Fox News... You Lie!
” Never let the Truth stand in the way of a Good Story”
-Mark Twain
This seems to be the mantra of Fox News, a supposed “news” outlet that never shies away from promoting their conservative, tea bagging, Republican point of view. And the examples of their willingness to lie, skew or misrepresent the truth (or remain pleasantly ignorant) are so numerous, I could fill page after page with examples. But, let’s just look at a couple of recent over the top, blatant lies spewed forth on Fox “News”.
Glenn Beck was soooo happy to show us a video clip of White House Communications Director Anita Dunn speaking at a DC area high school graduation ceremony last June, mainly because he knew he was about to totally distort what she said by cutting her words short. Here’s what he claimed she said:
"[T]wo of my favorite political philosophers, Mao Tse-Tung and Mother Teresa, not often coupled with each other, but the two people that I turn to most."
Wow, that’s awful, right? The “two people that I turn to most”? My God, what kind of un-American woman is this? Well, of course, that’s not at all what she said. Let’s take a look at her full quote:
"The third lesson and tip actually comes from two of my favorite political philosophers: Mao Tse-tung and Mother Theresa -- not often coupled with each other, but the two people I turn to most to basically deliver a simple point which is 'you're going to make choices; you're going to challenge; you're going to say why not; you're going to figure out how to do things that have never been done before."
Gee, might there be a tad bit of a difference between what Beck showed us and what she actually said? But, Beck proceeded to hammer the point that she said they were the “two people I turn to most”… period. Over and over he made this claim, knowing full well it completely misrepresented what she actually said.
Regardless, Glenn Beck doesn’t care about the truth. All he cares about is spreading whatever insidious lies he deems necessary to conjure up both fear and ratings. Sadly, he’s been successful on both fronts (though his advertisers are heading for the hills these days).
Another example of Fox News’ willingness to ignore the truth is evident in their “outrage” and hysterical paranoia about the recent meeting between Obama and some liberal-leaning journalists. Amidst their cacophony of wailing and gnashing of teeth, Fox proved once again that they have no regard for the telling the whole story.
The truth is, Obama met with several conservative pundits at the home of columnist George Will just a week after the inauguration. Along with Will were the Weekly Standard's William Kristol, New York Times columnist David Brooks, and Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post. Has Fox mentioned this meeting while screeching about Obama's recent meeting with liberal members of the media?
Of course not. That would stand in the way of their blatantly slanted point of view. Oh, and would stand in the way of telling a "good story".
Though the wisdom of Obama's strategy to call Fox out has sparked debate from all sides, I like that Obama and his team are speaking the truth to what most of us already know... they lie!
So, please Fox “News”, enough whining about Obama’s recent meeting with liberal members of the media. Unlike former President Bush, this President actually listens to both sides. And, while you're at it, enough whining about finally being called out for what you really are: A right wing mouthpiece.
While negating the truth may make for a good story, having that truth thrown back in your face can still hurt.
-Mark Twain
This seems to be the mantra of Fox News, a supposed “news” outlet that never shies away from promoting their conservative, tea bagging, Republican point of view. And the examples of their willingness to lie, skew or misrepresent the truth (or remain pleasantly ignorant) are so numerous, I could fill page after page with examples. But, let’s just look at a couple of recent over the top, blatant lies spewed forth on Fox “News”.
Glenn Beck was soooo happy to show us a video clip of White House Communications Director Anita Dunn speaking at a DC area high school graduation ceremony last June, mainly because he knew he was about to totally distort what she said by cutting her words short. Here’s what he claimed she said:
"[T]wo of my favorite political philosophers, Mao Tse-Tung and Mother Teresa, not often coupled with each other, but the two people that I turn to most."
Wow, that’s awful, right? The “two people that I turn to most”? My God, what kind of un-American woman is this? Well, of course, that’s not at all what she said. Let’s take a look at her full quote:
"The third lesson and tip actually comes from two of my favorite political philosophers: Mao Tse-tung and Mother Theresa -- not often coupled with each other, but the two people I turn to most to basically deliver a simple point which is 'you're going to make choices; you're going to challenge; you're going to say why not; you're going to figure out how to do things that have never been done before."
Gee, might there be a tad bit of a difference between what Beck showed us and what she actually said? But, Beck proceeded to hammer the point that she said they were the “two people I turn to most”… period. Over and over he made this claim, knowing full well it completely misrepresented what she actually said.
Regardless, Glenn Beck doesn’t care about the truth. All he cares about is spreading whatever insidious lies he deems necessary to conjure up both fear and ratings. Sadly, he’s been successful on both fronts (though his advertisers are heading for the hills these days).
Another example of Fox News’ willingness to ignore the truth is evident in their “outrage” and hysterical paranoia about the recent meeting between Obama and some liberal-leaning journalists. Amidst their cacophony of wailing and gnashing of teeth, Fox proved once again that they have no regard for the telling the whole story.
The truth is, Obama met with several conservative pundits at the home of columnist George Will just a week after the inauguration. Along with Will were the Weekly Standard's William Kristol, New York Times columnist David Brooks, and Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post. Has Fox mentioned this meeting while screeching about Obama's recent meeting with liberal members of the media?
Of course not. That would stand in the way of their blatantly slanted point of view. Oh, and would stand in the way of telling a "good story".
Though the wisdom of Obama's strategy to call Fox out has sparked debate from all sides, I like that Obama and his team are speaking the truth to what most of us already know... they lie!
So, please Fox “News”, enough whining about Obama’s recent meeting with liberal members of the media. Unlike former President Bush, this President actually listens to both sides. And, while you're at it, enough whining about finally being called out for what you really are: A right wing mouthpiece.
While negating the truth may make for a good story, having that truth thrown back in your face can still hurt.
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