Fox gives the sore losers of the 'Tea Party Express' much more than just free advertising
By David Neiwert Friday Sep 11, 2009 3:00pm
We wondered, back when the Tea Party Express was running ads on Fox, why they bothered, since they'd soon be getting all the free advertising they could ask for.
And sure enough, Griff Jenkins has been filing reports from the multiple cross-country stops for the tour since its outset, provided for all the various Fox anchors (Sean Hannity, Greta Van Susteren, Neal Cavuto, Bill O'Reilly, the Fox and Friends crew) to feature in their regular broadcasts.
Quelle surprise: they haven't had to run any ads on Fox since they started touring.
Most of the time, Jenkins -- who's clearly cheerleading this effort and not trying in the least to act like an actual reporter -- at least has bothered to mostly feature interviews with attending teabaggers, so as to at least create the appearance of some semblage of journalism in these reports.
But last night, on Sean Hannity's show, Jenkins just dropped the pretense, and gathered the teabaggers in New York behind him as props and launched into a rant about how these events were all about average Americans taking back America from an out-of-control federal government. He wasn't reporting; he was essentially being a paid propagandist for the Our Country Deserves Better PAC, which is the sponsor of this event.
And the funny thing is, as we reported earlier, the Our Country Deserves Better PAC has ALWAYS been about opposing whatever policies President Obama pursues. That is, this is a specifically anti-Obama campaign, and the rhetoric about "out of control government" is a fig leaf:
The "Our Country Deserves Better" PAC, in fact, was founded in August 2008 -- before the election -- specifically to oppose Barack Obama and his policies. (They called it "drawing contrasts between Senator Barack Obama and John McCain".) In October 2008, for instance, Williams was out on the stump campaigning against Obama as a "socialist" on a previous bus tour called the "Stop Obama Express". They've also runs ads comparing Obama to Hitler.
Jenkins claimed this was "black and white," but the crowd shots are almost completely of white faces. Moreover, I'll wager that every single one of them is a disappointed Republican -- if not a McCain voter, then a Ron Paul voter.
In fact, a better name for the whole enterprise would be The Sore Loser Express. Because that's who's coming out for these things -- people who think they can get a do-over on the election.
Including the fine folks at Fox, evidently.
Login or Register to post comments.
Needs to be taken off the air.
like 3,000 in Seattle--1400 in Colorado and etc. These TB 'gatherings' are small-800 tops--but are pushed with tight shots as a big deal! Same comments looped on CNN with the same people! You expect this BS from Fox but CNN and NBC and the others ..Someone--we all- need to boycott them and let them know along with their sponsors!
CNN appears just as useless as the FOX Klux Klan
These Republicans who go to these meetings have financial stresses but instead of blaming their cheap labor employer for their stresses, they blame taxes which the government uses to help the less fortunate.
They act very less than Christian and they should go to purgatory for their attitudes towards the poor and those who need help from the government.
A Tribute to those people who died on September 11, 2001 but who should not have died. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yKGeIGA2KE Spread this video around.
I was interviewed by one of their roving reporters during the first march on Washington to protest the illegal invasion of Iraq. The clip they aired was purged of any reference to the size of the crowd (much larger than any M$M reported--and the bastards filmed only the sparse edges of the crowd). Furthermore, my adjuration that all activists write at least five letters/week (nee Gloria Steinem) was completely purged.
So, the antiseptic little snippet they did air was about the bitter cold, if I remember correctly. I didn't see the clip, since I was there, but my friends who knew better did ask me what I really said.
Reagan administration, which removed the FCC’s responsibility to enforce political “fairness” in radio and television network commentary and election coverage. The Republican-controlled Congress defeated efforts to reinstate it.
you beat me to it!
Bring it back.
Progressives should take on the task of getting the adminstration to look at what is or has occured at the FCC.
