| ladyinred |
09-11-2009 05:16 PM |
Not making this stuff up
"Voice of the opposition": Fox News openly advocates against Democratic Congress, White House
http://mediamatters.org/items/200909110016
Quote:
Since Barack Obama's inauguration, Fox News has frequently engaged in political advocacy against the Democratic Congress and White House. Specifically, Fox News personalities have promoted and encouraged viewers to "join" tea party protests, Glenn Beck's organization The 9-12 Project and its September 12 "March on Washington," and town hall meetings; engaged in a witch hunt seeking to "get rid of" Obama administration officials and nominees; implored viewers to call Congress and the White House to protest Democratic policies; and celebrated "victor[ies]" when Democratic legislation has been stalled.
Fox News execs describe network as "voice of opposition," "the Alamo"
Ailes: "I see this as the Alamo." The Los Angeles Times reported on March 6 that according to Glenn Beck, in a meeting with him, Fox News chief executive Roger Ailes "shared a message of his own: The country faced tough times, he said, and Fox News was one of the only news outlets willing to challenge the new administration." From the article:
"I wanted to meet with Roger and tell him, 'You may not want to put me on the air. I believe we are in dire trouble, and I will never shut up,' " said the conservative radio host.
But before Beck could say anything, Ailes shared a message of his own: The country faced tough times, he said, and Fox News was one of the only news outlets willing to challenge the new administration.
"I see this as the Alamo," Ailes said, according to Beck. "If I just had somebody who was willing to sit on the other side of the camera until the last shot is fired, we'd be fine."
That couldn't have suited Beck more. In making the jump to the top-rated cable news channel from HLN, where he had a show for two years, he hoped to alert more people to one of his consuming fears: that the government's handling of the economic crisis is ushering in an era of socialism.
Shine: Fox is "voice of opposition on some issues." A March 23 report on NPR's Media Circus featured clips of Fox News vice president for programming Bill Shine saying of Fox News: "There were a couple of people who basically wrote about our demise come last November, December, and were, I guess, rooting for us to go away. ... With this particular group of people in power right now, and the honeymoon they've had from other members of the media, does it make it a little bit easier for us to be the voice of opposition on some issues?" Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer similarly acknowledged that Fox News is the "voice of opposition in the media" during the June 17 edition of Special Report with Bret Baier.
Fox publicizes, encourages attendance at April 15 tea parties
Network is chief promoter of "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties." In the lead-up to the April 15 tea parties, which the channel repeatedly described as "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties," Fox News frequently aired segments publicizing and encouraging viewers to get involved with the protests. Fox News itself described the protests primarily as a response to the Obama administration and its policies. A Media Matters study found that from April 6 to 13, Fox News featured at least 20 segments on the "tea party" protests, and a subsequent Media Matters study found that from April 6 to 15, Fox News aired at least 107 commercial promotions for its coverage of the April 15 tea parties. On April 15, Fox News hosts Glenn Beck, Neil Cavuto, Sean Hannity, and Greta Van Susteren each provided live coverage from the sites of separate tea parties.
•America's Newsroom promotes organizing info on-air and online. America's Newsroom frequently hosted tea party organizers and posted on-screen organizing information, such as protest dates and locations. America's Newsroom also repeatedly directed viewers to its website, which posted a list of tea party protests.
•Beck: "Celebrate with Fox News" at any of four "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties." Beck repeatedly promoted tea party protests and hosted organizers of numerous tea party events. Beck told viewers they could "[c]elebrate with Fox News" at any of four Fox News-described "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties." Beck said to viewers: "If you can't make the one in San Antonio" -- which Beck himself attended -- "please go to the one with Neil or with Sean in Atlanta, that's supposed to be great, Greta is in Washington, D.C. Just get out and let your face be seen."
•Hannity: "[J]oin us" at the tea parties. Hannity frequently promoted the protests by providing on-air information about the protests and encouraging viewers to "join us." Hannity also encouraged viewers to "send us your 'Tax Day Tea Party' videos'."
•Varney: "It's now my great duty to promote the tea parties." During the April 13 edition of Your World with Neil Cavuto, guest host Stuart Varney stated, "It's now my great duty to promote the tea parties. Here we go!" Varney then promoted Cavuto's presence at an April 15 tea party.
