What did Fox News know about Foley, and when did they know it?
An October 2 Associated Press article reported that Fox News was among several news organizations that were leaked copies of email messages allegedly sent by former Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) to a 16-year-old male former congressional page. The AP wrote that "Florida newspapers" that received copies of the emails last year, such as the St. Petersburg Times and The Miami Herald, have acknowledged having received the emails and "defended their decision not to run stories." A Media Matters for America search on the Nexis database of Fox News in prime time turned up no references to the channel having previously received these emails nor any refutation of reports that it had.
Fox News' prime-time programs --The Big Story with John Gibson, Special Report with Brit Hume, The O'Reilly Factor, and Hannity & Colmes -- have covered the story every day since it broke on September 28.
From the October 2 AP article:
Meanwhile, Florida newspapers -- who were leaked copies of the e-mail with the Louisiana boy last year -- defended their decision not to run stories. Both The St. Petersburg Times and The Miami Herald were given copies of the e-mail, as were other news organizations, including Fox News.
"Our decision at the time was ... that because the language was not sexually explicit and was subject to interpretation, from innocuous to 'sick,' as the page characterized it, to be cautious," said Tom Fiedler, executive editor of the Herald. "Given the potentially devastating impact that a false suggestion of pedophilia could have on anyone, not to mention a congressman known to be gay, and lacking any corroborating information, we chose not to do a story."
A Media Matters Nexis search of Fox News for "Foley and ((fox or network or FNC) w/20 (receiv! or advanc! or obtain! or acquir! or leak! or (copy or copies))" for all dates after September 27, 2006, yielded no relevant results.
I am not so sure that which media outlets knew what and when is really the overriding issue here. They all their standards regarding corroborative evidence and this needs to be taken into account here.
This is more about whether or not the Republican leadership covered this up, hoping to keep this silent until after the elections? Or what the real story is here?
More and more selacious and titillating bits and pieces are coming out about Foley, it is nauseating and sickening, to say the least. I also wonder about these instant messages and why they are surfacing now? Who has been saving these and why?
In any event, a full investigation needs to be done. I do not think this is some Democrat scandal too, even if they knew about this and somehow wanted these to come out now, shortly before the election, it was up to the Republican's to deal with it first and foremost.
This is just more about the reckless abuse of power by those we entrust to make our laws. They need to be held accountable, completely and without partisanship.
I'd agree that what the Republican leadership knew and didn't know if the most important part of this scandal overall, but Media Matters goal as an organization is more concered with the media's portrayal (or, in this case, non-portrayal) of events, rather than just the events themselves.
So, for a media watchdog like MMFA, whether or not media organizations sat on the story of this scandal is important to point out.
Noted and well said. You have a valid point.
Sorry, that should have read...
"I'd agree that what the Republican leadership knew and didn't know is* the most important part of this scandal overall"
You missed the point. While getting corroborative evidence is the correct journalistic action, Fox didn't do anything to look for corroborative evidence because Foley is a Repub. This presents a fundamental problem for Fox Viewers--their favored network never does any investigative work (unless you count their UN bashing). Fox breaks no stroies; Fox is never out front on any of the issues that affect the Bush Administration. They simply do not do any investigative journalism on the Repubs. They only report (sometimes they do news blackout like the Jeff Gannon Story) what others uncover. That's pretty weak.
Both Fox and the White House typically, shamefully, dirtily, skip the "wash cycle" and go directly to the "spin cycle." They NEVER hesitate to go with the worst of innuendo if it is Dems or Liberals. They cannot re-write their own history of disingenuous press reports and reporting. And Rush, SH, BIll'O, Snow, etc -- my gawd, how long is the list? They are just plain liars. Maybe they wouldn't be so kind to Foley if it were THEIR kid who was being propositioned.
As for the Repubs in general, if they cannot protect even 16-year old pages, what makes you think they can protect our country?
Hastert should go. Boehner, too. And I suppose the list of pedophile enablers will grow longer, along with their noses.
