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Fox News follows Drudge in invading children's privacy

September 24, 2009 1:09 pm ET

From the September 24 edition of America's Newsroom:

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Previously:

Drudge, right-wing media invade children's privacy

Fox Nation: "School Children Sing Songs of Obama's Glory"

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    • Author by HistoricallyCorrect (September 24, 2009 1:14 pm ET)
      5 1
      What happened to not exploiting children for political gains?
      How old are these kids? They cannot be more than 12?
      Michelle Malkin will be stalking these children, watch out.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by snoopy (September 24, 2009 1:21 pm ET)
        5 1
        Reichpublicans never met a child they couldn't exploit for personal gain. And a few in congress have done more than one...
        Report Abuse
    • Author by AB-001 (September 24, 2009 1:21 pm ET)
      11 1
      This is classic Fox News. No context. No saying if parents at the school were upset; rather, stating that some parents would be upset about something like this (and whom might those parents be?). And constant repeating of school name and location. In fact, the anchor makes a point of repeating the name and location over and over. "Again, the name of the school is.... in...CITY/STATE" she says, making sure viewers get it. And she also notes that Fox is getting a lot of email about this clip. I'll bet they are!

      Looks like the poor school secretary is in for a nightmare of a day with whipped up Fox viewers calling to register their unsolicited opinions. I'm sure their email server will crash as well from overload.

      And yes, what about the kids' privacy? No attempt to blur their faces, even though they aren't appearing on TV with consent. Will Fox viewers come out to find the children teach them kids a real lesson?

      Nicely done MM! This is a classic example of everything that Fox does to further their "fair and balanced" agenda rather than "report" real news stories.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by shtguard (September 24, 2009 1:23 pm ET)
      6 1
      Anyone remeber these fools complaining about the Kids at the 'Tea parties' spewing hate and disgust about Obama about things they obviously have been coerced into thinking/feeling?

      Freaking hypocrites, anyone know anyone who knows these people, i cannot imagine that these people live in the real world and have friends who know what they do, i wouldn't go near any of these fools with a 1000 ft pole!

      Disgraceful, see how she continues to mention the school's name WITHOUT ANY PROOF OR CONFIRMATION THAT IT DID HAPPEN IN THE SCHOOL.

      Anyone also notice how she continues to mention the name of the school like she is trying to send a message to someone!! if something bad/disturbing happens to ANYONE who works or is associated with that school, i am moving to the states to come and terrorize these fools.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by snoopy (September 24, 2009 1:30 pm ET)
        5 1
        I love the chryon - song lyrics include equal work means equal pay. Wow, how outrageous is that? Everybody knows it's only fair that if you work as hard and good as the next guy he still deserves to get more pay because he's a white reichpublican!

        In a way, this is good. Them becoming unhinged and dangerous is a sign that they really are losing the debate.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by miles2go (September 24, 2009 1:32 pm ET)
        1  
        "i am moving to the states to come and terrorize these fools."

        and you be no better than them if you did
        Report Abuse
      • Author by rms (September 24, 2009 3:14 pm ET)
        2 2
        "Anyone remeber these fools complaining about the Kids at the 'Tea parties' spewing hate and disgust about Obama about things they obviously have been coerced into thinking/feeling?"

        I guess I was one of those fools, since I was upset about kids spewing hate. Is that what you really meant to write?
        Report Abuse
        • Author by DellDolly (September 24, 2009 4:01 pm ET)
          3  
          Are you one of "these fools" who is complaining about these kids singing? If not, then you're not one of those fools.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by bwither012965 (September 24, 2009 1:29 pm ET)
      4  
      What's really scary to these cons is that those kiods are saying, "Hussein" without a trace of fear in their voices.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by antihannity2009 (September 24, 2009 1:30 pm ET)
      4 1
      Once again, the right is using children to promote their political agenda of being against Obama. I see absolutely nothing wrong with what these kids were singing. The right hates Obama and they're doing everything they can to make sure that everyone else does as well. The fact that Fox is making this a bid deal shows how desperate they are.