•Fox Nation: "Find a Tea Party!" The Fox Nation posted numerous links discussing and promoting the protests. One link, headlined, "Find a Tea Party!" links to results from Google Maps of "2009 Tea Parties." Another link, headlined, "Video: The Trillion Dollar Tea Party Video!" is an embedded YouTube video on Fox Nation's website from the Tampa Bay Area Tea Party explaining why you should "join your local tea party."
•Fox Nation "hosts a virtual tea party." Fox News anchors repeatedly told viewers they could attend a "virtual tea party" at Fox Nation. America's Newsroom co-host Bill Hemmer told viewers, "Can't get to a tea party? Fox Nation hosts a virtual tea party," while co-host Megyn Kelly said, "you can join the tea party action from your home if you go to the FoxNation.com ... a virtual tax day tea party." On April 16, Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson told viewers that they "can still have a virtual tea party" at Fox Nation.
•John Gibson: "[H]opefully millions of people" will participate. While reporting at a protest on April 15, Fox News Radio host and former Big Story host John Gibson remarked that "hopefully millions of people" will participate in the protests.
•Carlson: "Hang" a teabag from your mirror. After displaying tea party t-shirts, Gretchen Carlson suggested on April 15 that to show support for the protests, "You could hang [a teabag] from your mirror, too, like fuzzy dice."
•Willard: Fight the "fascism." Reporting from a tea party in Boston on the April 15 edition of Happening Now, Fox Business anchor Cody Willard asked viewers, "Guys, when are we going to wake up and start fighting the fascism that seems to be permeating this country?" Willard also stated that conservatives and liberals are "both fascists who are taking my money and building up corporate America with my welfare."
•Asman tells viewers they "need to go" to tea party merchandise site. On the Fox Business Network on April 15, anchor David Asman told viewers they "need to go" to a tea party merchandise site "no matter what side of the issue you're on."
"I saw it on Fox": Fox's advocacy turns out crowds to protests. After the April 15 tea parties, dozens of local and national media outlets noted that Fox News was a driving force behind the tea parties. Numerous reports quoted participants saying they were driven to the protests by Fox. CNN and Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz remarked: "I don't think I've ever seen a news network throw its weight behind a protest like we are seeing in the past few weeks with Fox and these tea parties."
Fox publicizes, endorses post-April 15 Tea Parties
Tea Party 2.0. Fox News repeatedly promoted "Tea Party 2.0," a May 14 public tele-conference hosted by the Republican Governors Association. For instance, the front page of The Fox Nation told readers, "Tea Party 2.0! Plug In and Sound Off!" On the Record's Greta Van Susteren also aired a segment promoting the teleconference and told viewers, "If you wanted to go to a tea party on April 15 but could not make it ... tomorrow's your big chance."
"Countdown to Independence Day Tea Party!" On July 1, Fox Nation promoted and asked viewers to "register here and sound off" on the July 4 tea parties.
Fox relentlessly promotes Tea Party Express. Fox News has heavily promoted the Tea Party Express tour on Fox News, Fox Business, The Fox Nation, and FoxNews.com. The network has frequently provided viewers the dates and locations of upcoming stops. On the August 23 edition of Fox News' America's News HQ, anchor Shannon Bream said, "We want to let folks know" the tour schedule so "they can be a part" of events. The Tea Party Express was organized by a political action committee -- formed by Republican operatives -- whose mission is to oppose President Obama and other Democrats.
Jenkins "hops" on Tea Party Express, endorses protester rhetoric. An August 27 post on Sean Hannity's FoxNews.com blog is titled, "'Hannity' Hops the Tea Party Express!" In the post, a producer wrote that Hannity "will be along for the ride! ... our own Griff Jenkins will be catching all the action" and added: "Click here for more on the tour and to find the tea party nearest you." While on the Tea Party Express, Jenkins endorsed a tea partier's call to "get these liberal communists out of our government" and has repeatedly expressed support for the protesters, who he has referred to as "the America that Washington forgot."