And they got all exercised about Monica? Give me a break. If they had had any sense, they would have protected the country instead of taking cheap shots at Clinton, ie, focus on the man who brought down the towers, crashed into the Pentagon, tried to hit the Capitol or CIA HQ, and then sucked us (me, unwillingly) into a war that has cost us another nearly 3000 of our bravest.
How ironic that it was ABC who broke the email/IM story. Did they have a guilty conscience about that farce, Pathway ti 9-11?? Probably not. It was all for the $$$.
The Spinners are saying that the Dems leaked the EM/IM, but is there even a scintilla of proof?
(at least we don't have Coulter on the screen much any more...but she will be back with a Clinton smear, just wait.)
Yet FAUX had time last night to Smear Congressman Murtha by showing a 26 year old tape of ASBSCAM.
Who is FAUX kidding, Rove and Ailes are pulling all the strings now to discredit the Democrats.
Hiding news about a pedophile is disgraceful.
I heard on Rush today that he is claiming that Clinton, yes, Bill Clinton was and is responsible for this news coming out now. He claims that the Clinton smear machine is in high gear. Holy cow! How crazy is this man anyway? And then of course he had to bring up the following:
Monica Barney Frank Studs
And so on and so forth. Couldn't actually address the issue that is happening now, had to go back 20 some odd years to bring up some old disposed of dirt on democrats. Pathetic really. Sad thing is, is that his listeners were probably sitting there going, "Yeah, hell yeah!"
I am thinking this may just backfire on Rush with his listeners, even if he uses it as an excuse to bash Clinton.
Many of his supporters, I am sure, are very sickened, as most of us are actually, by Foley. Anything to excuse or deflect his behavior to someone else isn't going to sit very well, I would sincerely hope.
Rush is so transparent, it's amazing. Even more so with this. Why can't he put the blame where it lies, with Foley, and wait until the facts come out about the rest of it?
I've also heard claim that ABC News sat on this story until just before the election. It'd be fascinating to know the reasoning behind sitting on the story since last year if it's Fox News that had it.
Walt would be turning over in his grave if he knew his company was allowing its news/infotainment division to sit on this story.
MAKE IT STOP!! MAKE IT STOP NOW!!
I'LL PULL THE TRIGGER!! I SWEAR!!
The 1983 story of Dan Crane (R-Ill) and Gerry Studds (D-Mass) is completely relevant to the Foley case. Both men were actually making it with underage pages and neither man was kicked out of Congress. Gerry Studds, who made it with boy pages, refused to apologize and coninuted running successfully for COngress until he retired in 1996. Dan Cane, who engaged in sex with girl pages, accepted censure, but didn't resign. He was defeated in 1984. Would Gerry Studds have resigned today. Since he stayed in office until 1996, it's doubtful.
That is relevant. Two Republican congressmen, Crane and Foley, have preyed sexually on pages. Are you trying to say that there is a pattern of such misbehavior in the Republican party?
Gotchya politics from both sides. "My side is always right, yours is always wrong".
WTF has happened to this Nation. Both parties, equally corrupt. Why couldnt one politician stand up like a grown adult, and handle this in a ADULT MANNER! NO ONE SiNGLE POLITICIAN HAS, I AND I AM TIRED OF IT!
I AND I AM TIRED OF IT!
Then maybe you two should take a nap. :^o
Come on, get serious ;-)
I agree dredging up EVERY pervert or villain from the past does sound like the "well he did it too!" defense, BUT I don't think that's what Adams or EvilLib were TRYING to do. Nobody is saying one wrong erases the other...I also wonder how the Studds Scandal would have played out today.
What ALWAYS floored me was how Studds continued to keep getting re-elected up here in Massachusetts. I'd like to think that would NEVER happen today.
Now on topic:
It is beginning to appear that Fox as well as other news organizations SAT on this story. Perhaps without corroborating evidence they were afraid of being ACCUSED of slander IF they reported it. Or maybe they were hoping it would remain buried. No one knows...yet. I'm sure there are MORE revelations to come.
