Fox News execs describe network as “voice of opposition,” “the Alamo”

Ailes: “I see this as the Alamo.” The Los Angeles Times reported on March 6 that according to Glenn Beck, in a meeting with him, Fox News chief executive Roger Ailes “shared a message of his own: The country faced tough times, he said, and Fox News was one of the only news outlets willing to challenge the new administration.” From the article:

“I wanted to meet with Roger and tell him, 'You may not want to put me on the air. I believe we are in dire trouble, and I will never shut up,' ” said the conservative radio host.

But before Beck could say anything, Ailes shared a message of his own: The country faced tough times, he said, and Fox News was one of the only news outlets willing to challenge the new administration.

“I see this as the Alamo,” Ailes said, according to Beck. “If I just had somebody who was willing to sit on the other side of the camera until the last shot is fired, we'd be fine.”

That couldn't have suited Beck more. In making the jump to the top-rated cable news channel from HLN, where he had a show for two years, he hoped to alert more people to one of his consuming fears: that the government's handling of the economic crisis is ushering in an era of socialism.

Shine: Fox is “voice of opposition on some issues.” A March 23 report on NPR's Media Circus featured clips of Fox News vice president for programming Bill Shine saying of Fox News: “There were a couple of people who basically wrote about our demise come last November, December, and were, I guess, rooting for us to go away. ... With this particular group of people in power right now, and the honeymoon they've had from other members of the media, does it make it a little bit easier for us to be the voice of opposition on some issues?” Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer similarly acknowledged that Fox News is the “voice of opposition in the media” during the June 17 edition of Special Report with Bret Baier.

Fox publicizes, encourages attendance at April 15 tea parties

Network is chief promoter of “FNC Tax Day 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. Fox News itself described the protests primarily as a response to the Obama administration and its policies. A Media Matters study found that from April 6 to 13, Fox News featured at least 20 segments on the “tea party” protests, and 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. On April 15, Fox News hosts Glenn Beck, Neil Cavuto, Sean Hannity, and Greta Van Susteren each provided live coverage from the sites of separate tea parties.

• America's Newsroom promotes organizing info on-air and online. America's Newsroom frequently hosted tea party organizers and posted on-screen organizing information, such as protest dates and locations. America's Newsroom also repeatedly directed viewers to its website, which posted a list of tea party protests.

• Beck: “Celebrate with Fox News” at any of four “FNC Tax Day Tea Parties.” Beck repeatedly promoted tea party protests and hosted organizers of numerous tea party events. Beck told viewers they could "[c]elebrate with Fox News" at any of four Fox News-described “FNC Tax Day Tea Parties.” Beck said to viewers: “If you can't make the one in San Antonio” -- which Beck himself attended -- “please go to the one with Neil or with Sean in Atlanta, that's supposed to be great, Greta is in Washington, D.C. Just get out and let your face be seen.”

• Hannity: "[J]oin us" at the tea parties. Hannity frequently promoted the protests by providing on-air information about the protests and encouraging viewers to “join us.” Hannity also encouraged viewers to “send us your 'Tax Day Tea Party' videos'.”

• Varney: “It's now my great duty to promote the tea parties.” During the April 13 edition of Your World with Neil Cavuto, guest host Stuart Varney stated, “It's now my great duty to promote the tea parties. Here we go!” Varney then promoted Cavuto's presence at an April 15 tea party.

• Fox Nation: “Find a Tea Party!” The Fox Nation posted numerous links discussing and promoting the protests. One link, headlined, “Find a Tea Party!” links to results from Google Maps of “2009 Tea Parties.” Another link, headlined, “Video: The Trillion Dollar Tea Party Video!” is an embedded YouTube video on Fox Nation's website from the Tampa Bay Area Tea Party explaining why you should “join your local tea party.”

• Fox Nation “hosts a virtual tea party.” Fox News anchors repeatedly told viewers they could attend a “virtual tea party” at Fox Nation. America's Newsroom co-host Bill Hemmer told viewers, “Can't get to a tea party? Fox Nation hosts a virtual tea party,” while co-host Megyn Kelly said, “you can join the tea party action from your home if you go to the FoxNation.com ... a virtual tax day tea party.” On April 16, Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson told viewers that they “can still have a virtual tea party” at Fox Nation.

• John Gibson: "[H]opefully millions of people" will participate. While reporting at a protest on April 15, Fox News Radio host and former Big Story host John Gibson remarked that “hopefully millions of people” will participate in the protests.

