Fox News, after being left out of media blitz, calls Obama White House 'a bunch of crybabies' [Updated]

It was a major media blitz, unprecedented in recent memory.

President Obama -- selling healthcare, parsing Afghanistan, dodging ACORN -- conducted a marathon of interviews with top TV networks. Taped Friday from the White House Roosevelt Room, the 15-minute sessions ran yesterday on CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC and the Spanish-language Univision. Topping the charm offensive: his appearance tonight, his first as president, on David Letterman's late-night comedy show.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham derided the Obama media blitz, saying the commander in chief appeared "on everything but the Food Channel." The Obama White House also did not give any airtime to Fox, Rupert Murdoch's conservative news channel. [Updated, 6:38 p.m.: A Fox News Channel spokesperson said that although there may be a perception that Fox is a home to conservative commentators, it is not a “conservative news channel.”]

The White House may have been punishing Fox News for corporate sibling Fox TV's decision not to air the president's joint address to Congress a few weeks ago. "We figured Fox would rather show 'So You Think You Can Dance' than broadcast an honest discussion about health insurance reform," snarled White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

But was that smart politics? According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox News' prime-time ratings soared during the second quarter of 2009 -- reaching 1.2 million viewers as compared to CNN's 598,000 and MSNBC's average audience of 392,000.

And Chris Wallace, the anchor of "Fox News Sunday," was more than a little disturbed. "They are the biggest bunch of crybabies I have dealt with in my 30 years in Washington," he told Bill O'Reilly.

Vote here. Let us know what you think. Will the Obama snub of Fox hurt the president's agenda?

-- Johanna Neuman

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Comments

[Dana Scully]

Ugh..why would anyone go on Fox News. Listen to the language that is spewed from that network. "Crybabies". Fox is ridiculous, crass, rude, and hateful entertainment for the right wing of the Republican Party.Goin on Fox News would be a waste of time. Fox clearly makes millions off of delegitimizing and disrespecting the president.

[Ruben Ramos]

It's hard to say if snubbing Fox news, which for many of us who remember the Cronkite era of pragmatist journalism, will hurt them since the network is so right-winged in general. Fox viewership is up because a manufactured paranoia flame is being fanned by O'Reilly and Beck. Fox also featured more Bush administration officials on their show during their reign so why they're calling the Obama White House a bunch of crybabies is a typical right-wing hypocrisy. I do believe that the Fox network will gain since fear is a tool used by most conservatives. I think the Obama administration should steer clear from Fox because they use the footage only to influence their viewers with political messages and not report the news. I had edited film and I do know that both sided are guilty of this manipulation. Honestly I do think the administration will lose support for his agenda by avoiding Fox. But I also think it wouldn't have mattered anyway since many fringed right-winged have gone off their rocker by showing up at rallies with guns and misinformation and Fox will show them as heroes for whatever label they decide to stick on. Fear is becoming more mainstream since right-winged leaning media have started and embraced this rotted, vile foot fight and I'm afraid of where this is going. Also, is race playing a reason for this as former President Carter suggest? I think so. To a point. Most people keep private thoughts to themselves. I do think many are allowing themselves to be frightened by puppet masters of fear and suspicion rather than actually meeting their neighbors who may look a little different. I other words, allowing yourself to be taken in by a 30 second soundbite to make a decision about what you believe is ignorant and irresponsible. Reason has taken a backseat and the driver may end up injuring or killing us all. Very sad....

[Luis Fernando]

If anything, it confirms that the White House is still stuck in "Campaign Mode". It is much harder to govern that to campaign, so this proves a weakness in our president.

I hate to say it....but this is what the McCain campaign warned us would happen if we elected a novice to the WH. Now, I'm not a hater, I think there are many cool things about our President. I just feel the one thing people wanted from him was to keep his promise to change the way Washington makes sausage. By playing games as noted on this article, he has failed at this task.

[edmundo morais]

They are dictator`s. Like Chávez, Fidel, Armadhinejah, Kadhafy.

[Lonni]

Absolutely! It has childish, play-ground "if you don't do what we want we won't play with you" written all over it. Any President who won't stand His ground in the face of opposition but hides behind his cronies and supporters is suspect in the trust department. Not because of "lies" or anything else but because running from them looks cowardly and if he will run/hide from a newscasters who challenge his policies, what on earth would he do if he were faced with our real enemies....those who wish to destroy us? He certainly does not have our backs. Yep, to me it's just cowardly.

[Michael]

Why would he appear on Fox? This is the propaganda organ for the GOP. They are actively working against him and rooting for the failure of our economy and a new terrorist attack, just like the GOP.

[Madeline Nelson]

Fox News may be popular but that does not mean that it is an actual news source. Refusing to give legitimacy to a network that deals in lies and manipulation only makes me have more respect for our president.

[Dennis]

Fox News hates president Obama. They have done everything they can to destroy him, including lie about almost everything he does. Why in God's name should he appear on Fox News? It is totally one sided, right wing insanity.

[Ed Patrick]

FOX NEWS IS TURNING INTO A CULT.

[George]

Isn't it ironic that Chris Wallace whines about the White House snub of FOX News, given the network's complaints about the president's alleged 'overexposure'? Moreover, for Wallace to call Obama and his team 'crybabies' while he himself is crying about it only adds to the sense of irony.

[bob]

Cry some more, Fox.

