Why Isn’t The MSM Complaining About White House Attacks on Fox?

by Glynnis MacNicol | 9:00 am, October 20th, 2009

» 8 comments

alg_obama-oreilly What if, for argument’s sake, the government of the most powerful country in the world declared “war” on one of its biggest news operations and no one in the rest of the press batted an eye. Worrisome, no? Not something you’d ever expect to see here in the U.S.A. And yet…

Politico reports today on the (mostly!) eerie silence of the White House press corp. with regards to the West Wing’s war on Fox News. Shouldn’t a move by the government to delegitimize an entire news operation be cause for concern, as in, the fourth estate is worth protecting even if Glenn Beck resides there. Perhaps not. Or perhaps the press is suffering the same malady as Washington in general: partisanship.

To some media observers, it’s almost the definition of a “chilling effect” – a governmental attempt to steer reporters away from negative coverage – but the White House press corps has barely uttered a word of complaint.

That could be because of the perception among some journalists that Fox blurs the line between reporting and commentary – making it seem like not the most sympathetic victim…The Obama White House appears to have concluded that the media is now so splintered that an attack on one is no longer an attack on all.

Of course, as the article points out, this is not the first White House to take out its frustrations on a specific arm of the press. Still, try and imagine anyone keeping this quiet had, say, Dick Cheney had appeared on Meet The Press and not only declared war on MSNBC because he didn’t like Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann, but encouraged the rest of the press to cease treating it as a bona fide news operation. Of course, considering Fox’s soaring ratings perhaps all the other cablers are secretly hoping to become the White House’s secret target.

barack obama, fox news, Glenn Beck, keith olbermann, msnbc, Politico, Rachel Maddow, State of Journalism

Subdivisions2112

State run media. I never thought I would live to see the day where we have a socialist/marxist take over of the government and media at the speed of light the way we are. It is as if the White House is begging for civil disorder…keep poking a dog with a stick syndrome.

I am a registered Independent and have hatred for both parties. I never thought in November when I decided to hold my nose and vote for McCain because of the experience factor that we would be thrust into marxism by the middle of the next year from Obama. America will never recover from this. The page has been turned.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-J-Mutz/82409905 Andrew J. Mutz

Liberal*, Conservative. ACLU??? whAT?!!

I think first this is a case for the AC.. nm forgot they are liberal* “freedom of the press/ speech for everyone except fox news. ps:(and every one that thinks other than the one “true” way.)”

I keep asking my self what next, what will they do next? and then I remember the book1984.

*Liberal: not bound by authority*.
*Authority: In government, authority is often used interchangeably with the term “power”. However, their meanings differ: while “power” refers to the ability to achieve certain ends, “authority” refers to a claim of legitimacy, the justification and right to exercise that power.
realitycheck

Up here in Canada we have a national Broadcaster, the CBC.It knows where the money comes from. It’s really more of a joke, but they take themselves very seriously. Canada has spent decades & endless cash flow to keep your influence out. You guys are so becoming like us. who would have thunk that??!!!
hadashito

The Washington Press Corps is, or the most part, a moribund group of people hired by their media bosses because these former “journalists’ lost lost it . They are incapable of effective though or action. We have witnessed that fact repeatedly over the years. They are by now simply irrevelant. Better name for them? The Washington Press Corpse.
Jelperman

Why should anyone stick up for Faux News? People attack the National Enquirer all the time, and they have higher journalistic standards.
ingenieux

no one’s complaining about the WH “attacks” (read: not acknowledging FNC as “news”) because no one disagrees but you.

And that little “hypothetical” tale at the end of this Piece(O.S.) isn’t a hypothetical. it happened. no one cared then.
Sunnyr

Because they are sooo jealous of Fox News’ success! AND they are shivering little lap dogs for Barack Hussein Obama! Boot lickers!

WTG, FOX NEWS! YOU ARE THE BEST! Keep on asking questions with BOLDNESS! Your audience is thirsty for REAL NEWS and you are the only one who delivers!
sarainitaly

the best thing that can come out of this is that the other media outlets realize how ridiculous the WH is acting, and it snaps them out of their hopey changey tingly feel good state, and start doing their job.