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Fair And Balanced! FNC’s Geraldo Bashes Baier’s Interview Tactics

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» 41 comments

We’ve seen a lot of reaction to Bret Baier‘s exclusive interview with Pres. Barack Obama Wednesday on Fox News, and in the same way Baier focused on process over content, the reaction has largely focused on tactics over content.

One of the toughest criticisms came from Baier’s own colleague today – Geraldo Rivera.

Johnny Dollar has the audio from this morning’s Brian And The Judge show when Geraldo was asked for his take on the interview. Initially he had praise for Baier – “I thought he made the point that process was ugly, Bret did, clearly,” he said.

But then came this:

When the President seemed exasperated and frustrated and unable to complete a sentence, I thought at some point you have to make a difference between the guy who’s the Senate Whip or the House Whip, the Assemblyman, the leader of the State Senate, you gotta…he’s not a mayor. He’s the President.

The criticism isn’t new, but certainly rare from someone on Fox News. Dana Perino, former Pres. Bush Press Secretary, disagreed. “There’s not a single reporter who ever interviewed Pres. Bush who would have done anything different,” she said.

Geraldo then veered into territory sure to fire up both sides: “Sarah Palin‘s the only one who gets beat up the way Bret Baier beat up Barack Obama.”

Here’s the audio from this morning – check out how Geraldo compares Baier to, gasp, Keith Olbermann:

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  • same2u

    Brett Baier is a company man. He did exactly what was expected him, just as he did when kissed George Bush’s ass.

  • http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

    Geraldo is WAY OUT OF LINE!!1 Baier was just as tough on the Obamessiah as he was on our Jesus-Appointed President George W Bush when he interviewed him, and ESPECIALLY in his extremely critical documentary, “George W Bush: Fighting to the Finish” in which he compared Bush to LINCOLN (our WORST president behind Carter, FDR, and Teddy “PROGRESSIVE” Roosevelt)!!1

  • The Real Royal King

    I think Geraldo may be right in this instance. But, the networks are much like the Great Powers during the large 20th Century wars who were always relieved when they found out the Italians were on the other side.

    Remember Geraldo drawing US locations in the sand for the terrorists to see? Broadcast live on FOX.

    CNN will make a deal. We’ll send Kirin back to FOX, if FOX keeps Geraldo.

  • silkworm

    Geraldo is trying to be nice to the Prez in hopes of helping his Latino friends get free passage to America via the Obama giveaway citizenship bill coming soon to your local city and state.

  • felixw

    This is what the Left doesn’t understand about Fox. Fox attracts viewers because it presents a wide range of opinions, and its pundits frequently disagree with each other. Fox often has one commentator take issue with another, and every night guests are invited on to the shows solely for the purpose of presenting opposing views.

    In sharp contrast, MSNBC is failing because only a single view point is given any significant platform, and the opinions of the pundits can all be predicted in advance. And as for opposing views: the MSNBC philosophy is that they need to be discredited, marginalized and (ideally) silenced. That is why the MSNBC hosts constantly resort to name-calling, shouting, character attacks, charges of racism, etc. — since the very idea of dialogue and debate runs contrary to the MSNBC’s approach.

  • MichelleF

    Not surprising, Geraldo is a HUGE lib and always has been. So for all of you who say there aren’t any on Fox, there you go. I love his support of the troops, but his politics are on par with the daily kos.

  • same2u

    Gaxter,

    the article is about the Brett Baier interview and Geraldo’s take on it. Quit recycling your same tired comment about MSNBC over and over and over…………..

  • m

    >Fox attracts viewers because it presents a wide range of opinions

    Gretchen Carlson: conservative.
    Brian Kilmeade: conservative.
    Steve Doocy: conservative.
    Glenn Beck: conservative.
    Bill Hemmer: conservative.
    Martha MacCallum: conservative.
    Jon Scott: conservative.
    Jane Skinner: conservative.
    Megyn Kelly: conservative.
    Neil Cavuto: conservative.
    Bret Baier: conservative.
    All-Star panel: conservative.
    Shepard Smith: I’ll let him slide.
    Bill O’Reilly: conservative.
    Sean Hannity: conservative.
    Greta Van Susteren: conservative.
    Greg Gutfeld: conservative.