[John D. Madden]

I sincerely hope that the sickening slide to socialism under the Obama administration has not seduced the brave and patriotic citizens of the Southeast into wanting the government to come between them and disaster. All sorts of governmental organizations, local, state and federal will probably try to offer assistance in independence-sapping efforts like saving people's lives, providing shelter and food and medical assistance (the first steps toward socialized medicine) and putting their lives and communities back together again after the waters recede (pure communism! Noah did not get government help).

Wake up, conservative America! Do not let the government get between you and disaster, or between you and terrorism (buy a gun) or between you and old age (drop out of Social Security and put the money in a coffee can).

[Sheila]

Sad enough that Fox News is so popular, by no means is it a objective, serious news source. It has been working as a propaganda machine against Candidate + President Obama. As someone said below: Refusing to give legitimacy to a network that does not hesitate to lie and manipulate it's viewers, only makes me have more respect for our President.

[John]

FOX news is custom made for people who want to hear what they want to hear. The country is changing and it's people are circling the wagons. The people who watch FOX are behind the wagons. Leave them to their fantasy. Time is the omnipotent leveler. Whether the President went on FOX or didn't is besides the point. They complain that he snubbed them and they would complain if he DID go on FOX. They would have had him opposite a pompous pea-brain like Bill O'Reilly. I have seen so many out and out lies on FOX and not once, much like George W. Bush, have they ever issued a retraction. A single payer system in this country will yet happen here. It just won't happen in my lifetime because of the insurance lobby. I still have no idea how insurance, which brings nothing to the table, got between me and my doctors. I believe the way to get the economy back on it's feet is a single payer system which would free up lots of money to circulate back into the economy, which would in turn generate lots of tax dollars to pay for it. Eliminate insurance companies altogether in the health equation.

[Info Junkie]

If the White House was in fact "punishing Fox News for corporate sibling Fox TV's decision not to air the president's joint address to Congress a few weeks ago", the Chris Wallace's comment "They are the biggest bunch of crybabies I have dealt with in my 30 years in Washington" is accurate.

[Maggie Knowles]

"According to Nielsen Media Research, Fox News' prime-time ratings soared during the second quarter of 2009 -- reaching 1.2 million viewers as compared to CNN's 598,000 and MSNBC's average audience of 392,000. "
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was thinking about ratings for television/cable/radio early this morning, about how the ratings agencies such as Moody's, Fitch, and S&P rated junk as AAA+.

How do we know that Nielsen Media Research isn't corrupt?

[Kutnar Kumar]

They are all biased, but Fox News is nothing more than propaganda! Respectively, CNN is not exactly fair and balanced, either. Though, this is simply the resultant of my observations and nothing more...

[Dan Melt]

I wonder how many of you that harbor such strong resentment towards Fox News have actually ever watched that channel. My guess is not many. Like our President clearly does, stick to the media you feel comfortable with..

[steve rodriguez]

Chris Obama's White House aren't cry babies, its just that Fox doesn't feed them soft ball questions!!!!

[jamal]

It amazes me that people say Fox isn't a legitimate news source. Have these folks paid attention? The "mainstream" media sources are the propaganda arm of Obama's White House. Other than a rare circumstance (Stephanopoulos last Sunday morning, for example), they feed him softball questions and tell the country how great Obama is. Fox is the only source that tells news without opinion (understand the distinction between newscasters and commentators - O'Reilly, Hannity, etc.).

[Nviktor]

Fox (NEWS & TV) keeps marginalizing itself with this kind of language. Personally, I hope they keep using it just for that purpose.

[russellpeggy]

I think there is a pettiness to this president.
I am independent, but lean conservative, I watch both msnbc and fox...
but
look at the facts..if you want to be president of all people..you go on the
conservative stations (48% of country claims to be) ..I thought it petty of the democratic party not to debate on fox..and I would have admired even one candidate that said I will be there..because they would have said "I want people who watch this station to hear me" (this is not about the network)
Also Brett Hume was always more classy then the Keith Olberman, who is really more like an O'Reilly then an anchor.

This president is petty...remember when he had the "outreach" to republicans
in the month of his coming to office...and he said "I won"..you don't invite
people to your home and insult them...
He has a very prideful way about him. Just for the Record I also did not vote for McCain, because when he compromised his principles and went and voted for the bailout the 2nd time it came up ..AFTER pork was put in to BUY votes
...I PLEAD WITH MY FELLOW CITIZENS TO CHALLENGE THE POWERS TO BE THAT WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY OF THEM TO PUSH AGENDAS
THRU ON CONCEPTS..NOT DETAILS....AND QUIT RAPING ALL OF US SO THEY CAN STAY IN POWER...THEY ARE OUR SERVANTS NOT OUR
ROYALITY.

[jay b spry]

'"We figured Fox would rather show 'So You Think You Can Dance' than broadcast an honest discussion about health insurance reform," snarled White House spokesman Josh Earnest.'
And how does a sermon on the mount qualify as "discussion"?

[S Glitz]

The fact that the President didn't want to go outside of his Ministry of truth says all you need to know about his "openness" to "new ideas".

[Ben Alder]

I watch all of the news channels as much as I can and I have to say Fox has become the best overall. The president missed an opportunity and I think this gaff will play right into those that say he's not trying to get a consensus on health care - he's afraid of dissenting voices - he's not reaching across the aisle - he's not trying to be bi-partisan, etc. He certainly couldn't have done worse on Fox than the dictionary-gate fiasco on George Stephanopoulos.