There are three categories of news media:

1. Opinion Outlets
•Keith Olbermann
•Bill O'Reilly
•The Young Turks
•Wall Street Journal Editorial Side

2. Partisan Press (Ideologically Driven Press)
•The Nation
•Fox News Channel
•National Review
•Mother Jones
•Drudge Report

3. Straight News
•CNN
•ABC News
•MSNBC News Programs
•New York Times
•Wall Street Journal (Non-Editorial)

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being in any of these categories. As you can see, I put our show in the "Opinion Outlet" category. I have no problem with that. We tell you our take on the news of the day. All of the categories are based on the news; but they do range based on how much original news reporting or editorializing they do. And that is an important distinction.

The Obama White House has taken on Fox News channel in an effort to point out they are not a legitimate news network. This is very important because out of all the outlets mentioned above, they are the only ones being dishonest about what category they are in. This is where the confusion lies.

Fox News admits that their talk shows are opinion based, which is obvious and indisputable. It's not straight news and it's not meant to be. No problem. The problem lies in their "news" side. They don't have a straight news division like CNN, MSNBC, ABC, etc. They have propaganda disguised as news. That's a serious issue that must be addressed.

If they simply admitted as some of the partisan journals do -- on both the left and the right -- that they cover the news but from a certain ideological perspective, then again there would be no problem. The Nation isn't purely an opinion magazine; it does real reporting. But they have a clear ideological perspective, in their case a liberal one. The National Review is the same on the right -- news stories and opinion from a conservative point of view. Again, as long as there is truth in advertising there's no problem at all.

The problem with Fox News is that they have shown over and over again that they tilt their news coverage indisputably toward a right-wing perspective and refuse to admit it. They are not purely driven by the news. They are driven by an agenda.

The Daily Show did a great segment just last week showing how Fox News acted as cheerleaders for the 9/12 Tea Party protests and gave it wall to wall coverage, yet for a protest of almost the same exact size -- the Gay Rights protest last weekend -- they didn't send a single camera crew. And The Daily Show didn't even mention a Fox News producer who was caught on camera riling up the crowds in the 9/12 protest and literally encouraging them to cheer louder. I don't think they sent a similar "news producer" to the gay rights march. To argue that they covered these protests straight without any leaning toward one side or another is comically disingenuous.

But this is only one of dozens of readily available examples. Think Progress has another fantastic example of exactly what the administration is complaining about -- Fox News anchors parroting Republican talking points. First you see Republican representatives pushing the talking point of "Where are the jobs?" then you see Fox anchors asking the same exact question as if they are independently asking questions about the news rather than repeating propaganda (it's a perfect example of Fox's agenda -- watch the Republicans first and then Fox News here).

As if all of this weren't enough, we have absolute proof from the inside that Fox purposely manipulates the news to suit a Republican agenda. There is a leaked memo from their Vice President of News, Dan Moody, where he directs his so-called reporters to find Iraqi insurgents celebrating Democratic victories in 2006 (you can read it here). Are we really having a serious conversation about whether Fox has an ideological perspective?

Unfortunately, the rest of the media seems to be unbelievably dense in recognizing this point, so they treat Fox coverage as if it's real, straight news. So, when Fox wants to drive an issue like Bill Ayers or Rev. Wright or ACORN or just about every other conservative attack against Obama, the rest of the press goes along with it as if these are all straight news stories.

Now, it's important to point out that ideologically driven press can break real stories. They should not be dismissed out of hand as not news simply because they came from those sources. As an example, Mother Jones has broken many important stories that are no less valid because they came form a source that has a clear liberal perspective. So, Fox News can -- and does -- break stories that are valid and should receive some press coverage from everyone. That's why partisan press provides an important voice in the national conversation.

The problem is when partisan press gets confused for straight, unbiased news. The perfect example of this is when Fox News called the 2000 election for George W. Bush first -- and every other news network followed like sheep. The person in charge of calling the 2000 election at Fox News was the cousin of George W. Bush. That is not some hyperbole. It was literally Bush's cousin.

Would the other networks have panicked and called the election for Gore because Air America said he won? Would they have followed the lead of The Young Turks in calling the election for Gore if we had hired Gore's uncle to tabulate the votes for us? It's ridiculous and unthinkable, right (especially so, since Air America and The Young Turks weren't around yet at the time of that election; but you get my point -- there's no way they would consider that legitimate, but yet they considered Fox's call perfectly legitimate)?

So, why did they commit this unpardonable error in the 2000 election when Fox News was involved? Because Fox has purposely sold itself as straight news when they know that they are nothing of the sort -- specifically to be able to influence the rest of the press in this way. And the rest of the media bought it.

