White House says it: Fox News not a legitimate news outlet
Running against the media has a long, rich history. Back in the ’30s and ’40s, Gene Talmadge would travel rural and small-town Georgia railing about “them lying Atlanta newspapers,” stirring the resentment of voters against those fancy-pants big-city folks always printing stories about corruption and other shenanigans. You see a variation of that still today, with candidates such as John Oxendine and Nathan Deal blaming the “liberal Atlanta media” for forcing them to take $120,000 in illegal campaign contributions or spout off about “ghetto grandmothers.”
At the national level, nobody played that game with more gusto than Richard Nixon and his attack dog of a vice president, Spiro Agnew, both of whom turned the media into punching bags. Agnew in particular became the mouthpiece for speechwriter William Safire, who penned such classic attack lines as “nattering nabobs of negativism.”
Traditionally, the tactic has been a favorite of conservatives, but with the advent of Fox News and talk radio, that has begun to change. Back in the ’90s, Hillary Clinton complained quite accurately about “a vast right-wing conspiracy” against her husband’s administration, and the Obama administration is taking that a step farther, publicly dismissing Fox News as a legitimate news outlet.
As White House communications director Anita Dunn told the New York Times:
“We’re going to treat them the way we would treat an opponent. As they are undertaking a war against Barack Obama and the White House, we don’t need to pretend that this is the way that legitimate news organizations behave.”
Dunn made similar charges in an appearance on CNN, claiming that “the reality of it is that Fox News often operates almost as either the research arm or the communications arm of the Republican Party.” The overall strategy, and the thinking behind it, is laid out in a http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1929058,00.html. After a series of overblown “controversies” such as the president’s decision to speak to schoolchildren, Obama officials decided a new approach was necessary:
“… rather than just giving reporters ammunition to “fact-check” Obama’s many critics, the White House decided it would become a player, issuing biting attacks on those pundits, politicians and outlets that make what the White House believes to be misleading or simply false claims, like the assertion that health-care reform would establish new “sex clinics” in schools. Obama, fresh from his vacation on Martha’s Vineyard, cheered on the effort, telling his aides he wanted to “call ‘em out.”
The take-no-prisoners turn has come as a surprise to some in the press, considering the largely favorable coverage that candidate Obama received last fall and given the President’s vows to lower the rhetorical temperature in Washington and not pay attention to cable hyperbole. Instead, the White House blog now issues regular denunciations of the Administration’s critics, including a recent post that announced “Fox lies” and suggested that the cable network was unpatriotic for criticizing Obama’s 2016 Olympics effort.
White House officials offer no apologies. “The best analogy is probably baseball,” says (White House press secretary Robert) Gibbs. “The only way to get somebody to stop crowding the plate is to throw a fastball at them. They move.”
Personally, I like the move by the Obama administration. It’s not going to change Fox’s behavior; to the contrary, Fox understands quite well that it benefits from being cast as Obama’s opponent. That’s its market niche, and it exploits it cleverly. Obama is merely acknowledging what everyone already knew, and adjusting his behavior accordingly.
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349 comments Add your comment
gatorman770
October 12th, 2009
12:32 pm
…..and both Mrs. Bush’s could have complained quite accurately about “a vast left-wing conspiracy” against their husband’s administration by ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, etc. and Ms. McCain and Sarah Palin husband could have complained about the same left-wing media bias!
Left wing management
October 12th, 2009
12:34 pm
R U Kidding, no bongs around here! Wish I could do that stuff and still get some work done, but alas …
Hef. I just disagree with you. I personally feel about the whole “liberal media” charge about the way you conservatives feel about global warming: it’s a hoax that has been fabricated for political/ideological reasons.
I also think that the way this controversy has been debated is highly misleading. It’s been discussed as a matter of whether journalists as individuals hold liberal views or not, as though it follows on that that those same individuals would be hopeless biased in their coverage on that basis, which is utter nonsense. The way this debate should play out is not what motivates journalists in their private lives or voting behavior but whether journalism as an institution is blinded by ideology. And of course, the answer to that is: Yes. It’s blinded by the ideology of the horse race. Donkey says this, elephant says that. Oh how interesting. (Imagine the two parties as football helmets crashing together as in the Monday Night Football intro.) Rather than this, journalism should reclaim its role as a thoroughly independent voice which from time to time is capable of knocking the heads of both parts from time to time (albeit not from some phony ‘middle’ position that simply goes back and forth between accepting the taking points put up there by the two arguing parties).
Ayn Rand Was Right
October 12th, 2009
12:38 pm
Danny X – any chance the crossword plays into those numbers?
Question – if Obama is the President, the Democrats hold majority in both the Senate and the House, the only conservative news agency has now been debased…why is everything still screwed up??? Use your power wisely young Jedi…
Hef
October 12th, 2009
12:38 pm
LWM-It would be nice to keep Bias out of media. As you said we just disagree,I can accept that.
Jon but not Jon Voight
October 12th, 2009
12:38 pm
Nothing is Free
Yes.
Paul A
October 12th, 2009
12:42 pm
Huh……… Jay, You’ve gone and lost your freakin’ mind.
Do you think MSNBC is a legitimate, unbiased news outlet? ROFL !!!!!!
Typical Obama propaganda. Don’t answer a tough question. Attack the person asking the question. Threaten the person asking the question. Pretend the question is bogus. Send the union goons to physically attack the person asking the question. If all else fails…. bite off somebody’s finger. That’ll show ‘em. Right Jay?
S.O.P. – Go for the personal attack, bring up the past administration and start name-calling when you can’t or won’t truthfully answer a question.
“How dare that SOB ask me that question?” “My answer is none of your business.” “Turn his mic off. Escort him out of the building.” “Where’s the Stalinist field manual?”
I know….. that darn Fox News and the ACORN scandal. Those ACORN people were just trying to help ‘ya know Jay. Like uhhhh, Help a pimp and whore operate a brothel and import teenage girls to work as sex slaves. Hmmmmmmm. That darn Fox News……. So many questions.
