Fox News Responds to White House Rebuke - Compares Obama to Nixon, Themselves to NY Times?
posted by: Aaron Pendell 58 days ago
I'm not certain I'd liken it to "warfare" as Anderson Cooper did, but the Obama White House decided to address its Fox News problem, head on. White House Communication Director, Anita Dunn, became the administration's voice for the stating the obvious Sunday, Oct. 11, saying, that based on their coverage, Fox is "a wing of the Republican Party," on CNN's Reliable Sources (Clip edit from Talking Points Memo):
Later that same Sunday in a NewYorkTimes.com post, Brian Stelter noted that Dunn's comments "are only the latest in the volatile exchange between the administration and the top-rated network." Stelter provides the play by play HERE, and goes on to conclude, "The administration’s aggressive stance suggests that it does not view Fox’s audience as one that can be persuaded." A fair assessment in my opinion.
The response from Fox was predictably escalatory, "It's astounding the White House cannot distinguish between news and opinion programming," Fox News senior vice president, Michael Clemente said. "It seems self-serving on their part."
Perhaps, but Fox likening the White House's rebuke to Nixon's strained relationship with the media is beyond the pale. TPM caught this gem during a Fox "straight news segment," Oct. 12:
"This order to freeze out a leading news organization is similar to those President Nixon infamously directed at the New York Times," said correspondent James Rosen. In 1971, Nixon tried to stop the Times from printing the Pentagon Papers, a bleak report on the Vietnam War...
Presumably, Fox News is the New York Times in this ludicrous scenario. In leaking the Pentagon Papers to a respectable media outlet, Daniel Ellsberg exposed Nixon's Vietnam narrative as a lie to the American people. Ironically, it would be more appropriate to consider Fox as Nixon in this hypothetical, rather than the NYT.
CNN actually repeated the meme that same evening during a segment of Anderson Cooper 360; however, they did it without even mentioning Rosen, allowing viewers to decide for themselves which of Nixon's misdeeds to associate with Obama.
What I find most disheartening about this "war of words" is how the mainstream media in general, and CNN specifically, have chosen to examine the story as whether the White House is making a mistake in singling out Fox, rather than examining the cable news network's record.
To that end, I encourage you to check out MediaMatters.org's research on Fox News Channel. There you will find the first of 123 pages of links regarding Fox's questionable conduct compiled along with the relevant video documentation.
Of course, I don't expect consumers of Fox's programming to bother. But doesn't that fact prove the White House was wise to single them out? It is a constituency which has never supported Obama, and is highly unlikely to change its feelings. At least in calling them out as they have, future consumers of Fox News Channel may be on the lookout for bias. Really, it's quite easy to spot if you look for it. Then, perhaps, they'll exercise a measure of reluctance before they tune in on a regular basis.
See Also:
"'Voice of the Opposition' - Fox News Openly Advocates Against Democratic Congress, White House." MediaMatters.org, 11 Sept. 2009.
Sadly, I've had the personal displeasure of posting about Fox's bias on two previous occassions:
April 17, 2009: Epic FAIL - Anti-Tax Tea Party 2009 Roundup
May 1, 2009: Spector Defector - Harbinger of Doom for the Shrinking GOP
Read more: fox, vietnam, politics, political, gop, opinion, cnn, republican, bias, nixon, right-wing, obama, republican-party, obama-administration, fox-news-channel, medai, fox-v-obama, pentagon-papers, new-york-times, daniel-ellsberg, anderson-cooper, anita-dunn
comments
I Think Obama is the Best..Fox news is so right-winged, & Filled with envy..they can't stand the fact that President Obama, really could care less about their private agenda. He is a Moral man who has the Lord on His side. I have never, ever heard them say a good word about anyone with a different view then they have. They resent the fact that we finally have a caring president that isn't grabbing at the chance to send someone else's son or daughter to war. That is why he went to Delaware to honor these Soldiers coming home in flag covered coffins. God Bless Him & God Bless all our men & women In the armed Services.
AN INDEPENDENT PROUD OF OUR PRESIDENT!
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In case you haven't noticed, John Stossel, a highly-regarded journalist most recently employed by CBS, is now in the Fox fold.
I think (?) Lew Dobbs is going to be next to join Fox.
Don Imus is doing great, now at FoxBusiness channel.
Oh, well .... * yawn * ....
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Actually, the other news channels are sticking up for FOX News. Last week they said if Fox News could not be in the pool of reporters they wouldn't be in it either. They are sticking together because these reporters KNOW that they could be next on Obama's Enemy List. Obama has brought Chicago style politics into the White House and it is not well received among the reporters. What happened to transparency? What happened to Obama's campaign promises?
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Fox News is what it is regardless of how they tout themselves.
Thankful that the light is being shined on their ill willed agenda that blatantly violates journalistic doctrine.
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"I'm amazed at how so many Americans are afraid to hear the truth!! "
Which truth do we (so many) fear?
-cindy
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Shirley, I hear ya! I would LOVE to see a moderate republican step up to the plate...young, enthusiastic and able to get Americans excited about their country again!! The "independents" are going to be a major factor in the next election both in 2010 and 2012.
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I'm amazed at how so many Americans are afraid to hear the truth!! FOX News is the only ones giving it to us.I just don't listen I do my own research. Pres Obama's a Charismatic speaker & this is what he's banking on to lead the sheep to slaughter.Talk about a Wolf in sheep's clothing. Excuse me I should say lead the sheep to Socialism!! Not me no way!!
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Thanks RB. Just for the sake of conversation, I'm one of those that doesn't vote straight ticket. The past few decades I've tried to vote for the one I think will do the least damage. Looking forward to the day we can vote for who will do the most Good and will represent us fairly and honestly. Lesser of the two evils is not a good way to run a country. I've voted for some that went in pretty dog gone ethical it seemed but the corruption almost always wins out. Still trying to believe though, Eternal Optimist I guess. Take Care All
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Shirley, I apologize. I did assume you voted for Carter and Clinton. Sorry...not fair!
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My Goodness, you certainly are assuming alot about me and the way I vote. You shouldn't assume. Assumptions are no better than an opinion as to what facts are and gee, I'd love to stay and play with your banter but have some REALLY important issues to try to help some folks with. Have a good one, if it's in your capacity to do so. I stand by my previous posts.
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