• Carlson: “Hang” a teabag from your mirror. After displaying tea party t-shirts, Gretchen Carlson suggested on April 15 that to show support for the protests, “You could hang [a teabag] from your mirror, too, like fuzzy dice.”

• Willard: Fight the “fascism.” Reporting from a tea party in Boston on the April 15 edition of Happening Now, Fox Business anchor Cody Willard asked viewers, "Guys, when are we going to wake up and start fighting the fascism that seems to be permeating this country?" Willard also stated that conservatives and liberals are “both fascists who are taking my money and building up corporate America with my welfare.”

• Asman tells viewers they “need to go” to tea party merchandise site. On the Fox Business Network on April 15, anchor David Asman told viewers they “need to go” to a tea party merchandise site “no matter what side of the issue you're on.”

“I saw it on Fox”: Fox's advocacy turns out crowds to protests. After the April 15 tea parties, dozens of local and national media outlets noted that Fox News was a driving force behind the tea parties. Numerous reports quoted participants saying they were driven to the protests by Fox. CNN and Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz remarked: “I don't think I've ever seen a news network throw its weight behind a protest like we are seeing in the past few weeks with Fox and these tea parties.”

Fox publicizes, endorses post-April 15 Tea Parties

Tea Party 2.0. Fox News repeatedly promoted “Tea Party 2.0,” a May 14 public tele-conference hosted by the Republican Governors Association. For instance, the front page of The Fox Nation told readers, “Tea Party 2.0! Plug In and Sound Off!” On the Record's Greta Van Susteren also aired a segment promoting the teleconference and told viewers, “If you wanted to go to a tea party on April 15 but could not make it ... tomorrow's your big chance.”

“Countdown to Independence Day Tea Party!” On July 1, Fox Nation promoted and asked viewers to “register here and sound off” on the July 4 tea parties.

Fox relentlessly promotes Tea Party Express. Fox News has heavily promoted the Tea Party Express tour on Fox News, Fox Business, The Fox Nation, and FoxNews.com. The network has frequently provided viewers the dates and locations of upcoming stops. On the August 23 edition of Fox News' America's News HQ, anchor Shannon Bream said, “We want to let folks know” the tour schedule so “they can be a part” of events. The Tea Party Express was organized by a political action committee -- formed by Republican operatives -- whose mission is to oppose President Obama and other Democrats.

Jenkins “hops” on Tea Party Express, endorses protester rhetoric. An August 27 post on Sean Hannity's FoxNews.com blog is titled, "'Hannity' Hops the Tea Party Express!" In the post, a producer wrote that Hannity “will be along for the ride! ... our own Griff Jenkins will be catching all the action” and added: "Click here for more on the tour and to find the tea party nearest you." While on the Tea Party Express, Jenkins endorsed a tea partier's call to “get these liberal communists out of our government” and has repeatedly expressed support for the protesters, who he has referred to as “the America that Washington forgot.”

Fox & Friends celebrates helping sell “over 1,000” R.I.P. U.S. Constitution tea party t-shirts. On August 22, Fox & Friends promoted a “R.I.P. U.S. Constitution” tea party t-shirt from college student Ashleigh Kenny. On its August 23 show, Fox & Friends celebrated “good news” by noting that there were “over 1,000” T-shirt orders following her appearance. Co-host Alisyn Camerota replied to the news by remarking, “Oh my god.” While Fox & Friends promoted the web address of the t-shirt, Cameron said, “Oh my gosh, we crashed [the website] again.”

Fox lauds, encourages health care town hall disrupters

Fox & Friends lauds disrupters and encourages more. Fox & Friends hosts have repeatedly lauded protesters and urged viewers to take similar action. Guest co-host Peter Johnson Jr. said to protesters, "[W]e thank you for representing Americans, and we hope that other Americans get out there." Johnson also said of town hall protesters: “We need to have this every day throughout August.” Gretchen Carlson asked viewers: “Are you gonna call” your member of Congress “or are you gonna go to one of these receptions where they're actually there?” Steve Doocy similarly said: “If you want to contact your congressmembers and sound off, go to FoxNation.com.” Fox & Friends also ran the on-screen text, “Hold Congress accountable! Now is the time to speak your mind.”

