It's obvious the Obama administration has a low regard for Fox News as a media outlet - whether it has been President Barack Obama hinting at what he has thought about Fox News, the administration passing over Fox News in a recent round of Sunday morning interviews or as White House communications director Anita Dunn recently has done - just declare open season on the network.
However Brit Hume, now a senior political analyst for Fox News and regarded as a veteran figure at the news organization, took the White House head on. In his "Brit Hume Commentary" segment on Fox News Channel's Oct. 12 "Special Report with Bret Baier," Hume, pointed out this "feud" the Obama administration has decided to elevate is a bad idea.
"Every president ends up disgusted with the news media in general and with certain individuals or outlets in particular, but there is an old adage often attributed to Mark Twain that advises against picking fights with people who buy ink by the barrel," Hume said. "He is speaking of the big media of his day, which were newspapers."
Hume noted that generally presidents have remained above the fray when it comes to these disagreements with the media.
"Most presidents though refrain from directly attacking media outlets, perhaps with that adage in mind or perhaps mindful of another saying that it is bad idea to get into a public fight with someone smaller than you are because it diminishing you and elevates your opponent," Hume continued.
And Hume also pointed out there's not a clear definition of what a victory for the Obama administration would be. News outlets are protected by the Constitution and that makes it difficult for politician to gain an upper hand when they want to go one-on-one with a particular media outlet.
"Fox News may be the biggest news channel by far but it is not as big as the presidency," he said. "There is an additional problem in fighting with the press. The protections by the First Amendment make the media largely invulnerable to attacks from politicians. For all these reasons, the kind of salvos recently fired at Fox News by the Obama White House represents, as you heard [CNN political analyst] David Gergen say, a risky strategy."
But Hume did explain how the Anita Dunn described Fox News as a "research arm or the communications arm of the Republican Party" instead of a "conservative outlet in her Oct. 11 CNN "Reliable Sources" interview.
"The White House has though chosen its words with some care," Hume continued. "Note the characterization of Fox not as conservative but as Republican. A lot more Americans identify themselves as ‘conservative' than as Republican. What is more, though, if Fox News really were a GOP mouthpiece, the White House would not be attacking it. It would feel no need to."
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Isn't this how it began...
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 01:27 ET by Army Bratin Venezuela. Other places as well. History is chock full o' tyrants complaining about those that oppose tyranny.
Obama is a liar and Truth is killing his Marxist agenda.
Again, I must state that
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 01:48 ET by Indiana JoeAgain, I must state that these attacks on all criticism have an unintended consequence for the Left in general, and Obama in particular. They show themselves to be no match for the GWB White House in class. And they waste a lot of time and energy in playing this game. They have 70-80% of the media in their hip pocket, and they have to go after the 20-30% that don't agree (very rough estimates, btw) with them? It also plainly shows them to be the thin-skinned crybabies many of us already knew, who stomp and scream when they don't get what they want. VERY Presidential... NOT!
Imagine if W had done the same. Firstly, it would have consumed pretty much all the resources of the WH just responding to the sheer volume of vitriol hurled at him. Secondly, it would be roundly (and justly) criticized by the same MSM that feeds at Obama's hand.
Give them enough rope....
"Four legs good... two legs better!" - George Orwell
They Want It All!
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 06:59 ET by GeneralAlThey have 70-80% of the media in their hip pocket, and they have to go after the 20-30% that don't agree
They want 100% agreement! Don't forget, there is no freedom of the press in Marxism/Leninism! Obama is a Communist! He wants to lock the rest of us up and throw away the key! He'd just as soon put Glenn Beck and Sean Hennity before a firing squad!
He has got the MSM kissing his butt and he wants the rest of us to do the same!
Don't forget, one of the tenets of Islam is Convert the infidel or put him to the sword!
Way to go Brit
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 02:11 ET by LoosMooseDon't know know that when the bozos at CNN and MSNBC, watch a literate, accurate and well delivered piece as Brit just did... they have to sigh and say to themselves... "man... I wish we could do that." Sadly, they have neither the people, the facts, or the credibility. What they do have is all bad... but for them the good news is, they have plenty of it.
When the liberal press defends FoxNews you know that the
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 04:25 ET by Rush FanObama folks badmouthing FoxNews have gone too far.
