niftydrifty

The previous post contained a comparison of FNT and NYT on 1/18/2006.
Did I find anything equally outrageous in the news or the opinion page of the New York Times? No I didn’t. Does the NYT smear Republicans? If so, only with facts. The same facts that it smeared, um, Gore with in 2000. Or Clinton with in the 90’s. Or Reagan with in the 80’s. The facts are biased.

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Now what follows here are examples of Opinions and Talking Points Masquerading as News, from Fox News Channel, on various days and during various News programs. Please note that I have excluded the pundit shows when choosing these quotes.

Molly Henneberg, 2/15/2006
Here you see the vice president arriving at the White House this morning for a meeting with the president and congressional leaders. After that meeting, the top Senate Democrat, Harry Reid, told reporters he thought the vice president should have a press conference to talk about the incident in Texas. Vice presidents rarely, if ever, do that, but they sometimes do interviews, as Mr. Cheney is doing right now with [Fox News Washington managing editor] Brit [Hume].

Al Gore actually participated in many press conferences. It isn't part of the story to talk about what Vice Presidents allegedly rarely do. This bit of misinformation was delivered in an effort to make Harry Reid seem irrational.

Laurie Dhue, 8/24/2005
Two influential Washington lobbying groups are not waiting for John Roberts's confirmation hearings to announce their positions on the Supreme Court nominee. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is supporting Roberts. The liberal group People for the American Way is opposing him.

Nice. The gratuitous label nearly always precedes the groups not fitting Fox News' agenda. Can you tell which one it is?

Molly Henneberg, 7/6/2004
The Bush-Cheney '04 campaign also unveiled a new ad today that shows President Bush with Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, the ad is called "First Choice" because McCain reportedly was Kerry's first choice for the vice presidential slot. ... Shortly after John McCain said "no" to a Kerry-McCain ticket, he appeared with President Bush at an event in Fort Lewis, Washington, last month, and part of his introduction of the president then is featured in the "First Choice" ad, now. ... And again, that ad is being called the "First Choice" ad. Taking a little dig at the Kerry-Edwards ticket, reminding voters that John McCain was Kerr-- apparently, was Kerry's first choice for his vice presidential running mate, but McCain is supporting President Bush.

This is an example of a Fox News Reporter parroting phony claims made by the Bush campaign and reporting it as news. If you will remember, McCain issued a statement that he made no such choice.

Dari Alexander, 8/29/2004
"Have we ever seen a President be so public about his spirituality?"

Interview question, or opinion? Yes we have seen a President be so public about his spirituality.

Molly Henneberg, 7/6/2004
"And perhaps the most forceful or aggressive response came from the Republican National committee which called Edwards 'a disingenuous, unaccomplished liberal'"

Classic. It is somehow newsworthy to quote the RNC smearing the opponent. I know. You're probably thinking big deal. But how many times do you think they ran it that day? That week? Guess.

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"I admit it. The liberal media were never that powerful, and the whole thing was often used as an excuse by conservatives for conservative failures." - Bill Kristol