Video- O'Reilly on critiques of Obama response to oil spill: "What could he have done? ... This is insane"

Wow, Fox is being really schizophrenic lately. First the "All-Star Panel" and now O'Reilly?

Fox refuses climate ad

Hmmm, by confusing I'd guess they really mean "not the lies we've been telling our viewers" so let's not give them the truth. Via Ben-

Fox News last week refused to carry an advertisement from the liberal group VoteVets on the grounds that it was "too confusing," a spokesman for the group said.

The ad, above, seeks to make the familiar case that climate legislation would have national security benefits by reducing the oil profits of hostile Middle Eastern states.

(snip)

A Fox sales executive, Mike Mandelker, told the group's ad buyer that the spot was too confusing, VoteVets spokesman Eric Schmeltzer said.

The ad is airing without objection on CNN and MSNBC.

Video- Fox's Gretchen Carlson: It's "fascinating" that the tea parties are "what we talk about all the time"

Video- A Saturday On The Fringe: Scenes From The Right's Rallies In Nevada And Florida

How can anyone take these people seriously? Via Media Matters.

Video- Glenn Beck And The Fox News Shrink Psychoanalyze Obama – With Racial Overtones

Via NewsHounds.

White House communications director repeats concern with Fox News

By GottaLaff



Anita Dunn has company. Enjoy the wholesome goodness:

"They have a point of view; that point of view pervades the entire network," he told The New York Times in a sit-down interview.

"We don't feel the obligation to treat them like we would treat a CNN, or an ABC, or an NBC, or a traditional news organization, but there are times when we believe it makes sense to communicate with them," he added, noting the White House's decision to dispatch counter-terrorism chief John Brennan to Fox News Sunday after the Flight 253 attack was one example of that exception. [...]

"We will correct the record, whether it's an analyst on Fox, whether its a member of Congress, whether its a reporter or expert...," Pfeiffer said.

ClusterFox is nothing more than a vicious propaganda machine. Just ask Rupert Murdoch's own son-in-law.

VIDEO: Fox News anchor appears to describe Republican Party as “we”

By GottaLaff

Earlier today, Paddy posted about a new Rasmussen poll that pointed out that the Tea Partiers are more popular than the Rushpublics. I followed up with another post about how the Tea Party, which splintered off from the Rushpublic party, is itself splintering.

Now we have a ClusterFoxer who seems to have splintered off from being "fair and balanced":



WhoopsieDaisy! Anyone got a tweezers to remove that bias?

H/t: The Plum Line

White House okayed Anita Dunn's Fox smackdown

By GottaLaff

The best thing about leaving a job is being able to say whatever the hell you want:

In a parting shot at Fox News, White House Communications Director Anita Dunn mocked the conservative-leaning network on Friday and laughed off its controversial host Glenn Beck for calling her a Mao enthusiast.

Okay, okay, but what did she actually say? Get to the good part:

"Jon Stewart actually did one of the most amazing pieces of journalism last week or a couple of weeks ago," she said, "in which he looked at the way Fox, on their opinion shows, raises some issue that then gets reported on by their news division as 'a controversy.' ... Now, that's a point of view. That's fine. That's entertainment. It helps their ratings. But I think if you go downstairs and walk through the Newseum that's not traditionally what you think of as traditional news -- to some extent inventing the story."

Anita just called them liars. Right out. She can do that now.

As for her earlier remarks, she got a permission note from her parents:

Elsewhere in her remarks, Dunn acknowledged that her decision to go after Fox News was not an example of her "going rogue." White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and perhaps even the president himself gave her the green light. She also mocked Fox for proclaiming that it had secured an exclusive sit-down interview with President Obama during his trip to Asia when, in actuality, it was simply part of a rotating pool of reporters.

ClusterFox may be proud of their ratings (being the only available "news" station in many markets/hotels/places of business doesn't hurt), but they can't escape the fact that they are total and utter frauds.

Anita Dunn leaving White House

By GottaLaff

MSNBC just announced that Anita Dunn is leaving her post at the White House. She is the White House Communications Director who said "Fox News is “opinion journalism masquerading as news.”

More here.

UPDATED-Blunt warning from White House: Do not go on Fox

By GottaLaff

UPDATE, via Greg Sargent:

The White House is strongly denying a story claiming that White House officials privately threatened to retaliate against a Democratic strategist for appearing on Fox News — a claim generating a big stir on the right as the latest example of the White House’s victimization of the network.

“While we have our disagreements with FOX, administration officials appear on the network and we have no issue with others who choose to do so,” White House senior communications adviser Dan Pfeiffer emails me.

