White House Again Hits Fox News

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: The Media

(CBS)

In an interview with Time Magazine released today, White House Communications Director Anita Dunn offered a blunt assessment of Fox News: "It's opinion journalism masquerading as news," she said. "They are boosting their audience. But that doesn't mean we are going to sit back."

As CNN notes, the White House has long had an adversarial relationship with the conservative news channel. President Obama pointedly left the network off the list when he made the rounds at the networks in September to push his health care plan, and it slammed Fox News in a blog post last Wednesday, complaining of a continued "disregard for the facts."

It may not be all acrimony, however: Politico reported on Tuesday that White House senior adviser David Axelrod met with Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes in September. The "cordial" conversation reportedly revolved around Fox News's coverage and the relationship between the network and the White House.

Fox News host Glenn Beck has called Mr. Obama a "racist", and commentators on the cable network have regularly attacked the president.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by zipitydooda October 13, 2009 1:13 AM EDT: So Obama has begun his Enemies List. Saw how well that worked out for Nixon.; Reply to this comment


by willzmom October 9, 2009 9:30 AM EDT: "White House Communications Director Anita Dunn offered a blunt assessment of Fox News: "It's opinion journalism masquerading as news," she said. "They are boosting their audience. But that doesn't mean we are going to sit back.""

The point has been missed totally. This administration is so afraid of Fox News, and they should be. There has already been so many things uncovered and they haven't even been in office a year yet! When any government wants to shut down opposition we better sit up and take notice. It's time to wake up people!!!

Oh, and where was the outrage regarding the bias at CNN and MSNBC for the last eight years?; Reply to this comment


by radicalc-2009 October 9, 2009 2:07 AM EDT: It is amazing to me how thin skinned these guys are and how bent they are on silencing the opposition. I think their greatest mistake is underestimating the American spirit of liberty and freedom.; Reply to this comment


by listentoall October 9, 2009 1:10 AM EDT: Director Anita Dunn offered a blunt assessment of Fox News: "It's opinion journalism masquerading as news,"

I'm sure Ms. Dunn also meant to include "CNN", "Countdown with Keith Olbermann", "The Rachel Maddow Show", "Hardball with Chris Matthews" and "The Ed Show". I'm sure it was just an "oversight".; Reply to this comment


by truth-b-toll October 9, 2009 12:40 AM EDT: Fox news preys on the feeble minds of nasty evil racists. nuff said...; Reply to this comment


by proudmilvet October 9, 2009 12:31 AM EDT: canbnyes... The only thing that Glenn Beck has proven time & time again is that he is a very nasty, insane little man who is paid an obscene amount of money for being that way.; Reply to this comment

by Abamanation October 8, 2009 11:23 PM EDT

Why doesn't Obama go on Fox? No one here objects to unconfirmed czars? NO to illegals in the health care bill?

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by toldyouso21 October 9, 2009 12:45 AM EDT: Presidents should not lower themselves to appear on circuses--if Obama went on Fox it would demean the office--Fox and its viewers are hostile and biased--news organizations must be neutral--since Fox is not neutral--they are not a legitimate organization. To go on would be to cater to the basest and lowest form of interaction it is like saying Obama should appear on WWW or Monster trucks to entertain the hick crowd--only the 22% still on the right would want this joke .

by Cottinmouth October 8, 2009 11:07 PM EDT

I keep hearing Fox distorts or doesn't speak on facts. I would assume then, you have specific details of this,HHMMM. Fox always brings opposing views to the table; it's just they seem to have the better arguments. Does Fox report Facts with there opionin's, sure; But dont act like all other networks dont play there stupit games. Intelligent people will evaluate the facts and opionin's from as many sources as possible; To form there own decision. This entire blog is cry baby, where's my diaper crap. If so many people agree with your Liberal views; then where's the networks or indivduals that can challenge Fox.

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by toldyouso21 October 9, 2009 12:42 AM EDT: When Foley resigned for soliciting underage pages--under his name, Fox news had the word "Democrat". They did the same thing when it was found out that Craig was soliciting men in bathrooms. Fox news recently claimed that no msm covered the protests of the government over healthcare and spending--not only did the other networks respond to this charge but one journalist went so far as to say, like the infamous quote to Obama "YOU LIE" to fox. Fox news also continually reported and proclaimed a SAddam connection to 9-11 and to Al Qaeda, this was done by Hannity and Brett Hume and Cavuto and Sustern. When Bush finally admitted this was not the case and it had been repeatedly said for years in error--not a peep.

fox news also defended that the President had not broken FISA laws by circumventing the requirement to get warrants through them--when Bush asked for immunity for breaking the FISA laws in 2006--not a peep.

Fox claimed repeatedly there were WMD--when Bush finally acknowledged there were none--not a peep. On and on and on--with the lies perpetuated and those finally admitted to by the Bush admin never acknowledged--Fox news is not news, it is yellow journalism at best, just a bunch of ignorance catering to the ignorant at worse--for Fox--it is a money making venture--but because real people actually believe and act on what they say not knowing most is demogoguery and hype--it is irresponsible.

There should be a counterpoint to the obvious bias and pandering of MSNBC and Fox--but it should be honest and scrupulously and exhaustively correct--not full of hyperbole and opinion--Fox news is a sick joke and their counter point is MSNBC--neither act responsibly or in the true interest of the American public and the truth.