Fox doesn't compare to MSNBC. Fox was never willing to take on President Bush or compliment democrats. MSNBC both criticizes Obama and compliments some Repulicans. They aren't completely even handed but I think their negative rants about Obama are as unwarranted at times as their pro-Obaba rants.

They need to remember the one comment made - "The American people are smart enough to distinguish"! Get on with business and quit attacking.

It is so typical of this administration to characterize genuine concern for the direction Obama and the Dems are dragging this great country. Since the results of universal health care will be so repugnant and frightening, not to mention having been pre-tested in the UK and Canada with miserable results, why shouldn't these concerns arise? And, why is it that only Fox's opinions are being subjected to expulsion from the "free" press pool? Really, what is coming next, the bayonet?

these are the facts the big three news programs are all liberal enough is enough

are you kidding me with this story? the difference is obvious - FOX lies, distorts and fabricates the news to suit their agenda which is support america's fat cats - msnbc tells it like it is. thank god for George W and Dick - without them nd the Republican party running our ship aground and casuing an economic crisis with hundreds of thousands losing their jobs and hindreds of thousands losing their health insurance - we would never be able to tackle these issues that have been so neglected for decades. no pain - no gain. in this me, myself & i society, we can only get things done when enough people PERSONALLY need something. compassion for others is a far distant second. Republicans have little to offer and what they media calls a debate on most any issue between the D's and the R's is really not a debate at all. since the R's aren't debating, they are taking the opposite side merely for political reasons. how 50% of american can vote republican concerns me greatly! thye are america's taliban or al-queda. this is not my opinion - this is a fact. no bias scholars could prove this easily. did i mention this story is pathetic. how about the media get back to tellign the us the news, versus sensationaling every comment to sel cmmercials on their nws SHOW.

A free Press is FREE! THey must remain so for AMericans to remain FREE! Citizens tae up your rights and your cell phone and make every AMerican a reporter for Liberty!

Is there any "news" source that's not selling a product in place of reporting ? All of them are selling a designer product to a self-indulgent audience.

The Alphabet Channels have been in the bag for the Democratic Party for so long that it took FOX and Obamas Coronation to actually get the American Sheeple to notice.

I removed the T.V. in my house in November of 2004, shortly after Dan Rather, "Americas Most Trusted Newsman", attempted to change the outcome of the Presidential election with Marla Mapes bogus "News".

Today the MSM are all in "freefall" to the Internet, where you can actually get the news "deboned" in the Forum of your choice, rather than blindly accepting the Obama Administrations Kool-Aid from Baghdad Bob Gibbs.

The day that the entire white house media group refuses to go sit for the daily briefing until the WH ends the farce is when I will believe that there is something called "taking the journalistic high road" If GWB had tried this with MSNBC the media would have been all over them. I do not believe that there is a "journalistic high road" any more simply because most of them are not journalism majors but media types and talking heads.

Yes, another example from the WH.

Yea, Campbell Brown, I really like her on CNN. Ms. Jarrett did not have a good answer for MSNBC's problems with news bias because she was trying to make this all about FOX . "We have to take this on a case by case basis". She certainly was not going to bring up any issues with MSNBC. Why not just give the truthful answer, yes MSNBC is biased too. Ms. Jarrett said the people are smart enough to disseminate the information so she really just contradicted her statement when she refused to admit bias on the part of MSNBC too. We can make up our own minds about FOX, but MSNBC is always right. WOW.

Good morning fellow bloggers. Last night I was flipping through channels during commercials because my little man Trent and I were watching the Charlie Brown Pumpkin special. Anyway, I flipped to Campbell Brown and got off right away because I thought, "Oh please surely she will not interview Kate Gosselin?" I forgot to even think a woman would be interviewed from the White House administration on the Fox news issue. Thanks Z for putting that in my face early in the a.m. in South MS. :-)

So here goes......Ms. Valerie Jarrett.
1st the "we have a duty" line is getting so old.

2nd great journalism Campbell Brown for calling her on MSNBC. I like to call it, "if the shoe fits wear it question"

3rd back to Ms Jarrett~ you stated in all that blah blah blah somewhere there is "no time for nonsense & distortion" Ok please practice what you just preached then. Because another time that I was flipping during a commercial I saw a show on PBS about real Americans losing their real businesses, their real homes, due to the very very apparent real greed on Wall Street & in the banking industry. (And, they got the bailout on the backs of my fellow Americans whom lost it all)

Nough said....

I watched this clip but heard it differently from you. Campbell Brown repeatedly brought up Fox News, and Valerie Jarrett did say that she thought Fox News is biased. However, I heard her trying to get across the point that the White House intends to speak truth to the distortions and outright lies that have been propagated to defeat health care reform. As one example of a successfully disseminated falsehood, a neighbor of mine is convinced that if reform passes, death panels will decide which seniors will live and which will die.

And this fool works in the White House? God help us all.

Did she say the "White House" wants to speak "truth to power"? Who is she kidding? Isn't the "White House" the power?
And she also says MSNBC is on our side so distortion and bias is O.K.

I am so glad to hear that FoxNews is not a yellow rag.

Could you give us some updates on UFOs?

The administation doesn't have the guts to admit they're having a war on conservatives.

Truth to power? The "White House" is the power you twit. As for MSNBC, they're on her team, so anything goes

Being anybody, I guess the White House persists in making this losing argument because they would rather be consistent than be right.

As Emerson observed, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines."

Mr. Zurawik,
Thank you for showing signs of being a fair and balanced journalist. I really never thought that I would see this day.

While it is true that all news organizations are going to exhibit some level of bias, it is also true that some do a better job of minimalizing it than do others.

The New York Times, for instance, clearly leans toward the left. But unlike Fox News, which publishes opinion-based, non-factual "articles" and presents them as actual journalism, a New York Times news article will be a genuine work of journalism, while their opinion peices will be labeled as such.

Fox News has a long history of being a joke.

No kudos to CNN for this --- like Z himself, CNN illustrates the overwhelming tendency of the media outlets to band together to protect their privileged position and their greatly inflated sense of importance. MSNBC is far more diverse in the spectrum of opinion presented and, as far as I have heard, there is no evidence that any MSNBC producers have been actively pumping up crowds, either pro-Obama or anti. And in the clip, I see no signs of Jarrett folding --- yet another bit of Z's very selective perception. I, personally, would encourage the White House to keep it up.

"Why the White House persists in making this losing argument is anybody's guess. What's your theory?" The White House obviously feels that if you repeat a lie often enough, it will eventually become a fact. Fortunately, the other nets who are usually in the tank for the WH aren't playing along this time.

"We're going to speak truth to power."

You are the power, Val.

