Fox News in trouble again over Obama smear: 'baby mama'

Fresh from its fist bump flap, Fox News is taking new flak for a screen caption that referred to Michelle Obama as her husband's "baby mama."

Even conservative commentator Michelle Malkin, who was on camera Wednesday afternoon when the line "OUTRAGED LIBERALS: STOP PICKING ON OBAMA'S BABY MAMA" flashed underneath her, has distanced herself from the phrase.

In a posting Wednesday night, Malkin wrote: "I did not write the caption, and I was not aware of it when it ran (the Baltimore studio doesn’t have a monitor). I don’t know if the caption writer was making a lame attempt to be hip, clueless about the original etymology of the phrase, or both."

Still, Malkin goes off on a tangent on how Michelle Obama, in the past, has referred to her mate as her "baby's daddy" (the point being, presumably, that the phrase was thus in play). You can read Malkin's post here; it includes some of the nasty e-mails she received following her Fox appearance.

The folks at Fox are developing something of an obsession over Barack Obama's wife. Tonight's Bill O'Reilly show, according to network promos, will include a discussion of her by conservative radio talk show host Laura Ingraham.

The other recent brouhaha ...

... involving the network was sparked by a segment it did on the fist bump the Obamas exchanged on stage last week as he prepared to proclaim that he had secured sufficient delegates to win the Democratic presidential race.

A few days later, Fox anchor E.D. Hill, reading words on a teleprompter that someone else had written, wondered whether the gesture might be interpreted as a "terrorist fist jab." Hill later apologized.

Perhaps Fox hired a few too many summer interns to handle some of its behind-the-scenes writing chores.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Gromit]

Don, that's not a "tangent." Exactly as you (next) said, MM was explaining why she believes such terms as "babby daddy" and "baby mama" were put in play by Michelle Obama herself.

That's directly on point, Don, not a "tangent."

This is an opinion blog, and you're entitled to yours (that MM view IS a "tangent"), but you're flat wrong this time.

[jro]

She's da baby's mama. What is wrong wid dat yo?

[Mccain is Bush]

More than one person should be relieved of their job for allowing this racial slight to air.

The writer, the director, the producer, anybody who has a say in what is allowed to be aired should be held accountable.

What say you Fox?

[jon]

LOL!
Welcome to Hillary's world Michelle!

She had an entire convention dedicated to her in 1992!

But now the leftist media will be outraged!!!!!
Gimme a break. Deal with it!
Write in Hillary 08

[frank burns]

Fox gives conservative tabloid journalism a bad name.

[mkinla]

you insult interns: i think most middle and high school interns would be smarter than the writers at Fox News. and i am certain college ones would be.

[steve]

What can you expect from the white trash network known as FOX? Might as well run this after NASCAR so the ignorant closed minded demographic could of had another good racist laugh.

[cody mccall]

It's important to keep in mind that Fox News really isn't . . . news, that is. It's an agent of the GOP in general, the GWB White House in particular, and an integral part of Murdoch's obsession to demonize all things/people labeled liberal, progressive, and/or Democract, as in the Democratic Party.
I will look forward to the soon-to-be-launched campaign on Fox to rename a well-known national monument 'Mount Bushmore' and have his smirking visage chiseled therein.

[TJackson]

I think that the news caption concerning Michelle Obama ("Stop picking on Obama's Baby Mama") was really over the top. This country has too many problems and all we are doing at this point is playing games with the spouses of the candidates. If Michell Obama talks politics, call her out on it and leave dirt where dirt belongs. That news caption shows how out of touch you (Fox News) are with African Americans

[Ric Ross]

Fox News has demonstrated once again that they are not a professional news organization, and totally out of touch with America. Referring to Mrs Obama in this manner is disrespectful and derogatory. I'm certain that their pundits would be filled with outrage if one of the other news organizations referred to Mrs. McCain as a "trophy wife" - which she is not. ***Fox - unfair & unbalanced. sad.

[anonymous]

Why are you bringing your publication down to FOX News levels? Shame on you!
I think Michelle Obama would make a very elegant and refreshing First Lady. She's not a baby. She has the guts to wear what she feels appropriate (and it is by the way) and speak her mind (which politicians have been afraid to do for way, way too long).

[tani]

Remember in the 60's. you are not suppose to call a 6 yr old Negro "black boy" because it is "racist" and "demeaning". Now, the phrase baby mama is wrong? Why is it that we have to walk on egg shells when we talk about anything attached to blacks, but when blacks talk about whites, asians Latinos, they can say anything they want?

[Stephanie Marie]

Would you be referring to Mrs Obama as the baby's mama if she were of another enthic group? Oh is this acceptible because she is Black ? Once again America is showing that race is still an issue. When we are all one race the human race with many enthic groups.

When you all understand that we are all ONE

[moots]

Gromit -

The phrase "baby's daddy" quoted by Ms. Malkin in her defense, appears to be premised on a typographical error. At the time Mrs. Obama made the statement in 2004 (quoted as "My baby's daddy"), the Obamas had two children. Thus, the quoted statement should read "My babies' daddy." Certainly you can see the difference between a mother referring to her husband and father of her two children as "My babies' daddy" (a term of endearment) versus a TV "news" program referring to Mrs. Obama as "Obama's baby mama" (hardly endearing, as evidenced by the rest of the chyron: "Outraged Liberals: Stop Picking on Obama's Baby Mama!").