I'd personally like to know HOW & from WHO ABC got their info. AND how long they've been sitting on it.
Anyone know?
I agree dredging up EVERY pervert or villain from the past does sound like the "well he did it too!" defense, BUT I don't think that's what Adams or EvilLib were TRYING to do.
Really? It looks to me like that's EXACTLY what Adams was doing. (Then I had a little fun at his/her expense.)
As for the news outlets - I have no idea how long they might have had info, but my guess would be that the extremely explosive nature of the story made them want to be VERY sure about its veracity before reporting it. That probably took a little time.
I have to agree with Rusty on this one. I have no interest in past Congressional misconducts for it is not relevant to Foley. His actions were of his own doing, and the uproar, or lack of it, that surrounded past indiscretions is really not the issue now.
Hey Tommy, maybe you mis-read what I wrote OR I didn't EXPRESS myself well...BUT the ONLY point I was making to Rusty is that I didn't think Adams or EvilLib were playing the "your guy did it too" defense.
I saw no harm in Adams wondering how the Studds Scandal would have played out today...I wonder too. AND all EvilLib was saying [I think] was BOTH sides have had corrupt lawmakers, AND he wishes at least ONE politician would step up to the plate and deal with this like an adult.
better than I Jeter. Thanks!
You're welcome...I'm glad I didn't get it WRONG. Sometimes it's taking a BIG chance to try and interpret what someone else is saying.
Lata.
I wasn't making any assertions regarding evillib's comments, but I do think Adams was playing the "see what he did........." game.
But then it was just conjecture on my part, he or she will have to clarify it for himself.
Your comments are well said and succinct, as usual.
He may have been doing just that, it could be I'm the one who mis-read his INTENTIONS.
Have a good evening bro...see ya back here tomorrow :-)
when it was all monica all the time? Where is your outrage about the perverts that represent you and the rest of the conservatives in this country? Why are you defending sexual predators evilone?
Why are you not banned Fatbob? Your cowardly and baseless assertions accusing certain posters of being perverts and sexual predator enablers, can only be attributed to some deep personal turmoil within yourself.
Perhaps therapy is in order.
are hiding nothing tommy. the post you're responding to is not accusing you of being a pervert, i'm pointing out the hypocrisy of the self appointed right wing moralists who forced the impeachment of a president because he was a democrat but now are decrying the same behavior when it's directed at one of their own.
You spend an awful lot of time telling mmfa what they should do. if you're not complaining that they aren't following their own guidelines for their own website or or claiming that they're off base on some story you're policing their active member files. feel free to ban me from your site.
I was speaking in a non-partison way. I feel right now, the display of Congress', "Gotchya" makes me wretch! The spewedge (sp?) goes back and forth and nothing gets done. The Repubs defend the issue like they are his Big Evil Brother, and the Dems like a Hysterical Mother.
And, you proved my point. Thank you! You stay on the left, I will stay in the middle where I can Slap Both Sides equally!
You had better re-do your math. There is nothing "equal" about it. Let's put all the corruption on the scales and see what happens. The Repub side would crash through the table. Get real. But I am not saying there aren't bad apples in both parties. Just more of them in Repub's. There simply is no comparison.
Ever heard the expression "That was then, this is now."?
Last night on Scarborough county he was defending this pedophile , its a disgrace that anyone would defend this sicko who hurts children.
Larry-You should be ashamed of yourself.
that he is being blamed. See [link to rightwingnuthouse.com]
A watchdog group notified the FBI about this situation back in July, yet they didn't investigate. Why? Did they not take it seriously, or did someone stop them? Compelling questions, to be sure.
Because they have been busy contacting all those pages to make sure they keep their mouths shut and their career options open.
Saw Hannity's and the guy from American Spectator's show last night. Cracked me up. Check it out for yourselves. What it showed was Murtha REFUSING TO TAKE a bribe. Guess in Repub circles that's corrupt.
