Beyond Belief for October 19, 2009
by SamHenry
The Washington Post is reporting this morning that Administration officials will now be allowed to go on FOX News. They must feel like kids let out of school. What will they do? What will they say? Imagine the possibilities.
But before leaving the world of make believe media, let’s take a look back at how the powerful Administration of President Barack Obama was brought down to the level of FOX News Network:
The import of FOX to the Administration was amply illustrated this past week when White House Communications Maven, Anita Dunn, spoke ex cathedra to the American public from the White House Lawn about FOX News Network’s journalistic or rather entertainment transgressions in recent days. FOX treatment of two key issues fanned the flames: The loss of the Olympics and the gain of the Nobel Peace Prize. Anita went to a lot of trouble over this. The public took note. Folks tuned in to FOX News Network to see what all the fuss was about.
This Sunday found some very slick programming on CNN’s State of the Union with John King. Early on there was a lengthy interview of Rahm Emanuel covering a range of topics including the Administration’s war with FOX News Network. Throughout the morning as the show morphed into other segments such as Reliable Sources, portions of the Emanuel interview were deftly sewn into the fabric that made the end result seem as if it were the Rahm Emanuel Sunday Special.
Of course the main topic seemed to be the war with FOX. It has been fought for months in the trenches during White House Press Conferences. But this Sunday on CNN, Never has so much about FOX been broadcast. If this had escalated further, I would have expected CNN to broadcast in split screen with a feed from FOX to facilitate a running commentary and a leg up on breaking news, rather feuds.
Happily David Carr of the New York Times has confirmed what persons of intelligence have long believed: It is unseemly for the White House to take out after a single news source. In other words, pick on someone your own size, Obama:
On the official White House Web site, a blog called Reality Check provides a running tally of transgressions by Fox News. It ends with this: “For even more Fox lies, check out the latest ‘Truth-O-Meter’ feature from Politifact that debunks a false claim about a White House staffer that continues to be repeated by Glenn Beck and others on the network.”
People who work in political communications have pointed out that it is a principle of power dynamics to “punch up “ — that is, to take on bigger foes, not smaller ones. A blog on the White House Web site that uses a “truth-o-meter” against a particular cable news network would not seem to qualify. As it is, Reality Check sounds a bit like the blog of some unemployed guy living in his parents’ basement, not an official communiqué from Pennsylvania Avenue.
And there you have it: liberal print media advising the big bully Administration to knock it off. This would all be too worrisome to freedom of speech and other democratic delights if it weren’t so damnably funny. Anita, Rahm, CNN – look ashamed and don’t even consider hideous pre-conditions. Those are only appropriate in Pre-Nups. OK, it’s all over folks, go back to what you were doing.
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Michelle Malkin – Who’s behind the White House war on Fox News?
Hot Air – Again: Axelrod, Emanuel attack Fox News on morning shows
Big Government – WSJ: Andrew Breitbart Taking On the ‘Democrat-Media Complex’
Sister Toljah – WH communications director Anita Dunn hates Fox News, loves Chairman Mao
Fireandreamitchell – Maoist Anita Dunn admits “We control the news media”
Moonbatpatrol – Obama’s First Attack, Lob’s Dunn At Fox News!
ON MY WATCH - the writings of SamHenry 
arlenearmy
October 19, 2009
Im just wondering when WH folks will show up on Foxnews, as I did not hear WH say that their aides would show up.
On Fox, there was McAullife (probably mispelled his name). But he’s not a rep. for the WH & can not legally speak for them.
samhenry
October 19, 2009
Arlene – In the Washington Post Article, there was no specific information about when/where. I have not heard of anything but I will scour the net. Thanks for stopping by.
arlenearmy
October 19, 2009
My take on this situation is that Obama & WH will NOT show up on Fox, UNLESS:
1. Something urgent happens that requires that they reach a very large audience in a HURRY; &
2. During an election season
What the WH is doing is no doubt stupid & childish; and it makes the WH looks like a petty organization that’s vindictive. The scary part is that you never give a child a book matches. The WH have not yet realized that its not just Foxnews they got on the hit list. Its the independents (American People).
samhenry
October 19, 2009
I agree with you on this completely and VF has also added that there will probably be pre-conditions. Actually, FOX wins when it is in attack mode and they want to keep it up. The New York Times article told the WH to cease and desist. As I said in my article, if the WH weren’t handling this like the gang who couldn’t shoot straight, I would fear for our freedoms. I think they are laughable in what they try to control. Next they will control when we go to the bathroom by inserting a chip in us. It will be used to conserve water! LOL Already one airline has asked clients to go to the bathroom before boarding to lighten the load! Really. Things are getting a little too close for comfort!