'The Five's' Bob Beckel apologizes for racial slur after calls to resign

Brett T. | 7:21 PM on July 14, 2014

Fox News’ “The Five’s” Bob Beckel never lets an opportunity to rail against China pass him by, but a reference to “Chinamen” last week sent him back into the doghouse. Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus chair U.S. Rep. Mike Honda, a Democrat whose California district is majority Asian-American, has called for Beckel’s firing.

CA @RepMikeHonda calls for firing of @FOX contributor Bob Beckel after he drops racial slur on the air http://t.co/HDw2P0BoSb via @YouTube

— Carla Marinucci (@cmarinucci) July 14, 2014

California State Senator Ted Lieu, also a Democrat, has called for Beckel to resign.

Calif. Democrat Sen. Ted #Lieu urges Fox News' Bob #Beckel to resign over 'Chinamen' comment http://t.co/VHtUYM7bO0 via @washtimes

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) July 14, 2014

The Washington Times reports:

Mr. Lieu, a Chinese-American Democrat looking to replace retiring Rep. Henry Waxman, called the comments “racist” and “xenophobic,” in a press release first noticed by Mediaite.

“His comments have no place in America, and this is at least the second time he has used racial slurs. He must resign immediately,” said Mr. Lieu, also taking issue with a comment made by Mr. Beckel last year when he said his eyes looked Oriental after taking a swim in the pool.

Beckel apologized for the comment Monday on “The Five.” “I made some comments last week about Chinese people which apparently upset some people, for which I apologize,” he said at the beginning of the show. “However, I do not apologize for things I’ve said about China and won’t go into the litany of it now, because there’s too many China apologists in this country.”