Fox News? vs. The White House

By East of Eden

Filed Under General, Media Clips and Issues on Oct 19 

Somewhere I’m sure there is a cold spot in hell right about now. The New York Times and Helen Thomas are on the record saying the White House’s fight with Fox News is a waste of time.

I have to agree with them and yes, I’m feeling strange about this.

Regarding this current playground spat that the White House, the Dear Leader and his people have with Fox, get over it! Apparently David Axelrod thinks that what Fox is broadcasting is not news, just points of view. So, I guess tingles running up your leg is news? Will someone tell me why, if Fox News, is not news but an arm of the GOP, does it have the highest ratings? I don’t know about your neighborhood, but the GOP is a four letter word and for good reason.

And here is another newsflash for the White House, some of Fox’s broadcasting is opinion, not news. The thing is people like Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly disclose that they are opinion guys, unlike Keith Olbermann, who only thinks he’s a news guy. Most intelligent people can tell the difference between news and opinion. Seems your people, Mr. President, are not those people.

In his victory speech Obama said, “I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.” This clearly is not happening. There are a lot of people who disagree with the President (I’m sure this is giving him kittens at night too). They have taken to the streets, blogged, tweeted, called their Congressmen and yet these people have been called racist, Astroturf and disingenuous for disagreeing with the President. When did the high patriotism of dissent of the Bush years become high treason on the Obama year?

I think we can look at things this way: Obama is not getting much done (see also Jack and Squat). His programs are not succeeding and his popularity is falling. Gotta blame someone I guess. It’s no surprise that he goes after Fox News who seems to be the most popular kid on the playground right now.

Comments

11 Comments

  1. Sartho on 19.10.2009 at 17:25 (Reply)

    So far, it’s my opinion that the worst thing Obama has done as president is surround himself with a circus of village idiots rather than truly smart and highly qualified people. There may be a few good ones lurking in there, but the main folks we’re seeing are less than impressive.

  2. Alaina on 19.10.2009 at 17:55 (Reply)

    Just out of curiosity, is this a strategy that any other Presidents have used while in office? Or is this unprecedented?

  3. East of Eden on 19.10.2009 at 21:17 (Reply)

    Nixon had an enemies list and it backfired spectacularly on him. He also blacklisted anyone from the WaPo…also backfired and made him look nuts.

    And the NYT and Helen Thomas are not the only ones calling for the WH to back down. Many past Clintonistas are warning the WH, this is going to be bad for Obama and Co.

    But the ironic thing is as a Candidate Obama admited Fox was critical of him, and that was ok, and that without healthy discourse the democracy would fail. So, he’s either done a spectacular flip and/or he’s getting really bad advice from his team.

  4. East of Eden on 19.10.2009 at 21:19 (Reply)

    Oh, and regarding Nixon and the WaPo, it only made them look more crediable and like Nixon had something to hide.

    It’s also very funny to me, that Anita Dunn is talking about smear campaigns when people like Van Jones were brought down with his own words and two clicks on Google. Do they expect us all not to do that?

  5. Alaina Segovia on 19.10.2009 at 23:36 (Reply)

    I can’t see how the White House could possibly think they could benefit by taking on any media organization. I was just curious if it had been done before… I couldn’t recall.

  6. Gary Russell on 20.10.2009 at 09:52 (Reply)

    Great post, EoE.

  7. Wewax, siwwy wabbits on 20.10.2009 at 15:35 (Reply)

    Yeah whatever. I’m not going to get worked up about Obama until he does something extreme, like try to shut down freedom of speech, or free press or something. Or maybe control the internet. Or maybe sign over U.S. sovereignty to the U.N. or something. Or bankrupt the country? HA! That’s crazy. Until then you guys can freak out and complain all you want, I’ve got things to do.

  8. kristen on 20.10.2009 at 17:56 (Reply)

    I guess Wewax doesn’t see the underlying issue here…..that stuff like this leads to stifling of freedom of speech. Maybe he should check out Obama’s communications czar; you know, the guy who thinks Chavez is pretty neat–esp how he controls the media in Venezuela.

    Anita at the WH needs to be “Van Jonesed”. (New word, meaning ‘ousted’.) To go around saying Fox is not a real news station and then tell graduating high school seniors that communist dictator Mao is someone to look up to–yeah, frightening.

    1. Sartho on 20.10.2009 at 18:22 (Reply)

      Weewax’s post was very tongue in cheek drizzled with a touch of sarcasm.

      1. kristen on 20.10.2009 at 20:12 (Reply)

        The last line didn’t gel with the rest; didn’t work for me. But, whateves.

  9. ClassicFilm on 26.10.2009 at 20:32 (Reply)

    :)
    Wewax, I got your sly joke… witty sarcasm is sometimes a bear to communicate effectively in a blog comments section.

    Kristen, loved your coined term “Van Jonesed”.

    East of Eden, great historical input on Nixon.

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