Saying what needs saying: Fox News is not a news entity, it's a political creature
I hadn't seen Eric Burns, the president of Media Matters, on TV previously, but he appeared on Countdown with David Shuster yesterday, and finally said what has needed saying for some time:
Fox News is not a news source. It's a political propaganda operation. And it needs to be treated that way.
Shuster and Burns were launching off Fox's most ludicrous recent endeavor to smear the Obama administration, by using videos of schoolchildren to charge that Obama wants to "indoctrinate" them. As they discuss, this is so hypocritical and absurd that it's hard to believe anyone actually is buying it:
SHUSTER: So explain to me, why is it indoctrination when kids sing about President Obama, but it's patriotism when kids sing about President Bush and FEMA?
BURNS: Well, David, it's not indoctrination to anybody except Karl Rove, Josh Bolten, Roger Ailes -- the rest of the Bush administration in exile over at Fox News, because they are trying to push a political agenda. And they're trying to destroy this administration, and they'll use any means necessary to do it.
And just to give you a little example of this, James O'Keefe, who is the author of one of the suspect ACORN videos that there have been a lot of questions surrounding, told Chris Wallace recently on Fox News that he was employing tactics that would, quote, "destroy his political enemies." So that's what this is about.
There's nothing abnormal about folks talking and children learning about their president and learning to be -- learning about their democracy through talking about the president. I did it when I was a kid.
Then they got to what this is really all about:
SHUSTER: And is that the general theme here with the right-wing media, I mean, undermining the president by manufacturing controversies, because many of the actual Obama policies are favored by the majority of Americans?
BURNS: Absolutely. We've seen it day after day. You know, Glenn Beck is the smearer in chief over at Fox News. And we see new charts, you know, documenting some new vast conspiracy theory every day, new attacks, and it's a constant barrage.
And I'll tell you, this right-wing noise machine has been ginned up. It's never been more ferocious, and their goal is simple -- as Rush Limbaugh stated at the beginning of the year -- they want Obama to fail. Roger Ailes said that this is the Alamo for conservatives and that Fox is the voice of the opposition.
So, this is no longer a news organization. This is a political organization, and their aim is to destroy a progressive policy agenda. They'd rather win in the ballot box than see any sort of real debate on health care. It's a real shame.
Every liberal who even considers going on Fox to act as props for their propaganda machine should stop and think again.
Moreover, every consumer of the news -- conservative, centrist, or liberal -- needs to understand that Fox is not a reliable source of information.
Mainstream media in general have become less reliable, but most of them strive to be factually accurate, even if they skew ideologically somewhat. But this skew has more to do with framing and news selection than the actual reporting.
This is not the case at Fox. It deliberately broadcasts falsehoods and fake information to serve its ideological agenda.
No doubt this makes the Kool-Aid drinkers of the right happy. But for anyone else -- particularly anyone who relies on accurate information for their business or occupation or the livelihoods -- Fox News is a wasteland or outright disinformation that anyone with smidgen of intelligence will avoid.
We need more people like Eric Burns making this point.
Where's the FCC? Oh...that's right...it's been scaled down to a PO Box in the name of "efficiency".
Yes, I feel soooo much more free from government intrusion.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
The FCC doesn't regulate cable, no one does.
faux is cable.
You were in too much of a rush to be first.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
I understand. Still a result of deregulation.
The whole...airwaves are private property...not public property.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Actually airwaves are public property; hence the FCC ability to regulate them. They're likened to something that enters one's home unwillingly (when it's naaaaughty).
Cable on the other hand you have to buy, so therefore you in effect gave consent for whatever you received.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Just because cable isn't the airwaves doesn't mean the government can't get involved.
Government regulates private banks.
Government regulates private mining companies.
Government regulates private pharmaceutical companies.
Seriously, the government can and should get involved. At this point, IT'S A MATTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY.
It can, but it hasn't yet.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
..why can't I get my Cable company to delete them from my subscription? As I said, I know you're right about faux being cable and not under the same scrutiny a non-cable network would be under. It just seems to me that the regulation ought to stipulate that since there's no direct regulation, so to speak, we the people should be able to discontinue the infection (I meant to say "injection" but infection works) deleted from our service. I don't want their seditionist viewpoints broadcast in my home. Yes, I already zoom past them when channel-surfing but what about the children?
