Fox Helps Romney Out by Exploiting 1998 Obama ‘Redistribution’ Video

Fox News’ all-out effort to neutralize Mitt Romney’s 47% remarks now includes exploiting the hell out of a fourteen-year-old audio of then-Illinois-state-senator Barack Obama saying that he believes in redistribution.

In his interview with Fox News yesterday, Romney referred to a YouTube video, originally unearthed by the Drudge Report, of Obama speaking at an October 19, 1998 conference at Loyola University. Fox has obligingly made it their leading article on foxnews.com.

The article makes a token effort to be F&B, noting that the short video clip "purports" to show Obama saying he believes in redistribution and doesn't put the words in any sort of context. The accompanying post on Fox Nation makes no such effort. The post is short and sweet, saying merely that “Obama spoke against ‘propaganda’ that said government doesn't work (they eliminated the part where he admitted that some government action hadn’t been effective) and the need to ‘pool resources and hence facilitate some redistribution because I actually believe in redistribution’ (they eliminated what he said right after that which was, ‘at least at a certain level to make sure everybody’s got a shot.’)”

The story does have a little traction with “MSM” political bloggers this morning. It certainly has resonance with some Fox Nation readers, sparking the usual vitriolic and sometimes vicious remarks:

Whether it will ultimately have the same resonance as the "47%" remark, or whether it'll go down into oblivion as a bit of cheap gotcha, only time will tell.

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Showing 7 reactions

commented 2012-09-19 15:41:17 -0400 · Flag

This 1998 video is pathetic. Is this the best you got? If it is then the Romney campaign is firing blanks in retaliation. Shall we look back at Romneyâs debate performance against Ted Kennedy when Mitt was left of Senator Kennedy on abortion?

I watched F&F for only a couple of minutes today, but just in time to watch Gretchen pouting over the media ignoring the Obama video, while crying over the time spent on Romneyâs. She needed a pacifier. I enjoyed it immensely.

commented 2012-09-19 12:51:35 -0400 · Flag

In case any of you missed it, here’s the new campaign slogan for Mitt…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYqF_BtIwAU

commented 2012-09-19 10:45:51 -0400 · Flag

Oh, it’s certain that this will have some resonance….but ONLY with the goobers that long ago decided that they will never vote for a black man. I STILL have enough faith in my country to believe that enough sane, intelligent people will vote to make this stoopit vote meaningless.

commented 2012-09-19 10:11:27 -0400 · Flag

For someone who has done nothing for the last six years but run for President, MagicUnderwear Mitt has proven to be a totally inept campaigner. It seems like everytime he opens his yap, he either disses half of the American electorate or creates an international incident. Mitt may be qualified to be President of his yacht club, but he is not up to the task of being POTUS.

commented 2012-09-19 09:07:30 -0400 · Flag

@Kevin: hear! hear! hear!

commented 2012-09-19 08:35:57 -0400 · Flag

The thing is – the 1998 recording isn’t really a bombshell. It’s Obama discussing the idea that government can work, and discussing the notion of a progressive tax system. The whole idea of taxing people who make large sums of money more than people who don’t is in itself mildly redistributive. There’s nothing controversial about that unless you don’t believe in the rich paying more taxes than the poor. And Obama’s statement doesn’t attack anyone – it’s an expression of hope that the system can work to help people.

On the other hand, Romney’s statement is a pretty direct dismissal of those who will not support him as being unworthy.

The half life of the respective quotes is going to be quite different. The Obama comment will be waved around by Fox to little effect for the next few days, while the Romney quote will haunt him up to the moment the Election returns are announced.

commented 2012-09-19 08:26:12 -0400 · Flag

This morning’s F&F is mind-bottling (deliberate mis-spelling). How can they have the gall to say they’re F&B, that they present both sides? A simple word count would show that their show is 95% pro-Romney and 5% against Obama.

The fact that the foxy faithful swallow this garbage whole is proof positive of a poor level of critical thinking skills. The USA is not showing itself at its best … Luckily, most Europeans are aware that FNC is not the intelligent contingent in the country.