LOL, yes, you better believe it, there is a lot at stake right now Valerie. Our freedoms and liberties are at stake here right now. Valerie, I have a question for you: If Fox news is distorting things, and getting things wrong, why don't you be specific in what they're distorting? I think I can answer that for you, and it's because there is no distortion on their part, they've figured you guys out at the WH, and you all don't like it. Your boss is a LIAR, yes in capital letters. Here is a huge lie from BO, "I wasn't even aware that ACORN was getting a lot of federal money". LOL, a blatant bold faced lie. Valerie just wants you to think that whatever the administration says is the truth, because, well, he's the president. Well, he's also human, and he's also a radical, which means he can and will lie just to get you to buy into his act of "Fundamentally transforming the United States of America". Radicals, Radicals, Radicals, that's all this man in his whole life has surrounded himself with, and Fox reveals the truth, so they attack them for even trying.

Kudows to this journalist for making a stand against this biased White House. I am beginning to see that brave non-Fox journalists are stepping forward and testing the waters with the type of questions that need to be asked on key issues. The American people are not dumb, and the obvious apathy (or is it fear), that exists in the media to pin the White House down for their obvious sins, is quite apparent. Those journalist that are guilty of laying down and showing their under-bellys to this White House don't realize that the American people stare amazed at the media's ignorance as they try to kiss a poison snake on the lips. As long as non-Fox journalists play with this "poison snake" White House, Fox News ratings will increase as Americans distance themselves from the obvious folly of the other news networks. If only more journalist would test the waters by asking the telling questions and boldly confront this White House about their "Chicago Rule" policies, they may find that, surprisingly, the water is more comfortable than they imagined and that more and more journalists will be willing to join them in the pool.

God Bless America,
Michael Gonzales
Mineman Chief Petty Officer (Surface Warfare)
U.S. Navy retired

Did we just hear a White House spokesman say that they are "speaking truth to power"?

I admire the reporter for her ability to keep a straight face.

The administration is going to "speak truth to power"? LOL. The administration IS the power...

Kudows to this journalist for making a stand against this biased White House. I am beginning to see that brave non-Fox journalists are stepping forward and testing the waters with the type of questions that need to be asked on key issues. The American people are not dumb, and the obvious apathy (or is it fear), that exists in the media to pin the White House down for their obvious sins, is quite apparent. Those journalist that are guilty of laying down and showing their under-bellies to this White House don't realize that the American people stare amazed at the media's ignorance as they try to kiss a poison snake on the lips. As long as non-Fox journalists play with this "poison snake" White House, Fox News ratings will increase as Americans distance themselves from the obvious folly of the other news networks. If only more journalist would test the waters by asking the telling questions and boldly confront this White House about their "Chicago Rule" policies they may find that, surprisingly, the water is more comfortable than they imagined and that more and more journalists will be willing to join them in the pool.

God Bless America,
Michael Gonzales
Mineman Chief Petty Officer (Surface Warfare)
U.S. Navy retired

if they are calling everyone out and naming names, why don't they give another example besides just fox news?

Hi, Good point. Yes, how about MSNBC, of example? Thanks. Z

The ADMINISTRATION is going to "speak truth to power"? And that "power" is people coming down to DC and posting signs about healthcare reform?

Dear Valerie, the Administration IS power. Comparatively, some guy with a sign -- and even Fox news -- is not "power." Get another talking point.

Huminah, huminah, huminah....Boy, what little credibility this admin has is quickly flying out the window. This cabinet has perfected the art of double-speak do-as-
I-say-not-as-I-do communication. She comments on how the American public is intelligent and in the next breath wants us to know that we should listen to their lies and not the lies 'being told by Fox'. Please take your group of fascist thugs and go back to Illinois, home of the most corrupt state government in the nation.

The WH is doing this because FOX acts as if they were the political communications arm of the GOP. The WH is doing this to discourage other media outlets from picking up and reporting on the more outrageous things reported by FOX--to prevent FOX-initiated stories from going mainstream.

In terms of MSNBC...most of the liberal commentators on that station are far to left of Obama. There ia a lot of disappointment among the left in Obama. I don't think that MSNBC carries his water. IMO.

The key to this interview interview is Ms. Jarrett saying the administration is "going to speak truth to power." My goodness. She seems to not understand that she and the administration *are* power, not Fox News. It's one thing to use a college leftist catch phrase if you're on the outside looking in and feel the need to steel yourself for a confrontation with the powers that be; it's quite another to use such a catch phrase when you have the power of the White House behind you. These people will never, ever get over their (unwarrented) feelings of alienation, victimization and insecurity. A bunch of college sophomores are running the country.

"We are going to speak truth to power."

WTF? She works for the *President of the United States of America* somehow Fox News has the upper hand in that relationship? This is Kafkaesque.

The DIFFERENCE is . . .

Fox PROMOTES events and groups that are anti-administration. This goes far beyond left wing or right wing bias and crosses the line from a "news and opinion" organization to an organization that actively promotes and sponsors an agenda, in this case, anything to do with Barack Obama.

Additionally, while MSNBC, in my opinion, is left-leaning, they do not flagrantly mis-state facts, use quotes completely out of context or purposely mis-identify the party affiliation of politicians, as does FOX, i.e. LIE.

Well, talk about "spin". Valerie Barrett sure talked a lot and said nothing. She went around Campbelll's "bias" question in such circles that I got dizzy just listening.

She says American people are smart and don't need to be confused by misinformation and that FOX is trying to scare seniors, etc. Well, if people can't understand something, they need someone to explain. So far, the WH has not offered any help in that matter.

I wish Campbell would have asked her a specific question about this much touted healthcare bill. I bet Valerie wouldn't be able to answer.

The WH is blaming FOX for confusing and scaring people about the insurance deal, but I'm still waiting for a clear and concise explanation from someone in that administration. They have thousands of pages of this insurance bill and most admit they haven't even read it. So, how is FOX (or any other news channel) supposedly confusing the public?

I think the WH should drop this ridiculous attack on a tv station. From what I see, they are running in circles with insignificant problems and neglecting the huge ones staring them in the face.

In another few days, the WH flaks will be blaming George Bush for FOX. "See what we inherited", etc..etc.

I honestly feel Obama and his people have to regroup and figure out how to run the country. Not run it in circles, just HELP it!

Aside to it all... I love that the interview was at the Women's Conference in CA. Somewhere in that crowd was our Kate G, who probably doesn't even know who Obama is!

Ask and you shall receive.
What is my theory?
Simple;
The white house is full of egotistical (my way or the highway) bulls.
This is my opinion only, doesn't make it fact.

Fox is the conservative news and MSNBC is the liberal news we all know it. Let's just let it come out both sides pick stories to play to their audiences. It is not a crime although sometimes unfortunate as they are branded as non-slanted and we could use real information as opposed to this party is mean and that party is a poopy head and by the way some kids starved to death in some country but they weren't Americans so back to bickerfest '09.

"We're going to speak truth to power"?

Priceless.

