FLASHBACK: Fox News Supported Bush White House’s War Against NBC
FLASHBACK: Fox News Supported Bush White House’s War Against NBC
Recently, White House Communications Director Anita Dunn escalated the tensions between the Obama administration and Fox News when she publicly declared that the network is “opinion journalism masquerading as news” and “often operates as either the research arm or the communications arm of the Republican Party.” Fox has responded with surprise and contempt. “It is extraordinary that the White House would go and target a news channel,” said Fox and Friends’ Steve Doocy, comparing Obama to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
In a Special Report piece on the controversy, Fox correspondent James Rosen compared Obama to President Nixon. On his Fox show last night, Sean Hannity made a similar comparison, adding that he thought the media would freak out if a Republican White House did the same thing:
HANNITY: We have a White House that has now set up a Web site specifically to attack the FOX News Channel because we ask tough questions and they do not like that. They’re not used to that with the fawning news media.
So — I mean is this an enemies list? It seems like it to me. I can’t imagine a Republican doing this without, you know, a media outcry.
The website that Hannity is referring to is most likely the White House blog, which has mentioned Fox News twice, including one post that directed readers to Politifact for the truth about more “Fox lies.” Watch it:
Fox’s incredulous reaction to the White House is somewhat ironic, considering the supportive response of the network’s personalities last year when the Bush administration attacked the credibility of NBC News. In May 2008, then-White House counselor Ed Gillespie publicly sent a scathing letter to NBC News President Steve Capus, accusing them of deceptive editing and blurring the lines between “news” and “opinion.”
In fact, two Fox News contributors, filling in for Bill O’Reilly, suggested that the Bush White House should have considered freezing out NBC and MSNBC all together:
– INGRAHAM: Now Karl, why would the White House agree to do an interview with Richard Engel? I mean, this is the guy who, you know, really didn’t want to give the surge any credit and NBC, an organization, obviously that’s called this a civil war. Now it’s kind of not gone back and changed his view on that. We’re in a recession, etcetera, etcetera. I mean, why bother really at this point? [The O'Reilly Factor, 5/19/09]
– E.D. HILL: You know, I’m sure you know from watching this program that, you know, Bill has, you know, has been reporting for more than a year on a pattern suggesting that NBC News basically panders to the left and is, in essence, in the pocket for Barack Obama. Why go on a venue like that to begin with?
GILLESPIE: Go on a venue like MSNBC?
HILL: Yes.
GILLESPIE: I don’t know. It’s — you know, the – you know, there are elements there who are clearly advocates for a candidate or a point of view, not even commentaries or commentators really or analysts. So I don’t know why he would. [The O'Reilly Factor, 5/22/08]
Gillespie appeared to be supportive of freezing out NBC at the time. On his radio show, Glenn Beck asked Gillespie about Democrats “trying to blackball Fox,” adding, “You don’t see Republicans doing that to NBC, do you?” “No, and sometimes I question why,” replied Gillespie. “It is beyond me frankly.”
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And may I add that the Bush WH openly shunned unfriendly news agencies and gave unprecedented access to those agencies it considered friends !
October 15th, 2009 at 4:08 pmED Hill – The “terrorist fist JAB” ED Hill? …and Laura Ingraham?
I’ll take airhead Rethuglican talking point blondes for $2000, Alex.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:10 pmObama is to Nixon as
October 15th, 2009 at 4:10 pmFaux is to News
Good catch Matt! And their own words come back to haunt them…
October 15th, 2009 at 4:11 pmIDIOTS . .
‘Nuff . .
October 15th, 2009 at 4:12 pm“enemies list”, eh?
Like this?
Karl Rove, Bush’s chief political operative, is said to have begun the list while working on George W. Bush’s gubernatorial run in Texas and was dramatically expanded following the passage of the Patriot Act in 2001. Rove allegedly made use of the FBI’s “national security letters” to garner private information on perceived foes. The letters allow the FBI to intercept phone, financial, and internet records without the subjects knowledge, or judicial oversight. The letters are routinely sent to employers, banks, and other sources deemed likely to possess personal data. Those contacted are forbidden, on pain of prosecution, from informing individuals targeted.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:17 pmOT –
i just heard an AP radio news report that 50ish R congressmen have put forth a bill to have KEVIN JENNINGS fired…
here’s a google news page:
FRC Stands With 53 House Members; Calls on President to Remove Kevin Jennings
Reuters – ?14 minutes ago?
We urge President Obama to heed the growing calls from Congress and the American people that he immediately remove Kevin Jennings as ’safe schools’ czar. …
http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&cf=all&cf=all&ncl=dT7to_Iy81LR_zMg5Np7tSfAcQ_pM
October 15th, 2009 at 4:18 pmE.D. HILL: You know, I’m sure you know from watching this program that, you know, Bill has, you know…
V.D. Hill is, you know, like, you know, FOX News, you know, full of sh*t.