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
Where's the FEC? I asked Ed Schultz this last year and he said it was a good question and was going to look into it but I never heard a response (I was traveling)...so...to all the attorneys out there:
Why can someone not bring a lawsuit against Fox for being an unreported contributor to the RNC, RSCC, RCCC and, specifically as an example, the McCain/Palin campaigns (as well as other campaigns)?
Here is the specific example: Last year, Fox covered, in full and at no charge, a McCain town hall event. It was uninterrupted and covered from start to finish. No coverage like that was covered for any Dem. Actually, little truth was ever covered about any Dem but that's another story.
Why is this not considered a campaign contribution? That coverage would have cost millions to purchase, yet it was gifted. The same thing happens day after day and for a variety of Republican's who are currently in office.
This has nothing to do with the Fairness Doctrine (which, I am against, and will be happy to go into details as to why on an open thread, but it is far from a be all end all, I assure you. It was used against us more effectively than it was ever used for us. Anyway...)
With the case currently in the SCOTUS, which will be overturned and will be the death knell of US society as we know it, the corporations will be able to select at will who they want to be elected (by allowing anyone with deep pockets to make political films and show them prior to elections), but this could be a way of stopping, at least, the most visible form of undocumented political contributions, and that is Fox News, which is an arm of the Republican party and is in all basic cable homes at no additional charge (versus other news operations including CSPAN). (And my apologies for THAT run-on sentence!)
So, any attorney takers out there who cares to interject their thoughts?
This is UNLIMITED FREE AIRTIME which amounts to UNLIMITED CONTRIBUTIONS to Republican candidates and causes.
Since contributions are regulated FOR GOOD REASON—so corporations can't control the public dialogue and the vote—this airtime ought to be keenly regulated.
Not news, not a political creature, Fox and the other channels are corporate entities and have no interest in anything except profit.
You make it sound like CNN, MSNBC, etc. are reliable sources? You prove that idea wrong every day.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
And I mean only *SLIGHTLY* but for different reasons. CNN's political slant isn't as obvious. CNN's reporting is pretty pathetic, though. Great coverage of Michael Jackson and crap like that, though.
They covered michael jackson's crap?
I thought his music was bad enough.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
..and I've yet to see them outright lie to the American people and but if you don't have a cable box, Cablevision won't put them into your subscribed service. I wonder what the Cablevision corporation is afraid of?
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
I'm guessing you never watch morning joe on msnbc. Any show that has Pat Buchanan and Joe Scarborough on cannot be said to always tell the truth.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
..so you are right. But that's the kind of day I'm having.
Never right, always wrong.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
No, you're not always wrong. If you haven't seen the show, how could you know its contents? Don't beat yourself up, please. Come on now, take that frown and turn it upside down. :)
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Eeyore day. ;o}
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples, promising liberty and justice for all
I trust MSNBC to a point, but when tweety has Senator Mitch "Droopy Dog" McConnell on to spew his outright lies about Medicare without even as much as a funny look, I lose faith. Ol' Mitch is allowed to pontificate uninterrupted for 3 to 4 minutes at a time and tweety just looks on like a cat watching a laser pointer.
How come tweety talks over EVERYBODY (I mean EVERYBODY) except high ranking Repub senators???
Beware of anyone promising a future full of yesterdays.
Here's how desperate fox is right now. They have ex Senator George "Macaca" Allen on to talk against cap and trade. As if anyone gives a flying shit what he thinks or thinks that he knows anything about which he speaks.
As for Tweety, I think sometimes it depends on where he is on his meds schedule.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
and FOIST! Ya bastages!
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
You got the foist sandwich L & P. First and third with a comment in between all in the same minute.
You came prepared today.
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/media_cont...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Obama indoctrinates children like Beavis and Butthead indoctrinated a generation.
Even if your child seems enamored by our latest messiah, give them a little time and they will get over it.
Wouldn't it be great if people everywhere understood this simple thing - FOX is an organ of the Republicans.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
And a puny shrivelled organ at that.