      Someone needs to check and see kids did this for Bush.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by treegoddess (September 24, 2009 1:57 pm ET)
        1  
        Video of kids praising Bush cardboard cut-out from the movie 'Jesus Camp'

        http://www.videosift.com/video/Jesus-Camp-Kids-Worshipping-George-Bush-Cardboard-Cutout
        Report Abuse
      • Author by puppienrainbows (September 24, 2009 5:37 pm ET)
          7
        One of the things that bothers me most about this story is the song which includes the line,"red and yellow black and white" is a religious song and substitutes Obama for Jesus in the lyrics. No one should fault these kids but the teachers and staff involved should be fired.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by liberalXtian (September 24, 2009 6:38 pm ET)
          5  
          How dare Obama try to act as Jesus would!

          If you could also come up with other colors people are that they could have used, I'd like to know.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by DellDolly (September 24, 2009 6:48 pm ET)
          4  
          Omigod. You can't be serious.

          Oh, of course you're not. This troll screen name only makes irrelevant and immaterial objections to derail conversations.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by open_mind (September 25, 2009 12:22 pm ET)
          1  
          I think the people that included this song should be disciplined, but firing is way overboard.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by open_mind (September 24, 2009 1:33 pm ET)
      2 9
      I think it is wrong to involve kids like this. We are not North Korea.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by neon desert (September 24, 2009 3:02 pm ET)
        7 1
        I would agree with you, with the caveat that we understand that it was most likely the teacher - not the Feds, not the State, not the schoolboard, probably not even the principal - who made this a part of the curriculum. It also is not likely to be a perpetual part of class. Looks to me to be a rehearsal for a special presentation, or a music program. National news? Not unless you're an Obama-hating right wing fanatic nutcase.

        The right will be whining that it's "indoctrination", but it's not state sponsored. It's on such a low level, that it's actually less of an "indoctrination" activity than Fox's weekday lineup, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by jbrantow (September 24, 2009 3:28 pm ET)
        7 1
        Yea it's such a crime to have kids be proud of the President of the United States and sing phrases such as doing good things for the country, racial equality and equal pay for equal work. How unamerican!
        Report Abuse
        • Author by open_mind (September 24, 2009 3:42 pm ET)
          1 6
          We don't need to be so feeble about the strengths of our leaders that we teach clueless kids what to think about him. Honestly, this is the kind of thing I would expect GWB to do.

          Let the kids be kids. Most kids don't know about "racial equality" or "equal pay for equal work". Let them learn about these subjects as they grow and form their own independent ideas about those subjects.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by liberalXtian (September 24, 2009 6:34 pm ET)
            4  
            Unfortunately, a lot of kids today do understand about equal pay for equal work. Not all mothers are stay at home mothers and kids are not stupid! It also doesn't take minority chidren too long to learn about their perceived status in America.

            When you live in in a certain social class in America you learn fast about hunger, homelessness and lack of health care.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by open_mind (September 24, 2009 7:11 pm ET)
              2 1
              You may be right about some kids. But how old were those kids in the video? I am a terrible judge, I admit, but they looked about 4 or 5...maybe 6 years old. Being ignorant of these issues is not to be confused with stupidity. As the brain develops, it becomes more able to deal with more complicated subjects. It did not look to me like these kids are ready for that. I may be wrong.

              I still do not think teachers should be telling impressionable children how to feel about political subjects and especially before the children are old enough to really understand the issues at a decent level.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by DellDolly (September 24, 2009 7:39 pm ET)
                4 2
                Yeah, who are teachers to tell kids that sharing and equality are important. That diversity and non-discrimination are important. That sticking together in tough times is valuable.

                It's not teachers teaching kids how to think about political subjects. It's kids being exposed to reasonable moral standards, something kids are taught in school all the time.

