Michelle Malkin » Look who called out Fox News-basher Valerie Jarrett

Look who called out Fox News-basher Valerie Jarrett

By Michelle Malkin • October 28, 2009 05:01 AM

A CNN anchor, of all people, called out senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett for her disingenuous Fox News attack and attempted backtracking.

Hot Air has the priceless video.

You’ll especially love the spectacle of the Obamas’ consigliere/Chicago real estate mogul/Daley crony claiming to represent the underdog “speaking truth to power.”

Transcript via Noel Sheppard at Newsbusters:

VALERIE JARRETT, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR: What we’re saying is is that we want the public to understand what’s going on. When we saw the kind of distortions this summer, particularly directed at seniors, over health care reform, it was really outrageous. And I think what the president said in his message before Congress is we’re going to speak directly to the American people and make sure that they understand the truth. And so, certainly, if we see somebody distorting the truth, we’re going to call them on the carpet for that. But we don’t want to take our focus away from the core issues that are so important to the American people. Now, when there’s all that chatter and distortion and false information, we have to disseminate — we have to distinguish between truth and fiction.

BROWN: So do you think Fox News is biased?

JARRETT: Well, of course they’re biased. Of course they are.

BROWN: Well, then do you also think that MSNBC is biased?

JARRETT: Well, you know what, this is, this is the thing. I don’t want to — actually, I don’t want to just generalize all Fox is biased or that another station is biased. I think what we want to do is to look at it on a case-by-case basis. And when we see a pattern of distortion, we’re going to be honest about that pattern of distortion.

BROWN: But you only see that at Fox News. That’s all, that you’ve only spoken out about Fox News.

JARRETT: That’s actually not true. I think that what the administration has said very clearly is that we’re going to speak truth to power. When we saw all the distortions in the course of the summer, when people were coming down to town hall meetings and putting up signs that were scaring seniors to death. When we’ve seen commercials go up on television that are distorting the truth, we’re, we’re actually calling everybody out. So, this isn’t anything that’s simply directed at Fox. We really just want the American people to have a clear understanding. There’s so much at stake right now. We really don’t have a lot of time for nonsense and distortions. The American people are also smarter than that. Let them reach their own judgments based on the facts. Let’s just take health care, for example. Reasonable people could differ about the right approach. So let’s have a conversation about that. Let’s not scare people by telling them that things are going to happen that are actually not even on the table. Let’s just talk about the facts.

Look in the mirror, ma’am. You are The Power.

***

Baltimore Sun TV critic David Zurawik gives Jarrett’s botched performance two thumbs down. Way down:

…watch how fast Jarrett folds when CNN anchor Campbell Brown asks her if pro-administration MSNBC isn’t just as biased. MSNBC is one of the giant holes in the administration’s argument that Fox isn’t a “real” news organization and should be ostracized. Worse, the administration’s acceptance of MSNBC and attack on Fox show how intellectually inconsistent and hypocritical the White House is willing to be in trying to bully the press and shut down criticism…

…I see many commenters mocking Jarrett’s use of the phrase “speaking truth to power.” Yes, I agree, it deserves to be ridiculed in this context. What’s the great power the White House is fearlessly standing up to — a cable channel? I think such a phrase from our collective past that has real resonance because it was once loaded with such intergrity, moral authority and wisdom when first uttered, is cheapened when used in such a blantantly and inappropriate political context. Thanks for noticing, folks.

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Comments

#1

On October 28th, 2009 at 5:35 am, rondogg said:

Could this finally be the beginning of some semblance of accountability and balance in the mainstream media?

Probably not but it’s fun to think about.
#2

On October 28th, 2009 at 5:54 am, ajmontana said:

Our newly elected officials, one and all…..
C.R.A.P.W.E.A.S.E.L.S.
#3

On October 28th, 2009 at 6:19 am, corkie said:

JARRETT: I think that what the administration has said very clearly is that we’re going to speak truth to power.

