# Fox News personalities **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 15, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-personalities/683799 "2014-03-15T22:09:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-personalities/683799/1 "2014-03-15T22:09:21Z")
So, I only have a little familiarity with Fox News. I would like to have the perspective of people who have watched it more than I have. Specifically, I would like to know about its bestiary. Do O’Reilly and Hannity have particular styles or angles that they’re known for? What sets them apart? I am already familiar with Megyn Kelly’s “pepper spray is a food product, essentially”. Is dishonest understatement her shtick? While I understand that answers will likely involve negativity, I would like this be remain an examination of the personalities at Fox news, their commonalities and differences, rather than a bitchfest that ends up in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-personalities/683799/2 "2014-03-16T00:49:00Z")
O’Reilly’s style is Fair, and Hannity’s style is Balanced. Happy St. Patrick’s day. Slainte. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-personalities/683799/3 "2014-03-16T01:07:23Z")
I don’t watch much, but this is my impression. O’Reilly - angry and confrontational Hannity - condescending and smarmy Cavuto - business interests spokesperson Stossel - feigned surprise and amazement, followed by libertarian solutions I have heard that in person O’Reilly is very egotistical but Hannity is a fairly decent person. I have no idea aside from that. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-personalities/683799/4 "2014-03-16T12:54:26Z")
I rarely use my sig, but this seems like a good time for it. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-personalities/683799/5 "2014-03-16T13:29:44Z")
Someone mention Shepard Smith. I honestly don’t know how to describe him. ---
**Author:** ![Bellhorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@Bellhorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bellhorn)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-personalities/683799/6 "2014-03-16T13:33:45Z")
I;m a liberal, but I do sample Fox News to see what’s going on. Hannity, I can’t take, because his arguments have zero intellectual honesty and the second or third time he uses hands to make a point, I’m out. Megyn Kelly – I had hopes for her when she got her own prime-time show, because the fact that Roger Ailes has the hots for her, meant she had some latitude in straying from the “official line,” but she’s been a disappointment. As a guest on O’Reilly’s show, she used to give decent, legal rebuttals to O’Reilly’s over-the-top solutions to the country’s social woes. Bill O’Reilly actually does try to be “fair-and-balanced,” but I think he lacks the intellect, or at least self-awareness, to follow through. At times, on his show, he debates with guests, where he takes the right-wing side, or left-wing side, and he usually gets trounced, but thinks he’s won. I don’t mind his temper that much, because at least he’s being honest. I remain surprised at how “dumb” he is, since he’s attended the Kennedy School and his historical books (Killing Lincoln, Kennedy etc) are decent if not must-reads. Charles Krauthammer is the only must-see on Fox News. He’s a regular panelist on the 6:00 pm show, and although he’s a right-winger and hell-bent on discrediting Obama, there is no deceit woven into his positions. 5 years ago, when asked to rate Obama’s first 100 days in office, he replied, “I wish I could say his Presidency is a 100% failure, but I can’t say that just yet.” I like that a commentator announces his personal bias up-front. I think he’s smart, and his logic is consistent (even if I disagree) and his commentary is delivered with wit and erudition. > [@Acsenray](#): > > Someone mention Shepard Smith. I honestly don’t know how to describe him. I wish Shep was smarter, because he’s one of the few that doesn’t seem to be controlled by the Ailes - “Party line.” His outrage at the delayed assistance in the wake of Katrina was honest and Bush critical, as was his response to the disastrous Iraqi recovery. But I really don’t think he knows what he’s talking about… just a guy with honest emotional responses.