October, 22 2009, 10:00am EDT
Fox News' War
New video from Media Matters shows network declared "war" on the White House long before Dunn's comments
WASHINGTON
Following Anita Dunn's description of
Fox News as an "arm" of the Republican Party, Fox News personalities have suggested or claimed
that the White House declared "war" on the network. In response, Media Matters for America has released a
video showing the
factually inaccurate smears, blatant political organizing, and explicit lobbying
that Fox News has engaged
in. Many of these activities have been occurring since January 20
and have only increased in frequency as time has passed.
WATCH
VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDR47EKTrCQ
BACKGROUND:
Following the White House's exposure of Fox News as a
partisan political operation, as opposed to a credible news network, Glenn
Beck and Sean Hannity have claimed
that the "warmongers" in the
Obama administration have "declared war" and have their "missiles pointed right at
Fox." But, as Media Matters' video and research
demonstrates, it is Fox
News that has been
waging a partisan political war against the White House since Inauguration Day,
and while doing so,
revealing both its disdain for journalistic standards and its
all-consuming political agenda -- qualities that differentiate Fox News from any credible news
organization.
Would a real news
organization help GOP PACs raise money?
SUMMARY: Although
Fox News rejects criticism that it is viewed as a political organization, Fox
News contributor Dick Morris repeatedly used his Fox News appearances to solicit
donations to an ad campaign by the League of American Voters
(LAV), which asserts it is "Leading the Fight to Stop Obama Care." On Hannity, Morris bragged of his group's
fundraising success, reporting that his website had
"raised now $2.5 million" to run the LAV ads against
Democratic health care reform proposals. Morris is not alone in using Fox News as a forum to raise
money for conservative causes. Fox News host Mike Huckabee has also used Fox News shows to raise money
for Republican political action committees, and Fox News' promotion of the Tea
Party Express helped a Republican PAC with fundraising.
"Voice of the opposition":
Fox News openly advocates against Democratic Congress, White
House
SUMMARY:
Since Barack Obama's inauguration, Fox News has frequently engaged in political
advocacy against the Democratic Congress and White House. Specifically, Fox News
personalities have promoted and encouraged viewers to "join" tea party
protestsand town hall meetings. Glenn Beck created The 9-12 Project, and Fox News aggressively promoted and covered the group's
September 12 "March on Washington." Led by Beck, the network has engaged in a
witch hunt seeking to "get rid of" Obama administration officials and nominees;
implored viewers to call Congress and the White House to protest Democratic
policies; and celebrated "victor[ies]" when Democratic legislation has been
stalled.
Fox's news programs echo
its "opinion" shows: Smears, doctored videos, GOP talking
points
SUMMARY:
Fox News has responded to White House criticisms of its network by
claiming that while its "editorial" programs are filled with "vibrant opinion,"
its news hours are straight and objective. However, Fox News' purportedly
straight news programs echo its "editorial" programs: Media Matters for America has compiled a
non-exhaustive list -- from this year alone -- documenting how Fox's news
programming features smears, falsehoods, doctored and deceptive editing, and GOP
talking points.
Fox News on a witch hunt
for Obama "czars"
SUMMARY: On
September 8, Fox News host Megyn Kelly stated that "more of President Obama's
special advisers are now under scrutiny after the resignation of his green jobs
czar" Van Jones, and
she described
"criticisms" being lodged against Obama science and technology adviser John
Holdren and Obama nominee Cass Sunstein. Indeed, Fox News personalities have been leading
the charge against Jones, Holdren, Sunstein, and other Obama administration
officials and nominees they have described as "czars" -- often by unearthing and
criticizing statements the officials had made in the past rather than critiquing
their job performance or credentials for those positions. Sean Hannity, for example, declared that "my job starting
tomorrow night is to get rid of every other ['czar']."
WATCH
VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDR47EKTrCQ
Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.
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