If Megyn Kelly thinks that she is a "moderate and reasonable" TV host, she is either in a state of denial or just plain lying. That her claim is as bogus as Fox's claim to be "fair & balanced" was underscored, last night, in a segment clearly designed to promote Fox News' Christian agenda which, of course, includes, promoting disdain for anybody that dares to fight back against Christian incursion into the taxpayer funded public square. Not surprisingly, she provided TV exposure for Todd Starnes latest faux outrage about how after humanist group threatened to sue two taxpayer funded schools for their participation in a toy drive for Operation Christmas Child which is run by - wait for it - Fox fave Franklin Graham, the schools withdrew their support. As I reported, the toy drive is a form of proselytization. But rather than discuss the constitutional issues regarding a public school supporting a Christian ministry, Kelly, in diverting the conversation, badgered her guest with suggestions that he and his group are big, bad meanies who would keep kids from getting toys. Just when you think that Kelly can't go any lower...

In keeping with her standard propaganda playbook, Kelly immediately set the message as a "controversy." In appealing to raw emotion, she said that "what started as a toy drive for poor children in North Carolina has now become a national controversy." (Thank you Fox News!) Her voice heavily inflected as she reported that a group has "threatened to sue unless the schools [she looked very coy] shut down their toy drive." The chyron was a brilliant example of Fox propaganda messaging: "Christmas Toy Drive Cancelled, Anti-Religious Group Threatens to Sue School." ("Anti-Religious" is Fox's definition of a group that tackles separation of church and state issues.) She introduced her guest, Roy Speckhardt of the American Humanist Association."

Kelly's next question was framed so as to make the Humanist Association look mean: "What is it about a toy drive for needy children that upset you." (Rather than something less inflammatory such why do you see this as a First Amendment issue.) As he spoke, Kelly pursed her lips in absolute disgust. Speckhardt spoke of how the gifts, which come with religious material, are an attempt to proselytize. Kelly "explained" that students were merely assembling the boxes which would be delivered by the religious group and asked him if his group is claiming that the schools were promoting the religious material. Kelly continued to prod him about the basis for the complaint. Megyn looked distressed as he noted that the whole program is an attempt to convert kids.

Acting as a "devil's advocate," attorney Kelly said that the conversion pledge cards, placed in the toy boxes, were "one thing; but the fact that you're objecting to mere partnership with an evangelical group is another thing entirely." She noted that the schools "have folded" and asked Speckhardt what he would be doing to make sure the children would get something. As he spoke of how they recommend that the schools use a "neutral program," Kelly continued to badger him. He explained that even the Colorado school program admitted that the school's position was "indefensible." She said that this was later denied and continued to try to shame him with an emotional and very slanted editorial comment: "Now that you've managed to cancel the program [the schools did that], to help the needy children, what exactly is your humanist group doing to try to help those children?" Fact Check: Nobody is denying the school principal's claims to have had communication with the conservative Alliance Defending Freedom who, according to the principal, stated that the case was indefensible. The school's spokesperson said that she didn't know "what he's [the principal] referencing to."

After he said that his group is involved with advocacy, she snapped "so nothing." When he responded that he has sent money to the Phillipines, she snapped "that's wonderful; but what are you doing for the children who are now not going to get the toys in the boxes." As she said this, she had her patented, I-am-so-pissed expression on her pretty face. He told her that his group is helping kids have an environment "free from church/state violations." She sarcastically said "you have helped them, you have save them from the constitutional violation and that will be a warm comfort to them on Christmas morning." After she thanked him "for being here with your story," she smiled and somebody on the set loudly laughed. She smiled as she said "moving on."

If Kelly hadn't been so intent on shaming this group for, according to her spin, taking toys away from kids, she might have mentioned that the toy drive, in Colorado, continued outside the school. She could have mentioned that parents were encouraged, by the school, to contribute cash to Samaritan's Purse. Rather than addressing the substance of the issue relating to the legality of a school sponsoring a toy drive for an evangelical organization close to Fox News, she resorted to attempts to shame this group whose function is advocacy. That the segment was ended with a laugh tells you all you need to know about the joke called "The Kelly Files."

BTW, she didn't identify Samaritan's Purse as the Christian group, her guest did. Go figure.