Earlier this week, in a long piece about the state of the WH-news media union, Politico claimed, “Obama rarely lets a chance go by to make a critical or sarcastic comment about the press.” To prove its point, Politico posted a compilation video of Obama making various comments about political press coverage in this country.

But you'll notice most of the quips Obama makes have to deal with “TV,” and “the cable channels,” and “cable chatter.” Again, I think he makes these points is the most gentle way possible, and in ways that do no support the Politico's assertion that Obama's out bashing the press.

But put that point aside and focus on what Obama likely means when he chides “cable chatter,” and the harm he seems to think it does.

Isn't it quite possible that Obama's referring to the actions of Fox News, which has gone completely insane since he was inaugurated and has leveled every conceivably hateful falsehood about Obama, his administration and his agenda? Fox News has cut every possible chord with traditional journalism standards, has morphed into the Opposition Party, and unleashed a kind of raw political hatred this country has not seen in modern times.

That's what Fox News has been up to in the last 16 months. So maybe that's what Obama has been oh-so-gently referring to with his quips about cable TV. My point being, if he was can you blame the guy? No president has ever faced a national 'news' outlet devoted entirely to undermining his administration.

It would have been helpful if Politico had put some of that in context.