Remember; it was Fox News who's vote expert was a Bush nephew that called the Florida Results in 2000 for Bush when the other three networks had Gore a winner!!!
It has been Fox and the meglamaniac Ruppert Murdoch who has made the public airways a propaganda machine for the Republican Fascist.
They overtly make their agenda known while placating with tongue in cheek of promises of fairness. It's Fox News that promoted a pundit into the White House as nothing less than a "mouth peice."
We should only presume that if they had this to run with they would use it for all it would be worth. This is the kind of sway over a Congressman or Senator, President a corporatist dreams of.
I suppose we're to believe they just did'nt hear about it??
Happy Thoughts;
Dan Grady
Absolutely ridiculous. When will the "mainstream" media jump off the train. Probably never. The "abused kids" were 16 not 6. This was a case of sexual harassment, not sexual abuse. Children are sexual by 16. It is past puberty. Instead of freaking out, why did they not write back to the self-hating closeted queen (Foley) something to the effect of... "Sorry, would rather not have this conversation but thanks for the compliments." In many nations, the age of consent is younger than 16! I'm no fan of Foley but that doesn't make the "outrage" understandably perpetrated by the Dems any more correct. This is one sick country.
I don't agree with your analysis. You are splitting hairs. Depending upon the facts, and we have to wait, you know, it is sexual abuse, whether physical, mental, harrassment or other insidious forms. What would you call it if it were YOUR kid, sister, brother, neice or nephew? Same with the apologists -- until it happens to their loved ones, they will continue their despicable spin and enabling.
Well, actually, I read a report that showed one kid clearly uncomfortable with the dialog, asking Foley-- after his repeated attempts to reach out to the page for a rendevous -- "are you fishing?' The kid's response indicated that he knew what Foley was up to, and he ended it. But these are kids who look forward to (not only the good pay and perks) but perhaps a career in Repub politics. Hard to resist. 16 year olds aren't that schooled in the nastiness that adult predators who use their positions of power to prey on the vulnerable.
FOX news labelled Foley a Democrat at least 3 times on the O'LIEly Factor [link to www.bradblog.com]
I had to see it with my own eyes. This was not a typo. This is corrupt news at its worst. No surprise it was Fox. I am holding my breath until they run a correction. ROFL.
WOULD we be talking about Studds, if a REPUBLICAN DIDN'T JUST GET CAUGHT WITH HIS PANTS DOWN! NO!!! Therefore, rightwingers are bringing it up, or WE WOULD NOT EVEN KNOW WHO THE F*** STUDDS EVER WAS!!!!!!!! I never heard of him, before rightwingers, taking the "cue" from Rush/Hannity/etc....brought him up...AND NEITHER WOULD THE RIGHTWINGERS EVEN KNOW WHO HE WAS!!!
uuuuu.....chapaquiddick....uuuuu......Clinton......uuuuu....lewinsky......duhhhh
NOT entirely true. I live in Massachusetts SO I most certainly KNOW who Gerry Studds is and recall the scandal concerning his diddling a Page. ALSO, MMFA made mention of him in a RECENT thread dated 10/1 titled: *Hume compared Foley scandal to those involving Clinton, Frank, ignoring key difference*
While I agree MOST people may have forgotten about Studds and the "incident" he was censured for, ANYONE who follows politics most likely would have their memory jarred when something SIMILAR occurs. As it has now.
Right-Wing talking point? Sure. BUT also a footnote in Congressional History, filed under: Scandals.
DALEESQ8459: Are you still alive this morning?
Last night I was watching Fox News . First and They never introduce the story as Republican Congressman . They simple State Congressman Foley. I watched with horror as They misrepresented Foley as Follows (Mark Foley -D- Fl) THIS WAS CLEARLY ON THE SCREEN AND I AM WONDERING IF IT WAS DONE AS A ERROR OR TO MISSLEAD.