The White House War on FOX
The White House war against FOX News has just escalated. Now it’s not simply the president’s relatively unknown director of communications going on CNN to denounce FOX as some kind of phony news organization. Now, the president has rolled out the big guns.
On ABC’s “This Week,” White House senior advisor David Axelrod told George Stephanopoulos that FOX is “not really a news station” and that much of what they put on the air at FOX News is “not really news.” FOX News, he said, “respresents a point of view.”
Meanwhile, over at CNN, the president’s chief-of-staff, Rahm Emanuel, told John King that Fox “is not a news organization so much as it has a perspective."
“I suppose the way to look at it and the way … the president looks at it, we look at it is: It’s not a news organization so much as it has a perspective. And that’s a different take. And more importantly, is not have the CNNs and the others in the world basically be led in following Fox, as if what they’re trying to do is a legitimate news organization …”
And there it is – the White House strategy clearly articulated. What the president and his team are trying to do by going to war with FOX is convince the so-called mainstream media to think long and hard before running a story that FOX ran with – or run the risk of being tarnished as a FOX lackey and not a real news organization either.
Remember that it was FOX – not the big, supposedly objective, unbiased “mainstream media” that ran with the Van Jones story. It was FOX that kept the ACORN story alive. Both legitimate news stories. And remember that it was only after FOX wouldn’t let go of those stories that Van Jones (who wanted an investigation to learn if President Bush was somehow behind the 9/11 attacks on the United States) resigned in the middle of the night. And only then did most of the so-called mainstream media discover that this was actually news. The New York Times didn’t run a single word about Van Jones – until after he resigned. And since most other news outfits take their cues from the Times, most of them didn’t go with the story either, until very late in the day.
And if FOX hadn’t run those videos showing ACORN employes in several cities giving advice to a “pimp” and his “ho” on how to set up a brothel in this country featuring young (very young) girls from Central America … there’s a good chance that none of those so-called unbiased “mainstream” news operations would have run the videos or covered the story.
That’s why the White House has gone to war with FOX: to discourage other news organizations, friendly news organizations that have been slobbering over the president since he started running, that they should not lower themselves and “legitimize” a story that pretty much only FOX cared about.
And, let’s be honest: If the White House were really concerned about fair play, about calling out news operations with biased “perspecives,” Axelrod and Emmanuel would have said something about MSNBC. That operation is one great big biased “perspective.” But they didn’t. Why? Because they have no problem with “perspective” as long as it’s their perspective that’s being peddled.
But I don’t believe that this is simply a strategy aimed at the media. This isn’t only about trying to convince ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC and the print press to shy away from “FOX stories.” No, I think the strategy goes way beyond that. This is, I believe, a long term game plan aimed at influencing not just their journalistic pals, but also the bigger American culture in general.
If the White House can get the word out that FOX is not legitimate, that FOX is a political outfit not a news organization, if they can repeat the mantra long enough, perhaps, over time, it just might become an idea that is widely and uncritically accepted – mainly by Americans who are not especially political, and more than likely don’t even watch FOX News.
Yes, there’s enough on FOX to detest if you’re in the White House. One or two people on the network suffer from ODS – Obama Derangement Sydrome. And I was a critic of those who didn’t simply cover the Tea Parties but were cheerleading them on. But that’s not the entirety of FOX News. Chris Wallace is a serious journalist. So is Brit Hume and Brett Baier and many others. The White House, it seems, paints with a broad brush in condemning the entire network. And besides, it’s one thing for run-of-the-bill liberals, both in and out of the media, to portray FOX as nothing more than an arm of the Republican National Party, a phony news organization that should not be taken seriously. But there’s something unseemly when the President of the United States is leading the crusade. Is this man so vain that he needs every news organization to slobber over him?
But beware: Once an idea is implanted in the culture, once it is seen as “THE TRUTH,” it’s hard to un-do the damage. In other words, the White House strategy just might work.
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If I would have died twenty years ago I’d be rolling over in my grave now…I look forward to turning on FOX and watching Glenn Beck while I prepare dinner. I was a “hippie Lefty” as someone so eloquently put it. If I need a label, then I guess I am a classical liberal.
The events in our country in this past year were a real eye-opener for me and I’m betting there are thousands of people like me. In fact, I’m sure there are–I saw them at our congressman’s health care rally. There were over 600 of us and we never made the local news. Yes, my congressman had a burly guy on either side of him–I didn’t know what the SEIU on their tshirts stood for at that time. I thought they were bodyguards. I stayed till the end because I couldn’t believe what I saw–practically the entire crowd told our congressman we didn’t want him to back the Administration’s Health Care plans; fix Medicare first…our robotic-like young Dem congressman only had four answers programmed into his brain, none of which fit any of the questions he fielded.