Umm. . . I think someone needs to tell Jarrett that it’s kinds hard to speak truth to power when you are the power now.
#4

On October 28th, 2009 at 6:33 am, fred5676 said:

05:01 AM – Up for a midnight snack, Michelle???

JARRETT: … we’re going to speak truth to power.

Is that a direct Alinsky quote?? Sounds sort of like a ….. community ~~organizer~~ rabble rouser.

I’m embarrassed to say she is a fellow alum/na. She even made the cover of our latest alumni mag – just a day or so before her protege Van Jones made his exit. It’s all in the timing.

I’m off to meet the Tea Party Express bus in a few hours to cleanse my palate.
#5

On October 28th, 2009 at 6:39 am, zorro said:

Did she study public speaking in old Soviet Moscow?
#6

On October 28th, 2009 at 6:58 am, jjmurphy said:

I bet Jarrett didn’t expect that to happen on CNN. he!
#7

On October 28th, 2009 at 7:03 am, bansharia said:

truth to power? lawdyyy
whats next an angela davis fro or pantha beret?
this admin overestimates the good graces of Americans.
WE knew when they lost the olympic bid they would lash out..
hey val you got any land to sell?
#8

On October 28th, 2009 at 7:06 am, bansharia said:

OT:
FRED woo hooo have fun it is nice to see the west/central swing so all you good folks can participate in that effort.
#9

On October 28th, 2009 at 7:30 am, ajmontana said:

Ban, having the Olympics in Chicago would be like having the last bath in the same water of a family of 59.
#10

On October 28th, 2009 at 7:31 am, cabrerski said:

On October 28th, 2009 at 6:19 am, corkie said:
Umm. . . I think someone needs to tell Jarrett that it’s kinds hard to speak truth to power when you are the power now.

…and even harder when you have no clue of the truth or in denial of it. I always tend to question those who scream out that they have the “devine insight” as to what is true.

Just once, I would like to hear a newsie say to someone like Jarrett: “Since you are not going to answer my questions directly, how about if I give you two minutes to spew your crap and spin your tall tales?”

…jus’ sayin’…
#11

On October 28th, 2009 at 7:43 am, iamsaved said:

And I think what the president said in his message before Congress is we’re going to speak directly to the American people and make sure that they understand the truth.

When Obama is caught with his own words lying to the American public, one has to wonder why his administration feels it has a moral claim to what constitutes truth.

Had it been one or two times, one might believe he “misspoke”. After more than just several times, you begin to see a pattern.

Personally, I’ve not known Foxnews to broadcast lies. Their stories are usually backed up with verifiable facts. Not so the White House.
#12

On October 28th, 2009 at 7:54 am, bansharia said:

aj,
baths? thats NEWS
#13

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:00 am, scituate_tgr said:

Just depends on what your definition of “truth” is.

So far, after more than ten months, all I’ve heard from this administration is spin, deceit and flat-out lies on a ~~daily~~ hourly basis.

Hope&Change = Lie to the Weak.
#14

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:03 am, Patronedheart said:

This statement just kills me:

When we saw all the distortions in the course of the summer, when people were coming down to town hall meetings and putting up signs that were scaring seniors to death.

Uh..it was the seniors that were holding the signs, and Obama’s healthcare plan, not signs about it, was what was scaring them to death (literally).
#15

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:03 am, ThatSamIAm said:

Anytime I hear a bunch of old hippies talking about “speaking truth to power” I know it’s some sort of anti-American, socilism, communism, racism rant. People that have spent their lives getting wasted shouldn’t be put in a position to run anything. I’d say half that generation should be locked in a separate area some place in the desert and forgotten. Let them “free their mind” on their own time.
#16

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:11 am, cicerokid said:

“Truth, Power, and the ~~American~~ Chicago Way.”

