President Obama Criticizes Fox News Directly: Prepare for the Onslaught

Oh dear, gentle reader, I fear a storm is brewing. In an interview with the New Republic, released this morning, President Obama criticized some elements of the media - naming Fox News by name - for helping to feed the Republican obstructionism and hostility that marked his first term in office. And I can already hear the first ominous rumblings of thunder in the distance.

The interview covered a variety of topics - gun control, executive orders, and football - but a lot of it focused on the dysfunction in Washington. When asked about Republicans' unwillingness to work with him, Obama responded: "I don't think the issue is whether or not there are people of goodwill in either party that want to get something done. I think what we really have to do is change some of the incentive structures so that people feel liberated to pursue some common ground. One of the biggest factors is going to be how the media shapes debates. If a Republican member of Congress is not punished on Fox News or by Rush Limbaugh for working with a Democrat on a bill of common interest, then you'll see more of them doing it."

Greta Van Susteren has already written a critical blog post: "Apparently President Obama wants his usual media pass and Fox challenges his policies – which happens to be the media’s job." She also accused Democrat brass of intimidation: "Some Democrats have told me that they want to come on Fox to discuss issues but they get heat from their Leadership for appearing on Fox. Does President Obama know that? So which Party is intimidating its members?"

Van Susteren is one of the more reasonable Fox personalities. I am waiting with bated breath to see how some of the others respond.

(h/t Mediaite for putting me onto this story)

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commented 2013-01-30 07:23:01 -0500 · Flag

I think now that some people here sound like they are on the FOX payroll! :-)

commented 2013-01-30 01:10:20 -0500 · Flag

@ Kenzie Lan: “Once again I really hope that you do not think tht the media an the government tells us everything that is going on…because if ou do then you may need a reality check”

TRANSLATION: I’d much rather remain blissfully ignorant and continue to think Dumbya and Fox could do no wrong (and Obama can do no right) than to have any reality intrude on my fantasy . . .

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commented 2013-01-29 21:56:14 -0500 · Flag

@ Kenzie Lan: “You don’t know exactly why those missions failed during his terms because there is a lot that we the people do not know about the government and especially intelligence therefore cannot assume.”

CIA disbands Bin laden unit

Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
The Guardian, Tuesday 4 July 2006 13.23 EDT

Nearly five years after George Bush vowed to bring Osama bin Laden to justice “dead or alive”, it’s the end of the line for the CIA’s Alec Station, the unit dedicated to the hunt for the al-Qaida leader.

The unit, named after the son of a counter-terror official, was disbanded last year, it emerged this week, and its agents reassigned in what intelligence officials described as a recognition of the changing nature of al-Qaida.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/jul/04/usa.alqaida

Hm — maybe shutting down the unit that was dedicated to finding bin Laden had a lil’ sompin’ to do with why that mission failed . . .

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commented 2013-01-29 17:25:19 -0500 · Flag

@ Kenzie Lan: “The getting rid of *Bin Laden was a plan proposed by George Bush however the Bin Laden was literally hiding in a cave for years, it was not until May 2011 that he was located by the C
CIA who proposed the attack to Vice Admiral William McRoven who took it to higher authority at which Obama enforced the plan, just like any other president would have done.”

“Who knows if he’s [bin Laden] hiding in some cave or not. We haven’t heard from him in a long time. The idea of focusing on one person really indicates to me people don’t understand the scope of the mission. Terror is bigger than one person. He’s just a person who’s been marginalized. … *I don’t know where he is. I really just don’t spend that much time on him, to be honest with you.”* — George W. Bush, six months after 9/11

Well, Kenzie — sure doesn’t SOUND like “any other president” would enforce the plan of getting bin Laden . . .

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commented 2013-01-29 15:12:45 -0500 · Flag

Well all right Kenize.

commented 2013-01-29 05:16:02 -0500 · Flag

Kenize Lan-well lets start with saving the country form thr worts depression since the big crash tears ago! Alo he ended the fgalse war in Iraq that was started over the phony WMD claim! He is still working on getting us out of that other mess in Afganistan that has dragged on since 2001 and cost us trillions on the nationla debt. He got rid of Ben Laden by taking postive action. The lits does go on perhaps others here can add more to it. The main reason he gets all the abuse on FOX is becasue he is black to begin with.

commented 2013-01-29 02:19:54 -0500 · Flag

@kenize: Most if not all the links provided by mj have the original videos embedded and my experience has been that they are not edited.

No need to read the texts if you suspect they are biased.

Just go straight to the videos and watch/listen.

commented 2013-01-29 01:02:34 -0500 · Flag

Wasn’t Sanchez fired for making a hateful rant that targeted Jon Stewart as a “bigot”? Come to think of it, they also hired Don Imus right after he was fired for the “nappy headed hos” comment, and Juan Williams got his Fox News gig after the fallout for his comment about muslims.

Fox News sure does like to hire people who were fired from their former employers for hate speech. Might explain why their viewers are so comfortable preaching hatred and making death threats on Fox Nation.

Oh, and both links to articles, as well as videos of it happening on the network are included with the articles. if you were capable of reading MJ’s links instead of just running your mouth, you’d know that you could turn up the “actual fox news articles.”

commented 2013-01-28 20:41:19 -0500 · Flag

@ Kenize Lan:

*Ray Michaels, the thing is what exactly has Obama done right that people should be complimenting him about? *

Updated and Expanded List of 212 Obama Accomplishments, With Citations!

http://pleasecutthecrap.typepad.com/main/what-has-obama-done-since-january-20-2009.html

commented 2013-01-28 15:44:38 -0500 · Flag

Well as the old saying goes, " If the shoe fits then you have to wear it!" Thye NEVER have one postive word for Obama ever! they are hell bent on pouring ice water on everyting the man does and constantly stirring up hatred and resentment! They have been a non stop RAIN ON OBAMA’S PARADE since hew was elected. I am not saying they need ot appove of all he says and does but gee once in awhile they might try throwing the guy a compliment for doing something right! I have never seen such a hateful bunch in yeras!

commented 2013-01-28 14:38:39 -0500 · Flag

*Oddly he said nothing about MSNBC….

