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

[A Very Concerned American]

Michelle Obama should be able to take this comment.
Really.
Senator Clinton and her entire family were bashed daily
They have been accused of racism and God knows what else.
Personally, the media has not put the spotlight on these two since the beginning. of this campaign.
All I know is they both went to a church that I would have left the first day I heard such vicious remarks about race and the United States.
All candidates will be approached by off color remarks and should be able to take the heat without whining.
Both Obama and his wife have never been vetted.
I am thrilled that we are finally beginning to see who these two are.
The media needs to investigate both of the Obama's.

[Rick from NJ]

Every American that says anything about African American are racist.

Whites can talk about whites
Blacks can talk about whites
Blacks can talk about blacks

But God forgive whites talk about blacks.
Please.

[Ann]

This isn't about black and white. This is about a national network insinuating that Mr. and Mrs. Obama have near been married, and their children are illegitimate.

If you spent any time in the real world, you would know that the phrase is used just as much in the white community.

[Marlene]

YOU JUST DON'T GET IT!!! IT'S AMAZING TO ME THAT WHITE PEOPLE CAN SPEW THEIR HATE AND TRY TO BE SELF RIGHTEOUS ABOUT IT, WHINING, "BLACKS TALK ABOUT WHITES WHY CAN'IT TALK ABOUT BLACKS"

DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW INSULTING THAT IS TO SAY MICHELLE IS BARACK'S BABY'S MAMA? IT IMPLIES THAT THEY ARE NOT MARRIED. ON THE OTHER HAND, MAYBE YOU DO UNDERSTAND THAT AND IT'S JUST ANOTHER WAY FOR YOU TO SHOW YOUR HATRED AND YOUR MEAN SPIRIT.

SAY WHAT YOU LIKE, BUT HILLARY WAS NEVER DISREPECTED IN SUCH A WAY AS THIS - THAT'S BECAUSE HILLARY IS WHITE.

FOX NEWS AND THE IDIOT WHO MADE THAT REMARK SHOULD BE OFF THE AIR. THEY ARE A DISEASE!!!!!

[Scotty]

Four years of walking on pins and needles with this Black racist. If he wins, England is for my family.

[Florida]

Fox news need to be sued for defamation of character.
There is enough evidence to prove this. News shows like this one reinforces that this country hasn't evolved when it comes to race.

[volunteer]

Its a sad commentary when some of the above comments refer to this latest incident as a racial incident - my god wake up

You can't hide Obama & his wife from the world-believe it or not race has been used in Obama's behalf

[volunteer]

Don't all of you think the media and all of us are getting carried away with tying all the terms, remarks, inference, etc to being racially motivated

Do we all carry around so much guilt?

Grow up - the world does not revolve around Obama's feelings

[sillysally]

Just because you don't agree with what Fox News reports, doesn't necessarily make them wrong. No station is perfect, and as a Fox News "regular," I was surprised and offended that Michelle O. was referred to as a "Baby Mama" by Fox. That was unprofessional and stupid, to say the least. It was also racist because only African-Americans refer to each other using that term.

Fox News was wrong in this situation. They are, however, a FAIR news station compared to MSNBC and others.

On a side note, Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain are totally fair game in this Presidential Election, just as all potential first ladies have been.

[Lanny Davis]

Baby Mama was never put in play ... even if she said my baby's daddy .. it was racist and maybe more telling, stupid

[LREKing]

This is not an isolated incident, but one more part in a concerted effort to misrepresent Democrats (and anyone who disagrees with Fox's reich-wing view of the world). Recall last week's "terrorist fist-jab" hoo-ha, or the several times the chryons referred to Obama as "Osama"? Fox News is not news--it is a circle jerk for facists and dullards.

[Kimm]

This is the main reason I do not watch the Fox News station or any station that has FOX on it. They have made it clear to the american people and this entire country that they will not have anything good to say about african-americans whether they be politicians, outstanding students, doctors, lawyers, etc. They are worse than the usual rag magazine you find in the grocery stores. What a disgrace.

Michelle Malkin pretends that she did not know the caption ran under her "5 minutes" of fame and the nerve of her. How would she like it if someone referred to her as the "Little Rice eating Girl" on Fox?
This is a very demeaning use of words especially to someone who has dealt with and has overcome the racism in this country, WHICH IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL TODAY!!!