  • MichelleF

    M, the sad news for you libs is simply that NO ONE listens to libs. This is why Air America is gone and MSNBC and CNN were outviewed by the CARTOON NETWORK! Roger Ailes is a business man and puts on the air what people want. Let’s look at straight news hours; Shep Smith, leans left (but I let that go), Martha is fair and I’d like to hear evidence to the contrary, if you have it, You may not like how Bret pressed BO, but he is fair, and I’d love to hear evidence to the contrary, All star panel, Hello Juan Williams, Mira Liaason of NPR, Bill is an Indy, Greta is a DEM.

    Once again, FOX, according to MOST people is the FAIREST. As much as you hate it, you cannot change that fact.

  • autobahn

    The office of the presidency demands respect. (The left certainly respected Bush) But if Baier hadn’t attempted an occasional interruption, the interview would have simply been a speech, and Obama could have done that without Baier present.

  • MichelleF

    Autobahn, and that’s what BO wanted. Just let me come on FOX because they get the viewers, but I will filibuster and not answer any of your questions. Too bad it didn’t work out too well for him! That’s why the libs are focusing on the style of the interview and not the substance, because BO did awful and they know it.

  • JamesA1102

    Fox attracts viewers because it presents a wide range of opinions, and its pundits frequently disagree with each other.

    No FOX attracts viewers because it reinforces the point of view of a certain section of the population.

    In sharp contrast, MSNBC is failing because only a single view point is given any significant platform

    No in sharp contrast MSNBC is not carried as a basic service on many cable systems. So it is hardly failing when you consider that it regularly beats CNN in prime time. And I doubt Pat Buchanan, Joe Scarborough or Peggy Noonan would disagree that their viewpoints are not given any significant platform.

  • JamesA1102

    Baier was just as tough on the Obamessiah as he was on our Jesus-Appointed President George W Bush when he interviewed him

    Really? I don’t think so.

    http://mediamatters.org/research/200812180005

  • shootfromthehip

    “In sharp contrast, MSNBC is failing because only a single view point is given any significant platform, and the opinions of the pundits can all be predicted in advance.”

    Only a single point of view is given on MSNBC?

    I’d say that is only 100% FALSE.

    Ever watched “Morning Joe?” You know, the program on every morning for 3 hours hosted by a noted conservative and former GOP Congressman.

    What’s the name of the show hosted by a Democrat on Fox?

    Oh that’s right….THERE IS NONE.

  • TylerDurdin

    Ah, poor libs are mad that FOX has conservative commentators.

    And who do the libs have?

    NY Times, LA Times, Washington Post, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, Salon, Slate, Time, Newsweek, Nation, Mother Jones, Rolling Stone, The View, The Daily Show, HP, Vanity Fair, Village Voice, Media Matters, Huffington Post, Daily Kos,et al.

  • TylerDurdin

    MSNBC libs:

    KO
    RM
    Chris Mattews
    Mika
    Andrea Mitchell
    Larry O’Donnell
    Mike Barnicle
    David Schuster

    Next!!

  • stoogedudes

    “This is why Air America is gone and MSNBC and CNN were outviewed by the CARTOON NETWORK!”

    Michelle, Fox News is constantly beaten in viewership by iCarly and Hannah Montana…what’s your point? Yes, Fox News is by far the highest rated cable news network because conservatives think that the rest of the media is infiltrated with liberals. I’ve watched CNN for a long time. Rick Sanchez seems like a liberal, I’ll give you that. But I see several conservatives on CNN, like Alex Castellanos and Mary Matalin, quite a lot. Hell, they hired Erik Erikson as a commentator, and THAT guy is as much of an extreme rightist as I’ve seen in the media! This is the guy who said “Barack Obama’s Dangerous Game Starts the Process Toward Our Deaths.” when he was inaugurated. He’s tweeted some of the most disgusting things.

    Yes, MSNBC is liberal, we know. But I’m a liberal and I’ve heard many conservative-type things that upset me and angered me, but I don’t consider CNN right wing.

    I didn’t see the Bret Baier interview, so I can’t really comment on it, but kudos to President Obama for going on Fox News. I wonder if Bush was interviewed by Kelly O’Donnell on MSNBC. That would’ve been enemy territory for him.

    Have a good day everybody! We all ought to forget about politics for an hour, get out and enjoy the sun, if you have any where you are.

