I think this is really the crux of the matter, tv needs ratings. The best way to get them is to put people with ridiculously crazy viewpoints on and give them validity by interviewing them on tv.
This is the tv media messing with your head. There are crazy,racist, nasty people out there everywhere, but in the real world there wouldn't be many people that would give them the time of day. Unfortunately TV will.
Don't forget there are a lot more nice, normal, non-racist people than there are nutbars.