# Is Fox News really all that bad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 3, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625 "2012-10-03T21:14:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/41 "2012-10-05T20:28:01Z")
For at least a few days now [FoxNews.com](http://FoxNews.com) has had a “Bias Alert” section on their front page. Now the top story is that Andrea Mitchell pushed Sununu on if he wanted to walk back his “lazy” and “not that bright” comments about Obama. Bizarrely, the next “bias” story is Gore’s lame altitude excuse for Obama’s debate performance. Has Gore made any claim to _not_ being biased? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/42 "2012-10-05T21:31:55Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > ISo biased? Yes. Liars? No. > [@Selected quotes from tomndebb](#): > > They deliberately manufactured the story of the “WTC Mosque” in order to whip up furor and fervor among their audience for political gain. > > Even after President Bush was admitting that Iraq had no involvement with the WTC and Pentagon attacks, Fox was playing nonsense from Cheney along with enough innuendo that a majority of Fox viewers thought that Iraq had contributed to those attacks. > > Recently, Fox News announced that unemployment was at 14.7% when it was only 7.8% in 2009. Of course, they failed to note that the 2009 figure was not using the same basis. Chessic, you can’t make shit up and deliberately distort the truth and not be lying. Fox New LIES. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/43 "2012-10-05T21:34:50Z")
Hell, they [went to court](http://foxnewsboycott.com/resources/fox-can-lie-lawsuit/) to protect their right to lie. ---
**Author:** ![Enlightening\_Meditation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecc23a/32.png) [@Enlightening\_Meditation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enlightening_Meditation)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/44 "2012-10-05T23:52:06Z")
Fox News’ standards at times are stunningly low for journalism regardless of political perspective: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8bPfzIF8Qg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8bPfzIF8Qg) For better or worse (depending on who you ask), Fox News has heavy slant toward Republican mainstream conservative views. Much of the time, it’s a megaphone for the GOP. There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with that from a free speech perspective, but it’s deceptive for FN to pose as a ‘fair and balanced’ news outlet. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MoWJnvYFDg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MoWJnvYFDg) Fox News will give plenty of airtime to the Democrat’s scandal (Anthony Weiner photos, Eric Holder alleged role in ‘fast % furious’ weapons trafficking), but not say a peep about some GOP scandals (John Ensign’s affair with his own staffer + hush money, David Vitter’s brothel visits, David Rivera’s shadow campaign fraud). Fox News’ selective out-of-context editing of Acorn videos created completely false reporting on some incidents. As far as I know, FN never announced a correction or apology for these errors or any others for that matter. Fox News seems much more aligned with the GOP establishment than the ring wing talk radio crowd who are far more critical of the Republican Party and DC insider establishment. The talk radio are more loyal to their declared conservative principals and ideas than the GOP party. I don’t have much praise for the other domestic TV news outlets either. The rest are very monolithic it seems. There’s bias at all of them, but Fox takes it further. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/45 "2012-10-06T00:03:38Z")
They are consistently and intentionally dishonest. If they did as they claimed and made clear lines of distinction between opinon programs and objective fact based news, no problem. I believe we need honest intelligent conservative voices. That’s not what they do. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/46 "2012-10-06T16:06:21Z")
Their local affiliates are ok. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/47 "2012-10-06T17:46:02Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Not in Foxland (title of the article about the unemployment rate): > > “Jobless Rate Dips Under 8 Percent… But is the Number Real?” I’m actually surprised they didn’t use _two_ cavuto marks after that one. Here’s a recent one. [Is this news or opinion?](http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1473/5747827/12790077/404164324.jpg). What could even be the point of “reporting” the results of such a poll? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/48 "2012-10-06T18:29:50Z")
Well, they’re profitable, showing the American appetite for being spoonfed a well-purified blend of patriotism and outrage. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/49 "2012-10-06T18:42:19Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Well, they’re profitable, showing the American appetite for being spoonfed a well-purified blend of patriotism and outrage. “What kind of TV programs do they play here?” “Oh, BOTH kinds – patriotism AND outrage!” ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/50 "2012-10-06T18:59:15Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Hell, they [went to court](http://foxnewsboycott.com/resources/fox-can-lie-lawsuit/) to protect their right to lie. TBCF, Newscorp did not “stand alone” on this issue. They had direct and/or tacit support from the other media giants. If you doubt this, go to the major news sites and search for “Jane Akre”, there is nothing. I mean really, the story does not exist. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/51 "2012-10-06T19:03:45Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > “What kind of TV programs do they play here?” > > “Oh, BOTH kinds – patriotism AND outrage!” “In a nice gooey Jesusy blend!” ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/52 "2012-10-06T19:10:53Z")
When FOX news has liberal guests, they’ll shout them down instead of letting them speak their views. CNN generally lets their guests at least have their say. Also, FOX couches the news within conservative viewpoints such as the need for tax cuts or religion. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/53 "2012-10-06T22:54:45Z")
In any discussion like this you need to separate out Sheppard Smith from the talking heads. Smith is a straight up journalist, He does actual news, the rest is just opinion and spin. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2012, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/54 "2012-10-07T13:26:52Z")
