UPDATE AT END OF POST: Video of this interview now available.
Outgoing White House communications director Anita Dunn on Friday praised the "fact-checking investigative journalism" skills of Comedy Central's Jon Stewart while she pushed back against any suggestion MSNBC was at all biased.
For those that have forgotten, this is the same Administration official who a month ago said Fox "is not a news network."
The following is a partial transcript of an interview Dunn did Friday with Bloomberg's Al Hunt (h/t Washington Times):
AL HUNT, BLOOMBERG: Let me ask you about your famous broadside against FOX News. [...]
ANITA DUNN, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: I'll give you one fact - actually, fun fact from this week, is that the - you know, an opinion show on a certain news network was using edited footage to make it appear that a rally last week in political opposition to the president was much larger than it appeared.
Some of you may have heard about this. But the people who went in and did the fact checking on that and actually exposed this as kind of spliced edited video that was designed to make it appear that more people opposed the president than really do, the people who exposed this, Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show," on Comedy Central, OK?
Well, that's where you're getting, you know, fact-checking investigative journalism these days, folks. It is a different media environment. And the reality is that, you know, let's face it, you know, we're under no illusions about what the political agenda of, you know, certain news networks are.
And we, you know, will work with them when it suits - you know, when we need to. We obviously have talked to them before. We'll talk to them again in the future. We've never made any secret of that.
But for mainstream journalists, it's important for them to know that when they're following those stories, they may be following, oh, you know, some edited footage or things that really don't stand up to the scrutiny that you bring to a story.
HUNT: Does MSNBC have a political agenda, too?
DUNN: You know, it's interesting, because that, of course, is what gets thrown back. And, obviously, your friend, Karl Rove, who you quoted earlier, declared war on them during the previous administration, and you may recall that FOX actually applauded Karl for doing that.
Now, I will say this: MSNBC has as their host of their morning program a former Republican congressman who was a member of Newt Gingrich's revolution. That, I think -
HUNT: So you think they're different than FOX?
DUNN: Well, but I also think that their opinion shows - their opinion shows absolutely have an opinion -
HUNT: But as a network, they're different.
DUNN: - but I do regard them as different as a network, absolutely.
So, the current White House communications director thinks Jon Stewart is an investigative journalist, and MSNBC is not biased because they've got Joe Scarborough on in the morning.
BUT, Fox is NOT a news network.
Honestly, what ELSE do you need to know about THIS White House?
*****Update: Video of this interview is now available (h/t Story Balloon)...
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.




















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Can't wait for Jon Stewart
November 13, 2009 - 20:20 ET by HeavyChevyto attack MSNBC who still uses photo shopped pictures of Sarah Palin to attack her. Yep he's going to be alllllllllll over that.
Come on Johnny boy show us how fair minded you are.
White House mind-less?
November 13, 2009 - 23:20 ET by ptsonIT is a comedy show! Comedy as in JOKE, like you being qualified to actually work at the White House, Dunn. What next, Miss Piggy as a White House correspondant, reporting on swine flu? IT would be funny, except for the state of the nation. God, please ignore that idiot who failed to curb his pee and HELP US!
What next,
November 14, 2009 - 11:45 ET by boomerconWhat next, you ask? What next, is her hubby as White House counsel.
Rhetorical question: scary answer.
(I think their idiology requires them to maintain a certain level of loonacy in that place)
BREAKING NEWS:
November 14, 2009 - 14:56 ET by thedailyzingJust in! Anita Dunn's last name is actually Stewart. Apparently, Anita & Jon are long lost twins. Historians have determined that their great grandparents were actually Chinese and they're decendents of Mao Tse Tung...
OK, maybe not; however, did you see the hilarious UFC style fightcard write-up between The Whitehouse vs. Fox News? Check out how Mrs. Dunn fares: Click here:
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http://thedailyzing.com/130/enemy-of-the-state/
HC
November 14, 2009 - 15:04 ET by well99Yes HC that will happen.Also Obama will work on job creation in the private sector,balanceing the budget, and giving people real tax cuts .
