Biz Markey: Does Ed Markey Even Watch BET?

Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey, last seen basking in praise for his support of public television at the opening of WGBH's new building, isn't getting much applause from the founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET).

During a House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection hearing, Markey said that BET represented “the lowest common denominator of cheap and tawdry music videos and other questionable programming.”

As connoisseurs of lowbrow culture, Bostonist would like to point out that Markey has obviously not come across VH1, MTV, or E!. If he thinks BET is bad, he hasn't seen anything.

BET's founder, Robert Johnson, was appalled by Markey's attitude because the underlying assumption was that Markey knew what black people ought to be watching. Johnson said that Markey's statements were "rooted in liberal white paternalism."

If Markey stumbled across BET one night and felt uncomfortable, then maybe he should have asked black constituents if they were bothered by it before passing judgment. He doesn't know that BET is where he can watch The Wire without having HBO? (For the record, that's when Bostonist TiVos BET.)

Image of Ed Markey, looking decidedly un-crunk, from his official website.