The truth is all these networks that offer commentary is worthless. "We the people" could care less about their so called opinions.
If these so called commentators are so smart with all the answers, let them run for office. Let them try the job. I am behind Our President 100% but I also watch Fox News faithfully.

"They need to remember the one comment made - "The American people are smart enough to distinguish"! "

And I wonder what the response would be if someone pointed out that Fox News is pulling up to twice the audience of the competition............ are these people "smart enough" or stupid? Besides which, we're apparently dealing with an administration and Congress that believes deep in their hearts that the American people doesn't know what's best for it and has to be told what to do and made to do it, so.........

So you're going to follow Fox on a "case by case" basis?"

Watch out, Valerie, because you were knocking people down as you retreated from your earlier statement.

"Do you think Fox News is bias?"
"Well, of course they're bias."

How did "of course" become "a case by case basis" in 30 seconds?

Because Campbell Brown did what a reporter should do - she didn't let the woman keep spinning. She pinned her down. Good job!

Since when are videos with actual proof and fact-checked information a distortion? Boy, Valerie Jarrett, you must think me a dummy.

Lo K,

I agree sometimes the opinions get tedious. I like to watch all of the cable news channels that is the only way to stay caught up politically. I agree with you these back and forths from the WH are pointless really. At least you are able to be 100% for the President and watch FOX. That says a lot about how we really can disseminate information.

Doug...once again people posting comments about FNC that only show the rest of us that you never watched FNC during the Bush years, and I'm guessing you still don't. FNC hammers anyone that makes any foolish, ignorant, selfish, or just down right ridiculously stupid move in the public spotlight regardless of their political party. Now, being that FNC tends to lean right a bit...they are going to personally find more foolish, ignorant, selfish, and down right ridiculously stupid moves coming from the left...and will therefore hammer the left more. The opposite holds true for MSNBC. But the point of this that you're failing to see is, THAT'S FINE!! Neither network needs to appologize for that and neither network should be barred from White House access. Republicans pull plenty of dumb moves themselves, and let me tell you as an avid FNC viewer...they definately get hammered. Sometimes worse then they get it from the lefty networks. Now I don't know if MSNBC criticizes Obama as you claim because I don't watch MSNBC, for the simple fact that I'm a conservative and don't want to get my news from liberals that I don't agree with. The difference between me and you though, Doug, is that I have no problem admitting that and I don't make claims about MSNBC that I didn't just simply hear from some other conservative!

Who is ditorting the truth more than the WH itself? Obama promised transparency, saying the Health Bill discussions would be on C-Span. Instead, they are being held behind closed doors. Obama said any bill would be posted for 72 hrs. on the net for anyone to read. Not one has been posted. Obama, like Chavez, Castro, and the other Socialist leaders only want favorable publicity. If an outlet is unbiased or disagrees with them, they want to shut them down. This is the driving force behind their attacks on FOX.

Lo K said, "We the people could care less.....". One assumes he/she really means "couldn't care less". But then, the quality of the grammar may be consistent with the believability of the comment that "I am behind our President 100%, but I also watch Fox News faithfully". Probably only true in regard to the former, not likely, the latter.

A direct question asked is not biased reporting. The interviewee can always respond with a direct response...something other than Fox being in the tank to the Republicans. I AM a Republican and I consider myself a patriot, as millions of other Americans can rightly claim. I get insensed at Fox at times for their badgering of Republicans but,......I still have to conclude that when the administration DOES NOT come right out and answer a direct question or, side-steps it completely and shoots the messenger, then this administration has secrets. That being said, I am warned what lies ahead, not because Fox asked the question, but by the administration's refusal to give any kind of intelligent and on-point answer. I sure miss cohesion in government these days.

jim...once again with the "lies, distorts, and fabricates" argument with no original thought follow-up. All day every day this is the comment we all get to read. Now, with your "this is not my opinion...this is a fact" comment, I'm sure you don't have the open-mindedness to even attempt to listen to what I'm about to say, but I'll say it anyway. I'm not going to defend George and Dick because I agree they made some mistakes that we're now paying for. I will, however, ask you what Obama and the Democrats have done to try and fix anything?!?! Democrats have controlled both houses and the presidency for some time now, and have accomplished nothing. The reason for this, IMO, is that their leaders, Reid and Pelosi, are so far to the left in their thoughts and ideas that they've lost the voice of not only the American people, but their own centrist Democrats whom are needed to get bills passed. There's plenty of crazies on the right, too, but fortunately for all of us, conservatives and liberals, they don't have control of anything and are fairly ignored by all. They definately don't run half of congress, thank God! Your quote, jim, that "R's take the opposite side merely for political reasons" is debunked immediately by your following sentence. Now would I agree this to be true for some Republicans, absolutely, but the opposite holds true for Democrats as well. You follow up with the fact that 50% of Americans vote Republican. This is a country made up of two differing ideas, and the closer Congress can get THEIR ideas towards the middle, the more acceptable their policies will be to everyone. Remember, jim, for every one of you there's someone on the other side of the aisle just as narrow-minded. Once people like you and them learn to listen to the other side of the argument, that's when this country will return to greatness!

sarah...I can appreciate your concern of media bias. But let me ask you these three questions, respectfully. 1.) Can you name the actual "news anchors" on FNC without looking them up online? I'll give you a hint...they're not O'reilly, Beck, or Hannity. 2.) Can you give me an example of when one of these "anchors" presented "opinion-based, non-factual articles" duing their broadcasts without getting that information from a liberal biased news outlet? 3.) Can you agree that FNC is a "joke" to half of the country the same way MSNBC and the NY times is a "joke" to the other half?

A direct question asked is not biased reporting. The interviewee can always respond with a
direct response...something other than Fox being in the tank to the Republicans. I AM a
Republican and I consider myself a patriot, as millions of other Americans can rightly
claim. I get insensed at Fox at times for their badgering of Republicans but,......I still
have to conclude that when the administration DOES NOT come right out and answer a direct
question or, side-steps it completely and shoots the messenger, then this administration
has secrets. That being said, I am warned what lies ahead, not because Fox asked the
question, but by the administration's refusal to give any kind of intelligent and on-point
answer. I sure miss cohesion in government these days.

The New York Times is the toothless Yorkshire terrier of journalism. I won't even give it the distinction of calling it "yellow." that would give it teeth.

Well I guess your continued ferocious defense of Fox proves this whole "liberal media" thing is pretty much a lie. And if you think MSNBC and Fox are equivalents-- well, I wonder just what qualifications you need to have to be a "media critic" for the Sun. Tone-deaf maybe?

The WH, like almost all Democrats, are intolerant, narrow minded, bigots who can't stand to have their ideology questioned.
The Left is famous for their hatred of free speech and democracy.

heather...whoever came up with the "Fox acts as the political communication arm of the GOP" line should have trademarked that. They'de be rich by now with the way you liberals shout that out on every post! And if FNC's reports are so "outrageous" I'm curious why Van Jones resigned and Congress cut off it's funding to ACORN? Those seem like strange responses to lies, don't you think?

