FOX's anti-Obama rhetoric pushed White House 'over the edge'

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | October 24, 2009 at 06:34 am

753 views | 42 Recommendations | 16 comments

Is any of the news coverage at present really "fair and balanced"? Or does the cable network industry and its round the clock coverage allow for partisan splintering and the ensuing biased coverage?

Insofar as the feud between the Obama White House and Fox News goes, Obama's advisors now admit that they were pushed over the edge with the network's constant misrepresentation of the issues.

Fox , they say, had an agenda in which they would stir up controversy about Obama appointees, get GOP members to comment, and then use these comments as further fuel and added media coverage.

In addition, some of the statements they would release about Obama programs and the progress and public opinion generated by these, were just blatantly false.

All of this has caused the White House to "toughen its stance" on critics of the President and his programs, aides said.

When appearing on Fox programs, they will do so as if debating the opposition, expecting to be misrepresented, and many believe this is a fair assessment. Cable television long ago made neutral news coverage a thing of the past, splitting networks into partisan coverage by partisan advocates. MSNBC is obviously pro-Obama, and it is natural enough for his aides to find it easier and more productive to be interviewed there. CNN and ABC are a bit more neutral, but with a slant toward the Democrats. Fox is obviously an alternative to this, leaning toward the GOP and libertarian views, and making no secret of it.

This is the natural progression that the cable television industry and the internet has given rise to. We are no longer in the pre-cable days of 3 or 4 neutral news stations, with news at 6 pm and 11 pm. In those days, there was no time for round the clock commentary and political analysts spouting OpEd prose. There was no room for the Rachel Maddows and Glenn Becks to split news television into warring camps.

This was obvious under the Bush administration, and now under Obama. Fox was obviously supportive of the Iraq war while msnbc was opposed to it. Same with the New York Times versus the Washington Post. Coverage is effected by partisan interests because it can now afford to be. There are now the necessary resources of round the clock air time, money, and splintered and partisan demographics.

It is natural for Fox to air its opposing views, and just as natural for the Obama administration to prefer MSNBC to Fox. No news is neutral in its commentary and political analysis, simple because these venues now have the money and airtime not to remain neutral.

The White House's feud with Fox News has caused an irresistible buzz in Washington, but many are wondering precisely what prompted President Obama and his advisers to go ballistic against the network.
Here's the answer: Team Obama was pushed over the brink by a growing list of what it considered outrageous anti-Obama conduct by Fox that showed no sign of stopping. Obama's advisers say that they seethed while Fox commentators used their shows to encourage protests against Obama's healthcare proposals last summer. Team Obama fumed as Fox personalities tried to pressure some controversial Obama advisers to resign. White House officials say that Fox has continued to stir the pot against Obama in a regular pattern—raising a criticism, having Republican congressional leaders comment on it, and then using those comments to keep the criticism alive.

A break point came when Fox tried to create the impression that angry anti-Obama protesters at congressional town hall meetings last summer signaled that Obama's healthcare proposals were dying, a story line that other news organization picked up. White House officials say this was untrue, that those proposals were not dying at all.

Another break point came when Fox commentator Chris Wallace called White House officials "crybabies." A senior Obama adviser tellsU.S. News that White House staffers developed "a growing realization" that the president would never get a fair shake from Fox.

White House insiders say that, at some point, White House officials will appear again on Fox, but they will do so expecting an antagonistic atmosphere, as if they were appearing on conservative talk radio. Asked what White House insiders hope to accomplish with the feud, the adviser says, "We are not spending much time here at the White House thinking about Fox" but are focusing instead on the president's agenda, including healthcare legislation, the economy, regulatory reform, Afghanistan, and Iran. "Fox is using this to promote themselves," the adviser says. "Our hope is simply that responsible journalists will not go chasing after Fox stories" as if these stories were legitimate.

And the Fox experience has toughened the White House's attitude about taking on other critics, such as the health insurance industry. "We are not going to allow people to misrepresent the president or his program," a White House spokesman warns. "We won't allow people to attack the president and his programs without making sure the president's voice is heard in the process."

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:51 on October 24th, 2009

This is one of the best analysis on this feud I have seen. Thank you for your neutral approach to it.

Personally I think if you feel you have obvious bias, you should confront it head on by doing interviews at that network. Chris Wallace, I think, would give anybody a fair shake.

By alienating FOX, the White House has just boosted the ratings of FOX.

While a lot of people follow like sheep or blindly follow one ideology or another, others have the ability to separate the pepper from the flys--t

Rory Cripps

at 07:12 on October 24th, 2009

It's all well and good that the Obama Administration feels this way about FOX News and talk radio. But all we're hearing from the Administration is broad and sweeping accusations about how biased Fox News is without any specific instances of bias. And even if FOX News is biased, so what? Does that mean it's okay for a Republican administration to go after MSNBC because MSNBC is biased? If that were to occur, there would be a hue and cry from Democrats and progressives--and rightly so. The Obama Administration can't take criticism and it has no tolerance for opposing viewpoints. And it's simply attempting to marginalize its critics because its critics shine light on its agenda. Obviously the Obama Administration feels that it's in its best interests to keep Americans in the dark regarding certain aspects of its agenda and only bring to light those aspects that it feels are politically expedient.

nanute

at 02:05 on October 25th, 2009

Here's a bit from the biased left winger Keith Olberman on Tucker Carlson:

I‘m a little tired of the sanctimonious, amnesic crap from people like Tucker Carlson. The previous White House planted questions in its own news conference, secretly paid conservative columnists, staged massage briefing sessions for radio hosts, sent out a list of questions they hoped I would use to discredit Joe Wilson, publicly attacked NBC, publicly attacked MSNBC, by the admission of the press secretary, just the other day, cut MSNBC out of access to administration officials, and its party leadership tried to blackmail NBC News into removing me from election coverage by threatening to boycott a presidential debate.