So, Bernie, please take a message back to FOX. Yes, on the whole, they’re doing a good job. But I think FOX will open more eyes if they can stick to what they propose: airing balanced news. Balance to me doesn’t mean balancing the news broadcast by the networks–why did FOX waste my time making a big deal out of Obama bowing to the Japanese? That’s petty. I just want a balanced broadcast. I’d appreciate it if FOX looked hard for just one thing a day that’s praiseworthy of the Administration. Why? Because I can’t find anything and it’s depressing! How’s this? Charlie Gibson actually reported on the stimulus/recovery bogus info web site!!! How about acknowledging that? What’s peculiar is that the same day he broke that story ABC’s email-heads up about the evening news sported the subject “President Obama’s as Popular as Ever.” WTF?
O’Reilly is hard to watch. I try to ignore his personality which gets in the way. He’s overbearing and that’s a turn-off. I’ve grown to like Glenn Beck a lot but when the show hits minute 42, well, he’s just too much at that point. I have to turn him off. O’Reilly doesn’t interview people so much as he seems to slap them around which isn’t pleasant to watch.
Lay-off the Roman Polanski stories or find a different slant, FOX! Put the crime back in the context of the times–for crying out loud, the girl who was molested explained what happened, did any of you listen? The stranger thing to me is why Polanski was picked up NOW? A certain Polish community feels Obama is sending a message to Polish Americans who speak up against the Administration’s decision regarding Poland and missiles…Who cares about Hollywood society crap from the 70s? Not me.
So, I’ve seen the light. Thank you to Bernie Goldberg, Dinesh D’Souza, Glenn Beck, Adam Tooze, Michael Burleigh, Amity Schlaes…
Enough from me…Thanks, Bernie, keep up the good work and good writing.
FNC is the brightest, freshest, most stimulating, thought provoking, exciting, informative, and entertaining news channel on the tube. As cliched as this may sound by now, they are indeed the most fair & balanced news organization out there. Yeah, Beck & Hannity do push the envelope but in view of the way things are going in this Country today, shouldn’t we all be pushing the envelope a little bit more? Beck just wants answers to important questions. Answers we can all understand. Sean was ostracized during the election by warning of a ‘radical agenda’ on the horizon. Well, what would you call what’s happening to our Country now? We have all these czars, unapproved by Congress making policy, unaccountable to no one. Our Country may be on the verge of bankruptcy, our safety & security may be compromised. How scary is that? If Glenn & Sean force you to think too much or ask questions, then focus more on the morning shows, Cavuto, Brit Hume, Special report w/ Bret Baier, O’Reilly & Greta. They give it to us straight every time. I for one am grateful to Fox for all that they do and provide. The more the WH wages war on Fox, the more people are turning to the very station that they are trying to destroy. People who never watched Fox before wonder as Marvin Gaye used to sing, ‘What’s Goin’ On’. Oh, so that’s what I’ve been missing! Gotcha’!
/i see what you did there
Fox news would be better off if they got rid of shawn and glen. Those guys just rant and rant. If you turn the volume off and just watch those guys for a moment you will see what i mean. And when i shut the TV off and go into the world, i run into their clones. They have clones everywhere! They just yell RABEL RABEL RABEL!! GREAT AMERICAN!!! RABEL RABEL RABEL!! And then if you dont like those guys, people automatcally assume you are liberal…..they dont even know your position on any issues, but you are automatically labeled a liberal. Dont let them do it either, cuz one day those same people will have numbers tattooed on your hand and you know what comes next. As for Obama, give him time, its way too early to hate him. Anyway, fellow lovers of democracy and the republic, Obama did win the election by the largest majority in 20 years. The people have decided. You and i got just what we wanted……just enjoy.
FYI – it’s “Sean” and “Glenn”. Enjoy your death panels, marxism, socialism and maoism.
