The Obama war against Fox News: Risky business?

The Obama White House is making no secret of its distaste for Fox News.

In a round of Sunday talk show appearances, the administration escalated its war against the network that likes to call itself "fair and balanced" but that happens to feature quite a few conservative voices.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said on CNN that Fox News isn't even a news organization.

And White House political guru David Axelrod, who had coffee a few weeks ago in New York with Fox News founder Roger Ailes, told ABC that Fox News is "really not news. ... Other news organizations like yours ought not to treat them that way. We're not going to treat them that way."

But some are wondering if this is smart politics. Given that Fox News boasts a far larger audience than cable competitors CNN and MSNBC, and given that most elections are decided by independents who might occasionally watch FNC, the strategy could backfire.

“It's a very risky strategy,” perennial presidential advisor David Gergen said recently on CNN. “It's not one I would advocate.”

For its part, the administration seems content to keep the battle going, even though the wars have already claimed a few victims. Glenn Beck pounded the lectern relentlessly about green jobs czar Van Jones for signing a petition suggesting government conspiracy in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Jones resigned.

Now Beck has turned his furor on White House communications director Anita Dunn for saying that China's Mao Tse-tung was one of her favorite philosophers. Firing back, Dunn said she picked up the line from renowned Republican strategist Lee Atwater and that it was meant as irony.

"The use of the phrase 'favorite political philosophers' was intended as irony, but clearly the effort fell flat -- at least with a certain Fox commentator whose sense of irony may be missing," she said. Keeping up the White House attack, Dunn also charged that Fox serves as "the research arm or the communications arm of the Republican Party."

Now Beck is charging that the White House attack is akin to media genocide, like going after the Jews during the Holocaust.

I dunno, don't these folks have something better to do?

-- Johanna Neuman

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Comments

[anony]

Fox News does not work with a full deck. They just say what comes out of their mouth without backing it up with facts. People in this country are really gullible to even listen to these so called journalists.

[Fairly Unbalanced]

"The FOXNews Channel" has frequently stated it was an "Entertainment" channel and not the "News" in court cases against it. That way, it can make up things and distort without any liability for misleading its watchers. Basically it is their option to tell you a lie or distortion of facts, and it is up to you to figure it out enough to believe it blindly (As most of their viewers do) or to dismiss it as the garbage it really is. I believe FOXNews is less news and more opinion. And you know what they say about opinions.

[Jeb Bush / Lez Cheney 2012]

Only Fox News has exposed the fact that Obama was not born in America! Fox News also exposed that he was educated in a Madrassa and in reality is a Kenyan Muslim Communist. Only Fox News is protecting us from death panels and taxes on the wealthy.

[Marshall Davidson]

Do You Remember Nixon’s “Enemies List”? Can You Say, ”Enemies Of The People”?

The Obama administration's attacks on Fox News, banks, “greedy” specialists (but not nice family doctors), Wall Streeters, Glenn Beck, medical insurers and auto company bondholders should remind us that its populist/socialist programs and its political and media tactics echo those of Italy's Falange in the 1920s, the Peronistas in Argentina in the 1940s and, the Chavezistas in Venezuela today.

[fred64]

Glen Beck, Sean Hannity and O'Riley are not "news", but cammentary shows on Fox and certainly lean conservative some like Hannity more than others, but they get great viewership, because nobody else is taking a critical look into this administration.

Rather than smearing the messengers, perhaps Obama and company should be addressing the seemingly valid issues they raise. Chicago style politics simply are not going to be accepted by most intelligent Americans. Most of us would like a bit more of the promised transparency and embracing of ideas from across the aisle -- as Obama promised he would.

[Ryan]

It seems to me if you have confidence in your stance, you would have no problem debating the opposition. What is Obama so afraid of?

[Jeanette]

Let's be fair. Nixon had his enemies list, so what if Obama is better at it by acting on his enemies list. Kinda does make me wonder though how far he's willing to use his power to smash his enemies?

