Obama’s Fox News policy: Isolation over engagement
President Obama’s New Era of Engagement does not include Fox News:
Senior Obama administration officials took to the airwaves Sunday to accuse Fox News of pushing a particular point of view, one week after the administration fired its initial salvo to try to isolate the news network by accusing it of being a GOP mouthpiece.
“A lot of their news programming, it’s really not news. It’s pushing a point of view,” senior adviser David Axelrod said on ABC’s “This Week.”
“The way we — the president looks at it and we look at it, is, it is not a news organization so much as it has a perspective,” White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel added on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
The open assault on Fox News began last weekend when White House Communications Director Anita Dunn accused the network of being a “wing of the Republican Party.”
“What I think is fair to say about Fox — and certainly it’s the way we view it — is that it really is more a wing of the Republican Party,” Dunn said on CNN. “They take their talking points, put them on the air; take their opposition research, put them on the air. And that’s fine. But let’s not pretend they’re a news network the way CNN is.”
Despite calls to the White House this week, the administration did not offer a guest for this weekend’s “Fox News Sunday” to talk about Dunn’s comments, although administration officials appeared on all four Sunday morning shows to speak on various issues.
President Obama has had interviews with all of the other Sunday talk shows except “Fox News Sunday,” including a whirlwind weekend in late September where he appeared on all other Sunday talk shows.
The anti-FNC attack vids are at HA.
Meryl Yourish dismantles Fox-basher Jacob Weisberg.
Aaron Klein uncovers Anita Dunn’s remarks on how to “control” and “make” the media cover what Team Obama wanted. Command-and-control at work:
And Mark Steyn tells the “Tale of Two Soundbites.”
See what others have said
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Categories: Media, Media Bias
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Dictatorships always target dissenting media.
As long as Zero continues to ignore Fox News, he is also ignoring the tens of millions who watch it. He’s only screwing himself.
If they were an arm of the Republican Party, they would be spineless and hold most any view that Obama insisted on.
They forgot to include the darting forked tongue when quoting Anita Dunn.
Because all the Media does not kowtow to these facists in the White House, this is the kind of thing that reminds me of State Run Media in the USSR, China, North Korea etc. This is the United States and we have a constitution and we have freedom of speach and we have the right to disagree and we have the right to watch, read and think as we see fit. The clowns in the White House can kiss my grits if they think different.
If the major news organizations had any speck of journalistic integrity, they would bristle at the suggestion that they had been spoon fed by the Obama administration. Note that I added the disclaimer if.
They call me racist, terrorist, Nazi, anti-American, etc.
They want my money and my freedom.
And now they are going after my television shows…??
Just how damn far are they going to go?
It’s time for all the Jurassic media lapdogs to hop down and bite their owner on the ankle- then they’ll see how much he really loves them.
That’s the best laugh I’ve had in a while. She needs to mention the other serious news networks like NBC, CBS, ABC and their various minions.
I want what she’s been smoking.
The president and his administration continue to waste their time sulking and feuding with Fox News like a little child who is refused his piece of candy. We wanted a President and we got a spoiled little brat who is preoccupied with revenge against those who openly disagree and debate with him and his water-carriers. What a loss for America.
The funny thing is the more he does this the more a boon to ratings it will be for Foxnews. The NYT reported this weekend that Foxnews ratings are up about 20% for the year so far.
This is going to backfire in a big way.
As small dead animals highlights, the war on Fox is the only war that Obama is pursuing decisively.
The academic left, the MSM, et al have been living in their own little bubble so long that they’re just not used to true dissent.
And what a shock it must be for our President to actually face genuine criticism for the first time in his life. For some strange reason though, I can’t empathize.
Cowardice. Chicken George doesn’t want anyone to ask him a real question and make him face the facts so they avoid them.
The American people see this and they know. Even the biggest Obambi supporter knows they are doomed if they have to tell the truth or own up to the facts.
