CNN's John Roberts: A Legacy of Liberal Bias on American Morning
On Monday, TVNewser reported that John Roberts, who anchored CNN's American Morning from April 2007 until the end of 2010, will be joining Fox News as a national correspondent. Roberts, who joined CNN in 2006 after a 14-year career at CBS, had a reputation for liberal bias at both networks, particularly in his harsh labeling for Republicans/conservatives and his fawning over liberals.
Here are some examples of Roberts's most egregious bias compiled from the Media Research Center's archives, focusing primarily on his career on American Morning:
Cheerleading for Liberals
"Yeah, it is going to be a transformational primary here on the Democratic side of things. Do you get a sense that people are recognizing this idea of the grandeur of history involved here?"
-Roberts gushing over the "historic" nature of the race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination, February 1, 2008 edition of American Morning.
"I want to just stipulate at the beginning of this interview, we are declaring a Reverend Wright-free zone today. So, no questions about Reverend Wright. Our viewers want us to move on, so this morning we're going to move on. Is that okay with you?"
-Opening statement from May 5, 2008 interview of then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.
"We all remember that the 'I like Ike' campaign back in 1952. But reading what you've said about Senator Obama, it seems like there are some similarities, that he may be just like Ike. What can you tell me about that?
-Question to Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight Eisenhower, August 13, 2008. Roberts pushed Obama's similarities to Ike and former President Ronald Reagan.
CAROL COSTELLO: "You know, usually, you have a little bit of a problem getting people to agree to be on television, but not yesterday. People were begging to be on TV. They wanted their thoughts recorded. They were very much aware that history was being made, and they wanted to be a part of it in whatever way they could."
ROBERTS: "It really was 'Barack-stock' - peace, love, and history."
COSTELLO: "It really was."
-Exchange with CNN correspondent Carol Costello during the January 21, 2010 edition of American Morning.
"You know Candy, David Gergen was on with me last night on [Anderson Cooper] 360 talking about this, and he pointed to Joe McCarthy's censure, and said that really, really broke him. Now Charlie Rangel's 80 years old- what will censuring potentially do to him?"
-Roberts worrying about Rep. Rangel's health post-censure, November 19, 2010.
Tough Treatment For Conservatives
Roberts was part of the CBS News team which received a F from the MRC for their coverage of former President George W. Bush's first 100 days in office (Roberts whined about this dishonor during an October 2008 interview) . When his namesake, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, was nominated in 2005, the then-CBS correspondent wondered, "Has President Bush attempted to move the court further to the right with this pick?"
"He finally articulates what we all came to believe...and further goes on to say that this war was unnecessary."
-Reaction to former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan's claim that the Bush administration used "propaganda" to push the Iraq war, May 28, 2008.
"Well, Zell set his hair on fire and ran around the room."
-Roberts's snarky reply to John Avlon after The Daily Beast writer criticized former Representative Jim Leach's speech at the 2008 Republican convention, August 26, 2008.
"This morning's top stories just minutes away now, including the FBI investigating reports of vandalism and death threats aimed at Democrats who voted for the health care bill. Is the rhetoric in Washington responsible?"
-On the March 25, 2010 edition of American Morning, the CNN anchor bemoaned the "troubling language" directed at pro-ObamaCare congressmen, but his own program promoted the 2006 film "Death of President" which depicted an imagination assassination attempt against then-President George W. Bush.
Spouting Liberal Talking Points
"Is now the time for the President to be proposing new tax cuts, particularly ones that seem to benefit wealthy investors more than they do middle- and lower-income Americans?"
-Question to Terry McAuliffe, CBS Evening News, September 1, 2002.
"The President promised in the campaign not to raise taxes on people who make less than $250,000 a year in order to dig us out of this hole. Is he going to have to break that promise?"
-Question to Columbia University's Jeffrey Sachs, December 17, 2009 edition of American Morning.
"Six months after President Obama signs the health care reform bill into law, insurance companies will not be allowed to deny coverage for kids because of preexisting medical conditions. The bill widens that measure to the rest of us by the year 2014. Now, critics say that's only going to add to the growing cost of delivering health care, but for some parents with uninsured kids, it's an awfully big relief."
