UPDATE: Welcome Instapundit readers!
Attacking the news media is a time-honored White House tactic but to an unusual degree, the Obama administration has narrowed its sights to one specific organization, the Fox News Channel, calling it, in essence, part of the political opposition.Fox just won't toe the line as demanded by Obama of his sycophants. "Fair and balanced" means you don't just agree with and pander to the administration.
“We’re going to treat them the way we would treat an opponent,” said Anita Dunn, the White House communications director, in a telephone interview on Sunday. “As they are undertaking a war against Barack Obama and the White House, we don’t need to pretend that this is the way that legitimate news organizations behave.”
Her comments are only the latest in the volatile exchange between the administration and the top-rated network, which is owned by the News Corporation, controlled by Rupert Murdoch. Last month, Roger Ailes, the chairman of Fox News, and David Axelrod, a senior adviser to President Obama, met for coffee in New York, in what Politico, which last week broke that news, labeled a “Fox summit.”
While neither party has said what was discussed, some have speculated that a truce, or at least an adjustment in tone, was at issue. (Mr. Ailes and Mr. Obama reportedly reached a temporary accord after a meeting in mid-2008.) But shots are still being fired, which animates the idea that both sides see benefits in the feud.
Fox seems to relish the controversy.
“Instead of governing, the White House continues to be in campaign mode, and Fox News is the target of their attack mentality,” Michael Clemente, the channel’s senior vice president for news, said in a statement on Sunday. “Perhaps the energy would be better spent on the critical issues that voters are worried about.”
Fox’s senior vice president for programming, Bill Shine, says of the criticism from the White House, “Every time they do it, our ratings go up.” Mr. Obama’s first year is on track to be the Fox News Channel’s highest rated.
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22 comments:
“As they are undertaking a war against Barack Obama and the White House, we don’t need to pretend that this is the way that legitimate news organizations behave.”
I see - so the President and the White House should be sancrosact? Like it was for the previous occupant? I'm glad they cleared that up.
What incredible arrogance.
Hmmm... I thought that I read somewhere that dissent was the highest form of patriotism. Doesn't that make Fox patriotic???
“As they are undertaking a war against Barack Obama and the White House, we don’t need to pretend that this is the way that legitimate news organizations behave.”
Wow, does that mean the other networks are so syncophantic that the Obama administration has to "pretend that this is the way that legitimate news organizations behave”?
Just who in the government is charged with determining the ways a 'legitimate news organization' may behave?
Must be in the Constitution somewhere...
Cowboy up! They're coming for the media now. Can it be very long before they actually come for grassroots dissent? Imagine the pressure they would be under if they had an actual enemies list. Not.today.
"Never pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel." Or who has the most popular news channel.
Anonymous said...
Must be in the Constitution somewhere...
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Then how does Comrade President know about it? :P
So Nobel Peace Prize winning President Obama, who made it a plank of his campaign platform that he would sit down in unconditional face-to-face meetings with Castro, Ahmedinejad, and Kim Jong Il, now refuses to talk to the "meanies" from Fox news!
Waaaaaaahhhhhhh! Does Baby 'Bama need a bitty bottle?
The reflexive Democrat response to criticism is:
"Just shut up!" and if you don't, then they try to find ways to shut you up.
Thanks for not typing "tow the line." I see that everywhere now. It gives me the heebie-jeebies.
I've always thought Fox was pretty fair about politicians in general. Their motto " Fair and Balanced" seemed appropriate. In fact I think they've been very leniant on the the Obama administration in fact. Now the WH wants a battle with a news organization? What better way to cripple BO's administration. I truly hope Fox digs up as much honest dirt on this administration as they can and bring it to it's knees.
Higher ratings equal more advertising income, which is capitalism in action. This is anathema to the current POTUS and his Administration. To them, this must be stopped at all costs and in every area. The "Stimulus" is the first "10-Year Plan" of Komrade Obama, and it does not promote or encourage capitalism.
This kind of reaction to bad press from a man who admits he has done nothing in his entire first year, and then this attempt to stifle the press from a man who taught Constitutional Law? Perhaps the nation was sold a bill of goods that has no chance of performing as advertised. I believe that is called fraud in civil law.
"...both sides see benefits in the feud."
I don't trust Fox. It's useful for the enemy (the meida) to have all the right leaning eyes in one place. It doesn't matter how conservative they sound--they can then control the message--what to include, what to leave out, who to promote, to slowly demoralize so as to change policy.
It's a brilliant puzzle palace construction and with Geraldo and Imus on board, you can tell what they think of their audience. Also the Pavlovian bell.
Legitimate news organizations like Pravda of the Soviet Union, the People's Daily of China, the NYT, the Washington Post, the "big" three networks (which are going the way of the "big" three autos), and the Catty National News (CNN). Legitimate news are news that praise the Dear Leader for his inability to lead.
"we don’t need to pretend that this is the way that legitimate news organizations behave.”
Because "legitimate" "news" organizations (wow, one word in the phrase actually doesn't need quotation marks?) would never be so racist as to criticize a Democrat.
We will know when the White House realizes it's mistake. Anita Dunn will anounce her resignation.
As Dunham and the Obamist cabal are undertaking a war against Roger Ailes and Fox News, we don't need to pretend that this is the way that legitimate governments behave.
"we don’t need to pretend that this is the way that legitimate news organizations behave.”
So.. Do we get to stop pretending that this is the way legitimate presidential administrations behave?
Mmmm mmmmm mmmmm!
What's his beef? Didn't Fox feature his "praise song"?
And now we're all singing it!
Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm!!
(PS - does anybody know what ever happened to all those "question authority" bumper stickers?)
@Ann's New Friend...
If you're really asking, Cafe Press has those bumper stickers for (I think) about five bucks. There may be others out there too, IDK.
I've always been interested in politics, an informed voter, and that's about it. Now, every time these goons try to act like bullies toward FNC or me (do they want me to get out of the way, sit down and shut up, or grab a mop?) I take another giant step into activism. I don't think I'm the only one. I hope they keep it up.
If Obama can't take the heat in the kitchen maybe he should just leave, and the sooner the better, along with his 40+ minions.
His true Chicago colors are starting to glisten.
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