Where are the ethics in this WH administration if they are afraid that one news cable channel can bring them down. It seems like this administation is afraid of transparency. There really is no truth if you pick and choose who gets to be heard. There really is no power if you are afraid of the truth. It scares me the direction the WH is going.

Christopher...I can appreciate your concern with what you see as FNC promoting events and groups that are anti-administration. I may not agree with you but at least I can see where you're coming from. Honestly that's the first valid liberal stance on here. But than you have to go and follow that up with the same old example-free lies and mis-stated facts song and dance...it's so painful!! However, back to your respectable beef with FNC...let me ask you this. Do you think it's ok for the White House to promote groups of liberals and government officals that are anti-FNC? Seriously, I'm just curious.

Now the administration wants to have a conversation? Before it was, "We need to get this passed yeasterday!" and "The time for talking is over."

Amusing. Almost as much as commeter jim's fantasy world where the GOP is responsible for every evil in the world, FOX lies, and MSNBC just "tells it like it is." C'mon jim, fess up. You're Noam Chomsky, aren't you?

This is the transparent administration we were promised? It looks more like a high wall and they're already boiling the oil to pour on FOX. This isn't Carol Burnett suing the National Enquirer. This is freedom of speech being threatened. If allowed, all are in danger. Every news agency should be sticking up for FOX much the way Americans have fought for more than 200 years for the right to disagree. The Obama crew reminds me of something a lawyer told me once. "A fool's only refuge is righteous indignation." God Bless America.

Thanks for the dose of candor here in Bal'mor.

A Fox News producer pumping up the crowd in the background of a broadcast from a "Tea Party":
http://mediamatters.org/blog/200909180037

Fox News has gone well beyond having an "editorial stance", and is venturing into activism. But we're supposed to pretend that they're just journalists, and not participants, and thus immune from response.

Fox apologists are quick to jump to the "but _they_ do it, too!" defense, overlooking the rather pertinent point that "how much" matters.

It's noteworthy that CNN, here trumpeted for challenging the Obama staffer, is routinely placed on that "everybody but Fox, left-biased MSM" list.

I wish people would just say what they mean and mean what they say. The use of equivocal terms is just a cheap way to get away saying nothing but implying something that could be denied later. This is why we are stuck on politics and not dealing with the problems of this country.

I'm glad that Campbell Brown brought it up. It has been very hypocritical of the administration to attack FOX for bias and not also condemn MSNBC for it.

The fact that MSNBC has a gift shop selling Obama memorabilia to me is abominable. It shows they have a clear bias and vested interest in Obama.

The fact is that probably 75% or more of our news today is biased. Every station and every channel does it. It is very rare to get an unbiased report. This is true on the internet, TV, and in print. It is true for conservatism, for liberalism and for everything in between.

I think part of the problem lies in that these news agencies are part of huge megacorps anymore, and that news is actually in some cases a very small part of that companies portfolio.

Irene,

Wasn't quite clear if you followed thru on your Monday evening family pizza outing, or not, but I gather you did check out the Kate G. 'special'. (How could you hold down your pizza? HA! )

I too watched PBS's eye-opening, and frankly, very depressing edition of FRONTLINE last night, and really felt for all those hurting folks who were dealing w/ the harsh, for most, unfamiliar, realities of the current economic downturn.

Using that hard-working, rough-around-the-edges, but very sweet, Irish-American hair dresser gal, and a handful of her 'economically challenged', loyal customers as kind of the cast of characters for this telling, disturbing tableau , was a most brilliant move. It really did show that even prosperous, successful, diehard, generally resilient upper-Eastside, well-to-do New Yorkers, from diverse areas of the work force, and on different career paths were essentially in the same leaking boat together, and no bailout, or modern-day Robin Hood was going to save these lost souls.

All these folks had seen their personal investments drastically plummet; some were barely hanging on to their 'up-side-down' mortgages, and almost in desperation were trying to find another job, having been out of work for months on end. Unemployment insurance only goes so far.

There was the youngish couple who had set up that neat, cozy, once thriving little coffee shop called "The Grind", who within less than six months saw their American dream vanish as their business 'dropped off the cliff', and their debt load rose to over $200,000.00, maxing out their credit cards, their tenuous marriage basically hanging on life-supports. Very sad.

Then there was the hair-dresser lady's older sister, in her early sixties, living in Florida who came to visit, who was forced by sudden financial loss to take in a whole litany of serial renters to just barely hold onto her mortgage, and had to sell her cherished Porsche to pay for her health insurance.

Irene, as you recall, one of her tenants who, the day he was literally tossed out of his foreclosed, fairly modest home and found all his worldly material belongings strewn out on the front lawn, had tragically lost his wife to cancer after she had spent months in a hospice-care facility. Talk about a double-whammy of misfortune. This poor fellow could not find work as a carpenter for ages, until finally just prior to losing both his home and his wife, he managed to pick up some part time employment. Ironically, as a younger man, he had been a successful principle dancer in a nationally-known ballet company for many years, physically vital and strong. But then to see this guy as virtually a broken soul, living in a tiny one room guest house w/ his two dogs, dealing w/ all that personal loss and grief was very difficlt for me to stomach. I could go on and on, but I'll spare you, my fellow bloggers. It's just too damn depressing.

(For me, FRONTLINE is consistently, relevant, truth-seeking, and totally brilliant investigative documentary journalism. Filmmaker/ historian Ken Burns views it as "the best show on T.V. today." That pretty much sums it up. So I'm a PBS snob..... it could be worse. HA!)

Millions of Americans are hurting, and Ms. Valerie Jarrett can defend the WH position vis a vis FOXNews, or the MSM in general, 'till the cows come home, but this overly-defensive, obfuscating Obama Administration better wake up pretty soon and smell the coffee, as too many good, hardworking, skilled, capable, tax-paying Americans, daily, fall thru the cracks of this crumbling Middle-Class society, w/ no apparent safety net to catch them on the way down.

"Speak Truth to Power" sounds a lot like putting the cart before the horse, don't it?

Irene, and all my fellow blogger, have a great Halloween. I'm going green w/ my 'treats' this year-----Alfalfa sprout clusters and tofu/ sesame balls...... the kids 'ii love it. HA! HA!

ALEX

I watch all the news stations. At one time received 3 newspapers every day. (gave up.. all biased.. left.)
Fox has always been the most balanced.. every issue has liberal, conservative,and moderate comments by real, respected, liberal, conservative, and moderate experts and commentators.. not pretenders!

The Obama administration is afraid of FOX because they are not afraid to expose what is going on!!! HURRAY FOR FOX!!

