About us Login Get email updates
Quick Clip
Print

Scarborough: "Fox news is no more biased in its own way than the rest of the networks are biased in their own way"

October 19, 2009 10:31 am ET

From the October 19 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe:

Please upgrade your flash player. The video for this item requires a newer version of Flash Player. If you are unable to install flash you can download a QuickTime version of the video.

EMBED

Previously:

Axelrod: Fox News "really not news, it's pushing a point of view" and other outlets shouldn't treat them as news

Expand All Expand 1st Level Collapse All Add Comment
    • Author by mk3872 (October 19, 2009 10:46 am ET)
      11  
      And therein lies the primary problem that we face today: it is taken as indisputable conventional wisdom that ABC, NBC & CBS are just as liberal as Fox News is conservative and loose with the facts.

      This has been a long, successful campaign of years of driving this thought home by conservative writers who could not break through into the mainstream with their fringe ideas.

      Instead of accepting that their beliefs are not based on facts or shared the majority of the country, they just blame the media as being "liberal" for not falling for their ideologies.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Jim Rockford (October 19, 2009 10:49 am ET)
      8  
      Joe defying all simple powers of observation and going way out of the way to stretch things to the max to come up with pro-Fox defenses? So he's needlessly boosting a competitor? Come on, anyone with normal judgment knows Fox is a right wing propaganda operation, even their news presentation. Joe calls them "middle right"? LOL Fox has been the biggest pushers around of birthers, anti-Jennings nonsense, tea parties, anti-Acorn, death panels, etc etc etc. If they are "Middle right" then what do you have to believe to be FAR right?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Victor Colorado (October 19, 2009 10:50 am ET)
      7  
      "Fox news is no more biased in its own way than the rest of the networks are biased in their own way"

      But one of these 'news' networks is not like the others.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by pilotshark (October 19, 2009 10:53 am ET)
      5  
      Wondering if joe feels he going to get slap around by fox and rush some more so he is just trying to save face went he gets smacked down.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Limit Corp. Ownership (October 19, 2009 10:55 am ET)
      5  
      Sure Joe,

      And you're going to be the starting quarterback for the St. Louis Fatheads.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by shaggles (October 19, 2009 10:58 am ET)
      7  
      Rubbish. If there is any bias on the other networks it is towards the right but even that is minor compared to Fox.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by srichardson (October 19, 2009 11:12 am ET)
      6  
      This whole segment was ridiculous. They were talking about Bush taking the high road when he didn't respond to the media's criticism about him, when they referred to him as a fascist and other things. Joe said Bush was degraded and hated by the media more than Obama. Well, maybe so, but not 10 months into his Presidency. And I dispute the fact that Bush was treated the same way Obama has been treated by Fox by any other media outlet. Can Joe really be this blind to not see the partisan way Fox treats it's stories? Seems to be the case with all right wing players these days. They see no evil, hear no evil, do no evil.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Jim Rockford (October 19, 2009 11:31 am ET)
        7  
        The major hostility to Bush didn't get in full force until some time in, after he had made the huge mistakes that can justify the label "worst president in history".

        If you are the worst president in history, you are going to get criticism. The right's criticism of Obama at this point has a vehemence unjustified by anything Obama has done. It can only be justified as being in a snit about all the criticism of Bush.

        Look, e.g., at Joe's huge hyper-emotional (very good acting job) hystrionic criticism of Obama last week about the fact that there may still be a few small-scale bureaucratic snafus with regard to New Orleans and Katrina aid. He equated this to the massive initial failures by Bush with regard top Katrina. Joe seemed ready to explode as he criticized the administration.

