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Fox's Ailes reportedly defends Beck, instructs employees not to attack him

March 17, 2010 5:24 pm ET by MMFA Staff

From a March 17 TV Newser post reporting on a meeting Fox News chairman Roger Ailes held that day with Fox News' Washington Bureau:

Ailes then turned to the issue of Monday's Washington Post story, in which Howard Kurtz wrote about "tension" over Glenn Beck. "There is a deep split within Fox between those who are supportive, and many journalists who are worried about the prospect that Beck is becoming the face of the network," wrote Kurtz.

Signaling that Kurtz's sources came from within the DC bureau, Ailes said, "For the first time in our 14 years we've had people apparently shooting in the tent, from within the tent."

"Glenn Beck, does his show and that's his opinion. It's not the opinion of FOX News and he has a right to say it," added Ailes. "We prefer people in the tent not dumping on other people in the tent."

And in a challenge to those employees, Ailes said, "I was brought up to defend the family. If I couldn't defend the family I'd leave. I'd go to another family."

Previously:

Beck on Fox's "news" division: "Of course I make their job a living hell"

Follow the leader: Fox's "news" division routinely promotes and echoes Beck

Kurtz: Some "Fox journalists" worried Beck "undermines their credibility"

Tags: Fox News Channel, Glenn Beck, Roger Ailes

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    • Author by rwmacdonald2091 (March 17, 2010 5:32 pm ET)
      8  
      When Fox News thinks you're crazy, you must be like double secret crazy
      Report Abuse
    • Author by raine315 (March 17, 2010 5:36 pm ET)
      3  
      Oh well there's a mole at Faux News. GOOD!
      Report Abuse
      • Author by IRONY 101 (March 17, 2010 5:54 pm ET)
        4  
        ...who doesn't like Glenn Beck.

        Call for Bill O'Reilly. Bill O'Reilly?
        Report Abuse
    • Author by gg (March 17, 2010 5:48 pm ET)
      7  
      With the mass abandonment of advertisers for the Glenn Beck show any businessman would reassess, if he was simply in the business to make money, I mean that is capitalism in its truest form, but over at Fox they aren't doing that, so there has to be another reason to keep Beck on and it is their political agenda. Therefore since they have a biased political point of view it is time to bring back the Fairness Doctrine otherwise Fox should be forced to change their motto to unfair and completely unbalanced.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by nerzog (March 17, 2010 6:02 pm ET)
        4  
        I doubt that FOX is losing any money on Nostradumbass. The RNC subsidies more than make up for any lost advertising revenue, I'm sure.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Invent a Scandal (March 17, 2010 6:52 pm ET)
          3  
          Nostradumbass is good,

          That's even better than Rodeo Clown. Let's all go with that.
          Report Abuse
      • Author by dunthorpeMD (March 18, 2010 3:45 am ET)
           
        You must have some respect for the 1st amendment don't you? Has anyone noticed that Beck doesn't even usually use any notes at all? Did you see his CPAC Speech... it was a masterpiece! and it dissed on both the right and the left. He is a conservative and he speaks his conservative mind with facts, emotion and conviction! Why is the lefts only answer to people they don't agree with, and aren't sharp enough to compete with or openly debate with any chance of looking smart or right (i.e. Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh etc.) to immediately demand that someone shut them up? That's not a value this country embraces? quite the opposite! You armchair liberals with all of your memorized mantras and talking points ready to go ...always pointing fingers and crying "liar liar...he (she) is an idiot make him shut up!" need to take a good hard look at the make up of the citizens of this country ...it is right center and the death grip on the off the hook ratings these "liars" and "idiots" have been getting for the last umteen years should be a wake up call tha simply calling names and pointing fingers doesn't work anymore than trying to sell the left wing take on the world via talk radio has ever garnered any listeners outside of a few on air people's moms. The perception of the majority of US citizens is that the liberal agenda has no clothes ...
        Report Abuse
    • Author by gg (March 17, 2010 5:51 pm ET)
      7  
      Not to mention that fact that promoting censorship in a "news" organization is a little unsettling.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© (March 17, 2010 7:08 pm ET)
        3  
        Signaling that Kurtz's sources came from within the DC bureau, Ailes said, "For the first time in our 14 years we've had people apparently shooting in the tent, from within the tent."