And no longer on FOX. How incompetent or screwed up does on have to be to get fired by FOX?
Frightening.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:22 pmKaty…
http://mediamatters.org/blog/200910020029
Let ‘em try it… idiots.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:23 pmNews Fox says:
I don’t think they do… why do you think that Ian Pearl’s insurance company has no obligation to provide him care?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:27 pmNews Fox says:
——————————————————————————–
Why do the “open minded” progressives hate the fact that both sides of the story be told?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Because the Bush administration is about as credible a source as The Weakly (Sub)Standard and/or NewsCrap , tool …….
October 15th, 2009 at 4:30 pmHere’s one side of the story concerning Jennings, News Fox… the truth.
Why won’t Fox report the truth?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:30 pmNews Fox says:
October 15th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
There are no “both sides” in news, f uckwit, only facts.
Anything else is opinion, and does not belong in NEWS.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:31 pmNews Fox says:
You’re off topic, lucifer.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Answer the question, coward.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:32 pmNews Fox says:
You’re off topic, lucifer.
I just want your side of the story…
October 15th, 2009 at 4:33 pmWhat ever happened to journalists trying to get to the TRUTH?
Presenting facts as ‘one side’ versus lies and progaganda as the ‘other side’ does not make for reasoned debate.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:33 pmHistorical reality also has a known liberal “bias.”
Deal with it regressive pukes.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:35 pmNews Fox says:
——————————————————————————–
Anything else is opinion, and does not belong in NEWS.
Coming from an olbyloon, that’s TDF!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Claims someone who uses a site with ZERO credibility like “OlbermannWatch” as his only source …….Good call , Forrest
October 15th, 2009 at 4:35 pmSo, Fox has corrected there ‘misleading’ stories in the light of the statement by Brewster… the teen at the center of the story?
I missed that…
October 15th, 2009 at 4:36 pmEric Boehlert over at MediaMatters wrote a great piece the other day:
Memo to the media: Fox News is now the Opposition Party
Fox News isn’t trying to inform people, it’s trying to misinform them. That’s not journalism. It’s propaganda. But as long as the press continues to hold up the façade of journalism, Fox News will try to hide behind it.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:36 pmbelaccifer lacca says:
I just want your side of the story…
October 15th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Fair and balanced! :-D
October 15th, 2009 at 4:37 pmCould we ALL just stop paying attention to Fox, including this blog? I understand why you do, but the people watching Fox now either know it’s a joke or they’re willfully ignorant. The ignorant side can’t be helped. Stop trying.
Just enough already. Let them be crazy alone.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:37 pmNews Fox says:
Anything else is opinion, and does not belong in NEWS.
Coming from an olbyloon, that’s TDF!
Uh-oh, is News Fox really our good “friend” Twajie?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:37 pmNews Fox says:
Link?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:38 pmNews Fox says:
Coming from an olbyloon, that’s TDF!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Hmmmmm, a hard-on for Olbermann AND too cowardly to respond to us by name.
Typical.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:38 pmSteve Doocy just made Anita Dunn’s case for her by comparing Obama to Hugo Chavez. Same with those comparing Obama to Nixon. Nixon, as you should recall, actually ordered burglary as a tool to go after his enemies. Is Fox suggesting that Obama has used burglary as well? Fox seems to fallen for the trap set by the Whitehouse. Now how dumb is that?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:39 pmNews Fox Jeffy Bovine Habib Rebecca Lobo Pomeroy Goofball Clown:
You’re an ugly racist who hates the 9/11 families and wants to murder our elected president.
What makes you think any sane person wants to hear what you have to say?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:40 pmNews Fox says:
——————————————————————————–
I missed that
Shocker!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Still believe Saddam/Iraq had something to with with 9/11/possessed WMD’s , FAUX Comedy Channel viewer ?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:40 pmNothing new here for anybody who is informed. Fake Noise is the Repug Broadcasting Network since it started.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:40 pmFox has reported on the statement that Brewster, the teen at the heart of the Jennings’s witch hunt, made?
Where is that reporting, News Fox?
I can’t find it anywhere… you knew that the Jennings’s nonsense was all Republican hot air thanks to Fox?
That’s great news.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:41 pmNews Fox says:
Why do the “open minded” progressives hate the fact that both sides of the story be told?
Stephen Colbert put it best during the days of the Bush administration: Fox does cover both sides, the president’s and the vice president’s side…Nowadays, they do cover multiple sides: the teabaggers, the tenthers, the deathers, etc.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:41 pmZooey says:
News Fox says:
Coming from an olbyloon, that’s TDF!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Hmmmmm, a hard-on for Olbermann AND too cowardly to respond to us by name.
Typical.
