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."

[Sofa King]

"Because he doesn't think people are smart enough to change the channel."

Either that or he's afraid that they might be smart enough not to....

[Sofa King]

"You're right. This whole thread is a tempest in a teapot."

No, it isn't. He's seriously talking about attacking the free media. He tries to get the audience to laugh it off when FOX is brought up, but he's still talking about something very scary. Read his quote:

"First of all, 11 companies in this country control 90 percent of what ordinary people are able to read and watch on their television. That’s wrong. We need to have a wide variety of opinions in every community. We don’t have that because of Michael Powell and what George Bush has tried to do to the FCC."

He's talking about wanting to use anti-trust laws to affect what opinions we hear on TV. This is the first step toward government control of the media.

[winker]

Hey Dean! you liberal punk; you cain't handle one fox as it is. Keep shooting off your mouth and there will be another FoxII to furthur shred your jangled nerves. You haven't seen or experienced nuthin yet BUCKO! Hang on with both hands and lock your ankles, its gonna be a wild ride!

[Alter Kaker]

If it's such a big joke, how come no one's laughing? I certanly am not. I see no humor in Dean's fascist rantings at all.

Well, in interview, people were laughing. Is clear this was not policy statement but joke. Poor taste, perhaps, but still very much joke.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

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

Shortly after being elected Chancellor, I suppose...

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Hmmm. I don't see the "there's no difference between the parties" crowd on this thread.

There is a difference: One party is more socialist than the other.

[murdoog]

Your quite welcome. There are some things that deserve to be remembered for a long time.

[dougherty]

Dean is a friggin' lunatic. How dare the right finally have a news channel that reports things from their perspective is what he is saying. He can go straight to hell.

[Wondervixen]

I liked that he was talking about Russia yesterday & kept referring to them as "The Soviet Union".

Maybe the reason Hitlery doesn't like him is because he's so much like "herself".

[tinacart]

"The man is out to lunch, totally."

If he were a Clinton (especially the female version) we'd be in big, big trouble!

[MitchellC]

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

No, they probably wouldn't. So why would you mention it?

[dixie sass]

Had this man lost his ever-loving mind?

[M1Tanker]

"Poor taste" jokes usually end careers, but only if the person saying it is conservative. And Dean didn't stop until he was almost forced to answer it very seriously.

Another interestng point is FNC is a cable network. The FCC only regulates broadcast signals. Or has that changed?

[miloklancy]

You should note that my response is addressed to the person posting this article, not a specific person responding to the article.

[colorado tanker]

Well, I agree with your point. It seems the Dims will likely try to use a resurrection of the "fairness doctrine" to try to shut down talk radio if they get the chance. They know how much they've been hurt by losing their monopoly on the media.

[Killborn]

To compare us evil right wing extremists to the tolerant left. :)

[mc5cents]

Good thoughts hunter112. But... How will he get beyond this:

"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."

The president only has to put that in all of his ads and the man is dead. IMHO

[nutmeg]

FoxFan ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my FoxFan list. *Warning: This can be a high-volume ping list at times.

[3catsanadog]

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

Or . . . . Let the clown finish his act.

[3catsanadog]

Then he would order certain books burned and Christians to wear yellow crosses on their clothing.