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News vs. opinion: Give Fox a break Date published: 10/21/2009
Leonard Pitts, columnist for the Miami Herald, was on the editorial page of The Free Lance-Star recently offering his criticism of the Fox News channel ["Even a blind Fox digs up an occasional ACORN," Oct. 15].
Perhaps it was in support of criticism of Fox coming from the White House? Mr. Pitts argues that he does not consider the Fox News channel "a credible news source." As proof, he listed what he characterized as false claims (in his words, "recent lowlights") made by Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, and Sean Hannity, all at Fox. These men are not news reporters, and Mr. Pitts knows that. As does he, they offer commentary and opinions on the news, not news itself. Mr. O'Reilly is host of the No. 1-rated cable talk show. Mr. Hannity is described by Fox as a talk show host. Mr. Beck's program is described as "the fusion of entertainment and enlightenment." None of these professionals is a newscaster. If Mr. Pitts wanted to comment on the actual news at Fox, he knows that actual news comes from reporters like Bret Baier, Fox News anchor. Yet he does not quote Mr. Baier; he quotes people like Mr. O'Reilly, Mr. Beck, and Mr. Hannity. Deceptively calling Fox commentaries "news" and then labeling Fox as "not credible" for news is well, deceptive. So why would Mr. Pitts offer his commentary without integrity and honesty? Would it have something to do with his writing his own "lowlight" while falsely accusing others of doing the same? Does Mr. Pitts know the word hypocrisy? Harold Hoffler Stafford
I posted that because I believe administrations of both parties, past and present, have been guilty of over-stepping their bounds trying to exert influence over the press. It is the job of the media and press to be the eyes of the American public-whether the government likes it or not. It is not the government's job to judge the legitimacy of any media outlet. That's why I was so pleased and relieved to see the media pool stand up for FNC when the administration tried to exclude them the other day.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fascism
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/us/politics/23fox.html
I purposely chose NYT to show this is being noticed in a national media outlet not always on the best terms with FNC. Go to these links and read them. Reflect on some of this administration's activities in the last week with the press. Then honestly ask yourselves if you like what's happening in your government these days. I would be worried no matter which side of this administration you are on.
I guess, according to one scribble below, that success on the radio makes you right. If so, there really were WMDs (and we found them, according to Sean, if not the saner element of our country), Hitler was correct in what he did to the Jews, we should have interned Japanese citizens, etc. After all, these were popular items by popular people. And Vietnam really did attack us un the Gulf of Tonkein. Actually, Ann Coulter seems to be the only truly decent righty in the bunch, of course based on book sales.
Fox News is an extremely successful television network and station. Their owner is a mastermind and did not become a billionaire by being a dumb person. With this being said, his demographics insofar as Fox News is that he has 100% viewership of the far right of this country. There numbers are estimated at 20,000,000. He has a dead lock on these people They also get liberal viewership as well as those on the left view it as a freakshow. At the end of the day, they make money, but hurt the GOP.
Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), told MSNBC's Ed Schultz on Wednesday. "They're the enemy of anybody who cares about health care in this country, the enemy of anybody who cares about educating their children, the enemy of anybody who wants energy independence or anything good for this country. And certainly the enemy of peace, there's no doubt about that. They are the enemy."
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