Original post:

Not just any ol' warning, a blunt warning:

"At least one Democratic political strategist has gotten a blunt warning from the White House to never appear on Fox News Channel, an outlet that presidential aides have depicted as not so much a news-gathering operation as a political opponent bent on damaging the Obama administration," the Chicago Tribune reports.

The strategist said the message was, "We better not see you on again."

"In urging Democratic consultants to spurn Fox, White House officials might be trying to isolate the network and make it appear more partisan. A boycott by Democratic strategists could also help drive the White House narrative that Fox is a fundamentally different creature than the other TV news networks."

I'm not sure how much more partisan ClusterFox could be made to appear, but sure, go for it.

UPDATE- The strategist said it was said in an "intimidating tone":

An implicit suggestion, he said, was that "clients might stop using you if you continue.''

VIDEO- Fox Lie: Obama Watched HBO Documentary Instead Of Election Results

By GottaLaff

Yes, they actually labeled it a "News Alert!!!!"



How moronic do you have to be to falsely quote Robert Gibbs, whose every word is transcribed, video'd, recorded, and memorized?

Gibbs never said the president watched the documentary last night. He was asked that question but replied that he didn’t know.

He was asked if the president watched the returns. To that, Gibbs replied that the president was not sitting in front of the TV watching them.

On the topic of the documentary, Gibbs was asked if the president liked it. He replied that Obama had seen it before and did enjoy it.

Of course, that's all it took for the minions to dutifully follow ClusterFox's lead. The lie made its way to right wing sites and it's out there now. Retractions and corrections are meaningless once the cycle begins, and Fox and friends know it.

H/t: Ellen

Mandatory viewing: VIDEO- Deliciously brutal Jon Stewart smacks down Fox

By GottaLaff

Double dee-lish!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
For Fox Sake!
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

As I watched this last night, I kvelled. I am so proud of Jon Stewart and his unique ability to report real news couched in snark.

A real plus about using comedy as a vehicle is that it's memorable, people are attentive, and it delivers a message in short, digestable gulps. In this age of social networking and text messages, that works.

Truth, it's not just for breakfast any more!

It is official, Fox fabricated the "denied access" story ...

By GottaLaff

My pal Larisa Alexandrovna got down to work after she got wind of this. And what work she did. Look what she found out (via TPMDC), in part:

Despite the facts, Fox and the glue-sniffing idiots who defend them spread word far and wide of the "Nixonian" (interesting how that term suddenly popped up everywhere and all at once, as though a memo had been issued) war against them and Obama's "enemy list" bullshit.

So in short, Fox fabricated a story to make themselves look like victims of a fabricated war on them being waged by the evil Commie Obama. [...]

"TPMDC spoke with a network bureau chief this afternoon familiar with the situation who was surprised that Fox was portraying the news as networks coming to its rescue. [...]

A Treasury spokesperson added: "There was no plot to exclude Fox News, and they had the same interview that their competitors did. Much ado about absolutely nothing."'

[...] A reputable "news" organization does NOT fabricate stories as part of a fabricated larger story in which they themselves are the fictional victim. [...] Fox News is NOT a reputable news outlet. But I did defend their right to access and I would still defend it. That is the difference between ethics and the political prostitution that Fox passes off as journalism.

Go here for the rest.

As we already know, the White House had it right: Fox is not a news organization. More like organized crime.

VIDEO- Fox no likey: Maddow/Olbermann invited to White House chat with Obama

By GottaLaff

Oh no! The Obama White House has gone all Nixonian on us!



I guess it escapes the ClusterFoxers that Keith and Rachel actually present facts along with their commentary.

On Monday, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow were among several people who attended an off-the-record briefing with Pres. Obama at the White House. Sources tell us other attendees at the two-and-a-half hour chat included Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post, Maureen Dowd of the New York Times, Gwen Ifill of PBS and Gloria Borger of CNN. Perhaps not surprisingly, no one from Fox News was in the room. [...]

However, co-anchor Gretchen Carlson didn't have her facts correct when she said, "in this reporter gaggle was Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann who are opinion people over at MSNBC." Maddow and Olbermann were in the off-the-record briefing on Monday not the on-the-record gaggle on Tuesday.

Prez O must be partial to sick puppies.

MoveOn.org Petition Calls On Democrats To Stay Off Fox

By GottaLaff

Via News Corpse:

Now MoveOn.org has come aboard:

President Obama is fighting back against FOX. The White House communications director said FOX is a “wing of the Republican Party…let’s not pretend they’re a news network.”

To draw attention to its biased coverage, President Obama will not appear on FOX for the rest of this year. Can you sign this petition asking Democrats to support President Obama’s stance by staying off FOX as long as he does?

