Culture of Conservative Paranoia Running Rampant on Fox News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
CONTACT
Erikka Knuti
(202) 756-4135
eknuti@mediamatters.org
Brandon Hersh
(202) 471-3205
bhersh@mediamatters.org
Culture of
Conservative Paranoia Running Rampant on Fox News
Media Matters issues open letter to Chris Wallace calling on him
to address Fox News' recent extremist rhetoric and political activism
Washington, D.C. -- Today, Media Matters for America President Eric Burns issued an open letter to Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace -- who has repeatedly characterized Fox News as "fair and balanced" -- asking him to rebuke his colleagues for their increasingly extremist rhetoric and promotion of anti-Obama "tea parties." These actions have gone way over the line separating news and commentary from political activism and demagoguery.
Since his January debut on the network, Glenn Beck has emerged as a prominent purveyor of misinformation and baseless attacks on President Obama and his administration's policies. Beck has gone as far as to act out a scene in which President Obama poured gasoline onto the "average American" and threatened to set him on fire (video here: http://mediamatters.org/countyfair/200904090036). Additionally, Fox News has aggressively promoted tea party protests, while often characterizing them as a response to President Obama's fiscal policies. The network has aired graphics branding the protests as "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties" and has repeatedly encouraged its viewers to participate.
Burns' letter to Wallace states in part: "[A] series of recent events ... undermines the argument that Fox News should be treated as a credible 'fair and balanced' news outlet. ... We trust that you are concerned about the effect of these actions on your network's reputation and that of everyone associated with it and urge you to denounce them as inappropriate for a news organization."
FULL TEXT OF LETTER INCLUDED BELOW:
Dear Mr. Wallace:
We are writing to respectfully ask you to publicly address recent actions by Fox News personalities that unambiguously cross the line separating news and legitimate commentary from political activism and demagoguery.
As one of Fox News' most visible hosts, you have repeatedly characterized your network as "fair and balanced" and as one that should be taken seriously. However, a series of recent events -- referenced below -- undermine the argument that Fox News should be treated as a credible "fair and balanced" news outlet.
You have criticized your Fox News colleagues in the past when they have undermined your network's credibility. In March 2008, when you confronted the Fox & Friends hosts for distorting then-Senator Obama's words during what you described as "two hours of Obama bashing," you said that "one of the things that's great about Fox News is that we don't all follow talking points and we disagree about things." Following that incident, you said that "we really are, despite the sniffing or dismissals of our liberal critics, 'fair and balanced' at Fox News" and added that your news network does not "espouse" a "conservative point of view."
Since launching his Fox News show, Glenn Beck, who has emerged as a prominent player in your network's lineup of weekday programs, has engaged in increasingly outrageous, demagogic, and conspiratorial rhetoric. His recent actions include the following:
- Imitating President Obama pouring gasoline onto the "average American": On April 9, Beck responded to, among other things, reports that Obama will pursue immigration reform by imitating Obama pouring gasoline onto the "average American." After lighting and extinguishing a match, Beck asked: "President Obama, why don't you just set us on fire?" Beck remarked that "[w]e didn't vote to lose the republic" and later added: "We'd like to have a country left in the end of four years. No need to set us on fire."
- Mocking Obama's aunt's "limp": On April 2, Beck -- using a cane as a prop -- devoted large portions of a segment to mocking Obama's aunt's "limp."
- Portraying Obama and Democrats as "vampires": On March 30, Beck portrayed Obama and Democrats as "vampires" "going after the blood of our businesses" and suggested "driv[ing] a stake through the heart of the bloodsuckers."
Beck's outrageous and distasteful actions laced with anti-Obama political demagoguery has not occurred in a vacuum. In recent weeks, Fox News has engaged in anti-Obama political activism by aggressively promoting the "tea party" protests, which the network has described as primarily a response to Obama's fiscal policies. Fox News has repeatedly aired graphics describing the protests as "FNC TAX DAY TEA PARTIES" and has run advertisements promoting them.
Fox News websites have listed information about upcoming tea parties and have touted them with slogans like "No Taxation Without Representation!" Fox News' purportedly objective daytime news shows have also engaged in this behavior, with America's Newsroom going so far as to air graphics touting the date, time, location, and website of specific tea parties. On April 13, host Bill Hemmer said: "Can't get to a tea party? Fox Nation hosts a virtual tea party."