[T. Indabay]

The ruler of the USA will now dictate not whom we should watch, but whom we should wish to watch.
No, they have nothing better to do. They can do no better.
They can do no good.
They do only evil.
It is not trivial. It is not a joke. It is not a matter of opinion.
Your decisions will be overridden by his omniscient omnipotence.
You don't need a mind at all- you have minders.
You should not question this further. Fnord.

[Ellen H]

Hey Rahm, remember freedom of the press? If you dont like what they say, turn the channel Maybe MSNBC which serves as the research arm or the communications arm of the Democratic Party.

[Silas]

Fox is the only network engaged in serious journalism. The others are Obama's lap dogs.

[Sheldon the teacher]

I never watch Fox their news reporting cant touch all the other networks they are tabloid news at best, Liars at worst I will take PBS, NBC,CNN, CBS any day over Fox. If you want sensationalism go to Fox if you want the news from thinking people go to the others. If you measured the amount of educated people who watch Fox and compared the amount of College grads watching Fox compared to any other network Fox would loose big time.

[o. garza]

I know lee Atwater said that because my sister was working for him...he said it several times....How could someone like Glen Beck understand irony. He never took a college lit class.
Neither Blen Geck or Rush Limbo went to college. go figure

[Michael]

I for one appreciate the Administration's position on Fox News. Why? Because Fox News does just seem like a media arm of the Republican Party. So many people realize that, so why can't the White House say it? Both they and Fox News know they are political enemies, at least the White House can be mature about it and talk about it openly. Very proud in this instance.

[Bob D]

Things must really be getting bad in the Oval Office if they send out Alexrod and Dead Fish to tilt at windmills.

[Sancho Sotomayor]

FAIR AND BALANCED? Not if your income falls short of the Obama Administration's Health Care Tax. Obama Snobs can not figure out that people who are strapped for cash, may opt for the unfair penalty, rather than fork out money they don't have for the president's Health Care Scheme. The Obama Snobs are willing to take what little money struggling Americans have, that would otherwise go for off-the-shelves medicine and bandages. OBAMA HEALTH CARE IS A DISGRACE AIMED AT THE WORKING POOR!

[Virgil]

Whether CNN and MSNBC and others agree with Fox's stance, they should take notice that the administration is trying to control the populace's view of the network. It could be their turn next, if they say something that the administration does not like.

Frankly, media outlets on both sides of the political aisle should stand up and say "hands off" to any politician that goes after the news...

This is refered to as the "erosion of our rights". If allowed to continue, or be successful, the next time it will errode the First Amendment just a little more.

So, what if Govenor Schwarzenegger decided to say that the LA Times was against his policies and causing people to not believe in his agenda?

You can believe one thing: there are plenty of politicians out there waiting to see how this plays out, and if the news media does not stand together against this errosion of rights, it will be besieged with politicians, national, state, and local, that will attempt to influence the news by turning one outlet against another.

[Kevin]

FOX News is not a legitimate news source but instead is a partisan propaganda mouthpiece that continually deceives the public.

It is time for the charade that it is a responsible source of news to end.

[Jay C Rendahl]

Just because Fox has a large audience doesn't mean it's a bona-fide news reporting agency. Based on that recipe, the National Enguirer would be the number one "investigative news" newspaper in the country.
This country has to make a decision. Do we want to be taken seriousely, or are we satisfied with Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Fox News being the US standard for "Fair and Balanced" reporting?
The reason Fox shouldn't be taken seriousley is simple, you can predict the side it will take on any given issue. There is the Fox "way", or the "Liberal Media" way. Fox has done a great job of defining anyone who isn't Fox. The White House has taken the first steps in correcting this. It's a shame (not to mention embarassing) that no one else (with respect to MSNBC) has called Fox and Mr. Murdoch on this. Cynical bias is not the same thing as reporting. Sarcasm is not the same thing as presenting an opinion. Many in the US are now of the belief that their opinion is their own because of Fox's poor and extremely unbalanced reporting.
The Fox Networks Dumbing-Down of America will continue until someone stands up to this organization. I just hope that the administration gets assistance in its endeavor.

