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Fox News: "Rep. Joke Sestak (D-PA)"

August 17, 2009 8:54 am ET by Media Matters staff

From the August 17 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends:

Joke Sestak

Previously:

On Fox, Mark Sanford "(D)" holds press conference

Media outlets - including Fox - misidentify as Democrats several Republicans facing scandal, poor poll numbers

Tags: Fox News Channel

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    • Author by dr. matt (August 17, 2009 8:59 am ET)
      5  
      "It's just a mistake!!!!"
      ~teabagging talking point #975,304
      Report Abuse
      • Author by hoosier (August 17, 2009 11:56 am ET)
        1 3
        It was just a mistake, hunter.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by NiceguyEddie (August 17, 2009 12:02 pm ET)
          4  
          Fox seems to make a LOT of those.

          Curious how...

          1) It's always a dem, never a pub
          2) No other network seems to display such incompetence
          Report Abuse
          • Author by starkcr31 (August 18, 2009 11:48 am ET)
              2
            Oh man, I haven't laughed that hard in a while. The liberal news network, MSNBC never makes mistakes? Please.
            Report Abuse
        • Author by dr. matt (August 17, 2009 12:48 pm ET)
          1  

          Keep obsessing over me, cupcake.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by DAWUSS (August 17, 2009 9:14 am ET)
        4
      Well, the "O" and "K" are right next to each other...

      50/50 on intentional or accidental
      Report Abuse
      • Author by shaggles (August 17, 2009 11:52 am ET)
        1  
        I don't think so. "J" and "K" are next to each other. "O" is up and to the right of "K". It would be tought to accidentally type "Joke" for "Joe." "Jkoe" would be the more likely typo.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by cinderella (August 18, 2009 4:22 am ET)
             
          If a third grader can catch this kind of error in a book report, one of the most influential and self-proclaimed "most popular" news networks on television have enough people on payroll to catch these kinds of repeated mistakes. This should be a warning to those who believe that "Fair and Balanced" claim... if you can't trust them with a single letter of the alphabet, you can't trust then with the important news in this country.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by epkklk851 (August 17, 2009 9:16 am ET)
      5  
      Well, it wouldn't be the first time that Fixed News had taken out their bias on a politician, they referred to Senator Franken as Senator Smalley several times. It could also be a mistake, a Freudian slip, perhaps. How long did this crawler stay up with its mistake? And even if it is a true Freudian slip, it says something about how Faux Noise views Democrats, doesn't it?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by bilbo_dies (August 17, 2009 12:46 pm ET)
        1  
        Honest, it is their version of humor. You know, like Glenn Beck calling Obama a racist. That was just a joke also.
        Besides, where else can you find this kind of humor on a "News" network?
        Report Abuse
        • Author by epkklk851 (August 17, 2009 1:48 pm ET)
             
          I like a good pun or word play, and I will use them as a putdown, but that's a little verbal jab from a private individual. I am not a reporter, and I don't have to pretend to be impartial. I wouldn't have done anything like that when I was teaching. The only cheap shots I took were at people like Kim Jong Il and Osama bin Laden. I was very careful to be respectful to President Bush, and other conservatives no matter what I thought personally.
          Report Abuse
      • Author by mookie von zipper (August 17, 2009 2:41 pm ET)
        1  
        "They"? O'Reilly, probably Hannity too, gloss Franken as Sen Smalley on a regular basis, perfectly acceptable in commentary, which their shows are. I seriously doubt any Fox reporter ever ID'd Franken as Smalley in the context of a news story.

        When newspapers were the main source of information, people didn't seem to have any trouble telling the difference between the news section and the editorial page. But these days a lot of people can't seem to make that distinction with TV news. Today even newspaper reporters themselves often interject opinion into what should be a reporting of fact.

        As for the typo, maybe Rep Sestak is a joke. Can anyone name a politician from any party that isn't a joke?

        Finally, this whole notion of Fox being a Republican mouthpiece is weak and getting quite stale.







        Report Abuse
    • Author by The_Cat (August 17, 2009 10:10 am ET)
      4  
      Retraction? Apology? Anyone? Anyone? Murdoch? Murdoch? Anyone? (Borrowing Ben Stein's inflection from Ferris Bueller)
      Report Abuse
      • Author by starkcr31 (August 17, 2009 10:52 am ET)
           
        Yeah, we got your joke. You didn't have to point out Ben Stein.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by shaggles (August 17, 2009 11:53 am ET)
        1  
        If they mention it at all they will say it was a typo but I highly doubt that it was.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by twseattle (August 17, 2009 1:07 pm ET)
           
        Apology? The guy that slipped that one through just got made head of the graphics dept. with a fat raise.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by hisroyalmattness (August 17, 2009 10:35 am ET)
         
      Here is the joke, the official channel for chicken hawks call a highly decorated member of the armed services a joke. They talk all the time about having respect for the people who served in the military. He did serve and is highly decorated. He was awarded with: Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3), Navy Distinguished, Service Medal (2), Legion of Merit (2) Meritorious Service Medal (2) and Joint Service Commendation Medal.
      Another joke is people take Fox seriously. This organization is dishonest and highly partisan. They take sides in how they deliver the news. They misrepresent so much yet people call them an news organization.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by starkcr31 (August 17, 2009 10:52 am ET)
         
      I guess they aren't allowed to make mistakes. I see.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by o rly (August 17, 2009 11:03 am ET)
      2  
      Fixed News engaging in petty partisan hackery? I'm shocked, shocked I tell ya!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by starkcr31 (August 17, 2009 11:07 am ET)
         
      I always forget, if Fox News makes a typo, it must be malicious, but if MSNBC does it, it's just a mistake. Is that correct?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by bilbo_dies (August 17, 2009 4:05 pm ET)
        1  
        I think the idea is that Fox News seems to have way more of these "mistakes" than anyone else. I also suppose that the "mistakes" seem to only happen in regards to Democrats plays a part in it also.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by starkcr31 (August 18, 2009 11:32 am ET)
             
          Well, if you notice these things (assuming they're actually true, which is highly doubtful), you must watch Fox News a whole lot more than you should.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by dr. matt (August 17, 2009 11:15 am ET)
      3  
      With such a failed legacy, it's just a matter of time before Faux does this:

      George dubyah Bush (D)
      Report Abuse
    • Author by PurpleState (August 17, 2009 12:01 pm ET)
      1  
      Well, at least they didn't call him a Democrat from Egypt.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by vwcat (August 17, 2009 1:06 pm ET)
         
      seems like Fox 'news' is more and more proving that they really are not a news channel. Just a republican propaganda network.
      Afterall, any serious news outlet, be they unbiased or leaning to one side, tries to act with decorum and ethics.
      Fox just acts like frat boys.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by mattcable250650 (August 17, 2009 2:18 pm ET)
         
      I sent a note to "comments@foxnews.com" and it came back as undeliverable. Have they changed that or does one have to use a form to get through?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by canaanxing9025 (August 17, 2009 3:10 pm ET)
         
      To the great, great Americans at Fox News:

      That would be Rear Admiral (Ret.) Joe Sestak.

      When was the last time any of you great, great Americans did anything close to his service.



      Report Abuse
    • Author by tangaroa (August 17, 2009 6:32 pm ET)
         
      Funny how all of Fox's "mistakes" are at the expense of the Democrats.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by oscar the grouch (August 17, 2009 8:02 pm ET)
         
      Wpuld they have done this to someone with a full head of hair?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by ProgLib (August 18, 2009 6:13 am ET)
         
      its fox news making mistakes like this that give them their great comedic ability.
      Report Abuse

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