Fox guest Steve Rogers probably takes the cake for fear mongering about the Iran nuclear deal.
Rogers, a former member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, called the deal, “catastrophic for Israel, catastrophic for the United States.” But that wasn’t inflammatory enough. Rogers added, “If you have a 10 year-old child, hug him now, because 10 years from now, they may very well be fighting a war in the Middle East over this catastrophic deal.”
Steve Moore, of the Heritage Foundation, engaged in some over-the-top rhetoric of his own. “How in the world did you justify giving $150 billion of US taxpayer dollars to our sworn enemy?” he asked.
Host Neil Cavuto corrected Moore. “Well, but it’s not taxpayer dollars so much as their money that’s been frozen for a few decades. I understand your anger, but it’s not as if taxpayers are forking over this money, right?”
And it’s not $150 billion either. The Huffington Post reported that the number is actually $55 billion because most of the money that has been frozen is already committed. HuffPo also noted that Treasury Secretary Jack Lew "estimated that Iran’s demand for domestic investment surpasses $500 billion, and that it will cost between $100 billion and $200 billion to restore production levels in its oil and gas sector." Lew acknowledged that any amount could be used for ill purporses. “But this is not going to change the shape of Iran’s resources for good or bad purposes.”
However, Cavuto did not correct that error.
Watch Fox try to gin up hysteria below, from the September 10 Your World, via Media Matters.
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Joseph West commented
2015-09-13 01:39:02 -0400
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I would hope Rogers (I can’t call him “Mr” for the black mark that would put on the beloved children’s TV host, and I can’t use his first name because I don’t want to think of this idiot sharing the same name as Captain America) would remember that he’s in the US. Israel is its own country and it’s really NOT our business how an agreement made BY THE US GOVERNMENT affects Israel. If he’s concerned about how the deal affects Israel, he can damned well move to Israel. (I’m not sure of his religious/ethnic heritage, but his name doesn’t exactly present itself as being of the Jewish variety. And non-Jews, while able to emigrate to Israel, have a much more difficult time become citizens.)
The US has already spent far too much time and effort worrying about and protecting Israel and the current Israeli government doesn’t seem too interested in behaving like they OWE us for all that help. But that’s the CONservative double standard when it comes to Israel. ANY OTHER COUNTRY that got as much aid and political support as Israel does but effectively thumbed its nose at every turn would be attacked by CONservatives as “ingrates” and have their aid budget reviewed.
The US has already spent far too much time and effort worrying about and protecting Israel and the current Israeli government doesn’t seem too interested in behaving like they OWE us for all that help. But that’s the CONservative double standard when it comes to Israel. ANY OTHER COUNTRY that got as much aid and political support as Israel does but effectively thumbed its nose at every turn would be attacked by CONservatives as “ingrates” and have their aid budget reviewed.
Eyes On Fox commented
2015-09-12 13:15:27 -0400
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@erich Pomfret:
You can read the full text of the agreement here: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/world/full-text-of-the-iran-nuclear-deal/1651/. Of course, the problem isn’t the agreement but understanding its implications.
When I want serious TV news I turn to PBS Newshour. The 3 network nightly news shows which are ~20 minutes long allowing for commercials are far too short for in-depth coverage of so much as a cat stuck in a tree story. Fox News is pure propaganda. I don’t really watch MSNBC but my limited experience is their hard news is weak. I used to be a CNN junkie maybe 15 years ago but I’m not sure what they are now.
You can search for yourself, but this News Hour link is a pretty good overview and discussion: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/deal-keep-iran-making-nuclear-bomb-10-points/. Unlike Fox News propaganda, it doesn’t lead you to ‘the answer’ but I found it helpful in shedding light on the issues.
Recall all of Fox News’ diaper filling about the ‘anything but Bush’ crowd back in the Dubya presidency days? Well, the partisan hate is on steroids with Fox News and the Republican Party (a redundant statement) against Obama. Obama could announce a government cure for cancer and Fox News would rage he needs to be impeached because so many doctors and nurses will lose their jobs.
What I see – for what it’s worth – is the Iran Deal is a decent chance to delay Iran developing nuclear weapons for a 10-15 years. No deal and I see Iran using that time to keep plodding along with nuclear weapons development.
Fox News keeps softballing hate-filled Republicans what they would do. It’s easy for Republicans to demagogue against Iran having nukes. It’s a harder thing to come up with workable solution. For a while, they talked of bombing – an act of war. Republicans have pretty much given up on that bad idea so now it’s doubling-down on sanctions for a better deal.
I personally see little chance of doubling-down on sanctions leading to a better deal but implicit in that thought is Republicans (and Fox News) hating Obama so much the assumption is some hardline blow-hard like Donald Trump is a more competent negotiator. Also it assumes our allies who are eager for the sanctions to end will double-down with us and that we indeed have more sanction rabbits in the hat we can pull out that will magically bring Iran to its knees (unlike all the rest). Personally, I think Fox News and their Republican twins are full of bull$hit but you’ve got to form your own opinion.
Even a nuclear armed Iran – despite all the Fox News and Republican demagoguery/fear-mongering to the contrary – isn’t suicidal and isn’t about to start lobbing nukes at the U.S. and Israel who have an extensive, state-of-the-art arsenal which could turn Iran into a sea of glass.
You can read the full text of the agreement here: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/world/full-text-of-the-iran-nuclear-deal/1651/. Of course, the problem isn’t the agreement but understanding its implications.
When I want serious TV news I turn to PBS Newshour. The 3 network nightly news shows which are ~20 minutes long allowing for commercials are far too short for in-depth coverage of so much as a cat stuck in a tree story. Fox News is pure propaganda. I don’t really watch MSNBC but my limited experience is their hard news is weak. I used to be a CNN junkie maybe 15 years ago but I’m not sure what they are now.
