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NPR's Rudin apologizes for comparing Obama to Nixon

October 22, 2009 3:22 pm ET by Media Matters staff

From Ken Rudin's October 22 post on NPR's Political Junkie blog:

I made a boneheaded mistake yesterday, during the Political Junkie segment on NPR's Talk of the Nation, that I'd like to correct right away.

It was part of a conversation regarding the White House's war with Fox News.

I happen to think that the administration made a mistake in deciding to take on Fox. Yes, you can make the case that Fox "started it," as the White House is saying, though that sounds a bit juvenile to me. Fox News has been baiting President Obama from Day One -- and before. Yes, there are commentators on Fox (Glenn Beck comes to mind, but there are others) who trash the president on a daily, if not hourly, basis. Yes, there are some days where the work of good, legitimate Fox journalists -- such as Major Garrett, for example -- get overlooked because of all the attention directed at the rancor coming from its commentators.

[...]

Yesterday, in expressing my belief that the White House should have known better, I actually said this on the air:

Well, it's not only aggressive, it's almost Nixonesque. I mean, you think of what Nixon and Agnew did with their enemies list and their attacks on the media; certainly Vice President Agnew's constant denunciation of the media. Of course, then it was a conservative president denouncing a liberal media, and of course, a lot of good liberals said, 'Oh, that's ridiculous. That's an infringement on the freedom of press.' And now you see a lot of liberals almost kind of applauding what the White House is doing to Fox News, which I think is distressing.

Where do I begin. I will tell you, that the Nixon "enemies list" is the first thing I thought of when the topic came up. And obviously, that's what was going through my mind during yesterday's conversation.

But comparing the tactics of the Nixon administration -- which bugged and intimidated and harrassed journalists -- to that of the Obama administration was foolish, facile, ridiculous and, ultimately, embarrassing to me. I should have known better and, in fact, I do know better. I was around during the Nixon years. I am fully cognizant of what they did and attempted to do.

I still think the Obama administration showed a childish, thin skin in its dealings with and reaction to Fox.

But childishness is a far cry from illegal and unconstitutional activities. And for that I apologize for a dumb comparison.

Previously: NPR's Ken Rudin is the latest to push Obama/Nixon nonsense

Tags: NPR, Ken Rudin

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    • Author by wesley (October 22, 2009 3:42 pm ET)
        6
      LOL...what a lightweight.
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    • Author by DellDolly (October 22, 2009 3:50 pm ET)
      5  
      Senator Lamar Alexander made a similarly stupid comparison today on the Andrea Mitchell hour on MSNBC. Here's a link to his speech the night before.

      She was incredulous. At one point in time she said something like "Senator, I don't think you want to go there." But apparently he did want to go there. She gave him a couple of opportunities to walk back that allegation, but he was firm that the Obama Administration is repeating Nixon's mistakes and has, in some ways, exceeded the wrongdoing that the Nixon Administration has done - "the Obama WH is tougher", he said! He calls it a "bunker mentality" for the White House to debunk their critics! He was being a concern troll.

      Really. He said that.

      So, I guess we've figured out who RightON is! Lamar Alexander!
      Report Abuse
      • Author by steeve (October 22, 2009 9:20 pm ET)
        1  
        "She gave him a couple of opportunities to walk back that allegation"

        When the hell is it the job of the media to prevent republicans from going crazy in front of people? The job of the pundit in this case is to confirm and clarify the comment, to ensure it isn't a misspeak. Not to make it less bad.

        Assuming that you're paraphrasing accurately. I won't watch it myself because any cable news viewing, even MSNBC, risks second-hand stupid.
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        • Author by steeve (October 22, 2009 9:39 pm ET)
             
          (Oh, and once you've clarified the comment, your next job is to demonstrate that it's crazy, just so your viewers don't miss that.)
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    • Author by Jurgan (October 22, 2009 3:54 pm ET)
      6  
      That's good to know. As a paying member of NPR, I'm glad to see their people have the integrity to admit mistakes. I've always like the fact that NPR goes for more depth and less flash than the cable news media, and I'd hate to see them start buying into right-wing spin.
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    • Author by all your eyes (October 22, 2009 4:06 pm ET)
      4  
      When will NPR apologize for Juan Williams?
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    • Author by mk3872 (October 22, 2009 4:12 pm ET)
      4  
      I still think the Obama administration showed a childish, thin skin in its dealings with and reaction to Fox.