-Lead-in introducing two pro-ObamaCare guests, American Morning, March 22, 2010.
- Matthew Balan's blog
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Comments
Big mistake by Fox...he will
Submitted by d1carter on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 8:04pm.
Big mistake by Fox...he will probably be working closely with Shep Smith.
Too late to trade?
Submitted by adamsmith on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 8:15am.
Is it too late to trade him for his morning co-anchor Kiran Chetry? She used to do Fox and Friends. She can lean to the left a bit as well but she has way better legs than Roberts. Cuter smile too. She is the only reason I troll over to CNN for a few minutes, those legs...those legs...Her being married is a National Tragedy......
Chetry is brainless -- typical morning show 'co-host'
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 1:51pm.
She wasn't very good at Fox News, and she's worse at CNN. Great to look at, but irritating to listen to.
You might consider putting her picture in a frame and sitting it on top of your TV. :-)
On Kiran...
Submitted by Unsane on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 3:10pm.
You were saying?
:o)
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Who?
Submitted by jaywl on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 8:07pm.
I hope Fox is not responding to the critics who claim the network is too conservative. Roberts, as the article illustrates has happily interjected his own bias into straight news. If I want that I can switch to CNN!
Why do they want this guy....?
Submitted by NeoKong on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 8:07pm.
I think he will turn off more viewers than he brings in. I have watched him from time to time on CNN and it was pretty clear that he doesn't like Republicans or conservatives.
And I Would Watch This Moron WHY????????
Submitted by BBallleaper on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 8:30pm.
You've got to be kidding. I can now lock out FXNews with all the other media tripe! Oh yeah, he'll really stimulate ratings. Just think of the literally 10's of mutants who currently watch him on the SS.Titanic as they tidal wave to Fox! Wow! Brilliant move!
You sure got that right!
Submitted by Rowane on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 1:06am.
You sure got that right! whatever show Fox puts this moron on will wind up being their lowest rated show ever.
You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything. (Aaron Tippin)
What could happen
Submitted by jon_torlin on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 8:44pm.
I've seen it before when Fox News would bring someone new in, they either make it or they don't. If the ratings start to fall and keep falling, the guy won't be around much longer. Fox News does pay attention to the ratings.
Only time will tell what will happen.
-Jon
Well, at least he won't be an
Submitted by Newsbusterbrown on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 8:08pm.
Well, at least he won't be an anchor.
“There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Hmmmm . . .
Submitted by justbob223 on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 8:11pm.
Are we watching the beginning of the end of Fox News as a network we can trust?
Yes.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 10:00pm.
9-11A is watchable. The rest.....who cares? After 7P, not interested.
Well at least now Shep Smith
Submitted by Barack_must_go..... on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 8:31pm.
Well at least now Shep Smith won't have to sit by himself in the lunch room.
I think Ailes maybe hires these liberal has beens just to piss off ( psych out ) the other cable operators.
If he gains a few more disenfranchised liberals in the process can only be a good thing.
Just think of how crazy upset watching Alan Colmes or Ellis Hennican makes most posters here on NewsBusters?
That's because we don't see the world through the myopic view of the dysfunctional progessive in this country.
They ( in the closet " FOX " addicted ) liberals eat it up when Ailes permits one of those ineffectual nothings to spout off on the Sunday shows or as a nightime guest.
Then there is Juan Williams, whom Ailes was sort of forced to elevate to somewhere between his bottom feeder libs and Shep Smith. The jury is still out on whether he ( Ailes ) got snookered & overpaid or he's still the greatest PR guy of all time.
It appears he ( Williams ) is already fading back into the woodwork where he really belongs, although he's being hansomely paid for being nothing more than a marketing tool. Nice gig if you can get it.
It will be interesting to see what his true purpose for hiring Roberts turns out to be. Maybe nothing more than a way to keep their resident liberal whiner ( and money / ratings maker ) Smith in line.
Whatever the reason, thanks to Roger Ailes " FOX " and Rupert Murdoch always come out the winners.
Barack_Must_Go.....