We trust that you are concerned about the effect of these actions on your network's reputation and that of everyone associated with it and urge you to denounce them as inappropriate for a news organization.
Sincerely,
Eric Burns
President, Media Matters for America
###
Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media. Media Matters for America is the first organization to systematically monitor the media for conservative misinformation every day, in real time. For more information, visit www.mediamatters.org
RSS Feeds
Glenn Beck is more fair than MMFA. He criticizes Bush and Obama. Can't say say that about MMFA.
MMFA is not in the business of criticizing political figures. They criticize the media.
No, they criticize the conservative media , the liberal media can say whatever they want. And of course they determine who is conservative.
Maybe you should try to figure out where you are.
Good place to start would be to read Media Matters' Mission Statement.
I know exactly where I am and I have no problem with MMFA, they are upfront about what they do. Their tactics are sometimes dishonest but their mission is clear.
So, you admit you have no problem with dishonest tactics, which is why you are in the tank for whatever FOX tells you to think on any given day.
Thanks for clearing that up.
No, that would be your tactics that are dishonest. Here's what you replied to - "MMFA is not in the business of criticizing political figures. They criticize the media." He was clearly differentiating between criticizing politicians and criticizing the media.
What a tool.
EGB, You missed the "biggest" problem here with FoxNews Channel (a major cable news station) pushing for our country's citizens to "rise-up" against President Obama to protest their "dislikes" over taxes THAT WERE SIGNED INTO LAW BY FORMER PRESIDENT BUSH LAST YEAR IN 2008. FoxNews Channel's Hosts i.e. Glenn Beck, have yet to mention this fact to it's viewers, why?
Because FOX NOISE dosent care about the truth, all they care about is furthering their RIGHT WING AGENDA.
LOL Hurricaneyankee.... Funny but "true" with what you said. Thanks for the laughs.
No lie, what I said was the truth.
the tea party is about more than simply [high] taxes. and believe me, the poeple at the tea parties are most certainly not bush supporters.
The tea parties are almost exclusively about higher taxes that, for most people, won't be higher.
If you would have actually watched Beck on the 15th, you would have heard him say this all started with Bush, and it was not about party polotics, but uniting as Americans. Can't you people realize that was not an anti-Obama protest???? I have it DVR'd at home if you want to come over and watch it.
he only critcizes bush because he was backed into a wall on that one, BECK doesn't except any responsibility in the slaying of 3 police officers by a man claiming to be taking action against obamas upcoming gun ban which is a idea thought up by fox news people like glenn beck . why would anybody not criticize bush when he ignored warnings and let the twin towers and all the people inside them perish and led us into the economy crisis and made us less safe by allowing torture which wasfuel for terrorist and for people to become terrorist, not to mention putting a corrupt politician in power overseas who now and then works"WITH"the taliban. Obama has put full focus on eliminating the taliban and al qaeda and explained every move he has made in complete and easy to understand public media covered speeches and you republicans can't do anything besides say up is down.
WelterWill - Wow, how intellectually dishonest can you be? I have listened to many media outlets, including Glenn Beck, for years. Read, don't take my word for it...he, Rush, Laura, Malkin, etc...were ALL against certain Bush policies. You embarrass yourself when you don't know the facts.
As for the crazy cop killer...you spew pure hatred crap. I've watched closely over the past year, and at no time did ANYONE on FNC say kill cops before they take your guns. Seriously...Olberman said Chenney should be executed. Should he be tried? And NO, people "like" Beck did not think up the gun ban. People in Obamas administration did. PLEASE, read for yourself, you helpless sheep.
I won't even comment on the classless, shameful 9/11 comments. I can only hope you are not a US citizen.
If torture was the "fuel" for terrorism, why did 9/11 occur. How about the first WTC bombing? The Cole? Oh...those don't fit, so we won't mention them.
Obama is doing less to protect us than Bush. NK fired a missle, no repercusion. Iran fired up more nuke plants, no repercusion. Oh...wait...he did cut defense spending, and apologize for being arrogant. That should help us. Nothing like going out and saying defending ourselves against unprovoked attacks is wrong.
"Nothing like going out and saying defending ourselves against unprovoked attacks is wrong."
Iraq.
I signed your petition. I guess you know Orally criticizes you any time MMFA is brought up.
I just telephoned and emailed FAUX for a list of all of there sponsors -- see if I get any answer. In case I do not, please put up a listing of all of Faux's sponsors so they can be inundated with requests to stop the BS they put out daily. Sedition is against the law.