Want to see my 12 inch pianist?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Hmmm...does that make Bill O'Reilly a six foot prick?
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Bill did that to himself. He was always six foot but he worked for and earned the prickey part.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
And a lot of people think nbc is a shill for democrats.
In my opinion, all the major news networks have been just as compromised as our politicians. You need look no further than their advertisers to know that they will never give you an objective story about a pharmaceutical, or anything else for that matter.
Yeah...the fucking colon.
You know what happens there.
"Let's talk dirty to the animals"
Fox and News Corporation are, for all intent and purposes, enemy combatants. I respect their right to free expression - they can expose themselves as anti-American authoritarian zealots all they want - but they're doing a bit more than merely expressing themselves; they're trying to organize a coup.
ya, that's when it becomes everyone's concern...
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
The problem is they still ARE a legitimate source for news. Just yesterday they had better coverage of the Earthquake and tsunami in the Pacific than CNN did. For all the smoke they blow they still cover breaking stories quite well.
Yes indeedy. They're well positioned to cover the religious wars and race riots that they will start.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Define better.
Did CNN cover something else?
Or did they both cover it and faux showed it's reporters being blown away like Whopper wrappers?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Stewart Smith had calm and accurate reporting of the earthquake and the tsunami, CNN had Rick Sanchez interviewing people about health care and the public option defeat. IMHO the health care issue could wait while the earthquake was breaking news. It was hours before CNN said much of anything about it.
Is that someone from your local Fox affiliate?
My son tells me that he learned of the tsunami in Samoa from CNN last night, so they must have covered something.
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples, promising liberty and justice for all
I imagine with the money fox has they have more affiliates around the world than the other stations can afford. I was switching around yesterday and Fox had the first pictures I saw but each of the stations had and aired just about the same information at about the same time.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Did you mean Shepard Smith?
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http:/...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
an amuse bouche.
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples, promising liberty and justice for all
"cluster fox"...was there ever a more appropriate name than that?
Better than Faux Noise by a long shot.
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples, promising liberty and justice for all
FOX News is a propaganda organization, The companies that pay for advertisement on FOX programs are led by GOPers. Their advertisement dollars are subsidizing the propaganda machine called FOX News of the GOP.
He refers to "Kool Aid drinkers of the right" without making clear there are the good, Obama beverage imbibers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKY2O4KFmMU
and the nasty "drunk on FOX" wreakers of havoc:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry-rTHOpgxE&NR...
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/...
Pretty hilarious
Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it. -- Mark Twain
Fox is the teat from which right wingers suckle to get their political nourishment daily. It of course is nothing but propaganda and to quote some of an infamous bush quote, they are the designated catapulters. Their job is to speak to the less informed and less educated right wingers who apparently cannot think for themselves.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
apple pie, the flag, and FAUX motherhood?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZBLR6Hri88
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
Apple pie is great, especially with ice cream on top.
The flag is the flag.
Motherhood is good but suckling adults is a wee bit strange and not really socially acceptable except at fox. Once one is an adult, one should be able to gather their own food for thought without having it fed to them openly by the likes of Glenn Beck et al.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Was that a video of little tea baggers or fox viewers or both?
Okay, those little pigs were cute as hell.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Having this pointed out by Media Matters isn't going to effect anyone. The left already knows what Fox is, as well as those on the right. However, having Media Matters as a resource is only going to immediately result in anyone from the right pronouncing the information as bias for the left, or at the very least as a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Unfortunately ANY other source other than Fox or Drudge will result in the same. There is no debate. Its all noise, and the other side isn't ever going to listen.
The use is not to necessarily convince those already hypnotized by Fox and all their other propagandists. It is extremely important to answer and discredit their every move in hopes to prevent more people from falling for their bullshit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra-ql7dHti4
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
I cannot believe 2 Live Crew music is posted on You Tube! My friends and I used to listen to them all the time in high school.
Not calling out these hateful, lying, anti-American, racist bastards is how they were able to bend the minds of so many ignorant people.
This battle for the direction of the Nation is real friend. A "what's the use?" attitude is the worst thing to do.