There are Liberals and then there is Alan Colmes
Submitted by needle on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 12:29am.
Juan Williams and Alan Colmes are both liberals, but there is an important difference between how they argue the liberal POV. Juan will make his points and emphasize his Liberal perspective, but acknowledge the points of a conservative interlocutor. Colmes is seldom interested in an honest discussion, and generally comes right out of the chute spouting off essentially dishonest sophistical BS with the intent of drowning out the other guy. He is a disservice to FOX and its viewer and even himself, but in a perverse way he is an important face of the Liberal view, and as such reveals how mendacious liberalism has become in many quarters.
- Looking forward to the self-annihilation of the Manipulated Stories Machine.
FU#* FOX!!!
Submitted by circusstorm on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 8:34pm.
If they think they are gonna start jamming these as#ho**s down our throats then they will have to pay the price... I didn't support them for decades to now watch them cut a check to every out of work commie sent packing... Roberts was part of the reason CNN failed in the ratings!!! Don't test our patience fox!!!!!!!
C'mon guys, you know what he's gonna do!
Submitted by Lord-come-soon-... on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 8:37pm.
He's like most of the "reporters" on CNN, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, etc. He doesn't have any core beliefs, he's an empty suit. He will parrot whatever the beliefs are of his bosses. At CNN, he parrots Liberal crapola so he'll get a pat on the back in the lunch room. He'll start parroting Conservative talking points on Fox so he can get the same slap on the back. If you've watched this guy at all, he's a complete nothing.
Why am I not surprised that
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 8:58pm.
...Media Matters has documented scores of examples of Roberts' alleged anti-Democrat bias, e.g.
ROBERTS: Meanwhile, just days after helping President Obama pass the $787 billion economic stimulus package, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and several other Democrats headed to Italy on your dime. Special Investigations Unit correspondent Drew Griffin is looking into this pricey overseas trip and it's got a lot of critics saying, Drew, that she is over there in Italy living the dolce vita, and why is she doing it? [emphasis added]
It just shows that if you slog through and cherry pick from thousands of pages of transcripts, you can make a case for just about any point of view you wish to argue.
I don't think Fox fans have anything to worry about.
Jer
So, Jer,
Submitted by 26CX on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 9:11pm.
Is your post another example of slogging through and cherry picking from thousands of pages of transcripts to make a case for your point of view?
No, CX...
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 9:15pm.
I left the slogging and cherry-picking to Media Matters.
Jer
Ah, I see.
Submitted by 26CX on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 9:22pm.
Contracting out your slogging and cherry-picking to a George Soros funded organization. Nice.
It's unavoidable. The Soros
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 9:30pm.
It's unavoidable. The Soros tentacles reach into every nook and cranny of the vast liberal labyrinth.
Jer
Yeah, Jer
Submitted by 26CX on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 9:48pm.
You hit the nail on the head that time!
I'm begging you, CX...
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 10:06pm.
PLEASE don't ever link me to that obnoxious slimeball Horowitz again. Just seeing his face or reading anything that he puts in print makes me physically ill.
Jer
I'm curious, Jer,
Submitted by 26CX on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 10:25pm.
what do you find so repulsive about Horowitz? Is it his agenda "dedicated to the defense of free societies whose moral, cultural and economic foundations are under attack by leftist and Islamist enemies at home and abroad"?
I think he's a fraud. He'll
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 10:46pm.
I think he's a fraud. He'll probably revert to his former radical left activist persona in another four or five years.
Jer
Anything specific you can
Submitted by 26CX on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 10:56pm.
Anything specific you can point to that makes you believe that, or is it more a gut feeling?
The latter.
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 11:09pm.
The latter.
I'm with you on the gut feeling thing, Jer,
Submitted by 26CX on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 11:16pm.
When you wrote "I think he's a fraud. He'll probably revert to his former radical left activist persona in another four or five years," you perfectly described my gut feeling about Obama.
It's like you were reading my mind or something. Amazing.
Not surprised, CX...
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 11:26pm.
I had started to add to my previous post a question about whether or not you had similar instinctively negative feelings with respect to certain liberals. I figured you did, and that Obama was one of them. It was pretty much a gimme.