What’s worse is the solicitation of other media outlets to ostracise Fox with school-yard political tactics. “Hey guys, lets form a club and keep Roger out! And Oh, let’s also pretend that he doesn’t exist.”
I hope Fox stands up to The Clique.
And when the MSM questioned President Bush’s policies and strategies, were they also “pushing a POV?”
FNC is fair and balanced – I know because I can get as offended at some their news coverage, which at times I think is much too generous to the far Left, as I can at that of the print and network media.
Does Dunn truly believe what she is doing and saying is in the best interest of keeping the public informed? I doubt it.
It has been less that a week now and I have heard one administration official say that the president WILL meet with Fox News but just hasn’t had the time yet and another administration official say that the president will NOT meet with Fox News because it really isn’t a news organization.
Well, which is it?
No wonder this administration is so screwed up now.
Jeez, will someone give that stupid cottonmouth a glass of water!
No kidding. I see where Obama has put Afghan troop decisions on hold to await the election results. I have a bad feeling that Obama may try to use the outcome of the election (regardless of which way it goes) as an excuse to pull our troops out.
If the truth is ONE point of view…….
I have to admit I agree with Obama. Fox does tend to present one point of view – that facts actually mean something, and should be aired. And that is a viewpoint that the current administration abhors.
Craig Crawford and Helen Thomas on Mourning Joe’s saying what a bad idea this is.
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/10/white-house-fox-hunt.html
Maybe instead of the Rams, Limbaugh can buy a lesser valued TV channel and turn it into another conservative, truth-loving news outlet.
Anyone else think that this administration reminds them of the sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond”? Ray couldn’t stand the thought that someone could possibly have any negative thoughts or disagreements about him (except his wife who continually referred to him as IDIOT). The present NIC (narcissist in chief) must have spent a lot of time watching this show.
This is hysterical! All news organization get their news from the AP newswire so Fox is no different than CNN/MSNBC. The difference is who is a journalist or commentator. So the WH is being ridiculous!
This isn’t an issue for me because I long ago stopped watching CNN, MSNBC, and the network news. I watch Fox unless Geraldo is on then I turn it off.
Obama consistently proves he is the President of some Americans not all of them. He doesn’t know how to behave as a President, nor does he know he is supposed to represent all Americans. He doesn’t care.
So, the control was of the entire media and not just Fox news? Was there ever a campaign where the message has not been controlled? Or, what was said publicly by that campaigned, not controlled by that campaign? Not sure if control is the issue. These are politicians for crying out loud. Don’t they all use ‘politico-speak’?
Is the issue access? And, asking every concievable question with the appropriate follow-up?
As for isolation, this would be true if Major Garret, or Wendell Goler, were not called on during press conferences, or were kicked out of the White House press corp.
Moreover, Fox news still reports on what the Administration is doing, or not doing. There are other media outlets covering the Administration, too. And, yes they are not doing themselves any favors by taking any individual, or media outlet, to task in this manner.
Obama —> Fox News
I want my mommy!
That is exactly what it looks like. Maybe we ought to send some pacifiers to the WH communication crew. I would love for Major Garrett to present one to Gibbs or maybe just display somewhere prominent during the daily presser.
I vote he buys MSNBC. How great would it be to have Chris Matthews and Keith Olberman actually reporting the news from the White House. The administration wouldn’t no who to be mad at.
Obama and his gaggle of leftist jackasses are scared silly of FOX News and are behaving like a bunch of spoiled children. Aren’t you proud of this petty, inept government.
It looks like somebody read Public Opinion by Walter Lippmann.
The reason they are demonizing FOXNews is because Duckworth was caught lying:
And don’t you DARE fact-check an administration official. Oh, the arrogance of this administration.
Either Anita Dunn is a novice in the world of public relations, or she’s just naturally clueless.
Probably the worst strategic mistake the Obama Admiistration has made to date. They will pay dearly for their assault on a private new organization like Fox News.
One can clearly contrast their concillatory approach and attitude towards people like Kim Il Sung versus their approach against maericans and American institutions.
