White House declares war on FOX News

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | October 12, 2009 at 10:15 am

1788 views | 78 Recommendations | 43 comments

Now that the White House has openly blasted FOX News Network, one wonders if they will up the ante in return.

FOX's claim to be "fair and balanced" has certainly proven to be untrue, but then, I do not hold that MSNBC is fair or balanced either, the network clearly having a liberal bias and being quite proud of the fact.

I think in these days of Cable News Networks, it is natural enough that these have become partisan. In former times, the news had of necessity to be fair and unbiased, but now that one has many stations from which to choose, the splitting into party camps was the natural outgrowth.

WASHINGTON -- After months of low-grade rhetorical combat with Fox News, the White House finally declared all-out war this weekend.
"It really is not a news network at this point," White House communications director Anita Dunn told CNN's "Reliable Sources" on Sunday.

The administration has been battling the conservative network since the campaign last year, but recently things have heated up. Aides refused to grant an interview with President Obama to Chris Wallace, the host of Fox News Sunday, last month -- even though Obama appeared on CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN and Univision on the same day. Fox's broadcast arm no longer interrupts its primetime programming to air presidential news conferences, relegating them to the news channel only, and as a result, Obama hasn't called on the network's White House correspondent for a question lately. A few weeks ago, when Chicago was passed over for the 2016 Summer Olympics, the White House put out a detailed documentlisting all the ways Fox and its commentators had twisted the story around.

But still, Dunn's blunt language on Sunday took things to a new level. "They're widely viewed as, you know, part of the Republican Party," she said. "Take their talking points and put them on the air. Take their opposition research and put them on the air, and that's fine. But let's not pretend they're a news network the way CNN is." Even the captions the network uses to headline its stories, Dunn said, are slanted.

There's certainly no question that Fox has gone out of its way to attack the White House on a daily basis. Republicans, in turn, frequently pick up the various crackpot theories the network peddles and run with them themselves. It may be that the Fox coverage of the administration simply can't get any worse -- or Fox could decide to get even more over the top in reaction.

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Jordan Yerman

at 10:29 on October 12th, 2009

It's important for viewers to understand that "fair & balanced" is a brand, and not a mission statement. Networks are all biased in one way or another, be it in terms of what they cover, or what they do not cover. They're companies that need to make money, and that means seeking out a particular audience. This isn't to say that all MSM is BS, but just... keep your eyes open!

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 10:34 on October 12th, 2009

Old wise man once said: Believe only half of what you see and nothing that you read.

In other words viewer be ware. Another good Canadian saying is: BS baffles brains.

Albert Milliron

at 15:20 on October 12th, 2009

Nothing that I read.. does that mean that

Old wise man once said: Believe only half of what you see and nothing that you read.

In other words viewer be ware. Another good Canadian saying is: BS baffles brains.

I can't believe something that tells me not to believe anything??? I am so confused. LOL

a211423

at 10:55 on October 12th, 2009

If anyone is interested in Rupert Murdock's holdings in television, news media, books,news papers, internet, magazines, music, radio, sports.

]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_Corporation

Albert Milliron

at 15:28 on October 12th, 2009

Lets not make News Corp a demon now. Here is what General Electric owns. How about CBS? There is always the evil The Walt Disney Company

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 11:06 on October 12th, 2009

I guess we could also disclose the holdings of GE. Personally, I think it's unworthy of the White House to take on a news agency.

FOX News senior vice president Michael Clemente, who likens the channel to a newspaper with separate sections on straight news and commentary, suggested White House officials were intentionally conflating opinion show hosts like Glenn Beck with news reporters like Major Garrett.

"It's astounding the White House cannot distinguish between news and opinion programming," Clemente said. "It seems self-serving on their part."

Albert Milliron

at 15:33 on October 12th, 2009

All it will do it pump up the company. Ratings already all through the roof. Fox News beats the other cable channels combined. Here is a surprise, Fox moderate demographic beats any other cable news 2 to 1. Fox also has one of the most balanced demographics across the board. A good example is that Fox has a large audience of liberals and people of color. I beg to differ that Fox is some kind of arm of the Republican party. Anyone who watches will see them report news despite ones political leaning.

