Man bites dog: A conservative criticizes Fox
Not something you hear every day, but, at a town hall meeting, Sen. Tom Coburn — the ultra-conservative Republican senator from Oklahoma — criticized the distortions viewers get from Fox News. Not only that, he reminded his listeners of the importance of civility:
After a woman in the audience railed against the possibility of being put in prison for not obtaining health insurance under the Democrat’s new law, Coburn dismissed her remark and questioned the accuracy of Fox News reports on health care reform.
“The intention is not to put any one in jail. That makes for good TV news on FOX but that isn’t the intention,” Coburn responded.
Then, the Republican Senator, who was an arch-foe of the Obama Health Care bill, defended the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi against character attacks.
Hisses and hoots
While discussing his policy disagreements with Pelosi Coburn said “she’s a nice lady,” which brought hisses and hoots from the crowd. But Coburn flatly rejected the crowd’s animosity towards the liberal Speaker.“Come on now. She is nice – how many of you all have met her? She’s a nice person,” Coburn said as he went on to lecture the crowd about civility.
“Just because somebody disagrees with you dodn’t (sic) mean they’re not a good person,” Coburn said. “I’ve been in the senate for five years and I’ve taken a lot of that, because I’ve been on the small side –- both in the Republican Party and the Democrat Party.”
Myths of Fox News
“What we have to have is make sure we have a debate in this country so that you can see what’s going on and make a determination yourself,” Coburn added and then again warned the crowd against the myths perpetrated on FOX News.“So don’t catch yourself being biased by FOX News that somebody is no good. The people in Washington are good. They just don’t know what they don’t know,” Coburn said.
Coburn has been lambasted lately for leading the Republican caucus in blocking a temporary extension of unemployment benefits, which expire this week. While standing up for Pelosi as a person, Coburn didn’t mince words about her policy positions.
In a saner political world, Coburn’s remarks would hardly be noteworthy since most senators would caution their constituents against wild conspiracy theories. But this merits mention because so many conservative politicians seem to think they must follow Fox blindly.
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55 comments Add your comment
Who's In Charge?
April 6th, 2010
6:08 pm
Woof…. I mean “whimper”……
Keep grabbing at straws Cindy.
When conservatives win the special elections in the next few weeks you will not have any more smoke screens to hide behind.
Paul
April 6th, 2010
6:17 pm
Good for Sen Coburn. Let’s hope the other side follows his lead and not the lead of others such as “Republicans want you to die” Grayson.
It would have been more courageous and accurate if Sen Coburn had been more specific. Was he referring to the entire network? The news shows as well as the opinion shows? Brett Baier? Greta van Susteren? Shepard Smith (who’s been a real cheerleader for health care reform)? Or just the Hannity types on the opinion & entertainment shows?
It’s always easier to condemn an entire group.
Dee keith
April 6th, 2010
6:24 pm
I take what Sen. Coburn says with a grain of salt, after all this is the man who is a GOP lead hack in the U.S. Senate, however i’ll take any positive news I can get out of the GOP. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that this is a sign that the GOP realizes that the ignorance of their followers can carry them only so far.
Curious Observer
April 6th, 2010
6:24 pm
I lament the loss of civility in Congress and in the country as a whole. I often think back to the days when Democrats and Republicans at least made an effort to work together. And when I do think of those days, the late Republican Senator Everett Dirksen comes to mind. When he opposed a Democratic initiative, he didn’t hang the Socialist label on everyone who differed with him. Who else but Dirksen could say, in criticizing a Democratic initiative, “A billion here and a billion there; pretty soon it adds up to real money”?
Neofart
April 6th, 2010
6:29 pm
Coburn ain’t one of us, check his birth ceritificate, he’s a socialist, he’s a commie……
Auburn fan
April 6th, 2010
6:37 pm
They pay you to write articles like that? No wonder your newspaper is losing subscribers.
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
6:38 pm
Speaking of news channels, how come, in this day and age, at the capital on a historic day, where there were cameras, recorders and microphones everywhere, nobody was “caught” spitting on, and name calling legislators? I seem to remember one channel really making a big deal about this rumor. The knife cuts both ways.
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
6:43 pm
We all saw it coming with the debut of the Jerry Springer show. The people in this country that did not have a voice got one. They were able to explain to mainstream America exactly how they rationalized things, how they settled disputes. As this segment of the population multiplied, and gained voting power, the sands shifted. 2010 will be the first year in the history of the United States where more people do not pay income taxes than do. A tipping point is coming, and it is not going to be pretty.
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
6:48 pm
Where it is really going to get ugly is when the US bond ratings drop. That will cause us to have to pay higher interest rates on the national debt. So, instead of paying hundreds of billions in interest, we will pay even more. That is what would be called hitting the wall. When the “poor Starving” people weigh 400 pounds, that society on the clock.
jconservative
April 6th, 2010
6:56 pm
This is fascinating. Reminds me of Bob Dole’s remark that if he lived in NY he would vote to re-elect Hillary. He really caught heck over that.