Hannity on “Healthcare Uprising”: “That's a pretty good way to fight back”; Morris: “We gotta sign that [protester] up.” After airing clips from a Philadelphia town hall, Sean Hannity and Fox News political analyst Dick Morris stated:

HANNITY: Wow, that sounded more like a Philadelphia Eagles game or a Flyers game than a town hall. And joining me now to discuss this and more is Fox News contributor, the author of the book Catastrophe -- New York Times best-seller -- How Obama, Congress, and the Special Interests are Transforming a Slump into a Crash, Freedom into Socialism and a Disaster into a Catastrophe, and How You Can Fight Back -- Dick Morris is here. That's a pretty good way to fight back.

MORRIS: It sure is. We got to sign that lady up. They wanted August. The Blue Dogs bought us August. That was all they did. And now we have got to let them have it, because they are planning to pass this bill with 50 votes. They're planning not to ask any Republican votes. They're going to just do it with hard-core Democrats. [Hannity, 8/3/09]

On his personal website, which is frequently promoted on his Fox News program, Hannity asks readers to “FIGHT OBAMA CARE TODAY! Become a part of the mob! Attend an Obama Care Townhall near you!”

Fox News directs viewers to only Democratic town halls. On a segment on the August 7, reporter James Rosen displayed only the schedule of Democratic town halls, stating that he would display the GOP schedule if Fox had it. Later in the day, Rosen displayed both Democratic and Republican town halls.

Fox urges exposing, booting Obama “czars”

Network leading witch hunt against Obama officials and nominees. Fox News personalities have been leading the charge against Obama administration officials and nominees they have described as “czars,” often by calling on viewers to help them unearth statements the officials had made in the past rather than critiquing their job performance or credentials for those positions.

• Beck: “Do we want communists in the United States government as special advisers to the president? ... No, we're going to change the whole system.” On the September 1 edition of his Fox News program, Beck aired a clip of Obama Green Jobs adviser Van Jones stating, “This movement is deeper than a solar panel, deeper than a solar panel. Don't stop there. Don't stop there. No, we're going to change the whole system. We're going to change the whole thing.” Beck then commented in part: “When will you wake up? I know there are good, decent people -- left and right, Democrats and Republicans -- that watch this program. How much more evidence do you need that we have radicals in the White House? Oh, we haven't even begun. If you think you need more, we need to -- at least in this country -- start having the necessary discussion of: Do we want communists in the United States government as special advisers to the president?”

• Glenn Beck urged followers to “Find everything you can on Cass Sunstein, Mark Lloyd, and Carol Browner.” From Beck's Twitter feed:

• Beck asked viewers to become “constitutional watchdogs” on issues such as cap-and-trade" in order to “wake up enough Americans to stop” an attempt to “fundamentally transform America.” From FoxNews.com's transcript of his July 31 program:

Find something that you know about or have interest in. Watch what Congress is doing on that. If it's cap-and-trade, look for everything you can find on that issue. Whatever it is, when something comes up that doesn't sound right, start barking loudly, like the Constitutional Watchdog you are.

Send me an e-mail or tweet and we'll highlight the story you've uncovered. When you see the Watchdog Shield, you'll know that it wasn't us who found the story -- it was one of our Watchdogs.

I am more optimistic -- more hopeful -- now than I've been in a long time, that, together, we can wake up enough Americans to stop what I firmly believe is an attempt to “fundamentally transform America.”

• Fox Business' Eric Bolling: “Van Jones resigns ... How about J Holdren Science Czar (mass sterilization) and Cass Susstein [sic].” From Bolling's Twitter feed:

• Hannity: “We got rid of one [czar], and my job, starting tomorrow night is to get rid of every other one. I promise you that.” As the Think Progress blog noted, at a September 7 rally in West Virginia, Hannity said:

HANNITY: Do you want another czar?

CROWD: No!

HANNITY: I don't think so. By the way, we got one -- we got rid of one, and my job starting tomorrow night is to get rid of every other one. I promise you that.

Beck: Under my 9-12 project, “millions” getting “involved”

9-12 Project “a place” for people looking to take back their country. Glenn Beck started the 9-12 Project, which describes itself as “a place for you and other like-minded Americans looking for direction in taking back the control of our country.” Beck's FoxNews.com website, under a section titled, “TAKE ACTION: GET INVOLVED!” states of the 9-12 Project: “Check out Beck's new Web site for updates on the stories and people who prove that your values and principles are still very much alive.”