Every Liberal who WATCHES FOX should think again. I'm glad that we have media matters and crooks and liars to point out the attacks and the lies but anybody else watching FOX "News" is only propping them up and lending legitimacy. They don't care if you LIKE FOX "News", as long as you WATCH FOX "News".
Barack Obama: Change we can only imagine
And how would fox news know if I watch their shows. Would they hear me cussing from their studio?
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Dunno if that's spelled right but whether they know you personally are watching or not isn't relevent. If people stop watching, it will be reflected in their analysis. Or you can go right on supporting their propaganda platform... It's a free country.
Barack Obama: Change we can only imagine
The Nielsen ratings aren't an automatic counter of watchers. They have no clue if you watch unless they ask you and you tell them. I do not support their propaganda platform, I watch occasionally to see WTF they are up to. Knowing one's enemy sounds like a good idea to me. I want to see for myself what the lies du Jour are and who is telling them..
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
video diaries. Then they extrapolate the data they receive from the diaries and "determine" what are the most watched shows. More smoke and mirrors. The only reason it matters is so ad rates can be higher for the shows that they say are the most popular. O'Reilly thinks it's about him. Duh!
Some families get monitors attached to the tv that track exactly what they're watching and when they change change the channel, and some of those families get meters that track exactly who in the household is actually watching. These are the families whom Neilsen can point to as proof of their numbers. The monitoring systems aren't as easily gamed as the diary system.
And, yes, ad rates can be higher for more popular programs, but the demographic breakdown is much more important in determining ad rates. O'Reilly does draw more viewers than Olbermann, but because Olbermann viewers tend to be in younger, more wealthy demographic, MSNBC can charge more for ad slots. Take a look at the ads that run during both shows and you'll see detergent and Clapper ads running during O'Reilly's show, while you'll see ads for high-end electronics and hot cars during Olbermann's.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
I would go a step further
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 13:38 — Margaret
_____________________________________________________________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eir3-omjMVQ
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
John Stewart and Colbert do an excellent job of pointing out the lunacy of fox news and they do it so damned well. They are the only ones who can make fox look stupid and funny at the same time.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Stewart and Colbert are very talented. Kudos to their writers too!
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
Well yes of course,but to the people who really need to know it.
Somehow before it's too late,millions of Americans need to be deprogrammed.FOX should be seen as not only the propaganda arm of the GOP,but as a dangerous Cult.
"To me, truth is not some vague, foggy notion. Truth is real. And,
at the same time, unreal. Fiction and fact and everything in between,
plus some things I can't remember, all rolled into one big "thing."
This is truth, to me. "
-Jack Handy
Tonight Beck is going after Valerie Jarrett. If he thinks he can force the President to boot her, he's barking up the wrong tree. Because she was an admirer of Van Jones, he thinks he can use the things connected to Jones to smear Jarrett. The dumb fu*k.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Smearmonger
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/sep/3...
The UK Labour Party has learned the hard way that it doesn't pay to suck up to Rupert Murdoch and his tabloid hacks. At the party conference today, union leader Tony Woodley did what should have been done long ago, namely shredded today's Sun on stage. Democrats should watch and learn.
I really hate to say this, but does anyone think a previous administration would have tolerated such a vicious and malicious major news outlet to continue unabated?
I have been calling these NAZIS a Political machine for years I feel so good that it is finally, finally being spoken about. These NAZIS have been getting a free ride for years with their LIES, Twisted Truths, Fabrications and Distortions. I recommend that do as I do.
1) Give the Nazi salute every time you walk into a store or business I have done this and the supporters of this Fraudulent Political machine.
2) When they do live casts approach them ask them how does it feel to work for a NAZI ANTI AMERICAN organization, this one usually will get you cursed at and asked to leave.
3) Remember to salute these NAZIS get irritated when you don't, ask the tech. support crew if they really are qualified to operate the equipment or is it like their Lying Fabricated alleged twists ted, distorted IMATION news or what they call news.
4) Be on the look out for their ambush fabricating CLOWN Ambush him and the Camera man and the more people around the better these NAZI CLWNS love Intimidation show them what Intimidation is.
5)Remember the NAZI salute when you leave these NAZIS love that salute.