                Complicated subjects? The Golden Rule is complicated? Skin color should be irrelevant to one's worth is complicated? Being an active part of a community is complicated?
                Report Abuse
                • Author by open_mind (September 24, 2009 11:17 pm ET)
                  1 3
                  I don't see any reason to be so combative about this as to introduce strawman arguments.

                  There is a difference between general values, which can and should be imparted onto children and political issues like the ones I mentioned previously.
                  Report Abuse
    • Author by terry4097 (September 24, 2009 1:41 pm ET)
      1  
      Since when did it become an issue to be patriotic?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by antihannity2009 (September 24, 2009 1:41 pm ET)
      6  
      I love how she says "Many parents would have no problem with this and many would." without any facts or anything to back up her claims that parents would have a problem.

      Yeah, I'm sure Fox called that school and wanted the names and address of all the kids and teacher in the video. I wouldn't respond to them either.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by dauntingideas (September 24, 2009 1:42 pm ET)
      1  
      I love how Fox features the video with the "music of doom" in the background when they could have easily found the version that doesn't have it. Fox is just surprised that children are reciting phrases that demonstrate good values from a black president. Here is the video without the music that Fox featured:

      video
      Report Abuse
    • Author by The_Cat (September 24, 2009 1:42 pm ET)
      7 1
      I remember, as an elementary school kid, when we were taught in music class about where some of our songs originally come from. I'm thinking of 'America' (a.k.a. My Country Tis Of Thee), and how it was lyrics set to music from a song named God Save The Queen (or King, depending). Then we sang the verses to God Save The Queen, since this was back in the 70s.

      Now, was my teacher also indoctrinating me into a love of monarchy, and obeisance to royalty? Obviously not, but that is the argument FOX Propaganda is making here. Rather foolishly, as it turns out.

      Ms. Kelly, a question for you: You had no trouble naming the school, and identifying it by city and state. Did you make sure that this video did indeed come from this school?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by epkklk851 (September 24, 2009 1:44 pm ET)
      8  
      Frankly, I consider what Fox is doing to be harassment of the school. The school has every right to try to protect the children and to refuse to answer media questions. Fox ran with something without waiting to confirm the story, that isn't journalism, it is abuse of power and authority. But this is Fox we are talking about, what else is new.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by alexgumby (September 24, 2009 1:46 pm ET)
        2
      I wouldn't want some teacher indoctrinating political views on my kid at school regardless of whether or not their political views coincide with my own. This is inappropriate. I'd certainly complain the the superintendent and principal of the school.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by NativeSonKY (September 24, 2009 1:48 pm ET)
         
      I really don't see the problem - really. I remember in 1967 when I was in the 4th grade in a small town in Kentucky, our teacher, Mrs. Amos, lead a chant after we watched Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey debate some issue. It was the first time a TV had been used in our classroom, and we were excited. After listening to the debate/speech, we broke out in this chant we heard while watching spectators at the event:

      Nixon Nixon, he's our man
      Let's throw Humphrey in the garbage can!

      I cannot imagine how badly Mrs. Amos must have felt knowing we were cheering a criminal! But I have to say - it sure never affected my adult life! Some people just love to scream and holler.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by liberalXtian (September 24, 2009 1:54 pm ET)
      8  
      I wish they had played the whole song and let us make up our own minds, but if equal pay for equal work is as bad as it gets, FOX is really digging deep to take offense.

      Hey, they did sing his middle name. Isn't that something to appeal to the wingnuts?