9-12 Project organizes events across country. The conservative project frequently organizes events around the country. For instance, members of the 9-12 Project have helped organize tea parties, and Beck's 9-12 website is working with others for a “March on Washington,” among other local events, on September 12. Beck will participate in a 9-12 “March on Washington” by broadcasting live from 1 to 3 p.m. ET on Fox News.

Beck: “9-12 Projects and rallies happening all over.” In recent months, Beck has frequently touted the effectiveness of his 9-12 Project in organizing followers. On August 12, for instance, Beck described the 9-12 Project as giving “ourselves an outlet of voice to connect, because you needed a community to organize ... Well, you have already done it. There are 9-12 Projects and rallies happening all over. The biggest one seems to be in Washington, D.C. on September 12.”

Beck: “We started that. Millions all involved across the country and the 9-12 project and other organizations like it.” On August 27, Beck said of the 9-12 Project:

BECK: Now, the second part of this. A few months ago, I told you, you got to know you're not alone. You've got to know. You got to unite. Talk to people. Make sure you know you're not alone, through the 9/12 Project. We started that. Millions all involved across the country and the 9/12 Project and other organizations like it. I knew we needed to connect with one another.

Beck: “On 9-12, I hope to see you in Washington. I will make sure you're seen all over the country.” On August 28, Beck described the 9-12 Project's “March on Washington” as something “worth standing up for” and told viewers: “I hope to see you in Washington. I will make sure you're seen all over the country.”

Beck: Will we find people “to stand for our country?” Discussing his participation in the 9-12 march, Beck asked viewers: “Will we find another 50 men or women willing to stand for our country and the republic? On the Fox News channel, you can find out all of the details at the 912Project.com.”

9-12 march website: Beck “really helping our numbers grow!” A post on the 9-12 march website 912dc.org states: “The recent coverage by Glenn Beck is really helping our numbers grow!” The website frequently mentions Beck's promotion of the march, and excerpted a September 8 USA Today article reporting that the march has been "[e] ncouraged by conservative commentators such as Fox's Glenn Beck."

Fox implores viewers to call Congress, White House to voice displeasure

Following McCaughey, Beck urges viewers to “call the clowns.” During the February 10 edition of Glenn Beck, serial health care misinformer Betsy McCaughey advanced the false claim that provisions in the economic recovery act would permit the government to control health care. Beck and McCaughey both urged viewers to call Congress and urge their representatives to remove the act's health provisions:

BECK: OK -- I mean, look, George Washington said that government is brute force. And that's what it seems to me we have coming. Is there anything that the average person sitting at home going, “Oh, dear God, now.” Is there anything they can do right now?

McCAUGHEY: Yes. They should call their members of Congress, their U.S. senators, and their representatives and say please make sure these health provisions are taken out of this bill so that the American public and the doctors and the nurses and the hospital executives can have a meaningful discussion about what should be in a health bill.

BECK: OK. All right. One more time, gang. Got to call the clowns up and say, “Hey, don't do this to us. Hey, please don't screw us.”

Gingrich: Call Congress to “beat the budget” and “get government under control.” Appearing on Hannity's April 15 tea party coverage, Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich implored viewers to “call their senator and their congressman and say, beat the budget, make them write a new budget, take out the spending increases, take out the tax increases, get government under control.” Gingrich later added:

GINGRICH: If every American who's watching us will call their senators and their congressman and tell them to vote no on the budget, no on big spending, no on big deficits, no on tax increases, I think maybe next week we'll start setting the stage to get government under control. And then this will make a difference.

Gingrich: “I hope every person watching” will call Congress to oppose cap and trade. While discussing the House energy bill on the June 23 edition of Hannity, Gingrich said:

GINGRICH: I think the idea with gasoline prices going back up, and I hope every person watching tonight will both call their congressman or will send an email to all of their friends asking them to call their congressman. I believe if the American people act in the next 72 hours, we can defeat this bill on Friday. It is a terrible energy tax increase.

Beck tells viewers they “need to call and tell your congressperson” to vote against cap and trade. While interviewing Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) about cap and trade on June 25, Beck implored viewers to call Congress:

BECK: Michele, I said on the air today -- I know people are tired of calling Congress. But I told them to call Congress. Can you put the number down for the House? They need to call Congress and very --

BACHMANN: Do not get tired yet. One more call. If there's one more call that people make, make this one. Vote no on that national energy tax. It is a $2 trillion tax increase, but it will give government control over virtually every aspect of our life. They have to call.