Who is this woman, superman’s mom?
#17

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:21 am, bansharia said:

There was a major turning point in SDS and yes it happened in Chicago. The failure post the takeover within SDS to incite vast crowds, resulted in a childish window breaking hissy fit.
The people who failed to unite SDS into violence got their commie ego’s bruised
and formed the weather underground.
They are barry so-uterus’s pals now.
Pick a side and reside with Pride.
lolo we can come up with lame chants too
#18

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:22 am, Wade said:

truth to power

Jarrett – you can’t handle the truth.
#19

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:32 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

No cicerokid I think she is Lux Luther’s mom

Halloween is near-send the lady from Chicago some candy!
#20

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:32 am, jangar said:

Uhhhhhhhh…I thought FOX was merely reporting what seniors (and other inquisitive Americans) already knew about ObamaCare. Pray tell me how reporting events on the news is now considered biased?

I already know the answer – it’s because no other news outlets are reporting the news that’s right under their noses…American Opinion on ObamaCare – it stinks!
#21

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:41 am, swede said:

I think that what the administration has said very clearly is that we’re going to speak truth to power.

Wow. That’s just goofy on a couple levels. The most powerful man in the world is…a victim? Keep that victicrat meme rolling. Also, doesn’t acknowledging FNC as “power” kinda contradict their play book? I thought FNC was supposed to be fringe.

Finally we get some of the promised transparency from HopeyChangey Land. Blatant, transparent hypocrisy. It is rather entertaining watching ObaMao’s elite Ivy League egg heads pursuing this bone headed strategy, driving FNC’s ratings yet higher.
#22

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:45 am, John Deaux said:

JARRETT: I think that what the administration has said very clearly is that we’re going to speak truth to power.

And the opposition is using the power of truth. That’s the part they have a problem with.
#23

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:48 am, carole said:

If the whitehouse has the truth, why hasn’t Glenn’s phone rung? We are all waiting for the moment.
#24

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:49 am, jangar said:

Umm. . . I think someone needs to tell Jarrett that it’s kinds hard to speak truth to power when you are the one with no truth ~~power now~~.

The entire Obama Administration works 24/7 to HIDE truth…and does a poor job of it at that. Actually, they’ve done a poor job at everything they’ve done so far, with the exception of lying, cheating, avoiding, delaying, projecting…

…and they know that we’re on to them.
#25

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:53 am, cheapseat said:

i went to several town hall/teaparty events last summer, and my guess of the median age is near 60. yes there were young families, but there were a lot more q-tips than youngsters. jarrett is lying, as usual, in the best chicago tradition.
#26

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:53 am, Truesoldier said:

BROWN: But you only see that at Fox News. That’s all, that you’ve only spoken out about Fox News.

JARRETT: That’s actually not true. I think that what the administration has said very clearly is that we’re going to speak truth to power. When we saw all the distortions in the course of the summer, when people were coming down to town hall meetings and putting up signs that were scaring seniors to death.

A great follow up would have been, “You have cited Foxnews and Americans at Town Hall meetings, So what you are saying is you only see bias in people that disagree with you?”
#27

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:57 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

On October 28th, 2009 at 8:48 am, carole said:

If the whitehouse has the truth, why hasn’t Glenn’s phone rung? We are all waiting for the moment.

They are re reading Mao’s Little Red Book and Mother Teresa.
#28

On October 28th, 2009 at 9:15 am, ThackerAgency said:

I mentioned at Hot Air. . . these people have been fighting ‘the man’ their whole lives (especially Obama and Wright’s church).

It must be hard to hate ‘the man’ when you become ‘the man’. Yes, Obama, you are now ‘the man’ that you railed about and fought against all your life.
#29

On October 28th, 2009 at 9:23 am, RedDog said:

Some media elites with a vestage of pride and conscience, may be coming to the realization that blind support of the Little Man really may not be a good idea. Entrenched Marxism is a b*itch to get out of your life.
#30

On October 28th, 2009 at 9:24 am, jangar said:

It must be hard to hate ‘the man’ when you become ‘the man’. Yes, Obama, you are now ‘the man’ that you railed about and fought against all your life.