Folks – don’t forget to join the 9/12 Project!!!
another clone i see……driven and driving others with fear. Everything is a “CRISIS” with Glenn and Sean clones…….
you say everyone is a clone and a fear monger then you turn around and say republicans will tattoo numbers on our hands. Now what the hell is that if not idiotic fear mongering. I ma guessing you have never understood or studied a conservative position if you think they are for something like that. Stay off the Huffington post and get some common sense.
u got me man, but the law of noncontradictory will get anyone anytime. Anyway, so you know, i have mostly all conservative views. I use to call myself republican….but now i’m a conservative. I am retired Air Force and now work for the air force at bogram afganistan. I just dont like how Sean and Glenn patronise everyone. Great american this and great american that. As if when you dont have their views, you are an enemy…. as if they set the standard of great american. I load 3 or 4 dead marines every day on to C17s to fly out of here. And i certain Sean and Glenn are phisically fit and young enough to come over here and serve….. Imagine that…..you cant. Great american my ass. Fuck them. THey dont know a damn thiing about great american. That is why i said fox need to get rid of sean and glenn.
Also, since Obama won the election by a very large majority….doesnt that make seans and glenns rants almost antiamerican??
you and osama oh obama must be kin you are both stupid he got in office because of voter fruad. black organizers got out and redgister people that new nothing about politics or had ever voted before this kind of thing has never been done before and was totaly wrong that is why we have this african idiot in office. i am a veitnam vet i was proud to serve and now i have to set and watch my country be torn down. he is doing it right in your face and you can’t even see it. he wants to control not govern and that is communism so please wake up and lets take back country before it is to late
im sorry…..i just dont see how you were planning to have an effective argument and at the same time call someone an “african idiot?” Your words are indicitive upon your character sir. Please, rethink your approach. And your voter conspiracy theorys are ineffective because the democrats said the same thing about W. Anyway, i hardly think that the winning 20 % was all fraud……sorry.
/late to the party, I know.
//just gonna leave this one here:
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/fox-sake
Bernie, It really is a mystery to me why mainstream journalists, for whom their authority and standards are thought to be important, have gone out of their way to make sure Fox News is included in their little club. But, they didn’t support Helen Thomas’s snubbing by Bush! How sad!
Chicago Thugs + 1930’s Berlin Meet in DC. Obama’s Chi-town thugs are using tactics developed in Berlin in the 1930’s:
1. Scapegoat (ALL opposition)
2. TOTAL Media Control
3. Blitzkrieg (using legislation and exec. orders)
4. Crisis (Obama’s ‘Crisis-a-Day’ ploy = create and exacerbate)
5. The “Big Lie” (tell the lie often and loud)
Where are the historians? History repeats. And the “Yellow-Stream Media” keeps pissing away their credibility every hour of every day.
Finally someone who has the guts to tell the truth! Couldn’t agree more.
And don’t forget:
6. Barry Hussein Obama is a racist
Dear Professor Goldberg: “Do you know the difference between electricity and lightening is?”…….You don’t have to pay for “Lightening”!
Dear Professor Ferreira: “WTF???”
The GOP and Fox has whip up the hate between the classes, keep the lowest in areas far from where Republicans live, arm them to the hilt with enough technology to kill each other quickly and efficiently, make sure there is a liquor store and a hockshop selling guns on every corner, and tell them everything is fine because no one really dies, they all go to Heaven where everything is just hunky-dory. Where there are no taxes and everyone is issued a .44 God & Wesson to keep it that way.
Gun ownership is important constitutional right. Politicians think harder when they have constituency armed to defend their own. It makes them seek common ground. In other countries politicians just don’t care what people think after elections. In America those Washington Dummies know that if they screw really hard – a civil unrest may erupt. Armed constituency keeps the Dudes in power in check at all times. It is the Cowardly Politician’s dream to disarm the people. The right to carry arms is the ultimate protection for the people against government gone crazy.
Wil, You’ve never met a conservative, have you?
Rhonda. Gee, the last time I checked, the folks on our side weren’t the ones going around shooting doctors and setting off bombs at clinics.
Will, if I have go low all the way to your level I would say that folks on your side were the ones killing pro-life protesters and bombing gas pipe lines, but that would be a stupid argument. Criminals are criminals and majority of folks on “your side” and “my side” are decent people with good intentions who passionately believe in a set of ideas. Thankfully we have freedom of speech and our ideas clash freely and peacefully 99.9 % of the time.
there has been a total of 5, yes count that, 5 abortion doctors killed since abortion became legal almost 40 years ago. No deaths are acceptable, in this manner, but to paint half the country with a brush due to actions from 5 people is a bit irresponsible wouldnt you say?
This is a copy of an e-mail that I just received from a friend—I think that it is a worth-while
read:
If George W. Bush had been the first President to need a teleprompter installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of how inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?
If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had reduced your retirement plan’s holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had made a joke at the expense of the Special Olympics, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?