From the day they put ailes in charge they have been racheting up the lies and disinformation. They have ruined the news business along with the country.
republicanism is a mental illness! Please if you are in a position to do so have some of these batshit crazy fools commited. The country will thank you!
a former director of the CIA. Bush I now seems like a harmless old grandpa, doesn't he?
Fox News is the only channel allowed to be broadcast on TVs in public places on military bases? It is.
No freakin way! that is just sick! I don't believe it! Really? Holy Sheeit!
That is sick! say it isn't true!
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
I can find nothing to establish that.
I don't know anyone that's been out of the military very recently, but I could ask them to check with their friends that are still in.
But I think I already know the answer.
You have to remember, the military is a broad cross-section of people and ages. Trust me, no one wants to just sit in a room with one channel on. They would revolt.
Someone would demand Law and Order reruns at the least.. :)
stationed in Turkey, and he says that the TeeVees in open areas on base are usually tuned to Armed Services Network. (They all have TeeVees in their suites that can be tuned to whatever they can get.)
However, when he was at MacDill, the TeeVees were usually tuned to Fox.
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples, promising liberty and justice for all
O.M.G.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
This is just another excuse for liberals to start imposing regulation and to control free speech, if you don't like CNN or FOX or any news cable don't watch it, but don't let the government impose regulation to suppress freedom of speech. Read the constitution. Obama administration is the worst when they can tell a news organization not to air news, see CNN they have been pressure by the administration that what they report is not even news they just post information that the Administration approves OK.
It's controlling campaign contributions.
Do you believe it's right for one party or candidate to get unlimited contributions?
Because that's what unlimited airtime amounts to. Unlimited advertising. Control of the public debate. Control of the vote.
Is that democracy?
Fuck, no.
likely before the end of the year.
The Sun shifts support from Labour to Tories
(Yeah, it's the Sun, but he also owns the Times of London)
Who's Afraid of Rupert Murdoch?
me-oww!
Murdoooooch! You bastard!
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Most if not all of the regular C & L posters figured this out a hell of a long time ago. My guess the conclusion about Fox as propaganda outlet owned by the hate-filled, anti-democratic, self-loathing shit-head Australian Murdoch who would love a return to 19th laissez-faire capitalism (and its attendant policies like no social programs) took about 6 picoseconds for anyone with some critical thinking skills and a smidgen of historical awareness.
"Secular humanism -- a fearless, realistic world view replete with doubt and scepticism that attempts to attain an unachievable state of equilibrium between and among the human qualities of reason, intuition, imagination, memory, ethics and common sense.
Fox News. We Deceive. You Believe.
> Every liberal who even considers going on Fox to act as props for
> their propaganda machine should stop and think again.
The same thing applies to every "liberal" website who insists on pumping the Net full of Fox "News" propaganda-- both print, audio, AND video.
.
Where's Keith?
NOBODY 2012
Keith is doing a show today.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Whether it's Cheeeney or his daughter Chaaaney talking, it's all non-sense, grandstanding. Talk about miserable people - money does not buy happiness.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Mi7beg4ey4
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Finally someone that comes out and speaks the truth. The Emperor has no clothes. FOX is not a news organization. It's a Republican Propaganda machine, 24/7.
There will be new manufactured outrages by FOX PROPAGANDA from now until the next election. They milked ACORN all it could, and still doing it, and now it's the school children being indoctrinated. After the school children issue plays out, they will find another "outrage", and after that one, another and so on.
Fact is the right wing nuts needed their own television station and FOX filled that niche. If FOX did not exist, someone else would come around and filled that niche. It's just as good to keep all the nuts together in one cable channel, better to isolate them.
I agree wholeheartedly that any progressive, liberal, Democrat or clear thinking Independent is out of their mind to appear on that channel. They are just fodder for national ridicule by the FOX crowd.
ALEJCARO
The stupid , the ignorant and the psycho's who make up the Fox propaganda audience just might do us all in , these sheeple are not normal . We normies cannot afford to just sit on the sidelines anymore , I mean just imagine if the cons and the loonies got back in control ! You thought the last eight years were bad ? What a nightmare that would be !
Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
I place on ignore people who use that idiotic term "sheeple."
Buh bye...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
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