# 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:** 59
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1161 "2016-08-01T20:07:54Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Regarding the Trump-Khan story, which has been a top story everywhere else for two days and for good reason, I’ve located it on the [FoxNews.com](http://FoxNews.com) website. Not the top story, but at least within the first column of second-tier stories. See how it jumps out at you? > > You can’t say their ignoring how the Khan story is distracting from Clinton’s “spat” with “Benghazi mom.” And I love how they imagine a Trump-Khan “debate”, instead of what almost everyone else sees: an unhinged bigot screaming insults at a dignified and thoughtful man ---
**Author:** ![Reyemile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@Reyemile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reyemile)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1162 "2016-08-01T20:31:32Z")
The front page also has an open letter from a Gulf War vet, quoting multiple bible verses and then explaining how the Khan’s raised a hero by “assimilating” but that nowadays, “many” Muslims in America want to live “under Sharia law.” It was so nakedly racist I couldn’t read past that part. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1163 "2016-08-01T21:39:48Z")
> [@Reyemile](#): > > The front page also has an open letter from a Gulf War vet, quoting multiple bible verses and then explaining how the Khan’s raised a hero by “assimilating” but that nowadays, “many” Muslims in America want to live “under Sharia law.” > > It was so nakedly racist I couldn’t read past that part. You should have, because he was completely objective and rational, beginning with, “Regardless of what the feckless, naïve, leftist ideologue Barack Obama and his dimwitted colleagues John Kerry, Francois Hollande and Angela Merkel state…” ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1164 "2016-08-02T15:58:10Z")
Foxnews doing their best to turn shit into a shit sandwich though. They made the claim that this is all a media invention, and the main stream media covered the Khan’s live but not the Benghazi mom. [Turns out](http://politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2016/aug/01/brian-kilmeade/brian-kilmeade-says-news-networks-were-biased-agai/), the main stream media covered both live. The only network that didn’t cover either live? Foxnews. Where apparently facts don’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1165 "2016-08-02T16:06:08Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Foxnews doing their best to turn shit into a shit sandwich though. They made the claim that this is all a media invention, and the main stream media covered the Khan’s live but not the Benghazi mom. [Turns out](http://politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2016/aug/01/brian-kilmeade/brian-kilmeade-says-news-networks-were-biased-agai/), the main stream media covered both live. The only network that didn’t cover either live? Foxnews. > > Where apparently facts don’t matter. Even worse, Fox didn’t have Pat Smith on because The Sentient Cheeto called in to do a live interview while she was talking. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1166 "2016-08-02T16:08:59Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Even worse, Fox didn’t have Pat Smith on because The Sentient Cheeto called in to do a live interview while she was talking. I mean, I know it’s a cliche, but the GOP (of which I used to be a member) is living in a completely post fact world. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1167 "2016-08-02T16:47:32Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > … facts don’t matter. This was Fox “News”’ original tagline, but higher-ups decided that it wasn’t properly deceptive. ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1168 "2016-08-03T17:13:25Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > What they don’t get is that it doesn’t matter whether the comments were sarcastic or were meant to be serious. Most people know they were not meant seriously! The comments were reckless, ill-advised, and demonstrate an embarrassingly cavalier attitude about foreign policy that would enrage FoxNews-types into frothing calls for imprisonment if Obama or Clinton had made them. Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran! ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1169 "2016-08-03T17:27:45Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Foxnews doing their best to turn shit into a shit sandwich though. They made the claim that this is all a media invention, and the main stream media covered the Khan’s live but not the Benghazi mom. [Turns out](http://politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2016/aug/01/brian-kilmeade/brian-kilmeade-says-news-networks-were-biased-agai/), the main stream media covered both live. The only network that didn’t cover either live? Foxnews. > > Where apparently facts don’t matter. Facts DO matter at F-x, where they are hunted down and destroyed, so they never accidentally get on the air. ---
**Author:** ![Uqbar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a587f6/32.png) [@Uqbar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uqbar)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2016, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1170 "2016-08-06T03:02:21Z")
This from a [Forbes article](http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidschrieberg1/2016/07/28/good-riddance-roger-ailes-you-were-a-disaster-for-america-journalism-and-the-truth/#3dd3d1d06d0f) on Faux News’ lech-in-chief stepping down: > [@](#): > > “I watch the fall of Roger Ailes. Under his two-decade-long stewardship, the founder, Chairman and Chief Executive of Fox News was instrumental in paving the way for the rise of Donald Trump.” This from a [mediamatters article](https://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/08/05/bedlam-hannity-national-review-wsj-editor-go-war-over-donald-trump/212210) after Hannity’s tiff yesterday with WSJ editor Stevens (who called him Faux News’ dumbest anchor): > [@](#): > > National Review, a conservative publication that once called Trump “the very epitome of vulgarity,” blamed Hannity, Fox News, and conservative talk radio for the rise of Trump, saying “they have created an intellectual ghetto that no one else wants to visit.” ``` Yep. Fox News has really created the perfect conditions the golem that is Trump; the cortex-shedding, cheap, emotional, get-them-angry-and-keep-them-angry line--what better conditioning for a people, to pave the way for a demagogue? (And what of course perpetuates Faux's cheapness, the cheapness of their response to criticisms such as this--the bug-like defense mechanism of "If you criticize us, you must be on the left, therefore we can ignore you."--what a marvelous way to dismiss anything you don't agree with, and wide open to corruption). ``` ---