Yup…. FNC viewership averages double all the other cable news networks.
Think I’m wrong – Take it up with the folks who count who’s watching TV.
COURTESY OF NEILSEN:
Live + Same Day Cable News Daily Ratings for September 17, 2009
P2+ Total Day
FNC – 1,586,000 viewers
CNN – 590,000 viewers
MSNBC –454,000 viewers
CNBC – 197,000 viewers
HLN – 374,000 viewers
P2+ Prime Time
FNC – 3,238,000viewers
CNN— 1,054,000 viewers
MSNBC –1,123,000 viewers
CNBC – 259,000 viewers
HLN – 813,000viewers
25-54 Total Day
FNC –439,000 viewers
CNN –182,000 viewers
MSNBC –149,000 viewers
CNBC – 78,000 viewers
HLN- 177,000 viewers
25-54 Prime Time
FNC – 854,000 viewers
CNN – 267,000 viewers
MSNBC –331,000 viewers
CNBC – 140,000 viewers
HLN – 292,000 viewers
35-64 Total Day
FNC – 758,000 viewers
CNN – 270,000 viewers
MSNBC – 223,000 viewers
CNBC – 108,000 viewers
HLN – 213,000 viewers
35-64 Prime Time
FNC –1,444,000 viewers
CNN – 404,000 viewers
MSNBC –548,000 viewers
CNBC –137,000 viewers
HLN –416,000 viewers
Morning programs (6:00AM-9:00AM) P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
FOX & Friends- 1,083,000 viewers (415,000) (668,000)
American Morning- 461,000 viewers (169,000) (287,000)
Morning Joe- 369,000 viewers (147,000) (220,000)
Squawk Box- 157,000 viewers (71,000) (102,000)
Morning Express w/ Meade- 336,000 viewers (213,000) (228,000)
5PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Glenn Beck– 3,065,000 viewers (734,000) (1,369,000)
Situation Room—753,000 viewers (205,000) (271,000)
Hardball w/ Chris Matthews—650,000 viewers (156,000) (301,000)
Fast Money—210,000 viewers (55,000) (107,000)
Prime News–256,000 viewers (117,000) (144,000)
6PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Special Report with Bret Baier– 2,775,000 viewers (724,000) (1,297,000)
Situation Room—554,000 viewers (145,000) (203,000)
Ed Show—689,000 viewers (191,000) (337,000)
Mad Money —175,000 viewers (60,000) (99,000)
Prime News — 361,000 viewers (157,000) (191,000)
7PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The Fox Report w/ Shep –2,379,000 viewers (686,000) (1,148,000)
Lou Dobbs Tonight—631,000 viewers (212,000) (260,000)
Hardball w/ C. Matthews—747,000 viewers (219,000) (350,000)
Kudlow Report —124,000 viewers (56,000) (70,000)
Issues– 489,000 viewers (229,000) (278,000)
8PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The O’Reilly Factor– 3,913,000 viewers (1,026,000) (1,716,000)
Campbell Brown – 814,000 viewers (226,000) (298,000)
Countdown w/ K. Olbermann – 1,396,000 viewers (388,000) (680,000)
CNBC Reports– a scratch w/ 88,000 viewers (a scratch w/ 32,000) (a scratch w/ 45,000)
Nancy Grace – 1,056,000 viewers (376,000) (528,000)
9 PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Hannity –3,166,000 viewers (871,000) (1,443,000)
Larry King Live —1,337,000 viewers (309,000) (490,000)
Rachel Maddow Show —1,229,000 viewers (336,000) (607,000)
Marijuana Inc – 318,000 viewers (171,000) (155,000)
Issues- 721,000 viewers (229,000) (385,000)
10 PM P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
On The Record w/ Greta Van Susteren —2,633,000 viewers (664,000) (1,173,000)
Anderson Cooper 360 —1,011,000 viewers (266,000) (424,000)
Countdown w/ K. Olbermann – 744,000 viewers (269,000) (355,000)
Big Mac: Inside McDonalds – 372,000 viewers (216,000) (213,000)
Nancy Grace –697,000 viewers (287,000) (358,000)
11 PM P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The O’Reilly Factor —1,961,000 viewers (638,000) (1,039,000)
Anderson Cooper 360 —552,000 viewers (179,000) (279,000)
Rachel Maddow Show —535,000 viewers (169,000) (244,000)
Mad Money – 142,000 viewers (85,000) (94,000)
Showbiz Tonight– 517,000 viewers (259,000) (305,000)
-
For other days cable news ratings click here.
P2+ = viewers over the age of 2
(25-54) = Adults 25-54 viewing
(35-64) = Adults 35-64 viewing
Prime Time = 8-11pm
LIVE+SD: The number that watched a program either while it was broadcast OR watched via DVR on the same day [through 3AM the next day] the program was broadcast. For more information see Numbers 101.
Scratch = when a show’s audience fails to meet minimum Nielsen reporting levels. For more information go here.
Nielsen Cable Network Coverage Estimates (as of September, 2009)
CNN/HLN: 98.63 million HHs
CNBC: 97.13 million HHs
FNC: 94.82 million HHs
MSNBC: 93.00 million HHs
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
You Libs and Lefties can cry, scream, kick, throw sand, complain, whine or whatever… I hope you blow up your TVs.
There ain’t near as many of you as ya’all seem to think.
You are getting your butts kicked everyday on TV. Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!
MSNBC is bankrupt. Why? Because nobody is watching that crap!
If the Dems and Libs had something the American people wanted to hear, they would tune in and the numbers would reflect it. Surprise……. The vast majority of americans don’t want to hear about your “progressive” agenda. The american people voted for Obozo because he WASN’T George Bush. Get over it crybabies. You are losing. You lose more everyday. By next year most of your majorities will be history. You pushed way too hard and it’s already backfiring BIGTIME!
What are you gonna do?????? Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!!!
Sing with me …. Mmm, mmm, mmm I’ll be a one-term president.