When are these weenies in congress going to make Fox drop the "news" moniker from their name? They are nothing but state sponsored terrorism and republican propaganda from the headquarters of the GOP and corporate fascist elites!
control it may have had with the Telecom Act...thank you bclinton and the repubs!
This PAC also is the one who created the "Thank you, Sarah Palin" ad.
You know they are psycho POSs if they seriously and publicly were thanking the queen whackjob.
"When are these weenies in congress going to make Fox drop the "news" moniker from their name?"
That will happen the moment their corporate masters tell them to do so and not a nanosecond before.
Stop speaking the truth. It hurts!
a FRACTION of a nanosecond before...
Morons of America unite!
republicanism is a mental illness!
They should call themselves "Morons on the move!"
republicanism really is a mental disorder!
is fraught with mental illness, and loathe to accept responsibility for seeking whatever recourse might restore us to sanity...
Tony Harris on CNN has been following the T-bag bus all the way across the country on his AM gig as well.
It's like Rep. Barney said, there is no need for bipartanship. The democrats won the last election, have majorities in the House and Senate as well as the Presidency. That means democracy demands the democracts go it alone, not that they have to reach across the aisle. When did that happen when Bush was in power. In fact, every time Boosh had a chance he would cut down the democrats in Congress. Are they that short memoried/
In Colorado, an appointed Sen. Bennet will face a primary from a progressive, Romanoff. Bennet is willing to reach across the aisle. I will work as hard as I can to get rid of that type of Demo.
Jenkins was used to attack people in their driveways and when they are shopping. Who's going to do that for Fox if he's with the teabaggers?
and can not raise the money...He is state material not national! But the disjointed Dem party here[Colorado] are piqued that Ritter [Gov] appointed Bennet..But Bennett has the ear and support of Democrats at the National level! Plus lots of us on the ground...
are you with Southern Colorado. We live right next door to Focus on the Family land in Colorado Springs.
Ritter will shit when Bennet is attacked locally! Bennet sucks!
legitimizing the Corporate Megalomaniacs' bipartisan red herrings! As long as the Corporatists can delude us into thinking it's about the Dems vs the Repubs, we will continue to squander our precious time and energy on this puerile bickering!
Fewer than 500 people own the vast majority of this planet's vital resources--including the most productive members of our species! Our current incarnation of 'free market capitalism' is their penultimate weapon!!
Sigh... I fear that Teh Stoopid will be humanity's last hurrah... how embarrassing for us all.
I hope "Griff Jenkins" (oh sure, that's his real name) is an even more clever satirist than Stephen Colbert, actually faking his way into Fox News and getting a job as a "reporter". That's the only way I can explain the name and his Austin Powers-like look.
propaganda 24/7 I can probably write off seeing the people of this country start getting back to having some basic civilized respect for individual perspectives and each other in my lifetime.
We hate our lives! We are miserable, unemployed or work for nothing, have lost everything we ever had, and are mad as hell at the people who want to fix it!
That's why we are here gathered to show our undying support for the people who ruined our lives!
Yes, we ARE teabaggers, and we really are that cluelessy fucking stupid!
There is only two conclusions that can be drawn.
They are either stupid as hell, or republicanism is a mental illness!
How else can you explain the things the people do and say?
Or paranoia. Either way, it's a mental condition. Yeah, they're nuts.
The Authoritarians
I should have read further before I posted...
I have never been successful 'explaining' things to Teh Stoopid. What is that old adage? Never wrestle with a pig--you get dirty, and the pig likes it.
(Not that I would ever denigrate pigs by associating them with Teh Stoopid...)
that's right, the "question mark guy".
http://www.leskobooks.com/mpg.htm
now you understand why this had the vague semblance of a paid infomercial...
because it is one!!!
Hmmm, maybe, although I was thinking if popcorn magnate Orville Reddenbacher had liked hookers it might explain Griff's ancestry.
shouldn't allow fox to call itself news. they have no news broadcast, only hourly updates, and opinion.