Thanks Well99 I knew you would help
November 14, 2009 - 21:29 ET by HeavyChevyHey wait a minute I think that was sarcasm! ;-)
HC
November 15, 2009 - 16:48 ET by well99Not according to the msm.They wouldnt lie to us would they?It isnt like they are bias?I wonder when the msm will get their bailouts and actually get paid for shilling for the Chosen One.Well NBC/MSNBC already got theirs.When you think GE...think of all our money covering thier sorry a$$es.
I have a question Noel: Is,
November 13, 2009 - 20:25 ET by BKeyserI have a question Noel: Is, you know, Anita Dunn, you know, going for the, you know, Buffoon of the Year Award?
Going for it?
November 14, 2009 - 07:28 ET by FranksamI think she's already, you know, (my tongue is sticking out here), earned it.
Buffoon of the Year Award? She has no chance
November 14, 2009 - 15:02 ET by general companyWith Obama around, second maybe. Kinda gives "first looser" a whole new perspective
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
You're right gc~~
November 14, 2009 - 15:09 ET by BKeyserHere's the winner.
ROFL!!! Oh, wait, she's
November 13, 2009 - 20:25 ET by Radical1979ROFL!!! Oh, wait, she's serious?
Yes, she is in Bizarro
November 13, 2009 - 22:00 ET by motherbeltYes, she is in Bizarro World.
Where Fox isn't a real news network, but Jon (It's a fake news show!!) Stewart does real journalism.
These people are making my
November 13, 2009 - 22:03 ET by Radical1979These people are making my head spin. Only 3 years and ten months to go...
Does she realize ...
November 15, 2009 - 15:10 ET by KC MulvilleIt's a fake news show. They know that, right?
soo....
November 13, 2009 - 20:29 ET by Candance MooreDoes this mean our resident lefties will stop posting some droll segment from the Daily Show and then avoid having to defend it because he's a comedian?
Since when is Jon
November 13, 2009 - 20:30 ET by rockyracoonSince when is Jon Stewart Leibovitz an investigative journalist? He's nothing but a humorless comedian, in short, a hack. This Dunn person has to be kidding.
Facts are like kryptonite to the liberal.
I like to refer to him as...
November 13, 2009 - 22:05 ET by JnobleFormer D-list comedian turned D-list political analyist Jon Stewart
Another hot babe Dem is out
November 13, 2009 - 20:34 ET by HogTideRebelCatsDarn it!!! Another hot babe of the Dems is out. Shucks, I'm gonna miss her!!!
Why is it all the hotties are Dems?
give stewart credit tho
November 13, 2009 - 20:39 ET by michiganruthhe occasionally takes a shot at His Royal Holiness Obama... and his audience is utterly silent, like they're afraid to laugh or think it's inappropriate. sad, because a comedian who tries new jokes that his audience doesn't laugh at usually doesn't use those jokes again.
to Stewart's audience of trained seals, jokes about Dick Cheney shooting you in the face still get standing ovations.
anyway tho, back to the president of the I Heart Mao fan club: Anita Dunn is a maroon. the Stewart episode? Sean Hannity announced the VERY NEXT DAY that Stewart was right, and he was wrong--they had shown the wrong piece of film. by mistake. and Hannity then apologized.
now correct me if I'm wrong but I don't believe that Anita Dunn's favorite network has ever admitted that they were wrong about a little piece of editing THEY did: pretending a black man who brought a gun to a tea party this summer was really a white racist. I think I must have missed that apology.
Good posting
November 13, 2009 - 20:59 ET by TomoramaGreat posting by the way, Hannity admitted the mistake and MessNBC still owes many apologies..............
IHeartMao fan club, pure gold Jerry........
A great man once said, YOU only get out of life what YOU put into it, he obviously wasn't a liberal.
Stewart? A journalist?
November 13, 2009 - 20:40 ET by shooterWhat? Calling Stewart a journalist is about as valid as calling me the Pope...