In case you can't see the difference, I'll do it for you. First, "baby mama" is a well-known derogatory term typically lodged against single African-American mothers. If you can locate any instance of the term "baby mama" being applied to a white woman, much less a married white woman, much less a white woman married to a major party presidential candidate, by any news program ever, please do so. (I'll bet you a beer that you can't.)

Second, Fox knows that subtext - as evidenced by the absence of an apostrophe-s ('s) after the word "baby." Putting aside that the Obamas have two children (and thus it should be spelled "babies'"), obviously the writers employed by Fox understand possessive nouns. By dropping the aprostrophe-s, Fox is seizing the racial/socio-economic subtext behind the phrase "baby mama" and applying it to the Obamas.

If you don't find Fox's behavior despicable, perhaps you'll be persuaded by Fox itself. In case you missed it, Fox has apologized for using the term: “A producer on the program exercised poor judgment in using this chyron during the segment,” Fox's Senior Vice President of Programming Bill Shine said in a statement to Politico.

[Cookie]

We still have a long way to go. She is his wife, partner and best friend. How dare fox run something that is so disrespectful. Not only to Michelle but to any strong, black, and educated woman. Fox owes the Obama family an apology. It definely shows that you are terrified. That this man and his wife could actually make a change in this Country. I know you would like for it to stay just as it is on the brink of destruction from 8 years of making deals, while sipping on your cognac and brandy in the back room. WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!! NO MORE!!!!

[Cecelia Patmon]

Hillery may have been faced with sexism. but that's a far cry from both sexism and racism. I will not be a bit surprise that if the blatant racist remarks are continued against Obama and his wife. That it will help put him in the White House. Smut of this nature would turn the heads of the minority Republicans. Which have been silent lately.

[Bertie Jones]

I guess that it is politically correct for African American male stars to say in the movies that their female counterparts are holes, but to make it offensive to say someone is a baby mama is demeaning to every American. This gives a new meaning to the insanity of current media responsible journalism. By making this an issue and indicating that someone saying this is making a racial slur is bordering on lack of faith in society to use good judgement in our own use of articulation of slang and culture. The media including you Don Frederick should be ashamed of this kind of journalism that creates dissention of the public and divides this nation with racial division. Onced a wise person said that "A house divided could not stand" Please stop the nonsense. Bring us precise news, good issues, common sense, and a way for Americans to live the dream of Martin Luther King. No matter the color of the outside skin, black, brown, red, white, or yellow...we must focus
on one thing; we live together in the world with limited resources that must be shared so that each gets a equal share of the pie. We all have the same color blood, feel pain in the same sense, grieve for the lost of love ones,
and feel great humility when faced with the tragedy of others. When we were children we were all taught the rule of "if you have nothing good to say about someone, say nothing at all". What has happened to that basic rule, when everyone has only bad to speak of other good humans. Must we always second guess everyone's motives for what is been said. Most are only trying their best to do what they think is right at a given time with the options of choices they are presented.
I will end with this last statement. I have 3 sons and frankly I am proud to be called baby mama.

[ted winther]

Pathetic. Our nation's news is reported by juveniles. They have no value. These are people who just weren't bright enough to have careers in something meaningful. They should just read the facts and let people with normal intelligence draw their own conclusions. If we as a nation consider these people significant sources of information, then we are doomed to live in ignorance.

[David Dawdy]

It would be a step in the right direction if print media listings would refer to "Fox News" as an opinion or commentary show to differentiate it from news reportage.

Viewers could then enjoy it's editorial premise and crude humor and put-downs for what they are, and leave the real news reporting to the adult media.

Dave Dawdy

[Ellen]

I agree Fox's intent was a racist slur. It was like they got away with putting "Pickaninny" on the screen.

[Mr. Unite Us]

I stopped watching Fox after news analyst made a crack about killing Obama.

I think the advertisers should contacted and asked not to support this trash. I think if McCain or the RNC had class they would let Fox know that they don't condone this.

In attempting to discredit the Obamas Fox loses credibility.

www.fightthesmears.com

[Tom J]

For those who think there's nothing wrong with calling Michelle a baby mama, let's try an experiment. Starting now, all Fox News people will regularly mention 'Murdoch's baby mama' (Wendi Deng) and 'Ailes's baby mama' (Elizabeth Ailes) in their broadcasts as well as in meetings with Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes. They can let us know how that works out for them.

[Cheryll]

See ANY criticism of the Obama camp is ALWAYS a point of racism with them. I can see it now...IF Obama was president whining about racism when congress doesn't go his way.
Poor, poor Obama..with racism as his flag he can try to exempt himself from any mistakes...always the white man keeping him down...

[Patricia]

McCain, his sleazy slimy cohorts, the RNC and his faithful "Good Ole" Boys are running scared and master-mindeinthe smear and racist campaign, along with lining Fox's underbelly pocketaswith $$$$$$ to attack the Obama family. And the RNC sit s " innocently" by gasping in horror as each of their smear tactics continue to come across news station that are racist like Fox. McCain and his cohorts do not care about running a clean and honest campaign, they want to continue to hold this country hostage as we spiral down. So, they, which is not surprising, have developed a scheme where they are going to make up stuff on Michelle Obama to cripple Obama's chances for winning. I know that Fox is being handsomely being rewarded for his case. Yet this is prevalent all over our world.

[America the Beautiful]

Michelle Obama and Senator Obama should be treated the way the rest of the politicians are being treated.

If she can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

She's fair game.