Explaining the job of a real journalist, Shep Smith mocks Hannity.
Explaining the job of a real journalist, Shep Smith mocks Hannity.
Last week, Fox News host Shepard Smith pressed Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher for suggesting that a vote for Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) would be a vote for the death of Israel. Obviously disgusted by the Republican-endorsed attack, Smith called the claims “frightening.” As a guest on Bill O’Reilly’s show last night, Smith explained that a real journalist “who holds truth dear” has to fight against the “dangerous” lies told during a campaign:
SMITH: And I think that some of this disinformation, some of the lies that show up on the Internet, are dangerous. And those of us who hold truth dear, it’s our job to set the record straight.
O’REILLY: OK, but you work for the FOX News Channel, which is the most unfair channel and is always trying to get the Republicans elected. So you can’t be doing this stuff. You can’t be challenging Joe the plumber and Ralph Nader. [...]
SMITH: That’s Sean Hannity’s job.
Watch it:
When O’Reilly tried to put himself in the same journalistic category as Smith and Brit Hume, Smith clearly didn’t buy it, joking that when he hears criticism of Fox News’ bias he replies, “Are you only watching that O’Reilly cat?”
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Some worthy news organization needs to give Shep a real job cause he has the right stuff. No pun intended or implied!
November 7th, 2008 at 11:14 amSean Hannity was a bartender before he went into broadcasting. Hardly a journalism pedigree. He is a hatemonger and water carrier for the GOP.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:17 amWhat an idiot. He’s going to pull a switch-a-roo without any sort of mea culpa and expect anyone other than Faux News viewers to buy it?
This recently declared Independent who thinks the tone in politics is toxic is the picture boy for disgusting lying smearing hit artist.
Just because Hannity is stealing his thunder doesn’t mean he gets to instantly create an alternative personality.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:17 amOh come on Shep, truth in journalism is sooooooooo last century!
November 7th, 2008 at 11:18 am(snark)
Seriously, I’m speechless.
Ok, not really.
This exchange is so poignant if you can’t hear O’Reilly’s tone:
I know he was trying to be snarky…but still, just to have those words come out of BillO’s mouth…
November 7th, 2008 at 11:18 amYes, journalists should tell the truth, especially when they know it. So TP, as progressive journalists, what are the implications of a Rahm Emanuel Chief of Staff in the Obama Presidency? This is all you’ve reported to date:
Rahm Emanuel accepts job as Obama’s chief of staff
According to MSNBC, a senior adviser to Barack Obama has confirmed that Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) has accepted the chief of staff position for Obama’s new administration.
TP made 30 posts since.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:19 am“He (Hannity) is a hatemonger and water carrier…”
You forgot tea bagger
November 7th, 2008 at 11:19 amTP: Please post some other videos of Shepherd Smith. We should dig in and see just how genuine his “commitment to holding truth dear” really is.
This exchange here is great…but is he a fairweather friend type journalist?
November 7th, 2008 at 11:20 amCan someone explain this apparent contradiction:
O’Reilly seems to think that the fact that he has liberals on his show demonstrates a de facto lack of bias.
Yet CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS all not only have conservatives as guests, they also have them as employees, hosts and reporters.
Isn’t that just a strong a demonstration of lack of bias at those places?
Or is Bildo judging like circumstances by dissimilar standards?
November 7th, 2008 at 11:25 amI get that Rupert Murdock’s empire is in trouble with big loses. I get that McCain loosing probably took some wind out of their sails.
But how do I reconcile the pre-election Faux with the post election Faux ?
Doesn’t that, in and of itself, raise questions about the depth of their journalistic investigation ?
November 7th, 2008 at 11:26 amI NEVER WATCH THOSE FOKKK SNOOZE VIDEO CLIPS……BUT I DID THIS TIME.
EXCUSE ME WHILE I GO TAKE A 1/2 HOUR SHOWER
November 7th, 2008 at 11:26 amShep took a shot at O’Reilly at the end of the clip. “Are you only watching the O’Reilly cat?”
Rupert Murdoch noted the drop in ad revenue and viewership stats. He wants to make money.
Shep wouldn’t have challenged Wurtzlebacher and made the comments he made to Billo without Roger Aisles approval.
Fox wants the flexibility to move and Shep is an early indicator of a possible direction.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:28 amTo hear billy tell it, he has never been wrong.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:30 amHe talks as if whatever he says, is just the way it is.
Bwaaahaaahaaaaa!!!
November 7th, 2008 at 11:32 amOReally and Insanity… (snicker)… journalistic.. (hic snort)int…(give me some air!)integrity????!!! Bwhahhahhhahhh!!!
WHERE’S MY ICED-T, MOTHER EFFER?
November 7th, 2008 at 11:35 amSean’s job is take the sh!t in his head and spew it into the empty heads of his audience.
After all anyone who would believe anything he says has no brains at all.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:36 amShep – When’s your contract up? Have you agent talk to MSNBC…
November 7th, 2008 at 11:37 amIt sounds like Shep’s conscience is getting to him. He is going to find himself out of a Fox job if he keeps telling the truth.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:39 amShep is being promoted by Fox with prime time on Bill O’Reilly’s show.