      Since when is calling out someone for lying, distorting and smearing "childish" ???

      If NPR and the rest of the MSM did their jobs and stood-up to FNC, then the WH wouldn't have to lower themselves into this ugly fray ...
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      • Author by MickD (October 22, 2009 5:08 pm ET)
        2  
        He backed away from the Nixon reference but not from his belittling of the president. Why would anyone defend Fox, it's bullsh!t and makes the pundit look foolish.
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      • Author by sleepy joe (October 22, 2009 5:25 pm ET)
        1  
        It wasn't childish, but it was a mistake. They did exactly what Fox wanted them to do.
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        • Author by bintx (October 22, 2009 5:44 pm ET)
             
          I don't think it was a mistake.
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        • Author by mk3872 (October 22, 2009 7:30 pm ET)
             
          Really? How so?
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        • Author by steeve (October 22, 2009 9:35 pm ET)
             
          *sigh* this sort of stuff cheeses me off because it's been done over and over and it doesn't work. Study any Bob Shrum campaign to see how pervasive, and how defeating this how-will-it-play trembling is.

          If a liar lies against you, kick them in the face, then kick them again. Hold a foot up when they next open their mouth.
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        • Author by shaggles (October 23, 2009 12:08 pm ET)
             
          I don't agree. Dems have sat back while right wing pundits spread lies about them for too long. It's about time someone fought back.
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    • Author by Limit Corp. Ownership (October 22, 2009 4:30 pm ET)
      5  
      Oh, I get it!

      The Obama administration should just sit back quietly while they're routinely smeared on a daily basis with a barrage of lies and filth by a so-called "News" channel.

      No need to worry about any of this according to head NPR babbling head Ken Rudin. Just look at the good work Major Garrett is doing!!

      All you have to do is see a list of corporate donors to NPR and you can see where this is coming from.

      .
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      • Author by sleepy joe (October 22, 2009 5:27 pm ET)
          2
        The administration just needs to stay on topic and don't let Fox control what they do.
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        • Author by steeve (October 22, 2009 9:14 pm ET)
          1  
          "What they do" is converting American health care from last-in-the-world to last-in-the-world-but-not-quite-so-bad. Fox News is in the way.
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    • Author by tharri874 (October 22, 2009 4:48 pm ET)
      3  
      "The work of good, legitimate Fox journalists -- such as Major Garrett" does NOT get overlooked at Media Matters, thank goodness.

      Media Matters has plenty of examples of bias in Garrett's reporting, including plenty involving Obama.
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    • Author by double_eagle201402 (October 22, 2009 5:49 pm ET)
         
      Maybe Rudin should be a little introspective and ask himself why he made such a "boneheaded" comment. Could it be that he has been bombarded with so much of this type of crapola from Fox for so long, it just settled into his psyche and came tumbling out when the microphone was in front of his face? If so, then maybe he can see the harm in the constant brainwashing provided by Fox News and maybe understand why the Obama administration has decided it has to call out Fox for its non-stop BS.
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    • Author by RAM (October 22, 2009 11:18 pm ET)
      3  
      "I never gave anyone hell; I just told the truth on those fellows and they thought it was hell." Harry S Truman
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    • Author by Buddog25 (October 23, 2009 6:59 am ET)
      1 3
      Rudin was right on target the first time. No need to apologize or recall his statements. Oh yeah ... NPR is leftist too!
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    • Author by shaggles (October 23, 2009 12:04 pm ET)
      1 1
      I don't buy that apology. A mistake is maybe getting a name or a year wrong. He went on long enough about this that it seems clear it is what he really believes.
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    • Author by dr007 (October 23, 2009 8:01 pm ET)
         
      Obama's attack on FOX News certainly feels Nixonesque, though nobody could establish a realistic parallel at this moment. But when Obama brought in his staff--especially Rahm Emmanuel--I immediately thought of the sort of fellows that Nixon brought in. Liberals may not like to hear it, but Obama has the peevishness, the arrogance, the competitive nature of Nixon, but he also throws out bouquets (and a bunch of money) to people that brings out his Velvet Glove side. Behind the scenes Emmanuel is cursing (which he does well apparently) and making the Obama version of an Enemies List.
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