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What’s Right With The White House’s Posture on Fox News (And What’s Wrong)

by Tommy Christopher | 9:33 am, October 22nd, 2009

» 11 comments

The Wall Between Opinion and News

A linchpin of Fox News’ defense has been the notion that there’s a separation between their news and opinion programming. This is true, to some degree, but it’s not the same as the separation between, say, ABC News and Dancing with the Stars. Fox News anchors and reporters routinely appear on these opinion programs, sometimes even offering dissent. Viewers may be able to distinguish between the formats on these shows, but opinion shows like Hannity make offers of fact. Does Fox News Channel feel that opinion programs are devoid of responsibility to present facts fairly and accurately?

For example, host Sean Hannity did several segments in which he presented, as fact, that White House appointee Kevin Jennings “supports” NAMBLA. He deliberately omitted a portion of a Jennings quote that clearly would have shown that this was not true.

If Mediaite ran a headline that said “Sean Hannity Praises Former Member of NAMBLA,” I’m sure Fox News would rightly object, even though that’s exactly what he did. His guest joined NAMBLA to “infiltrate” them. See how that works?

Furthermore, is it fair for Fox News to disavow what its opinion hosts say, after they tried to pin Bill Ayers on Obama? These are two groups of people who work closely together, not long-ago acquaintances.

Media Matters has posted extensive examples of Fox News programming that is untrue or unfair, but the genesis of this fight is clearly driven by Fox News personalities like Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. Letting them off the hook is a mistake. They’re entitled to their own opinions, not their own facts.

The White House’s “War on Fox News”

The media seems to be going along with the characterization that this is a White House “War on Fox News,” the implication being that the White House is simply picking on Fox News because they don’t like the coverage. In reality, they are responding to a series of campaigns against the President’s appointees, and a demonstrable slant in their news coverage. Does the fact that the other guy swung first mean that all bets are off? Certainly not, but it’s an important part of the overall picture.

What started out as Fox News whining about being bullied by the White House has morphed into the White House actually bullying Fox News.Bewteen equals, such a scrum might be appropriate, but when you’re the Executive Branch of the United States, you can’t go around telling the other kids to ignore the one you don’t like.

They need to regain the high ground that served them so well during the campaign, and make their case more narrowly. Pushing back against specific stories and identifying patterns of behavior will serve them much better than simply trying to wish Fox out of existence.

The White House hasn’t returned a request for comment on this article.

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Anita Dunn, Fox Kevin Jennings, Glenn Beck, Jake Tapper, Robert Gibbs, Sean Hannity, Tommy Christopher, White House, White House Posture on Fox News, White House Press Corps

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>A linchpin of Fox News’ defense has been the notion that there’s a separation between their news and opinion programming. This is true, to some degree

True in its presentation, but not true in its implementation.

On their supposed “news programming” they reprint RNC talking points as news without remorse http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/10/fox-passed-of-gop-talking_n_165720.html and have partisan-hack, faux reporters such as Griff Jenkins do segments to them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDGhs_LN7Fk

Next time someone in the media says “well, Fox News has a divide between their opinion, prime-time programming and their day-time, news programming” they deserve to be slapped silly. It’s not true.
SFPhoto

Hi Tommy, this is a very well thought out and well written piece. Thank you. Although I have grown to dislike and mistrust Obama, I do think the “White House” does need to regain the high ground. Being a bully has done nothing but drag down Nancy Pelosi and it will do the same for Obama.
ImNotBlue

Media Matters has posted extensive examples of Fox News programming that is untrue or unfair…

I agree. MOST of what Media Matters posts IS untrue and unfair. I don’t know why people keep referencing them.
realitycheck

Why would Gibbs have a problem with Garrets Blogs as sources. I seem to recall a certain Huffington Post being ushered into a news conference, and being called upon in prime Time? Does that count as opinionated broadcasting if the White house does a PM Presser? Seems to me someone is cherry picking.
straitshooter

Mr. Christopher,

Media Matters fact-checks Fox. Do you fact-check Media Matters? Isn’t it worth mentioning Media Matters’ founders and funders? I would like you, as an employee of the this blog, to do a little heavy-lifting. Go find a Fox News story (news, not commentary) and show us a distortion, or better yet, an out-and-out lie or factual mistake. It’s useless to challenge Fox as an honest news organization without specific proof it has been dishonest.

Of course if Fox does make mistakes, I expect them to issue corrections and retractions like any other responsible news outfit.
CaptainAmerica

Why doesn’t Tommy quit writing for Mediaite and go to work for MEDIA MATTERS. He can then tout their b.s. all day and push his gay agenda. Maybe even Kevin Jennings for President!
Tommy Christopher

The Media Matters material was extremely tertiary to the point I was making, but I did review their examples, which are very well-documented. If you have a problem with one of them, I’ll gladly take a look at it.
Tommy Christopher

CaptainAmerica,

anti-gay bias doesn’t just kill gay kids.

http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=90214
matt111

I get so irritated when people misunderstand the constitution and freedom of speech and press. I see people do it from the left and right, all the time. There is no chilling effect on the freedom of the press. Fox is free to print what they will and the White House is free to attack them in the press or through PR as they will; they have a freedom of speech, as well.

Now, if the government starts passing laws to outlaw Fox News- that would be different.

TOMMY CHRISTOPHER, PLEASE BE MORE INTELLIGENT!!!!
MoonDog

I echo matt111 – you completely missed the one and only point that needed to be made. It’s obvious you are oblivious to that point and frankly, you wasted a lot of time trying to defend and indefensible position.
StewartIII

NewsBusters: ‘Safe Schools Czar’ Funded Anti-Christian Gay Porn Art Exhibit
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/matthew-philbin/2009/10/22/safe-schools-czar-funded-anti-christian-gay-porn-art-exhibit