**Author:** ![spingag48](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@spingag48](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingag48)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1171 "2016-08-09T01:04:46Z")
Asechines I notice quite a bit of name calling, and stereotyping… I thought that liberals were more tolerant. Anyway when Fox covers controversial topics they almost always have someone from the other side of the issue to give their opinion. Seems fair to me. Either you haven’t watched or you don’t have an open mind. But lets say you’re right. Is it the fact that there is 1 network that gives the conservative point of view out of 10, or is it that Fox News has 3X more viewers than MSNBC? ---
**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:** [August 9, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1172 "2016-08-09T01:10:29Z")
> [@spingag48](#): > > I thought that liberals were more tolerant. Oh, look! This bullshit again. We’re tolerant of non-harmful differences. We’re not tolerant of stupidity, delusion or the imposition of either on people who haven’t personally chosen them. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1173 "2016-08-09T02:35:02Z")
> [@spingag48](#): > > Asechines I notice quite a bit of name calling, and stereotyping… I thought that liberals were more tolerant. Anyway when Fox covers controversial topics they almost always have someone from the other side of the issue to give their opinion. Seems fair to me. Either you haven’t watched or you don’t have an open mind. But lets say you’re right. Is it the fact that there is 1 network that gives the conservative point of view out of 10, or is it that Fox News has 3X more viewers than MSNBC? Do you have an example of a case where they brought in a genuine spokesperson for the opposition, gave him as much airtime as their hatchetmen, and did not talk over the top of him? (Actually, this is irrelevant. They may, occasionally, allow someone with an opposing viewpoint to speak on their opinion shows, but their NEWS (such as it is) permits no such response. For that, one would need to go to NPR.) I would welcome a news outlet that presented the conservative viewpoint. Tell me when we get one rather than the shills for the far right flacks we have now at Faux News. As to the number of viewers, that does bother me. It is sad that the U.S. has so many people who only get their news from openly biased sources. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1174 "2016-08-09T08:59:35Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > As to the number of viewers, that does bother me. It is sad that the U.S. has so many people who only get their news from openly biased sources. The difference in number of viewers is easily explained - right-wing viewers tend to get all their news from one source and everyone else gets theirs from a variety of sources. ---
**Author:** ![yesanything](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@yesanything](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yesanything)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1175 "2016-08-09T13:51:30Z")
“some of whom are hot blondes” Flash: Jedidiah Bila has left fox news, for the View of all Places. Now that was one hot BRUNETTE ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1176 "2016-08-09T16:30:54Z")
So they have hot blondes AND hot brunettes? That just goes to show how “fair and balanced” they are! (Although maybe, just to be sure, they should add a few hot redheads too.) ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1177 "2016-08-10T15:49:18Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > The main gripe with Fox “News” is the way the line between, as Jon Stewart put it, “opinutainment” (i.e. editorializing) and reporting is removed, and opinion and news are smeared together. Accidentally putting a “D” next to the names of disgraced GOP and that sort of thing is not the real problem > > Of course an editorial board is supposed to stake out a position; that’s expected. What I disagree with is constantly using the editorials to generate stuff which is later reported as news, as Fox does, and making it extremely unclear to the casual viewer whether they’re watching actual reporting or rather editorializing. No other major media source does this to anything like the extent Fox “News” does. > > The actual, literal “news” component of Fox “News” is only something like 90 minutes per day. But that’s not obvious unless you’re paying close attention. If the channel were called something like “The Fox Patriot Channel” and the part called Fox News was clearly distinguished from the opinutainment, it wouldn’t be so disgusting. Thunder stolen. Thank-you ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1178 "2016-08-10T23:39:29Z")
> [@spingag48](#): > > I thought that liberals were more tolerant. Actually, we’re very tolerant. No one has called for them being banned from airwaves, arrested, deported or shot. ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1179 "2016-08-11T00:49:50Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Actually, we’re very tolerant. No one has called for them being banned from airwaves, arrested, deported or shot. Yeah, it’s the typical “Criticising conservatives is the most intolerantest form of intolerance evar!” meme. Meanwhile conservatives criticise liberals all the time. Or at least their strawman version of a liberal. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625/1180 "2016-08-11T01:03:06Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Actually, we’re very tolerant. No one has called for them being banned from airwaves, arrested, deported or shot. I just posted in the Stupid Ideas thread about the guy who won the GOP primary for the congressional district that Michelle Bachman used to represent. THIS is tolerance: "Uh, you know if you don’t want to own a slave, don’t. But don’t tell other people they can’t.” > **['Unelectable' candidate defends slavery and mocks women – but still wins GOP...](https://www.rawstory.com/2016/08/unelectable-candidate-defends-slavery-and-mocks-women-but-still-wins-gop-race-in-minnesota/)** > > Republican voters in the Minnesota Second Congressional District just nominated former right-wing radio host Jason Lewis as their nominee, despite criticisms from his own party. Lewis's homophobic and racist rhetoric came back to haunt him when the... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625.md?page=58) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-really-all-that-bad/636625.md?page=60)