[Josh Leibner]

Glenn Beck continues his misguided attempts to draw parallels between a duly elected president and the Nazis. More than shameful, it is an insult to the intelligence of anyone watching. If he has disagreements with policy matters, he should make a clear, concise argument for his point of view. Absent the apparent ability to do so, he resorts to the most pernicious of comments disguised as innocently objective observations.

Sadly, many otherwise intelligent folks repeat the unfounded assessments in his diatribes as fact...

[Brian]

FOX News is ridiculous. Any person who depends on FOX to get their news is a shed short of a toolshed. FOX News is great at reporting what they feel like, not what is true. They are the gossip magazine of the news channels, entertaining but full of bull!

[Michael Deis]

I find it interesting that the story avoids providing background on the actual bias of the cable news networks. I would recommend that your reporter check the journalism.org website for some illumination, specifically the analysis about election coverage -- http://www.journalism.org/node/13436#fn1 . The objective evidence available from Pew suggest that the most balanced election coverage came from Fox, CNN was less balanced, and the least balanced coverage (pro-obama) came from MSNBC. One thinks this might be important in understanding the story above and suggesting that the Obama administration only wants coverage that supports their viewpoint.

[Jeff in Orland0]

Obama's war on FOX will make no difference because the damage has already been done. Obama is the most polarizing president in recent history and the nation is more divided than ever. Many independents and some Republicans did not like Bush, but Obama has succeeded in alienating independents, the elderly and groups in the Democrat coalition. Next will be those who have jobs but are afraid of losing them. His economic and environmental proposals if made into law will further erode the job market. Obama is becoming the new Jimmy Carter - disliked by all the people including many in his party.

[SFO]

Fox News Channel’s entire agenda is not simply to criticize but to demonize and goes on all day long, 7 days a week with every commentator. Fox News is not news it is commentary expressed as fact…
It is important to adhere to our foundations in regard to freedom of speech but one needs to look critically at the motivation of the source.

[Rick Pope]

Amazing how "News" organizations that are favorable to the Obama Adminstration are worthy of being called News. However, if the News and Commentary are not favorable it is not News.

[just an american]

remember Sam Donalson. unfortunalely there are no long a Sam working for the major network. Major Garrett is now the Sam Donalson and Fox network is now ABC.

[7890]

CNN IS NOT A NEWS SOURCE BECOUSE THEY ARE ALL LIBERALS would never be considerd by retards like david axlerod but fox news oh yes their all conservatives so the'll be band. Of cour you stupid half braind biches won't uderstand becouse you yote for a guy who swore into senate on the koran, is a murder and would like Real americans killed: Obama

[JoeCollins]

Geee, what is it that Fox is broadcasting which the White House does not want the public to see? Fox broadcasts commentary which is decidedly conservative. But, the news is the news is the news, with both sides represented if the news is political.

Something is makeing the White House most uncomfortable. Hey, White House, why the rumble? Could it be that Glenn Beck now has 5 political insiders ready to squeal? Oh how enlightening that might be. Who do you suppose those insiders are, and how close to the power brokers might they be?

[m]

"I dunno, don't these folks have something better to do? -- Johanna Neuman"

I dunno. Don't YOU?

[Taylor]

Well on the part of Fox News, this is how they make money. The more controversy, the more viewers and the more they can charge for advertising, even if some companies don't want to. There will always be companies that will be ad time when they know there are viewers watching.

For the White House, yes there are many more things they could be doing than this little "war" with Fox News. It is a waste of time. Viewers will decide what to watch for news. There are just too many issues right now that need to be handled.

Also, is there really any differences between Fox News, CNN and MSNBC? They all have pundits "dissect" every news story. They all have "host" shows where a host speaks his mind on all things political. And they all have a spin no matter what they say. As much as it is about the news, it is all about the product or brand.

[Don]

Since the Obama administration is looking like it is sneakier and dirtier than Nixon's was, no wonder they are going after the only major news organization that is willing to challenge them.
You are missing the whole point of Glenn Beck and Van Jones tho. It wasn't that Van Jones had signed the "Truther" petition, it was that he is an avowed communist and wants to overthrow democracy here. How did HE get in the White House at all?
If Obama was a repuglican (no misspelling .. call it irony) he would already be facing impeachment. Obama is showing he is as crooked as they come.