Go figure. *

Aside from what Visitor said about MSNBC not having a problem with Democrats and Republicans working together (neither does CNN), they also have no problem calling out wrongdoing from the left.

They called out Obama for policies they feel are wrong.

They called out Anthony Weiner for lying to the people.

They called out Carl Levin for his role in writing the “Indefinite Suspension” clause of the NDAA, and held a debate on whether Obama’s executive priviledge did enough to stop it.

They’ve had no problem calling out Pelosi and Reid when take the bait.

MSNBC has no problem giving honest criticism of Democrats. Fox News, on the other hand, seems to think that the only crime a Republican can commit is bipartisanship- They change the® to a (D) for everything else they can’t just ignore.

commented 2013-01-28 13:51:41 -0500 · Flag

I am really looking forward to the next four years! President Obama has nothing to lose, and the Gruesome Oppositionist Party has everythng to lose. That nonstop, relaxed “I’m lovin’ it” grin on his face makes me smile back. WooHooo! Bring ’em on Fuxites!

commented 2013-01-28 12:07:23 -0500 · Flag

D D — Why must you insult penises? :)

commented 2013-01-28 11:27:30 -0500 · Flag

Ah, Fox. BS is all they have so that is what they throw.

commented 2013-01-28 11:03:01 -0500 · Flag

Stanley seems to be suffering the effects Fox induced toxic stupidity, ugh?

commented 2013-01-28 10:13:48 -0500 · Flag

In this morning’s laughable “Prescription for Truth” segment, F&F stooge, Kilmeade, and Ailes’ lawyer, Three Euphemisms for a Penis, got together to decry Obama’s statement about the GOP/Limbaugh/FOX “news”. They aired past statements where Obama has mentioned FOX “news” but they didn’t offer up any arguments to prove that what Obama said about them was untrue (because, of course, they couldn’t as Obama’s statements about FOX are true).

Then these 2 chuckleheads proceeded to offer up some silly hyperbole and to bad-mouth Obama which further proved Obama’s points about FOX (you know, a supposed news network that claims to be “fair & balanced”). OMG, the jokes write themselves!

What makes the segment even more ridiculous is that there was a chyron directed at Obama which said “bias alert”. Projection much, F&F? Bwaaah!

commented 2013-01-28 09:34:29 -0500 · Flag

Could Stanley be, Mad/Rick,I don’t know,all I know Stan the Man is a unfortunate,uninformed,unbelieveble “Hater”.Sorry Stanley, President Obama won re election by an overwhelming popular vote,he is doing a fantastic job,you just have to live with that for four more years.

commented 2013-01-28 09:21:19 -0500 · Flag

I can see the video graphics now: Obama Declares War on Fox News!

I also can’t wait to see Jon Stewart’s and Steven Colbert’s take on this — this is gonna be good!

commented 2013-01-28 07:58:27 -0500 · Flag

Greta is such a Faux-ho. She must be so sad that her BFF was dumped by Jabba the Ailes, sending her into a tailspin of depression, anxiety and perhaps another facelift.

commented 2013-01-28 02:09:45 -0500 · Flag

Faux & Friends will be at their indignant best??? this morning. Be prepared for manufactured outrage at every mention of the President.

commented 2013-01-28 01:00:58 -0500 · Flag

If this is so – “Fox challenges his policies – which happens to be the media’s job.” Why didn’t they do their job when W was pres?

commented 2013-01-28 00:30:56 -0500 · Flag

Stanley: Your command of the English language is right up there with your ability to present an argument.

commented 2013-01-28 00:07:12 -0500 · Flag

OBUMA doesn’t have A pair of any thing but LIE’s & more lie’s all the white & black trash freeloaders that voted 4 him will B crying soon he’s A socialist marxist commie black MUSLIM & traitor 2 this countrytreason against the constitution & bill of rights he belongs in JAIL W/ all his COMMIE crony CZARS

commented 2013-01-27 22:09:17 -0500 · Flag

All the POTUS really said was – Will the peoples’ representatives in the GOP kindly grow a pair.

commented 2013-01-27 22:06:09 -0500 · Flag

Fux Nuze sez

A Florida court ruled in favor of FNC transmitting lies! What’s the problem?

commented 2013-01-27 20:59:18 -0500 · Flag

Remember Fox News: you reap what you sow

commented 2013-01-27 16:58:25 -0500 · Flag

Our President is exactly correct.

Today’s Repug Party answers to the teabaggers. The teabaggers are pawns in the manipulative hands of AM hate radio (as in OxyRush Limpballs) and Fux Noise.

commented 2013-01-27 16:43:01 -0500 · Flag

this will be great, all my fox news viewer friends will be repeating back to me what fox news said even more now. Another point, Obama could be setting Jon Stewart up with some great material, also. This will be good…

commented 2013-01-27 16:41:56 -0500 · Flag

FauxNews has been pointing out that they are the alternative to the so-called Liberal media. That would make them the Conservative media, which has become the mouthpiece of the Republican/Tea Party.
Why would they get mad or be offended that Pres. Obama is repeating what they’ve been saying for years?
More “outrage” where none is warranted from FauxNews.

commented 2013-01-27 16:34:32 -0500 · Flag

Oddly he said nothing about MSNBC….

Go figure.

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President Obama Criticizes Fox News By Name: Prepare for the Onslaught!

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