Any of you left-wing trolls who recite, like a mantra, that Fox 'never shows Republicans in a negative light' obviously have never watched the network or done any research.

Fox broke the story of Bush's DUI in 2000, just before the election.
Fox opinion journalists frequently attacked Bush for his spending.
Fox opinion journalists frequently attacked Bush for his stance on immigration.
Fox broke the Sanford story and carried it as far as it would go.

These are just a few examples.

The fact is that Fox is no better or worse than any other network news show. It's simply the only one with a CONSERVATIVE bias, therefore left-wingers (who control every other medium) realize it has to be marginilized. The hilarious thing is, each time you attack it, it becomes stronger. Fox is far-and-away the #1 network.

But what really grates on me about this stupid clip is how people like Jarrett constantly pine for a 'debate' while actively trying to silence dissenting voices. You cannot have a debate when you won't hear the opposition and won't listen to criticism. It's the most dishonest and disingenuous nonsense I've heard in a while, and it reflects the ignorance and tremendous ego of the man in the White House.

SAVE THE COUNTRY..only watch FOX NEW.

Hey Jim ... if you learned to spell correctly I might be more inclined to take you seriously. As I see it, your ability to spell is in direct dorrelation to your ability to think.

great article--valeri Jarrett-?? LOL please--
folks read Michelle Malkin's book--the "culture of Corruption" --wake up you droids--

Mr. Zurawik:
I am a Independent voter who more often than not votes Republican. However, I wanted to thank you for your courageous stand and comments regarding the absurd attack by the Obama administration on Fox News. If they go after Fox and Rush (et al) in order to marginalize them or even shut them down, then other news organizations and commentators may not be far behind. Thanks again.

Campbell Brown wasn't "being a journalist" - CNN's whole strategy of officially dropping to the bottom is to claim that Fox is right, MSNBC is left, and their down the middle (they invented cable bias, MSNBC has perfected it).

Now that PMSNBC has passed CNN in the ratings CNN is targeting them as well. Campbell Brown is the same liberal light weight she's always been, just like Gloria Vanderbilt Jr. (Anderson Pooper).

I don't understand. If, and that's a big if, FOX news lies and distorts things why is that the business of the government? The National Enquirer shows the president shaking hands with an alien every election, I've never heard them slammed by the WH. If FOX is lying and distorting truth people will figure it out. I realize people are generally not that bright but I have faith...

I don't need nor do I want The Government to tell me what's news and what isn't. This administration is exposing themselves far more than they're attempting to do to Fox. How will this end? Will Obama invite Murdoch over for a beer?

Caveat Emptor! (And that applies more to Obama and his ridiculous administration than to Fox News in my humble opinion.)

In his short essay "Chin Music," in The New Yorker's Talk of the Town, November 2, 2009, http://www.newyorker.com, Louis Menard puts this controversy into perspective. Among other interesting points about cable news in general, he describes the role of Roger Ailes in the successful advertising invention of the "New Nixon." Mr. Menard conludes that the Obama administration "may, and should, rebut opinions that it finds obnoxious, but it should not single out speakers for the purpose of intimidating them." I believe that Anita Dunn mentioned a couple of Fox News names, but I haven't heard any administration speakers mention any names since then. Instead, they talking issues.

I predict that closer to reelection Obama will go on Fox to be interviewed. The white house is foolish to ignore such off the chart ratings. There has to be Independent, Libertarian, and even moderate Democrats in their view audience. Oh I forgot progressive Democrats lurking. I don’t think he can complain regarding his interview with Bill O’Reilly before the election. O’Reilly was not drinking the Obama kool-aid but was fair.

The video of JFK from the lower blog brought back many memories. I was in high school and I worked for JFK with the Young Democrats in Los Angeles. What a great experience.

I use to have a small book, which I doubt is still in print anymore, giving quotes and pictures from JFK’s press conferences. It was called something like……The Wit of JFK at Press Conferences. All the quotes dealt with his witty and fast thinking. The reporters were hit with a velvet glove and didn’t even know it or even care. Obama should take heed to this approach and abandon the Chicago thug mentality. It reminds me of children playing….. You play my way or I will take my ball and go home.

Fox News aka, The Jesus Channel/ GOP TV/ The Glorious Official Republican Government News Network.

While Fox News has the highest ratings, it’s also the same group of people that make up just 20% of America’s electorate… the far right-wing of the GOP.

There will always be an audience for the far right and that’s Rupert Murdock’s Fox News demographic.

Rupert keeps them frothing at the mouth with manufactured fear and GOP talking-points, phony outrage.

Fox is also a right-wing echo chamber.. notice that when “The Wall Street Journal”, “The Weekly Standard” people are on Fox News there’s never disclosure that these people are all Rupert Murdock employees.

Imagine if MSNBC or CNN did this… I don’t know how Fox News gets way with constantly recycling Rupert Murdock’s employees (sockpuppets) from his various media properties.

Also there’s hardly a word on the “MSM” about Murdock’s world wide (far right-wing) media empire.

Murdock has a lot of influence, example: all of his various sockpuppets, Hannity, Beck, etc, and all of Murdock’s worldwide media holdings trash global warming, President Obama and anything else right-wing Rupert Murdock dislikes.

I think that press and especially individual journalists are deathly afraid of Rupert Murdock and what he can do to them professionally.

Rupert Murdock is the new William Randolph Hearst.

Another thing, Sarah Palin, who is a favorite among the Faux News/ Right-wing crowd is getting Rupert Murdock’s wingnut welfare.

Palin’s (Rupert Murdock’s ghostwriter) book publisher is HarperCollins… a wholly owned Rupert Murdock subsidiary, you ‘betcha.

Finally, there should be an award given to the guy that writes the ominous, scary music for Fox News... he's obviously a full-time employee.

No seriously... whenever there's a special where Rupert Murdock wants to convince Americans that Saddam Hussein has WMD, or that Iran/North Korea is going to attack America tomorrow, or a Hannity or Beck segment where they want to scare their right-wing audience (even more) there's always that ominous music to go along with the story.

It's like a scary GOP music video.

Glad you joined us Alex M...was gonna send out an all points bulletin if I didnt hear something from you soon.

Yes, we had pizza and I watched the "Little Old Woman who lived in a shoe" so embarassed how weak I can be.

That is too weird. I only saw a glance of that Frontline but Whoa what I did see took me back.

Avis, like your post too about JFK. I will tell you I wasnt born when JFK was President but I just do not put Obama & JFK together in the same league. Obama is allowing this "distortion" with Fox to the detriment of his own democratic party. The bottom line is it is not working so why they keep trying it is beyond me.

We do need to take this country in a new direction. It sure is gonna sting in a few years when "CHANGE" "TRANSPARENCY" & "OPENESS" get addressed.

The administration will "speak truth to power"? What is Ms. Jarrett, the spokeswoman for the Comedian-in-Chief?