      Report Abuse
      • Author by DellDolly (September 24, 2009 2:54 pm ET)
        5 1
        Hmm, hmm, hmm
        Barack Hussein Obama
        He said we must all lend a hand
        To make this Country strong again


        Hmm, hmm, hmm
        Barack Hussein Obama
        He said we must be fair today
        Equal work means equal pay


        Hmm, hmm, hmm
        Barack Hussein Obama
        He said we all must take a stance
        To make sure everyone gets a chance


        Hmm, hmm, hmm
        Barack Hussein Obama
        He said red, yellow, black, or white,
        All are equal in his sight


        Hmm, hmm, hmm
        Barack Hussein Obama
        Yes, hmm, hmm, hmm
        Barack Hussein Obama
        Report Abuse
        • Author by snoopy (September 24, 2009 3:15 pm ET)
          6 1
          Wow, equality and fairness. No wonder Fox is outraged!
          Report Abuse
          • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (September 24, 2009 4:12 pm ET)
            5  
            Fox doesn't want Gretchen Carlson to start thinking she should be paid as much as Steve Doocy.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by rugger69 (September 24, 2009 5:57 pm ET)
              5
            How would yo like if your kids sang the song with George Bush instead of Barack??

            You would be screaming for his head, and play the whole song they praise him like a idol not the president . They talk about his accomplishments, this guy has made NO accomplishments as a senator much less the president.

            This teacher should be fired and her teaching certificate revoked instantly. To use kids like this is criminal, all they need is a statue of Bracack to kneel in front of while they sing.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by liberalXtian (September 24, 2009 6:26 pm ET)
              5  
              Where is the verse where they "praise him like an idol"? What is wrong with equal rights, equal opportunity and making this country strong?

              In fact, when Bush was President my son brought home a book about him from the school library. I had no problem with it. Now he is reading about President Obama. He finds Obama much more interesting.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by rugger69 (September 24, 2009 8:22 pm ET)
                  4
                Did the book idolize Bush like this song? Does he or do you persuade him to find him more interesting?

                I did not say the song had a verse about "praise him like a idol" I said they are praising him (Obama) like a idol in the song.

                I want you to name me on accomplishment- a piece of legislation some thing this man has done to deserve such "praise". Don't give me the tired line about being the "first African American president".

                The man is half Caucasian and we are all Americans I dont believe this crap that we need to segregate ourselves according to race. If the everyone would quite making everything about race and make it about the citizens i think 90 percent of the problems would just go away
                Report Abuse
            • Author by DellDolly (September 24, 2009 6:54 pm ET)
              3  
              I would have no problem at all with my kids singing a song about Bush when he was President if they accurately portrayed some good things that Bush did.

              Obama certainly did all the things that the song suggests. However, you have a bug up your butt about Obama, and can't see that because of your political partisanship. That's your failing, not mine. Put away the mirror. Just because you can't see Obama objectively doesn't mean that I can't see children singing about their current President objectively.

              It's your side that asserted that criticism of Bush was unpatriotic. It's your side that wanted to name the airport in DC after Ronald Reagan before he was even dead, an unprecedented move. It's your side that treats Reagan like a saint, ignoring his many errors and crediting him unfairly. It's your side that claims that we see Obama as a messiah. We don't.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by rugger69 (September 24, 2009 8:42 pm ET)
                  5
                Reagan keep us safe from Moammar Kadafi, he drastically cut taxes, stifled unless government spending and tried to make government as little as possible. Built a great military which Clinton gutted,then after 9/11 we needed a large, strong mighty military we had none., because Clinton cut military spending to the bone.

                The governments job is not to provide health care, retirement funds or housing its job is to protect us from foreign and domestic enemies. It is to be as small as possible and not get in the way of the people, the government sticks its nose into everything now a days.

                Why does it need bail out banks and private financial institutions, car companies, newspapers, or any other private company. The system should have let these companies FAIL an let nature take its course.

