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Mickey Kaus: Why Conservatives Fear To Criticize Fox News

Mickey Kaus explains the power Fox News holds over the entire conservative movement.

Former Daily Caller writer, Mickey Kaus joined CNN's Brian Stelter on Reliable Sources to explain in some detail why he quit Carlson's website and why conservatives are afraid to ever criticize Fox News.

KAUS: Well, that's right. I had no problems with them before. But I posted this piece on the web early in the morning Monday morning, very early. I stayed up all night doing it.

And I went to sleep and I got up and it disappeared. There's a note from Tucker saying, "Can't trash FOX on the site. Sorry, I work there." So, I wrote back saying, "Is that really the rule? Because if it is, I have to quit."

You know, he has a right to have a rule like that, but I don't have to -- I don't have to be nice to the people that he has to be nice to. So, he said, "Well, I'm sorry but it's a hard and fast rule." So think about it for a day. I thought about it for a day and then I quit.

Selter asked Tucker for a comment and so far he hasn't responded. Fox News is adamant about not having people on any of their networks if they dare to criticize them. The reason Kaus and Carlson's staff are surprised about this Fox-rule is because they rarely ever clash with Rupert Murdoch on anything since Fox News is the Conservative channel of record. Mickey is an avid opponent of immigration reform as is Laura Ingraham, but you'll never hear her attack Fox News as a whole on this issue.

Then Kaus explained the power Fox News holds on the conservarazzi.

STELTER: So, that's what we're getting at, when you say everyone scared of FOX, you're saying there are lots of writers, bloggers, up and coming stars in conservative media who don't take on FOX, who don't want to be critical of FOX because then it won't get on the air. Is that right?

KAUS: Well, that's right. I mean, FOX is basically the only means or the main means, the dominant means of upward mobility for a whole bunch of pundits and writers and wannabe pundits. Even if you don't have a show on FOX like Tucker does, you want to have a show on FOX. If you're an author, if FOX promotes your book, your book is going to be a success. And the roots to success outside of TV, by saying being mid-list book author without any TV exposure, those have dried up.

So, TV is dominant and FOX is dominant on the right.

All conservatives are in fear of being caught criticizing Roger Ailes baby because they will be shown the door. That's called a monopoly boys and girls and it's a powerful tool to wield against your supposed allies. It has a way of keeping the troops in line at all times.

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