Re going to jail for not buying health insurance.. There is a provision in the health care bill that says that there will be NO penalty, either jail or fine, for not purchasing health care insurance. It was put in the Senate bill, the bill that the House passed and Obama signed into law.
Mallory
April 6th, 2010
7:05 pm
And what separates the men from the boys? FOX can take it on the chin. Obama has a glass jaw.
joan
April 6th, 2010
7:12 pm
It may not be the “intention”, but it may be the result. I gather that IRS is going to be doing the accounting for who pays, and docking your tax refund if you have not. Isn’t that a little big brotherish? And your president–unilaterally disarming this country from using nukes against an invasion? What a traitor. We need term limits, and we need to enact Amendment 28–making Congress sleep in the same tent with the rest of us peons.
Frank
April 6th, 2010
7:17 pm
So well said Mallory. Catch an earlier blog where Sen. McCain is fair game while Rep. Lewis is untouchable. I have never seen a leader (Obama) who rips his coat off in pseudo tough guy stature and spends the first 30 minutes of any speech saying “I am right- they are wrong and bring it on” Are we running a country or is this WWF Raw?
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
7:20 pm
No, if you don’t buy heath insurance, you get taxed on income. What happens if you don’t pay your taxes? Well, that is the penalty you would pay.
Bottom line, tax paying, law abiding citizens will either buy insurance, or pay the taxes.
Those who don’t pay income taxes (over 50% of the population in 2010), do not have to pay any penalties if they do not have insurance, because, the do not pay income taxes anyway. As a matter of fact, they will be given money from the government to purchase insurance. Now, I am curious to see what happens when they take the tax credit and do not use it to by health insurance.
Does anyone really think this will work?
arnold
April 6th, 2010
7:23 pm
Curious Observer: I remember Dirkson well. I loved his voice. He was also a voice of reason.
Mr Charlie: It wasn’t the Springer show. It was Newt Gingrich and his “Contract With America.” It was his way or the highway. He also had help from the “Hammer”. By the way, he lost in his effort to shut down the government. He lost to Bill Clinton.
Keep up the good fight!
April 6th, 2010
7:26 pm
Hey joan…why dont you try reading the bill. Especially the part on the penalty for not buying the individually mandated insurance. When you find that enforcement provision, then come back and report. big brother is what cheney did….
traitor is such a strong word….. with all the military spending and the best troops I guess you dont believe that we have the power to repel an invasion without nuclear weapons…..I suppose you support using those weapons on our own land. What? Goodbye Savannah and let the fallout hit Atlanta.
I am glad to see some Republicans may finally be taking some leadership for their party and helping to change to tone of public discourse.
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
7:27 pm
Actually, Cynthia. That is a good question. What is the penalty for those who receive tax credits to purchase Heath Insurance BUT do not actually use it to actually purchase health insurance? What if they take the money and spend it elsewhere? Being a hard hitting journalist, can you answer that one? Has anyone asked that question?
Mary Jo Kopechne
April 6th, 2010
7:29 pm
Pathetic….. The King children….
Drifter
April 6th, 2010
7:31 pm
It’s amazing to me that people get so upset with the right having a voice in mainsteam media when the left has had NBC, CBS and ABC for decades. But I do agree that we have lost our sense of civility. However, this loss is not an invention of the right…anyone remember how the left droned on and on about Bush (and still do now that I think about it, some leftist brings him up in virtually every conversation on this blog).
Keep up the good fight!
April 6th, 2010
7:32 pm
Frank…ya may want to go back and read that blog…your take away is a little distorted.
Mr. Charlie, there is video of the spit reaction as it occurred. guess Fox did not show it to you.
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
7:32 pm
Arnold, Arnold, Arnold. OK, here it is, a guy does not meet the income requirement to purchase health insurance. So, he gets a tax credit to purchase insurance.
Then, instead of actually purchasing insurance, he spends it on hookers, but his wife gets sick only to find out her husband did not use the tax credit to purchase the insurance. So they go on Springer, have the hookers come on, and the guy explains what is his rational. Can’t you see it?
Frank
April 6th, 2010
7:33 pm
Mr. Charlie you are spot on but why work through all the details when it only leads down the path that more people are going to get essentially free health care. Problem is if you lay out the full fact pattern the response will be a) not true- see a couple of blogs up as the far right will not fully connect the dots and b) you are neocon/ teabagger who hates those in need. To add to your point with no pre existing condition one simply waits to they need the insurance. Now, can we take the good parts of the plan, which there are many, and work towards a real solution?