Fox & Friends celebrates helping sell "over 1,000" R.I.P. U.S. Constitution tea party t-shirts. On August 22, Fox & Friends promoted a "R.I.P. U.S. Constitution" tea party t-shirt from college student Ashleigh Kenny. On its August 23 show, Fox & Friends celebrated "good news" by noting that there were "over 1,000" T-shirt orders following her appearance. Co-host Alisyn Camerota replied to the news by remarking, "Oh my god." While Fox & Friends promoted the web address of the t-shirt, Cameron said, "Oh my gosh, we crashed [the website] again."
Fox lauds, encourages health care town hall disrupters
Fox & Friends lauds disrupters and encourages more. Fox & Friends hosts have repeatedly lauded protesters and urged viewers to take similar action. Guest co-host Peter Johnson Jr. said to protesters, "[W]e thank you for representing Americans, and we hope that other Americans get out there." Johnson also said of town hall protesters: "We need to have this every day throughout August." Gretchen Carlson asked viewers: "Are you gonna call" your member of Congress "or are you gonna go to one of these receptions where they're actually there?" Steve Doocy similarly said: "If you want to contact your congressmembers and sound off, go to FoxNation.com." Fox & Friends also ran the on-screen text, "Hold Congress accountable! Now is the time to speak your mind."
Hannity on "Healthcare Uprising": "That's a pretty good way to fight back"; Morris: "We gotta sign that [protester] up." After airing clips from a Philadelphia town hall, Sean Hannity and Fox News political analyst Dick Morris stated:
HANNITY: Wow, that sounded more like a Philadelphia Eagles game or a Flyers game than a town hall. And joining me now to discuss this and more is Fox News contributor, the author of the book Catastrophe -- New York Times best-seller -- How Obama, Congress, and the Special Interests are Transforming a Slump into a Crash, Freedom into Socialism and a Disaster into a Catastrophe, and How You Can Fight Back -- Dick Morris is here. That's a pretty good way to fight back.
MORRIS: It sure is. We got to sign that lady up. They wanted August. The Blue Dogs bought us August. That was all they did. And now we have got to let them have it, because they are planning to pass this bill with 50 votes. They're planning not to ask any Republican votes. They're going to just do it with hard-core Democrats. [Hannity, 8/3/09]
On his personal website, which is frequently promoted on his Fox News program, Hannity asks readers to "FIGHT OBAMA CARE TODAY! Become a part of the mob! Attend an Obama Care Townhall near you!"
Fox News directs viewers to only Democratic town halls. On a segment on the August 7, reporter James Rosen displayed only the schedule of Democratic town halls, stating that he would display the GOP schedule if Fox had it. Later in the day, Rosen displayed both Democratic and Republican town halls.
Fox urges exposing, booting Obama "czars"
Network leading witch hunt against Obama officials and nominees. Fox News personalities have been leading the charge against Obama administration officials and nominees they have described as "czars," often by calling on viewers to help them unearth statements the officials had made in the past rather than critiquing their job performance or credentials for those positions.
•Beck: "Do we want communists in the United States government as special advisers to the president? ... No, we're going to change the whole system." On the September 1 edition of his Fox News program, Beck aired a clip of Obama Green Jobs adviser Van Jones stating, "This movement is deeper than a solar panel, deeper than a solar panel. Don't stop there. Don't stop there. No, we're going to change the whole system. We're going to change the whole thing." Beck then commented in part: "When will you wake up? I know there are good, decent people -- left and right, Democrats and Republicans -- that watch this program. How much more evidence do you need that we have radicals in the White House? Oh, we haven't even begun. If you think you need more, we need to -- at least in this country -- start having the necessary discussion of: Do we want communists in the United States government as special advisers to the president?"
•Glenn Beck urged followers to "Find everything you can on Cass Sunstein, Mark Lloyd, and Carol Browner." From Beck's Twitter feed:
•Beck asked viewers to become "constitutional watchdogs" on issues such as cap-and-trade" in order to "wake up enough Americans to stop" an attempt to "fundamentally transform America." From FoxNews.com's transcript of his July 31 program:
Find something that you know about or have interest in. Watch what Congress is doing on that. If it's cap-and-trade, look for everything you can find on that issue. Whatever it is, when something comes up that doesn't sound right, start barking loudly, like the Constitutional Watchdog you are.
Send me an e-mail or tweet and we'll highlight the story you've uncovered. When you see the Watchdog Shield, you'll know that it wasn't us who found the story -- it was one of our Watchdogs.
