Fox News personalities aggressively promote Bachmann's protest against health care reform bill
In recent days, following its pattern of advocacy, Fox News and its personalities' have repeatedly promoted Rep. Michele Bachmann's (R-MN) November 5 anti-health care reform protest, to be held on Capitol Hill and in the halls of Congress. Fox News has previously promoted numerous other rallies such as the April 15 tea party protests, health care town hall protests, and the 9-12 march on Washington.
Bachmann called for "House Call" protest to advocate for defeat of health care reform bill
From Bachmann's November 2 press release calling "on the American People to Bring the Town Hall to Washington":
"This bill is a trillion-dollar, budget-busting, government takeover of our health care system. It will put bureaucrats between people and their health care. It will lead to rationed care, hurting the most vulnerable amongst us first. It will break the bank, leaving our children to pay the bill with diminished freedoms and dwindling prosperity.
"The American people need to stand up again and make sure that Congress hears them this time. Speaker Pelosi is putting her bill on fast track to a vote - and it remains to be seen if the House will even get a chance to vote on the commonsense Republican alternatives. The people need to make a House Call on Washington this week and tell their Representatives to vote no to a government take-over of one-fifth of our economy. This is gangster government at its worst.
"I urge all Americans to come to Washington this Thursday. Come and meet up with your Representative and tell them that you want to control your health care."
Fox News and its personalities repeatedly promoted Bachmann's anti-health care reform protest
Fox News' Napolitano: Bachmann "wants your help in the fight." Guest hosting for Glenn Beck on November 4, Fox News judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano stated that Bachmann is "fighting Democrats on the constitutionality of a national takeover of health care, and she wants your help in the fight." Napolitano hosted Bachmann to promote the protest and said, "Tell us what's going on outside the Capitol building tomorrow to try and bring some sense to these big government types that want to regulate health care from Washington, DC." During the show Napolitano also asserted that a friend in the intelligence community "told me watch out for Mrs. Pelosi making the security requirements almost impossible to get to this rally. You guys have to watch out for that."
Bachman: "[W]e began this on Sean Hannity's show." Also during the November 4 Glenn Beck broadcast, Bachman further detailed her motivations to organize the protest, saying, "what we've done, and we began this on Sean Hannity's show, is just to - the only thing I know to do at this point to kill this bill is to ask and plead for real freedom-loving Americans to come to the steps of the US Capitol tomorrow."
Hannity was "told the crowd is going to be massive ... my only wish is I wish I could be there." Hannity stated on the November 4 edition of his Fox News program, "Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann announced on this program last Friday that at noon tomorrow - by the way anybody that wants to go, you can go to the nation's capitol - they're gonna have a press conference, and then, I hear there are gonna be a lot of people--thousands of people. Our cameras are gonna be there. We'll have full coverage on the program tomorrow night. But they're gonna walk into the Capitol, and they're gonna confront Congressmen and Senators." In response to a caller planning to attend Bachmann's protest, Hannity also stated on the November 4 edition of his radio show, "I can tell you, I am told the crowd is going to be massive, and my only wish is I wish I could be there. But I tell you what I decided to do, I'm sending one of my reporters down there to cover the entire thing, and we're gonna air it tomorrow night on Hannity."
Fox News contributor Gingrich pushes protest on twitter. On November 3 Newt Gingrich posted on his twitter feed, "Help stop the gov't take-over of health care. Join the Rally Thursday against Obama/PelosiCare." Gingrich also posted a "Reminder" about the protest on November 4.
Fox & Friends hosted Bachmann, promoted protest details. During the November 3 edition of Fox & Friends, co-host Gretchen Carlson hosted Bachmann to talk about the protest, gave details of the protest to viewers, and urged viewers to access the program's website for more information on the protest. Carlson stated, "They can go to FoxandFriends.com; we'll link it to your website."
Hannity: "I hope a lot of people can make it out." During the November 3 edition of his radio show, Hannity hosted Mark Levin to promote the protest, at which Levin is scheduled to speak. Hannity stated, "This is a last minute thing, and I know it's difficult for people to go to these things, especially at the time. It's noon on Thursday at the Capitol." He later added, "I hope a lot of people can make it out there, Mark."