Chicago, Chicago……… I’ll be home soon.
Barry
October 12th, 2009
12:46 pm
Enter your comments here
Tell the White house to bring it on. We say the same thing about them.
Mark
October 12th, 2009
12:46 pm
Saying you think a media outlet is “Less than an honest broker”, hardly sounds at all like what Ms. Dunn said. “Treat them like an opponent” who is at “war” with them. Also, censorship is a legal term. Muzzle is not and the two are not the same thing. I’m an Obama voter and supporter. I’m just pointing out something I think people who are stongly opinionated often do; their opinions are not critically based on analysis, but emotion based on likes vs. dislikes. Even smart people like you and Mr. Bookman do this. If the President is succesful in this “war” what do we end up with. A press too scared to be critical, wondering if it will be the next “enemy”? Only a press that feels “a tingle up the leg”? A muzzled press? This has long-standing implications about executive power and the power of the press. Maybe it’s good, maybe not. But somebody needs to talk about it and not deny it because they don’t like Fox.
Hef
October 12th, 2009
12:47 pm
DannyX-Again My question is still the same as this am-if the numbers you state are correct(and i have no reason to doubt it), then why is the left & the WH so worked up over little ol FOX?
Nothing Is Free
October 12th, 2009
12:48 pm
Danny X
**What do you all think of that evil NY Times website! Wow, they are truly kicking FoxNews.com butt**
Wow. All 12 people on the NYT Website beats the 11 people that are viewing the FOX website.
DannyX
October 12th, 2009
12:51 pm
Ayn, I thought about that but then thought nah, that couldn’t be the reason because liberal CNN.com doesn’t have a daily crossword on their website and CNN.com beat out the NY Times.com, and CNN.com clobbers FoxNews.com.
Also FoxNews.com does have the funny section. They post copies of Bill OReilly’s column and some of the others on FoxNews.com.
Rita
October 12th, 2009
12:55 pm
FOX may “dominate” cable news shows, but the draw they have from general viewership is weak. The average FOX News viewer is 67 years old, about the same average age demo as talk radio, and these aren’t exactly stellar ratings: The O’Reilly Factor (2.6 million households), Sean Hannity (2.1 million), Glenn Beck (2.2 million), Greta Van Susteren (1.8 million). According to the Nielson’s cabel TV ratings last week, Sponge Bob got higher ratings that Bill O’Reilly. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/10/06/cable-ratings
Scott Meekins
October 12th, 2009
12:56 pm
Well it does appear that Jay Bookman has lost his objectivity. So the question is: Is Jay a journalist or is a just stating an opinion, like Beck? Jay, can you demonstrate integrity or just be another whining bad sport. Jay, hello Jay, are you OK? Does freedom of speech frighten you? At least your “opinions” invite comments unlike some of the other AJC’s “it’s got to be my way or else” contributors (we all know who she is). Jay – One of our nation’s founding principles is “freedom of speech”. Apparently you are too weak within your own convictions to respect the opinions of others. The day the AJC ceases to exist can’t be soon enough.
DannyX
October 12th, 2009
12:58 pm
Of course what you say is all pretend Nothing is Free!
Nobody is using the Internet! Its just a bunch of tubes. CNN, the 18th ranked website in the country is attracting 12 people a day!
Hey! Lets pretend!
Marc
October 12th, 2009
1:00 pm
Left wing management why don’t you apply these standards to rest of the media and she how “fair and balanced” they are!
Brad Steel again you prove that you post on what is your jaded opinion versus hard facts.
Reclusive sisters Barbara Cox Anthony, 81, and Anne Cox Chambers, 85, once again topped the Forbes list of the world’s richest media moguls, with a net worth of $12.5 billion–each.
The Cox sisters own 98% of Cox Enterprises, an Atlanta-based media company founded by their father in 1957 that owns 17 daily newspapers, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution; 15 TV and 81 radio stations; and Cox Communications, the nation’s third-largest cable TV company.
That’s from http://www.encyclopedia.com
Per Forbes the cox sisters are 11th on the Forbes 400 richest Americans
With sister Anne Cox Chambers, two siblings who inherited newspaper fortune started by father James M. Cox (d. 1957). Cox Enterprises today: 18 daily newspapers (including flagship Atlanta Constitution), cable systems (6 million subscribers), radio and television stations; also Manheim car auctions. Sisters maintain control, but company run by Barbara’s son, James Kennedy.
1995: Cox Enterprises’ Cox Communications unit acquires Times Mirror Cable Television, increasing the number of cable subscribers from 1.9 million to 3.2 million. Privately held Cox Enterprises is 98%-owned by the Cox sisters, but has been run by Barbara Cox Anthony’s son Jim Kennedy since 1988. Cox Communications goes public, with the Cox sisters retaining 65% ownership. The division forms joint venture with Sprint, TCI and Comcast and wins licenses to deliver wireless communications in 31 major metro areas.
1999: Cox Communications signs agreements to acquire a total of 2.2 million cable subscribers from Gannett, AT&T, TCA Cable, and Media General, boosting total customers to nearly 6 million in 18 states.
2001: Cox Communications said to have the inside track for AT&T Broadband, AT&T’s cable business. Firm registers 250,000 digital telephone customers, 500,000 high-speed Internet customers and 850,000 digital cable customers.
So do some research before you put your foot in your mouth.
But if you did that you wouldn’t be a liberal just look at Cynthia Tucker and Jay Bookman.
Paul
October 12th, 2009
1:02 pm
Amazing how the White House wants engagement, dialogue and understanding regardless of past events when it comes to America’s foreign enemies, but when it comes to an American news outlet, they want to “go to war.”
Simply amazing.
I’m fine with the White House becoming a player, but so far what I’ve seen of “issuing biting attacks” pretty much avoids challenging misrepresentations and attempts to lump an entire network into something to be labeled and ridiculed – thereby avoiding responding to critical questions.
