill are you going to take?

Thanks for reading this far...

Frank Tolopko