The adminstration has now placed itself in a lose-lose situation. Fox will just continue to invite them to air their views on Fox. If they refuse, they will look foolish. If they accept they will be left open to REAL questions; not prearanged “puff questions.”
I would love to ask Rahm Emmanuel if he considers it professional for a network commentator to call an American with whom he disagrees, a “big mashed-up bag of meat with lipstick on it.”
I would paly the tape of Obermann. Since this is a woman who was the target of this comment should the commentator be fired?
Oh please bring it White House.
If I bought MSNBC, Olbermann and Matthews would be on the streets looking for work.
You know it’s bad when Helen Thomas takes a stand against Obama.
Do these people seriously not understand the difference between “news” and “opinion”? What a waste of time! Really, this is the most serious issue in the country right now? The WH enjoys props and kudos from 5 out of 6 networks and yet they want to spend time sending people out on Sunday morning to bash the 1 network that doesn’t share the love affair? This is maddening! Give me my country back PLEASE!
Judging by her looks, she’s right. They’ve tried many times, but apparantly keep forgetting to bring a wooden stake and a wreath of garlic.
I’d hate to be a billy-goat crossing Helen Thomas’ bridge.
Isolation over engagement…interesting! One would get the impression that Fox, and the millions of it’s American viewers, don’t deserve answers to tough questions. Obviously, the researchers and investigators at Fox are getting too close to the truth about Obama. His cowardess, anti-constitutional, and yes, anti-American tendencies are floating to the surface, and must be monitored, not dismissed!
He is NOT being presidential, but is showing signs that are tyranical in nature. A tyrant attacks everyone, and everything that is in contravention to their ideology. They hide their past, pretending to be something they are not, in order to gain power.
He asked us to judge him by the people with whom he surrounds himself. Fox is, and he knows they are exposing his interpretation of “Radically changing America.” Hiding in plain sight, parsing words without definition, circumventing oversight,and outright prevarication is his modus operandi.
He is not embracing dissent from conservative America…he is fears it and the probative nature of it’s questions.
While Rome burns, Obama is fiddling around.
The Russians and Iranians have sensed and are exploiting the weakness of the Obama administration;
Obama is about to sign a treaty in Copenhagen pretty much turning sovereignty over to a one world government;
The United States is bankrupt;
With all of this going on, all he has time for is picking juvenile fights with Foxnews and forcing health care and Cap N’ Trade down our throats.
Wow – Axelrod used the Royal “We”. What role does Hussein actually play besides figurehead spokes-model in the Emanuel-Axelrod White House?
FOX is causing the Whimp House to have a continuous temper tantrum. The mighty USA has a spoiled brat for a POTUS and a bunch of thugs for an administration. Heaven help us!
100% absolutely accurate!
I love to remind the Commies over here that Fox is the MOST watched news program in the USA. Let Blue Lips ignore it. At his own peril.
Also, I was at a US Military Installation in Germany not to long ago – Normally, Fox is being played on the TV in the Post Exchange. I walked in after 3 months away and Olberman is on. I then realized who was in charge of AFN Programming now (the Commander in Chief, of course). How can watching MSNBC be good for morale? Ever?
On October 19th, 2009 at 2:28 pm, conservative in europe
Over at Hickam AFB, the Burger King has 3 large-screen tv’s. Two are tuned to CNN, the third is tuned to FOX.
Most of the customers cluster around the FOX channel tv. The few you see watching the CNN tv’s are locals and civil service.
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fox_biz/cnn_msnbc_ban_appearances_on_imus_140562.asp?c=rss
Let’s Play Who is an Arm of the Democrat Party?
David Axelrod called for a boycott and Both CNN and MSNBC responded. “propagandist”
George Stephanopoulos of ABC will be on Imus in the morning tomorrow?
