You Tell 'Em Bill O'Reilly!!!!

[southerngale]

Calling Al Franken a satirist is a farce

In a few weeks, the Fox News Channel will celebrate its seventh birthday awash in publicity and success. From virtually nothing, the organization that employs me has risen up to become one of the most powerful news agencies in the country. This is a stunning achievement, but it's also one that has engendered bitterness and controversy.
Fox has succeeded by mixing a populist-traditional, pro-American editorial posture with lively debate that includes voices the traditional network news organizations would never allow airtime.

The accusation that Fox is a conservative network is pure propaganda. Poll after poll has demonstrated that Fox's audience is across the board, ideologically and demographically. The latest survey taken by Mediamark Research finds that more ultraconservative viewers watch CNN than Fox.

But facts don't matter to the Fox haters who are, themselves, primarily ultraliberal. The dominance of Fox in the cable news world has shattered the stranglehold the left had on TV news for decades, and that has caused fear and loathing in some political circles.

Using liberal-leaning newspapers and publishing houses, the critics of Fox have unleashed defamatory personal attacks on me and other Fox news analysts and have attempted to denigrate the entire network. If Fox News crashed and burned tomorrow, these people would toast marshmallows in the flames.

Now Fox News is striking back by putting the demonizers on notice that they will be held responsible when they violate trademarks or launch defamatory personal attacks on Fox personnel.

It is simply a sorry joke to see a political activist like Al Franken labeled a satirist by The New York Times. Attempting to smear and destroy the reputations of those with whom you politically disagree is not satire. If that were the case, Richard Nixon's Watergate plumbers would all be writing for "Saturday Night Live."

Fox News has become the highest-rated news network on cable because we feature lively debate and all honest voices are welcome. We don't do drive-by character assassinations, and we don't denigrate opposing points of view by launching gratuitous personal attacks. Fox's presentation is in the tradition of the raucous town meeting where passion and conviction are on display. We challenge people of all political persuasions.

It makes me sick to see intellectually dishonest individuals hide behind the First Amendment to spread propaganda, libel and slander. But this is a growing trend in America, where the exchange of ideas often degenerates into verbal mud wrestling with intent to injure. The poo-bahs at The Times know what a smear campaign is, but apparently, if it's directed at an enterprise the paper disapproves of, it's okay. I wonder how The Times' editorialists would react if their faces graced a book cover accompanied by the word "liar." Oh, right, they'd consider it satire.

This country is a better place because Fox News has succeeded. Now there is a wider range of thought and expression available 2-4/7. But the country is worse off because of the brutal repercussions of that success. A nation that prides itself on diversity of opinion and acceptance of differing political points of view is being subjected to an orgy of media defamation and sometimes outright hatred.

And satire has nothing to do with it.

Originally published on August 18, 2003

[j]

Using liberal-leaning newspapers and publishing houses, the critics of Fox have unleashed defamatory personal attacks on me and other Fox news analysts and have attempted to denigrate the entire network. If Fox News crashed and burned tomorrow, these people would toast marshmallows in the flames.
[b]Originally published on August 18, 2003

This pretty much sums it up.

Go Mr. O

[Stephanie]

Actually, I think I've heard the bashing of people's characters and opinions coming from both sides of the aisle. To me, using slanderous propaganda is right up there to calling someone "unAmerican" because they disagreed with the government.

HOWEVER, not to beat a dead horse, ( ) I've always liked Fox news coverage and CNN for that matter. O'Reilly has every right to stick up for his opinions and those of his fellow co-workers, especially if they are slanderous or demeaning.

[southerngale]

Here's some recent info regarding Al Franken and Fox News:

Fox Sues Humorist Al Franken Over Slogan

The Associated Press
Monday, August 11, 2003; 5:15 PM


NEW YORK - Fox News Channel has sued liberal humorist Al Franken and the Penguin Group to stop them from using the phrase "fair and balanced" in the title of his upcoming book.

