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Fox News, the Black Panthers, and the same old pattern

July 02, 2010 4:06 pm ET by Simon Maloy

Mediaite's Steve Krakauer has a post up asking: "Will DOJ Black Panther Case Whistleblower Story Break Mainstream?" He's referring to the allegation, popular among talk radio hosts and right-wing bloggers, that the Obama Justice Department dropped voter intimidation charges against the New Black Panther Party because the black president and the black attorney general are unfairly biased towards black people. Fox News' Megyn Kelly has made the story her own this week, conducting an "exclusive interview" with former Justice Department attorney J. Christian Adams, who claims that politics motivated the DOJ to drop the charges.

There are many reasons not to trust Adams on this one. He's a longtime GOP activist who was hired to the Bush-era DOJ by Bradley Schlozman, a political appointee who was ultimately found to have improperly politicized DOJ hiring. Also, Adams' interview with Kelly consisted mainly of unsubstantiated hearsay and conjecture. What's more, the Bush-era DOJ that Adams worked for declined to pursue charges against the Minutemen in a 2006 voter intimidation case based on nearly identical circumstances.

But Krakauer wants this story to be covered more widely: "So far, the story has not been discussed on FNC's cable news competitors or any of the broadcast networks. When we return from the July 4 holiday weekend, that very likely will change - and it should." Why does he think it should be covered? Because Fox News is making a big deal of it.

We're seeing the reemergence of a very familiar pattern.

1. Right-wingers shout loudly about bogus story.

2. Fox News picks up bogus story, reports on it incessantly.

3. Right-wingers and Fox News start complaining that "liberal media" are ignoring bogus story.

4. Other outlets are shamed into covering bogus story, mini-frenzy ensues.

5. Pundits credit Fox News for "being ahead of the curve."

6. Responsible media outlets determine bogus story is bogus long after damage is done.

7. Repeat. 

Everybody remembers what happened with ACORN, right? Or "Climategate"? Or Bill Ayers?

"Because Fox is doing it" is no reason to cover a story. If anything, it's a warning to be skeptical of the story itself.

Tags: Fox News Channel, Mediaite.com, J. Christian Adams

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    • Author by DellDolly (July 02, 2010 4:11 pm ET)
      2  
      You said a mouthful with "If anything, it's a warning to be skeptical of the story itself."
      Report Abuse
    • Author by IRONY 101 (July 02, 2010 4:15 pm ET)
      2  
      Hey, FOX...don't tease the panther.


      [http://kulturschnitte.de/Rollenspiel/Bobbel/Bilder/Panther.jpg]
      Report Abuse
    • Author by fairliberal (July 02, 2010 6:06 pm ET)
      2 4
      This should read, the Barack Obama administration, the black panthers and the same old pattern.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by eweston8542983 (July 02, 2010 8:03 pm ET)
           
        A pattern from the late 60's to today. I'm sure you have a fine description of this pattern and loads of documentation to support your position.

        In your other suit?
        Report Abuse
    • Author by edrossinoelwein9669 (July 03, 2010 5:58 pm ET)
      1 4
      Maybe you should be skeptical of stupidity. MMFA knows that the BPs stood at the polls with batons and were threatening voters - as well as journalists. To try and pretend that somehow, because Bush's DOJ failed to prosecute someone for similar actions makes Holder's action acceptable, is stupid. Let me type that real slow for you again - MMFA's argument IS STUPID.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by politeradical (July 05, 2010 2:58 pm ET)
      1 1
      Claiming the reason for the dismissal was racial favoritism by the President and Attorney General without a shred of proof is idiotic.

      But that's par for the course with that moron network.

      It is a disappointment that the DOJ did not proceed with the case.
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