If we are to believe that the White House is the underdog in a dust-up with FOX News, shouldn't we send FOX to handle the negotiations with Iran? Why send in the weaker of the two?

Hey Valerie,

What are these specific "distortions?" Let's see, you can't call it "Government Healthcare" because people don't like government anything, so you re-brand and go with "Healthcare Reform" alas that doesn't work either. So, then you go with "Health Insurance Reform" because nobody likes insurance companies, but the numbers keep dropping? You constantly claim that we need "competition", but won't allow for insurance companies to compete across state lines? You tell seniors that their benefits won't be cut and that the quality of their care won't be hurt, but yet you are going to cut $500 billion from Medicare?

The problem that you have is that the American people, despite the White Houses' efforts to jam this through, are getting to the truth. The bottom line with all of this and Reid's 10 different versions of the "opt out, coop, public option" is that most Americans understand that this is a Trojan horse to the single payer system. Just ask good ol Barney Frank, he'll tell you all about it!

I guess I must've missed all the times MSNBC reported opinions as facts the way Fox does. Anybody got an example along the lines of 'death panels', 'Iraq was behind 911', etc? If not, I fail to see why people compare the two since MSNBC's editorials are noted as such.

David...some of your quotes here are just too childish for me to argue with intelligently. So instead I shall attempt to show you how ridiculous this sounds to the other half of the country....

MSNBC aka, The Hippie Channel / Loony-Lefty TV / The Official All Hail Obama News Network.

While MSNBC has some of the poorest ratings, it's also the same group of people that make up just 20% of America's electorate...the far left-wing of the Democratic Party.

There will always be an audience for the far left and that's Jeffrey Immelt's MSNBC demographic.

Immelt keeps them filled with optimism with confidence of upcoming changes and Obama talking-points, phony accomplishments.

NBC is also a left-wing echo chamber...notice that when Obama is on MSNBC there's never disclosure that Immelt is an employee of Obama's as a member of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. (Even though GE's stock has dropped 80% since Immelt took over as CEO)

Imagine if Fox News did this...I don't know how MSNBC gets away with having it's owner employed by the President of the United States.

Also there's hardly a word on the "MSM" about Immelt doing business with Iran while they threaten the world with nuclear possibilities.

Immelt has a lot of influence, example: all of his various sockpuppets, Olbermann, Maddow, etc. and all of Immelt's healthcare and finance divisions rob hardworking Americans. President Obama and anything left-wing Jeffrey Immelt loves.

I think that Americans and the entire world should be deathly afraid of Jeffrey Immelt seeing that he's the CEO of the largest company in the world and what he can sell to our enemies.

Jeffrey Immelt is the new Charles Pfizer.

Another thing, Barack Obama, who is a favorite among the PMSNBC / Left-wing crowd is giving Jeffrey Immelt wingnut welfare.

Immelt's company is GE (one of Obama's biggest campaign contributers)...and GE is partnering with the Obama administration in a $600 billion plan to clean up the environment, reduce global warming, and diminish greenhouse gas emisions.

The music thing is just too silly for me so I'm gonna skip that.

Now David, should MSNBC be barred from White House access and discredited as simply the political communication arm of the Obama administration?

Way to go Z...Thanks for taking one for the team!!!Oreilly Factor ring a bell?!?

You did great tonight & we appreciate you very much for sticking up for principle here.
And, freedom of speech and press is fundamental.

Wow! Greate job

BBF- All your best blogger friends/fans

P.S. You should have told us...sneaky sneaky Ha :-)

Dear Mr. Zurawik,

I saw you on the O'Reilly show today and appreciate you standing up for freedom of the press and your acknowledgement that the Obama administration should not try to silence Fox News.

Umm, Ms. Jarrett:

Do you have anything to say about a network that features a commentator who called Michelle Malkin "a mashed-up bag of meat with lipstick on it"? No, Ms. Jarrett, that was not Glenn Beck, or anybody else at Fox News. That was MSNBC's Keith Olbermann. Would you care to speak real truth to power and condemn filthy hate-spewing such as this?

Valerie Jarrett is speaking power to truth.

And, Jim Treacher please enlighten me on what truth that is?

Common you have to have something better than that?

Yes, me, too. Thanks, Irene. Z

Valerie Jarrett is on point. Mrs. Brown is clearly lost in her own bias. Mrs.Brown should mention her husband is a republican adviser.

"me"...I can't give you examples of MSNBC reporting opinions as fact because I have no shame in admitting I don't watch MSNBC. I do, however, watch FNC, and since you are making these claims about Fox News, you must watch them too. So you should have no problem giving examples of how FNC's "news anchors" report opinions as fact. And to help you get started I'll remind you that O'reilly, Beck, and Hannity are not "news anchors" but rather politically opinionated hosts. Now I've argued this death panel claim before but once again "me"...until you actually read the healthcare bill yourself, do not try to tell us what it says. This is not an opinion of FNC but rather claims of Conservatives in Congress. That is what FNC is reporting as fact...it is FACT that Conservatives claim the "death panel" idea is written in the liberal's healthcare bill. And the "Iraq behind 911" argument...ok "me" prove to us Iraq WASN'T behind 911. I'm not saying I could even begin to prove either side of this argument or what I even believe personally...but I accept that and move on. There are informed government officials on both sides of the aisle that believe Iraq was involved in 911, and informed government officials on both sides of the aisle that believe they weren't. Who's right "me"? Well that's a silly question...of course the liberals are right! I appologize. Personally, I find it hard to believe a wonderful man such as Saddam Hussein didn't have some sort of hand in 911...but who knows? Again, when FNC reports on this they are reporting on the FACT that multiple government officials claim Iraq was involved in the 911 attacks. Now, if you have any VALID examples of FNC lies, "me", I will truly take the time to listen to you...but so far you're just regurgitating what you've been told by your left-wing media without any original thoughts or research. I'm at the end of my rope, and pleading to all the "me"s and dougs and jims and sarahs in the country...if you are going to make claims about FNC, please please please watch FNC first!! If you don't want to watch FNC that is well within your rights as an American, but quit pretending you have any idea what is broadcasted on there! You can still be involved in this argument of Obama vs. FNC with your opinions on the merit of that itself, and say whatever you want about the outlets you actually watch...but no more example-free claims...no more unoriginal thought...no more regurgitation!! But hey, that's just me :)

>All comments must be approved by the blog author.

Then, why bother, Dave?

We do not publish libel, hate speech, coarse language or personal attacks. That is why approval is required. And at this point in time, particularly, I think it is agreat standard to continue to adhere to. Thanks. Z

"...I missed all the times that MSNBC reported opinions as facts..."

Two examples: Keith Olbermann said that Sarah Palin cut funding for special needs and other social services in Alaska while she was governor. (Lie: She increased funding.) Olbermann also blurted out that Michelle Malkin was fired from "The O'Reilly Factor". (Another lie. She quit over a dispute with Geraldo Rivera.)