        This was way out of proportion to reality and can only be explained as a "snit".
        Report Abuse
        • Author by SMTDL (October 19, 2009 11:54 am ET)
          6  
          Absolutely correct..no equivalency on Bush criticism!!There was some initial criticism because of the election drag out/supreme court controversial cancelling of the Fla recount!!!Nine months into 2001 ..Bush was basically at record approvals because of his response to 9/11 ..well after the "my pet Goat " part...even tho we had been attacked on his watch!!Go figure ...After the disastrous action of dropping Afghanistan/BinLaden and forcing the IraQ war down the throat of the International community and later never finding the WMD used to justify the war..he was appropropriately questioned/criticized but what happened in the media?..Anyone criticizing the war time President was attacked on patriotism as if it was treason to even ask why the intelligence was faulty!!!Now with the 2 wars still going, plus N.Korea/Iran more troublesome because of Bush Policy,plus Somali pirates/a near Depression left by Bush,this President is criticized 24/7 by those that never criticized Bush for anything!!Conservatives keep telling lies about the way Bush was criticised or "harsh rhetoric ": from both sides..No equivalency ..the right is against everything with this President..why?..hyperpartisan hope for political gains and some race baiting!!!
          Report Abuse
          • Author by smarshall1432997 (October 19, 2009 12:08 pm ET)
            4  
            You are so right, and someone should really google MSM's criticisms to see that these were tangible critisms i.e. Florida's Recount, Missing WMD's, Hurricane Katrina, Afghanistan/Bin Laden, Pakistan, etc. etc "NOT" the Republican 'made-up' lies.

            Remember the results from Bush's White House with CBS' Anchor, Dan Rather? Oh, that's right Republicans are still throwing these 'made-up' lies and smears at Pres. Obama and the Democrats to see what sticks, LOL.
            Report Abuse
    • Author by wolf kotenberg (October 19, 2009 11:26 am ET)
      4  
      Funny how an edict 20 year old will make you say umb things. I am convince the elder Bush is controlling the media outlets via parasites like Beck and Limbaugh,and to a lesser degree people like Scarborough. Way back in the 80's Bush 41 and Roger Ailes were good buddies with lots of money tobuy out media outlets in NY and elsewhere and attaing majority stake holders. And it was legal. The result is painfully obviousnow. Free Press might be a myth today.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by DrGianrico (October 19, 2009 11:37 am ET)
      5  
      Joe speaks solely to his biases..or..he may be auditioning for a position on FOX NONSENSE CHANNEL. His opinion is certainly not based on critical observation. Nor are his comments that the DEMs did the same thing to Bush. His commentaries have become increasingly moronic, idiotic, insidious and partisan. His views are as anachronistic as Buchanan's but he delivers them more surreptitiously. They both represent the views of the angry white male taken down from his lofty perch. He becomes more aggressive when he interviews someone from the left. To his fellow conservatives, he prefaces his questions with "I'm sure you and I agree...". He is extremely thin skinned to criticism or a good beat down as Rep. Weiner delivered. I watch Beck, Hannity, O'Reilly and the other talking heads on FOX. The common thread is denigrating the Obama Presidency by fear mongering. And all done with prevarications and focusing on veiled racism. I have never heard a retraction or apology for any falsehoods disseminated on FOX. The MSM may have an agenda or liberal bias, but are more apt to be balanced and corrections and retractions are forthcoming.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by SLRTX (October 19, 2009 11:38 am ET)
      8  
      Joe - Bias is one thing. Totally making the story up to get ratings is another.

      Fox has completely blurred the lines between news and lies.

      A news story is biased when it tends to focus on one aspect of one side, but not the other. This happens. The viewer, reader or listener needs to look at all aspects of the story in order to make up their mind about it.

      On the other hand, Fox fabricates a story that just doesn't exist, deliberately mis-quotes the other side, and calls people pedophiles, Nazis, racists, etc., just to get ratings.

      There's a difference, Joe. You should know it.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkM0eDStAsU

      http://rawstory.com/rawreplay/?p=4049
      Report Abuse
    • Author by pros2pros2940 (October 19, 2009 11:45 am ET)
      4  
      There simply is no comparison to what FauxNews is and whining about the "liberal media" doesn't make it so.

      There isn't a conservative view and a liberal view; there is only fact.

      The facts are that republicans over the last several decades have been far more corrupt than dems and dems have been far more fiscally responsible.