Big tea party here tommorow. Lots of big names and news crew for a little town. I think should be a good time to get their hate on and stop Obama and the spread of socialism and communism and nazism blah blah...
http://www.quincynews.org/
The teabaggers and other right-bat-shit-wing of the GOP have vulgarly desensitized any discourse. Each time it has to be accelerated, exaggerated to raise the shock value. When all of this is completed where will we be then? The worm turns and a republican becomes prez--what does a congressman do to show his/her dissatisfaction? What do the citizenry do to show extreme disfavor? It is scary. The teabaggers and town-hall shouters, nazi sympathizer, birthers, etc. have exposed a really ugly side of themselves. After the last 9 years I will never vote for a republican again. I used to vote for the best person. If a republican stands by this obscenity I will not vote for him. And will do whatever is legal to defeat him/her.
I won't be watching or attending any Fox Propaganda Theatre.
Right wing psychos love company. They're looking more and more like the cast of "one flew over the coo coo nest".
They're even popping up at cogress meetings now.
You can see the crazy in their eyes and their behavior. If that doesn't give them away their ridiculous apparel will.
Such pathetic scum bags these shills are. Jesus, look at the clip of this clown as he cheers on the lunatic crowd to protest their own ability to breath oxygen.
What hypocritical idiots.
he said, "and they are white." But just before he said that, the camera panned back and forth & all I could see were white faces. I guess he's post-racial, color-blind. We all look alike to Griff Jenkins.
Um where? I didn't see any black people. Didn't even see any hispanic people. Asian? Nope.
Your check is in the mail, Griff.
their token Asian, JohnnyBravo... I would be stunned and amazed if any other Asians espoused the world views of Teh Stoopid.
Snip: . . . told French President Jacques Chirac in early 2003 that Iraq must be invaded to thwart Gog and Magog, the Bible’s satanic agents of the Apocalypse.
Honest. This isn’t a joke. The president of the United States, in a top-secret phone call to a major European ally, asked for French troops to join American soldiers in attacking Iraq as a mission from God.
Now out of office, Chirac recounts that the American leader appealed to their “common faith” (Christianity) and told him: “Gog and Magog are at work in the Middle East…. The biblical prophecies are being fulfilled…. This confrontation is willed by God, who wants to use this conflict to erase his people’s enemies before a New Age begins.”
This bizarre episode occurred while the White House was assembling its “coalition of the willing” to unleash the Iraq invasion. Chirac says he was boggled by Bush’s call and “wondered how someone could be so superficial and fanatical in their beliefs.”
to remove these people at fox from the public air ways.
they need their station taken away it should not be allowed to exist!
why didn't chirac have the balls to go public when it would have counted...ahhh for all the missed opportunities for public figures to stand up, to say no, to say this person is a madman and should be called out.
where were your balls?
the same place as those of all of Hitler's enablers...
Simply opposing Obama policy doesn't make you a racist. If you oppose Obama's policies, but supported those exact same policies when W was in charge, you're a racist. All the people at these hate-rallies are racists. There is no other legitimate explanation.
These people are ANGRY at the big huge government and it's out of control policies and spending...for 9 months? Really? I didn't hear a peep out of these teabaggers when Bush raided the Treasury hit all his homies off nicely. But that's completely different :-(
from the evil Gog and Magog of the bible hovering off the coasts with their wax wings and bugles of doom.
the very definition of "lame dork" or what? What a friggin' loser. And the fact that he has no clue just how embarassing he is makes him all the more pathetic.
I saw no black or brown or any other color faces except white. FOX has become racist and bigoted and a tool of the right wing fringe.
That's why they panned so quickly over the hundred or so idiots screaming and holding signs. NOT ONE BLACK OR MINORITY IN THE ENTIRE FUCKING CROWD.
The GOP is truly a party of racist dumbasses. If they think this is the way back to the majority they really are as stupid as I give them credit to be.