If George W. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had visited Austria and made reference to the non-existent “Austrian language,” would you have brushed it off as a minor slip?
If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current in their income taxes, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to “Cinco de Cuatro” in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), and continued to flub it when he tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?
If George W. Bush had mis-spelled the word “advice” would you have hammered him for it for years likeDan Quayle and potatoe as proof of what a dunce he is?
If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on Earth Day, would you have concluded he’s a hypocrite?
If George W. Bush’s administration had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually get what happened on 9-11?
If George W. Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans, would you want it made into a major ongoing political issue with claims of racism and incompetence?
If George W. Bush had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved?
If George W Bush had proposed to double the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you have approved?
If George W. Bush had then proposed to double the debt again within 10 years, would you have approved?
So tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can’t think of anything? Don’t worry. He’s done all this in just five months — so you’ll have three years and seven months to come up with an answer.
Now now Craig, remember all the great things Bush has done. He stopped 9/11… wait… he caught bin Laden… wait… Afghanistan… Iraq… Iran… North Korea… wait, he did nothing good for any of those issues. And, didn’t he kill 4300 soldiers, empty the Treasury and set the Middle East on fire.
You are trying to avoid blaming Bush and th Republicans for the mess we’re in. I knew from the start of Bush’s ill-starred “election” in 2000 that we’d have nothing but recession and war!
Obama is going to need more the 8 months, to clean up Bush’s 8 years of madness!
Wil, stopped 9/11? if your predecessor ignores something and fails to brief you on it does that make it your fault? so you are telling all of us that President George W. Bush personally took the lives of 4300 soldiers? How about how a majority of congress voted for the Iraq war, thus making it LEGAL. Empty the treasury? Do you know how our economic system works in the United States? Ill starred election? O because Al Gore was just the guy for the job… I mean after all he invented the internet and let us all know about the importance of Global Warming… And you ended your factless web of liberal bull crap so eloquently with your ready made response… “He hasn’t had enough time because Bush messed everything up!” not only are you the worst kind of liberal but you are the worst of the worst… your liberal propaganda-esque phoney baloney that our buffoon of a President read to you from his trillion dollar teleprompter is equal to horse manure… btw I thought Bush sucked as a President but not because of anything you listed… I thought he was a sellout to the Nanci Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barrack Obama types… there will come a day and very soon when you libs get your comeuppance and are put back in your place… a VERY SILENT MINORITY!
Bush:
1) sold all your jobs to the 3rd world;
2) gave your government’s budget surplus to the wealthy;
3) started and ineptly waged catastrophic wars;
4) caused the greatest economic disaster since the Great Depression;
5) ignored clear evidence of planning for 9/11 and ignored it;
6) set up illegal detention centers around the world and tortured people.
Just to name a few.
Bush:
1) sold all your jobs to the 3rd world companies… WRONG
Bush had nothing to do with that because he has no control over what private businesses do and where they have their jobs
2) gave your government’s budget surplus to the wealthy… WRONG
The Clinton adminstrations “Budget Surplus” was phoney and never really a surplus because they didn’t use the proper accounting methods
3) started and ineptly wage catastrophic wars… WRONG
congress almost unanimously voted to go to war with the information that was at hand… if you think for one second that George W Bush or any other President for that matter intentionally goes to war just for kicks and giggles then you are as clueless as I thought
4) caused the greatest economic disaster since the Great Depression… WRONG
The economic disaster is a culmination of decisions made by people that Clinton, Bush, and Obama surrounded themselves with… to blame a single person for the economic disaster is absolutely ludicrous and just goes to show how much of a liberal hack you really are
5) ignored clear evidence of planning for 9/11 and ignored it… WRONG AND REDUNDANT
To suggest that a President just let that happen is propsterous… if Clinton had taken care of Bin Laden like was suggested the problem would have been solved…
6) set up illegal detention center around the world and tortured people… WRONG
Those prisons were perfectly legal and no one was tortured by law… you may want to protect the same people that caused 9/11 but I want information extracted from them even if that means they are water boarded with a full medical staff right there…
In conclusion… your liberal talking points were very nicely organized but are undoubtedly nothing but propoganda and lies…
Thank you , Graig. I enjoyed the read.
Ellie, These are really the kind of ramblings you’d expect to find written in feces on a padded wall…
Will, English is my second foreign language, but I suspect your post stinks.
Craig, thanks for sharing! And that’s exactly why we need Palin in 2012! Don’t forget to donate today by visiting http://www.sarahpac.com/.
Craig, thanks for sharing this!