BECK: OK. I said today that you need to call and tell your congressperson -- I have a very long memory. And if you vote yes on this -- because some of them are saying, “Well, I'm not sure.” What do you mean you're not sure? You don't have to read the details of this one. You're either for cap-and-trade or you're not. And if you vote yes --

BACHMANN: You're either for freedom or you're not.

BECK: Exactly right.

While Beck appealed to viewers, Fox News ran a caption featuring phone numbers to call:

Morris: "[F]ight back" by contacting Congress. Discussing health care town halls and protests on the August 3 edition of Hannity, Dick Morris offered advice to viewers on how to “fight back” that included “write your senator, write your congressman, call them, and write your friends to do it”:

MORRIS: Look, this has got to be a time of unbelievable pressure. On my website, DickMorris.com you, I outline four steps you need to take to fight back. One is arm yourself with the facts, and chapter four in Catastrophe is written for you.

Number two is we have -- we're going to be putting up an advertisement, American League of Voters, that asks people very flatly, how can you cover 50 million new people without any extra doctors?

HANNITY: Right.

MORRIS: You can't. This is the end of Medicare as we know it.

HANNITY: But --

MORRIS: Go to my website and learn how to promote that ad. Then write your senator, write your congressman, call them, and write your friends to do it. And my website explain how to do all this and who the targets are.

Beck: Call Congress, White House and “demand answers.” While discussing health care reform on August 10, Beck implored viewers to “call your congressman" and call the White House to demand answers to “questions.”

BECK: You demand that the president address these questions: If it's un- American to speak out at town halls, like Nancy Pelosi has charged. Is it un-American? Should Nancy Pelosi have maybe somebody at the bully pulpit of the White House say, “Excuse me, it's not un-American”? Just like I defended who I -- the people who I believe are pinheads back in Hollywood, back four years ago.

While Beck spoke, Fox News aired captions featuring numbers for viewers to call:

Discussing Obama's “czars,” Beck implores viewers to “call the White House.” On September 3, while discussing Obama's “czars,” Beck told viewers to “pick up your phone and call the White House. ... Demand answers. Demand the truth”:

BECK: America, it is time for you to pick up your phone and call the White House and be extraordinarily polite but extraordinarily clear. Demand answers. Demand the truth. Mr. President, if you really believe that the current system of American capitalism needs to change, make the damn case. Do not do it behind closed doors.

Call the White House now. Call your congressmen and your senator and say, “Where the hell are you?” Back in a minute.

Beck: “Call your congressman on Sunstein.” Noting the September 10 Senate confirmation vote on Cass Sunstein for administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Beck asked his followers on Twitter to “Call your congressman on Sunstein”:

Purportedly “bias”-free Fox Nation celebrates “victor[ies]” over Dem. setbacks

“Obama Backs Down From Gov't-Run Health Care!” From the Fox Nation, accessed on August 17:

“Senate Removes 'End of Life' Provision.” From The Fox Nation, accessed on August 14:

“Congress delays health care rationing bill.” From the Fox Nation, accessed on July 24:

“Obama's Drive for Climate Change Bill Delayed!” From The Fox Nation, accessed on July 9:

Transcripts

From the February 10 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: What are the provisions? What are they?

McCAUGHEY: Well, the first is that every person in the United States will have their medical treatments recorded in a federal electronic database.

BECK: Let me play devil's advocate. Well, that's good, because mistakes will be reduced.

McCAUGHEY: You don't have to play devil's advocate because I also see the benefits of electronic medical records. I'm a patient advocate and I'd like to know that if a patient gets sick, their medical records can make it to the next hospital or to a specialist in a matter of seconds.

BECK: OK. All right.

McCAUGHEY: That's a good thing. But the bill goes farther than that in explaining why every doctor in the United States and every patient will be required to use these records. It says that it will achieve elimination of waste, more cost-effective medicine, that it will eliminate disparities between what one patient gets and another.

BECK: What is that?

McCAUGHEY: There has to be more to this than just what is written down in the record. So then I went to the section of the bill that prescribes how this will be enforced. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is empowered to determine which medical provider, doctors, and hospitals are, quote, “meaningful users of this system, and therefore, in compliance.” And the HHS secretary is also authorized to use increasingly stringent measures -- that's the language in the bill -- to enforce compliance. It's this toughness and vagueness --

BECK: OK -- I mean, look, George Washington said that government is brute force. And that's what it seems to me we have coming. Is there anything that the average person sitting at home going, “Oh, dear God, now.” Is there anything they can do right now?

