Fox & Friends' relationship with the truth seems to be on shaky grounds given the number of times that they have been called on their misinformation which they only rarely correct. Given the pattern, one wonders whether it's faulty research and fact checking or blatant attempts to promote right wing propaganda. Such was the case, on Sunday's Fox & Friends, during which Dave Briggs and the guest, Steven Crowder, promoted the right wing viral lie that the President is distributing free phones to minorities poor people. And in addition to the verbal propaganda, the lie was further reinforced by chyrons and a backdrop visual that looked like an official Obama administration website for obtaining "Obama Phones." It's not. It's unclear what Obamaphone.net is. However, it does seem to be part of the attempt to advance a right wing lie being advanced on the "fair & balanced" Fox News network.
The site provides information about eligibility for "Obama Phones" and links to a non-government site that has information about free phones and various free phone service plans. The link, on "Free Government Cell Phones" to "Obama Phones?" provides background and context to the "rumors" about free Obama phones - rumors which, as they note, began in 2009. So while the website, "The Obama Phone, Free Government Cell Phone Program" links to more accurate information, their title, citing non-existent "Obama Phones," would suggest a right wing, propaganda driven anti-Obama agenda. That it is not a government website is clear from the .net, as opposed to .US, at the end of the web address.
But as a visual for Fox lies, it was perfect.
One picture is worth a thousand words?
Kent, don’t worry! Priscilla is keenly attuned to that which elicits, as was said on Monty Python, a wink, wink and a nudge, nudge!
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Yoe’re joking, right?