      Spining "conservative" failures into good things isn't truth.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by smarshall1432997 (October 19, 2009 11:57 am ET)
      5  
      You can always tell when Joe Scarborough's hands have been "slapped" by his right-winged, conservative Republicans for "NOT" following their daily scripts in "bashing" the Obama Admin. and Democrats, LOL. Just last week, Joe was standing tall in going after Rush so "proudly". Now look at him walking back his comments about Rush and now FoxNews. Huh? Next, Joe will be defending Sen. Ensign's actions, LOL.

      On Morning Joe, MSNBC reported the same Republican viewpoints as FoxNews Channel did as true Republican "oppositions" to Democrats and Pres. Obama. So, maybe Ann, David and Emanuel did have a point after all? Thanks for making this so clear Joe, LOL.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by manofmystique (October 19, 2009 12:39 pm ET)
      3  
      Just like Fox News ignores the facts, Joe Scarborough, a Republican, overlooks reality.
      I only know of a few TV talk show hosts from MSNBC and CNN accused of some sort of bias, but the entire Fox News network on a consistence basis, lie, distort the truth, misled and misrepresent.
      There really is no comparison here. On top of that I have not heard one host or guest on any of the other nework call the President a "racist". Fox News nutcase Glen Beck said it without giving one clear illustration or example for making such a ridiculous claim.On top of that he was not fired.
      It is almost safe to say- calling the President a racist without facts to substantiate it will get you fired on any other network than Fox. What does that tell you?
      Scarborough is an envious egghead of the President. Every morning he has something negative to say about Obama and most of what he says is stupid.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by MagCynic (October 19, 2009 1:15 pm ET)
        8
      It pains me to say it but I sort of agree with Joe here. How is Fox News any more biased than a network like MSNBC. On one network you have Ed Schultz, Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, and Rachel Maddow. On the other you have Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, and Sean Hannity. The evening programs on MSNBC are obviously from a liberal point of view. The evening programs on Fox are obviously from a conservative point of view. Schultz, Matthews, Olbermann, and Maddow are definitely not news journalists. They have an opinion and an agenda. Beck, O'Reilly, and Hannity definitely aren't news journalists. They too have an opinion and an agenda. Am I wrong in any of these observations? It's OK to say that Fox News represents a conservative point of view in America. To claim though that MSNBC doesn't represent the liberal point of view in America is preposterous. Especially when comparing the evening programming on both networks.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by jpeagle21 (October 19, 2009 1:48 pm ET)
          9
        I agree with you, but you won't win any friends talking like that on this site. This site is that "10% fringe" of left wing loonies that Scarborough mentoned. It at least is good to see someone else on this site who has a realistic perception of reality. Have a great day!
        Report Abuse
        • Author by srichardson (October 19, 2009 3:04 pm ET)
          4  
          I'm not one of those 10% fringe left wing loonies. But thanks anyway
          Report Abuse
          • Author by srichardson (October 19, 2009 3:09 pm ET)
            5  
            And, honestly, I don't feel that the people on this site are loons. They appear pretty intelligent and not too far left to me. The majority of lunacy that I see depicted on this site is from the right wing crackheads. I don't mean to be rude, but your comment is hitting me the wrong way. And it's a perfect example of what I mean. The right tend to call names first. Maybe it makes them feel better about themselves.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by MickD (October 19, 2009 3:18 pm ET)
              6  
              When you don't have any coherent arguments you resort to name calling. It's in the Heritage Foundation/Karl Rove oath of office.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by fairliberal (October 19, 2009 9:46 pm ET)
                  2
                Very true , and it is very apparent with all the racism comments from the left. We have a black president, when in doubt call them a racist. It has worked for years , why change now.
                Report Abuse
        • Author by teabaggers ♥ [wing]NUTS (October 20, 2009 6:41 am ET)
          1  
          It at least is good to see someone else on this site who has a realistic perception of reality. Have a great day!