He’s no man. A real man behaves completely opposite.

America chose it’s first black president. So much could have been done to give example to people of color, lifting them out of a welfare mentality.

And if his self seeking ideas brings upon America another round of class warfare riots in the streets, may the blood be on his hands, and his only.

This is no man, and not American either.
#31

On October 28th, 2009 at 9:41 am, Rogue Cheddar said:

Now, when there’s all that chatter and distortion and false information, we have to disseminate…

“You’all done ejaculated a mouthful.”
- Moe (UNCIVIL WAR BIRDS, 1946)
#32

On October 28th, 2009 at 9:46 am, spaceycakes said:

That’s actually not true. I think that what the administration has said very clearly is that we’re going to speak truth to power. When we saw all the distortions in the course of the summer, when people were coming down to town hall meetings and putting up signs that were scaring seniors to death.

She talked the whole time about ‘truth’ and ‘distortions’ yet failed to cite a single example of either.

Because she has no truth, and there were no distortions…
#33

On October 28th, 2009 at 10:09 am, BOB said:

How can distortions of a bill exist when the bill either has not been written, or consist of 13,000 pages of lawyer babble that no one has read or could understand even if they did read it?

The supporters of the bill were saying it would do the things they thought seniors would like, and not do the things they thought seniors would not like.

The seniors, to their credit, recognized it all as bu!! sh!t!!
#34

On October 28th, 2009 at 10:26 am, DBNinKY said:

JARRETT: I think that what the administration has said very clearly is that we’re going to speak truth to power.

So they’ll be talking to themselves? Oooooh-kaaay…
#35

On October 28th, 2009 at 10:30 am, battleaxe said:

The facts are in the language of the bills. The lies and distortions come from Obama’s lips and the voices of his administration.

Sure, there’s no “death panel” in the bill. However the structure does exist in the public option bills for mindless bureaucrat penny-pinchers to create death panels. As we’ve seen in other countries that went down this stupid path, that’s exactly what happens. It has happened with state healthcare in the Northwest. The famous case of “we don’t pay for that cancer drug, but we do pay for assisted suicide” is one of the most egregious examples of government healthcare gone wrong, and it happened in THIS country.
#36

On October 28th, 2009 at 10:48 am, max said:

I think it’s likely Jarret could be the puppetmaster behind the entire Fox war, all over the Van Jones unveiling…
#37

On October 28th, 2009 at 11:22 am, Speakup said:

Its the liberal way, if at first you fail..fail, fail again.

After trying hard and failing to project their failings (lies) onto a majority of Americans this last summer, Democrats came right back and then fail to project their failings (lies) onto FOX and the majority of Americans in the fall.

Darn those people who can read, no wonder libs are more interested in paying off NEA union cronies than educating those darn people, who are only doing the bill reading their representatives won’t do.

Go ahead, just call us all out for your lies (failings), its the liberal way, and besides, Valerie’s right, we know better!
#38

On October 28th, 2009 at 11:29 am, DBNinKY said:

On October 28th, 2009 at 10:48 am, max said:

I think it’s likely Jarret could be the puppetmaster behind the entire Fox war, all over the Van Jones unveiling…

You know even though they’ve been slapping FNC around since the ’08 campaign, Team Obama’s attacks really did seem to become more pronounced after Beck-Fox brought Van Jones’ past to light.
#39

On October 28th, 2009 at 11:56 am, Southpaw said:

Hey, Valerie “Truth to Power” Jarrett:
You are the power. Fight The Power.

“Silence is the ultimate weapon of power.”
Charles De Gaulle

“Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Lord Acton
#40

On October 28th, 2009 at 11:58 am, pueblo1032 said:

This is indeed GROUNDBREAKING… CNN questioning the WH on media bias… It is only the first step however, but an important one… Kind of reminds me of “first they came for etc”… The MSM has no choice but to start to stand up to this WH, if they expect to be VIABLE in the future…
#41

On October 28th, 2009 at 12:10 pm, right_on said:

The Obama Administration is really afraid of Fox News, and the threat it poses to their “Reformation of America.” It is about the truth, or who is or isn’t telling it, it is about the explosure of the radicals next to the Radical In Chief, hidden in plain view.

