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As tired as this argument already is--and it is: people have been trumpeting Fox News' legitimacy horn for a long time now--I still feel it's necessary to chime in.

Unless the Obama administration has some ulterior motives (which is highly likely in any game of manipulation, especially that of political manipulation) the smart idea is to simply back the hell off.

Fox News is not a news reporting organization.  If it is, than we can go ahead and classify The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and SNL's Weekend Update as the same, all offering the same level of fact-based news reporting.

Read the rest of my rant after the break!
Again, Fox News is NOT a news reporting organization.  Moreover, everyone knows it.  It's entertainment, cut and dry.  They trade, as do all news organizations, on sensationalism and controversy.  Where they diverge from the traditional news reporting organizations is that they legitimize their stories by labeling them "Fair and Balanced".

That's like you believing this video is the riveting third act from High School Musical simply because I say it is.  Even though it isn't.

But the legitimacy of Fox News shouldn't be the argument here.  It's entertainment, and when viewed through that lens, Fox News--now bear with me here--is truly one of the most honest news channels out there. 

Everybody needs their entertainment.  Moreover, everybody LIKES their entertainment.  I certainly don't condone Fox News for their interpretation of fair and balanced news reporting, but I'll still tune in occasionally to see what Glenn Beck is ranting like a rabid mongoose about.  That shit is always hilarious.

Earlier I mentioned that the White House's attack on Fox News was uncalled for UNLESS their motives include something other than simply to ostracize and shut down the channel.  Obviously, if it were me, the end-goal to such an attack on Fox News would simply be to reframe how the majority of America regards the organization.

The argument that Fox News is illegitimate and should be shut down is extreme and impossible.  But it opens the door to the concept that it's simply NOT a news reporting agency and, more simply, should NOT be viewed as such.

Fox News is entertainment.  Hell, it's even more rewarding than schlepping to the multiplex for whatever politically-biased garbage Hollywood wants to shove in our faces.

Think about it: Tom Cruise has NOTHING on Glenn Beck.
 


Comments

JimmerSD link
10/21/2009 12:23pm

To be fair: If you are going to apply that standard to Fox you must also use it with MSNBC. Olbermann is every bit as biased as Hannity. Ed is as bad as Beck and Maddow can be every bit as inflammatory as O'Reilly.

The question is do you agree with your particular choice of talking head. If not then they are offensive and plain wrong... from your perspective.

Partisanship IS partisanship. And that means that your opinions are given credibility by the people who voice them. I find Olbermann to be unyielding and arrogant. I find Beck to be hysterical and foolish. Both are singing to their choir and neither are completely wrong.

Step back a little and realize that one of the ways to discredit your enemy is to paint them as evil and uncaring. This is part of the tactic employed by the Obama administration against Fox News and conservatives in general, right now. It distracts from any reasonable point that the opposition makes.

There is no consensus from either side right now and until there is this country is destined for very bad times.

A president is not a dictator and must build a collation in the absence of an overwhelming majority. Without that, demonizing the opposition is a perilous game.

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krumbine
10/21/2009 12:42pm

Absolutely agree on most of your points. I was reading some comments elsewhere that kept harping on the whole MSNBC vs Fox debate and one person argued that while MSNBC may be slanted to the left, at least they still base their arguments on fact.

This is not an argument I'm defending, I merely present it as a point of interest.

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JimmerSD link
10/21/2009 1:30pm

Yeah, I've heard that fact vs. fiction argument. IMHO in politics there are no such thing as facts. Everything is an opinion.

and

it's been said that "...all human interaction is political."

cheers man!
:o)

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