Filed Monday in Manhattan, the trademark infringement lawsuit seeks a court order forcing Penguin to rename the book, "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right." It also asks for unspecified damages.

Fox News registered "Fair & Balanced" as a trademark in 1995, the suit says.

Franken's "intent is clear - to exploit Fox News' trademark, confuse the public as to the origins of the book and, accordingly, boost sales of the book," the suit said.

Calls to Penguin and Franken's publicist were not immediately returned. The book is due out next month.

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX WED AUGUST 13, 2003 12:05:38 ET XXXXX

O'REILLY LOBBIED FOR LAWSUIT

**Exclusive**

FOX NEWS star Bill O'Reilly lobbied his network to file suit against author Al Franken and his upcoming book "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right," top sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT.

"For Bill, above all other things, this was a matter of honor and support," a top source explained from New York.

MORE

In his book, Franken directly challenges O'Reilly on his journalistic record and aggressively accuses cable's top-rated host of exaggeration, padding of his resume and other claims.

"He is not going to sit by and let Franken smear the hell out of him," a top FOX source said.

The lawsuit does not directly address the content of the book on charges of libel, rather it claims Fox has trademarked "Fair and Balanced" to describe its news coverage and that Mr. Franken's use of the phrase would "blur and tarnish" it.

[ameriwx2003]

Well. while I do watch foxnews . one could easily argue they are not fair and balanced:):):)

[southerngale]

But I don't think they'd win the argument...hehe

[j]

That's right Kelly...they thought they were wrong once....but they were just mistaken

[ColdFront77]

Fox News Channel doesn't seem Fair and Balanced, because they are more to the right than the other two cable news network; giving the impression that they are not "in the middle."

[j]

"Fair and Balanced" is a relative term, and when you compare Fox News to the Ultra Liberal Mainstream Media, they are certainly somewhere in the middle.

I mean come on...Alan Colmes?????

[JetMaxx]

I find the Fox news network a breath of fresh air....a wonderful change to the "Commie News Network", also known as CNN

[Guest]

Yea i myself likes Fox especially Mr O'Reilly!
I still watch msnbc though on occasin..................All in all this network was needed!!!!

[ameriwx2003]

Well anymore. I don't think any News stations are fair and balanced. They all give us the news slanted towards their own opinion, it just happens to be I like foxnews opinion more times then not lol

[ColdFront77]

News reports and news anchors aren't supposed to and do not give their political views on television (and radio). Debate program hosts obviously have to, that is the point of those programs.

[wx247]

There is such a fine line here... and it particularly lies in the difference between "news reporting" and "news commentary". Shows like "The O'Reilly Factor", "Scarborough Country", "Hannity and Colmes", and "Crossfire" are news commentary shows. These shows aren't aimed at giving you all the day's headlines. What these shows do is give you the general info. of the story and then debate/discuss the issues.

In the news commentary shows, political views, opinions, etc. are going to come out and be expressed. So... in that manner FNC is right slanted. Does that bother me? Nope. Why? Because they are giving the audience their opinions on the issues, etc. I agree with O'Reilly about 75% of the time. I always enjoy hearing his commentary.

"News reporting" is where the information should be unbiased and factual. However, you can't rid bias completely from any newscast because even the order you place stories within your newscast is a form of bias. For example, last week when the power went out it was almost exclusively wall-to-wall Manhattan. Why? For one reason... that is where the news media is stationed and was the only place they could get most information from in the first place. But secondly, the networks chose to air NYC. Why? It certainly wasn't because they wanted NYC residents to know everything was okay (no one had power). It was a decision of the editors, directors, and producers. You could call that bias. See, it is a complicated issue.

All in all, I think each of the three networks has a place in the U.S. To call CNN the "Commie News Network" is no different than people defaming Rupert Murdoch and FNC. Just an observation....

[TexasStooge]

Yeah, I sometimes like to watch Fox News channel to get a break from CNN & MSNBC.

[ColdFront77]

There is one news anchor (on Fox News Channel) that we know his political affliation...

Any guesses?