Yes ziggy, part of the issue is the isolation because many people, like myself, keep up with a menu of news outlets for a wide variety of “points of view” in order to make informed decisions. To isolate Fox from the mix is to reduce our access to their informed “point of view,” thus limiting a free press. And it’s not just White House Correspondents who need access. The Administration is avoiding the difficult questions posed on the Fox Sunday show and other shows of that kind. Unless you really thought Steponallofus asked the tough questions…
To paraphrase an old saying:
With UNITERS like Obama who needs dividers?
War on Taliban………procrastinating.
War on Iraq…………troops pull out in progress.
War on FOX………….RAMPING up full throttle.
Michelle, I’m (re) watching Babylon 5, season 2 lately and recently had this quote.
”
Delenn: I find this notion of the ‘press’ a fascinating, but sometimes troubling concept. Sheridan: Join the club. Delenn: Back home, if there is something you need to know, you are told just what you require and no more. It is ‘tradition’.
I think this is where they are moving.
“Obama, listen!”
Monday, Oct 19, 2009
Salon
Video: A crowd of protesters with wildly diverse aims clamors for the president’s ear in San Francisco
By Alexis Fitts and Christopher Rogers
vvvvvvvvvvvvv
So the Left is not happy with the Obama Administration – their base. What does the Administration do for a distraction…start a distraction by throwing some red meat to the base (Fox News). But it’s not working just making Fox News more popular…oh Liberals they really like that “forbidden fruit”
Actually, I like this idea only send millions of pacifiers to the President.
REMEMBER ALINSKY’S ‘RULES FOR RADICALS: Rule 5: Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. It’s hard to counterattack ridicule, and it infuriates the opposition.
Sauce for the goose…..
“When everyone is agreeing, no one is thinking.” That is the intellectual, cultural, political and and social dead end that the left has in mind for the American people, not to mention the media that informs them.
The best observation about FNC is the one that read (approximately): “Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes’ brilliance in creating the FOX News Channel was to tap into an unexplored ‘niche’ market: half of the American people.”
Lefty whiners hate FNC not because it’s “faux” news, or is an “echo chamber of the right” (if that’s so, then why do I find myself shouting at the TV so much when I watch it?). It’s that they can’t stand the thought of non-lefties having any forum of expression at all.
“Scratch a ‘liberal,’ and you’ll find a totalitarian underneath.” The left’s yearning for absolutism is so easy to see: when they’re finally in a position of power, they’re still a bunch of miserable SOBs because it isn’t absolute power. When all but one of the broadcast “news” media willingly submit to becoming nothing but propaganda organs for the donkey party, they’re still unhappy because of that one exception.
These people cannot be dealt with, pleased or appeased if we are to hold onto a free society. They have to be fought, relentlessly, or they’ll strip us all of our freedoms one at a time.
Watched Glenn beck tonight, and it was pointed out that on Thursday, the government is going to start going after the internet. They want control of it too.
They want to bail out the news papers so they can own them like General Motors.
But they won’t rest there.They are determined to take control of all communications. Talk radio, television stations,newspapers and internet. Be careful America, all of our freedoms are in Obama’s sites.
Just one more way they are trampling on the Constitution. Attack the press or anyone that disagrees with you.
Adolf Obama’s world view.
Taking control of communications, transportation, healthcare, courts, education, businesses, banking and lending, national defense…
Could not resist:
She be smokin some of dat new stuff maaaaaaaaaaaan. It be Oba-Mao E Wowie!
I can accept FOX News has a view, but the Main Stream Media nor the Obama Admistration have yet to mention or admit their “views”. They must be so radical that no one can see or hear them or even believe they would be happening in the USA. The way I see it the country is split right down the middle but the progressives think there are only a handful of us right wing racist terrorists. This 50-50 match up looks to be another civil war to me. Neither side is budging so lets let the bullets fly and light up those molotovs !
Its alright to drag Bush through the mud, but don’t dare say anything about the thin skinned, cry baby democrats.
If they isolate FOX then they have Isolated have of the citizens of this country. How does that make you feel?
Anyone heard from Woodward and Bernstein have to say about this?