[CoCo]

I'm ok with FOX news, and I don't think it's the governments place to try to silence the media (at least not in America). I read Fox news, LA Times, Washington Post, New York Post - even foreign media...then I form my own conclusion. With the Internet, pretty much all news sources are biased...

[Ciane]

I am at a loss as to what this full out attack is supposed to accomplish. The people that watch Fox are only getting fueled by the attack on their network. The people who don't like Fox were already on board with the Prez to begin with. This only serves to push the middle ground people to Fox to see what is going on, and a good number of them could potentially like what they see when they get there. Plus Fox has nothing else to do but fight this. They can employ hundreds of people to fight this 24/7. The Presidents staff could potentially do the same, but if they do, that just fuels Fox's claims of wasted resources and money. Does he actually think he is going to shut down or even slightly marginalize Fox? Regardless of how this turns out, what happens if the Dems lose the midterm elections? He thinks he has it rough now. Regardless of what you think of Obama, this is bizarre.

[brian kent]

I watch all the networks, including Fox. They all have something to say, yet Fox, at least from my point of view, always are looking for the angle. The action/thoughts not said and at times, conflicting wording to suit themselves as being " News" worthy. I feel the public sees through this, yet I know some of them get the wrong ideas, yet the channel changer is always at hand, ready to find another outlet.

[Jim]

Fox is biased to the right and MSNBC is biased to the left. Instead of being neutral and debating both sides of an issue they continue to serve a specific agenda. Exactly the reason there was no debate before the war in Iraq. The media has become a fictional soap opera. You can no longer turn on your TV to find any honest and unbiased information. It's all Corporate and Government propeganda.

[jim sisco]

With two ongoing wars and an economy on life support, why in the world would this administration have time to attack the only news agency that isn't their lapdog? Is it because they're bringing light to things which BHO would rather that the American people not know about?

[Matthew Bright]

The guy who runs Fox News also ran the first George Bush's campaign against Michael Dukakis and is responsible for the Willie Horton ad. His utterances to his employees are legendary with regard to the point of view they are supposed to espouse and he has proven himself over and over again to be a "Swift Boater," of the first order. He does what he does because he's been successful at it.

The Democrats would ignore the ceaseless yammering lies and propaganda from Fox News at their peril. Just ask Michael Dukakis.

[George]

Interesting how liberal-friendly MSNBC hasn't been declared a non-news organization. They are more critical of conservatives than Fox is of liberals.

[Matt]

irony huh? Maybe Anita should research that word a little better before using it. Fox has 3 times the viewership of any other cable channels. This administration is FDR style socialism all over again.

[mary]

I don't understand why more media/newspapers are not concerned about the White House's reaction to Fox News. Are they not concerned that this could happen to them if they don't agree with the white house? This is no way to run a democracy...if you don't agree you are shut down?

[justiceserved]

Fox is akin to the propaganda machine run in a dictatorship, the facts are irrelevant and they keep spewing hate that undereducated people keep slurping up wishing to blame our current circumstances on imigrants, minorities, elitists, women, and always the "straight" media. This approach has stirred up the radical rightwingers to a pitch not seen since McCarthy. This is very dangerous as it's myths/anger can result in violent acts by easily led masses (think Hitler). The scariest part is the anger is the end in and of itself and the party out of power will do anything to regain power (Republicans). And this has all been perpetrated by a non-American (Ruppert Murdoch).

[Reda Salib]

It is about time that someone has enough courage to state the truth about FOX, it is not news, it is pure hatred propoganda for the ultra conservatives and the republican party.

[Norman]

Fox is Unbalanced (lunatic fringe, SICKO) and bigoted as in KKK. Murdock is a bane to human decency. Fox has been and will remain the propaganda machine of the far right. I cannot tell what is the difference between Glen Beck and a KKK wizard!!! Just because he is on TV, it does not make him and his network less dangerous. These people (the mouthpieces of the fringe right) are clear and present danger to social order and civility. They should be charge with character assassination, propaganda, lies, deceitful business practices and anti-AMERICAN malicious and seditious spread of lies. They conspired with Dick/Bush to enhance war mongering which lead to destruction of our country, financial system, bank credibility, political system credibility and the social order. They love to destroy our constitution.