Reality Check
April 6th, 2010
7:38 pm
Poor…Poor Charlie…So sorry you decided to fall into that con of there’s no video of it. I got bored one half hour a week ago and found the video inside of 10 mins. Now if I had proper incentive, I think I would have found more. So don’t try the there’s no video of it meme. It just doesn’t work.
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
7:46 pm
Reality, why was the guy not slammed to the ground and handcuffed and locked up in jail for assult? There was a cop right there, she did not react. I googled it, there are 221,000 stories, but no video. I youtubed it, and found the only one, and it was questionable. I did not hear the name calling. Just drama drama drama.
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
7:47 pm
And Reality, I ask you because of your name. What happens when those who get heath insurance tax credits spend it elsewhere? Nobody seems to know, don’t you think somebody should have thought about that?
Byron Mathison Kerr
April 6th, 2010
7:57 pm
Fox News is to network news what TV wresting is to sports, but at least most people do realize that TV wresting is all show.
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
7:58 pm
I have another question. 3 guys broke into a house today to rob, maybe rape and kill. Shots were fired, one of the burgulars was shot and later showed up at Grady. Should I pay his insurance? Does that really seem right to anyone?
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
7:59 pm
CNN is not different than Fox, same animal, different spots.
Dick Hertz
April 6th, 2010
8:02 pm
Coburn is part of the genius club that let the loonies out of the bin, and now it is biting him on the hiney. Gee, see what happens when you throw facts, logic, and reality out the window so you can energize your most enthusiastic supporters? The hopey changey is working and it makes you wingnuts and teabaggers even more Krazy.
arnold
April 6th, 2010
8:02 pm
Mr Charlie: It’s not CNN, it’s MSNBC. At least get it straight.
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
8:06 pm
I think we will have to wait about 5 years to judge the hopey changey thing. Right now we are printing and spending money like drunken sailors, but once that stops, if the IMF changes our bond rating, party is over. Where I am different from you, is I see what is coming. You guys don’t have a clue.
T-Town
April 6th, 2010
8:08 pm
Ms. Tucker
While I don’t always agree with some of your views, I don’t believe I have ever been uncivil with you. And I have never received an uncivil comment from you.
Be civil to all those you disagree with, hmmm now there’s something some of the bloggers could learn.
Keep up the good fight!
April 6th, 2010
8:18 pm
Sorry Charlie….ya already paid for him to get treated at Grady…so why should Grady and the taxpayers pay? Does that seem right? And let’s not forget…he’s not been convicted of anything yet.
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
8:18 pm
National Debt is 12,000,000,000,000. We currently pay 3.3%, so our annual payments are 360,000,000,000. As this grows, our abililty to maintain AAA bond ratings will decline. If we drop to AA, our interest rate will increase to around 5%. That means our new payment will be $500,000,000,000. If you don’t understand what that means, I bet you bought a house on an Arm, and it is in forclosure, and I would bet you voted Obama.
John
April 6th, 2010
8:23 pm
Well, Cynthia how about all those fans, mostly black, who cheered for Michael Vick when he scored a TD for Philly against Atlanta this past season? How about the blacks who celebrate thuggery and constant use of the N-word? What’s the difference?
Comrade Obama
April 6th, 2010
8:25 pm
Ha! How about conservativeS criticize dull Granny has-been editor of has-been paper in a has-been industry?
boots
April 6th, 2010
8:26 pm
Cynthia, I saw you recently. Here is some free advice: you need to start taking the stairs.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
April 6th, 2010
8:27 pm
Well, I’m all for being civil and all. It ain’t the libruls fault if they sleep with their sister and pee on the Cross and go around trying to blow up things. I mean, you got to understand people if you’re going to get along.
So there. Don’t blame the fussing and fighting between Conservatives and the godless libruls on me. I aim to be peaceable to everybody. Only, if somebody crosses me, I carry my anti-tank weapon and the two machine guns I use for hunting and self-defense, and I ain’t afraid to use my 2nd Amendment Rights.
Have a good night everybody and be kind of a librul prevert if you meet one.
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
8:27 pm
Keep up. I know we already paid. And you can bet your @ss that if he was given tax credits to purchase health insurance, he would not use the money to actually BUY health insurance. And we would STILL pay.
My point is, as we continue to run up debt, and if the IMF downgrades our bonds, not only will we not have money to pay for him, we won’t have money to do a lot of things we do today. I was very happy with how the election went in that kids were involved. I was very happy that we had a peaceful transition from GW to Obama, it just showed how respected our constitution is. I thought that was very healthy. However, sometimes you get what you asked for. Personally, I am not too concerned for myself. I know what is coming, and I am preparing.
Captain Chaos
April 6th, 2010
8:30 pm
“I have another question. 3 guys broke into a house today to rob, maybe rape and kill. Shots were fired, one of the burgulars was shot and later showed up at Grady. Should I pay his insurance? Does that really seem right to anyone?”