I honestly do not belive the statement that was made by Mrs. Obama about being "proud to be an American for the first time in her adult life" was wrong. I'm still not proud to be an american, even after I have been afforded the opportunity to attend some of the best colleges and universities in the country to obtain my degrees (2 masters and working on Ph.D) and working for a state agency. What is there to really be proud of: Homelessness, children going hungry everyday, the cost of living getting higher and pay getting lower, the economy, an unnecessary war, where young lives have been and are being taken for the benefit of someone else's agenda and personal reasons. Senior citizens who can't buy meds and etc, etc, etc. None of these things I spoke of above have been fixed, and they can be.

So now, you tell me what is there to be proud about?

[Kathy]

I have read the majority of these blogs and it is so sad that people really think the way they do. Closed minded people are the ones who belive we should have gone to war for Bush and his Daddy. These are the same people who probably voted for him and now look at the mess this country is in. Get a real life and start living the way God wants you to. This would be a much better place to live.

[Gaias Child]

Well the apology out of Fox News was something at least. Now, if the organization could be a little more sensitive in advance, it wouldn't be haivng to apologize every day and fire somebody. For an organization considered so very Christian, there's a whopping bunch of neurotic heartlessness going on, smug, mocking, contemptuous. I can't say I experience it first hand coz that's not one of the stations I stop at for news.

[Hotguy]

Since we are all on the subject, what exactly is the Obama postion on the millions of teenage Baby Mama's who will spend their entire life on welfare. Who cares what race they are.

[Alex S]

It just goes to show that although The Times They Are A Changing, there are still a lot of racists in America. Just read some of the replies right here! Although this was hilarious: "Michelle Malkin pretends that she did not know the caption ran under her "5 minutes" of fame and the nerve of her. How would she like it if someone referred to her as the "Little Rice eating Girl" on Fox?" Bottom line is that the GOP is scared to death of Obama, so they will do ANYTHING THEY CAN, including appealing to some whites' basest racist instincts in an attempt to DISTRACT VOTERS FROM THE ISSUES. The fact is that the country is in bad shape on MANY levels and it's time for a change. It's time to THROW THE BUMS OUT and most of the country feels this way and if they VOTE this way, Obama will win. So the GOP is doing their best to DISTRACT voters with appeals to racism and flag pins, crazy Reverends, etc.

[tracy owen]

come folks give me a break are we really giving this much thought to a phrase. As a law enforcement officer, I can't tell you how many times I have heard the phrase "thats my babies's mamma, or that's my babies daddy", instead of simply saying mother, or father, and I hear from both black and white, so its not racial, its not derogatory its just a term or a new play on words. We have have got more serious issues to deal with in this country besides who said what.

[SoCal]

I love watching fox new. I truly due. But I want to go to heaven. I am old now. I cant HATE. The way I used to. I know in my heart. That it is wrong. Yet I still do it. I try LORD to be kind and good. But FOX news feeds the fire and hate within me. So I must block you fox news. Sorry! I must! I am old. I must repent for all the hate!

[Rick]

Only a natural born citizen. Should own a American network!!! Pass it on.. We are getting the propaganda. Of another country. Murdock is not a true American. MURDOCK SHOULD NOT OWN A NETWORK!!!!!! ONLY NATURAL BORN AMERICANS!!!! SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE LET THEM COME INTO OUR COUNTRY!!!!

[TruthIsGold]

FOX News shows us the worst of human nature, again, and again, and again!

[TruthIsGold]

FOX News shows us the worst of human nature, again, and again, and again!

[MrBest]

I'm still waiting on the liberal media to claim the "blackout in D.C." was some sort of racial slur aimed at Obama....oops! maybe aimed will be misconstrued.

[Deadissident]

What Fox in essence said was that That Michelle Obama's Children are not legitimate. This is factually wrong. It is not just racist it is an intentional lie designed to defame the Obama's. A lie to insinuate that Barack and Michelle were not married at the time of their children's conception or birth. In effect saying their children are bastards. THIS IS RACISM in content and a racist attack against the Obama's

You can not trust anything FOX News says because at FOX News facts are secondary to ideoligy.

[Tom in California]

So are we surprised that Fox News spews racist and reactionary filth? That's what the network was set up to do! Murdoch is the William Randolph Hearst of our day: electronic "yellow" journalism.

[Julian]

America needs to shut this Nazi TV channel down. It is now infested with foul and abusive bricklayers and drug addicts turned into TV hosts and paid call-in shrews to read prepared texts at intervals.

(Wouldn't shutting down a TV network you disagree with be exactly the kind of thing the Nazis themselves would do?)