With Chris Wallace being on Faux Noise - he lacks credibility. One would think he might have at least tried to get some of the credibility of his father. Then I saw his screeching wife....no wonder he lacks integrity.
Send the letter. I've seen what has happened to "fair and balanced" reporting since 1987, and it has devolved into a dangerous unregulated cesspool of LCD herding and incitement to chaos and disorder. I want fairness restored to my country, and an appeal to the better instincts in her people rather than to the worst as we're getting now.
Oh, my poor, misguided progressive friends. Fox News is not futhering a right-wing agenda. Watch it for 10 minutes before judging. If your only source of info on the topic is this site, you would think that...but its simply not true.
Also, smarshall thinks that FNC is pushing for citizens to rise up against existing taxes. Again, not true. That is NOT the message of the tea parties. That was the original tea party, taxation without representation. This time, its a symbolic gesture to say, "Stop spending so much money...we don't have it!!". And yes, if you would simply WATCH FNC, you would see that many of the commentators and anchors agree that Bush policies were not fiscally conservative, and did in fact lead to increased deficits.
We as Americans should ALL agree that spending more money than you have is wrong. Its time to take a stand. Why the hatred? Simply because its happening on a Democrats watch? Man up. Wrong is wrong. The current Republican party is just as guilty. We will all benefit from getting back to what the founding documents describe as a recipe for success.
You must be kidding...they make no bones about being right wing...I watch FNC enough to see how unfair and unbalanced it is..They are prone to more mistakes and errors than any other network but rarely acknowledge it.How about the campaign quote from Biden on what McCain said being attributed 4 months later as Biden changing position? They couldn't even give the President credit for the pirate rescue.Sean Hannity wents nuts when no one would agree with his attack on the President during his show the other day!Why do they say such borderline racist stuff and other disdparaging ,disrespectful stuff.. way over the top.We expect bloggers or private citizens to say such stuff ..but professional newscasters???How about Cavuto saying that Fox was simply coveringTea parties like they covered the million man march...which occurred over a year before there was a Fox News......Creating propaganda leads to more mistakes!!!! Since you watch FNC ,has Cavuto explained how he remembers covering something for Fox before it existed?!!You know I wouldn't mind it if they didn't just claim the fair and balanced coverage....that is laughable..No serious jounalist agrees with their approach!!!
Look at the signs from the Tea party particiapants..plenty of hatred of Obama being shown even tho its not his tax plan in effect right now . Bush is almost never mentioned in any of this.While republicans/conservatives mention Bush spending they never acknowledge why they ignored it when it was happening but blast Obama as if he didn't inherit a mess requiring extraordinary action..more than just tax cuts!!!! You are right..wrong is wrong!!!Obama is trying to right a ship that has been going in the wrong direction for a while with a curious silence then from the now vocal critics using the tea bag approach!
SMTDL -- Do we really want to debate the merits of various media outlets? I agree more with FNC. You apparently do not. Yes, FNC does show more conservative views. But that is in contrast to the near ZERO representation of my values and views elsewhere. Why is that so theating? Don't want to hear the other side?
Do anchors and commentators make mistakes...Yes. Was Neil Cavuto wrong...Yes. He admitted it (yes, its on the web...please look it up). So what...ALL ANCHORS make mistakes. Do you want to compare Hannity against Olberman? That's a lose/lose for both progressives and conservatives.
How can you see the signs from Tea Parties when they have not occurred yet? Left wing bias. Why do you think its only about taxes? Left wing bias. I am attending a Tea Party with my two children. I will have no sign. Nor will the majority of concerned citizens next to me. AND, ITS NOT ABOUT TAXES ALONE! Please, EDUCATE YOURSELF!!!
The Tea Parties are to voice concern of the crazy amount of proposed spending, TARP, bailouts, Spending bills, and the incredible amount of debt we are accumulating. And yes, if you had paid any attention at ALL to conservatives over the past years, we voiced a proportionate amount of concern over Bush's policies. But Obama's, by HIS OWN PROJECTIONS, are close to 5 TIMES HIGHER DEBT than any administration in history. Don't you think its a good time to say something?