Do you actually think we aren’t paying for his medical care already? Free care at the ER or free care in jail, we’re still having to pay for it. It’s just cheaper to pay for it up front with insurance.
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
8:31 pm
John, I cheered Vick. I loved him as our QB, it was fun to watch. The guy paid a mighty steep price so being a complete idiot, I was glad for him. That said, I completely agree and understand why he will never be a QB in Atlanta again. We have moved on.
Keep up the good fight!
April 6th, 2010
8:32 pm
Charlie….your premise presumes no difference between not purchasing a policy contrary to a law that specifically provides there is no penalty and fraudulently and falsely claiming a tax credit for purchasing health insurance that was not purchased. Fraudulent claims can be prosecuted. Now surely if you understand so much about the debt, you must understand this basic point.
Captain Chaos
April 6th, 2010
8:32 pm
And a healthcare tax credit voucher would be a way to insure people paid for insurance rather than Hos.
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
8:36 pm
Captian, Do you actually think the guy who broke into the house will take his tax credits and shop around to purchase the best policy? Hahahaha. What will happen, people will take their tax credits for insurance, and spend it elsewhere? When he does end up it Grady, we will STILL pay for it.
Don’t you morons understand? This has NOTHING to do with health insurance, it is just more free money to the irresponsibile, while screwing up our health care.
All I'm Saying Is...
April 6th, 2010
8:37 pm
Yes, lets disagree but we don’t have to be nasty about it. Well done Senator Coburn! That’s proper leadership America and the great state of Oklahoma deserves!
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
8:39 pm
Keep, I am not saying people are going to commit fraud, they very much would qualify under the law, but if you give cash, vouchers, or whatever you have of value to someone who does not use it for the intended purpose, what then?
The Cynical White Boy
April 6th, 2010
8:39 pm
Nobody needs to tell me that incivility is alive and well in this town. Just be white, male, middle age, dress in a suit, and walk a few blocks downtown in this town. I get ignored by other whites, polite smiles from some asians and some hispanics, and plenty of incivility from blacks – just for walking the sidewalk and minding my own business.
Discrimination is alive and well. Oops, can’t call it that when it happens to a white male.
LIBERAL=LOONEY
April 6th, 2010
8:39 pm
You are some piece of work Tucker! You must be tired carrying that big chip against conservatives and the “man” on your shoulder all the time!
NoBoma
April 6th, 2010
8:41 pm
Here ya go CT…..any comments on this?????http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100406/NEWS/100406041/Black+conservative+tea+party+backers+take+heat
Bunch
April 6th, 2010
8:41 pm
. . . and here come the sheep bleating in protest.
csquared
April 6th, 2010
8:53 pm
Mr Charlie, expert in economics, race relations, health insurance, etc. You’re wasting your energies on this blog when you should CLEARLY be in Washington advising the dullards how to proceed. We were going to send a Govt Jet for you but as you don’t want to take anything from the Govt., you’ll have to take the bus. We’ll reimburse you for the $57.50 when you get here.
Mr Charlie
April 6th, 2010
9:04 pm
CS squared, no expert, I read and just have common sense. Do you understand the National Debt and how it effects you? Do you care?
Drifter
April 6th, 2010
9:14 pm
The national debt is an important issue. Bush added to it and ignored it. Obama has added to it and has ignored it so far. If recent history is any indicator, the Democrats are more likely to address it than Republicans.
Ragnar Danneskjöld
April 6th, 2010
9:20 pm
Good evening all. I think Coburn is the best person in Congress, by almost every measure. I also think Fox News is the only place where you get the full story. I have no difficulty reconciling both beliefs and Mr. Coburn’s mild charge.
Coburn deplores demonization in the political process. Think that dates to when Kennedy slandered Bork, and Biden thereafter sandbagged Thomas. It grew thereafter, both sides, because it worked. I forgot, between Bork and Thomas, AlGore hit Michael Dukakis with the Willie Horton charge. Democrats, for years, accused republicans of wanting to take away seniors’s social security. I think I recall hearing similar demonization in the recent Atlanta mayoral race. I guess, now that I think about it, probably goes back to the Adams-Jefferson race of 1796.
I think it a fair analysis to allow that – among the contemporary media – only Fox criticizes any Pelosicrat. No serious analytical review of the leftist agenda is found in NYT, or anywhere on AP or Reuters, or on NBC-CBS-ABC-CNN et al. However, anyone with more than a passing acquaintance with Fox News knows that Sen. Coburn was talking about only one person, a former Atlanta radio personality, and his name is not Glenn Beck. (Our esteemed hostess is forgiven for her loopy “conspiracy” line, given that she has long acknowledged that she hasn’t the foggiest first-person idea of what she is talking about whenever she mentions Fox News.)
ctucker
April 6th, 2010
9:32 pm
Mr. Charlie, Your racist rant has nothing to do with the post. You’re done.