# Has Fox news ever gone this far as a propaganda machine? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 3, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284 "2013-10-03T18:24:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/81 "2013-10-06T15:44:51Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > to be a propaganda machine takes brains. > > Fox news is lacking. > > Fox News mistakenly airs parody of Obama offering to personally fund Muslim museum > > [Fox News mistakenly airs parody of Obama offering to personally fund Muslim museum](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/fox-news-mistakenly-airs-parody-of-obama-offering-to-personally-fund-muslim-museum-233837793.html) Fox news is run by very intelligent politicians and lobbyists who know exactly what they’re doing. They know their average viewer (the ones who largely believe that the propaganda is actually news) are the ones who lack a fundamental set of critical thinking skills. Do you think Kooiman actually believed Obama would do something so tone deaf as to fund a single museum out of his own pocket? Forgetting about the broader racist content, what would privately funding a museum actually mean? You can’t even get past the first moment’s thought about it before running into enough questions to put the story down as absurd. But that’s not the point. The point is to say it, get the credulous to believe it and even past it’s debunking leave the average viewer with a negative impression that reinforces their malignant viewpoint. He’s a closeted Muslim, after all, so of course it’s something he’d _like_ to do, etc. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/82 "2013-10-06T16:56:01Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Another example of fine journalism from Fox News: > > [http://gawker.com/fox-news-falls-for-fake-story-claiming-obama-is-funding-1441573171](http://gawker.com/fox-news-falls-for-fake-story-claiming-obama-is-funding-1441573171) This particular lie has gained “legs” beyond Fox News. I was just forwarded this e-mail glurge: > [@](#): > > Obama Uses Own Money To Open Muslim Museum Amid Government Shutdown > > Washington, DC — While up to 800,000 federal workers faced life without a paycheck as Day Two of the government shutdown kicked in, President Barack Obama held a press conference to announce that he is using his own money to open the federally funded International Museum of Muslim Cultures. “During this shutdown, people will have to deal with some of their favorite parks and museums being closed,” Obama told reporters. “Just keep in mind, they will always be there. The Grand Canyon and the Smithsonian are not going anywhere.” Obama continued, “The International Museum of Muslim Cultures is sacred. That is why I have taken it upon myself to use my own personal funds to re-open this historic piece of American culture.” > > The International Museum of Muslim Cultures closed its doors Tuesday as parts of the federal government shut down after Congress failed to reach an agreement on spending. On Monday, the Senate rejected the latest budget proposal from the House of Representatives. The fiscal standoff stems in large part from Republican attempts to block President Obama’s healthcare initiative. > > “The Muslim community deserves our full acceptance and respect,” Obama said. “We have killed millions of Muslims overseas since the September 11th attacks. They are not all bad. In fact most of them are good. So during this shutdown, now is a great time to learn about the faith of Islam. I encourage all of you to celebrate the Muslim community, the ‘Sunnah’ and the magic of the ‘Quran’. All of this can be found at the newly re-opened International Museum of Muslim Cultures.” > > Khaled Matei who is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood‘s Freedom and Justice Party told CNN he is pleased with Obama and his actions. “I spoke with President Obama by telephone yesterday and personally thanked him for what he is doing for the Muslim community,” Matei said. “This is definitely a step in the right direction I explained to him. Praise Allah.” > > Obama finished the press conference explaining to reporters how thrilled he is to see the museum open again. “Folks, this is a time to focus on things that are important to us in America. Sure, we would all like to see the government open, it just is not that simple. What is simple is me funding the International Museum of Muslim Cultures so that it can stay open during this horrible time in our nation’s history, all thanks to the echo chamber which is called the Tea Party.” > > The International Museum of Muslim Cultures is located at 201 E Pascagoula Street in Jackson, Mississippi. It is open Tuesday – Friday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. The museum is closed Friday from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm in observance of the Jumah Prayer. They fixed up the problem of the non-existent Washington Muslim museum by changing it to a real and existing Muslim Museum in