As NewsBusters previously reported, Dunn told CNN's Howard Kurtz on Sunday that Fox is "a wing of the Republican Party" and "not a news network at this point."
On Monday, FNC's Neil Cavuto answered Dunn, and did so in a fashion that should make all those opposing the Obama administration's position on this matter quite pleased.
In fact, I can't wait to see how the astoundingly thin-skinned White House will respond to this (video embedded below the fold with partial transcript, h/t Story Balloon):
So I'm hearing an awful lot about how the White House communications director hates Fox, really, really hates Fox. Anita Dunn saying, and I think I got this quote right, "Let's not pretend they're a news network." She just said that on CNN after saying the same to Time magazine. Lately, it's been her schtick, her game.
So, Ms. Dunn, let's continue playing it, shall we? Let's pretend you're serious. Let's pretend you're not a tad, oh I don't know, thin-skinned. Let's pretend you get your facts straight on whether we thoroughly reported Republican Nevada Senator John Ensign's affair which we did, or only trash Democrats and not Republicans, which we do not. Let's pretend you are open to criticism. Let's pretend you see alternative points of view on healthcare. Let's pretend when someone opposes your view, they might have a point and when you simply refuse to accept it, you're the one who may not have a clue. Let's pretend you have a memory and recall Fox programs like this one disparaging last year's financial rescues and whether they were pouring good money after bad. Let's pretend you know history and recall that a Republican was in the White House back then, and a Republican treasury secretary refused to come on this very show back then. Let's pretend you are aware that on Fox Business shows, in particular, this isn't about this president or the last president. This is about your money, our money, all of our money. Let's pretend you are interested in that and not dismissing that.
Let's pretend you work for the President of the United States and not some left-wing blog in the United States. Let's pretend you are as big as the historic place you work and not as petty as the less than historic words you spout. And let's pretend you care about all of our independent viewers and aren't being just careless about those viewers' cares. So let's pretend you're focused on the issues that matter and not the petty squabbles that do not, just as we should pretend you're not overwrought and snapping. Maybe you're just overworked and snippy.
Or, maybe since Obama was treated with kid gloves by so-called journalists since the day he tossed his name into the ring in February 2007 he just can't bear being scrutinized by anyone, and childishly sends his minions out to chastise those that have the unmitigated audacity to stand up to him now that he's President.
Unfortunately, this is what happens when press members let their own political interests get in the way of performing their jobs.
Bravo, Neil. Bravo.