Amazing how the Obama White House sounds like the Bush Administration. “The Media” is at war against us. They lie. If they criticize, they’re unpatriotic.
Of course they don’t want to distinguish between the hard news shows and the political entertainment shows. It weakens their case. Listen to the entertainers – they’re quite open in saying Hannity’s a Reagan Republican, Beck’s a libertarian… which is more open than entertainers on other networks admit. Poll results sink and the tactic is to disparage the messenger? Stick to the facts – differentiate between a lie and an opinion – stop ridiculing rather than reasoning, and the White House might have a bit more credibility.
Then again, CNN fact-checks a Saturday Night Live skit critical of the President… and the President loves to talk to them… but that’s just part of being objective….
Like I said, the Obama Administration should call out the inaccuracies. Make their case. Engage and debate, don’t’ stand back, boycott and ridicule.
And stop creating bogeymen.
Drifter
October 12th, 2009
1:07 pm
I’m not a Republican, but I suppose they ought to have a news agency on their side. The Democrats have had ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN for years.
NaplesFL
October 12th, 2009
1:10 pm
It is so interesting that Obama has the three networks, CNN, and MSNBC which support him with any questions asked. Therefore, it’s obvious that they are his partners and he is going to reward them with interviews as he had been doing.
Jay, it also interesting that as the AJC contains to decline you and the other reporters contain to be so liberal. Do you ever think about how many AJC jobs have been lost because of this continual liberal position in a conservative state? I can only assume not.
Paul A
October 12th, 2009
1:12 pm
I went back and read a few entries here today.
I need to get away from the FNC thing for just a minute and ask a serious question of our esteemed moderator.
Mr. Bookman,
#1 – Do you believe Comedy Central should be considered a “legitimate news outlet”?
#2 – How about Mr. Stewart? What are his credentials? Just because he has an opinion, does that make it newsworthy?
#3 – Please give us your thoughts on whether or not this is journalism.
When millions of wacky, moonbat liberals get their news from Comedy Central should we be concerned about the direction of our country?
Seriously Jay – Instead of just constantly bashing Fox, I think you owe us an answer to this.
PS,
Don’t forget Bill Maher…… He’s swiss after all.
Jack
October 12th, 2009
1:14 pm
Obama’s best move would be to accept Fox’s invitation to appear as a guest: like bearding the lion in his den.
Gawingnut
October 12th, 2009
1:16 pm
AmVet
October 12th, 2009
10:51 am
“Notwithstanding it’s supposed porn-like popularity, it is a given that virtually NOBODY save the far right wing ideologues even deem it worthy of obtaining reliable information.
Ollie the Unindicted Criminal has a program on that network?”
FYI: Ollie was indicted, and convicted. The Lefts famous calvalry (the ACLU) rode into town, and had his conviction overturned, when they proved that Ollie was compelled to testify against himself (a fifth Amendment violation).
I’m sure that Keith and Charlie and Katie were real clear on that issue when they explained it to you.
Hef
October 12th, 2009
1:19 pm
Paul@1:02-”engage & debate,don’t stand back,boycott & ridicule” DING,DING,DING,DING you are correct sir!!!!! But I regress that would be logical & intellgent.
Beowulf
October 12th, 2009
1:21 pm
Anybody else find it interesting that liberals have much higher numbers on Internet sites and blogs, while conservatives dominate the talk radio industry? I don’t think it is just coincidence, I think it comes down to fundamental differences in how their brains work. This could denigrate to ugly nonsense, but I am trying to make you think objectively. Talk radio has a combination of monologues and call-ins to either agree with or blast the host. The blogosphere is similar, with the blogger contributing an op-ed of sorts, and then people leaving comments on both sides. Now before one of you wise-butt liberals says something about conservatives not being able to read (haha) keep in mind that we are on such a blog right now and I see plenty of inane nonsense on both sides. I have a feeling it there is a physiological difference that biases the preference toward either auditory or visual interaction, that’s all.
alohagator
October 12th, 2009
1:24 pm
Marc,
Your google posting is inaccurate. I don’t know where you got it but it’s a big part of today’s problems.
First, Mrs. Anthony passed away 1-2 years ago.
Second, Cox is a family owned business. Is there something you don’t like about that?
Third, Yes – The family has a lot of money but they also do a large amount of good in the communities they serve. For instance, when Katrina devastated New Orleans, Cox was one of the first large companies to have boots on the ground. They didn’t just save their equipment and stuff, they saved their people first. The company gave money, time, resources and above all SUPPORT when people needed it most. Most companies just leave their folks to hang in the wind when something bad happens.
Before you go beating up on the Cox family you should get your facts straight.
Could things be more balanced? Yes.
Do I wish I was as wealthy as them? Yes.
Would I want the responsibility of 80,000 people, their families and all that goes with that? No.
Lighten up dude.
Jon but not Jon Voight
October 12th, 2009
1:25 pm
How could anyone consider a cable network that runs only right wing opinion shows not to have an agenda? Let’s see – during the day they invite all the liberals to watch the newscasts. Then, starting at 5 PM it’s right wing only. Sure – that’s the key to successful TV programming.
Lynnie Gal
October 12th, 2009
1:29 pm
Anyone who has any sense at all already knows that FOX isn’t a legitimate news organization. Just look at them any time of day–I’m glad Obama is calling them out. It’s time to tell the truth about FOX and stop dancing around the facts.
Call it Like It Is
October 12th, 2009
1:34 pm
Fox is the only one that reports the truth!
No sucking up to Barry and the liberals.
Enough Said!
Paul
October 12th, 2009
1:37 pm
Lynnie Gal
What are your reasons for applying that to the evening shows – either Report with Shepard Smith or Special Report with Bret Baier?
electrician
October 12th, 2009
1:38 pm
alohagator@ 1:24..thanks for making that point for me..I have been employed by a cox entity for 23 years and can assure you that all of us have been well treated. a good example of a family biz that succeeded by being responsible in its dealings
Audrey in Georgia
October 12th, 2009
1:42 pm
Fox news media believe there is no hope in America as long as President Obama is presiding and therefore, report their news to reflect that attitude. I totally agree with the President and the Whitehouse for the position they have taken against Fox news. I wish Shepard Smith would leave
them.
