Dean: I'd 'Break Up' Fox News

NewsMax.com ^ | 12/02/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean pledged Monday night to "break up" the Fox News Channel along with other conservative news outlets owned by media baron Rupert Murdoch.

"Eleven companies in this country control 90 percent of what ordinary people are able to read and watch on their television," the ex-Vermont governor complained to MSNBC's Chris Matthews, who then asked the candidate point-blank:

"Would you break up Fox? ... Rupert Murdoch has 'The Weekly Standard.' It has got a lot of other interests. It has got the New York Post. Would you break it up?"

Dean shot back, "On ideological grounds, absolutely yes."

A moment later the "Hardball" host pressed: "Seriously. As a public policy, would you bring industrial policy to bear and break up these conglomerations of power?"

At that point Dean seemed to sense that he had gone too far and began to equivocate, saying, "I don't want to answer whether I would break up Fox or not."

The leading Democrat then explained, "What I'm going to do is appoint people to the FCC that believe democracy depends on getting information from all portions of the political spectrum, not just one."

[finnman69]

"Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past"

Time for another Howard Dean led Two Minute Hate...

[TommyDale]

I'm sorry to speak of Dean in this manner, but what an asshole!

[Doctor Stochastic]

Where's the hammer-throwing chick in the red track suit?

[luckodeirish]

HA HA! Rupert will squash you like a bug Deano!

[KevinDavis]

It looks like Dean is a tad bit unstable...

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

[demlosers]

Go Dean Go!!

What do they say about idiots who like to talk? Let them go ahead and don't interrupt.

[Grim]

Well, we should grant Deenie this, he's the first candidate to insert BOTH feet into his mouth in one interview.

[OldPossum]

To argue that he wants the American people to get their information from more than just "one political spectrum" and then to urge abolition of conservative media outlets is totally illogical.

The man is out to lunch, totally.

[Scenic Sounds]

Newsmax Title - "Dean: I'd 'Break Up' Fox News"

Article - "I don't want to answer whether I would break up Fox or not." - Dean

LOL. Hey, did I get taken for a ride here, or what? ;-)

[TommyDale]

Are you suggesting that Newsmax led you on? Actually, Dean DID say it both ways. At least this time, Newsmax was accurate.

[Colonel_Flagg]

"What I'm going to do is appoint people to the FCC that believe democracy depends on getting information from all portions of the political spectrum, not just one."

Wow. Dean's going to break up See-BS.

Dean should be applauding Fox, not breaking it up. And besides, isn't that "censorship"?

[BureaucratusMaximus]

I'm sorry to speak of Dean in this manner, but what an asshole!

I'd say that's putting it mildly...

I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is!

(Taken from a National Lampoons Christmas Vacation quote, tis the holiday season dontchaknow)

[demlosers]

Here's the quote:

Snip...

"Would you break up Fox? ... Rupert Murdoch has 'The Weekly Standard.' It has got a lot of other interests. It has got the New York Post. Would you break it up?"

Dean shot back, "On ideological grounds, absolutely yes."

---

I just heard Rush put on the Chrissy's clip, and Dean does want to break all media conglomerates and it appears FOX is first on his list.

[HarleyD]

A more insightful followup would have been, "Are you planning on breaking up Time-Warner as well?"

[AmericanInTokyo]

Howard Dead Free Speech Bump!!!

When will he suggest the partioning and establishment of Christian ghettos?

[Scenic Sounds]

Are you suggesting that Newsmax led you on?

Well, it was just a short ride. No harm, no foul. ;-)

[Lunatic Fringe]

Dean shot back, "On ideological grounds, absolutely yes."

At that point Dean seemed to sense that he had gone too far and began to equivocate, saying, "I don't want to answer whether I would break up Fox or not."

Too late... you're already on record, Howie.

[Aeronaut]

My apologies for the one red one. I did cast MY ballot for RR, however.

[austingirl]

Censorship and fascism.

[erikm88]

Hallelujah, ---- ----!!!

Where's the Tylenol?!

--erik

[petercooper]

good luck, deanjerk

[cynicom]

Dean would adopt Colmes and hang Hannity, that would be his first priority.

[gitmo]

Apparently these are OK: ABC,CBS,NBC,PBS,MSNBC,CNN,CNN Headline News,CSpan.

But Fox is one too many.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Additional HERR HOWARD DEAN Freedom of Speech Bump!!!!

[woofer2425]

Mr. Dean....How about NPR???...Huh...More than one station there. Are you going to break up NPR???? Mister Dean

[Alberta's Child]

The fact that he singled out FOX News (as opposed to companies like Viacom, Time-Warner, ClearChannel, etc.) shows just what his agenda really is.