Fox Nation promoted Bachmann protest. On its front page, accessed on November 3, Fox Nation promoted the protest, writing: "Bachmann Urges Confronting Lawmakers on Capitol Hill." Fox Nation included links of Bachmann promoting the protest on Fox News host Glenn Beck's radio program, and video of Bachmann on Fox & Friends. On November 5, Fox Nation featured the headline, "Will You Join Bachmann's 'House Call' Party?"
Beck: "We'll get the word out ... and we'll continue to have you make the pitch for people going to Washington, DC, noon this Thursday." On the November 2 edition of Glenn Beck's radio show, Bachmann stated, "I really believe, Glenn, if we can get good normal patriot, freedom loving Americans to D.C., converge at noon on Thursday on the capitol steps, and what we need to do is literally go into these members of Congress' offices, look in the whites of their eyes and tell them don't take away my healthcare, don't take away my freedom. Because once government gets this power, Glenn, they can use healthcare as cradle to grave, they can use that as a pretext for controlling every other aspect of our life." Beck stated at the end of the interview, "Michele, God bless you. We'll get the word out and let's have you on a little bit later on this week and we'll continue to have you make the pitch for people going to Washington, D.C., noon this Thursday, and look them in the whites of their eyes." Bachmann again promoted the protest on the November 4 edition of Beck's radio program.
Hannity: "Maybe I'll have to show up and observe ... democracy in action." Bachmann said during the October 30 edition of Hannity that the protest is "Thursday at noon," adding, "You can go to MicheleBachmann.com for more information and we can walk together through Cannon, Longworth, Rayburn, walk through the capital, sit in the gallery." Hannity replied: "Maybe I'll have to show up and observe this so our cameras can see democracy in action."
Fox News has repeatedly engaged in conservative advocacy by promoting protests
Fox News promoted April 15 tea parties. In the lead-up to the April 15 tea parties, which the channel repeatedly described as "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties," Fox News frequently aired segments publicizing and encouraging viewers to get involved with the protests. A Media Matters for America study found that from April 6 to 13, Fox News featured at least 20 segments on the "tea party" protests. A subsequent Media Matters study found that from April 6 to 15, Fox News aired at least 107 commercial promotions for its coverage of the April 15 tea parties.
Fox News promoted health care disruptions. Fox News promoted disruptions of Democratic town hall events by protesters opposed to health care reform -- protests that are touted by Republican leaders and supported by conservative groups. Following the August 2 disruption of a town hall event hosted by Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Fox News personalities repeatedly lauded such protesters and urged viewers to take similar action.
Fox News promoted 9-12 protests. In the lead-up to the 9-12 protest, Beck's website worked with others organizing the September 12 "March on Washington," and he repeatedly encouraged viewers to attend the protest. Fox News also heavily promoted the Tea Party Express tour -- the final stop of which was the 9-12 protest -- on Fox News, Fox Business, the Fox Nation, and FoxNews.com.
Congresswoman Bachman is an elected member of the House of Representatives correct? As such, isn't she able, as much as anyone else within said House of Reps, to create, and get co-sponsors on legislation?
If so; why doesn't she write her own health care bill, and submit it?
Watch the part between 1:03 and 1:25 or so... see that sick and disgusting sign that was placed nearly in the center of that group of right-wing dumb asses where every single elected Republican who went up to the podium to speak would have absolutely seen it!!!
If these Republican ass-clowns really gave a damn about this country and the political discourse thereof would you conservatives who come in here agree that they should have demanded that photo be taken down?? Or is this the direction you want your party going??
As long as this kind of garbage keeps happening... rest assured that this country will either repudiate it to the point of Republicans losing every seat in 2010 or we keep the status quo as is and this country dies at the hands of right-wing hate, racism, and fear!
For all you right-wing trolls... find me even ONE equivalent photo or rally or hell... anything that even comes close to this kind of vile that has come from even one liberal/progressive/Democrat... just one.