You can search for yourself, but this News Hour link is a pretty good overview and discussion: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/deal-keep-iran-making-nuclear-bomb-10-points/. Unlike Fox News propaganda, it doesn’t lead you to ‘the answer’ but I found it helpful in shedding light on the issues.
Recall all of Fox News’ diaper filling about the ‘anything but Bush’ crowd back in the Dubya presidency days? Well, the partisan hate is on steroids with Fox News and the Republican Party (a redundant statement) against Obama. Obama could announce a government cure for cancer and Fox News would rage he needs to be impeached because so many doctors and nurses will lose their jobs.
What I see – for what it’s worth – is the Iran Deal is a decent chance to delay Iran developing nuclear weapons for a 10-15 years. No deal and I see Iran using that time to keep plodding along with nuclear weapons development.
Fox News keeps softballing hate-filled Republicans what they would do. It’s easy for Republicans to demagogue against Iran having nukes. It’s a harder thing to come up with workable solution. For a while, they talked of bombing – an act of war. Republicans have pretty much given up on that bad idea so now it’s doubling-down on sanctions for a better deal.
I personally see little chance of doubling-down on sanctions leading to a better deal but implicit in that thought is Republicans (and Fox News) hating Obama so much the assumption is some hardline blow-hard like Donald Trump is a more competent negotiator. Also it assumes our allies who are eager for the sanctions to end will double-down with us and that we indeed have more sanction rabbits in the hat we can pull out that will magically bring Iran to its knees (unlike all the rest). Personally, I think Fox News and their Republican twins are full of bull$hit but you’ve got to form your own opinion.
Even a nuclear armed Iran – despite all the Fox News and Republican demagoguery/fear-mongering to the contrary – isn’t suicidal and isn’t about to start lobbing nukes at the U.S. and Israel who have an extensive, state-of-the-art arsenal which could turn Iran into a sea of glass.
truman commented
2015-09-12 12:47:20 -0400
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The mere thought of an Iranian war arouses GOPiggies like Moore and Rogers. It’s better than any purple pill.
When President Hillary Clinton finally extricates us from Dumbya/Little Dick’s follies in Afghanistan and Iraq, the teabaggers won’t have any Muslim war left. Permanent impotence.
When President Hillary Clinton finally extricates us from Dumbya/Little Dick’s follies in Afghanistan and Iraq, the teabaggers won’t have any Muslim war left. Permanent impotence.
Erich Pomfret commented
2015-09-12 11:24:03 -0400
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As you say, it isn’t what they say, it’s what they ignore, or how they spin it. It has been very difficult for me to formulate a personal position on the deal based on news coverage and/or government leadership support/opposition. As someone of Jewish descent, I found it even harder. Finally, I reasoned that if some Democratic senators decided it was a bad deal, that was logical, but when not a single Republican was willing to say it had merit, that could only mean the opposition was completely political. Even Netanyahu’s own party isn’t unanimously opposed.
Eyes On Fox commented
2015-09-12 10:30:11 -0400
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As I always point out, it’s not the facts Fox News spews you need to worry about. It’s the 1/2 of the truth (or more) they routinely ignore. When attacked for lies (typically lies of omission like this) GOP TV clowns will reflexively respond where’s the lie? Each of their carefully data-mined facts usually is accurate. Then they simply repeat all their hand-picked facts to prove they’re Honest Abe propagandists.
Fox News is very accurate news if you forget context. Forget data-mining. Forget sources (the infamous ‘some say’ a right-wing talking point or smear is dead-on accurate). Basically, forget everything taught in Journalism 101.
Nobody will accuse Fox News’ right-wing fanboys of possessing a smidgen of critical thinking skills so GOP TV will always get away with it. Even cheered for the lies!
Fox News is very accurate news if you forget context. Forget data-mining. Forget sources (the infamous ‘some say’ a right-wing talking point or smear is dead-on accurate). Basically, forget everything taught in Journalism 101.
Nobody will accuse Fox News’ right-wing fanboys of possessing a smidgen of critical thinking skills so GOP TV will always get away with it. Even cheered for the lies!
El 84 commented
2015-09-12 09:41:56 -0400
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The “sworn enemy” bullshit is typical of the pricks and nut jobs who want to demonize all of Iran. Iran’s political leaders are not in synch with much of Iran’s population. Characterizing an entire nation as evil, and worthy of war, etc. is wrong. Add the pro-Israel (right-wing Israel) meme, and the senselessness continues.
Moore is a turd, for lack of a better word. He is stirring up hatred, and stirring up support for eventual military action in a region that needs no more war. We screwed up the Middle East enough under Cheney/Bush.
Eventually, the split between archaic religion and modern Iran will play out, but it is not our place to dictate to Iran. Moore and the Heritage (some heritage) Foundation need to shrivel up and go away. Crooked bastards. Warmongers.
El 84
Moore is a turd, for lack of a better word. He is stirring up hatred, and stirring up support for eventual military action in a region that needs no more war. We screwed up the Middle East enough under Cheney/Bush.
Eventually, the split between archaic religion and modern Iran will play out, but it is not our place to dictate to Iran. Moore and the Heritage (some heritage) Foundation need to shrivel up and go away. Crooked bastards. Warmongers.
El 84
NewsHounds
posted
about Fox Guest Fear Mongers About Iran Deal: Hug Your Child Now
on NewsHounds' Facebook page
2015-09-12 09:00:09 -0400
Fox guests will say ANYTHING to scare the pants off its viewers about the Iran nuclear deal.