                During the great depression the government stuck its nose in and it lasted longer then it should, just let the chips fall. I think the government could not let them fail because the public would see how corrupt the whole system both government and the private sector.
                Report Abuse
                • Author by open_mind (September 24, 2009 11:57 pm ET)
                  2  
                  Reagan keep us safe from Moammar Kadafi, he drastically cut taxes, stifled unless government spending and tried to make government as little as possible. Built a great military which Clinton gutted,then after 9/11 we needed a large, strong mighty military we had none., because Clinton cut military spending to the bone.
                  Yes. Reagan kept us safe from Kadafi except for the Berlin Disco bombing AND Pan Am Flight 103...and the fact that we are separated from Libya by an ocean. Reagan cut taxes deeply, but he also had the largest tax increase in the last 60 years according to economists including the George W. Bush Administration's main economist. That military you claimed Clinton cut "to the bone" was magically entirely rebuilt by George W. Bush in 2 years. Can you believe that? Are you really that naive?
                  The governments job is not to provide health care, retirement funds or housing its job is to protect us from foreign and domestic enemies. It is to be as small as possible and not get in the way of the people, the government sticks its nose into everything now a days.
                  It is just your opinion that the government should not provide healthcare. Your government provides you fire and police protection and 911 service. Do you think they should stop doing that as well? The US federal government spent billions of dollars to fight wild-fires. Should the people threatened by those fires be forced to do it themselves? Why is the health of our citizens less important than that?
                  Why does it need bail out banks and private financial institutions, car companies, newspapers, or any other private company. The system should have let these companies FAIL an let nature take its course.
                  I think that is a decent question. However, I think it is very likely that had AIG been allowed to fail, the entire financial system just may have imploded. Not sure anybody would have wanted that.
                  During the great depression the government stuck its nose in and it lasted longer then it should, just let the chips fall. I think the government could not let them fail because the public would see how corrupt the whole system both government and the private sector.
                  Well that view is not really supported by the actual history or the data. Hoover famously did nest to nothing and GDP fell for his entire 4 years in office. GDP did not start to increase until Roosevelt started deficit spending in 1933. Of course we know that GDP increased steadily (except for 1938) until the war was over. It could just as easily be argued that had Roosevelt not done deficit spending, the GDP would have continued its steep decline and we might never have recovered.
                  Report Abuse
            • Author by snoopy (September 24, 2009 6:59 pm ET)
              3  
              a) no, I wouldn't. In exactly the same way I made no stink whatsoever when Bush spoke to our schoolchildren. Only you reichwingers get bent out of shape over stupid stuff like this.

              b) somebody sounds vewy, vewy angry! Your anger at his awesome accomplishments tells me his success is really ticking you off. That's a good thing!
              Report Abuse
        • Author by cdb (September 24, 2009 3:18 pm ET)
          1  
          What am I missing here? Why are the repugs so upset?? The words seem harmless and positive.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by neon desert (September 24, 2009 3:21 pm ET)
          5  
          I still remember back in grade school when I was indoctrinated into the cult of Johnny. They made us sing a song promoting homage - and beyond - to him over and over until we got it right:
          When Johnny comes marching home again
          Hurrah! Hurrah!
          We'll give him a hearty welcome then
          Hurrah! Hurrah!
          The men will cheer and the boys will shout
          The ladies they will all turn out
          And we'll all feel gay
          When Johnny comes marching home.
          Yes, that's right. The school was actually brainwashing the girls and boys into sexual servitude, and in the case of the boys specifically homosexual servitude for Johnny, if he so desired.

          I still can't believe they used us like that.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by liberalXtian (September 24, 2009 6:19 pm ET)
          2  
          Thanks. It has been very hard to get a clip of the whole song. From what has been written and said about this very simple (and in a saner political climate would be a non-issue) song, I was expecting a verse saying, "Hail to the great socialist leader!"
          Report Abuse
          • Author by DellDolly (September 24, 2009 6:55 pm ET)
            2  
            I agree. The kneejerk political reaction from the right has been predictable but still obscene.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by DellDolly (September 24, 2009 7:43 pm ET)
            2  
            I publish the words that were sung, and someone gave me a thumbs down.