He blamed it all on the democrats. I can not stress enough that these people, even tho this is a free country, should some how be held accountable for these outlandish actions. I don't mean any protester who wears a TShirt who said they didn't like bush get arrested, even a kid, as was done during bush's reign, but those people who invaded Pelosi's office should be locked up and put out of commission to perform like this in the future.
And isn't inciting to riot against the law, and since it was on federal property, breaking federal law. Let's all write to the ethetic committee and ask Bachmann be investigated. She should be arrested.
When was the last time an elected official organized and held a protest against something that she could actually effectively work against by proposing her own legislation?
I know that your questions are rhetorical, but I'll toss in my answer anyway.
Crazy Michele isn't interested in doing anything productive. She doesn't want to solve any problems. She's discovered that by being crazy she gets media attention and she loves it. She can't get enough of it. She's gotten to be a bit like Coulter in that she'll do whatever she has to do in order to get herself thrust back into the limelight.
In a pundit, that can be amusing or disgusting. In an elected official, that can be dangerous. Our best hope is to make sure that fourteen months from now she becomes nothing but an amusing footnote.
I hope the good people of MN are watching how she conducts herself, and vote her out of office in '10.
My understanding is that Bachmann's district is extremely conservative and not likely disapproving of her impersonation of Sarah Palin. But there is always hope.
There is some embarrassment in her district now that she's heading further around the bend and a strong candidate would have a pretty good chance.
Crazy Michele isn't interested in doing anything productive. She doesn't want to solve any problems. She's discovered that by being crazy she gets media attention and she loves it. She can't get enough of it. She's gotten to be a bit like Coulter in that she'll do whatever she has to do in order to get herself thrust back into the limelight.
In a pundit, that can be amusing or disgusting. In an elected official, that can be dangerous. Our best hope is to make sure that fourteen months from now she becomes nothing but an amusing footnote.
Version # 2
FoxNews isn't interested in doing anything productive. They don't want to fairly discuss any problems. They've discovered that by being highly partisan they get attention from a sizeable viewer base and their advertisers love it. Their rightwing pundits can't get enough of it. They've gotten to be a bit like Coulter in that they'll do whatever they have to do in order to get themselves and the right-leaning politicians they support thrust back into the limelight.
In private group settings, that bias and promotion of a politically partisan message can be amusing or disgusting. In a supposedly legit news organization, that can be dangerous. Our best hope is to make sure that fourteen months from now the influence of FoxNews decreases to the level they deserve and that they lose their status as a legit media sour and become nothing but an amusing footnote.
Because 'we' are not used to long-term thinking. In the U.S., we complain when our meal takes more than a few minutes, if the computer takes a minute or more to boot (I get impatient when Firefox doesn't almost instantly pop up), if we can't drive 60 in a 40 MPH zone and have to wait at a red light because we're overrunning the timing of the lights.
Consider that the Shiites and Sunnis have been battling for centuries, that it was eight years (1993-2001) between WTC attacks, and even families in the Mideast have feuds going back several generations.
The Terrorists are not trying to get as many attacks in as short a time as possible, they are more interested in taking their time and getting it right. I just watched an old episode of NUMB3RS that I burned to DVD, where one of the lead characters (Charlie Epps, for those who know the show) is taking a marksmanship test, and while the others are blasting away quick shots, he calmly takes aim, and comparatively slowly takes his 14 shots, getting the highest score in the group. When the instructor asks him how he did it, he quoted Wyatt Earp about how careful aim is more effective than quick shots.
Then, there's the story of the tortoise and the hare...
The President and Congress took their collective eyes off of the REAL perpetrators of 9/11 in favor of prosecuting an unnecessary, unrelated and VERY expensive "war" of choice. Using 9/11 as an excuse for not doing anything about health care is specious. Nothing was done because they didn't want to do anything about it.
The Democrats have accepted and incorporated amendment after amendment submitted by the Republicans, but the Republicans continue to refuse to approve anything. Why? Because they have NO intention to do so.