_________________________________________
"An armed society is a polite society" -- Robert A. Heinlein
→ Pope Shooter
November 13, 2009 - 21:28 ET by Cool ArrowSorry, I couldn't help myself.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
Twisted Sister
November 13, 2009 - 20:52 ET by wolfemanicConsidering her level of idiocy, she must be getting her guidance from Mau again.
...is anyone else reminded
November 13, 2009 - 22:18 ET by TruthMonger...is anyone else reminded of baghdad bob?
Congratulations Jimmy Carter!
Is this real?
November 13, 2009 - 20:56 ET by TomoramaMy only wish is that this babe would actually look on this site and dispute that Fox has more Liberals/Democrats on their shows and panels than any other network has on Conservatives/Republicans and it is NOT CLOSE honey.
MessNBC at night has NO DIFFERING VIEWPOINTS, liberal sheep ever watch O'Reilly or Hannity (his Great American panel ALWAYS HAS ONE DEMOCRAT ON, ALWAYS)?
The next differening viewpoint Obey the pussy has on will be his first.
I'll leave this factoid for the liberal sheep to think about, Bill O'Reilly has had as GUEST HOSTS Juan Williams and Kirsten Powers MANY TIMES to name two DEMOCRATS, can Ms Dunne name any time the "others" have EVER done something like that.
Imagine Obey the pussy having Mark Levin or John Stossel guest host when he is hiding in the tub??????
A great man once said, YOU only get out of life what YOU put into it, he obviously wasn't a liberal.
Babe?
November 13, 2009 - 22:40 ET by Dan DiegoBabe?
Just
November 14, 2009 - 18:20 ET by TomoramaJust funnin'.................
A great man once said, YOU only get out of life what YOU put into it, he obviously wasn't a liberal.
Babe
November 15, 2009 - 07:52 ET by WarmanIt's all comedy,remember? :-p
Stewart an " investigative reporter "
November 13, 2009 - 20:57 ET by sarge329So Jon Stewart is an " investigative reporter " . What did I miss? Obviously, Ms. Dunn failed to notice that Stewart is on Comedy Central. Comedy Central is by its own admission a " comedy " network. That means that Ms. Dunn must confuse comedy with real news. Well, considering where she worked, I could see how that could happen. Also, if FOX is an arm of the GOP, where does that place all the other so-called news outlets? Are they, then, an arm of the WH and the OOTUS, or Organizer of the US?
this is the crowd that
November 13, 2009 - 22:20 ET by TruthMongerthis is the crowd that "fact-checks" Saturday Night Live skits after all
Congratulations Jimmy Carter!
Honestly, does anyone
November 13, 2009 - 21:01 ET by RowaneHonestly, does anyone expect anything more from this smarmy heiffer? I have come to expect the most outlandish garbage from anyone in DC. I'm finally beyond being shocked at them.
*
"You know, when I was asked earlier about the issue of coal, uh, you
know — Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would
necessarily skyrocket" - Barack Hussain Obama
HAHAHA....
November 13, 2009 - 21:48 ET by Dutch"Smarmy heiffer". I don't think you could have picked two more appropiate words. Thanks for the chuckle.
Dunn may look like a virgin
November 15, 2009 - 07:53 ET by WarmanDunn may look like a virgin cow but He ain't
Well it all kind of makes sense....
November 13, 2009 - 21:02 ET by Patrick MichaelSure Jon Stewart would be a journalist considering that Anita Dunn also took Saturday Night Live serious enough to fact check their skits that dared to be unfavorable to the Greatest President ever.
Stay Free!!!
Don't forget: Mao Zedong is one of her favorite 'philosophers'
November 13, 2009 - 21:24 ET by GalvanicI wonder if she gets a tingle up her leg at the sound of Chris Matthews' voice.
Two points:
1) While she's stepping down from her official WH post, she will remain in Washington DC and continue advising the President, because . . .
2) . . . Her attorney husband has been named as new WH Counsel replacing the resigning Craig.
