Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A Clintonian at Fox
New York Times ^ | 07/08/2008 | Jim Rutenberg

Posted on 07/08/2008 5:17:22 AM PDT by safetysign

Howard Wolfson, who was a top strategist for the presidential campaign of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, is going where some Democrats were unwilling to go during the early days of the election season: the Fox News Channel.

The network is expected to announce as early as Tuesday that it has signed Mr. Wolfson as a contributor who will appear regularly on its programs.

Mr. Wolfson is joining a network that Democrats shunned for a time, complaining that its coverage was unfair. But aides to Mrs. Clinton came to view Fox News as distinctly fair to her in a news media climate that they believed favored Senator Barack Obama.

“I thought that Fox’s coverage during the primary was comprehensive and fair and evenhanded,” Mr. Wolfson said Monday in a telephone interview from Liverpool, England, where he was vacationing. “It’s a huge audience, and it is important to have a strong, progressive voice on the network.”

Mr. Wolfson’s decision to join Fox represents a general feeling among Clinton partisans that the network treated her more fairly than did other networks it viewed as overly friendly to Mr. Obama.

Mr. Wolfson becomes the latest in a succession of political professionals who have signed on with television news networks as regular commentators providing insider analysis this election season – the sort of role that was once met with alarm within newsrooms but now hardly raises eyebrows. Mr. Wolfson said he especially relished the chance to take on another Fox News analyst fresh from the political battlefield, the Republican strategist Karl Rove.

(Excerpt) Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: clinton; fox; foxnews; msm; wolfson
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-50 next last
To: safetysign

I love to hear Rove on Fox but he generally has no one to debate. I think if Wolfson and Rove go head to head Rove wins because he articulates the Conservative position so well (and he’s always right!). There’s no need to fear the opposing view as long as there is someone on to refute it.


21 posted on 07/08/2008 6:00:44 AM PDT by Neverforget01
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: safetysign

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.
Sun-tzu
Chinese general & military strategist (~400 BC)


22 posted on 07/08/2008 6:04:23 AM PDT by COUNTrecount
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sirchtruth; safetysign; fieldmarshaldj; gipper81; subterfuge; chatham; theDentist; Sprite518; ...
Fox, let me remind you that "fair and balance" doesn't mean

...anything.

Murdoch does not sell "fair and balanced," he sells ads for viewer numbers. Period.

So who would you put on that has this brilliant conservative message?

McCain hacks who're afraid to say boo to Obama? Fred TompsZZzzzzzzzon? Duncan Hunterin around for a message other than immigration?

Instead of Clinton hacks with an axe to grind against Obama, he could put on the brightest conservative contributers with the most popularity ever...like RUSH LIMBAUGH AND ANN COULTER.

Oh. No, wait. He tried that. "Half Hour Comedy Hour." Most. PAinful. Show. Ever.

Murdoch is in the advertisement selling biz. Not political fairness.

23 posted on 07/08/2008 6:06:24 AM PDT by sam_paine (X .................................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: safetysign

What I used to like about FoxNews is that is was the balance (as Rush often says). Instead of patsies that other networks called ‘Conservatives’, Fox actually used Conservatives that could shut down Liberal arguments. And I like the use of Libs that aren’t just patsies to do it.

But the place is becoming overrun with Clintonistas. It’s one thing to present the Liberal argument in a coherent and compelling way (think Mayor Ed Koch), it’s another to provide haven for destroyers of America.

Sigh, I presume Fox and Co are looking for a way to give the Clintonistas a perch from which they can swoop down and peck at Obama. It may sell ads but it has nothing to do with “fair and balanced.”


24 posted on 07/08/2008 6:07:23 AM PDT by Incorrigible (If I lead, follow me; If I pause, push me; If I retreat, kill me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: toddlintown
Speaking of Mr. Davis, Brit did a segment last night on W's many judge appointees awaiting a vote in the Senate. Then they show Lanny, last time I checked NOT in the Senate, who said (like a spoiled five year old) that the Dems were not going to give Bush the vote; they will wait until Barry is president so his judges can get in. I was screaming!
25 posted on 07/08/2008 6:11:23 AM PDT by Miss Didi ("Good heavens, woman, this is a war not a garden party!" Dr. Meade, Gone with the Wind)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: safetysign

How “fair” of Fox to give exposure to another American hating leftist KKKlintonoid. After all, there are so FEW of them on the air that we never hear their point of view on other channels. Seriously, all this does is dilute the already thin layer of conservatism on Fox. This is another example of a Fox caring more about what its competitors say about it than beating them into bankrupcy.


26 posted on 07/08/2008 6:19:30 AM PDT by Hacklehead (Crush the liberals, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of the hippies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sam_paine
Murdoch's job is to make $$$ TV ads sell, not to provide an echo chamber for a message which is not being spoken.

Uh, How many Liberal view points does Rush promote?

27 posted on 07/08/2008 6:26:55 AM PDT by itsahoot (We will have world government. The only question is whether by conquest or consent.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Ursus

Trying to play both sides? Fox News has been sliding to the left since 2004 election. There is already out and out libs on the news. Fox does the best job in presenting both sides, but they still lean to the left.


28 posted on 07/08/2008 6:29:37 AM PDT by Sprite518
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: safetysign

Why is it necessary for the networks to hire professional political shills to spread propaganda to their viewers? What’s the difference between so-called “news programs” and the campaigns they’re supposed to cover? I guess journalism is a thing of the past.

Wolfson reminds me of Roy Cohn.