The veil has been lifted for many who previously “Hoped” this clean, articulate, black man, would bring about civility, and unify all the people to one common cause. The problem is, no one bothered to ask the right questions because the answers didn’t matter…”we may have our first realchance to elect a black president, and I don’t want to be against that….”

Obama told us his history in his books…no one seemed to care. His entire life evolved around America haters, Marxists, radicals, dopers, Islamists of one form or another…and no one seemed to care. He told us repeatedly what he intended to do, if elected…and no one seemed to care. He showed a pattern of action when those in his path to the Oval Office reminded people just how radical he might be, and they were shown the rear wheels of the bus…and no one seemed to care.

The efforts to isolate, marginalize, and belittle Fox News is right out of The Rules for Radicals. (Radicals…where have we heard that before?) They should be afraid…the sleeper has awakened, the veil has been lifted, and they see America’s people DO care. No wonder they are in a rush to consolidate power, pick our pockets even more, take over the busniess and finance machines, and weaken our military. Like the terrorists we are fighting world wide, they are expecting us to give up, shut up, and go home.

News flash…this ain’t Somalia! And you’re not Bill Hickcock…
#42

On October 28th, 2009 at 12:24 pm, jkoolpe said:

BO’s BFF exposed again…I love it!

Check out this column in today’s Wall Street Journal by their Thomas Frank (the paper’s token liberal columnist):

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703574604574499671746743510.html#articleTabs%3Darticle

Notice what’s missing from his argument?

Wait for it….

MSNBC? Anyone?

Enough said…

Facts and balance mean nothing to liberals…
#43

On October 28th, 2009 at 1:24 pm, AlohaGuy said:

Nice – a vampire on the NY Times Mag just in time for Halloween. Slumlord.
#44

On October 28th, 2009 at 2:19 pm, right_on said:

Nice – a vampire on the NY Times Mag just in time for Halloween.

C’mon, AlohaGuy, you’re giving vampires a bad name.

I mean, just because they both suck…

…on the other hand, they both remove the life’s blood of their victims, and their victims are the public at large…

…and they both hide in darkness and are afraid to look in the mirror…

Okay, okay…so she is a vampire!

Here all along, I thought she worked for Rosemary’s Baby. Silly me!
#45

On October 28th, 2009 at 3:39 pm, rocketman said:

***
Valerie Jarrett is the new Goebbels propaganda minister replacement.
***
Or a fitting Baghdad Bob replacement.
***
As far as the “tea party” seniors being scared–you got that right on target! I have never seen our government as my enemy before in my 68 years of life. I now see it as the “domestic enemies” I promised to defend against when I took the Army Oath 45 years ago. The HANDWRITING IS ON THE WALL for me.
***
Vote Comrade Obama and his congressional and government minions out of office in the next elections and replace them with Patriotic Americans.
***
John Bibb
***
#46

On October 28th, 2009 at 7:18 pm, Dimsdale said:

Simply put, Obama licking is a form of fundamentalist religion,and any critic, is to be destroyed as a heretic.
#47

On October 28th, 2009 at 11:14 pm, JustAThought said:

Umm. . . I think someone needs to tell Jarrett that it’s kinds hard to speak truth to power when you are the power now.

It’s even harder when what you are saying IS A LIE!!
#48

On October 29th, 2009 at 7:23 am, publiuswarmac9999 said:

I don’t believe for one minute that journalistic ethics and “integrity” has anything to do with the various elements of the media suddenly “coming to Jesus” and defending FoxNews. What self-proclaimed journalists now clearly see is that a future Republican or Conservative president can do to them exactly what obama is doing to FoxNews, and they feel individually threatened.