Jer
Don't sell yourself short, Jer.
Submitted by 26CX on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 11:32pm.
You and the Amazing Kreskin: two peas from the same pod.
Tentacles*
Submitted by cajun2 on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 10:17pm.
George Soros has his tentacles in lots of places. Let's hope more "slashing" is done to all of them. http://weaselzippers.us/2011/01/03/even-hope-and-change-isnt-recession-p...Sure, you can make a case for---
Submitted by matthewdean on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 9:11pm.
about any point of view you wish to argue if you slog through enough material.
Preponderance of evidence, though, tells me all I need to know.
To ignore same would be ridiculous.
MD
So, Matthew..
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 9:20pm.
if an equal number of counter examples were presented, what would be your verdict? Fair and balanced?
Jer
No way on God's green earth---
Submitted by matthewdean on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 9:21pm.
you can show me more examples of John Robert's denigrating Dems and libs than he did Republicans and conservatives.
And you know it.
MD
If I am not mistaken
Submitted by Unsane on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 11:10am.
John Roberts, if I am not mistaken, is Canadian.
Sorry, Jer, you lose. Go back to being a Scarborough apologist.
Fox sucks anyway, just as any American media outlet does.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
You interrupted my reading of Atlas Shrugged...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 11:36am.
for that lameassity.
I don't recall my making any representation concerning Roberts' nationality. I certainly didn't "lose" anything. I stated an opinion, made a prediction, but acknowledged I could be wrong.
Finally, Fox doesn't suck. It's not even remotely fair and balanced, but Murdoch and Ailes developed a highly successful broadcast formula, found an audience, and hit the ratings jackpot. More power to them.
Jer
Huh???
Submitted by Unsane on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 1:39pm.
Of COURSE you didn't, Jer! Please show me where I accused YOU of making ANY representation concerning Roberts' nationality.
I AM. Roberts comes from a nation where they are taught from the cradle that the sole reason government exists is to baby people. Therefore this philosophy can be reasonably guessed to color his world view.
Fox News DOES suck. It is an American media outlet. About the only thing I watch in American media is CNBC, and even Erin Burnett is sounding like an idiot on occasion.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
I dunno, Unsane..it just seemed that
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 2:30pm.
when you directly addressed me and said "John Roberts, if I am not mistaken, is a Canadian. Jer you are wrong, etc.", I don't think it an unreasonable assumption on my part that you were suggesting I had somewhere made that claim. But, I will happily accept your assurance you were not.
Anyway, Erin Burnett is too easy on the eyes not to keep watching her, even if I were to concede [which I am not] an occasional lapse into idiocy.
Jer
Various comments
Submitted by Unsane on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 3:03pm.
No, but what you ARE claiming is that John Roberts is a great guy and a great journalist who will be a perfect fit on Fox News because he is 100% totally objective.
I pointed out that John Roberts is a Canadian, and that for me pours cold water on your claim.
I then further clarified that I did not at any point say you thought he was a Canadian. Which finally you acknowledge.
This does not change the fact that since he comes from a society and culture which believes in "peace, order, and good government" and a society which believes that job #1 of the government is to baby people, I question immediately his objectivity.
Erin Burnett is very easy on the eyes. But nonetheless, she has made comments on Squawk on the Street which make me question just how much she learned enroute to getting a political economy B.A.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Reply to various comments
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 3:25pm.
"great guy"? "great journalist"? "perfect fit at Fox because he is 100% totally objective"?
Please show me where I made such claim using those or similar words.
And yes you clarified [not further clarified] your point about his nationality which I immediately [not finally] acknowledged upon noticing your post.
You have a troublesome tendency for exaggeration, Unsane.
Jer
This is not courtroom
Submitted by Unsane on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 4:36pm.
No, I further clarified the John Roberts comment on his nationality as a service to you.
This isn't a freaking courtroom, Jer, so you can drop the lawyer antics anytime. The fact of the matter is that you are carrying John Roberts' water on this thread, and why else are you if you don't like the guy?
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Let us know when your done
Submitted by Free Stinker on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 2:09pm.