I am more optimistic -- more hopeful -- now than I've been in a long time, that, together, we can wake up enough Americans to stop what I firmly believe is an attempt to "fundamentally transform America."
•Fox Business' Eric Bolling: "Van Jones resigns ... How about J Holdren Science Czar (mass sterilization) and Cass Susstein [sic]." From Bolling's Twitter feed:
•Hannity: "We got rid of one [czar], and my job, starting tomorrow night is to get rid of every other one. I promise you that." As the Think Progress blog noted, at a September 7 rally in West Virginia, Hannity said:
HANNITY: Do you want another czar?
CROWD: No!
HANNITY: I don't think so. By the way, we got one -- we got rid of one, and my job starting tomorrow night is to get rid of every other one. I promise you that.
Beck: Under my 9-12 project, "millions" getting "involved"
9-12 Project "a place" for people looking to take back their country. Glenn Beck started the 9-12 Project, which describes itself as "a place for you and other like-minded Americans looking for direction in taking back the control of our country." Beck's FoxNews.com website, under a section titled, "TAKE ACTION: GET INVOLVED!" states of the 9-12 Project: "Check out Beck's new Web site for updates on the stories and people who prove that your values and principles are still very much alive."
9-12 Project organizes events across country. The conservative project frequently organizes events around the country. For instance, members of the 9-12 Project have helped organize tea parties, and Beck's 9-12 website is working with others for a "March on Washington," among other local events, on September 12. Beck will participate in a 9-12 "March on Washington" by broadcasting live from 1 to 3 p.m. ET on Fox News.
Beck: "9-12 Projects and rallies happening all over." In recent months, Beck has frequently touted the effectiveness of his 9-12 Project in organizing followers. On August 12, for instance, Beck described the 9-12 Project as giving "ourselves an outlet of voice to connect, because you needed a community to organize ... Well, you have already done it. There are 9-12 Projects and rallies happening all over. The biggest one seems to be in Washington, D.C. on September 12."
Beck: "We started that. Millions all involved across the country and the 9-12 project and other organizations like it." On August 27, Beck said of the 9-12 Project:
BECK: Now, the second part of this. A few months ago, I told you, you got to know you're not alone. You've got to know. You got to unite. Talk to people. Make sure you know you're not alone, through the 9/12 Project. We started that. Millions all involved across the country and the 9/12 Project and other organizations like it. I knew we needed to connect with one another.
Beck: "On 9-12, I hope to see you in Washington. I will make sure you're seen all over the country." On August 28, Beck described the 9-12 Project's "March on Washington" as something "worth standing up for" and told viewers: "I hope to see you in Washington. I will make sure you're seen all over the country."
Beck: Will we find people "to stand for our country?" Discussing his participation in the 9-12 march, Beck asked viewers: "Will we find another 50 men or women willing to stand for our country and the republic? On the Fox News channel, you can find out all of the details at the 912Project.com."
9-12 march website: Beck "really helping our numbers grow!" A post on the 9-12 march website 912dc.org states: "The recent coverage by Glenn Beck is really helping our numbers grow!" The website frequently mentions Beck's promotion of the march, and excerpted a September 8 USA Today article reporting that the march has been "[e] ncouraged by conservative commentators such as Fox's Glenn Beck."
Fox implores viewers to call Congress, White House to voice displeasure
Following McCaughey, Beck urges viewers to "call the clowns." During the February 10 edition of Glenn Beck, serial health care misinformer Betsy McCaughey advanced the false claim that provisions in the economic recovery act would permit the government to control health care. Beck and McCaughey both urged viewers to call Congress and urge their representatives to remove the act's health provisions:
BECK: OK -- I mean, look, George Washington said that government is brute force. And that's what it seems to me we have coming. Is there anything that the average person sitting at home going, "Oh, dear God, now." Is there anything they can do right now?
McCAUGHEY: Yes. They should call their members of Congress, their U.S. senators, and their representatives and say please make sure these health provisions are taken out of this bill so that the American public and the doctors and the nurses and the hospital executives can have a meaningful discussion about what should be in a health bill.
BECK: OK. All right. One more time, gang. Got to call the clowns up and say, "Hey, don't do this to us. Hey, please don't screw us."
More of the intrview on the website
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