Pascagoula\*. But that museum isn’t federally funded, so it’s not shut down. Relevant Snopes site: > **[Obama Uses Own Money to Open Muslim Museum Amid Government Shutdown](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/museum-peace/)** > > Is President Obama using his personal funds to keep the International Museum of Muslim Cultures open during the government shutdown? \*I have to admit that I’m amazed that there’s a Muslim Museum in Pascagoula, MS ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/83 "2013-10-06T17:04:44Z")
I just checked the National Report website, and apparently it DOES identify the International Museum of Muslim Cultures in Pascagoula. Did the earlier “debunking” report in Gawker\* screw up in saying that the museum was in Washington DC? Or has the National Report version been changed to fit in with current glurge? > **[Obama Uses Own Money To Open Muslim Museum Amid Government Shutdown](http://nationalreport.net/obama-uses-money-open-muslim-museum-amid-government-shutdown/)** \*The Media Matters report Gawker cites doesn’t say anything about the museum being nonexistent, or about it being in Washington DC ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/84 "2013-10-06T19:10:15Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Yes, they did make an error in forgetting a space between “museum” and “by”. > > I wonder - does this make the story incorrect then? Or what? Is this grammer mistake as bad as what Fox News did, so the whole thing is a wash? [One would not want to be some kind of . . grammar policeman . . . grammar . . . strict authoritarian . . . what’s the term I’m looking for . . .](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8fbrUjjivw) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/85 "2013-10-06T19:26:29Z")
“Prick”. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/86 "2013-10-06T21:23:26Z")
For me, the quintessential Fox News is Sean Hannity. He’s the complete package, the genuine article. Used to watch him once in a while, get my blood pressure up and then do some exercise. Trouble was, ten minutes of him makes my _tai chi_ too much like\* tae kwan do\*. Anyway, I happened to watch when the shattering news came out that they had FOUND the WMD! There all along, right there in that warehouse. And he demanded…demanded! mind you…that Democrats forward their wretched apologies forthwith, they should grovel for forgiveness at the feet of The Leader. And then, in the space of a few hours, the news broke that what had been discovered were a bunch of rusty old shells, totally out of date. Dangerous, yes, to be sure, dangerous to anyone who tried to handle them. But they were WMD like Pee Wee Herman is Gandhi. I figured, I’ll tune in tomorrow, see how he deals with this, what story or excuse will he come up with. Should have guessed, really. Nada. Nothing. Didn’t even so much as mention it, it never happened, poof! gone. What a knob. ---
**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:** [October 6, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/87 "2013-10-06T21:42:45Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > For me, the quintessential Fox News is Sean Hannity. He’s the complete package, the genuine article. Used to watch him once in a while, get my blood pressure up and then do some exercise. Trouble was, ten minutes of him makes my _tai chi_ too much like\* tae kwan do\*. > > Anyway, I happened to watch when the shattering news came out that they had FOUND the WMD! There all along, right there in that warehouse. And he demanded…demanded! mind you…that Democrats forward their wretched apologies forthwith, they should grovel for forgiveness at the feet of The Leader. > > And then, in the space of a few hours, the news broke that what had been discovered were a bunch of rusty old shells, totally out of date. Dangerous, yes, to be sure, dangerous to anyone who tried to handle them. But they were WMD like Pee Wee Herman is Gandhi. > > I figured, I’ll tune in tomorrow, see how he deals with this, what story or excuse will he come up with. Should have guessed, really. Nada. Nothing. Didn’t even so much as mention it, it never happened, poof! gone. What a knob. Amen. I used to get my lunch break at 7p.m., and would eat in my truck with the radio on. In the waning days of G.W.B.'s presidency, as the Nation was slipping into recession, I heard Hannity parse the definition of the term “recession”, and otherwise spend every day denying that we were in a recession. As soon as Obama is elected, Hannity want’s to know what’s going to happen with “Obama’s Recession”. What a douchebag. It boggles my mind that he fools anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/88 "2013-10-06T22:18:44Z")
Haven’t y’all heard ? These days he’s reporting on the Liberal Shutdown. I dunno. I’m not even American, only see snippets of the guy via Jon Stewart, and already I know that when I’m God-Emperor of the Universe there’ll be an Imperial legate whose only job will be to slap Sean Hannity in his supercilious face every time it looks like he’s going to open his mouth. Can’t deny, the man has a very special gift. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/89 "2013-10-07T00:30:00Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Another example of fine journalism from Fox News: > > [http://gawker.com/fox-news-falls-for-fake-story-claiming-obama-is-funding-1441573171](http://gawker.com/fox-news-falls-for-fake-story-claiming-obama-is-funding-1441573171) I have a lot of respect for Fox News: they give their audience what they desire: reassurance. I mean you have to be pretty messed in the head or hopelessly doe eyed to watch a network with their record of howling inaccuracies. Normal people watch news to be informed: modern conservatives seek stroke. > [@](#): > > During a segment on the government shutdown yesterday, Fox News host Anna Kooiman claimed that President Obama has “has offered to pay out of his own pocket for the museum of Muslim culture.” Problem being, besides the complete lie she told about the president, is that a museum by that name in Washington D.C. doesn’t even exist. Of course there’s a lot of professional jealousy involved: can you imagine having an audience with that level of gullibility? It’s like money in the bank! ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/90 "2013-10-07T00:44:55Z")
Someone I know was using Fox news as a cite for how Christians are being persecuted in America:smack: My response was that Fox was incredibly biased and i posted some links about the same story that included huffington post. Their response was that sure fox is biased but so were all the others especially huffington post:confused: I thought really:confused: Fox posts stuff that are obvious untruths with no cites coz yanno they are not true and Huff posts more accurate info that you can check because they have a shitload of cites - and they are the same:confused: ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/91 "2013-10-07T02:07:27Z")
This thread is filling my heart with Fox nostalgia. IMO Fox peaked with Beck. Ever since he left they just haven’t been as fun. They seem weary. The socialist creeping sharia death panels miasma gets the most attention but I always liked the smaller controversies. The apology tour Bowing to foreign leaders The terrorist fist jab Paper clip-gate Ripping Michelle for trying to make kids healthy Wooden Easter eggs Dijon mustard on hamburger You didn’t build that ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/92 "2013-10-07T02:57:17Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Fox news is run by very intelligent politicians and lobbyists who know exactly what they’re doing. They know their average viewer (the ones who largely believe that the propaganda is actually news) are the ones who lack a fundamental set of critical thinking skills. > > Do you think Kooiman actually believed Obama would do something so tone deaf as to fund a single museum out of his own pocket? Forgetting about the broader racist content, what would privately funding a museum actually mean? You can’t even get past the first moment’s thought about it before running into enough questions to put the story down as absurd. But that’s not the point. The point is to say it, get the credulous to believe it and even past it’s debunking leave the average viewer with a negative impression that reinforces their malignant viewpoint. He’s a closeted Muslim, after all, so of course it’s something he’d _like_ to do, etc. From time to time, you do hear about “reputable” news sites being taken in by spoofs and parodies - mostly for their “weird news” segments. What I have to wonder though - just how does a story, that just screams “check sources” slip like that? And also - is it about time that something was done to hold news organisations to account for stupidity that can’t be anything but wilfull? Is there anybody that would have standing to sue Fox over this story for damage to their reputation? ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/93 "2013-10-07T03:02:47Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > can you imagine having an audience with that level of gullibility? It’s like money in the bank! > [@marshmallow](#): > > This thread is filling my heart with Fox nostalgia. IMO Fox peaked with Beck. Ever since he left they just haven’t been as fun. They seem weary. Part of the problem is that while they are a main cash cow for News Corp (as opposed to Fox Business, which bleeds red) their equipment and perks lag behind their competitors. So while they have a great top and bottom line, and their celebrity anchors receive generous salaries, the quality of the offices have stayed the same since the early 1990s, when they were a young, scrappy and upcoming network. The bathroom stalls have embarrassing gaps in them, the equipment is dated, the suits chintzy. So if the talking heads seem like they’re phoning it in, it’s probably because they are. Cite: [Joe Muto](http://www.amazon.com/An-Atheist-FOXhole-Eight-Year-Right-Wing/dp/0525953957/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381114803&sr=8-1&keywords=muto+fox), the Fox News mole. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/94 "2013-10-07T03:17:04Z")