          and looking at his comment, and yours, you two (including some others) are the ones lacking the least form of any "realistic perception of reality".
          Report Abuse
      • Author by congero6189599 (October 19, 2009 2:27 pm ET)
        4  
        You see the difference is that it's not only the evening programs it's all day on Fox and permeates their news coverage . Jon stewart points it out in the linked to segment. Fox news promoted and covered the teaparty protest(when has MSNBC promoted then covered their own protest?...CNN?)you call MSNBC liberal because of the 3 hrs. of programs of self-proclaimed progressives in the pms.,but they have an ex-Republican Senator self-proclaimed conservative on in the am's from 6-9. 3 Hours.and conservative viewpoint well represented on their am news segments. Fox represents and even use Republican National Committee talking points passing them off as their own. That has been documented here. But to get to this segment by jon stewart Fox almost ignored the Gay Rights Demonstration in DC even though the the size was just as large. Watch the Video it's titled "Queer and Loathing in D.C. and is 5:56 min long. Enjoy your fair and balanced:

        http://www.thedailyshow.com/


        Report Abuse
      • Author by shaggles (October 19, 2009 2:39 pm ET)
        4  
        What about Joe? As Media Matters frequently points out he's on MSNBC for 3 hours a day. And Matthews is not a liberal by any stretch of the imagination. He praised Bush and said John McCain "deserves to be President." He is also a frequent Clinton basher who said the only reason Hillary got to the Senate was because Bill cheated on her. I wouldn't call him a con either but he's no liberal.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by spittinghotfireonrepukes (October 19, 2009 2:46 pm ET)
        4  
        On one network you have Ed Schultz, Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, and Rachel Maddow. On the other you have Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, and Sean Hannity. The evening programs on MSNBC are obviously from a liberal point of view.


        I agree to a certain extent. Even CNN has it's share of CONservatives as well. I draw the line with making up the news in an effort to smear this administration, which has consistantly been Fox'es MO since day one. Fox doesn't have anyone come on their evening programs that isn't on the Fox news payroll. There is no opposition to Beck ever(Lord knows he needs it). The difference between Fox and MSNBC is there are CONsevative shows on MSNBC. Name one Liberal program on Fox, for that matter name one show with a liberal host. It's impossible because it doesn't exsist!
        Report Abuse
        • Author by MagCynic (October 19, 2009 4:35 pm ET)
            2
          Name one conservative host on MSNBC. I'm also going by my experience. I have rarely seen a conservative appear on Schultz, Maddow, or Olbermann. I see liberals on Hannity and O'Reilly all the time.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by teabaggers ♥ [wing]NUTS (October 19, 2009 6:11 pm ET)
            2  
            obviously, you have never watched any of those shows.

            schultz has had tom tancredo, john feehry, ron christie (former cheney aide), karen hanretty (sp?), etc.

            rachel has had tim philips, tim pawlenty, some guy that ran the tea parties (forgot his name), pat buchanan, etc.

            and olbermann has had conservatives on his program, but none that he has yelled back and forth with. he has john dean on all the time, who was former counsel to nixon, scott mcclellan, and others.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by teabaggers ♥ [wing]NUTS (October 19, 2009 6:12 pm ET)
            1  
            oh, and by the way, the ONE conservative is the one in this video... joe scarborough, going after obama with almost every chance he gets. how do you not see that?
            Report Abuse
            • Author by MagCynic (October 19, 2009 8:04 pm ET)
                1
              Because Scarborough isn't a conservative?
              Report Abuse
              • Author by mescal (October 20, 2009 2:49 am ET)
                2  
                Sorry... wrong answer. Scarborough inhabited Congress as a Gingrich Republican in the 90's. Try again.
                Report Abuse
              • Author by teabaggers ♥ [wing]NUTS (October 20, 2009 6:39 am ET)
                2  
                and you make that claim based on what grounds? because he bashes the bush administration? oh, god for bid... he has sinned! please.
                Report Abuse
      • Author by teabaggers ♥ [wing]NUTS (October 20, 2009 6:49 am ET)
        2  
        "It's OK to say that Fox News represents a conservative point of view in America. To claim though that MSNBC doesn't represent the liberal point of view in America is preposterous."