Hugh Askew

at 11:18 on October 12th, 2009

Chris Matthews gets aroused when Obama gives a speech, and Fox has a problem?

Go figger.

(in the interest of full disclosure....i don't get Fox News)

AGK

at 15:28 on October 12th, 2009

Hugh, do you mean this about Matthews literally, or satirically?

Hugh Askew

at 17:13 on October 12th, 2009

It is too good to satirize.

Chris Matthews quote:

I have to tell you, you know, it's part of reporting this case, this election, the feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama's speech. My, I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often.

Link to video of it below.

http://newsbusters.org/stories/matthews-obama-speech-caused-thrill-going-my-leg.html?q=blogs/brad-wilmouth/2008/02/13/matthews-obama-speech-caused-thrill-going-my-leg

Albert Milliron

at 11:40 on October 12th, 2009

While The WH blasts Fox in public, they met with top Fox Execs in Private. If Fox is an arm of the Republican Party... MSNBC should carry the same banner for the Democrat party. While prime time Fox commentators have left leaning guests, MSNBC never gives the right a voice after 8pm. No one at Fox claims to be a journalist after 8pm they are comentators (and they say so). If the WH can not see the bias in their own opinions by not calling out MSNBC as well, they have a real problem.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 11:51 on October 12th, 2009

This latest attack by the White House on FOX just gave the commentators new talking points for Monday. You can rest assured that there will be a large audience.

nanute

at 12:07 on October 12th, 2009

The White House merely pointing out the obvious, does not constitute an attack.(In my opinion.) Fox has consistently shown a bias towards Republican Party talking points and viewpoints. With the exception of one person on Fox, (Shepard Smith), when is the last time you have seen any positive coverage of the current President, or the Democratic Party for that matter. The only major "news" network that refused to broadcast the president's speech to the Nation on health care was Fox News. It was much more important to show Dancing With The Stars, instead. And it wasn't even Tom Delay's debut. The president's speech wasn't deemed "newsworthy" by Murdock and Roger Ailes.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 12:56 on October 12th, 2009

Two point nanute:

1. If you criticize FOX you must also criticize MSNBC.

2. FOX Newschannel carried the President's speech on National Health Care. By the way that is the cable channel that carries all the opinion hosts in prime time with very high ratings. So in all likelihood this brought more viewers than the main FOX Network would have attracted.

George Bush who was attacked constantly and viciously by MSNBC must be shaking his head about what is coming out of the White House PR machine these days.

Just my opinion.

nanute

at 18:26 on October 12th, 2009

You are right. I was thinking about the joint session of Congress speech. I think FOX is more upset over the fact that the administration won't give them the time of day. I don't know about the MSNBC treatment of Bush you are referring to.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 18:37 on October 12th, 2009

FOX already made hay with this tonight, sort to speak. I think it will just polarize their viewers.

nanute

at 00:55 on October 13th, 2009

I think it wil only polarize their viewers. These viewers weren't polarized before this contrived controversy?

conservativemom (not verified)

at 06:24 on October 21st, 2009

Oh, Ok, You must have been smoking crack those eight years.

acobb (not verified)

at 03:36 on October 13th, 2009

nanute, the FOX news channel is different than FOX Network, I think you need to get your facts checked. FOX Cable has a variety of shows as well as news. Their news shows are as fair and balanced as any news out there in the market today! If they say things that are not true than state those. I think that during the Bush administration, like them or not, they did NOT run away or whine about there negative coverage on CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, New York Times, TIME or NEWSWEEK. Double standards do exist I see and they didn't even claim to have the most transparent administration. Last I heard we still have a FREE PRESS we want to keep it this way. Ask the Whitehouse why they will meet with Hugo Chavez but not go on FOX, I guess Fox is scarier. Does that even concern you????

Micki A, Massachusetts, USA (not verified)

at 12:02 on October 12th, 2009

This adminstration won't grant Fox an interview because they don't know how to answer the questions that all of America are waiting to hear. They can't control them so they think that they can ignore them. 2010 is around the corner Washington, either answer the tough questions, get rid of the corruption or we (the american citizens) will vote you right out of office. Be looking for your pink slip!

nanute

at 12:08 on October 12th, 2009

And the great state of Massachusetts is going to vote for whom?

nanute

at 12:30 on October 12th, 2009

Sounds like spin to me.