Let us know when your done reading Atlas Shrugged. We'll know if you understood what you read if you become a conservative./// Sarah Palin Fan since July 11, 2007 /// خال
Free//
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 2:34pm.
Will do. By the way, there are a lot of conservatives who aren't exactly enamored with (of?) Rand.
Jer
Rand
Submitted by Unsane on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 3:07pm.
Primarily because Ayn Rand was atheist. Your point?
Personally, I think that this should be a Constitutional amendment: every single candidate for President should be required to read Atlas Shrugged in its entirety. They should be kept locked away somewhere as they complete the requirement to ensure they finish it. At the conclusion of their reading, they must write a 25-30 page thesis showing how they will apply the principles learned in the book to the governance of the country.
Had our Shahinshah been forced to do this back in late 2007/early 2008, He would have never run for the presidency. Doubtless the book would have been too much for Him.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
He didn't know Ayn was an
Submitted by Free Stinker on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 1:38am.
He didn't know Ayn was an atheist. Yet he wants to discuss her and her writtings . . .
/// Sarah Palin Fan since July 11, 2007 /// خال
Whom and what are you talking
Submitted by Jer on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 1:50am.
Whom and what are you talking about, Free? If me, I can assure you I knew Rand was an atheist.
Jer
Jer
Submitted by Free Stinker on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 2:10pm.
Let us know when your done reading Atlas Shrugged. We'll know if you understood what you read if you become a conservative./// Sarah Palin Fan since July 11, 2007 /// خال
Okay...okay...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 2:36pm.
I said I would. You only have to ask once. ;-)
Jer
Good grief what next, Rick
Submitted by Reaver on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 9:19pm.
Good grief what next, Rick Sanchez?
Are you kidding?
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 9:38pm.
Sanchez would plow his car straight through a group of Code Pink demonstrators if he thought it would land him a gig at Fox.
Jer
What about Sanchez!
Submitted by circusstorm on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 9:22pm.
He is flipping burgers down at Burger World...
Gee, I forgot about Rick
Submitted by Red Jeep on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 10:03pm.
Fox ought to hire him and David Shuster. Have them team up with Juan Williams and do a 3 Amigos News Hour.
I don't like him, either, but
Submitted by Chaitealover on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 9:25pm.
Remember how liberal Greta was when she first came to Fox? She's learned better (no, she's not perfect yet), so there's hope for Roberts. At any rate, how could Fox keep advertising that it's "Fair and Balanced" if it only presents conservative viewpoints? I don't need or want to hear only one side of an issue, I'm a big girl and I prefer to make my decisions based on all viewpoints (even when some of them come from libtards).
Not Happy
Submitted by rwnewsnut on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 9:35pm.
The hiring of Roberts does not make me happy.
I only need the news reports to be factual. I don't need a conservative viewpoint nor a liberal viewpoint. That is why I no longer watch CNN - it is too liberal. I felt Roberts had a definite liberal bias. Sometimes, it was his stern delivery of anything conservative that made me feel he was biased.
Jonathan Serrie
Submitted by mom_rox on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 9:42pm.
So, will Jonathan Serrie still be an Atlanta-based FNC reporter?
QUICK!!!!
Submitted by GregE on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 10:14pm.
Someone grab a screen print of the picture beside the caption below the article. Caption about John Roberts, reporter, with picture of John Roberts, Chief Justice. Brilliant!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110103/ap_on_en_tv/us_tv_fox_roberts
To me, this will always how I
Submitted by steve2526 on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 10:21pm.
To me, this will always how I think of John Roberts
http://youtu.be/glHoIDF-fD4
A member of the right-wing media
Roberts Heart Will Go On...
Submitted by Chris Norman on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 10:40pm.
Man, they're shoving women and children aside to get off the rapidly sinking SS CNN. With very little star power left, CNN might go full circle back to being known as the "Chicken Noodle Network". I wonder if Anderson Cooper is busy "rediscovering" his roots and sending out audition tapes to reality shows?
I really can't fathom why Fox hired Roberts...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Mon, 01/03/2011 - 11:56pm.