This White House finally called out a group of amoral political operatives posing as journalists. That was it. They didn‘t deny them credentials. They didn‘t try to silence them. They didn‘t take them off the air. They didn‘t try to take them off the air. They called them what they are, the media propaganda wing of the Republican party.

And I‘m a little tired of the false equivalency here. You go ask this White House if they‘re happy that I‘m insisting on the public option when they‘re not. You go ask this White House if they‘re happy that I‘m pushing for torture prosecutions and they‘re trying to soft pedal them.

Amy Judd

at 07:37 on October 24th, 2009

I can understand their frustration. As someone who has worked in various forms of media in a few countries there is nothing more frustrating when someone keeps spinning or twisting things - however, I'm just one person and the White House is an entire fleet of people, I think they should have handled it differently.

Susan Marie Kovalinsky

at 07:42 on October 24th, 2009

Yes, Amy, you are correct. As frustrating as it is, they ought to have been more diplomatic, as a group!

tikun

at 08:41 on October 24th, 2009

Freedom of the Press is in play here. It really doesn't matter who or what network challenges the White House view(s). It is an legitimate right to question any policy or anybody in the administration. Attempting to gag a network is Fascism and has no place in American life.

Hugh Askew

at 09:44 on October 24th, 2009

Obama may be under the allusion that being President somehow allows him privileges that other Americans don't enjoy.

He has obviously overplayed his hand. The other networks understand - as revealed yesterday - that allowing him to choose who he lets filter the news, could someday be used against them.

I'm guessing, just guessing mind you, that the other networks (MSNBC excluded) have had their opinion of Obama lowered by a fair degree, due to his heavy hand towards FOX.

dunkelberg

at 09:49 on October 24th, 2009

Sounds like much of the whining one heard from Boy George Bush about the New York TImes.

Rory Cripps

at 11:13 on October 24th, 2009

dunkleberg: They all whine to one degree or the other but isn't it obvious that the Obama Administration is whining much louder? I can't imagine that any administration takes delight in hearing its policies criticized. But what choice do they have? If an administration doesn't like the criticism then they should attack the message instead of the messenger and address specific criticisms instead of throwing out general statements about how unfair and biased a particular media outlet is. At best, Obama and his administration look a bit silly and defensive and their actions don't help to boost confidence in those other than die-hard supporters.

Susan Marie Kovalinsky

at 11:19 on October 24th, 2009

The whining does seem slightly louder. I imagine certain of his aides took the ball and ran with it......

Rory Cripps

at 16:34 on October 24th, 2009

Minchia and a double Jeez! Imagine that! Obama aides actually had a ball in their hands!

a211423

at 14:19 on October 24th, 2009

smk

You have presented here a fair appraisal, and I hope we can move forward. These squabbles take precious time and energy away from the real issues, and the administration has plenty of them at present.

Great reporting!

Susan Marie Kovalinsky

at 14:54 on October 24th, 2009

thank you, and I agree! :)

CottonMan (not verified)

at 15:00 on October 24th, 2009

To attack FOX or Drudge, by the president, only shows his desperate attempt to use Chicago style politics of destroying opposition. All the other media has bowed to Obama. To be critical of FOX & isolate them requires Obama to isolate the millions of viewers (Americans). Jean-Paul Marat popular journalist during the French Revolution did this with success & many lost their heads so we don't need it again. I strongly recommend everyone read a new, underground book just out (A Time To Stand by Oliver). I'm recommending it to everyone cause i'ts about a small town in Ameria who stands up to federal tyranny & ends up starting the 2nd American Revolution. It's great. Power to the People!! www.booksbyoliver.com

Susan Marie Kovalinsky

at 17:08 on October 24th, 2009

No, QH, I appreciate ALL input, and ALL views (unlike Obama, ha! ;) ) Especially yours ;)

CottonMan: I don't think the other networks have bowed to Obama at HIS direction: They would have been the same with Hilary or any Democrat who got in.

Rory Cripps

at 17:16 on October 24th, 2009

CottonMan (not verified):

Yes! It's bad enough when Americans have to kiss their boss's ass every minute of their working lives! But when they come home from work, and turn on the news, the last thing that they want to see are newscasters kissing the "man's" (any man's) ass! The American people are a hell of a lot more complex than many throughout the world would have them to be--and would like them to be. No doubt that Obama has led an extremely sheltered and privileged life (in spite of his dysfunctional and multi-racial up-bringing). It's obvious that he hasn't a clue as to what the American people are all about and what's in their hearts, their minds, and their soul. Pampered elitists, such as Obama, that would opt for living in a "white" community as opposed to a "black" community and send their children to private schools, are the main reason why so many Americans have absolutely no trust and faith in their government. Obama is essentially a rube and a provincial that, due to bizarre political circumstances and his ability to feign an empathetic appeal to the unsuspecting masses, happened to get elected. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Obama makes Jimmy Carter look like a political genius.