Jarod,

I appreciate your reply. However you, like everyone else, have failed to give even ONE example of MSNBC reporting such things as the 'Obama's not a citizen' story as fact the way Fox did. Unlike the 'fair and balanced' viewers of Fox 'News', some of us actually get our news from a variety of sources. I HAVE watched FNC...and other news channels. But, that's just me. :insert cute emoticon here:

Thanks Scott for your examples. How long has Keith Olbermann been reporting news? I thought he only had a talk show like Beck and O'Reilly. I expect that kind of thing from those talk/editorial type shows, but had no idea Keith reported stuff like that on the news.

"me"...finally, someone answers one of my rebuttles! Thank you...at least you follow up on the stances you take. That being said, I failed to give examples of MSNBC reports because as I said before, I don't watch MSNBC and I'm not just going to make something up or repeat what I've heard on Fox News. And I know you understand I can get a variety of news reports without watching MSNBC, so I won't belittle you by asking for clarification on that part. I must admit, though, that I'm a little disappointed that you came back at me with no relevance towards the comment I made to you. Instead of showing us how FNC reports opinion as fact...with some validity this time...you simply mocked my happy face then rebutted Scott for making the same exact comment you did, just from the other viewpoint. Now you get a sad face :(

I wouldn't find the White House's censoring tactics so hypocritical if they hadn't made a point of bringing political dialogue to a more fruitful level.

Interviews like these are what make common people hate their elected officials.

Jarod:

Per your comment that the... "Iraq behind 911" argument...prove to us Iraq WASN'T behind 911."

Why don't you take President Bush's word for it. "No, we've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with September the 11th," Bush said.
http://www.seattlepi.com/national/140133_bushiraq18.html

Or VP Dick Cheney's when he said at the National Press Club this past June, .."I do not believe and have never seen any evidence to confirm that [Hussein] was involved in 9/11. We had that reporting for a while, [but] eventually it turned out not to be true," Cheney conceded."
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/01/cheney.speech/

Of course, Cheney's public statement this past June was five years after the 9-11 Commission report said the same thing about a Saddam Al-Qaeda operational relationship. http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/index.htm

Or you can choose to believe what the Washington Post reported and summarized from the 9-11 Commission Report: "There is "no credible evidence" that Saddam Hussein's government in Iraq collaborated with the al Qaeda terrorist network on any attacks on the United States, according to a new staff report released this morning by the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46254-2004Jun16.html

This report was also profiled by the BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3812351.stm

Then there was this report from National Journal that confirms what many in the intelligence community already knew, but neocons refuse to believe. "Ten days after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, President Bush was told in a highly classified briefing that the U.S. intelligence community had no evidence linking the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein to the attacks and that there was scant credible evidence that Iraq had any significant collaborative ties with Al Qaeda, according to government records and current and former officials with firsthand knowledge of the matter."
http://www.nationaljournal.com/about/njweekly/stories/2005/1122nj1.htm

And much like the lack of evidence of a Iraq - 9/11-Al Qaeda connection, there never was any WMD in Iraq, as Charles Hanley from the AP states. "The media just continued on this path of reporting, "Well, the Bush administration alleges that there are WMD," and never really stopped and said "It doesn't look like there are. There's no evidence." That should have been the second sentence in any story about the allegations of WMD. The second sentence should have been, "But they did not present any evidence to back this up."
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/btw/transcript1.html

All of these points were reported by the MSM too late to make a difference in the rush to war. But FNC somehow didn't believe these issues were important for FNC viewers to understand.

Yes, FNC reports factual statements of government sources. Unfortunately for FNC viewers, those sources were either lying on purpose or misleading due to wishful thinking.

Conservatives were punked by the Bush Administration and FNC. And conservatives continue to get punked by FNC to this day.

Jarod, I believe you and millions of other FNC viewers like you are a good people, but you are being lied to. FNC is playing on your noble sense of patriotism and exploiting it by repeating misinformation.

The fact that the Baltimore Sun's TV columnist doesn't understand that FNC is not a credible news operation says more about him than the Obama WH.

Merely acknowleding reality isn't intimidation. In order to address the misinformation and fearmongering FNC engages in for ratings and corporate profit, the Obama WH was right to state the obvious. FNC is like talk radio.

We've already gone to war under false pretenses, one that cost thousands of lives and one that had nothing to do with 911. Now, thanks to FNC and talk radio, significant numbers of Americans believe in death panes, birther conspiracies and Obama Nixononian enemies lists. Thanks FNC. Thanks for nothing.

Greg - I just had to question this.
I read the whole post and the final paragraph. Because of FOX news channel American's believe in death panels? I think the American people are smarter than that. If you read that part of the bill actually it is a living will. FOX is not the reason people believe in an enemies list. The WH not respecting the media's freedom of press and bullying tactics are making people thiink about Nixonian ememies lists.

Greg...thank you for EXAMPLES!!! That's all I've been looking for the past couple weeks with the comments on this subject. Even though I disagree with your political stance, I will not be rebutting your comment. I must respect your thoughts and ideals because you back them up with examples. I will, in my own defense, remind you that I was not saying in my comment that Iraq was behind 911. I was instead showing my frustration with the "me" and Doug and Jim and everyone like them's comments on multiple blogs written with pure nonsense and regurgitation. But again, Greg, thank you for showing me there is original thought and research on the other side of the aisle...I was getting worried.

Sherry T:

Per "death panels" I agree, "the American people are smarter than that." But I want to point out that sustained puplic awareness of the American people is no match for the repition of misinformation by GOPers and FNC. As we saw in the run up to war in Iraq, and as we see again in healthcare reform, FNC and GOPers are punking conservatives. That is why I argue, with all due respect to my conservative republican friends, you are being lied to.

People lead busy lives, many work two jobs. If one political party makes a concerted effort to mislead the public, and talk radio and FNC are more than willing to repeat the lies, confusion reigns and fears rise.

Today's MSM isn't geared to debunking falsehoods in a rigorous fashion, it is designed to sell newspapers and generate tv and radio ratings by mostly reporting what people say. Below please find how the GOP repeats a lie, and FNC and talk radio cultivate ignorance.