To what end? To show us all, again, what misguided, delusional fools liberals are? We all know that, only too well. It would be one thing if Roberts were hired to give commentary from the "other side", but his job will be to be a correspondent, in other words, a reporter. Since when did Fox begin hiring known liberals with a proven journalistic bias, as reporters? This is a mystery to me.
With Roberts coming on board in Atlanta, I'm wondering if he is replacing someone? This is curious, and a bit disturbing. I suppose in the fullness of time, we will see what Roberts does with this job...I am no fan of his, and I never expected him to ever show up at Fox. Stay tuned.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Don't despair, Prairie...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 12:04am.
Roger Ailes and Bill Sammon are calling the shots, and you just can't find two more rigidly right-wing ideologues than those two. If Roberts doesn't toe the line, he'll be doing the crime beat for the FOX affiliate in Fargo.
Jer
Why, thanks for the words of comfort, Jer...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 12:12am.
LOL...
Whatever the reason, and exactly because of what you said about Ailes and Sammon being the "deciders" of who goes, stays and comes at Fox, I am curious about the "why" behind bringing someone like Roberts on board....It is nothing if not intriguing.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Prairie...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 12:26am.
Personally, I believe Roberts is far less biased than he is being portrayed, and, in fact, has pretty strong journalistic credentials. He seems to be in the mold of the recently departed Major Garrett who was an excellent and very well respected national correspondent for Fox. I think Roberts is a good choice. We'll see.
Jer
Couldn't disagree more, Jer...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 12:47am.
Roberts may or may not have "pretty strong journalistic credentials"...Based on what I've seen and heard from him over the years, I personally don't see much evidence of that. What I do see is that he appears to be a left-leaning reporter, who has no real apparent problem allowing his bias to color his reportage. Whether that changes once he's at Fox remains to be seen, but if he does bring his lib leaning bias with him to Fox, I'm guessing he won't last long.
As for Roberts being in the same mold as Major Garrett, I also couldn't disagree more...Major was (and is) a consumate professional, and never once, as far as I can remember, ever allowed any real hint of what his political leanings are (or were) while he was at Fox, which is exactly what a reporter should do...We should never really be able to pin down which way any of these folks lean politically, and I still have no real firm idea which way Major Garrett tilts...Based on some of his comments about a particular story here and there, I would guess he leans right, but who knows for sure, and that's the way it should be.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Prairie Sky...
Submitted by Jer on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 12:58am.
Why are you making a sales pitch to me on behalf of Major Garrett? Not necessary. Roberts will be assuming a different role with Fox than was characterized by his stint with CNN as Morning Show host. You may have not noticed it, but he took potshots at Dems and coddled Repubs too.
I'm going on record with the prediction that his job performance--and his professionalism--at Fox will be very similar to Garrett's. However, I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.
Jer
Jer---
Submitted by matthewdean on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 1:05am.
"--but he took potshots at Dems and coddled Repubs too."
It would appear you have either confused John Roberts with Joe Scarborough, or your mantra is stuck on replay.
MD
Jer...I'm not making a "sales pitch"...Just simply and clearly..
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 1:18am.
illustrating how off base I think you are with your comparison of Roberts to Garrett...As far as I'm concerned, they couldn't be more different in how they do their respective jobs, in just about every way...That's all.
As for how Roberts will do at Fox, that's an open question, which will be determined shortly. But as for Roberts' "professionalism", unless he drops his already established liberal bias while reporting the news, the verdict on that is already in...There is nothing more unprofessional than a biased reporter, from any direction. We'll see.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Prairie, All I can figure
Submitted by Chris Norman on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 12:05am.
Prairie,
All I can figure is that Rupert Murdoch is adding Roberts to join Juan Williams in his growing liberal journalist collection which sits in a cabinet next to the one which holds his vintage cookie jar collection.
Chris...How cute is that??
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 12:24am.