A compiled petition with your individual comment will be presented to Democratic senators and representatives.

Seems the White House involvement has everyone all wee-wee'd up and ready to go!

VIDEOS: Terry McCauliffe v. Karl Rove on White House v. Fox News

By GottaLaff

Original posts on this here and here. It's on:





Awww, poor ClusterFox. Is the big bad White House ganging up on the channel that has spent years spewing wingnut propaganda and, more recently, organizing and encouraging Tea Tantrumers/hate speech against the president?

I will give the WhatTheFoxers one thing: They're better at vicious, ruthless "debate" than their Democratic guests are. Where's Cliff Schecter when we need him?

VIDEO- WH communications director: Fox is wing of Republican Party

By GottaLaff

Speaking truth to glower:



Refreshing, is it not? Inhale the goodness:

This morning on CNN’s Reliable Sources, White House communications director Anita Dunn defended her recent comment to Time magazine that Fox News is “opinion journalism masquerading as news.” Noting the inordinate amount of attention Fox devotes to stirring fake controversies like Bill Ayers and ACORN, Dunn explained. [...]

Dunn revealed this morning that Obama did not appear on Fox because of its reflexive, partisan opposition to Obama. Obama will go on Fox in the future, Dunn said, but when he goes on, “he’s going on to debate the opposition.”

See, the remarkable thing is, Obama can debate. ClusterFox isn't used to that.

Video- Fox Business Show Blames Obama For G20 Protest Violence

Yeah, and when I stubbed my toe yesterday? Totally President Obama's fault. Via NewsHounds.

Post 9/12 Internal Fox News e-mail

By GottaLaff

Keith addressed this last night, I believe. My reaction to the e-mail below from Fox News Vice President of News and Washington managing editor Bill Sammon to the staff of the D.C. bureau:

Hahahaha ::dissolving in tears:: haahaha ::deep breath:: haahahaha ::pounding floor:: hahaaa!

Exhibit A: This video, which debunks nearly every word of the e-mail.

Presenting ::ta daaa!:: The ClusterFox Hypocrisy Memo: (I've highlighted all the lies in red)

From: Sammon, Bill
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2009 2:25 PM
To: 005 -Washington
Subject: standards

For those of us who have only been at Fox for a relatively short period of time, it’s useful to remind ourselves that, as journalists, we must always be careful to cover the story without becoming part of the story. At news events, we’re supposed to function as dispassionate observers, not active participants. We are there to chronicle the news, not create it.

That means we ask questions in a fair, impartial manner. When approaching interviewees, we identify ourselves, by both name and news organization, up front. [Laffy Note: Not sure about this one. Do they do this?] We seek out a variety of voices and views. We take note of the scene in order to bring color and context to our viewers.

We do not cheerlead for one cause or another. We do not rile up a crowd. If a crowd happens to be boisterous when we show it on TV, so be it. If it happens to be quiet, that’s fine, too. It’s not our job to affect the crowd’s behavior one way or the other. Again, we’re journalists, not participants — and certainly not performers.

Indeed, any effort to affect the crowd’s behavior only serves to undermine our legitimate journalistic role as detached eyewitnesses. [Laffy Note: True!] Remember, our viewers are counting on us to be honest brokers when it comes to reporting — not altering –the important events of the day. That is nothing less than a sacred trust. We must always take pains to preserve that trust.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please stop by.

J.O.Ke.

H/t: Gr8RDH

"Fake & Staged" VIDEO: Fox News actually CUED "grassroots" 9/12ers

By GottaLaff

Ooopsies! Looks like it's time to bring back that golden oldie Candid Camera!

Media watchdog MediaMatters has obtained footage "from an anonymous tipster" of what it says is a Fox News producer giving stage directions to a crowd of Tea Party protesters at the 912 event in Washington, DC, last weekend.

That's right, folks, ClusterFox actually felt it necessary to incite (cue) the Tea Tantrumers into a Faux Frenzy in order to get the response they needed to convince America of their enthusiastic support.

Thanks to MediaMatters, we get a little peekaroony at what lengths they feel they have to go to just to get their peeps to holler and bellow and sound all grassrootsy and stuff:



Here's how it looked to the Faux audience:



Faux News manufactures every bit of footage they air, from Glenn Blech's tears to so-called "average citizen" crowd scenes. Lo. S. Ers.

"I guess it wasn't enough for Fox News to promote the hell out of Glenn Beck's 9/12 death march – they also needed to incite the crowd – you know, get them nice and pumped up so they'd looked good for the cameras," Karl Frisch writes at MediaMatters. "Fair & Balanced? More like Fake & Staged."