# So How Will Fox Spin OBL Death? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 2, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451 "2011-05-02T04:21:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/121 "2011-05-03T22:05:15Z")
Well here ya go: [Liberals Sickened by ‘USA! USA!’ Chants](http://www.newshounds.us/2011/05/03/fox_nations_war_on_liberals_more_important_than_us_war_on_terror.php) ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/122 "2011-05-03T22:26:14Z")
> [@Cort](#): > > I don’t know for sure, but I reckon it’s a safe bet that one of the first things they’re going to try and do is take control of the narrative by angrily insisting that the liberal media is “Using this great military victory as an excuse to fawn over Obama”. Expect to hear a lot of “Messiah” nonsense over the next few days. This seems like the smartest way for the right to make political hay out of this. Talk about the liberal “fawning” as though it’s an established fact. If anyone questions it, there are sure to be individual examples one can cite. ---
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/123 "2011-05-04T04:08:23Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > Of course. Here’s how I replied: > > Yes, Obama deserves credit. It was Obama who decided to launch a special forces mission, when his advisors from the military were suggesting a drone attack. And if the mission had ended in disaster, Obama would have been blamed, just as surely as Carter was blamed for the failed 1980 mission to rescue the hostages in Iran. So if you would have blamed Obama for failure, then credit him with the success. > I figure it’s better to go for persuasion rather than confrontation in these situations. Here is what I don’t understand. Why bring up that it could have ended in disaster? What is the point other than to undermine the success? Now I see Fox is trying to justify torture and they are questioning the manner in which Bin Laden’s body was disposed. I’ll give it another day or two before Fox gives full credit to Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/124 "2011-05-04T04:47:36Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Just the opposite, ISTM - the lefties are the ones always blaming the rise of ObL on Reagan. Because he gave the Stingers to the Afghani rebels that assisted them in driving the Soviets out. > > Regards, > Shodan If you’re gonna go that route, let’s blame Truman for starting the Cold War. :dubious: I don’t hear liberals blaming _Reagan_ for the rise of ObL so much as :smack: the history that gets us into war. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/125 "2011-05-04T04:51:31Z")
[Despite Bin Laden’s Death, Obama’s Re-Election Hopes Still Tied to Economy, GOP Strategists Say](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/03/despite-bin-ladens-death-obamas-election-hopes-tied-economy-gop-strategists-say/#ixzz1LM8zm2iV) Hmm…GOP strategeries…when in 2004, Bush’s re-election hopes were tied to “national security”. :o ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/126 "2011-05-04T12:43:34Z")
No surprise here [Sarah Palin credits Bush for Osama bin Laden’s death, omits Obama’s name](http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-palin-bin-laden-remarks-20110503,0,4220829.story) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/127 "2011-05-04T13:26:01Z")
> [@NiceGuyJack](#): > > Here is what I don’t understand. Why bring up that it could have ended in disaster? The point is that Obama wasn’t a potted plant in this drama. He could have played it safe and gone with a drone attack as recommended by his military advisors. But he was smart enough to see that we needed proof that Bin Laden had been killed. So Obama made a decision that carried real risks. The raid could have ended in disaster. Obama, surely knowing this, was willing to gamble his presidency on the outcome. If the military had been in the driver’s seat (as implied by the Facebook re-post to which I was responding), we would have gone with the drone attack. We didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Barrett\_Bonden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/128 "2011-05-04T18:40:29Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > Well I don’t know about Fox, but Facebook conservatives are spinning it with this re-post: > > > [@](#): > > > > Let’s be clear on this: OBAMA did NOT kill Bin Laden. An American soldier, who Obama just a few weeks ago was debating on whether or not to PAY, did. Obama just happened to be the one in office when our soldiers finally found Osama Bin Laden and took him out. This is NOT an Obama victory, but an AMERICAN victory!! RE-POST IF YOU AGREE!!! > > So apparently the military is on autopilot, and Obama just happened to be sitting in the cabin. This Facebook meme bugs me more than most, although I have so far refrained from commenting on it there. [ul] [li]The President was never debating whether or not to pay military personnel.[/li][li]I don’t _think_ SEALs are properly referred to as “soldiers.” They’re Navy (or Coast Guard) and possibly commissioned. I would refer to a SEAL as a SEAL. Right?[/li][li]The President never claimed that he killed bin Laden. [Cite](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20058783-503544.html).[/li][/ul] A relative of mine who posted the last point (with text citation) was reprimanded for hurting her FB friends’ feelings. Mean old facts. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/129 "2011-05-04T20:05:46Z")
Quoth **JThunder** : > [@](#): > > Now that, I’m willing to admit, is better evidence of a pro-Bush slant. That’s still not the same as outright spin though, and it’s a legitimate story. Failing to address this would be a fairly serious omission, especially in light of the controversial nature of such tactics. (Heck, we’re discussing that very same topic in another GD thread.) No, that’s not a legitimate story. The legitimate story is “Bush era Gitmo tactics did not help nail Bin Laden”. I mean, I know that words are at a premium in headlines, and all, but leaving off the “not” is a bit too far. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/130 "2011-05-04T20:09:42Z")