  • stoogedudes

    Tyler,

    Washington Post just hired Marc Thiessen as an editorial writer, a huge conservative. I don’t know where ABC and CBS have liberals in their newscasts. CNN has both liberals AND conservatives. Time and Newsweek all have conservatives that write for them.

    Do you think the only conservatives in the media are at Fox News? Really?

  • shle896

    Fox News and 90% of their on-air talent hold NO credibility. They mislead and often outright LIE and it seems to be their sole mission to take down the president – at any cost.

    They are all disgusting, I don’t care how many 60+ year old white men watch their broadcasts. They are so sleazy and hypocritical.

    As far as I’m concerned, they’re no better than The National Inquirer. They are nothing but a bunch of clowns and their network is the circus.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Gordon-Bloyer/537945868 Gordon Bloyer

    Bob Beckel LIB
    Geraldo LIB
    Mora Liaason LIB
    Doug Schoen Dem
    Pat Cadell Dem
    Juan Williams Lib
    Shep Smith Lib
    Geraldine Ferraro Lib
    Regretable Van Susstern Lib
    The TWO female dem operatives, names I can’t think of.
    That nut that used to be on with Hannity
    More that I can’t think of………..
    Save us from the nonsense that Fox is not fair and balanced.

  • MichelleF

    shle896 says:
    March 19, 2010 at 2:31 pm
    Fox News and 90% of their on-air talent hold NO credibility. They mislead and often outright LIE and it seems to be their sole mission to take down the president – at any cost.

    They are all disgusting, I don’t care how many 60+ year old white men watch their broadcasts. They are so sleazy and hypocritical.

    Don’t be like the others libs on this site. If you are gonna say it, BACK IT UP. Put up or shut up. This is the part I’d like your proof on:

    They mislead and often outright LIE and it seems to be their sole mission to take down the president – at any cost.

    I await your response.

  • Cecelia

    I don’t think it matters how many liberals or conservatives work for a network if the shows are geared to air both sides of the issue.

    I don’t care how hostile Chris Matthews is to conservative quests, if they are allowed to come on they should be prepared to take him on, talk over him right back, make an argument.

    They should go on there knowing that he will attribute to them words and ideas that they don’t possess, he’ll ask them to account for the behavior of others, and he’ll talk over them…it doesn’t matter. THEY can get their point across if they’ve taken the time to get ready..

    Same with liberals on any other program.

    The opportunity to do that IS balance and it’s all that they are owed.

  • http://MsUnderestimated.com MsUnderestimated

    @Gordon Bloyer: Here’s more to complete your list:

    Dr. Mark Lamont Hill – Strong progressive
    Ellis Hennican – Strong progressive
    Leslie Marshalll – Progressive
    Kirsten Powers – Democrat
    Susan Estrich – Big Lib
    Chris Wallace – Independent
    Rev. Al Sharpton – HUGE progressive
    Bob Beckel – HUGE Lib
    Lanny Davis – Democrat
    Tammy Bruce – Conservative Democrat (I believe)
    Morton Kondracke – Democrat
    Tanya Acker – Huge progressive
    Paul Begala – Democrat
    Mark Mellman – Democrat
    “Minister” Hashim Nzinga – Black liberation theologist and Black Panther
    Medea Benjamin – Code Pinko-Commie
    Harold Ford Jr. – Democrat

    ….and this is not including all the young Democrat party strategists that are on O’Reilly, Hannity & Greta just about every night.

  • felixw

    You lefties can spin all you want, but there is more diversity of opinion on O’Reilly every night than on Countdown in a year. Anyone who watches MSNBC can see that its pundits do not want to debate those who disagree with them. They want to bully and intimidate opponents into silence. The fundamental ugliness of this approach is what turns off viewers and is why MSNBC has lost more than half of its prime time audience in just 18 months.

  • Nachi

    poorfelixw. Another right-wing disaffected who knows not tht he knows not that he knows not. Another traveler who attempts to make sense out of – nonsense. The Little People doth speak out.

  • m

    >MSNBC libs:
    >KO
    >RM
    >Chris Mattews
    >Mika
    >Andrea Mitchell
    >Larry O’Donnell
    >Mike Barnicle
    >David Schuster

    Gretchen Carlson: conservative.

    Brian Kilmeade: conservative.
    
Steve Doocy: conservative.

    Bill Hemmer: conservative.

    Martha MacCallum: conservative.
    
Jon Scott: conservative.

    Jane Skinner: conservative.

    Megyn Kelly: conservative.