As for the tea bag comment...shame on you. What has happened to civil discourse? The progressives are so scared of any voice of opposition, they try and ridicule and silence all. I am embarrassed for you, and MSNBC commentators, mainstream media, newspapers, etc... I look at the comments on this site, and wonder why my posts must wait for a moderator to approve....and yet some posts are complete CRAP, with ZERO value...and yet the pop right up.
Stop the crap posts. Let's debate the story and issue with facts. Stop the name calling. Morals are hard to maintain...try.
I particularly enjoyed Beck's recent comparison of himself to Seinfeld. Beck is apparently like Seinfeld. Without the plot. And if Seinfeld cried. And had frequent conversations with Chuck Norris, his invisible friend who yearned to be the President of Texas.
I'm wincing in anticipation of the infamous masturbation episode.
Do not believe anybody who claims to be "fair and balanced."
Now that the radical left is in charge, and actually have the gall to say we're paranoid, you didn't let us down!
Office of HS labels right "radicals"
So if I don't agree with abortion now I'm a radical? What's really worrisome is the labeling of our returning soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines as "potential" RW radicals. This is definetly the first step. This move by Napolitano is as dangerous as anything Bush & company did.
so you saying that making up conspiracy theories and believing corrupt propaganda that only serves as a way to pretend thaT the far right repubs are really the good guys and that obama and anybody who trusts him is an enemy. breeding hate and paranoia is done by radical extremist, look it up in a dictionary put some real study into it before you have more misfires.
Hey goober. Did you even read the link I posted? I dobt it. Reading comprehension is a terrible thing...
The Washington Times, owned and influenced by a loon who thinks he is Jesus, is not even in the same zip code as a reliable source.
Thanks for playing, but you FAIL.
Oh god you're dumb.
The government's plan is in the article moron. It's a PDF...oh never mind, I doubt you'd even know how to open it. It has nothing to do with who owns the WT or any other news org. This is your messiah at work.
No wonder you're in the dark.
The PDF is talking about right-wing extremists? Are ALL conservatives right-wing extremists? I'm guessing the answer is no...jeez.
"This is your messiah at work." Are you serious? See, when you parrot right wing talking points that one can hear from Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, etc., you lose all credibility. Try thinking for yourself.
Oh, and the name calling? A clear sign of a man without an argument.
"Now that the radical left is in charge, and actually have the gall to say we're paranoid, you didn't let us down!"
"Now that the radical left is in charge..."
"the radical left"
"radical"
That's rich. The rest of your post actually seemed rational in comparison.
So you don't like the messenger, but what about the message?
It should concern you as an american that groups are begining to be labled for dissent. Not a mention here nor anywhere in the MSM today.
In this case, TBone, you were more than just the messenger, you were also the originator of the message. That is why the message was not taken seriously. It had no rational merit.
You have no memory of McCarthy or Nixon, do you?
I do. Game on. What would you like to debate?
Oh my God. It does concern us as an American that groups are labelled for dissent. Hm. During Bush's term, liberal peace groups were put on terrorist lists and investigated by Bush's DHS, and followed by the FBI. (http://www.seattlepi.com/local/260424_spies22.html,http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0831-26.htm) Innocent people were put on no-fly lists, and let's see..Bush listened in on wiretapped phones to millions of Americans' conversations. And Bush created TIPS, where neightbor could report on neighbor as a potential terrorist (http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-26212431_ITM, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,59738,00.html). Even fire departments were going to, under Bush, be given extraordinary powers enabling them to enter people's homes to look for "subversive materials" reminiscient of Fahrenheit 451. And yet when DHS goes after right wing extremists, and rightly so, you defend neo-Nazism because you believe Rush and Hannity's lies that DHS is targeting ALL conservatives, (which they are not). If you think neo-Nazism is okay, then you are beyond all intelligent help at this time.
WOW, i believe in letting people have their own opinions but when those opinions put other people in danger "like the opinions expressed on Fox" there should be some consiquences or at least some apologies. Fox is taking advantage of the people in the south and people who simply don't check to see if what they see on Fox is reality or fiction. They are a real threat to the safety of our nation. Our founding fathers would be very disappointed but probably not shocked by these Fox aired atrocities.
"Fox is taking advantage of the people in the south and people who simply don't check to see if what they see on Fox is reality or fiction." Are you serious right now? And you actually believe that the skewed filth that this sad excuse for an organization pumps out is accurate or even respectable information? I saw some guy post that he doesn't believe the DHS report because the Washington Times reported it? Well, check the DHS website, it came straight from them, and they stand by it. Apparently none of you do your fact checking, and you just let this ignorant propaganda machine known as MMFA do your thinking for you, probably because it makes you "feel good." Your kids will thank you for being in opposition to an honest effort to improve the lives and future of our citizens when they're paying 80% income tax at the age of 13. If you agree with redistributing the wealth, having the government wipe your a*s for you, and silencing "right wing extremists," then you should move to Cuba, because they already have all the dreams you're hoping for.
O.K. so I just got my username and password for media matters and I'm looking through articles and blogs and I'm noticing something...apparently Fox News is THE only news agency being scrutinized. Can anybody HONESTLY (not just rhetoric) tell me that the other news guys are middle of the road mainstream? Why is it that Fox is the only one that has an "agenda". Does anybody really want a world where the only side of a story is the CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN side? Tell me Chris Matthews or Keith Olberrman is mainstream and I'm liable to laugh out my coffee through my nose!
Go back and read the mission statement of MMfA.
Then slink back here and explain how you missed that when you signed up.
MMfA attacks conservative misinformation wherever it comes from. It just so happens that this week, most of it has come from FoxNews.
What a bunch of scared liberals trying to silence conservatives. Do we really want to compare what Beck says about Obama to what (freakishly-large head)Olberman says about Bush every day? You want to talk about instigating violence against a sitting President......watch any of Olberman's shows over the last 4 years. Fox's mission is to attract viewers. Most of their viewers are republican/conservative, so covering the tea parties will attract viewers to their network. It is as simple as that. The only one's who "promote" the tea parties are commentators such as Hannity and Beck. No one expects them to just "report" the news. That's not their job.
True words spoken from an informed citizen.
Are WE THE PEOPLE an intellegent people? Yes.
Ratings, ratings, ratings......
I talked to a guy at my store today and he said he thought about going to a tea party rally today. He talked about Obama raising his taxes, and defense spending cuts and wanting an eye for and eye as for as torture goes. I didn't engage him, but he was very uniformed person, probably gets his info of of Fox or Right Wing Radio. Which is generally misinformation! But i did tell him that the defense budget has a tremendous amount of waste and the money isn't being spent on the troops or vets, it goes to crony defense contractors. He didn't know what to say!!!
I actually just think Fox are only doing this for ratings, and if so, they're actually very smart business people.
Heres my reasoning, how many people in America dislike Obama, few million?
How many are extremists?, few million
So there going to enjoy watching Fox news trash liberals yes?
They're not going to watch the other networks which they see as completely liberal when a show claiming its Fair and Balanced tells them what they want to hear, right?
I mean people who don't like Bill O Reilly surely watch Olbermann because he trashes him.
Fox went for the gap in the market, and even I can imagine has a lot of curious liberals watching it, they might hate it but its still ratings.
So Fox wins really, they're the ones high up in the ratings, unfortunately associating yourself with a group too closely could easily hurt them badly in the long run.
But there being smart by being controversial so far
The media is extreme left. The only true information is coming from FOX NEWS. If you don't watch Fox then you are being feed the garbage that the left wants you to have. Take the time to educate yourself with real information. Obama should watch out. America is not going to vote him in for a second term. He is a tax and spend Democrat with Socialist tendencies that are out for your hard earned dollar. Forget building wealth. Your children will live in poverty. It's over unless we fight with words and non-violent protests over and over and over again. We need to be a message of self reliance and responsibility that will win through this terrible rhetoric.
Taxes will not create jobs or wealth. Investment is what creates wealth. Watch as the Left feels Obama in their pockets and then this will all be over.
This website is a joke. They need to change the name to "Fox Matters For America" because that is what this is all really about. Unlike the people that run this site, I actually watched the news coverage of the tea parties, (and yes I watched Fox, because no one else would cover it, and I watch Fox objectively), and for the life of me I didn't hear or see any of this "conservative paranoia" crap.
Where is MMFA's outrage over Susan Roesgen? You could put a monkey on the street with a microphone and receive more information, but she slams FNC, so what...leave her actions to be? Are you kidding me?
There are a lot of, corrupt, bias media outlets in this country, from local jouranlists to cable network anchors. But everytime I come to this site, it is always something about FNC, Hannity, Beck, Limbaugh, & O'Rielly. If you people truly think this website is not a witchunt then you are ignorant and oblivious, and I pity you.