McCAUGHEY: Yes. They should call their members of Congress, their U.S. senators, and their representatives and say please make sure these health provisions are taken out of this bill so that the American public and the doctors and the nurses and the hospital executives can have a meaningful discussion about what should be in a health bill.

BECK: OK. All right. One more time, gang. Got to call the clowns up and say, “Hey, don't do this to us. Hey, please don't screw us.”

From the April 15 edition of Fox News' Hannity:

GINGRICH: Kellen Giuda, who's the young man who organized New York, is a new businessman. He's not earning the kind of money that would get him taxed by Obama, but he wants his family and his children to have a better future. And he knows that this debt is direct threat to their life.

We figured out at American Solutions that if you're 20 years old this year, you're going to pay $114,000 in extra taxes with the Obama interest on the debt they're going to run up from spending. And that doesn't count the amount of interest you're going to pay for all the loan guarantees they're building.

This is a key day. I hope every American across the country will call their senator and their congressman and say, beat the budget, make them write a new budget, take out the spending increases, take out the tax increases, get government under control.

HANNITY: Yeah, you know, you know -- I look at these families, and I got to speak to -- you people are wonderful, and thank you all for coming out, by the way. I mean that sincerely. But -- and I've got to tell you, I can't even paint the picture for people at home. Folks, it goes down two city blocks, down around another block and down around the other side in the other block. I mean, it's amazing.

But I guess the issue here, though, is Mr. Speaker, are we now -- is this a defining moment? Do you think there's an opportunity to stop the $4 trillion that Barack Obama wants to spend and the amount of debt that he's going to create for our kids and grandkids? Do you think this is the spark that begins here tonight in Atlanta, that began in all or every state around this country? Is this the spark that gets us going?

GINGRICH: Well, Adam Waldeck at American Solutions told me there are over 700 cities that have tea parties tonight. If every American who's watching us will call their senators and their congressman and tell them to vote no on the budget, no on big spending, no on big deficits, no on tax increases, I think maybe next week we'll start setting the stage to get government under control. And then this will make a difference.

From the June 23 edition of Fox News' Hannity:

GINGRICH: Well, look, we have an ad campaign under way, we have a petition drive under way, we're targeting specific Democrats who represent districts where there's no reason to vote for this.

The energy tax bill will probably come to the floor on Friday. It is a terrible burden on the American economy. It's going to deepen the recession, it's going to increase unemployment, it's going to hurt every American family if you use electricity, gasoline, diesel fuel, or other things -- heating oil. It's going to hurt you.

HANNITY: Well, that's a pretty big hurt especially -- you know, they told us if we passed the stimulus bill, Mr. Speaker, that unemployment wouldn't go above 8 percent. If we didn't pass it, it would go to 9 percent. Now it's 9.4 percent, and he said it'd be 10 percent by the end of the year. Now they're saying it could be 10 percent by the end of the summer.

GINGRICH: I think the idea with gasoline prices going back up, and I hope every person watching tonight will both call their congressman or will send an email to all of their friends asking them to call their congressman. I believe if the American people act in the next 72 hours, we can defeat this bill on Friday. It is a terrible energy tax increase.

From the June 25 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:

BACHMANN: Glenn, can I jut say you were dead on at the beginning of the show when you said tomorrow's vote is the most important story in the United States. It is. It's not too late for people to call their member of Congress. They need to. It's the largest tax increase in American history. And it will give the government more power over Americans' lives than any other bill that will pass in our generation.

BECK: Michele, I said on the air today -- I know people are tired of calling Congress. But I told them to call Congress. Can you put the number down for the House? They need to call Congress and very --

BACHMANN: Do not get tired yet. One more call. If there's one more call that people make, make this one. Vote no on that national energy tax. It is a $2 trillion tax increase, but it will give government control over virtually every aspect of our life. They have to call.

BECK: OK. I said today that you need to call and tell your congressperson -- I have a very long memory. And if you vote yes on this -- because some of them are saying, “Well, I'm not sure.” What do you mean you're not sure? You don't have to read the details of this one. You're either for cap-and-trade or you're not. And if you vote yes --

BACHMANN: You're either for freedom or you're not.

BECK: Exactly right.

From the August 3 edition of Fox News' Hannity:

HANNITY: Look, I'm -- it's Tim Bishop. You've got this Congressman Carnahan in Missouri. You see, Kathleen Sebelius, this is the second time she's been shouted down. You got Arlen Specter. Now I'm hearing Democrats are afraid to show up at these town halls.

