The Duggar family usually gains attention from adding to the "19 Kids" part of their former-TLC show, "19 Kids and Counting," but recent attention due to Josh Duggar's molestation scandal has caused the show to be yanked. The family will have a chance to tell their story on "The Kelly File" which airs Wednesday at 9 p.m. EDT on Fox News, according to a previous HNGN report.
Megyn Kelly, host of the show, has a reputation for asking tough questions, but on Monday's show, she said she doesn't want to cross-examine Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar. "It's going to be an interview. I want to hear their story. And I think America wants to hear their story now. Nothing is off limits."
Although, there are questions Kelly said she won't ask, like "specific details about what was done, because my understanding is the victims don't want to discuss that either."
Josh Duggar, 27, resigned from his position as executive director for the Family Research Council Action after the news surfaced that he molested girls when he was a teenager. Josh Duggar admitted that he fondled the breasts and genitals of at least five girls, possibly including some of his sisters.
"We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling," he said in a statement on May 21. "I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life."
Kelly tied the Duggar scandal to Bill Clinton. "Bill Clinton was accused of rape. He has been accused by several women of sexually assaulting them," Kelly said. "But the fact that a presidential candidate has posed with some random member of the family that's going through this issue is somehow a problem for the GOP'ers?"
Kelly is referring to the photographs and support Josh Duggar has received from Republican politicians, like former Fox News host Mike Huckabee: "He and his family dealt with it and were honest and open about it with the victims and the authorities. No purpose whatsoever is served by those who are now trying to discredit Josh or his family by sensationalizing the story. Good people make mistakes and do regrettable and even disgusting things. The reason that the law protects disclosure of many actions on the part of a minor is that the society has traditionally understood something that today's blood-thirsty media does not understand-that being a minor means that one's judgement is not mature."
Liberals are disgusted that the Christian-value family whose mastheads said incest should be a capital crime and who likened transgender individuals to child predators is linked to family-values touting conservatives. Conservatives, like Fox's media critic Howard Kurtz, are disgusted that "some liberal media types" are using "a family tragedy to score political points."
"Where is the media outcry over the fact that someone in law enforcement leaked to InTouch Weekly and to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Josh Duggar's juvenile police records, which are supposed to be sealed and sacrosanct?" Kurtz asked Kelly on the show. "Some critics enjoying this scandal so much, Megyn, they can't even be bothered to mention that."
And in the middle is a family. But, after presenting such a wholesome image, the Duggars will undoubtedly face more scrutiny for their real-life scandal being so contrary to their personas. What do you think? Do you think the Duggars are hypocrites for knowing about the molestation 12-years-ago and protecting their son or should they have disclosed past indiscretions on the show rather than project a cohesive family unit? Will Kelly go easy on them because of their GOP connections or will she uphold her "tough" reputation? Leave your comments in the comment section below.