Paul
October 12th, 2009
1:44 pm
Audrey in Georgia
Specifics from Smith’s reporting that there is no hope for America as long as Obama is President?
Master_Of_Irony
October 12th, 2009
1:47 pm
IRONY DEFINED: Jay Bookman accuses Fox of exactly what Bookman & the AJC have been doing for decades…shameless, shallow, partisan bias disguised as journalism. Classic.
Dusty
October 12th, 2009
1:54 pm
OK BOOKMAN, the old moderator is after conservatives again. This will soon be approaching the eighteeneth recent time for me. Thanks a lot!!
Mr. Snarky
October 12th, 2009
2:00 pm
’bout time they woke up and smelled the coffee. Fox “News” is an empty shell of a “news” organization…they just spew the latest hate and make good money doing it.
Dusty
October 12th, 2009
2:03 pm
I want my 1:52 RELASED/ Where is Eric Holder? Where is Sotomyora? I’m bringing my case to the freedom of speech people, whomever they might be!!! Yep…la la la la…..let my ‘pinions go!!!! Ahhh… I refuse to redo my 1:52!!!
Paul
October 12th, 2009
2:05 pm
Two posters – 1:29 & 1:42 – making broad assertions, asked to give examples, remain silent.
Why is it so many on the liberal side are so good at using specifics and data to dispel some of the cherished beliefs of conservatives (such as deficit, spending, and size of government data to show Pres Reagan wasn’t really a conservative) yet when it comes to applying the same standards to their cherished beliefs (Fox News evening shows “not a legitimate news organization’ or they ‘believe there is no hope for America (under) President Obama” – they avoid any engagement?
Dusty
October 12th, 2009
2:08 pm
Where is BOOKMAN? Out eating lunch with his band of jackels while repudiating his brothers in journalism? Fox News that is!! I want my 1:52 released before sundown! (or it’s the OK Corral, buddy!)
Marc
October 12th, 2009
2:12 pm
alohagator there was no attack on the Cox family and please show me where my quotes are incorrect. The come from encyclopedia.como and Forbes.com. This was in response to Brad Steel statement of how the AJC was a basically a small time operation while Fox news was owned by Murdoch.
Dusty
October 12th, 2009
2:16 pm
Paul, you got two non-answering lefties? I can’t even wake up Bookman. Maybe their minds don’t work too well on Columbus Day. The moderator is still working. I think that I am THE favorte deletee’!!! What an honor!!!
AlG
October 12th, 2009
2:18 pm
Is the AJC a legitimate newspaper?
Beowulf
October 12th, 2009
2:19 pm
Dusty – you are not the only one! I wrote one when I um…just congratulated the paper on choosing not to officially support candidates anymore. (apparently I had a bad key word in there before!)
David E. Connolly, Jr.
October 12th, 2009
2:20 pm
It is not enough for this administration to have most of the media drooling over Obama’s every word- they want complete control, like Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Putin assassinates reporters that don’t give him favorable grades, and now, it seems, Obama’s administration is aiming for the character assassination of Fox news. Pathetic, really, that the man’s insecurities preclude him from tolerating dissenting opinions. This wouldn’t be a democracy, if we didn’t allow the citizens, whatever their party affiliation, to speak their mind. Freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of congregation, freedom of the press- it all goes together.
Paul
October 12th, 2009
2:25 pm
Dusty?
So much for the free and open, reasonable debate thing, eh?
MHS
October 12th, 2009
2:25 pm
This is just another vast left-wing conspiracy. San Francisco news and values for all.
Dawg Fan 74
October 12th, 2009
2:28 pm
“Hillary Clinton complained quite accurately about a vast right-wing conspiracy against her husband’s administration.”
I guess you forgot that is the way Hillary dismissed the “Monica rumors” at the time.
Well it turned out that “Monica” was not a vast right-wing conspiracy. Her husband (Billy boy) was lying to the American people.
I like the way Jay conveniently forgot that part.
Yes. Yes, she did.
Elliot Garcia
October 12th, 2009
2:30 pm
Obama is afraid of Fox News because he cannot handle the truth….and they don’t use teleprompters!!
All Pol Parties are full of it
October 12th, 2009
2:39 pm
Jay, you are right, Fox does play the niche. As CNN, NYT, etc.. plays the opposite. You are complaining about the very situation that keeps your recycled headline column in business- putting opinion into the news. All news organizations lost their objectivity long ago- they faced the fact that objectivity doesn’t sell and aligned themselves with a side to sell ads, newspapers,etc… Your point that Fox has bias is true, but irrelevant and you expose your own hipocrasy by not pointing out the same for yourself or other news outlets.
George Washington was against political parties because of the mentality that you had to pick a side. the information providers have picked sides and while most of us actually sit in the middle somewhere we cannot get un-biased info (from Fox or anywhere else) and have to listen to daily headline regurgitation from you or else where.
I guess you should be commended as this blog is always very active, but at the end of the day it is no more meaningful than watching a wrestling match. Staged conflict for the entertainment of the masses.
SFH
October 12th, 2009
2:40 pm
The AJC not a legitimate news outlet. But I think the numbers prove that…
Turd Ferguson
October 12th, 2009
2:40 pm
I see the Lib-Turds are still on this thread crying and wetting themselves. Listen up Lib-Turds…tonite your rubber underwear/panties will be in order as the “Obobo goin down in flames” nightmares will only continue…awww…to bad, so sad…
PS…*POOT*
Pandora
October 12th, 2009
2:41 pm
It’s about time people realize that Fox news channel is a fake!!! hahahahahahahaha! Their news is NOT credible.
DHD
October 12th, 2009
2:43 pm
Ha!! The WH is not a legitimate administration. It is the joke of the century.