        i dont think anybody is denying that, mag. all the media outlets are biased. the problem here is that fox news purports itself as "fair and balanced" and being down the middle and fair to both sides and not cheerleading for the bush administration the last 8 years... and its obvious that NONE of those things are true.

        on the other hand, msnbc has never claimed to be any of those things. they are "the place for politics"... that is simple, to the point and obviously true when you watch the channel, as politics is majority of what they report on throughout the day.

        frankly, even cnn has become a bit of a joke. all they do is brag about how high their ratings are and being number 1 (when they arent), and claiming that they are the network for straight news, yet they have many opinionated anchors (brown, dobbs, sanchez, etc). so what is it then?

        is anything that i have stated inaccurate?
        Report Abuse
        • Author by MagCynic (October 20, 2009 1:40 pm ET)
            2
          I think the actual news portion of Fox News is pretty fair and balanced. Can you cite sources where the actual news broadcasts aren't fair and balanced?

          On a side note I think Bill O'Reilly is very good at playing devil's advocate. Something Keith Olbermann would never think of doing.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by teabaggers ♥ [wing]NUTS (October 20, 2009 11:56 pm ET)
            1  
            thats what you think, but that doesnt mean it is true. media matters has documented several instances where the straight news programs have purported the same lies and falsehoods that the fox news opinion shows put forward.

            okay, ill give you that one... oreilly has played a good "devil's advocate" every once in a blue moon, but so has olbermann. in fact, olbermann has done it more than his 8pm counterpart. oreilly is so much of a provocateur that he makes his audience think he is doing it, but anybody can see that he really isnt.
            Report Abuse
    • Author by teabaggers ♥ [wing]NUTS (October 19, 2009 6:01 pm ET)
      3  
      joe, i got nothing but love for you, but STOP defending fox news!

      it makes your network look worse... you should know that.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by pilotshark (October 20, 2009 11:34 am ET)
      2  
      I remember going into a restaurant on nov.5th and they had fox on, i almost didnt eat there but it was the only place around open at the time.
      went i was leaving there was 3 older men stand around talking about the election one of them said "God help us now" I smiles turn around and said I think he just did have a great day.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Stew (October 20, 2009 2:38 pm ET)
        2
      This is too funny. For all of you idiots out there who don't think Scarborough is right, you people truely are living in a bubble.

      Fox News is in the bag for the Republican party. That's no secret. But ABC, NBC and CBS have been in the bag for the Democrats for the past 30 years. And it is probably longer than that but I am only 32 so I can't actually say for sure.

      But here is the real kicker. Fox News has the highest news ratings of pretty much any cable news outlet and that is a fact. If I recall, CNN is the second closest and they aren't even close. So to anyone who states that people who watch Fox News are the people who don't share the common beliefs of most Americans, I would have to say that you are dead wrong.

      There is a reason that papers like the NYT and Washington Post are losing customers left and right and it has nothing to do with Fox News being conservative. It's because most people in this country still lean slightly to the right.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by pilotshark (October 20, 2009 4:50 pm ET)
        2  
        Well you really can not say for about 20 of the 32 as well seeing you would have been 12. and if the abc nbc cbs are in the bad for the dems why do they not at lease bring up the good talking points for the dems? instead of parroting fox non news?

        and yes fox is not even close to being close to a new org. If you enjoy being lie to and made to look and be stupid then yes fox is for you.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Stew (October 20, 2009 5:37 pm ET)
            1
          Please use spell check or at least proof read what you write.

          Also, I said the past 30 years. I have no clue where you got 20 from.

          And please, I have looked up the stats on the stories that NBC, ABC and CBS have all done just in the past year and it's staggering how many positive stories are reported for government officials on the left compared to government officails on the right. Especially when it comes to Obama. The guy can do no wrong in the eyes of the liberal media.
          Report Abuse