Fox News doesn’t put a political spin on things - it outright lies about them. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been flipping channels and seen the following scenario: “Today President Obama said he supports the bludgeoning of baby seals. The horror!” \*cut to video footage of Obama saying, “Bludgeoning baby seals is wrong. But we need to consider the following issues when addressing the problem…” _cut back to newscaster_ ‘‘Now why do you think Obama says he supports the bludgeoning of baby seals? Here to talk about why Obama supports the bludgeoning of baby seals is our special guest…’’ Just blatant, outright lies. I think Americans should file a class action suit against Fox News for undue pain and suffering. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/55 "2012-10-09T22:36:38Z")
> [@Enlightening\_Meditation](#): > > Fox News’ selective out-of-context editing of Acorn videos created completely false reporting on some incidents. As far as I know, FN never announced a correction or apology for these errors or any others for that matter. Got a cite for that, or any good search terms? Thanks! Regarding bias, try watching/listening all day to Fox News, and on another day, an NPR news station. Then see which of the following match: A) Fox News B) NPR news station 1. fear and anger 2. empathy and concern Which do you think matches with which? Is the stress on the emotion equal between the two? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/56 "2012-10-09T22:54:53Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > Got a cite for that, or any good search terms? Thanks! > [@](#): > > Referring to a San Bernardino, California, ACORN employee whose claim that she killed her husband was recorded by actors posing as a prostitute and pimp, Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson asked, “She killed somebody?” adding, “Despite this, some lawmakers want to keep funding the group.” However, the San Bernardino Police Department investigated the matter and concluded that the claims made by Tresa Kaelke – the ACORN staffer in question who said she fabricated the story because the actors filming her “were clearly playing with me” – “do not appear to be factual,” and that her “known former husbands” are “alive and well.” > [@](#): > > Kaelke said she decided to tell actors “outrageous things with a straightface.” According to an ACORN press release, Kaelke stated of the actors who filmed her, “They were not believable. … Somewhat entertaining, but they weren’t evengood actors. I didn’t know what to make of them. They were clearly playing with me. I decided to shock them asmuch as they were shocking me. Like Stephan Colbert does – saying the most outrageous things with a straightface.” The press release also stated: “When the actors approached Ms. Kaelke with their provocative costuming and outlandish scenario, she could not take them seriously. So she met their outrageousness with her own personal style of outrageousness. She matched their false scenario with her own false scenarios.” The selective and out of context follows logically from the lack of follow ups or clarifications, IIRC most of the tapes were released, but it is clear that there is a lot that O’keefe and his gang “forgot” to tape. IMHO this final release of the ACORN affair, besides putting a huge discredited vibe to what O’Keefe did, showed to me that it was very likely that other people reacted similarly to the “reporter” that came to ask for “advise” in other ACORN locations; unfortunately, other staffers were not clever enough to ad poison pills to their revelations like Ms. Kaelke did. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/57 "2012-10-15T18:06:48Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > Fox News doesn’t put a political spin on things - it outright lies about them. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been flipping channels and seen the following scenario: > > “Today President Obama said he supports the bludgeoning of baby seals. The horror!” > \*cut to video footage of Obama saying, “Bludgeoning baby seals is wrong. But we need to consider the following issues when addressing the problem…” > _cut back to newscaster_ ‘‘Now why do you think Obama says he supports the bludgeoning of baby seals? Here to talk about why Obama supports the bludgeoning of baby seals is our special guest…’’ > > Just blatant, outright lies. I think Americans should file a class action suit against Fox News for undue pain and suffering. Except that particular scenario never actually happened. So in a way, you’re as bad as Fox News. I’m a political moderate. That is to say I largely don’t give a shit about politics and try to make an informed vote for whichever candidate I feel has policies that are best for the nation. My problem with Fox News in particular and 24 hour network news in general is that it represents what passes for the political process in this country. People seem to vote on how they think they are “supposed to vote”. Suburban white Middle America and rich businesspeople vote Republican. Minorities, intellectuals, urban young people and rich celebrities vote Democrat. Weirdos vote for third parties. Then they vigorously defend their position by demonizing the other party and discrediting their candidates. Fox News exists by marketing to white Middle American conservatives by casting a bunch of anchors who look like grown up versions of he high school football captain and the vapid cheerleaders he bangs on the weekend, then having them prattle on abotu political issues 24 hours a day in the same manner that one would expect from…well…a couple of high school football players and their vapid cheerleader girlfriends.. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/58 "2012-10-15T18:24:13Z")
No, it isn’t. FOX is moderate. However, all the other media outlets are slanted so hard to the left that FOX’s being in the middle makes them look right-wing in comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/59 "2012-10-15T18:30:48Z")
For example, other news networks ask “gotcha” questions like “What do you read?” and reports “data” like unemployment numbers. Only Fox un-slants things by asking if there’s a government-media conspiracy at work. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/60 "2012-10-15T18:48:28Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > No, it isn’t. > > FOX is moderate. However, all the other media outlets are slanted so hard to the left that FOX’s being in the middle makes them look right-wing in comparison. And, in other news from Lalaland, red is blue, green is yellow, yellow is orange, up is down, and 2 x 2 = 7. ETA: Clothy, I think you have no clue what hard left really means. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625.md?page=4)