Obama vs. Fox, White House shows immaturity, thin skin

San Diego Union Tribune ^ | Oct 22, 2009 | Union Tribune Editorial

[BAW]

By brazenly declaring war on a member of the Fourth Estate, the Obama administration is making a first-rate error in judgment.

Just because White House officials, and maybe even President Barack Obama himself, don't like Fox News doesn't mean they have the right to decide that the network is — in the words of White House Communications Director Anita Dunn — “opinion journalism masquerading as news.” Nor does it have the right to try to isolate Fox News by urging other networks to shun their colleagues because, as White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel put it, Obama does not want “the CNNs and the others in the world [to] basically be led in following Fox.” And it certainly doesn't have the right to call on other media outlets to do what Obama senior adviser David Axelrod wants them to do: join the administration in declaring that Fox is “not a news organization.”

Come again? Did we really just hear top White House officials try to rally the media to gang up on a single network because the administration doesn't like the stories it produces? What would James Madison say? The father of the Constitution took pains to establish the idea of a free press acting as a watchdog on government. Whether the levers of power are controlled by Republicans or Democrats, and whether the press is liberal or conservative, makes no difference. What matters is that the press be able to do its job, and that government stay out of the way.

Not only is it dangerous and wildly inappropriate for the White House — any White House — to start compiling enemies lists, it's also not very smart. Government should not make a habit of insulting and isolating a major news organization. Better to just ignore whatever bothers you. Otherwise, people might get the idea you have a thin skin and that you have something against being asked tough questions.

And the next thing you know, there are tough questions coming from all directions. Earlier this week at the White House press gaggle with reporters, ABC News' Jake Tapper tore into White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. Tapper wanted to know why the administration thought it was appropriate to single out a specific news organization as inauthentic and then invite everyone to pile on in an attempt to marginalize critics. Gibbs couldn't come up with a good answer, and he frankly seemed surprised at the question. After all, isn't ABC News part of the club? Why would one of its reporters defend the opposition instead of just going along? The best that Gibbs could do was to insist that this was the White House opinion and it was sticking by it.

Bravo to Tapper. But shame on the White House. It's behavior is outrageous and petty. It can't win this battle, and it should never have engaged the fight. It's time to stop picking on Fox News, and start showing some maturity. Freedom of the press is not something to be trifled with — especially when it makes the powerful uncomfortable.

[BAW]

San Diego Union Tribune Editorial.

[MNDude]

World’s biggest cry babies

[Bahbah]

And the next thing you know, there are tough questions coming from directions.

Not exactly. Jake Tapper is the only example. The rest of the media seems to be fine with it.

[stephenjohnbanker]

46 year old left wing college student, who never worked an day in his life is now running America.

[Dewey Revoltnow]

The rest of the media needs to grow a set and start doing their job.

[La Lydia]

Gosh, it looks like bankruptcy and layoffs have opened the eyes of the Union Tribune, or at least the eyes of the editorial page.

[Let's Roll]

Hey, bummer, you know what they say about standing the heat or staying out of the kitchen.

GWB was insanely bashed and blamed 24/7 for 8 years by all the alphabet networks - guess you weren’t ready for primetime.

[avacado]

[Seaplaner]

Along with immaturity and thin skin, there's a palpable impetuousness that I find quite scary.

There is no wisdom in the White House.

None.

.

[Seaplaner]

Along with immaturity and thin skin, there's a palpable impetuousness that I find quite scary.

There is no wisdom in the White House.

None.

.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

“the Obama administration is making a first-rate error in judgment.”.....

Great!....Keep it up!

[GOYAKLA]

Miller on O’Reily last night was VERY correct in saying”Obama has Rabbit Ears”! Sounds to me it fits.

[Former Dodger]

I’m sure that FOX canning Marc Lamont Hill, PhD added to the ire of the WH, especially Rahm Emmanuel who seems to be running this sideshow.

[Frank_2001]

“Miller on O’Reily last night was VERY correct in saying”Obama has Rabbit Ears”! Sounds to me it fits.”

Comrade Miller might want to look up a good tax attorney- he might have a visit from the IRS coming/s;)

[Bobalu]

[chris_bdba]

Are we finally witnessing the press starting to turn and question what is going on? I sure hope so. They wouldn’t need paid off...errr I mean a bailout if they actually reported the news instead of trying to prop up Obama and his cronies.

[two23]

BHO is a Highchair Tyrant

[dtrpscout]

And,worse yet, Obama “the mysterious one”, is also the commander in cheif of the armed forces of the United States.

[cotton]

Should be “46 year old left wing college student, who never worked a day in his life is now RUINNING America.”

[beagleone]

My uncle, may he rest in peace, worked in the printing side of the union-tribune. He was a WWII vet who survived not one but at least two ship sinkings at the hands of the Japanese that I know of. Swam around in the Pacific under the pitch black darkness until he was picked up by the boys. Imagine that.

Maybe its not the paper that it was, but since he felt it was worth working for over many decades, I give it the benefit of the doubt.

Good editorial.