Thursday, December 02, 2004
The Fox In The Left’s Hen House
“Fair and balanced” isn’t fair?…
So, what’s the problem with FOX News? I remember an Irish expat here in Japan -- a leftist of course -- deriding my intelligence because I “get all [my] information from Fox News.” At the time, I hadn’t even seen Fox News. Since then I’ve taken to looking at their web site and…what’s the problem?
For decades, the big three networks, along with PBS and CNN have shown a one track NY Times style of non-objectivity.
To claim that the “mainstream” television networks are objective is a laughable concept. In addition to plenty of anecdotal analysis, there is now considerable factual appraisal that demonstrates a left-wing tilt to most “news” from this cabal of elites. There have been books (i.e. Bernard Goldberg’s, “Bias,” and “Arrogance”) and private watch-dog organizations (i.e. Accuracy In Media, and, The Media Research Center) that have pointed out what is obvious to many of us, that the pseudo-intellectuals of journalism have an agenda which colors their presentation of events.
CBS, before the election, “objectively” (with forged documents) told us that George Bush was overly favored in the National Guard (wow, big news!). FOX News tells us the details of Iraq’s Oil for Food scandal and the incidental fact that an American soldier shooting a wounded Iraqi, came after several incidents of other “wounded” terrorists shooting American troops. Perhaps some times, “the peoples right to know” is best attained when information is coming from different sources with different sympathies and biases.
Still, the media elites and their sympathizers insist that they are objective centrists. In all honesty, I think FOX is biased to the right and the previously mentioned entrenched media institutions are biased, to the left. So, again, what’s the problem? People can choose which channel to watch…which actually is the problem to some. FOX’s viewing audience continues to rise. The left and their mouthpieces don’t like it when people consult another perspective. When one watches FOX, you get the impression that they actually like America. The entrenched opposition’s “objective” appraisal always seems to default to the anti-U.S. stance. When seeking to understand the war we’re presently fighting – a conflict that goes far beyond Iraq – it probably would be a good idea to get a variety of viewpoints. Does this occur on ABC – CBS – MSNBC – PBS, or the British compulsory funded state media?
I say, let the “objective” Left continue their anti-Bush, anti- U.S., anti-Free Market, “News,” and let FOX tell us the things these other clowns have hidden from us for decades.
“Diversity” implies difference. I’m glad there are now different news source to keep the other one’s on their toes.
************************************
A Guy in Pajamas makes some similar media observations, particularly regarding Dan Rather’s memo-gate election con-scheme:
“Regardless of whether Rather had any control over it, the real question for me is not whether there was an attempt to influence the presidential election with blatant lies, but rather how long have they been getting away with it? A decade? Two? Three? How much of what I think and believe about the world has come from fake documents, from reporters, editors or sources "shaping" news - leaving this out, adding that in, twisting it up a bit... How much of what I "know" about the world has been spin, or error?…”
************************************
A hat tip to The Razor for bringing this to my attention. Scroll down to the “No Blood For Cocoa” video.
Ah, the French government. So sophisticated, so refined, so full of S---. Every site that has noted this issue in The Ivory Coast has also noted the reality that most news venues have kept it pretty much under wraps or very low key. The obvious question emerges. What if the U.S. military opened fire on a crowd of civilians -- front page above the fold maybe? At least the French military didn’t humiliate the victims by forcing them to wear panties. The greatest irony is the signs held by some Ivory Coast citizens pleading for Bush to save them – from the French.
***********************************
Evan Coyne Maloney makes some brilliant analogies in his critique of the IRS and “progressive” taxation at his very cool site; Brain-Terminal.com. Definitely check out his funny (but oh so serious) videos, especially his documentary, Brainwashing 101
***********************************
Finally, an insightful essay which addresses the true meaning of, “Liberal” can be found at Deans World.
So, what’s the problem with FOX News? I remember an Irish expat here in Japan -- a leftist of course -- deriding my intelligence because I “get all [my] information from Fox News.” At the time, I hadn’t even seen Fox News. Since then I’ve taken to looking at their web site and…what’s the problem?
For decades, the big three networks, along with PBS and CNN have shown a one track NY Times style of non-objectivity.
To claim that the “mainstream” television networks are objective is a laughable concept. In addition to plenty of anecdotal analysis, there is now considerable factual appraisal that demonstrates a left-wing tilt to most “news” from this cabal of elites. There have been books (i.e. Bernard Goldberg’s, “Bias,” and “Arrogance”) and private watch-dog organizations (i.e. Accuracy In Media, and, The Media Research Center) that have pointed out what is obvious to many of us, that the pseudo-intellectuals of journalism have an agenda which colors their presentation of events.
CBS, before the election, “objectively” (with forged documents) told us that George Bush was overly favored in the National Guard (wow, big news!). FOX News tells us the details of Iraq’s Oil for Food scandal and the incidental fact that an American soldier shooting a wounded Iraqi, came after several incidents of other “wounded” terrorists shooting American troops. Perhaps some times, “the peoples right to know” is best attained when information is coming from different sources with different sympathies and biases.
Still, the media elites and their sympathizers insist that they are objective centrists. In all honesty, I think FOX is biased to the right and the previously mentioned entrenched media institutions are biased, to the left. So, again, what’s the problem? People can choose which channel to watch…which actually is the problem to some. FOX’s viewing audience continues to rise. The left and their mouthpieces don’t like it when people consult another perspective. When one watches FOX, you get the impression that they actually like America. The entrenched opposition’s “objective” appraisal always seems to default to the anti-U.S. stance. When seeking to understand the war we’re presently fighting – a conflict that goes far beyond Iraq – it probably would be a good idea to get a variety of viewpoints. Does this occur on ABC – CBS – MSNBC – PBS, or the British compulsory funded state media?
I say, let the “objective” Left continue their anti-Bush, anti- U.S., anti-Free Market, “News,” and let FOX tell us the things these other clowns have hidden from us for decades.
“Diversity” implies difference. I’m glad there are now different news source to keep the other one’s on their toes.
A Guy in Pajamas makes some similar media observations, particularly regarding Dan Rather’s memo-gate election con-scheme:
“Regardless of whether Rather had any control over it, the real question for me is not whether there was an attempt to influence the presidential election with blatant lies, but rather how long have they been getting away with it? A decade? Two? Three? How much of what I think and believe about the world has come from fake documents, from reporters, editors or sources "shaping" news - leaving this out, adding that in, twisting it up a bit... How much of what I "know" about the world has been spin, or error?…”
A hat tip to The Razor for bringing this to my attention. Scroll down to the “No Blood For Cocoa” video.
Ah, the French government. So sophisticated, so refined, so full of S---. Every site that has noted this issue in The Ivory Coast has also noted the reality that most news venues have kept it pretty much under wraps or very low key. The obvious question emerges. What if the U.S. military opened fire on a crowd of civilians -- front page above the fold maybe? At least the French military didn’t humiliate the victims by forcing them to wear panties. The greatest irony is the signs held by some Ivory Coast citizens pleading for Bush to save them – from the French.
Evan Coyne Maloney makes some brilliant analogies in his critique of the IRS and “progressive” taxation at his very cool site; Brain-Terminal.com. Definitely check out his funny (but oh so serious) videos, especially his documentary, Brainwashing 101
Finally, an insightful essay which addresses the true meaning of, “Liberal” can be found at Deans World.