29 posted on 07/08/2008 6:37:11 AM PDT by popdonnelly (Does Obama know ANYONE who likes America, capitalism, or white people?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Ursus

“Murdoch is now trying to play both sides!”

Clinton man.


30 posted on 07/08/2008 6:38:31 AM PDT by popdonnelly (Does Obama know ANYONE who likes America, capitalism, or white people?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Miss Didi

The Dems want to pick the judges when they’re in power, and when they’re not in power. The Republicans, if they had testicles, should simply say they’re not voting for any person the Democrats nominate.


31 posted on 07/08/2008 6:41:17 AM PDT by popdonnelly (Does Obama know ANYONE who likes America, capitalism, or white people?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: popdonnelly; cardinal4

Wolfson is just one of those sleazy reptiles that slither along in Hilary’s wake, with Lanny Davis, The Forehead, The Snakehead, Lisa Caputo, Anne Lewis, inter alia.


32 posted on 07/08/2008 6:48:38 AM PDT by Ax (Detroitus: What's left over of a once-great city after the libdems have ruined it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: sam_paine
No, I understand what you're saying, he's selling advertizing dollars and putting people on who try to obfuscate the truth and deceive the public will only dwindle the audience. Why do you think the other networks are in the tank?

So who would you put on that has this brilliant conservative message?

Rush, but he wouldn't take the job because he already does it 3 hours a day! Maybe, JC Watts or Mark Levin.

Hey Sherlock, it's not about conservative vs. liberal, it's about truth vs lies, and biased reporting. As Fox moves further left, if it does, watch the audience dwindle!

Rush and Ann had a great thing going...I'm not sure why it was cancelled, are you?

33 posted on 07/08/2008 6:53:49 AM PDT by sirchtruth (Vote Conservative Repuplican!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

OMG!! People bashing FNC makes me sick!!!!!! If you are not 100% to the right then you are $hittt.... Same mentality as liberals.

It is just absurd to not have liberlas on the channel. Then it would be a joke like Keith Olbermann.

From what I can see they don’t really have liberals hosting their shows. Greta, Geraldo...


34 posted on 07/08/2008 7:00:23 AM PDT by KavMan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: TexasRedeye
I ONLY watch the panel with Brit Hume. I

Fox & Friends (morning) is actually pretty good. The ad lib comments from Brian Kilmead, Steve Doucy, and others are spot on.

However, their prepared news coverage often tries too hard to present both sides.... which ruins the show's impact.

After all, most Bush-hating comments and lib accusations are so bombastic and fantasy-driven they are not even worthy of repeating... yet Fox increasingly feels the need to present "balanced" news.

35 posted on 07/08/2008 7:15:38 AM PDT by Edit35 (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Incorrigible
it’s another to provide haven for destroyers of America.

Exactly. Most comments from the rabid and deranged Bush-hating left are not even credible enough to make National Enquirer, much less Fox News.

Yet, Fox for some reason thinks it OK to promote these delusional ideas by giving these US haters a platform.

36 posted on 07/08/2008 7:20:10 AM PDT by Edit35 (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: sirchtruth
I'm not sure why [Ann Coulter and Rush's show on Fox] was cancelled, are you?

The ratings went from 1.4 Million viewers for the first show to 250,000 for the rest.

The show sucked. It was painful to watch. And if Ann and Rush can't pull conservative viewers, then Murdoch has to try something else.

37 posted on 07/08/2008 7:41:30 AM PDT by sam_paine (X .................................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: KavMan

Get a grip KavMan.

It’s not just that the Liberal point of view is presented on FoxNews, it’s who is doing the presenting. Strong Liberals with real arguments should be on FoxNews debating with Karl Rove. But do the Clintonista snake-oil salesmen really represent the viewpoint of principled (such as they are) Liberals or the viewpoint of the Clinton cabal?


38 posted on 07/08/2008 7:46:48 AM PDT by Incorrigible (If I lead, follow me; If I pause, push me; If I retreat, kill me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: itsahoot; sirchtruth
Uh, How many Liberal view points does Rush promote?

Rush works on radio. Rush DOES NOT work on TV.

He had his desk-and-tv show. It failed. He had the Half Hour Comedy Hour. It failed.

Rush works on talk radio. Rush is talk radio.

The question is...can conservatism work on cable TV today the way Rush makes it work on radio today.

So far, I can't think of a prime-time TV audience that has been sustained with conservatism the way Rush has done it on radio.

39 posted on 07/08/2008 7:49:14 AM PDT by sam_paine (X .................................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: gipper81
Additionally, I would bet that many here would now vote FOX a liberal news network. Easily.

It's because they are. Everyone should keep in mind that FOX is in Show Business first and foremost. That explains a lot when it comes to their methodology and fear mongering tactics. They are constantly trying to scare the populace on one thing or another. Just look at the wild fire or the fish storm Bertha coverage recently. Jeez Looweez! And for the record, screw fair and balanced. I see little point in providing equal time to lunatics and communists. I want to see ADULTS with adult opinions.

America not only needs a common sense conservative point of view, but also a channel that gives at least a quarter of its coverage to what its Editors would deem good news devoid of politics. America desperately needs to hear some good news on occasion, and they deserve it.

This would most likely be a grass roots effort, but I'm confident it would prove itself to be worthy of big time investment if run principally. And I'll tell you the person who is most qualified to pull it off - Rush Limbaugh. I think Rush could wax the floor with Murdoch if given half a chance. The others commie America-hating networks would continue their slide.

40 posted on 07/08/2008 8:06:14 AM PDT by numberonepal (Don't Even Think About Treading On Me)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-50 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson