"Fox Facts": Timeline omitted Dem governor's state of emergency declaration, early levee breaks
The September 12 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes included a deceptive on-screen Hurricane Katrina timeline that purported to cover developments in the storm and emergency response from August 24-30. Echoing a Bush administration official who falsely told The Washington Post that Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D) failed to declare a state of emergency, Fox's timeline omitted Blanco's August 26 declaration of a state of emergency while including similar declarations by the Republican governors of Mississippi and Alabama. Similarly, the timeline echoed Bush administration claims that the levee breaks were unexpected: The timeline indicated that, on August 30, three New Orleans levees broke and "water poured into [the] city" but did not mention that two levees that broke on the morning of August 29, triggering catastrophic flooding.
Under the header "Fox Facts," each of the 22 events identified in the timeline was displayed briefly at the bottom of the screen during an interview with Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) about government failures in responding to the disaster. Two of the entries read: "8/27: MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY"; and "8/28: ALABAMA GOVERNOR DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY." But the timeline made no mention of the state of emergency that Blanco declared for Louisiana on August 26. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and Alabama Gov. Bob Riley are both Republicans.
During the segment in which the deceptive "Fox Facts" timeline ran, co-host Alan Colmes responded to Romney's criticisms of Blanco and the Louisiana state government by correctly pointing out that "the governor actually put out an emergency resolution on the 26th."
Fox's omission closely follows the Bush administration's reported strategy of shifting blame to Louisiana state officials.
The "Fox Facts" timeline also deceptively stated that on August 30, "3 NEW ORLEANS LEVEES BROKE & WATER POUR POURED INTO CITY" without noting that two levees -- including the critical 17th Street Canal levee -- actually broke on the morning of August 29, resulting in massive flooding. As The Wall Street Journal reported (subscription required) on September 12, "The 17th Street Canal levee ... was breached early Monday [August 29], the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers now believes, resulting in a slower-rising flood over a larger area." In addition, the Journal reported that "[t]he New Orleans office of the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning at 8:14 a.m. Monday, saying "a levee breach occurred along the industrial canal at Tennessee Street. 3 to 8 feet of water is expected due to the breach."
Once again, Fox's inaccurate version of events closely echoes Bush administration spin. As Media Matters noted, after touring the devastation caused to New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina on September 12, President Bush met with reporters and repeated the specious claim that his discredited statement -- "I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees" -- was based on news reports from the morning after the storm indicating that New Orleans had "dodged a bullet." In fact, as Media Matters has noted, media outlets were already reporting levee breaches on Monday, August 29.
When you see the term FOX FACTS who would expect a factual rendering of the facts. Spin is what FOX FACTS would MEAN almost by definition
When you see the term FOX FACTS who would expect a factual rendering of the facts. Spin is what FOX FACTS would MEAN almost by definition
The important point made by stories of this sort is that Fox isn't just a right-wing network. It is a right-wing Republican network. Slavishly aligned with one political party.
"The important point made by stories of this sort is that Fox isn't just a right-wing network. It is a right-wing Republican network. Slavishly aligned with one political party."
More importantly than that though is that FOX is a propaganda network that regularly distorts, withholds, and taints the information it presents to it's unsuspecting viewers. I believe that FOX goes deeper than just Republican.
Faux must think Americans are really dumb and will believe their crap. The governor absolutely stated an emergency way ahead of the hurricane and they're factually wrong and dishonest with their fairy tale timeline. It just shows their total desparation to cover up for bush's total lack of concern and incompetence for days while the hurricane victims suffered and some died.
"Faux must think Americans are really dumb and will believe their crap." and? The very fact that they remain on the air is testament to the number of "dumb" Americans.
"The governor absolutely stated an emergency way ahead of the hurricane and they're factually wrong and dishonest with their fairy tale timeline." I'm not sure which station it was on but I recall watching the press conference on Friday evening (probably a replay) where Gov. Blanco read the executive order. That would be Friday 26 August, that is. "It just shows their total desparation to cover up for bush's total lack of concern and incompetence for days while the hurricane victims suffered and some died." I also remember watching GWB and thinking 'why is this man smiling.' He wears that smirk like a cupie doll no matter what is going on because he doesn't get it. It covers up the 'deer in the headlights' look he would be wearing otherwise. When he finally wore a serious expression his speech-writer was standing off to one side closely following the script like the director of a Broadway play. Hmmm. I guess I mean off-off-off-Broadway play. It reminds me of Gene Wilder in The Frisco Kid when he learns he's going to San Francisco the head of the school tells him, in English so the others wouldn't understand him, "Don't smile. Look sad."
The first two words of this item's title - "Fox Facts" - is an oxymoron... the Webster's definition, not Rush's nickname.
Fox operates on a pretty simple level (not quite as simple as reporting the facts); The Liberals are ALWAYS WRONG, and ANTI-AMERICAN. That's pretty much it: anything liberal must be bad. Thus tainted news, because the news can't be in anyway liberal, rather the contrary.