...and say white and black people are attending, shouldnt you put an african american with the frame in the crowd like many of bush's speeches? I'm just saying...cuz really...i just see a sea of ignant white behind griff jerkins.
i'm hoping that someone from our side can attend these events and show the same scene from a different angle, tag this clown. these propagandists tend to gather the flock in a tight group for the shot but from a distance it's clear what a small bit they are.
also "white, black!" I din't see no blacks...whatever, maybe they can aquire an uncle or two but it means shit.
it might give me the urge to punch that douchebag in the face and break his silly ass glasses!!
its a gawd damn circus!
Ever notice that a many of these right wing nut jobs don't even look normal ? They look like the trouble making little rat back in school that no one liked , the dorky Biff , Newt , Mitt A holes . Young Republicans raised by the nanny , never learned a damned thing about people , about life , being responsible , decent , caring , telling the truth , having ethics and a conscience , just silver spooned A holes like the great decider and chief we just suffered through , chips off thee old block . Their audience is usually the same , old and gullible or just absolute morons who have zero ability to think for themselves and use logic or reason and sticking out like sore thumbs in the crowd the young Republicans in their little monkey suits and ties ... just like daddy . Pathetic . I am getting to the point that I absolutely hate and despise these people , maybe I need to lighten up but sheeesh !
...how much Griff Jenkins looks like Rick Moranis?
look at all of the black peoples!!!
must have been on the back of the TB Express.
didn't see 'em Griff.
Back in the sixties the far left had the freaky looking people out protesting, now the far right wing has made the GOP the party of the angry nutcases, racist freaks, paranoids and Neo-Confederate secessionists.
Where were these "anti-government" weirdos before Obama was elected?
Isn't it funny how they all of a sudden become concerned about government after a BLACK MAN is elected President.
Maybe next month FOX News can stage the "UFO Express", so that everybody who has been abducted by extraterrestrials can protest President Obama's cover up of flying saucers ruling our skies. The fact is, anybody can dig up a few thousand fruitcakes who will buy into just about anything now days. The problem here, of course, is that the organizers behind the Tea Party Express are probably racists who are hiding behind political 'tempests in a teapot'. On another level, I resent their ignorant distortion of history via their name. The Boston Tea Party couldn't have less to do with what they're trying to do.
Granted, Americans are not the smartest people on the block when it comes to being fooled (repeatedly) by their government and then coming back for more, not having learned their lesson. But come on; we are suddenly concerned about gross overspending after Bush spent, what, 875 billion PLUS on badly accounted for money for the Iraq War? How much of that went to no bid contracts, etc.?
This money, the employment extensions, the public work projects is being spent on keeping flailing citizens afloat; is there something wrong with helping people to survive in the wake of an economic fiasco? I think the majority of the people are not taking in by this tea party baloney, and those who are are pathetic and you probably shouldn't even bother trying to talk to them.
I couldn't decide who was the lesser of two evils during the election. But I would have probably been there to join the tea party had I known about it. The healthcare proposal is crap. Last I checked this is a democracy.
I've been watching C-SPAN's coverage & there appears to be a huge crowd. I figured C-SPAN would give the best camera shots. This really makes me nervous. The first estimate I've heard is over 1 million. The country is so polarized.
I'm guessing Griff Jenkins' videographer is a student of the "tight shot", there can't be more than 150 people, tops, in that shot, but by keeping the lens tight, it looks like a helluva big crowd. It's an old media trick.
Honest to God, this whole teaparty shtick is becoming more and more like a sketch on "Saturday Night Live".
Dave N. - I agree that Fox news and the partisan GOP loyalists are hypacritical about their faux outrage over government spending and deficits, linking Ron Paul and his supporters into this group is completely inacurate and intenionally misleading on your part. Ron Paul and his supporters have complained the entire time about the these issues, including but not limited to the illegal wars and wiretapping by the Bush admin. At least be truthfull in your reporting when you are pointing out the propaganda in theirs.
Login or Register to post comments.