Maybe he doesn't want Juan to be lonely...Although as I said, Juan is a Fox commentator, not a reporter, which is what Roberts will be...They are very different animals with very different roles. I tolerate Juan despite his liberal stripes because I think he's a decent guy who got royally screwed by NPR, and because his job is just to give liberal commentary, which I usually ignore anyway...lol! Roberts though, will be a reporter, not a commentator, and that concerns me because of his liberal background and obvious leanings. If I want to listen to some liberal twit report the news with a leftist twist, I'll change the channel to MSNBC or CNN. That's why I watch Fox in the first place...to escape all that. Well, we'll all see soon just how Roberts handles his new job...I just hope he remembers where he's working, cause once at Fox, he won't be in Kansas anymore.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Prairie, the funny thing is,
Submitted by Chris Norman on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 12:46am.
Prairie, the funny thing is, that despite his new position at Fox News as a commentator (and he has done an awful lot of commenting over the years) Williams has described himself as a "journalist".- something that seems to fly in the face of his eagerness to advertise his liberal political opinions.
Okay, try this. That crafty Murdoch is buying up liberal journalists and commentators by the droves to force up all liberal media personalities' contract prices on the open market. This will result in CNN and MSNBC going out of business when they find out they can no longer afford to renew the contracts of their all-liberal on-air personnel. Why, Ed Schultz alone will command a twenty million dollar a year salary after Murdoch is done. :)
Chris...Hmmmm....That's an interesting theory...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 1:08am.
A bit Machiavellian, but interesting nonetheless...lol!
As for Juan Williams, he is a journalist and a commentator/analyst. At NPR, he was a news analyst...At Fox, his job is also to offer commentary and analysis on the news, albeit from a liberal direction, which is why he was hired in the first place, as part of Fox's being "fair and balanced". Juan has worked as a journalist at the Washington Post, as well as a number of other publications over the years. It is no secret that Juan leans left and is an obvious self-described liberal...That said, unlike many if not most liberals in the media, one can usually have a reasoned, logical discussion with Juan. The difference between Juan's role and Robert's role(s) at Fox is clear...Juan's job is to offer commentary and analyses, usually from the liberal direction, but Roberts' job will be to report the news, without any hint of political bias, which based on what I've seen of him up till now, is not something that he seems able or willing to do. We'll see if that changes once he's on air at Fox.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Prairie, Understood. I just
Submitted by Chris Norman on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 1:14am.
Prairie,
Understood. I just always found it so blatant that "journalists" like Williams and Nina Totenburg would offer the strongest of personal political opinions (or very biased "analysis") on political discussion showsand then go out and try to ply their trade as "honest" journalists. How could anyone looking for honest reporting trust their "reports"?
Chris...That's an excellent and fair point...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 1:31am.
I agree that once a journalist "comes out of the closet" so to speak, by revealing their personal political leanings, their ability to objectively report on the news is compromised. From that point on, we all know which way the person in question thinks politically and ideologically, and will forevermore take with a grain of salt, whatever they say on any political topic. It definitely muddies the waters, and I think that once a journalist makes the decision to begin doing commentary/analyses, they should probably not offer themselves up as an objective reporter any longer...If they want to work as a reporter/journalist at a politically committed publication, then fine, but beyond that, their "objective journalist" status is pretty much moot.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
I've gotten my news, almost
Submitted by Rowane on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 1:21am.
I've gotten my news, almost exclusively, from the internet for the past couple months. I simply cannot abide some empty suit trying to tell me how to think. Fox has had a good run as the foil to the MSM, if they choose to shoot themselves in the foot now it wouldn't surprize me. I do, however, think that Murdoch and Ailes are way too savvy businessmen for them to turn against America now.
You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything. (Aaron Tippin)
The alleged journalist John Roberts
Submitted by NotFondOfLibs on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 2:04am.
I didn't watch this fool when he was on CNN nor will I watch him on Fox News. Fox News doesn't need liberal stooges like Roberts to be successful, so he will probably have very little impact. Maybe Fox News should have sent Ellis Hennican to CNN, which would suit me just fine.
It's all about Ratings
Submitted by shawn. on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 2:08am.
Fox lost 5 percent of it's viewers last year. If Roberts does not bring in ratings, he is gone.Shawn...Where do you get that from??
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 5:12pm.
