(sigh) Well, I can dream, can't I?
Posted on 10/20/2009 8:52:41 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Never get in an argument with a man who buys ink by the barrel.”
Mark Twain spoke those immortal words a long, long time ago. Twain was once a journalist, and he knew the risk of starting an argument with the editor of a newspaper, which was the primary purveyor of news in Twain’s day.
In the present-day context, it appears the Barack Obama White House has decided to go against Twain’s advice and most conventional wisdom by engaging in a war of words against Fox News Channel.
First, a White House communications official declared Fox simply an arm of the Republican party, and this past week, other ranking higher-ups at the White House said Fox News is not a legitimate news organization, but one of perspective.
Most consumers of news will either agree or disagree with the Obama administration’s assertion based on their own political persuasions. However, several other news organizations have come out and questioned the wisdom of taking on a major cable network.
I, of course, have an opinion on whether the Obama administration is being wise or not. As a journalist and an employee of a news organization, I find the actions completely foolish, poor political strategy and a disservice to the American people.
I’ve been associated with six or so news organizations in my career, and occasionally I, another employee or our entire newspaper have been considered an “enemy” by a business, an individual, a government official or a coach at some point in time.
There have been times in the past when I recall a source has decided he or she wasn’t going to talk to one of our reporters anymore. In the majority of instances, it was a coach or sports official who banned a reporter or our organization from the locker room. I’ve seen a lot coaches in the college ranks or professional ranks banning reporters or newspapers from their conferences or locker rooms.
The reason never has been because that reporter or columnist has been wrong on a story. Its been because they were accurate in their reporting – too accurate in the eyes of the coaches.
In the instances I’ve been involved in, the sports writer was banned because he printed what a coach said to players or what players said regarding other teammates or perhaps the other team. I’ve also had coaches get pretty mad about our newspaper’s reporting of their high school athletes’ activities “off the field.”
But, sports writers aren’t the only ones who get railed on by their sources.
One time in another community, a school board member who didn’t like a story one of my reporters wrote regarding a school issue actually thumped her on the head when he walked into the school board meeting. I don’t remember what he was mad about, but I had to call the member and the superintendent to remind them they are to be hands off with my reporters and “thumping” a reporter could be considered assault.
It happens, also, when newspapers scrutinize elected officials too closely. Suddenly, they stop taking reporters’ phone calls or won’t make appointments to visit with reporters. It’s their silly way of punishing that reporter or newspaper for doing the job the readers expect us to do.
So, it has only been a handful of times when I or my newspaper has ever engaged in a war of words with a government official or a source, but I have to say it has never really worked out that well for the sources involved. In fact, it makes readers even more interested in the story.
There is a proper procedure for addressing a news organization if the White House believes they have made mistakes in their reporting or they have been biased or unfair in their reporting. The Obama administration could simply call Fox News and present their case. While I can understand the desire to stay away from Sean Hannity or Glenn Beck, there are Fox programs that present a much more balanced perspective, such as “Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.”
Even if the Obama administration believes Fox is their opponent, they are a powerful opponent. Their ratings have skyrocketed since Obama’s election, and this little two-week media war has garnered Fox News attention on all the other major and cable networks and major newspapers.
I think the best strategy for the White House would be to engage Fox News programs in a constructive way. They should agree to have a regular presence on the Sunday Chris Wallace show, and they should be eager to be interviewed by the Fox reporters covering the White House.
This kind of engagement provides the viewers with a more balanced perspective when White House officials go on any network and present their case.
And, the Obama administration needs to understand being president puts you in the hot seat. Ask Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton and both George Bushes. Trying to single out and demonize one news channel or organization looks petty and immature and non-presidential. After all, Obama is the president of everyone – even those who didn’t vote for him or still don’t support him. This little sideshow makes it look like the Obama administration can’t take challenges from people who disagree with them. Who’s next? What happens when the New York Times or Washington Post starts scrutinizing presidential actions or decisions more closely?
This so-called attack on Fox News won’t stop the conservative commentators on Fox from doing what they like to do – afflict the comfortable.
We The People aren’t going away.
http://iowntheworld.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/capitol-view-lo-res.jpg
Obama needs to learn some diplomacy skills and not be arrogant, bully and hegemonic towards other people
I believe this is a fight that the White House has calculated for months. They can’t control Fox...so make it a daily target of ridicule. If you look at the actions of the past eight months....it’s campaign time (just not turbo). They’ve never stopped the campaign really...and Fox helps them carry their daily fight out to the masses.
For the other playsers....like ABC or CBS...they’ve actually gotten themselves into a serious problem...they are still losing viewers and likely won’t return to a profitable state with this current situation...which one problem that the White House never envisioned. Eventually...one of these will have to stand up and step over to the Fox side....to regain any profits.
(sigh) Well, I can dream, can't I?
Either FOX makes amends for its sins... or they’re gonna have to charge more for their ads as their ratings go through the roof.
We are barely on the upside of the middle of a “W-shaped” recovery. There is still more of this to come — there will be a short recovery, followed by another crash. When that crash will occur is based on how fast the price of gas goes back to $4/gallon, and how bad the commercial real-estate market crashes.
At that point, Fox will be situated to look like the heroes, just like Beck looked a lot smarter when that crash he’d been predicting actually came to pass.
“Never get in an argument with a man who buys ink by the barrel.”
I like that!
“Will the Administration be gentle like Hugo or will they follow the China model?? I’m guessing the China model since Mao is so popular with the Czars.”
I hope they go ahead and do so which will put thems on the slippery slope of high crimes and misdemeanors against the Constitution that will provoke a reaction from powerful insitutions in our society which will then come down on them like a ton of bricks.
Obama and his ilk have never matured beyond Junior High. That is why they are arrogant, condescending, immature, and, unfortunately, ignorant about the way the world really works. What a bunch of loons. I just hope we can survive the next three years and three months.
I’ve had the same dream......
Yeah, ...sigh.
great job ! need more p/shops like this one!!!
You have the best dreams!
Pray for America and Our Troops
I think Penn may have nailed the White House in this diatribe on the liberal mindset:
The party of hate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG6JYsm1GmM
“Obama and his ilk have never matured beyond Junior High.”
Even worse than that... I would say they never matured past their freshman year in college. At least in junior high, they had to answer to an adult every night.
Fox buys pixels by the square mile.
Bummer will attempt to have them bailed out.
Personally, hon, you are forgetting, just like BamaKennedy told the Republicans from day one, 'I won'. Did you by chance vote for BamaKennedy? Why should you pressitutes expect to be treated any differently than the rest of we Americans. There is one crowd I personally will not weep for having their wealth literally or figuratively redistributed, and that is the Jon Stewart media. You all created this guy so you deal with the creature you manufactured.
Why is everybody so mean to him?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.