Kinda reminds me of a book I remember fondly, by Donald E. Westlake, of Dortmunder fame amongst the Select. Wrote one called _Trust Me On This_, built around the premise of reporters and writers who are stuck writing for a rag like the _National Enquirer_. Well, it is, just transparently disguised. Anyway, thing is, the rag pays totally great, at least double the money anybody could make elsewhere. The catch is, their credibility is shot, they can’t work anywhere else because nobody will have them after they’ve debased themselves so. Make oodles of money working for crazy rich people and if they get fired, they’re dead. Fox kind of reminds me of that. And there’s so many of them, its like a non-stop audition. How many of these talking heads can the egosystem support? All of them saying essentially the same things until somebody gets a moments attention by saying something totally nuts. Or repeats something somebody said that is totally nuts but with the proviso “people are saying…” Which his true, he just said it, and, technically, he’s people. So its a fact, people _are_ saying that Malia is a clone, and Obama sacrificed the original to his Dark Lord. Slime molds in a gilded cage, they are. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/95 "2013-10-07T03:27:59Z")
The worst part about the Photoshopping is it isn’t even good. Did they have somebody’s kid do it? The one of Steinberg is laughably terrible. What human face has those proportions? He doesn’t even have a forehead. > [@armedmonkey](#): > > Carl Castle’s voice on your home answering machine! That’s Carl Kasell, you fool! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/96 "2013-10-07T03:46:59Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > All this pathos is unnecessary. You’ve already convinced yourselves. > [@armedmonkey](#): > > No buddy, you have. You are not even attempting to engage other posters, and made up your mind about said posters before you said a word. Yes, this is a peanut gallery and everybody around you is throwing their peanut shells and shouting “boooo!” towards Fox News, but that’s all their doing. Call it “pathos” if you want to, but you haven’t even tried to make a counter that’s worth a damn. > > So drop the passive aggressive bullshit, alright? > [@Rysdad](#): > > Okay. THANK you. Sheesh. Now, where were we? Does anybody remember who had their hand on my dick? Dammit, this happens EVERY time. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/97 "2013-10-07T03:52:32Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Haven’t y’all heard ? These days he’s reporting on the Liberal Shutdown. I dunno. > > I’m not even American, only see snippets of the guy via Jon Stewart, and already I know that when I’m God-Emperor of the Universe there’ll be an Imperial legate whose only job will be to slap Sean Hannity in his supercilious face every time it looks like he’s going to open his mouth. Can’t deny, the man has a very special gift. Is it too early to forward my resume? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/98 "2013-10-07T03:54:50Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > I have a lot of respect for Fox News: they give their audience what they desire: reassurance. I mean you have to be pretty messed in the head or hopelessly doe eyed to watch a network with their record of howling inaccuracies. **Normal people watch news to be informed:** modern conservatives seek stroke. Of course there’s a lot of professional jealousy involved: can you imagine having an audience with that level of gullibility? It’s like money in the bank! Got to take issue with that. Normal people watch news to be terrorized and titillated. ---
**Author:** ![knel3030](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecae2f/32.png) [@knel3030](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knel3030)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/99 "2013-10-07T05:10:24Z")
As long as fox doesn’t start organizing torchlit marches while chanting “wir mussen den democraters ausridden!” then their contribution to the escelating hyperpolarization will hopefully just reach an absurdist crescendo. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284/100 "2013-10-07T05:26:38Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Got to take issue with that. > > Normal people watch news to be terrorized and titillated. Terrorized? Maybe. Titillated? If so, Fox News would have more viewers: they choose their anchors pretty deliberately for their pulchritude, to an extent beyond that of the other networks. That said, I stand corrected. Those wishing to be informed get their news from the printed word or if they are doing something else, NPR. Then again, I’ve known people who like watching Anderson Cooper over dinner. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-fox-news-ever-gone-this-far-as-a-propaganda-machine/670284.md?page=6)