This is not a rogue reporter taking on his bosses. If they didn’t like what Smith was up to, they’d ditch him, even pull the plug.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:42 amMy sense is that Shep has always tried to report responsibly — not always easy, I’d imagine, in a place like Faux News — and that when he reports something from an angle that Faux News normally wouldn’t take, it stands out like a sore thumb.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:46 amStateofthedivision (you’re obvious goal here). Two things to say to you. First of all, explain to us why the Republicans are so upset about Rahm Emmanuel being selected as Chief of Staff? Secondly, Shep Smith, who first impressed me with his reporting following Hurricane Katrina, does not fit the usual mold of FOX Network. He’s much more likely to leave that sorry excuse for a news network, than Fox “wanting more flexibility” to move to the center. Fox is going to be left with the ilk of O’Reilly, Hannity, Barnes, Kristol, Doocy and Rove. And their loyal tv audience will be that slim minority of the far-right. It’s also possible Murdock (who is the ultimate opportunistic businessman) will try to move Fox to the left, but it’s way too late for that. Americans know precisely what Fox stands for, and any shift to the left will only be seen as what it would be – not genuine and done for profit motives only.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:48 amno bumper sticker
for shep!
*
November 7th, 2008 at 11:49 am#stateofthedivision Says:
Yes, journalists should tell the truth, especially when they know it. So TP, as progressive journalists, what are the implications of a Rahm Emanuel Chief of Staff in the Obama Presidency? This is all you’ve reported to date:
Rahm Emanuel accepts job as Obama’s chief of staff
Are you asking TP to sit in judgment of Obama’s pick. Perhaps they were allowing us to figure out what we think for ourselves. Would you like TP to become the opposite of Fox and become a left leaning propaganda site? Obviously you don’t approve of the Emanuel pick, and you had your chance to vent your feelings in the post you referenced.
Personally I am going to trust Obama to make the right decisions for his presidency and not criticize him until he does something to blow it. Doesn’t sound like you are willing to do the same.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:50 amI just heard on the Stephanie Miller show that the Freepers are calling for a boycott on Fox News because Carl Cameron exposed the frightening ignorance of Sarah Palin.
This seems to be a small first step toward becoming an actual news organization.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:51 amHey Smith, when did you plan to start doing this…..now? You’re a little late to help with the biggest lies told in the history of the world probably so I just don’t get your point.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:51 amAfter watching this interview (and Chris Wallace on the Daily Show a few nights back), it’s evident that Fox DOES have credible journalists…what a shame they’re overrun by right-wing buffoons (O’Reilly, Hannity, others) and GOP operatives (damn near everyone running the network)
November 7th, 2008 at 11:52 amO’REILLY: OK, but you work for the FOX News Channel, which is the most unfair channel and is always trying to get the Republicans elected.
“Unfair and balanced”…
November 7th, 2008 at 11:55 amRoger Aisles rules Fox News with a firm hand. Shep would be gone if they considered him rogue.
He may be pushing the narrative that Fox offers “fair and balanced news”.
Rupert Murdoch wants to make money. Look at NewsCorps last quarterly report. That can drive all kinds of change.
As for Repugnicants, I could care less what they think. I hope the door smacks them in the backside as they slink out of Washington D.C.
However, I don’t want CorporaDemocrats taking their place. Bayh, Baucus, Landrieu, and the spate of Azure Chupacabres (Blue Dogs) are no better than their Republican ilk.
Rahm looks like a CorporaDemocrat to me. He joined the House in 2002. In 2004 he got the plush appointment to House Ways & Means Committee, a platform for big money fundraising. Not many newbies in the House rise like that.
I voted for change, not more corporafornication.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:57 amstateofthedivision, Rahm started working for Senator Paul Simon of Illinois in 1984 and has moved his way up to eventually working for Bill Clinton in his campaign and White House before he ran for congress. He wasn’t a newbie congressman who bought his committee. Why don’t you look into his history before you start telling lies about him.
November 7th, 2008 at 12:06 pmstateofthedivision, you seem to be predicting failure….Don’t you think we are heading in the right direction for a change…..can’t we let this play out a little before we start calling it something intangible?
November 7th, 2008 at 12:17 pmAlso stateofthedivision, Rahm is known to be something of a pittbull. When somebody is known to be a nice guy as Obama is they need to hire a gatekeeper to keep people from taking advantage of their good nature. He hired the perfect guy.
November 7th, 2008 at 12:28 pmI didn’t say Emanuel bought his committee assignment. I said it’s unusual for a new Congressman, even one with Clinton White House experience, to end up on such a powerful committee so early in their term of service. I’m aware of Rahm’s history. That’s why I’m concerned.
After enjoying Obama’s melody filled campaign, Rahm is a loud scratch on the record. The needle could get back on track, producing beautiful music again. Will it leave a pop or cause the record to skip? Time will tell.
November 7th, 2008 at 12:29 pmAccording to this following site:
http://premierespeakers.com/sean_hannity/bio
Hannity donated $10,000,000 to Freedom Alliance from the 5 Freedom Concerts held last year (2007)! However reading Freedom Alliances Tax Form 990 for 2007, no amount in those numbers was ever received from Hannity!