Dusty
October 12th, 2009
2:43 pm
BOOKMAN is real busy on the next blog trying to act like he’s sensible and not opinionated!! The Nobel Piece of Poof Prize, no less. I want my 1:52 RELEASED ‘ cause it is innocent of any “bad stuff”. That’s right, Paul. . “Open and reasonable debate” is not practiced here or in the White House.
BEOWULF, you should know better than to pay a compliment to the AJC. They don’t appreciate “appreciation”.it seems. I guess they are accustomed to rejection.
Jimoma
October 12th, 2009
2:44 pm
Fox reports news other media doesnt. Like Acorn garbage which is how oslama got into office anyways. He wasn’t voted in legally or legit. No one can prove it is all. He has no experience and is arrogant and the ego the size of a horse. Cannot keep a campaign promise. And whoa ! wait til he starts the federal sales tax! Income taxes, federal taxes. Bailing out all these difference companies. What a mistake! Where will be my share of social security when I need it? What a screwed up country this is becoming. 2012 will be something else.
TooFunny
October 12th, 2009
2:46 pm
CNN is as liberal as they come. Has anyone seen Oberman on MSNBC? I guess they haven’t since they are watching Hannity. Oberman is unreal in his bias and so is Chris Matthews. A duck is a duck whether liberal or conservative. They will slant towards their audience. Is the Obama team upset because someone disagrees with them? Only if November 2010 were here to vote this congress out of office.
SFH
October 12th, 2009
2:48 pm
Jay you ignorant slut….
RGB
October 12th, 2009
2:49 pm
Fox is not legitimate? Did they refuse to show their birth certificate too?
Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm. Gotcha.
Rick Cole
October 12th, 2009
2:51 pm
Why would any person, especially a “journalist” trust any governmental certification of what press outlet is or isn’t legitimate. When looking those not to trust government should top the list. They are the most dangerous. Fox, The New York Times and even squeaky little Bookman can only make noise. The government has the guns. Be critical thinkers.
Andy in Blairsville
October 12th, 2009
2:51 pm
Can you imagine how excited the AJC would be if it saw its paper subscriptions up the same % as what FNC’s ratings were up this year?
Of course that won’t happen when you are a histrionically biased liberal rag in a conservative state.
I LUV FOX
October 12th, 2009
2:54 pm
I love it! I hope FOX continues it’s bias shilling for the extreme Right wing Repubs.
The GOP has lost big time in the last three major elections. The more FOX pushes, the more Dems win! They kept pushing “Ayres, Rev Wright & Fr Flager” and Obama won easily.
They Repubs look like baffoons pushing people like “Joe the Plummer” and Sarah Palin as though they are legitmate candidates. Now, even some Repubs have came out against the trinity (Limbaug, Hannity & Beck) as being extreme. The party is filled with tea baggers and birthers, and they cannot relate to most Americans.
Yep…..keep it up FOX! One more election will finish your fringe party!!!
Kevin
October 12th, 2009
2:55 pm
I know that facts are not what liberals can deal with BUT there are two aspects to Fox News. One is the newspeople like Brett Baier and the other aspect is commentators like Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly. But I guess it does not matter because according to the ratings, there is no hour from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm that any of the other “White House Approved” cable channels beat Fox News.
I am really tired of this White House thinking that any criticism is racist. BUT I guess if you have done nothing than I guess you get a little sensitive to any criticism.
Jones
October 12th, 2009
2:57 pm
Bookman isn’t legitimate.
Gary
October 12th, 2009
2:58 pm
Judging by the ratings, the fact that Van Jones resigned, Congress cutting off funding for Acorn, people taking part in the legislative process by showing up at town halls in droves, people actually discussing the violence in Chicago and the factors that cause it, and the fact that our dollar is about to be replaced as the reserve currency causing all sort of economic effects…..gives me the impression that Fox News is actually doing their job and are a legitimate news service because I don’t see CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, NBC, NYT, WaPo, or even the AJC calling out these issues until Fox News has beat them into the ground so much that you cannot do anything but take notice.
Sounds like sour grapes to me and an administration that has long ago lost its persuasive edge.
the Truth...
October 12th, 2009
3:01 pm
The Truth says that Time, Newsweek, AJC, ABC, CBS and NBC are all nothing but puppets of the Obama worship experience….Obama is a disgrace to the US….
Isn’t it amazing that with all those rag operations in his vest pocket he then goes after the only organization that has the guts and recognizes their responsibility to confront and examine the steamroller Obama conspiracy…
And you Bookman…..not worth the words to describe…
Gary
October 12th, 2009
3:02 pm
Kevin, not only are the 5pm-10pm shows beating their competitors, but the mid-day and afternoon shows are beating their rivals and out performing some of the top opinion-oriented shows on the other networks. When Fox and Friends regularly beats out Rachel Maddow, you know those networks have a problem. Even O’Reilly’s repeat at 11pm out performs Olberman’s regular broadcast show. CNN is a joke and cannot even keep up with MSNBC.
Shananeeeeee Fananeeeeeeeeee
October 12th, 2009
3:04 pm
Ha Ha, the White House is so full of it. They are just mad that Fox is not under their thumb like some of the other news outlets and Fox can expose the corruption. Legitimate or not, which it is, just look at the numbers White House. In every time slot they are absolutely crushing the competion by big margins. O’Reily, Beck, Hannity, all have huge ratings. I think another scary thing for the White House is O’Reily’s rerun at 11 Eastern has big time numbers. Beck is beating his 2nd in competion last time I looked, Beck- 2.5 million viewers, 2nd place- 660,000. I would be scared to if I was the Obama White House because in 9 short months they have exposed the truth and corruption that the other news sources can’t touch because they are not allowed. Fox is #1 by a long shot Obama and they are not going away, deal with it.
OPA
October 12th, 2009
3:04 pm
Swell article by Barack Bookman??
Yadro
October 12th, 2009
3:06 pm
The White House is not legitimate.