[MARTIN MILANO]

I AM AN INDEPENDENT , HOPEING FOR A STRONGER INDEPENDENT PARTY, THE REASON BEING THAT I DON'T HOLD ANY CONFIDENCE IN EITHER REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRATIC POLITICS, I BELIEVE FOX NEWS IS CLEARLY THE ONLY NETWORK THAT IS PRACTICING FREE SPEECH. I BELIEVE THE REST OF THE NETWORKS ARE VERY BIAS IN THERE REPORTING AND AFRAID TO GIVE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THE TRUTH, AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED ABC IS WHAT I HAVE HEARD OF IT: A BARACK COMPANY, BUT OTHER THAN FOX THE REST OF THEM HAVE PROVEN TO ME AT LEAST, TO BE VERY PREJUDICE TOWARD EVERY PARTY BUT THE DEMOCRATS.

[NQNQ]

News is supposed to inform... Here is what I would believe if I only watched Fox "News": There were Iraqis involved in the hi-jacking of the 9-11 planes. There were WMD found in Iraq to justify the war. All veterans of Vietnam who disagree with Bush/Cheney on anything are "nuts."

So now that Fox "News" has continued to play politics instead of being a real news show, I'm glad that someone is willing to stand up to them.

[David G]

Interesting. Fox News "that happens to feature quite a few conservative voices" bu never CNN "that happens to feature quite a few liberal voices" or ABC "that happens to feature quite a few liberal voices."

Is there some bias here or is it so well known that the other networks feature mostly (or nearly all) liberal voices. Maybe it's just that Fox News actually does include some Liberal voices in their panels where as the others tend to avoid conservatives nearly all together that creates this confusion requiring a special moniker for Fox.

[peter1f]

This coming from a man who sent a dead fish to a political opponent? Or we have Jeffery Immult an advisor to the White House who also happens to be chairman of GE who owns NBC. Did W do this when he was being lambasted everyday by NBC, CNN, CBS, ABC. Even so far as dan rather fabricating documents to embarrass Bush. Why didn't the "liberal press investigate Van Jones, fox did, only to be reported that a white house czar left during teh night!!! Perhaps Obama and his Chicago friends should be more concerned about 10% unemployment, a 1.5 trillion deficit tis year alone, a sitmulius bill that stimulates nothign, insulting our frineds the former eastern blco by removing the anti allistic missle system and getting nothing in retrun, violation of his campaign oath to let C Span in on all negotiations, as in healh care, having so specific plan himself, having 31 czars without senate approval (doing cabinet level jobs). In short this white house has not achieved one thing in 9 months in offce. If anyone cares about the 1st amendment, we all should be condemning emmanual and axelrod for this attack.

[Bluemist]

This is absolutely ridiculous. Have you listened to Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddox, lately? They are so scared and intimidated by (Fox News and Sarah Palin), it makes them act like a 13 year old teenie. Fox rocks and there is nothing that will every change that fact.....

Not Obama, His Chicago Bullies, or His Radical Czars.

[JT]

It may be risky, but with the MSM actually taking FOX News seriously injects the right wing talking point unto the media blood stream, no matter how dilusional. The Obama Madrassa story comes to mind immediatly. The MSM started reporting this ridiculous charge after FOX raised it, until CNN actually sent out reporters to soundly de-bunk it. Zombie lies are hard to kill, and FOX is the sewer from which it comes...

[John]

Not news? FOXNews is a shopping channel where hopeless honkies can window shop until they see & hear what they already know is true.

[michael]

A sense of irony develops as humans mature. Three-year-olds do not recognize irony and also tend to believe that everything they think they know is also known as fact by everyone else. As their minds mature, this changes, uh, usually.

As for the White House, the enormity of the job reveals weaknesses in every person that takes the oath. Hopefully, Mr. Obama will show some presidential humility or risk becoming the politically mirrored image of his predecessor.