    Neil Cavuto: conservative.
    Glenn Beck: conservative.

    Bret Baier: conservative.

    All-Star panel: conservative.

    Shepard Smith: I’ll let him slide.

    Bill O’Reilly: conservative.

    Sean Hannity: conservative.
    
Greta Van Susteren: conservative.
    
Greg Gutfeld: conservative.
    Bill Schultz: conservative.
    Andrew Levy: conservative.
    Clayton Morris: conservative.
    Dave Briggs: conservative.
    Alisyn Camerota: conservative.
    Brenda Buttner: conservative.
    David Asman: conservative.
    Paul Gigot: conservative.
    Cal Thomas: conservative.
    Rich Lowry: conservative.
    James Pinkerton: conservative.
    Judith Miller: conservative.
    Julie Banderas: conservative.
    Mike Huckabee: conservative.
    Geraldo Rivera: moderate.
    Chris Wallace: conservative.
    Oliver North: conservative.
    John Gibson: conservative.
    Laura Ingraham: conservative.
    Mort Kondracke: conservative.
    Fred Barnes: conservative.
    Brit Hume: conservative.

  • m

    Alan Colmes and Kirsten Powers don’t have their own shows, by the way. In fact, there’s not a single liberal show on the network. Remember when Colmes said they were working on a weekend show when he left H&C? JEEZ I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED

  • Bias-Media

    Now we know who at FoxNews is jealous of Beck…

    figures…

  • m

    >Here’s more to complete your list

    None of them host a single show. None of them are part of any permanent or reoccurring panel.

    Morton Kondracke is a conservative Democrat, Susan Estrich is a conservative Democrat, Paul Begala is CNN contributor lol, Mark Lamont Hill is fired, Harold Ford Jr is a MSNBC contributor, Chris Wallace is as conservative as you can get (he’s said “I generally agree with Hannity, even if I don’t always agree with his approach”).

  • same2u

    You mean M you are not going to buy into the abject lie that Greta is a liberal, even though she has never acted liberal on her show?

  • Olby Sucks

    No FOX attracts viewers because it reinforces the point of view of a certain section of the population.

    —-

    Precisely the reason you’re an olbyloon, right?

  • Bias-Media

    wow; hate to inject myself into this fray; but here goes…

    Non-FoxNews members who have their own show, and are NOT Conservatives:

    1) Brian Williams – BIG Time Liberal
    2) Katie Couric – BIG Time Liberal
    3) Charles Gibson – Liberal
    4) Dianne Sawyer – Liberal
    5) George Steph – Liberal
    6) David Gregory – Liberal
    7) Terry Moran – BIG Time Liberal

  • Bias-Media

    so…I fail to understand why the LEFT on these blogs complain so much about how Fox leans conservative…

  • JamesA1102

    4) Dianne Sawyer – Liberal

    Dianne Sawyer a liberal??? You’ve got to be kidding! Dianne Sawyer is a republican who worked for Richard Nixon for many years. Just because you say something and repeat it over and over again doesn’t change reality. As far as the others you present no proof to back up what you’re saying.

  • JamesA1102

    Precisely the reason you’re an olbyloon, right?

    And exactly what statement did I make that lead you to that conclusion??? Other than I dared to disagree with you.

  • MichelleF

    James, just becuase Sawyer worked for an R 35 years ago, doesn’t mean she isn’t a flaming lib today. I have to run to my sons soccer game, but will bring you Dianne’s greatest hits later, so stay tuned!

  • JamesA1102

    just becuase Sawyer worked for an R 35 years ago, doesn’t mean she isn’t a flaming lib today.

    Doesn’t mean that she is either.

  • MichelleF

    Unlike you James, I can back myself up:

    http://www.mrc.org/Profiles/Sawyer/welcome.asp

    If you have evidence to the contray, I’d be happy to read it.

  • autobahn

    I like how the left points out the conservatives on Fox, then gives a big “Ahh, haa!” as if they’ve uncovered something hidden. Yeah, Fox leans right. So what? All the others lean left. If you’re on the left and don’t like Fox, you’ve got plenty to choose from. Fox is the lone conservative island in a sea of liberals.

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  • StewartIII

    “Thanks to Mediaite for doing it up right.”
    ***
    J$P: Fox Haters Week in Review
    http://homepage.mac.com/mkoldys/blog/faj290908285.html

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