As in, “Some would say that Fox News hosts encouraged the so-called tea party movement.”

Really, just “some would say that”? That seems odd because the notion that Fox News hosts have encouraged the so-called tea party movement isn't even in question. I mean, the hosts have been doing that for months, like, while cameras are rolling. The hosts have been doing it all year. Unapologetically and relentless on live national television.

Yet NPR seems unsure whether it wants to acknowledge that fact, so it poses the question as something of riddle. i.e. “Some would say” that, but not everybody.

The truth is that the Fox News team, not just the opinion hosts, have been promoting and have “encouraged” the tea party movement this year. But if NPR isn't even comfortable suggesting the hosts have done that, there's no way they're going to report that the entire Fox News team has been doing the same. That might seem controversial because, of course, news teams aren't supposed to be in the business or promoting partisan political rallies, so NPR begs off that fact.

This is one reason it's proving impossible to have a factual discussion about Fox News' new role in the media landscape. It's impossible because so many journalists seem to have no idea what Fox News is doing day in and day out.

Fact: Fox News hosts have encouraged the tea party movement.

Fact: The entire Fox News team has encouraged the tea party movement.

Why is that so difficult for NPR to acknowledge?