HDB
October 12th, 2009
3:06 pm
Fox News is only feeding raw meat to its lions…..and not relaying the truth to the people!! I watch as much of all of the media as I can….CNN/MSNBC/Fox/C-SPAN…et. al.. I’ve noticed that Fox won’t attack pinheads like Michele Bachmann, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Rush, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly….and their ilk for their ludicrous statements…..but constantly deride Keith Olbermann and Rachael Maddow for looking into issues that show the true face of conservatism. When I need to know te truth, I research MULTIPLE sources…and compare the viewpoints. IMHO, the most evenly balanced outlet is C-SPAN, followed by CNN and MSNBC! Fox is SO SLANTED, that the preponderance of their broadcasts, IMO, are viewed as lies from the right!!
G19
October 12th, 2009
3:07 pm
In the 60’s and 70’s the old saying was “question authority” partly to imply that regardless of the administration and party in charge one should be very observant on somewhat leery of what was going on in DC. Also, one should always question what is happening, why it is taking place and if you thought it was a good thing or a bad thing. Now that many in my generation are questioning excessive taxes, take over of health care, overwhelming government spending, infringement of our constitutional rights and absolutely no control over our immigration policy we are considered right wing hate mongers. No, in my mind we are just questioning the authority by not rolling over, playing dead and letting the DC elite RULE OVER us. In our current time it is only ok to be a radical and question authority if you a left leaning socialist. If you are on the right, you are a hate monger.
One Big Ass Mistake America
October 12th, 2009
3:14 pm
I guess that must now make FOX News a racist organization. Because we all know if you don’t drink the Obama kool-aid you are a racist, plain and simple.
Rudy
October 12th, 2009
3:19 pm
obama is trash. He will be a one termer because he is full of nothing
but hot air. He is killing our country. I would’t take a crap in his
general direction!
Boots
October 12th, 2009
3:20 pm
One of the funniest punch lines I’ve ever heard is the line used by Fox: Fair and Balanced. Horse hockey!
Warren Peace
October 12th, 2009
3:21 pm
Maybe we could bring back the Sedition Acts so that anyone that dares to criticize the administration can be prosecuted.
When did Juan Williams and Mara Liasson become conservitive? I missed the memo.
richard
October 12th, 2009
3:21 pm
unreal article, Jeff. So much for an independant media or a journalism standing up for other journalist. We certainly don’t see any evidence of media biased towards Obama now, do we? I guess future Republican Presidents can just ban every other media source EXCEPT Fox, and you would say, “Well done!” I think you are just bummed because no one buys your crappy paper any longer, and Fox clearly smokes every other news source. Pathetic perspective you have.
dk
October 12th, 2009
3:24 pm
It really is not surprising, here is a guy who…
Could only vote “present”,
Can’t bring the Olympics here with his “rockstar” ego and entourage,
Can’t make a decision on how to support his appointed military officers,
Can raise unemployment, grow government and raise deficit quicker than anyone
And, has time to bash the integrity of freedom of speech!
Wow America…aren’t we sooooo proud of our Obamanation!!!
Michael
October 12th, 2009
3:27 pm
Let’s hold another presidential election next Tuesday, Obama/Biden vs. McCain/Palin. Then when you repukes lose again you can get on with your lives.
Tom
October 12th, 2009
3:29 pm
I am not surprised that a left wing liberal member of the left wing press would support the socialistic views of denouncing their opponents. After all, a President who lies to Congress and the American people over 20 times in one speech can hardly be expected to stand up to organizations that present the truth. If you and tyour left wing co-harts would prexent the facts instead of trying to make a God out of an Orator( so far he has done nothing but spend the taxpayers money) maybe Fox wouldn’t be the most watched news outlet.
Who Cares?
October 12th, 2009
3:31 pm
You know, I used to work for a corporation that was criminal in their behaviors and practices and they too disagreed when the truth was brought to the surface. Funny how things like that are unpopular with government and corporate leaders. Oh well, as one of our former executive VPs used to say, “perception is reality”. If you can fabricate it and promote it, people will believe it. We are truly becoming a society of idiots, thanks to OUR government and corporations.
allen981
October 12th, 2009
3:32 pm
In reality, a free and unbiased press has never existed in this country. Until Fox, every major, large newspaper or network was biased to the left. The AJC published Ralph McGill’s columns front page, every day. McGill was an great man, a true American hero for civil rights, but he was an extreme liberal as is the AJC until this day.
The New York Times, the Washington Post, the LA Times, USA Today, and hundreds more all allowed their bias to the left affect their news judgement.
Had Nixon been a Democrat, you’d never have heard about Watergate because the Post wouldn’t have spent the money and resouces to pursue it.
Sharica
October 12th, 2009
3:36 pm
I just require that all people to do their own research instead of listerning to any news outlet. Fox and MSNBC is ver biased so I tend to watch neither. I watch CNN because they are able to be partial with their news coverage. Fox and MSNBC caters to their suitors and if that the case then I don’t want to be part of that.
I wish people who respond to these blogs could just grow up, grow balls, and get over it already. Reading these blogs I have yet to read any type of facts to go along with their opinion. However, I do read a lot of Fox and MSNBC opinions. That is the real problem, American lack of knowlege of the issues. Too lazy to read the facts, so they have to listern to all the hate that is cast from these news stations. IGNORANCE!!! WILL ALWAYS COME TO MIND!!
allen981
October 12th, 2009
3:36 pm
One more thing: if the Obama administration turns its back on Fox, it is shutting out the largest, most popular news network in the world. Bad move.
We need balanced, sensible, thoughtful dialogue between the left and right; we need a sense of humor that allows us to disagree with dignifity. We need a sense of compassion that cares about the opinions of others. We need more direct communication – not just speaking in prearranged town halls (Palin and Obama, both take note.)
We need radio hosts who are polite, who respect different views, who can unite, not divide, regardless of their positions.
Mike Hunt
October 12th, 2009
3:37 pm
You are a freaking idiot. Like the Daily Kos and Huffington Post are real examples of journalistic integrity. Put on your brown shirt and suppress an opposing point of view.