On the other hand, he raises a very interesting point about the application of antitrust law to media conglomerates. I have a hard time accepting the notion of multiple-media ownership in a nation where some industries are prohibited by law from doing the exact same thing.

[erikm88]

Welcome to FR

--erik

[Steve_Seattle]

Can you imagine the media firestorm if Bush ever suggested - even jokingly - that he was going to try to break up news organizations hostile to his administration? But here we have the Democratic front-runner openly musing about breaking up Fox - and admitting that he fantasizes about suppressing Fox because of its ideology - and it will barely create a ripple in the national media.

[Brian Mosely]

That second picture, the one of Dean looking at the camera, has been bugging the hell out of me...he looks almost like a comic book super villian or something...nearly like some of the artwork of Alex Ross...

[ItsOurTimeNow]

Doesn't Murdoch only own around 8% of the market share?

[Frank_Discussion]

heh.

[headsonpikes]

Smash the FCC!

There's a slogan to run with.

[Scenic Sounds]

Yeah, I saw that, too. ;-)

Actually, though, I favor as diverse a media as possible. I don't trust any one of them.

[AmishDude]

Dean does want to break all media conglomerates

Don't you believe it. Once he "breaks up" Newscorp (or at least the US broadcast holdings), he'll stop.

I'd love to know how Newscorp compares to, say, Viacom or Disney or Time-Warner. My guess is that the others own much more US property, much more broadcast property and, in general, provide more of a monopoly than the others.

And Clear Channel is small potatoes in comparison.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Time to PACK the US Supreme Court, if just such opportunities open up in Bush's second term.

'Gotta martinize the whole place for at least 50 years more of security and basic freedoms. There is no telling what these fascist goons like Hitlery or Dean would do in office in 2008, let alone 2004 by some quirk.

[Frank_Discussion]

Wow, that's quite a nice feat of yoga, too, getting both legs and your neck up up one's a$$...

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

Heck, why stop with FOX News?

</sarcasm alert>

[genghis]

can you imagine how many stupid things this guy says before november?
There is no way he wins Mass. or Minn.
I am stunned that dems are not in panic mode yet.
Just gets better and better.

[Uncle Hal]

Folks I would not take his remarks lightly. I have always said that once the Democrats control both houses of congress and the presidency, the first thing they are going to do is try and restore the "Fairness Doctrine" to the media. This law said basically, the airwaves had to offer both sides equally of controversial issues.. The FCC dissolved it in 1987 after being the law for nearly 40 years. For more about the "Fairness Doctrine" go here:http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/F/htmlF/fairnessdoct/fairnessdoct.htm

[desertcry]

The hitler howler monkey dean, is a scary dictator wannabe. He makes my blood run cold. He plans to destroy FOX to replace it with his propaganda machine along with cbs,nbc,cnn,abc, lat,nyt,wp,bg,.... dean is dangerous to everybody's health, and he is a doctor?

[Osage Orange]

If you let most MarxistSocialistLiberalDemocrats talk long enough..their true colors will come thru. The problem is getting the "deafdumb&blind" sheeple to notice..what their "leaders" are actually saying.

FRegards,

[miloklancy]

I would expect there to be an effort to destory conservative media outlets when the next Democrat assumes the White House. I know Al Gore for one has a bone to pick with conservative media outlets. And Dems realize there recent failures have had a lot to do with the influence of a conservative media outlets. This is why I implore all Freepers to be heartened and staunchly support the GOP efforts to maintain the White House. Otherwise you may lose more of your money, your guns, your favorite news outlets, and even possibly your property.

[mhking]

Sounds like Howard Dean would like to be "The NEW Number Two."

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[Killborn]

Welp, now we know what kind of Pres. Dean will make.

A fascist one.

Even Alan Keyes or other ultra-conservatives wouldn't want to shut down the mangestream media.

[mhking]

Where's the hammer-throwing chick in the red track suit?

Ask, and ye shall receive...

[Osage Orange]

You wrote:

"Whadda surprise. Newsmax tells more bald-faced lies. Same ole Newsmax."

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Care to point them out....? Are you saying that Dean never said what is quoted in the article?

[TLI]

"Eleven companies in this country control 90 percent of what ordinary people are able to read and watch on their television,"

Well, well, isn’t that just so elitist! All the time with the libs they have the attitude of looking down on the "ordinary Americans" Anyone remember emperor klintonius referring to "ordinary Americans" having "too many freedoms?"