Rory Cripps

at 15:22 on October 12th, 2009

Nanute: A lot of it is spin! But the spin comes from both sides of the political spectrum! Let's see who wins this one . . .the Obama Administration or FOX. Friends of Obama have been going after talk radio and now they're going after FOX. It's obvious what they want to do here--namely throw a monkey wrench into the works of anyone that doesn't subscribe to a particular political ideology and ultimately shut them up once and for all. It's becoming more and more apparent that the Obama Administration can't stand up to criticism and that its only recourse is to attack the messenger and not the message. Sometimes those tactics prove to be effective. It depends on the numbers. But in the case of the Obama administration, 49% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. Fifty-one percent (51%) disapprove.His voter approval rating is now minus 8 and he has consistently been in the negative range throughout the past few months.

nanute

at 18:34 on October 12th, 2009

I give up. Call me a surrender monkey, whatever you want. The administration is calling "bullshit" on FOX and the gasbags, and these outlets are crying foul, clutching the pearls and saying how their speech rights are being violated. PULEEZE SPARE ME! I'd like to see the poll you are siting, and how the questions were asked. It is all a matter of how you ask the questions. There's spin, and then there's spin.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 18:49 on October 12th, 2009

Lol nanute, I didnt think you were a quitter. In any case here is the presidential tracking poll for today: By the way nobody cried foul, but they do have a right to reply to the remarks made by the White House. As previously stated from 6am until 5pm FOX reports news and a lot of times in a lot more detail than the other outlets. After 5pm it's opinion shows and that is well known to everyone. By the way I only consider myself a gasbag when I drink beer.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows that 32% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty percent (40%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -8

nanute

at 19:22 on October 12th, 2009

Good one apc! Yes FOX has been whining for quite a while over the fact that no one from the administration will appear on the network. Strongly approve is difficult at best. I don't strongly approve of his performance. I approve of it generally, not strongly.

Rory Cripps

at 18:56 on October 12th, 2009

nanute: I've got nothing to hide nor do I have a political and ideological axe to grind. If you think that the Obama administration is simply peachy keen based on what it has thus far accomplished, I'm not one to argue with what you think. Whatever floats your boat is OK with me. But I'm having a hard time understanding why people are hysterical over FOX and its news coverage. Fill me in . . .please . . .and I mean that sincerely.

nanute

at 19:51 on October 12th, 2009

Rory, I didn't imply that you had anything to hide. I just asked a straightforward question.
I don't think that everything the Obama administration has done is "peachy keen." That is your assumption of what I think, not reality.
I'm not hysterical over FOX news. That is a very poor word choice on your part, in my opinion.

Adj.1.hysterical - characterized by or arising from psychoneurotic hysteria; "during hysterical conditions various functions of the human body are disordered"- Morris Fishbein; "hysterical amnesia"

FOX doesn't do news. It is primarily a mouthpiece for the Republican Party and conservative points of view. Again, just my opinion.

Rory Cripps

at 19:08 on October 12th, 2009

Nanute: That's fair! I think Obama is full of it too! Again: Let's see who wins this one . . .Obama or FOX.

jefhow22

at 13:16 on October 12th, 2009

It certainly appears that the WH and the O's cronies want to shape the news media to fit their own style of "Fair and Balanced". Freedom of the press is protected speech. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the content is also a freedom...freedom of choice...The WH is upset with Fox News because it was shown on the station the WH staff handing out white coats to Drs. at a recent dog and pony show about the O's health care reform. This is much like Kim Jong Ill handing out NK flags to it's prisoners and insisting everyone loves NK. As far as "Fair and Balanced" being a "brand" of sorts, so too is "This is CNN, the worldwide leader in News". We can pick and choose what we want to watch and believe what is being reported as gosple truth but I find the TV remote control channel changer the most powerful weapon in reporting "Fair and Balanced" news or one claiming to be "the leader in News".