MORRIS: Look, this has got to be a time of unbelievable pressure. On my website, DickMorris.com you, I outline four steps you need to take to fight back. One is arm yourself with the facts, and chapter four in Catastrophe is written for you.

Number two is we have -- we're going to be putting up an advertisement, American League of Voters, that asks people very flatly, how can you cover 50 million new people without any extra doctors?

HANNITY: Right.

MORRIS: You can't. This is the end of Medicare as we know it.

HANNITY: But --

MORRIS: Go to my website and learn how to promote that ad. Then write your senator, write your congressman, call them, and write your friends to do it. And my website explain how to do all this and who the targets are.

From the August 10 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: America, you call your congressman. You call just -- the congressman that represents you. You call your senator right now. Is that -- there's the house switchboard right there. You call them right now. You tell them we'd like to chat. You call them in your own local area.

But you know what? While we're talking to you, Congressman, while we're talking to you, Senator, we're going to demand some things that I think are pretty reasonable. For instance, number one, we demand that you read the bills that you vote on. And then you have the courage to tell us exactly where you stand on the bill -- none of this, well, I can't tell you how where he stands of -- he hasn't made up his -- bull crap! You people know exactly what you're going to do. Have the courage of your convictions.

And you know what? We're not going to give up. Know that we're not angry mobs, but know this: you're a servant to the people. Maybe you should start acting like it.

And then, America, when you're done with that phone call, you make another phone call. Put the White House -- there it is -- there's the White House switchboard number for you. You call them up, and in all cases, always -- always be polite. Have respect for the office.

You demand that the president address these questions: If it's un- American to speak out at town halls, like Nancy Pelosi has charged. Is it un-American? Should Nancy Pelosi have maybe somebody at the bully pulpit of the White House say, “Excuse me, it's not un-American”? Just like I defended who I -- the people who I believe are pinheads back in Hollywood, back four years ago.

From the August 27 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: Now, the second part of this. A few months ago, I told you, you got to know you're not alone. You've got to know. You got to unite. Talk to people. Make sure you know you're not alone, through the 9/12 Project. We started that. Millions all involved across the country and the 9/12 Project and other organizations like it. I knew we needed to connect with one another. But at the time, didn't know what you were to do.

Well, I'm tired of being a sheep. I'm tired of being a victim. I'm tired of being pushed around. Well, you know what? The gloves come off. Tomorrow, I will give you a plan. I will tell you exactly the place to go, the way you can save your republic. That's tomorrow. Don't miss it.

From the August 28 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: OK. Here's the thing. America, tough times are coming, but I promise you this -- powerful and mighty miracles are right around the corner, too. But it's going to take all of us. It's going to take almost like organizing our community. Hmm, who would have thought that?

And you know what? I'm going to cover the grand community organization event on 9/12 in Washington, D.C., because some things are worth standing up for.

[...]

BECK: On 9/12, I hope to see you in Washington. I will make sure you're seen all over the country.

From the September 3 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: How about this last one? I love this. You know who designed the stimulus package? Well, let me tell you about a guy here in New York. A guy here in New York is the chair of an organization called the Apollo Alliance of New York. Do you know who he is? It's so funny.

He was the partner with William Ayers that founded the Weather Underground. Who is the Apollo Alliance? Oh, my gosh, the Apollo Alliance -- boy, one of the board members, one of the members of the Apollo Alliance is Van Jones. Isn't that -- oh, you know what else they have done? They designed the stimulus package.

America, it is time for you to pick up your phone and call the White House and be extraordinarily polite but extraordinarily clear. Demand answers. Demand the truth. Mr. President, if you really believe that the current system of American capitalism needs to change, make the damn case. Do not do it behind closed doors.

Call the White House now. Call your congressmen and your senator and say, “Where the hell are you?” Back in a minute.

From the September 8 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: Now, six months ago, I introduced you to the 9/12 Project and I passed it on to you. This Saturday, you answer the question, what have you come up with? Here's a reminder.

[promotional video]

[...]

BECK: You know, in the 1700s, it took only 50 men to stand together and change the world. This Saturday is 9/12. We'll be covering what is happening in Washington, 1 to 3 Eastern. Will we find another 50 men or women willing to stand for our country and the republic?

On the Fox News channel, you can find out all of the details at the 912Project.com. Good night.