Specifically, the leftwing media has been exposed by the obamanites as in the tank for obama and then, even worse, has been treated as so much in the tank that they won’t even defend themselves. The obamanites are arrogant enough to treat their leftwing media friends as servile – and stupid as well.

This situation has gotten to the point where the media, particularly the leftwing of the media, is desperate. The loss of readership and viewership, and the complete appearance of being a state controlled press, has propelled the smell of fear in the newsrooms around the country to amazing heights. Whether this smell will turn into real fear is dependent on future events, but I am pleased to note that the Tea Party movement now has a clear and unequivocal reason for marching on every newsroom in the country.
#49

On October 29th, 2009 at 7:27 am, publiuswarmac9999 said:

I love the “speaking truth to power” comment by Jarrett. She and the rest of the obamanites are so used to using the raised fist and the anarchistic shouts about power, that they are unable to think rationally about their position. Unfortunately, we are all in real trouble and will be their for quite some time because of our ignorance in electing obama. He makes Carter look good, and that is saying something.
#50

On October 29th, 2009 at 8:14 am, laugrat said:

I really believe that Valerie Jarrett represents an administration that either does not understand our Constitution nor the basic fundamental beliefs of this country or they mean to undermine them. Either way it doesn’t bode well for the next few years here in the country that is still the beacon of liberty for the world, regardless of what Obama says.

It is unbelievable that she has the nerve to get on tv and say these things with no hestitation whatsoever.

Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, every where. A. Lincoln
#51

On October 29th, 2009 at 2:28 pm, AlohaGuy said:

I really believe that Valerie Jarrett represents an administration that either does not understand our Constitution nor the basic fundamental beliefs of this country or they mean to undermine them.

Both. The run-of-the-mill lefties simply don’t understand. Obama and his closest associates wish to undermine. The former are useful tools of the latter.
#52

On October 29th, 2009 at 2:53 pm, jsmiddleton4 said:

“It is unbelievable that she has the nerve to get on tv and say these things with no hestitation whatsoever.”

It is more disturbing that she says them because she believes them. It takes no “nerve” to say what you believe. The problem is not her saying it, the problem is she believes it to be true.

She ans a whole bunch of other folks just like her.
#53

On October 29th, 2009 at 4:38 pm, Teddy Kennedy said:

Errah, I have to smear vasoline on my TV screen just to watch this woman. I love her lead ins on Lou Dobbs every night with “Breaking News” thats 2 days old or her “Mash Up”. What a tipzy liberal ditz. To me she’s a democrap hack in a dress. Hopefully when Helen Thomas kicks the bucket she’ll give ole Campbell her wig. What’s up with he eye anyway??!! (had to stop and puke a little here just thinking about her). The best is when Rick “Dirty” Sanchez subs for her and does some hatchet job on Sheriff Arpio or US Border Patrol or the Minutemen. Just love his sob story show on illegals (not!) I’ll catch 20 seconds of this crap before I switch over to “How Its Made” (In Canada).
#54

On October 29th, 2009 at 5:56 pm, Member-VRWC said:

JARRETT: I think that what the administration has said very clearly is that we’re going to speak truth to power.

Not only is she a ditz for misusing the phrase as she did, but everyone who is not a kool-aid drinking Obot knows this gang wouldn’t know the truth if it bit them on the a$$.
#55

On October 29th, 2009 at 7:53 pm, misterbee241 said:

You know what? I’m bloody sick of the hack phrase “you know what”. And liberals always want to have a “conversation” or a “dialogue”. But it can only be one sided – their side. You know what? I’m sick of liberals too.
#56

On October 30th, 2009 at 3:53 pm, FirstSkirt said:

Enough of this liberalspeak “truth to power” What the hell does that even mean. Let’s not use it ourselves. Everytime we do, it’s like we’re saying it actually MEANS something. No conservative should even sound remotely like a liberal. Jarrett’s a member in good standing of the Chicago political machine who has hit the big time.
Misterbee241 – You said it!!!