Fox News Is Ready For Their Cage Match With The White House

by Steve Krakauer | 9:36 am, October 12th, 2009

» 14 comments

The White House has gone on the offensive against Fox News in the past week, speaking to Time magazine and CNN’s Reliable Sources.

But in a follow-up to all the White House chatter about FNC, Brian Stelter of the New York Times writes about the fight that’s shaping up. It’s important to note, Fox News loves to fight!

Here’s part of Stelter’s story:
‬‪

Fox’s senior vice president for programming, Bill Shine, says of the criticism from the White House, “Every time they do it, our ratings go up.” Mr. Obama’s first year is on track to be the Fox News Channel’s highest rated.‬‪

One Fox executive said that the jabs by the White House could solidify the network’s audience base and recalled that Mr. Ailes had remarked internally: “Don’t pick a fight with people who like to fight.” The executive asked not to be named while discussing internal conversations.‬‪

It is certainly rare that a White House and administration would go after a single news entity (or non-news entity, as the White House likes to hammer home), but it is not unprecedented. In May 2008, the Bush White House went after NBC News after it felt the network unfairly edited an interview between Pres. George W. Bush and Richard Engel.

It became a big story at the time, and furthered the rift between the perceived liberal network of NBC (mainly because of its cable outlet, MSNBC) and conservatives. But it didn’t have the sort of long-lasting impact that seems to be shaping up here. While NBC is a powerful news outlet, Fox News has separated itself so far from the cable news pack it is now in a league of its own. Still, even with its huge audience, there are far more Americans, including many conservatives, who are not viewers of FNC. While the White House boosts the network by engaging it with fact checks and harsh words, it also describes why it is disadvantageous to appear on the network.

“During the presidential campaign, Ms. Dunn said, it booked campaign representatives on Fox to try to reach undecided voters, but by mid-October, the campaign had mostly withdrawn them from the channel’s programs,” writes Stelter. Says Dunn: “It was beyond diminishing returns. It was no returns.”

There’s a sense the White House wants it both ways as it prods at Fox News – they’re wrong, but they’re not that important. But by constantly getting out and mentioning the network, which then leads other networks to mention Fox, it is only boosting the power Roger Ailes‘ network has (a point made by David Gergen on CNN yesterday). And allows for quotes like this, from FNC SVP Michael Clemente: “Perhaps the energy would be better spent on the critical issues that voters are worried about.”

Dunn says Pres. Obama will be on Fox News at some point soon – the two sides will have a lot to say to each other. And there’s likely to be a lot of people tuning in.

Also in the NYT story: is Lou Dobbs going to Fox Business Network?

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Anita Dunn, Brian Stelter, fnc, fox news, Pres. Barack Obama, Roger Ailes

m

I don’t understand why Fox News is upset about Dunn’s characterization of the network? It’s something they said about themselves. Bill Shine said earlier this year, “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?”.
CaptainAmerica

If the Kenyan born ;) Obama is ready for a CAGE MATCH then this should be FOX NEWS CHANNELS entrance ring music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkOTfbw6nxk
Jim R

I think it’s great! It’s past time we take on these bullies and punks that peddle fear and smear that up until now has gone largely unchallenged.

There’s only one way to deal with this propaganda arm of the Republican thug party. Let’s hire Congressman Grayson as media assistant at the WH.
Jim Treacher

“It’s past time we take on these bullies and punks that peddle fear and smear that up until now has gone largely unchallenged.”

Punks? I don’t know if I’d go THAT far in describing the Obama administration.
ImNotBlue

Don’t you get it? It has nothing to do with FOX News!

The Obama Administration is USING FOX News for two reasons:
1) By attacking FNC, it gains/maintains credibility amongst the liberal crowds, who hate FOX with a sycophant’s passion. While they’re upset Obama hasn’t fulfilled a lot of promises to them, they can still be happy their attacking FOX.
2) It separates FOX out from the other networks, and THREATENS the other stations! It’s not FOX they’re eying… it’s everyone else! The message is clear, “If you criticize us, in a way we don’t like, will hit you like we’re hitting FOX.” FNC can handle the fight… other networks are going to be too squeamish to take the risk. It’s not FOX, it’s everyone else!
CaptainAmerica

Good point I’mNotBlue.

I wish Steve had gone into other network news people who have been threatened etc by the Obama administration. Just like Jake Tapper.

Anyone who isn’t continually kissing their butt, they threaten.
m

Fox News is the media arm of a political faction. It’s been that way clearly for eight years during the Bush Administration. That’s why when Tony Snow left for the White House, Fox News traded him for Karl Rove.
ImNotBlue

Is that what also happened to Carville and Begala on CNN?
ChrisNH

Don’t declare you’re going to ‘Hit back twice as hard’ against an opponent who will be more than happy to do the exact same thing.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Jones/1384303476 Chris Jones

I love how The Times piece completely ignores the fact that MSNBC shills for Obama constantly. Not just during the opinion shows, but during so-called hard news as well.
m

Chris Jones, It’s the exact same thing liberals have said since 1996 when Fox News started.
ImNotBlue

Interesting, M, how the NYTimes hasn’t complained about MSNBC, like they did about FOX News… since 1996.
bruce987

Go Fox.
At least one news media has the balls to point out what is going on in the world and if it doesn’t make the President happy, to bad. This guy is an anti-American marxist. Because of Glenn Beck, I read Obama’s books and researched some of his mentors. They are communists! Thanks for the education Fox!

United with Fox… the truth seekers
Sunnyr

I’ll put my money on Fox News, Glenn Beck et al over the Chicago style, knee-busting tactics of the THUGS in this White House. They are using OUR MONEY to wage a war against FREEDOM OF SPEECH! It worked for Hitler for a little while, but remember what happened to him, Mr. Obama!