        We must ALL GOOSESTEP TOGETHER!
        /Murdoch-Ailes

        [http://samuelatgilgal.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/goose-step.jpg]
        Report Abuse
    • Author by IRONY 101 (March 17, 2010 5:52 pm ET)
      4  
      So...Roger Ailes defends "the family"? Is that like la famiglia?

      Anybody seen Luca Brasi lately?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by cugagcmu805031 (March 17, 2010 5:59 pm ET)
      3  
      Ailes' only concern is that the money keeps pouring in. He knows Beck is a problem, but he just luvs himself some money and power. He'll let Beck and Fuchs Noose destroy the country to make a buck and to make himself feel important.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by ILikePizza (March 17, 2010 6:40 pm ET)
      4  
      Why you should almost never conduct your life according to absolutes, e.g., Ailes said, "I was brought up to defend the family. If I couldn't defend the family I'd leave. I'd go to another family." What if someone in the family is clearly destroying the rest of the family?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by IRONY 101 (March 17, 2010 7:09 pm ET)
        2  
        What if someone in the family is clearly destroying the rest of the family?

        You have your guys coax him into the front seat of an automobile parked inside your family compound, assuring him you're not going to hurt him. Then before the car takes off the guy sitting behind him reaches over the seat with a piano wire and pulls it tight around his neck. He'll kick and kick before he dies. Then the guys dump put his body in a tub of acid. Then, later, they dump it in the swamp. ;>)

        That's what "families" do...
        Report Abuse
      • Author by mrhebert74 (March 17, 2010 10:57 pm ET)
        2  
        And in a challenge to those employees, Ailes said, "I was brought up to defend the family. If I couldn't defend the family I'd leave. I'd go to another family."
        Really? That literally means that the BEST person in any Ailes organization has to leave rather than criticize the WORST person. Apply that formula repeatedly over time and you'd get... oh, right. FOX News.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by DAWUSS (March 17, 2010 6:59 pm ET)
      2  
      So who outranks who in the GOP hierarchy? Is Limbaugh on top? Palin? Ailes?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© (March 17, 2010 7:20 pm ET)
        1  
        It's Ailes/Murdoch by far.

        News Corporation
        Stock Data
        36,761.53 Market Cap(Mil)

        It's all about the Benjamins.
        ~
        Report Abuse
    • Author by shaggles (March 17, 2010 7:11 pm ET)
      3  
      Does Fox News broadcast from a tent?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by epkklk851 (March 17, 2010 7:23 pm ET)
      3  
      How funny. Roger says Glennie stays and if you don't like it, leave the tent. Hey, that whole family thing is one thing, but making water in the tent on other people's feet is just plain rude, and I wouldn't hesitate to complain and request that they be kicked out. I guess Glennie hasn't gotten around to Roger's shoes, yet.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© (March 17, 2010 7:51 pm ET)
        3  
        Replace "tent" with "closet" and the FAUX screed makes even more sense.
        ~
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Russ139 (March 18, 2010 12:21 am ET)
      2  
      The upset Fox staffers and Kurtz are both incabable of seeing the real story. It's not that Beck is possibly contaminating the integrity of the organization. No, it's that Beck IS THE CULMINATION of the organization. "Beck" is what Murdoch has been building from the beginning - tabloid television. It was never about "news" (despite the name). With Murdoch, it's about EMPIRE, and he's been succesful beyond description. Ailes understands that, and goes along because he gets to play 'commie hater' years after it went out of fashion.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by dunthorpeMD (March 18, 2010 3:52 am ET)
           
        I hear alot of accusations but they are all noticebly short on actual examples... I have watched Glenn becks show many times. I have yet to hear him say something that wasn't true (fact wise) although I often times come to different conclusions based upon those same facts than he does. He keeps selling out his road show with O'reilly all over the country and his speech at CPAC was proudly conservative and his delivery was exceptional ...it was a great speech. I don't have to agree with all of it to admire it and neither should any of you. You don't like the message so you attack the messenger which is exactly what cowards would do when they aren't ale to overcome the message or they aren't ale to open their tunnel vision and actually listen to what other people think then ...a little smarter ...and a little wiser to politely disagree with the conclusions ... what are you all so afraid of?
        Report Abuse

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