This dangerous charade has to end, and that is why I think it was a fantastic idea by the White House to call out Fox on this phenomenon. They're not saying they won't go on Fox News or that Fox's point of view is illegitimate or unacceptable. They're simply asking people to recognize their point of view. That's a perfectly valid request.

In fact, if they don't do this they are going to continue to get swift-boated on every issue because the press will follow the lead of Fox News on every partisan attack they bring up. They must respond or they'll wind up in the same position as John Kerry when Fox News kept asking if he really served honorably in Vietnam (the problem again was that they were pretending to ask the questions as if they were journalists looking into the issue, but in reality they just wanted that story to last longer in the press so that more people would question Kerry's service -- Fox plays this "question" game all the time).

Even if you don't agree with the White House's tactic of taking on Fox, you have to agree that they have been smart in at least bringing up the question of Fox News's credibility. This was not a conversation that the rest of the press was having before. Now, at least a question arises as to whether the media should really trust a story coming out of Fox News or whether they are pushing a Republican agenda with their so-called news item. That's a debate the White House can't lose; because as Fox News has taught us, it's not the answer that matters, it's the question.

I would take it one step further than the White House though. Yes, administration officials should go on Fox News on a regular basis. You still want to talk to that audience. Even if you think you're not going to convince them, you're still an administration that represents all of the American people and you must talk to your conservative constituents as well. But the president himself should make a stand.

President Obama should go on Fox News again only when they admit that they are partisan press. If they are not trying to trick anyone by pretending to be neutral journalists, then of course the president should talk to them. But if they continue on their policy of purposeful deception in how they represent themselves, then the White House shouldn't reward that behavior.

Obama's negative numbers have been driven up by constant attacks from Fox News Channel (the one entity that the Republican base says represents them the most). They can be proud of that accomplishment. They're having a large impact. But to pretend that they are not behind the organized way those attacks are driven into the mainstream press is not just dishonest; it's an insult to our intelligence.

Obama is accused by some (including Fox, of course) of being too wimpy to come on Fox and challenge them. Well, isn't Fox News too wimpy to admit what they really are? Why don't they have the courage of their convictions and admit that they are conservative? If they rise up to the challenge of confessing their real identity and real purpose, then -- and only then -- should Obama rise up to the challenge of taking on that conservative voice in the media in an interview on their air. That sounds fair and balanced to me.

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/24463

hmm lets argue about witch liars lie more

Wonder if they are going to apply the same standard to MSNBC....

Or do they operate under a double standard...?


Woops...I guess didn't read the whole thing. I do like CNN, as Lou Dobbs has been fair IMO.

But MSNBC???? LoL... They are the Fox of the left. Common guys...

3. Straight News
•CNN
•ABC News
•MSNBC News Programs
•New York Times
•Wall Street Journal (Non-Editorial)


These fit equally well under item 2, in my experience.

Wow, that's some nice talk for a first post.

The White House engaging in a mud fight with any arm of the media is Nixonian at best. He's already shown his affinity for Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and his technique of handling his opponents. Chavez has nationalised some media outlets and shut down others.

I'm not saying that Obama has alluded to "shutting down" Fox News but his appeal to the Liberal-friendly media to shun the conservative outlet is just a slight step short of such a move..

People forget it was Fox that broke the drunk driving story on Bush just days short of the 2000 election..

Fox clearly has a place at the cable media table. Just take a look at their audience share. They pull a bigger audience at 3 am than CNN pulls in primetime..

To call CNN and MSNBC and ABC News "straight news organizations"... come on.. Anyone remember the Chris Matthews getting "this furrowing going up [his] leg" in reference to hearing Obama speaking? Did any of those "straight news" organizations that ran story after story after story about how Sarah Palin was a dunce cheerleader who had her clothes picked out and paid for by the RNC ever even talked about all the stupid **** that poured out of Biden's mouth day after day?? No! None of them did..

Anyone seen very many stories from ABC Nightly News about the counter proposals for healthcare reform being offered by the Republican representation in the Congress? Hell no.. All you hear is how "Republican Opposition" in the Congress is "stalling the much needed reform that Democratic legislators are fighting for"..

The Dems in congress don't need a single vote from the other side of the isle.. They just want cover.. and they can't even marshall the entire Democrat contentgent to agree on a bill..

Please.. The White House is getting more and more Stalinistic as the days go by.. Going after its opposition in the media with the wieght and power of the Federal Government?

Is that the "Hope and Change" you voted for??