Boots
October 12th, 2009
3:38 pm
When Rush refers to his followers as “Dittoheads”, he is being more than descriptive — it implies that they throw their minds out of gear and simple “ditto” or tacitly approve and accept what El Rushmo says.
And, this contagion of mindlessness has now spread to TV via the Fox Network with Hannity, O’Reilly, Beck, Coulter and Co. which results in a group on the fringe who don’t have a lot to offer, but can reiterate a list of talking points about what’s wrong and how to obstruct, distort and disrupt.
And, while this agenda may carry the deep south, it won’t stand a chance in the national arena.
Kelso
October 12th, 2009
3:41 pm
It seems most of the readers appreciate Fox News’ “letting you decide” approach. I think you are living in the wrong city and may want to condsider mioving to the left coast.
Whose House? Obama's House
October 12th, 2009
3:41 pm
AJC is not legitimate but it pass the good old boys test…So negative and a big news instigator. Always report nothing but trash…They will soon be doomed and the good ole boys know it.
Patton
October 12th, 2009
3:44 pm
Fox is a legitimate news outlet just like the AJC except I trust Fox more because they have not been brainwashed by liberals and report the news and not try to make up news. The media have created this myth of Obama he will never be able to live up to and the result is failure, failure, failure; however he did this to himself promising everybody everything. This is why I call him the JOKER.
Truth
October 12th, 2009
3:45 pm
Quick question. Why when it was time to consider the stimulus(pork) package did Obama say we cant waste a day, we must pass it immediately or the economy will fail. However when it comes to the men and women serving our country he still has not made up his mind wether to back them or not. Im pretty sure the General knows more about what we need to do in Afghanistan than a community organizer.
FOXSUX.COM
October 12th, 2009
3:46 pm
IF I WAS OBAMA I WOULDNT LET FOX INTERVIEW THE DUMP MY DOG TOOK YESTERDAY!!!
Truth
October 12th, 2009
3:47 pm
Why would someone want to interview dog poo?
woodie
October 12th, 2009
3:51 pm
I grew tired of the incessant whining on Fox ‘newscasts’ many years ago. I’m surprised they still exist. There are a lot of gullible people in this country. It reminds me so much of the propoganda machines in 3rd world countries or former Nazi Germany. It’s properly called Fascist Propoganda. Fox is very good at it.
Whose House? Obama's House
October 12th, 2009
3:52 pm
As well AJC is not legitimate. Try researching the good ole boys to see what’s next for the future of AJC? I guarantee you they are on the list! OOps! A new pot of coffe is brewin! Drink up White America!
DawgDad
October 12th, 2009
3:57 pm
Well, I watch Fox News and I read the AJC (newspapers have been ingrained into my way of life since pre-school, and I like the Sports page and puzzles). I’m not going to tell you Fox is always balanced or accurate, but compared to the AJC it’s like a high-wire walker vs. the village drunk.
Reading the AJC, as long as you skip over the AP-wire stories and columnists like Tucker, Bookman, and Downey you should remain fairly balanced and be able to lead a productive life. The ONLY time I read Mr. Bookman is when the headline indicates he’s attacking a constitutional freedom like free speech. So, Jay, until your next foray into denying our constitutional rights . . . so long!
Bad to the bone!
October 12th, 2009
4:00 pm
Surely Obama and his cronies have realized by now that there were millions who didn’t vote for him! Those people can read between the lines . . . matters not what news station they listen to. With Obama he is already sweating over the next presidential election . . .if not, he wouldn’t be so concerned what was being said. And, if he is the all “truthful” one . . what is he so worried about? He’s got the hispanic, gay, (cesspool) Hollywood clan, blacks and other liberals on his side. Get over it!
Mike D.
October 12th, 2009
4:01 pm
OK, so journalistic objectivity has gone out the window here, with the AJC agreeing there must have been a “Vast right wing conspiracy “against Bill Clinton….Did this conspiracy impeach him, or was that Congress. The fact that Obama’s adnministration will make time to call out Fox tells you that they will do anything to distract from their overwhelming lack of accomplishments
Seriously?
October 12th, 2009
4:03 pm
Good stuff! For the AJC to question another outlet’s legitimacy is beyond scope! Take on the open cheering and weeping on Election Day and on several subsequent WH press junkets. Is Fox always fair and balanced? Perhaps not–but at least they present the news and don’t ignore it if it might make The Dear Leader look bad. A couple of college kids did to ACORN, what the “media,” should have. Journalism is dead.
SatchelBuzz
October 12th, 2009
4:03 pm
FOX News truly represents what the majority of this country feel to be the truth. The AJC is a gnat on an elephants arse in terms of news worthy relevance.
Obama….one big **s mistake America.
MikeX
October 12th, 2009
4:04 pm
MR. Bookman, welcome to our world. As a supporter of convervative candidates in elections, I have always watched the usual suspects (CNN, NBC, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, etc..) spout the usual democrat talking points verbatim. It kind of cracks me up to see Democrats finally having to deal with something Republicans have had to deal with for decades, even if it’s only one channel. However, screaming like a stuck pig isn’t going to change it. Get over it Obama. Besides, your fellow travelers in the sympathetic press will only go so far to protect you.
Babs
October 12th, 2009
4:04 pm
Fox news is “Yellow Journalism.”They pee all over the news!
Henry D.
October 12th, 2009
4:04 pm
Why don’t you go with Furman Bisher? Your crap may be the most wasted space in print.
Craig
October 12th, 2009
4:09 pm
Let’s see, Hillary thinks everything against her and Bill are right wing activists. Gore will not debate his global warming proclamations and now the most transparent White House ever will not talk to the number one cable news outlet. Real simple folks, when the truth and their own words are thrown at them they run. They being the far left. Fox scares the crap out of them because they can not control Fox like they can the other networks and news agencies. Reference NBC and their news network MSNBC.