And the always clever “shocker!” What a crafty disguise it is.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:42 pmFake Noise appeals to dipshits in this country who can’t or won’t think for themselves.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:43 pmThese right-wingers are such thin-skinned, whiny crybabbies. They view any criticism of the things they do as an “attack” (even when what they are doing is actually attacking someone’s reputation, as opposed to the words that someone said.) They would even view this comment as an “attack.”
Why do we even bother to listen to them any more? Do they have anything useful (or accurate) to say? Anything?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:44 pmAs much as I hate to give Faux News any attention I do think it’s important to call them out as frauds and propagandists.
Even if it makes just one person look at their broadcasts with a little more scepticism it’s worth it.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:45 pmThis isn’t the first time that Republicans have advocated a war against NBC. In September of 2007, Republicans were openly boycotting MSNBC:
MSNBC: The Luckiest Network On Television
I wish they would keep it up. And I wish that Dems would stay the HELL off of Fox.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:46 pmObama = Chavez ?
Oh please. If that were true, Faux wouldn’t even exist today.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:46 pmI think Fake Noise should take most of the credit for the deep divide in politics, sane people do not watch Fake Noise for their information.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:47 pmHypocrisy, thy name is Fox News.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:59 pmWhat a typical GOP pansy coward News Fox is ; he’s hiding , but still down-rating everyone……..
You effeminate skid mark ……..
October 15th, 2009 at 5:03 pmI would point out yet again the same generalizations, accusations, and summations made in a context of their case for these statements have already been determined.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:08 pmThey assume the prejudices of their audience, and panelists to put forth arguments base on pure conjecture, and outright prejudices without making available how or what evidence would make their arguments anything other than propaganda.
I remember the day when we understood the public airways were for the benefit of all, not just 5 conglomerates with CEO’s, Directors that seem interchangeable with most of the richest corporation in the world. The have the public airways, and can’t stand not also having the Bully Pulpit of the Presidency.
When will Americans join me and other progressives in the rescue of American Democracy from these fascists.
Happy Thoughts,
Dan Grady
“You don’t see Republicans doing that to NBC, do you?”
As a point of fact, yes, we have seen Republicans and their pet network trying to marginalize NBC, MSNBC, and even GE. In fact, the only way I could conceive of someone saying such a stupid lie is that they don’t actually hear or understand the words that come out of their mouths.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:45 pmA flashback; E.D.Hill,I don,t why GOP NEWS let her go if legs were brains she would have a 180 IQ. Sean is right,Brit Hume,ask Dick Cheny the tough qustions,when he was drinking beer and went out and shot a guy in the face
October 15th, 2009 at 5:47 pmThe White House has no obligation to talk to any of the press, but they do. The press includes news organizations that do not support Obama. Fox is the only “news” organization to actively solicit people to protest the president and his policies. There is no reason for the White House to have any dialog with Fox since they are politically and actively working against Obama. Fox cannot expect the president to dignify Fox as an alleged “news” organization when they have become active partisans.
October 15th, 2009 at 6:01 pmWhen the known thugs, bullies and cheaters
try morphing themselves into underdogs,
it’s just pathetic.
Epic Crybabyism will get you nowhere, righties.
October 15th, 2009 at 6:12 pmExcept for “Meet the Press” where they can lead the discussion!
October 15th, 2009 at 6:35 pmNewsFux
Why do morons like YOU have a problem with the concept that LIES are not the other side of the argument? Fox went to court to PROTECT THEIR RIGHT TO LIE. They are spewing propaganda not the other side of the story. When reporting that the Earth is round do we REALLY need to bring on the Flat Earth society to give the other side of the argument? We all get that you WANT to be lied to. Noraml humans arent that enamored of being lied to
October 15th, 2009 at 8:01 pmI was lucky enough to see Robert Greenwald’s “Outfoxed” in 2004.I’ve been unable to view Fox News as anything other than an arm of the Republican party ever since. This is not a recent ideological shift in tactics. Roger Ailes and Rupert Murdoch invented opinion news.I’m surprised the White House position concerning Fox is at all controversial. WH is simply stating a fact.
October 16th, 2009 at 2:20 am.
Top 5 MainStream Media…
ABCNNBCBS&FOXPRAVDA
.
October 16th, 2009 at 3:12 am.
FOXPRAVDA is NOT a News Network…
October 16th, 2009 at 3:14 am… FOXPRAVDA is a Political Station!
Good job, pointing out the irony, TP! IMO, readers would be correct to associate ‘irony’, with other literary devices. Those would include simily, metaphor, trope, and hyperbole, and also these might be defined as, ” purposeful combinations of words, which must illicit some predictable and natural respone, exclusive of the given, semantic, content.”
All such devices refer to some degree of subjunctivity, and thus point away from the facts, so that the gross separation of media news, from media entertainment, may be import, for all media reform efforts!
October 18th, 2009 at 11:32 amThe problem is the media went insane over Bush vs. NBC. gögüs büyütme estetigi
October 21st, 2009 at 6:05 am