Fox has the highest ratings in the nation for news far exceeding CNN and MSNBC.The reason for this is simple.They ask the hard questions that most stations don't have the guts to.Fox also in not afraid of Political correctness,taking risks,or offending the general public.This is the way news should be.I think Fox news represents the type of news people want to read about.News that is Pro Military,Pro American,and and gives hope instead of the bleak,boring,America sucks outlook that CNN and MSNBC produces on a endless basis.

I seriously doubt the American people elected Obama to fight Fox News. His focus should not be on what Fox is reporting. Bush faced the same with the left leaning media and he ignored it. He won two terms.

Another point to consider is people who watch Fox are not interested in Gay Pride or what they consider left leaning agenda. That's why they tune Fox in. They don't want to hear news they think has a lefty spin.

Frankly, I think CNN, Fox, CBS are all the same. That's why I rarely watch the news. You can find information on the net without listening to opinionated reporting. Why should I allow someone else tell me how to think?

This weekend I went out-of-town. My father (an Independent) called it the Bible belt of Missouri - McCain/Palin territory and full of people that watched Fox News. Farm country. Where I stayed, the stores were closed Sunday morning until 1:00 p.m. The life of the people there is all about reading their Bibles and listening to Fox news. Mind you, I have no problems with reading the Bible but there is more to life and more to an education, outside of the Bible and Fox News, IMO.

I think all the right wingers flock to fox news because they are the one and only pro american propaganda network while we centrists and left of center have many choices to divide us up. From the abc news nbc news and cbs news plus msnbc and cnn, lets face it we are a liberal country with a loud minority of angry right wingers who are trying desperatly to cling to deniel.

Yes they have the highest ratings. More American watch Fox than any other news station. That speaks volumes and it's because of the people that Fox has the highest ratings.

I think all the right wingers flock to fox news because they are the one and only pro american propaganda network while we centrists and left of center have many choices to divide us up. From the abc news nbc news and cbs news plus msnbc and cnn, lets face it we are a liberal country with a loud minority of angry right wingers who are trying desperatly to cling to deniel.

Denial? denial is thinking CNN and the others out rank Fox news. Not just republicans watch Fox news. I know I watch Fox news because it's not 100% liberal like some others I know. Liberals watch CNN so what, conservatives and other watch Fox, so what. We are hardly a liberal country but keep the current administration and it will be worse than liberal.

Please dear face it Fox news is the only game in town for the ultra right wing. The rest of us are spread out all over the spectrum from the major networks to the cable news of MSNBC and CNN.

I guess I need to point this out yet again.

The "mid-term" congressional elections tend, with extremely rare exceptions, to go against the party in the White House. In 2002, the post-election coverage on two major cable networks told many of us just about everything we need to know about where they stand.

The Fox News coverage had that year's version of their now well-known tagline: "You Decided 2002"

The CNN coverage's tagline? "What Went Wrong?"

"What Went Wrong?" For whom? Hmmmmmmmm?






No, no bias there!

America is a libral country face it. Two landslide elections were the republicans lost it all. It was a political tsunami. America has allwaysbeen liberal from the new deal to freedom of the press. except for under Bush, america has pushed for human rights throughout the world.

Total nonsense.This is and never was a liberal country with a minority of right wingers.The majority of Americans have conservative values,practice Christianly,and support the military.There is a very small minority of liberals who have somehow put a stranglehold on the majority of newspapers and newstations in American until the last 10 or so years.With the explosion of the internet and Americans getting two sides of the story instead of one they can choose which media outlets they want to watch or read.I think it's very obvious that Americans are getting more pissed off and protesting more because the Government is leaning more left than it ever has.Liberal values are more inline with Communism and countries run by Dictators than Conservative America.

You are also not going to get me to believe that the only people who watch Fox news are right winging wackos.We both know that during election times you almost get a 50/50 split between people voting for Democrats and Republicans.Since Fox news leads in the ratings then you would have to have more than 50% people watching Fox news and thus alot of Democrats and others who are not right wingers.

Liberalism is dying a slow death.The liberal media outlets are on life support and will soon be gone.Good riddance to bad garbage!

"The majority of Americans have conservite values,practice Christiany,and support the military."

Hmm....that sounds like Democrats to me. All of the ones that I know have values, practice Christianity and support the military.

"that Americans are getting more pissed off and protesting more"

They're just getting louder.

Really? OBama has tried to pursuade people to not watch television? mmm,, When did this happen?

Winx you never amaze me with your thinking which is largely optimistic and delusional a great deal of the time.We really don't need to dig up all the hundreds of Anti military,Anti Christian,and Anti American bills to see if a Democrat or Republican is behind them do we?Come on now