Shouldn’t someone or anyone be asking Hannity on-air and live,what happened to the $10,000,000 you donated to Freedom Alliance? Going back to 2003 when Hannity started his so-called “Freedom Concerts,” there has been no record of Hannity donating even one penny from his much bally-hooed Freedom Concerts to Freedom Alliance!
Sean “SHOW ME THE MONEY!”
November 7th, 2008 at 12:37 pmRupert Murdoch is trying to steer his Fox News back away from the crazy Sarah Palin, “Joe the unlicensed plumber” crowd.
Rupert knows he can never buy an electable republican thug going that far right.
Rupert needs to buy electable republicans in order to eliminate conflict of interest issues.
Murdoch is a predatory control freak and he wants to buy more media outlets like the Boston Globe.
That’s why they are throwing Palin and “Joe” under the bus now.
It’s strictly a business decision.
(Also please do not suggest that Brit Hume is anything less than another Murdoch sockpuppet.)
November 7th, 2008 at 12:39 pmState of the Div.-
November 7th, 2008 at 12:41 pmI think that Rahm is a pitch perfect pick… the needle didn’t skip, the tempo just picked up…
So in other words, you’re a concern troll.
Ignoring the well-known reasons why he’s there, what he’s intended to do there, and sowing distrust for no actual reason. I’m not happy about the DLC ties, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to bother posting “hey guys, WHY AREN’T YOU CONCERNED?!!!!” because anyone with brains in their heads is going to be cynical already without the need for fictitious situations and concern trollery.
November 7th, 2008 at 12:43 pmHannity is a journalist? I thought he always denied that when confronted about his complete lack of objectivity. Isn’t he, like Limbaugh, an “entertainer”?
November 7th, 2008 at 1:21 pmFOX hides the fact that Palin believes Africa is a country till after the election according to their own admission , devotes countless hours to his association with terrorists and acorn tweaking or just leaving out facts in the process and calls him a socialist .No bias there .
November 7th, 2008 at 1:24 pmNow they trumpet from the rooftops the claim that because 1 news person questions any portion of the obvious propaganda from the neo cons , that they really are fair and balanced .
GARBAGE !
How about a little piece on Sarah speaking at a separatist gathering .
November 7th, 2008 at 1:26 pmHow about the background on Johnny’s connection to the Keating 5 scandal .
How about John McCain’s speech at an acorn event .
Got integrity ?
Silly me, I thought this was a progressive website!
http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/2008/11/first-religious-lefty-lambasts.html
November 7th, 2008 at 1:32 pmGreat link SOV .Thank you .
November 7th, 2008 at 1:45 pmAll I see there is a conservative blog posting a dem’s CLAIMS that someone not beholden to religious interests is also uninterested in enacting the plans Obama laid out in his blueprint.
So, in other words, concern trolling.
November 7th, 2008 at 2:12 pmContrast this with TP’s one sentence coverage:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/rahm-emanuel
November 7th, 2008 at 2:14 pmNausium ?
November 7th, 2008 at 2:15 pmMausium, most of my nearly 1,800 posts hammer Bush and his minions. A few blister CorporaDemocrats. But Bush has been notoriously quiet since Nov. 1, thus not much to comment on.
Looking solely at the last data point on a five year graph tells you what about the trend? Nothing.
I did learn you’re good at name calling though. You did it more than once.
November 7th, 2008 at 2:18 pmWhatever Shep is attempting to do, whether bring more ‘balance’ or just to stir things up, Faux will NEVER be a real news outlet when they hire someone like Beck and keep Hanitee-hee and the Blond Bimbo Brigade(TM) ranting ad nauseum.
November 7th, 2008 at 2:39 pmstateofthedivision Says:
Rahm looks like a CorporaDemocrat to me. He joined the House in 2002. In 2004 he got the plush appointment to House Ways & Means Committee, a platform for big money fundraising. Not many newbies in the House rise like that.
I voted for change, not more corporafornication.
So, in other words, you don’t trust Obama to pick the right people to work with. You want to the the sole judge and jury on that. Too bad for you that Obama is going to be our new President then.
November 7th, 2008 at 2:47 pmYou want to be the sole judge and jury.
No, I have an opinion. I thought it was more progressive. But since Rabbi Michael Lerner and I are concerned trolls, we’ll have to meet at a D.C. area residence and find a way to resurrect the progressive agenda!
November 7th, 2008 at 2:59 pmIt has been three days since the election… Emanuel hasn’t had time to pack for Washington D.C. yet, let alone dismantle Obama’s progressive agenda. How about you and the good Rabbi give Rahm a week on the job before you guys ‘resurrect the progressive agenda!’
November 7th, 2008 at 3:10 pmBTW- who did you want to see at Chief of Staff?
Someone like Robert Reich or Leon Panetta would send a better message to progressive America. However, they could still end up serving in an Obama cabinet.
November 7th, 2008 at 3:58 pmMurdoch is a predatory control freak and he wants to buy more media outlets like the Boston Globe.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:28 amI’m aware of Rahm’s history.
April 21st, 2009 at 5:17 pm