Where do you get that Fox lost 5% of its viewers last year? Not according to Nielsen...
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-news-dominates-cable-news-ratings-in-2010-beating-cnn-and-msnbc-combined/
Where did you get your data from?
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
Prairie, Fox's audience did
Submitted by Chris Norman on Wed, 01/05/2011 - 2:06am.
Prairie,
Fox's audience did shrink a little. I think it was mentioned on this site in conjunction with the story of shrinking ratings at the other cable news networks. I suggested it may have to do with the larger development that many households have dropped their cable connections as a belt tightening move.
Roberts
Submitted by RightRealDeal on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 2:44am.
Shorttimer, it will come out and the boot will as well. Question is, why hire this guy to start with?
Apply the boot now like the Pitt Coach!
Tea party get your own network news show
Submitted by TerryWest on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 3:36am.
Hannity is now forced to have Beckle and other liberals on his show, we have the am and week end liberals, Shep and many other liberal anchors who dont hide their political leaning so well either are sprinkled in between, Greta leans Hillary left and her open forum site was shut down and replaced with a controlled conversation blog ( politics makes people ugly you know) , O Reilly leans which ever way the wind blows, Huckabee holds down the rino hour, in a pleasant gosh golly way though, Geraldo, well he's there, and rambling Combes lets not forget those high speed parroted talking points. With this new addition I think the fair and balanced just tipped over on its left side.Waiting for Glenn to announce he will have a round table of progessives and socialist on the show to replace the chalk boards.
i can't count how many times I have the heard the Tea party being discussed with no voice from the tea party present on Fox which I always found odd but it's beginning to make sense.
Not Comfortable
Submitted by CoolShades on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 6:00am.
Is this some kind of a sick joke? I'm not very comfortable with this appointment.
This should be interesting,
Submitted by johnsonl on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 8:05am.
This should be interesting, if not informative.
Wait and see approach
Submitted by Tomorama on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 10:43am.
Sorry folks you are trying to have your cake and eat it too.
We can't shove the fair and balanced mantra up the libtards asses if we only have Conservative views on the network, that would make us NO BETTER than PMSNBC and the rest of the cabal.
Let's see what his role is first and then see how he does his job before we predict the doom of Fox news?
This is probably Ailes showing his brilliance by shoving his power up the other networks asses and proving that they are "indeed Fair and balanced".
Time will tell.
Ditto
Submitted by jon_torlin on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 11:09am.
That's what I've been saying too, and the ratings will speak for themselves.
They have let people go(or reassign them) if their ratings drop. They won't keep them there despite anything.
-Jon
Fox doesn't have only conservative views represented...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 5:29pm.
Fox has loads of liberals mouthing off on a daily basis, so the contention that Fox has only conservative views represented, is bogus.
As for Roberts' role, he is reported to be coming on board as a correspondent, which means reporter. A reporter reports the news...Period...They should not be expressing any personal views when they do their reporting, or allowing their personal views to color their reportage, so if Roberts is going to be a reporter, I hope we don't see any of his liberal bias at Fox that he freely revealed at CNN and CBS. Unless Roberts winds up being a commentator or an analyst, I expect to see him keep his views to himself.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
"I want to just stipulate at
Submitted by Beukeboom on Tue, 01/04/2011 - 10:54am.
"I want to just stipulate at the beginning of this interview, we are declaring a Reverend Wright-free zone today. So, no questions about Reverend Wright. Our viewers want us to move on, so this morning we're going to move on. Is that okay with you?"
And my response would have been, no, it is not okay and my first question would be one directed at Obama's relationship with Wright and Wright's philosophies. And I would air whatever Obama's reaction would be "as is." Political candidates should not dictate the boundaries of interview topics.
WTF
Submitted by coolfl33 on Thu, 01/06/2011 - 11:17am.
I guess FOX is becoming, Come One Come All.
I will never watch that idiot. How can you watch and listen to him and not think about all the times this idiot attacked Tea Party Members, Republicans, White People, labeled us Racist.
Hey FOX WTF???????????????????
This man doesn't believe FOX is a News outlet and has attacked the people that work for FOX and they hire him?