If the dems were serios about making healthcare affordable for everyone (instead of free for illegals) then there would be discussions of TORT reform...But those ideas are prevented from being discussed by the old witch Pelosi...That slam the doors on conservatives with these kind of strong ideas and then call tea party attendees cooks who ask for these logical, proven cost custting ideas.
Bottom line folks is the dems don't care about lowering costs to make healthcare affordable for everyone. They want to take it over and dictate who gets what level of care.
We've already debunked the tort reform nonsense, as has the CBO. It would leave 99.5% of the costs untouched. Tort reform only reduces costs by 1/2 of 1%. It's not a solution, and it denies people the right to sue for what they think they should get and it denies juries the right to award what they think is fair.
Bottom line is, we care more than you do about savings money, but we care even more about providing healthcare to as many as possible. What the Republican bill shows us is that your side doesn't care at all about insuring more people. You don't even provide a solution for pre-existing conditions. Some Republican Congressman said tonight on FoxNews that their efforts to lower premiums would remedy the pre-existing condition problem - it won't at all, of course. Denial of insurance coverage won't be remedied by lower cost premiums for those who can get insurance. Lower premiums won't help 90% of those who don't have insurance now - they need significant subsidies, and if their employers won't provide that subsidy, it's going to be the govt that does it.
But your side doesn't care. Ours does.
Even if this bill passes, The U.S. will still be a democratic capitalist republic. Do some research instead of watching Fox and you'd realize that other countries with universal health care aren't socialist either.
U.S. is the ONLY wealthy nation in the world that doesn't provide health insurance/care for all citizens.
Doing nothing is no longer an option.
The invasion of Iraq was unnecessary and a stupid idea.
Man, you're out of your league on this blog though. You need to go back to the minor leagues!
Your entire post is full of out and out lies . . . you are posting talking points which are not true.
If it the bill is so good, then why to dems refuse to post it on the internet??? Why...the response from Pelosi was..."People don't care about the details"
Just as likely they were holding up menus from Duke Zeibert's. It was a crass publicity stunt, showing not only a lack of respect, but a lack of integrity.
Are you Sarah Palin?
Meanwhile, there's John Boehner, who doesn't know the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. These people really have a lot on the ball (maybe that's why they call themselves teabaggers).
We all know Michele, not Barbara, Bachmann talks nuts, we now have to assume she really is nuts, just like the Tea Baggers she is leading.
darn, drooled on the old keyboard.
BTW, you really do need to understand that disagreement with your incorrect and false posts does not make someone a lib anymore than your posting them makes you a con. You are simply incorrect. Pretty simple.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/nov/04/house-republicans/public-option-could-pay-unsubsidized-abortion/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/jul/30/chain-email/no-free-health-care-illegal-immigrants-health-bill/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/sep/10/house-republicans/house-republicans-back-heckler-saying-health-bill-/
Here are a few of your answers to your falsehoods, datamodel. You scrawled so many talking points I would need more time to refute them. Datamodel, please go do some research instead of believing everything you hear.
Talking points are not reasonable intelligent arguements. If you believe in free speech then make your own sentences instead of repeating the same old rhetoric that has already been refuted.
She's on Faux Noise, after being on InSannity's show, The Little Guy's show, etc., saying this had no leadership and was a grassroots effort?
Huh?
Do you really think Pelosi cares about you? DO you really think she knows waht the "American People" want? Do you really think she cares what the majority of us want. Stop picking on TV show hosts and start criticizing these idiots spending away our future.
Not sure how you missed that.... but it means that your criticism that we should "stop picking on TV show hosts" is pretty darn ludicrous!
Of course he's taking credit for starting the ball rolling on this one. Although The Little Guy thinks he started it...
Every thing against the health bill is really a stab at Obama.
She and others are fueling the fire to bring out the very low IQ protesters to do the damage to much needed legislation. Killing the bill, will inevitably harm them and all of theirs and our future generations. I wonder if any of them know who the very bad people are that are paying for most of the tea parties.