UPDATES AT BOTTOM
For years and years all I have ever heard from the right-wing is that the mainstream media is "liberal" and has a "liberal bias." Buying into this politically birthed image, the MSM moved farther to the right and farther away from actual journalism, giving us the Iraq war and other horrors of the Bush years.
Yet of all the unethical news organizations, tabloids, and propaganda outfits combined, none is more partisan, more unscrupulous, more unethical, more dishonest, than Fox News.
The latest faux-victim talking point making the rounds is that the Obama White House has "declared war" on Fox News.
The White House has not declared war on Fox News, although Glenn Beck and the rest of the birther, tea-bagging, glue-sniffing, propagandists are trying terribly hard to convince everyone of that. And predictably, the so-called "liberal media" is following right along in spreading these falsehoods. What the WH has done is simply pointed out the obvious: Fox News is a propaganda outfit for the RNC and Conservative special interests. Will anyone dare argue that this is a false assertion?
To be clear, I am not by any means suggesting censorship. I am simply explaining that a political outlet is simply that, political. It is not to be confused with actual journalism.
Fox's inability to report facts is breathtaking. Fox is seen, and rightfully so, as the official propaganda arm of the RNC. But this is not my opinion. This is the image they themselves have cultivated.
Let me take you through a tiny example of the many examples of what Fox News is and why it is not a legitimate news outlet, but rather, a political organization geared toward delivering political talking points, propaganda, and "controlled" stories. I strongly suggest you watch Robert Greenwald's excellent documentary called Outfoxed.
John Moody, Fox VP of News:
Internal Fox memos from Moody show just why this VP of News is not remotely in the news business (h/t to media matters on some of these). These memos by the way are to news staff:
Moody on George W. Bush:
"His political courage and tactical cunning ar[e] [wo]rth noting in our reporting through the day"
Moody on the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal:
[T]he pictures from Abu Graeb [sic] prison are disturbing. They have rightly provoked outrage. Today we have a picture -- aired on Al Arabiya -- of an American hostage being held with a scarf over his eyes, clearly against his will. Who's outraged on his behalf? It is important that we keep the Abu Graeb [sic] situation in perspective (5/5/04).
Moody on US Marines in Iraq
[L]et's refer to the US marines we see in the foreground [of pictures coming out of Fallujah] as "sharpshooters" not snipers, which carries a negative connotation (4/28/04).
Moody on the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU):
For everyone's information, the hotel where our Baghdad bureau is housed was hit by some kind of explosive device overnight. ALL FOX PERSONNEL ARE OK. The incident is a reminder of the danger our colleagues in Baghdad face, day in and day out. Please offer a prayer of thanks for their safety to whatever God you revere (and let the ACLU stick it where the sun don't shine) (3/24/04).
Moody hoping for a "blue bloodbath"
Judging from Moody's Nov. 13 memo, reprinted below (a second memo appears on the following two pages), it is "fair and balanced" to gloat, prior to the vote to elect House leaders on Nov. 16, "The Pelosi effect is being felt. ... Let the blue bloodbath begin."
It is also "fair and balanced" for Moody to instruct the news staff to ask the following question of every guest who appears to discuss the pending immigration bill: "Does the U.S. have the right to defend its borders or not? ... Lets see if anyone says no."
Moody on the day the Democrats won both the Senate and House:
"Be On The Lookout For Any Statements From The Iraqi Insurgents...Thrilled At The Prospect Of A Dem Controlled Congress"...
Helping GOP Win Elections (clips from Fox Attacks)
Lynching, Racism, Angry Blacks:
Kerry, Obama Talking Points
And these are just SOME examples. Does this seem like journalism to you? I criticize all media outlets when there is opinion in their news, and propaganda in their analysis. I have criticized ABC, CNN, CBS, and MSNBC. I have criticized NYT, WaPo, and so forth. In short, I have criticized journalists and news outlets from both the MSM, the "liberal media," and the Conservative media. But none of these entities exists on a blanket policy of partisan politics, such as the way Fox News does.
Pointing out the obvious is not a declaration of war. It is a criticism and in the case of Fox, more than fair. Whatever else the Obama WH may be doing, on this point, they are not wrong.
UPDATE ONE
Apparently Fox is eager to prove exactly why they are not a legitimate news outlet. There latest claim is a White House enemies list, based on what you ask? Nothing:
"Is Fox Part of a Larger White House Enemies List?" asks Greta Van Sustaran. The implication of course is that there is an enemies list to begin with. She then goes on to entirely fabricate what the President said even while she rolls the tapes of him saying it:
"There is breaking news in the White House war on Fox News. In case you thought it was only chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, presidential adviser David Axelrod and communications director Anita Dunn who conspired to take on Fox News, think again. It turns out President Obama knows all about it. Don't believe us? Listen to what President Obama had to say tonight.
<snip>
[Obama] " I think that what our advisers have simply said is, is that we are going to take media as it comes. And if media is operating basically as a talk radio format, then that's one thing. And if it's operating as a news outlet, then that's another. But it's not something I'm losing a lot of sleep over."
Sound like an enemies list to you? Sound like a breaking news story to you? Sound like a war on Fox News to you?
Van Sustran offers no proof that there is an enemies list. What does she produce instead? None other than Rep. Lamar Alexander, who is better know as Karl Rove's colon. Here is what Alexander has to say:
"SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER, R - TENN.: It was a suggestion. And I went back to my days 40 years ago, when I was on the Nixon White House staff, and I think I see some of the same early steps that I saw then."
Wait, so Obama has the IRS and the DOJ investigating journalists, surveilling journalists, and a bunch of thugs called the plumbers all actively threatening, and in the case of Jack Andersen, actually plotting to kill journalists? Really? Is there any proof of this Nixon-like conspiracy?
And what does Van Sustran say to this idiocy?
Now, Judd Gregg -- or Senator Gregg, rather, used the term "Nixified."
Strange how in a 24 hour period, I have seen the term Nixified, Nixonesque, Nixonian, and every other derivation of Nixon used as a talking point against Obama.
And these people think they are a legitimate news outlet? How? I would like for one of their defenders to explain to me how they are a legitimate news outlet please.