Oh, by the way
November 13, 2009 - 21:57 ET by CO2MakerThey were selling, IKYN. Oba-Mao T-shirts in Beijing. O'Bama's face in a Mao outfit. Were, that is, until the authorities stepped in.
Beijing puts foot down on ‘Oba Mao’ T-shirts - World Blog - msnbc.com
Well the Oba Mao t-shirt
November 14, 2009 - 07:48 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsWell the Oba Mao t-shirt transfers are still selling on eBay.
For now.
D
Write your Congress and Senate and tell them what YOU think!
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
It's the Chicago way.
November 13, 2009 - 22:39 ET by BeukeboomIt's the Chicago way.
Liberals think Hollywood IS
November 13, 2009 - 21:22 ET by SlyrrLiberals think Hollywood IS real. The best line I ever read recently was 'Obama seems to think (instead of campaigning) that he was auditioning for the role to replace Martin Sheen on the TV show 'The West Wing'...'
This Is What's Wrong With The USA....
November 13, 2009 - 21:46 ET by DutchI can accept that a mouthpiece for a fluffy, boneless administration would contend that a comedy show centered around mocking news would pass for real journalism, and that a network designed to destroy or elevate a man depending on their party affiliation is neutral and fair-minded; What I can NOT tolerate is an individual who holds the title of White House Communications Director who is unable to, you know, make it, you know, halfway through a sentence without, you know, saying "you know" a half a dozen times. Either she doesn't know how to speak (this is possible), or she's really bad at making this crap up as she goes along. Whatever the reason, she has no business being the Communications Director of anything, much less the White House.
At what point in this country did we decide pedigree was all that was necessary to do a job? Turn on the radio or local news, and it's full of dim bulbs who have neither the voice nor vocabulary for broadcasting, yet they have jobs in that industry simply because they have degrees in broadcasting.
As an old retired Colonel once told me, "Having a degree just means the check cleared."
Dutch
November 14, 2009 - 14:13 ET by okiehawk44You are so right.
The last 4 presidents were ivy-leaguers -- hum?
Disappointing that this
November 13, 2009 - 21:49 ET by bse5150Disappointing that this dangerous Liberal hag and her tool of a husband are still very much in control of the White House, just out of the limelight now - don't forget!
November 13, 2009 - 21:59 ET by BigVooWhich witch is which?
November 13, 2009 - 22:12 ET by metaphorsbwithuI'll bet her favorite documentary is the Blair Witch Project.
These people are scary.
metaphorsbwithu
investigate?
November 13, 2009 - 22:38 ET by right of wayare you kidding me? investigate? all those schuckss do is read the internet. go out and investigate? those lazy libs can't get off the couch after partying all night.
With apologies to General
November 13, 2009 - 22:38 ET by BeukeboomWith apologies to General Russell Honoré, Anita Dunn is definitely stuck on stupid.
Communications What!?
November 13, 2009 - 22:40 ET by docjohn52God help me, the internet has spread. Now we have trolls in front of microphones. (And that is pretty much what I pictured...)
I'm warning you all right now, all of you, I have your names and addresses.
I better never see that photoshopped in a bikini, especially on the Comedy Central News channel. (You too Stewart.)
You have reached the end of the Internet, hit any key to restart...
Mrs. Dunn is one of those
November 13, 2009 - 23:03 ET by Clear thinkerMrs. Dunn is one of those amazing people you run into every now and then. Amazingly retarded! It's people like her that is starting to make me wonder about UFO's.
Conservative Endowment for the Arts
http://iamnotaracist.wordpress.com/
It's Been Proved
November 13, 2009 - 23:04 ET by DoktorFrankenDay after day after miserable day the ILLITERATI of this administration, the Leftists in Congress, and just about everyone in the entertainment media prove that they not only have access to the most potent drugs, but that they use them daily and in excessive quantities.
And if I have to look at yet another picture of Anita Dunn I will scream.