> [@Barrett\_Bonden](#): > > I don’t _think_ SEALs are properly referred to as “soldiers.” They’re Navy (or Coast Guard) and possibly commissioned. I would refer to a SEAL as a SEAL. Right? As I understand it, you could also refer to one such as a “seaman.” ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/131 "2011-05-04T20:25:12Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > As I understand it, you could also refer to one such as a “seaman.” I like the headline possibilities “Obama’s Secret Lair Penetrated by Seamen” ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/132 "2011-05-04T20:30:40Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Quoth **JThunder** :No, that’s not a legitimate story. The legitimate story is “Bush era Gitmo tactics did not help nail Bin Laden”. I mean, I know that words are at a premium in headlines, and all, but leaving off the “not” is a bit too far. AT THE TIME, it was believed that these tactics did help in locating Bin Laden. It was only afterwards that other testimonies came to light. Are you going fault the Fox News editors for failing to be psychic? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/133 "2011-05-04T20:38:40Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > I like the headline possibilities > > “Obama’s Secret Lair Penetrated by Seamen” :smack: _O **s** ama’s_ Secret Lair, obviously. (Now you’ve got _me_ doing it, Fox News!) ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/134 "2011-05-04T21:00:30Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > No, “Bush” didn’t have eight years to find him (though he did blow it at Tora Bora); the CIA and the U.S. military had eight years to find him. But it took them longer than that. It took them about ten years as it turns out. Thus they deserve the credit. What Obama did was receive the information they developed and give the go-ahead to capture or kill bin Laden. Under the circumstances, any president would have done the same. I disagree. Bush dropped the ball when he shifted focus from bin Laden to Saddam Hussein. Do you remember the buildup to the Iraq invasion? People literally thought bin laden worked for Hussein. > [@](#): > > I have no problem with jubilation over this event, nor of Democrats taking pride in the Obama administration for it. But to act like this makes him a shoo-in for reelection, or that it was due to some particular brilliance on his part is way over the top. Its not going to have much of an effect on Obama’s reelection but it might have some, it might have enough. I think conservative efforts to take credit away from Bush is really backfiring. You have to look at this event through a very partisan prism not to give obama credit for this one. Of course there were a lot of people involved and a lot of people risked their lives to get us to that point but trying to take this away from Obama seems a bit petty. > [@](#): > > All it says about me is that it’s easy to type “Obama” when you mean to type “Osama”. The sentence doesn’t even make sense the way you’re trying to interpret it. I’ve been making that mistake all week. I can’t count how many times i have said Obama bin Laden. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/135 "2011-05-04T21:09:24Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > At some point, Republicans have to be held accountable to what actually happens in the real world under their leadership, and when their ideas are implemented, don’t they? Have you been asleep the last two years? Why should Republicans be held accountable when they can blame it all on Obama? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/136 "2011-05-04T21:11:55Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > True, many undiscerning readers are like that. That’s not the issue, though. The issue is whether [foxnews.com](http://foxnews.com) is displaying egregious pro-Bush, anti-Obama bias in its coverage of this event. I don’t think it’s fair to conclude that they are – not in this situation. I don’t know if its egregious but its pretty fucking obvious? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/137 "2011-05-04T21:13:26Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > Don’t know about Faux News, but certain right-wing tea party types of my acquaintance are already fretting that this will cause AQ to rain retribution and retaliation on our heads, with the inference that Obama has put the country in danger by this rash act. > > Of course, if it had happened on Bush’s watch they’d have been praising god in the streets and challenging AQ to “bring it on”. > SS > > ETA; It’s true…the teabaggers really do hate Obama more than they hated OBL. Which pretty much says all that needs to be said about their vaunted “patriotism”. Why are these teabaggers so afraid all the time? ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/138 "2011-05-04T22:14:16Z")
> [@cedman](#): > > Ha! All this shit throwing back and forth about Bush and Obama… > > How about a mention of Clinton missing the opportunity to get Osama years BEFORE 9-11 for a little perspective on BOTH sides of the fence? Yeah? How about the fact that even BEFORE Clinton, America (under Reagan) funded and propped up the Taliban because it was ‘better’ than Communism. They gave money and weapons to those cocksuckers and now we’re paying the price. There would be no Taliban if we had just let Russia steamroll over Afghanistan. America’s cold war policy involved a lot of idiotic moves. Communism is far less dangerous as an ideology than Islamic fundemantalism simply because one is a religion and the other is not. Even the most ardent communist militants didn’t think they were going to go to heaven and get 72 virgins for blowing up the capitalists. We should have tried to look down the road with some common sense and understand that if we just let Russia stamp out the burgeoning Islamic groups in the Middle East and replace them with Communism, it would have been far easier for us in the long run. Communism is inefficient and will eventually collapse on its own. The Islamic dictatorships are far, far stronger and they also have oil money (capitalism) behind them. We should have _backed_ the commies against these guys during the Cold War. Instead, we did the idiotic thing and naively thought that they would be our allies. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/139 "2011-05-04T23:14:41Z")
Quoth **JThunder** : > [@](#): > > AT THE TIME, it was believed that these tactics did help in locating Bin Laden. What time was that? The only people who _ever_ believed that torture led to us hitting bin Laden were the ones who took Fox News’ word for it. There was no evidence to the claim at all. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451/140 "2011-05-04T23:40:46Z")
Not true, **Chronos**. Even [NBC News](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42863247/ns/world_news-death_of_bin_laden/), a decidedly liberal outfit, has reported, “It was those sometimes controversial interrogations that first produced descriptions of members of bin Laden’s courier network, including one critical Middle Eastern courier who along with his brother was protecting bin Laden at his heavily fortified compound in Abbottabad on Sunday.” They also reported that current and former government officials have credited these techniques with the recent victory. Now, some have come forward to say that these “enhanced interrogation techniques” were not instrumental in uncovering Osama’s courier network. Maybe they’re right, maybe not. Either way, the point is that this belief that these techniques led to locating bin Laden were by no means the isolated imaginings of Fox News. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-fox-spin-obl-death/580451.md?page=8)