            Darned knee-jerk reactionaries.
            Report Abuse
    • Author by nan1029 (September 24, 2009 1:58 pm ET)
      2  
      I have family in Burlington NJ, nice working hard community which Fox News just threw under the bus. Fox just published the school's phone number asking for people to call to demand them to respond to Fox and to voice their objections to the song!! How crazy is this..crazy's from all over the country calling a 3 mile radius town to tell the school and the parents in this communtiy what to think and teach. Burlington "hang tough" and don't respond to Fox.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by dmwirth (September 24, 2009 2:26 pm ET)
      1  
      This time Fox is plain evil! Children have sang songs honoring many people from throughout American history. Even white slave owners. I guess Fox has no problem with that kind of cheer leading.

      I can almost guarantee that there have been classrooms in America that have sang songs about each and every president. Why now is this such a big deal.

      The evidence is clear, Fox news is a media machine with the sole purpose to disparage, disgrace, and defeat President Obama. Plain and simple!

      If I were a parent of a child in that classroom I would seriously consider suing Fox news. How dare they incite anger and indeed violence against these young children. (Yes they are doing that with the way they are reporting this story)

      Report Abuse
    • Author by pj_chicago (September 24, 2009 2:39 pm ET)
      1  
      Image how the wingnuts at FOX would have gone apoplectic if this would have been a classroom of white children in Texas singing a song praising the virtues of the G W Bush? Yeah right... This is just typical garbage spewing from the cesspool that is FOX News. Unfortunately they have a lot of power in this country right now.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by rolyat (September 24, 2009 2:40 pm ET)
      1  
      Music teachers across the nation have always used music to teach kids about our government and Presidents. It's harmless!

      http://www.songsforteaching.com/socialstudiessongs.htm http://www.songsforteaching.com/socialstudies/unitedstates/abelincoln.php http://www.songsforteaching.com/uspresidents/wesalutepresidentschildren.htm
      Report Abuse
    • Author by jmariemo (September 24, 2009 3:04 pm ET)
      1  
      Oh my God. This proves it. This proves Obama's sinister plan for the United States of America. He is hijacking these kids to make them think they're "equal". EQUAL! As a disgusted parent, I would like to remind the prinicpal and teacher that we live in America. I want my white kid to know that he's better than the three black kids singing so gayfully, and that he will be making ten times more than that Mexican girl. Dear God, I want my country back.
      Oh and, bless the troops.
      [This is satire. I am neither a parent nor racist. I am just a fan of The Onion.]
      Report Abuse
    • Author by SusieOConnor (September 24, 2009 5:48 pm ET)
      1  
      Oh, these guys are SO screwed!
      I can't believe that they gave the exact location of the school. Twice. Let's see, did they have parental consent for these kids to be on national "news"? I think not.
      I bet the man or woman who may have relocated from an abusive relationship was real happy to see this. "Here's the child I've been protecting, come and get em."
      Fox is SO screwed! It's about time their jumping to conclusions and trying to stir something up gets them in some real hot water. I hope everyone of those parents files a massive lawsuit against the station.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by theSTATorg (September 24, 2009 5:54 pm ET)
      1  
      Isnt this video an invasion of privacy issue. I would sue fox for broadcasting my kids face all day long.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by njguy93 (September 27, 2009 3:21 am ET)
        1  
        As horrible as FOX NEWS CHANNEL is, you would think that they would at least blur out the faces of the children. They should have at least done that. Even the most despicable of propogandists generally have some boundaries, especially when it comes to children. Why was Megyn giving out the name of the school and the town it was in? She was doing this without even geting confirmation that it was actually the school where this took place. That is beyond reprehensible. She made sure she repeated the name and town of the school very clearly, probably so the lunatic neanderthals watching her could harass the school and its principal and the teacher who put this together, and then she and FAUX NEWS could claim some sort of victory, similar to what happened with Glenn Beck and Van Jones. Exposing children like that for your political purposes is beyond vile. Not surprising, sadly, coming from this network.

        THANK YOU.
        njguy93@yahoo.com
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