I went to Talking Points Memo website for this timeline. Granted TPM is a liberal site, but it was the first website to ever win a Polk Award for legal reporting.
http://www.brooklyn.liu.edu/polk/press/2007.html

Here we go:
Former GOP lieutenant governor of NY, Betsy McCaughey, goes on Fred Thompson's radio show to warn that healthcare reform will "absolutely require" seniors to be told by their doctors "how to end their life sooner."
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/photofeatures/2009/08/the-evolution-of-the-death-panel-meme.php?img=2

Not one to let an opportunity to go by to scare senior citizens, GOP House minority leader John Boehner warns about "encouraged euthanasia."
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/photofeatures/2009/08/the-evolution-of-the-death-panel-meme.php?img=3

CSPAN viewers had a chance to watch GOP Representative Virginia Foxx warn seniors about "Death Panels" from the floor of the US House.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/photofeatures/2009/08/the-evolution-of-the-death-panel-meme.php?img=4

2012 GOP presidential hopeful Sarah Palin announces her take "death panels" on her facebook page.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/photofeatures/2009/08/the-evolution-of-the-death-panel-meme.php?img=5

Then we see an isolated NYT report about Death Panels and Palin's claims. "The stubborn yet false rumor that President Obama’s health care proposals would create government-sponsored “death panels” to decide which patients were worthy of living seemed to arise from nowhere in recent weeks."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/14/health/policy/14panel.html?_r=2&hp

MMmmm, Arise out of nowhere. Well, actually, it arose from people like former House Speaker and GOP visionary Newt Gingrich defends Sarah Palin and "Death Panel" comment.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/photofeatures/2009/08/the-evolution-of-the-death-panel-meme.php?img=6

Funny thing though. The father of end of life counseling legislation, GOP Senator Johnny Isakson, was surprised by the lies of Palin, Boehner and Gingrich, then flip flops on his own idea, confusing voters even more.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/photofeatures/2009/08/the-evolution-of-the-death-panel-meme.php?img=7

Healthcare Reform Gang of Six negotiator and GOP Senator Chuck Grassley displays his good faith in seeking compromise by stoking fears of "Death Panels."
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/photofeatures/2009/08/the-evolution-of-the-death-panel-meme.php?img=8

Then RNC Chair Michael Steele on FNC fanned the flames of fear.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/photofeatures/2009/08/the-evolution-of-the-death-panel-meme.php?img=9

GOP Senator Dr. Tom Coburn took the opportunity to scare seniors and not refute the lie about Death Panels.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/photofeatures/2009/08/the-evolution-of-the-death-panel-meme.php?img=10

Not to be outdone, comedian Rush Limbaugh felt it important to defend Palin's lie about Death Panels.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/photofeatures/2009/08/the-evolution-of-the-death-panel-meme.php?img=11

GA GOP Representative Dr. Paul Brown weighed in to scare seniors.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/photofeatures/2009/08/the-evolution-of-the-death-panel-meme.php?img=12

John McCain did his part to defend Sarah Palin.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/photofeatures/2009/08/the-evolution-of-the-death-panel-meme.php?img=13

Then as any good propagandist would, Jonah Golberg did his part on August 24 on FNC.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/photofeatures/2009/08/the-evolution-of-the-death-panel-meme.php?img=14

A September CNN poll indicated that a significant number of Americans believed President Obama's healthcare reform bill had "death panels.
"...the poll shows that a substantial minority subscribe to some manner of Deatherism: " If Obama's plan became law, do you think senior citizens or seriously-ill patients would die because government panels would prevent them from getting the medical treatment they needed?" Here we have 41% saying that this would happen, to 57% saying it wouldn't."
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/poll-obama-didnt-lie-say-the-people.php#more

If you are looking for a quick reference guide on the evolution of the death panel narrative, probably a good place to visit is this compilation of links that chronicle the misinformation campaign by the GOP on the "death panel" narrative can be found at this link. (FYI: it ends in September, just recently the "Deah Panel" fearmongering phrase has made a recent comeback as the House and Senate Bill's have made it to each respective floor.)
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/death-panels/

So there is a clear record of misinformation being spread by the GOP and FNC and talk radio willing to repeat it. And the MSM meekly notes that what the GOPers are saying is false in a blizzard of falsehoods.

Also, per enemies list. FNC is indeed making people think of Nixonian lists. It's brilliant really. Not just because FOX News chief, Roger Ailes, was the media guru for Richard Nixon, but because today's press is too intimidated to point out how really dark and illegal Richard Nixon's enemies lists were. Nixon actually wanted the IRS to go through the tax returns of the journalists, http://www.archives.gov/research/independent-counsels/watergate/misuse-of-irs.html
threatened the FCC license of the Washington Post TV affiliate, and G. Gordon Liddy was willing to "murder" investigative journalist Jack Anderson.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/18/national/18anderson.html

There is no comparison to Nixon's enemies list. None. All Obama did was acknowledge FNC was like talk radio, repeating conservative talking points.

From the liberal media matters website, James Foser writes: "In short: The Nixon administration wiretapped journalists' phones and audited their taxes. G. Gordon Liddy and another Nixon henchman even plotted to murder Jack Anderson.** That's "murder" as in "kill." And "kill" as in "dead."

Meanwhile, Obama aides have publicly criticized Fox News for lying about their boss.

It is rather obvious that these are not the same things."
http://mediamatters.org/columns/200910230015

There is no comparison between acknowledging reality as Obama did with FNC, and Nixon's enemies list. This false comparison is an example of how far our current MSM has fallen.

Nixon's enemies list was real. Obama's supposed "enemies list" is a media concoction.

Greg

Greg,
Glad we agree on the death panels. I actually did take time to read that whole section of the bill, it interested me because I am in the medical field. But, I intend to read more sections of the proposed healhcare bill. This is the only way we can understand what is going on. As for the enemies list, like I said before I think the reason it is getting so much attention is the way the administration is overstepping the freedom of press issue and naming FOX as the news agency in question. Just the tactics that have drawn so much attention. Maybe we don't agree on that point. I am interested to read all of the links and I will get back to you that should keep me busy for awhile. I appreciate your response whether I agree with it or not I am interested in you opinion. Will have more later. Thanks.

Greg,

I actually sat down and read through all of the links you posted. Gee whiz, you are the link king (I don't mean that in a bad way), it was very informative. We still agree on the death panels, when I read it this was a living will basically they have been around for a long time. Agree the birther theory was a waste of time and a distraction from the issues the country needed to be addressing. He is our elected President and we should respect the office of the President at all costs in the official title. Still disagree with the enemies list. I think the WH administration is bringing this on themselves. I am not saying they have an enemies list, but the tactics used against the free press have caused concern.

As for the links referencing Sarah Palin. I voted for McCain/Palin, however, did not think she was a good choice for VP candidate. Really bad that she would post on facebook a comment when it sounds like she had not read the bill herself or did not understand it. I have a lot of respect for John McCain and felt that he would have been an excellent choice in foreign policies.

For all the links you have sited, I could probably pull out just as many that would point in the exactly opposite direction. That is why it is so important to keep an open mind, have a great respect the executive branch of our government and be able to listen to opinion from all sides and be objective. I think we could move forward and the WH would move forward if they could focus on these three points.

Thanks for all the work you put into the post Greg, I can see that you are a concerned citizen interested in what is best for our country too. We don't have to agree on all the points the discussion was great!