Baltimore Sun critic David Zurawik writes in a piece titled White House war on Fox: Echoes of Nixon-Agnew:
--------------------------------------------
“Understand something about liberalism. They never stop until they get what they want, and when they get what they want, it's never enough. That's why it's a constant thing to have to oppose them. You can't join forces with them, you can't moderate them, you can't slow them down by joining them, you can't make them like you and have them change their agenda. They have to be stopped.” ~ Rush Limbaugh
Shep MORE than plays it straight
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 17:10 ET by pbanks7Shep MORE than plays it straight. I have often seen him toeing the MSM line on the news. If he's being tough on Joe, I assume he's equally tough on others? I don't see him often enough to know.
MSM - shaping all the perceptions you need to believe, then confirming it with a poll.
Could it be that since Anita Dunce
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 05:55 ET by Worriedis labeling Fox an arm of the Republican Party and not a "news" network that would give reason to the commies in the W.H. administration to shut 'er down?
I love Brit Hume and we need more real "newsmen" like him out here.
Mark Twain also said, "It
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 06:40 ET by HockeyKidMark Twain also said, "It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt."
Uhbama really needs to brush up on his Twain.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
My fave:
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 17:13 ET by pbanks7Was that Confucious?
"No man's life, liberty, or property are safe
while the congress is in session." -- Mark Twain
MSM - shaping all the perceptions you need to believe, then confirming it with a poll.
Interesting
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 07:17 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonThe resident of the White House has declared war on dissent.
Well, with a little luck in the near future we will have adults in the White House controlling the egos of the spoiled little fools.
http://gjresult.com
Sorry. Fox News is very Republican and conservative.
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 08:07 ET by JWFI am 46 years old. I will not be lied to. That is why I ended up on Fox News and Newsbusters in the first place.
I sit in my basement, drunk, naked except for the six guns strapped on, watching my 50 inch HD TV, fireplace a blazin', that is why I am naked, it is hot, sitting on my plastic covered couch, hey I got 7 cats, you got seven cats, you don't have furnature you have places to pee when someone gets mad. Look, it is the way a cat's mind works. If you won't let me sleep here, NO ONE SLEEPS HERE. I will pee and poop right here and no one gets to enjoy it. So I.... what were we talking about? Man, I am drunk. Day Drunk!
I got this thing on my remote control called a fast forward button. I only watch recorded shows. So when a Democrat congressman or a democrat operative or a Democrat strategist comes on and starts lying Zip! still lying... Zip! or some liberal elite comes on and starts lying Zip! still lying... Zip! Zip! Zip! Oh, Karl Rove. Ahhhhh. Wow he is smart. I shall put down the remote for a few minutes.
Result. I watch lots of people telling me the truth on Fox News and zip over the liars. Result - I watch a very Republican & conservative network.
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
Good grief thats funny
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 10:10 ET by general companyThat 6 shooter could turn those seven cat into 1, well if your drunk, maybe into 3or4?
Just kidding PETA
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Hey, CNN factchecks SNL skits
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 08:26 ET by jondelwicheand Fox doesnt.
Obviously, Fox just isnt in the big leagues like CNN.
Can I say:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHA!
Read that Murdoch and Malone
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 08:42 ET by Gat New YorkRead that Murdoch and Malone are thinking about buying NBC. More for Heir Obama to worry about.
Why now?
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 09:09 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonIs nbc stock back up to eleven cents a share yet?
http://gjresult.com
COMCAST...
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 11:26 ET by danybhoyWell, Comcast has been in talks to buy NBC as well. It was on Drudge for a couple of days. Anyony who does buy NBC really needs to slash & burn the news division. There needs to be a total overhaul there, & I would like to think Murdoch would do that if he's is a buyer.
"...How blind can you be, don't you see...
...that the gambler lost all he does not have..."
Nightwish
JWF, this eastern seaboard,
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 09:30 ET by TomoramaJWF, this eastern seaboard, College educated VETERAN,48 years old doesn't cling to his guns and religion like you nitwits on the left like to portray us "non-libtards".
The facts are that Fox has a broader viewer base ACROSS THE BOARD that nobody else can match and the FN coward in chief and his legion of minions needs to undermine their OBVIOUS POWER.
First it was Palin, Joe the plumber and Rush (and now again) and Beck and now they are just going to rile up the lefty losers by going after the one network that dares to question anything that this vacant coward in chief says and does, wow, Saul Alinsky would be so proud.
