Fox News: “Terrorist” fist jab?
I was only joking when I referred to the walking stick Obama received as a “terrorist” walking stick. Well, my joke was not too far from the truth, apparently. Do you remember the fist bump between Michelle and Barack Obama last Tuesday? Yes, apparently it is a “terrorist” fist jab. Fox News anchor E.D. Hill asked the following question when referring to the fist jab the Obama’s shared this past week:
“A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab? … We’ll show you some interesting body communication and find out what it really says.”
Of course, it doesn’t seem like she was serious, but the only fact that it was even brought up makes me question the purpose of the reference. Why doesn’t E.D. Hill refer to these fist bumps as “terrorists”? Is Derek Jeter a “terrorist” also?
I think I know who “wears the pants” in that family.
Fox News — always less a news organization than an arm of the Republican party — has degenerated into self-parody. As I said before, they have no intention of fighting this election on the issues. It wil be all Wright, flag pins, wife statements, and vague dodgy associations.
The plan here is to sneak little ideas into the heads of the masses. As President Obama looms, FOX will become less and less subtle with in its attempts to organize those who think on credit.
Yeah, modern media is sensationalist. We have to demand better – turn the crap off. If we don’t watch them, they will have to change what they broadcast. The free market is like democracy – we get what we want, what we deserve.
But to exempt other news outlets from this criticism is to practice blatant “American-style” partisan politics. CNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, etc are all just as ‘ridiculous’ in their partisan cheerleading. You can only be pretending if you insist that FOX news is the only media outlet that doesn’t care about ‘issues’.
The ideal of neutral journalism what jettisoned as naive long ago. Maybe we should try to resurrect it? The alternative is to embrace the partisan media, and demand they be forthright with their political proclivities.
CNN and the others are, of course, devolving fast. But to suggest that they are on the same level as FOX News is to ignore the facts.
However, resurrecting the idea of a “neutral” media would be disastrous. We need a “partisan” media and by that I mean an independent media that serves the people rather than corporations. I also look to the “biased” non-american sources for my news. (You know, because they’re “biased,” unlike american sources.)
Insofar as the underlying themes of this thread are so very critical, I offer the following text as a basis for comparison:
The VOICE OF AMERICA CHARTER
To protect the integrity of VOA programming and define the organization’s mission, the VOA Charter was drafted in 1960 and later signed into law (Public Law 94-350) on July 12, 1976, by President Gerald Ford. It reads:
“The long-range interests of the United States are served by communicating directly with the peoples of the world by radio. To be effective, the Voice of America must win the attention and respect of listeners. These principles will therefore govern Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts.
“1. VOA will serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news. VOA news will be accurate, objective, and comprehensive.
“2. VOA will represent America, not any single segment of American society, and will therefore present a balanced and comprehensive projection of significant American thought and institutions.
“3. VOA will present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively, and will also present responsible discussions and opinion on these policies.”
For those who do not know, Edward R. Morrow was the Director of the United States Information Agency during the Kennedy years. The VOA was only one of the many operations of USIA, until the latter was disbanded in 1999 by the actions of Senator Jesse Helms.
Another interesting note is that David McCullough, author of well-known books, including “John Adams” was an editor and writer for the United States Information Agency during the Kennedy years and beyond. He is an example of the quality of personnel which made up that Agency.
Speaking in German, William Harlan Hale, on February 24, 1942. uttered the first words ever broadcast over the VOA to the European continent. He said: “Here speaks a voice from America. Every day at this time we will bring you the news of the war. The news may be good. The news may be bad. We shall tell you the truth.”
Michael what facts?
We’ve got plenty of independent media (read: socialist rags) where I’m from. But most people recognize how out of touch with reality they are and ignore them.
And it’s absurd you buy into that people vs. corporations storyline.
I knew there was a reason I didn’t trust Derek Jeter. To think that he would be involving his daughter in terrorist activity at such a young age. For shame.
And David McCullough is a native of the Pittsburgh area; proof positive that Western PA can produce great things other than a large share of NFL quarterbacks!
Let’s not forget the print media. Here Newsweek promoting an Obama campaign staff member’s slander of Joe Lieberman:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NjZjZmI1ODdiN2JjZjE4Y2IxMWEyZjViYjIyYTM1ODU=
I believe that Michael I. is right. There is no comparison. Yes, CNN and MSNBC are blatantly partisan in many respects, but you will not find them just making up ridiculous insinuations about terrorist tendencies. FOXNews is tabloid trash…just check out their “Poptart” and “411″ sections on their website!
Serious people don’t watch any TV news in the first place. :)
Fox basically functions as an arm of movement conservatism; the other networks are sensationalistic, yes, but aren’t uniformly biased in favor of the liberal/progressive agenda in a mirror image of Fox’s blatant advocacy on behalf of Republicans.
Serious people don’t watch any TV news in the first place. :)
I agree! :) I only have like 10 channels in my TV and I have CNN Headline News… I get all the news I need through Nancy Grace hehehehe :-O
To be effective, the Voice of America must win the attention and respect of listeners. These principles will therefore govern Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts.
Gerald,
I think that mystique has been lost… That is the problem… I don’t have any respect for Fox News among many of the media outlets, because they don’t respect us as their audience!
Zach, its not really so absurd. For profit media outlets need to sell ads to corporations, they also need to cover corporations. Independent media outlets do not need to sell ads.
I’ll agree that many news outlets are terribly progressive (indymedia anyone?), but its because most of the groups who have a disdain for corporations are progressive themselves. I think that if there were a “conservative” or rightist independent media outlet, it would violate its own ideals.
Katerina I can’t believe you are a Nancy Grace fan. Every time I hear her talk I want to strangle her :)
That being said people know what programs on FOX are agenda driven and which ones are more fair and balanced.
I am very much more concerned about the Lou Dobbs Show on CNN myself
And David McCullough is a native of the Pittsburgh area; proof positive that Western PA can produce great things other than a large share of NFL quarterbacks!
Dennis Miller and Policraticus.
jh,
I was kidding! Nancy Grace is INSANE…
I CANNOT stand Lou Dobbs, so in that we agree! I’m always forced to watch him while I run on the treadmill at the gym… ugh
Katerina,
“I think that mystique has been lost… That is the problem… I don’t have any respect for Fox News among many of the media outlets, because they don’t respect us as their audience!”
I agree. The mystique has been lost in domestic broadcasting.
I posted the VOA Charter because it states very succinctly what is required for credibility. “We tell the truth.” Without truth, there is no credibility. Without credibility, there is no allegiance or respect.
Broadcasting today is done for audience ratings. The American people are split into warring factions. They are getting the programming they demand. It’s a disgrace.
Mark DeFrancisis,
Don’t forget Andy!
It does seem the Washington Post is beginning to tell the truth about the pre-war intelligence though:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/08/AR2008060801687.html
“It does seem the Washington Post is beginning to tell the truth about the pre-war intelligence though”
They are also undergoing a lot of organizational and personnel changes.
What did Bob Dylan say: “The times, they are a changing.”
Maybe that’s what has enabled them to tell the truth.
And it’s absurd you buy into that people vs. corporations storyline.
If you say so.
That was the most inane segment of any program that remotely resembles the news. I have never seen something so entirely pointless and devoid of sense. I honestly thought it was a parody by The Onion. This segment alone proves, without need of any exhibit B, that Fox destroys brain cells. I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt until….that.
Colbert and Stewart. I know that’s very “college student” of me, but they are the only news source that comes with the satire American politics practically cries out for in order to be considered in any way true.
Pax Christi,