(In the Internet, no one hears you scream. Unless, of course, you use a microphone.)
Sarah Palin: The Most Dangerous Conservative In America
Bye Bye Anita. I would
November 13, 2009 - 23:35 ET by Gone_FishinBye Bye Anita.
I would leave too, if FNC kicked my butt like it did yours.
A liberal who is actually working and not sucking on the gov teet...must be a Republican in training.
Thank God They Canned This Woman's Rear End...
November 13, 2009 - 23:56 ET by The7SticksThe one problem I have always had with the Obama administration is that they have not fully vetted every one of their appointments for optimal efficiency. I hope President Obama finally gets the message that he needs to try investigating these appointments he merely glances at before he approves them. This is a very disappointing trait for a president to have: not being able to control his own cabinet let alone presiding over the entire U.S.
I hope President Obama
November 14, 2009 - 00:05 ET by Dan The Man 2I hope President Obama finally gets the message that he needs to try
investigating these appointments he merely glances at before he
approves them
He does vet them, that is why they have so many problems. Duh Vain One wants to make sure they conform to his idea of America.
"Yes, she is in Bizarro
November 14, 2009 - 04:56 ET by chessplayer"Yes, she is in Bizarro World.
Where Fox isn't a real news network, but Jon (It's a fake news show!!) Stewart does real journalism."
And lets not forget CNN for fact-checking a SNL skit.
chessplayer, when you
November 14, 2009 - 07:08 ET by motherbeltchessplayer, when you re-post someone else's comment verbatim as you did with this one of mine from above, it's customary to attribute it (especially when it's the next day) before you add your own.
Anita's Done The
November 14, 2009 - 11:22 ET by Chris NormanAnita's Done
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Strange person, she is
November 14, 2009 - 11:30 ET by zachlindAt the Whitehouse she’s called “The Nose”, which walks like Walter Brennan.
Re Nose
November 14, 2009 - 13:01 ET by slickwillie2001I've always thought she looked like David Gergen.
I think she's Cindy
November 14, 2009 - 15:00 ET by Chris NormanI think she's Cindy Sheehan's more successful sister.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
People fear Fox News
November 14, 2009 - 11:44 ET by RR GOPPeople fear Fox News because they've adopted a business model that allows their talking heads to tell us how bad things really are and could get...and they don't want to hear all that gloom and doom.
Oh, many Americans do know what's going on intrinsically and how bad it could get, but they just don't want to deal with that right now and are hoping that all the problems will simply go away...that the government must surely know what it's doing and manage to "fix" things.
As long as they have working cell phones, cable and gasoline they're quite content to put up with any loss of real freedoms. They'll never care about Liberty because they don't know what that is-they've never really seen it nor have paused to reflect how most people in the world live under Socialism as they're too scared and self-absorbed in their self-inflicted dramas.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
NOKO Red Army
November 14, 2009 - 20:06 ET by SaseboSailorWhy does this woman look like she belongs in a NOKO Red Army uniform?
not sure sailor
November 14, 2009 - 22:48 ET by cajun2Not sure about the uniform but she sure did give me a flashback. I have observed her strange facial expressions, "tics" and off the wall comments. It brought back lines from a song. Cant remember all of it cause I'm an old timer but it goes like this
sitting in a railway station
one toke over the line
Maybe she's taking a little time off to "get herself together".
Well that was a dumb comment
November 15, 2009 - 15:17 ET by balboaWell that was a dumb comment for her to make. The Daily Show isn't a news show, really, and is only interested in investigative, fact-checking journalism that they can make funny.
"Power to Truth"
November 15, 2009 - 20:38 ET by jerseydevelWhoa! Wow! Dear Leader's hit-man toadie from the Ministry of Love renders this precious gem in the context of FoxNews, it "is not a news organization..."
Next Dear Leader's communications toadie from the Ministry of Truth spews forth the latest newspeak from the telespeak - attention, attention, comedian john steward is an investigative reporter...
So what's not to believe???
Now that is 99.99% pure-gold standard credibility.