I challenge the bleating sheep, to bahhhh, dispute this, Fox has on far more DEMOCRATS/LIBERALS than any of the other networks have on REPUBLICANS/CONSERVATIVES, anyone care to bahhhhh, dispute that?
O'Reilly who is hated by the usual suspects because again, he has power to speak the truth GOOD or BAD about Obambi and company, has guest hosts on from time to time and he has had Juan Williams (a DEMOCRAT without a doubt) guest host for him.
Do any of you sheep ever see a conservative guest host on bahhh, Keith Olbermann's show, actually let's make it easy, NAME ONE CONSERVATIVE VOICE WHO HAS EVER BEEN ON THE Bathtub boys show, EVER????
He is like Obambi, no dissenting voices allowed or tolerated.
Hannity is more tired than ever now as Colmes "completed him, IMHO", but when he does the panel it is the best part of the show as you get DIFFERING IDEAS.
The leg tingling other outlets can't say that at all.
George Snuffaluffagus has gone up a peg or two in my eye as he goes on Hannity's show and he at LEAST had George Will on his Sunday show, Chris "spittle" Matthews has fake Republicans on to make it look good (maybe token Pat B on occasion).
I would love to debate Ms. Dunce and smack her over the head with facts, but Barry would still cry like the wussy he IS.
A great man once said, YOU only get out of life what YOU put into it, he obviously wasn't a liberal.
Sorry Tom
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 10:05 ET by general companyLiberals dont discuss policy, they are to busy spreading lies and feigning outrage about the current topics of the day. So sorry, dont expect a coherent explanation from a liberal.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
You talking to me big guy?
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 11:43 ET by JWFYou talking to the drunk sweaty naked cat scratch fever guy with the six guns strapped on?
I think you missed the point of my post. I was bein' all teh funnies for one thing.
The other point was that I love Fox News & FBN. Yes, they have lots of liberals and Democrats and elites on as guests. I zip (fast forward) over them and get to the meaty guest that won't lie to me. So for me and my zippy button, Fox News is very Republican and conservative because I zip over all the non-Republican and non-conservative poo guests. As an example - I used to watch this show called Hannity &. It was about a half hour long.
Also, I is a vet too. That is why I can forgive you for all the confuseyness. The tag line is from a song in the movie Heavy Metal. Check my profile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGKNaIXtBZQ
http://newsbusters.org/bios/jwf.html
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
campaign mode..
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 10:04 ET by Border FoxIt seems to me that the Nobama administration never got out of campaign mode and they are making a basic strategic mistake in trying to pigenhole Fox News as an enemy of some kind...
Don't they read the audience viewership ratings? FNC is beating up the MSM news outlets with viewers to spare and these viewers are drawn from across the political divide...
This is not only an insult to the hard news reports on Fox but an insult to all those who watch the network as well...
Picking a battle with a 24 hour news network seen in over 80 countries worldwide with a viewing audience that trounces the other news outlets is folly...
But Obama and his team seem too stupid to know this...
"If you're a Liberal, anything you say is protected. If you're a Conservative, anything you say is hateful." - Laura Schlessinger
Blacklist?
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 10:31 ET by slickwillie2001If the Bamster has blacklisted Fox News, why doesn't Fox News blacklist the Bamster? They should no longer carry his speeches, addresses, and press conferences. Fair is fair.
Oh no you didn't
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 11:07 ET by TomoramaSlickWillie, your post has been reported to the Obambi hotline as your usage of the term "blacklist" has been deemed racist, offensive and any other thing the "POlice" can come up with.
You will be hearing a knock on your door very shortly.
Make sure when they come you have MessNBC on, they may let you off with a warning, BUT NO FOX at all dude.
A great man once said, YOU only get out of life what YOU put into it, he obviously wasn't a liberal.
Eugene Robinson
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 11:16 ET by cajun2My newspaper ran Eugene Robinson's column this morning. It is titled-Debate over Obama's Nobel Ridiculous. The title should have been-Debate over Obama's Ridiculous Nobel. He goes on to say why oh why do conservatives hate America? Eugene, if this is so hard to understand, I will make it simple. I am a conservative and a proud American. I do not hate my country. I do not hate Obama. I hate his policies because it shows that he hates America. He was awarded the Nobel because our enemies see that Obama hates America and they concur. The award was a sign of approval. So, I ridicule his Nobel Prize. Okay Eugene, is that simple enough for you?