The governor of Louisiana, may share some responisbility for the mess of Hurrricane Katrina. Nevertheless, Fox News is being excessive-if Gov. Blanco weren't a Democrat/Liberal, she wouldn't be taking this much flak. They might be calling it an act of god.
Fox News is a witchunt for liberals.
It's a good thing that no one is playing the blame game!! Thankfully over here we have a press that would never fall for bollocks like this. Faux will always play to the rightwing sheeple with these tactics as they know they will always succeed.
I would once like to read that Fox News was the victim of an unfair partitioning of facts rather than the number one provider of media boondoggle and rancid rightwing bluster. Where is that liberal media conspiracy? Oh, it must be wherever the WMDs are.
From what l have seen and read not only on this site but others is the abilty of the right and it's media shrills to underplay events, not the left over tipping it's hand. Since Iran-Contra l have not seen anything, be it Enron, Memogate, Plamegate, Voter fraud et all, being given the scutinythere seriousness deserves. All attempts to trivalise or claim it either insensitive (bodies of soldiers returning) or unpatriotic (actually questioning policy concerning detainees at Gitmo or Abu Graib). The fact that the majority of those who watch or listen to the likes of O'Reilly, Hannity, Limbaugh and others and believe everything they say WITHOUT QUESTION is looked on with astonishment from those on the left, and with raised glasses from those on the right who get away with constant mistruths time and time again.
I suppose it's reached a point where i'm just not surprised anymore. The "Fox News" channel as a whole has been pulling these slight of hand games ever since the 2000 election when they called bush the winner before the votes were added up, which by the way; were they ever eventually added up? Oh yeah, the supreme court picked the president before that could happen. Wait a minute, the president has a chief justice nominee as well as another position to fill, no, couldn't be a hidden agenda there. This mishap just helps show the blind allegence that, i like this one, Faux News has to this administration and the belief that our government can do no wrong, does no wrong, and will never do any wrong, at least while there is a republican in office. If i remember correctly, if a democrate is ever elected president again Hannity will blow his top, Rush will use drugs again, and Ann Coulter will move to another country, and we don't want that now do we.
I suppose it's reached a point where i'm just not surprised anymore. The "Fox News" channel as a whole has been pulling these slight of hand games ever since the 2000 election when they called bush the winner before the votes were added up, which by the way; were they ever eventually added up? Oh yeah, the supreme court picked the president before that could happen.
by prettymarshin
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Slow down there. Everyone was getting hopeful and making calculations based on the most recent data available. As for the Court well that's a different story-it's made worse by the fact that at least one state is reexaming the results (even though it's just a bit too late).
Ridiculous! Classic Katrina moments on FNC:
1.) Sean Hannity barking,"Keep Perspective!" while Shep Smith saw bodies floating by. By the way Smith will probably get fired for telling the truth
2.) Geraldo accused in Slate magazine of making an old lady walk to a helicopter twice so he could film it.
3.) O'Reilly's bizarre anti-poverty moralizing. A white son of an accountant who is a self made man.
4.) Major Garrett's hard hitting investigation of the New Orleans City website Evacuation Plan. It found local Officials Guilty.
5.) Britt Hume having a near stroke on Sunday when challenged over Bush's role in Katrina.
6.) Repeated use of Rove term blame game.
7.) America's Challenge. With music.
Anyone notice how FOX NEWS is working ovetime, blowing gaskets and becoming hostile. Reporters from all medias were involved in reportering the destruction and deaths. Media reporters were screaming HELP...including Shep Smith, who by the way was chided by Orielly "that he sounded bitter". Then good old standard reporting by Geraldo. Mr. Photo Opt himself. What is killing FOX is the truth..the reality that they cannot contain, control, or divert the truth. They get their misinformation out there and bingo all 10 other media centers counter with the FACTS. Its killing them. I listened to Hannity take a call from some guy in Tucson he could not scream loud enough, cut the guy off fast enough, and ended up saying its my SHOW...SO I GET TO DO AS I LIKE. this after the guy simply pointed out to him "he too was playing the blame game" Hannity got his bell rung and did not like it one bit. As for the stance on Hume, and the rest...clueless. Disconnected.Bias and Misinformation should be their claim.
Disconnected.Bias and Misinformation should be their claim.
by justramsg@aol.com
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Too obvious. How about (I'm probably not the first one to think of this, but nevertheless) "We report, We decide." The inversion of the claim might work too; "you report, we decide."
Fox News has a very small percentage of the market. Why get worked up over them? I ignore them like I ignore CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC. Its all about ratings so you can charge more for advertising. If you want change work hard to know the facts , start local and work your way up.
Fox News has a very small percentage of the market. Why get worked up over them?
by openmind
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Ratings aside-the channel breeds the persona of idiots; People who think liberals are out to get them more or less.