Dems Cancel Fox's Co-Sponsored Debate

Party Cites Fox News Head's Comments About Obama Rather Than Edwards' Boycott

(AP)  The Nevada Democratic Party has canceled an August debate that was to be co-hosted by Fox News Channel, citing comments by the network's president about Barack Obama rather than an online protest launched by liberal activists and bloggers who believe the channel is biased.

"Comments made last night by Fox News President Roger Ailes in reference to one of our presidential candidates went too far. We cannot, as good Democrats, put our party in a position to defend such comments," state Democratic Party Chairman Tom Collins and Nevada Sen. Harry Reid wrote in a letter sent Friday to Fox News.

Ailes reportedly made a comment playing on the similarity of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's name to Osama Bin Laden.

"And it is true that Barack Obama is on the move. I don't know if it's true that President Bush called Musharraf and said, 'Why can't we catch this guy?" Ailes said at a Radio & Television News Directors Association Foundation event in Washington on Thursday, according to a transcipt provided by Fox.

A call to Obama's campaign spokeswoman was not returned Friday night.

Ailes' comment fueled an existing firestorm over Nevada Democrats' partnership with the network. Reid and party leaders had announced the deal for the Aug. 14 debate in Reno as a way to reach new voters.

MoveOn.org Civic Action, a network of liberal activists, called on the state Democratic Party to drop partnership with Fox, which the group calls "a mouthpiece for the Republican party," two weeks ago.

Fox News vice president David Rhodes said the party's decision Friday showed the online group owns the Democratic Party in Nevada.

[ergosum3]

I see a lot of heavy breathing and vacuous criticism of Fox News here. I have yet to see any other news-organizations that have a "Conservative bent" to them condemned as much by theditto-headed sheeple of the Left. Is this because there is no other such organization? If there isn't, how can Left-wing folks call for the shutting down of the apparently singular news-org that does talk from the Right? Sounds rather Stalinesque or Hitlerian, doesn't it? The unwillingness to entertain other thoughts other than the dogmatic ones put out by the DNC and MoveOn.org is telling, as even Kucinich has noted. Poor, demented Libs...

[j4401]

Fox has done an excellent job in showing us how useless they have become in providing real investigative reporting. Finally the beginning of the end for Fox.

[sewbusy-2009]

So Fox News (lies) is going to war with the Democrats because they will not appear on the %u2018carnival side show%u2019 Fox tries to label as a debate. I would not vote for a candidate who was stupid enough to appear on Fox News (lies) programs.
I have not watched Fox News (lies) in over four years and I will not watch any station that calls itself Fox. However, every time I see a returning American soldier with missing limbs or I hear of a soldier losing their life, I think of Fox (crafted) News (lies). Fox News (lies) is just as responsible for the mess in Iraq as Bush. Think about it!
The true Weapon of Mass Destruction is Fox News (lies).

[johnkuhn2]

Their actions speak louder than words... "Repubs" Therefore the press is doing their duty. Also remember the repubs give voice to the intolerant. So the shear hypocrisy of every move that does not follow scripture or the Episcopalian way is fodder for the press. They deserve the treatment, they are dishonest and secretive and need to be kept in check. Clinton never tried to have my rights taken away. Rights that were granted to us by the founding father's for no other reason than to protect those in power from themselves. "IF YOU WANT TO TEST A MAN'S CHARACTER, GIVE HIM POWER' Abe Lincoln.

WAR should always be questioned especially one that was as misguided and lazily managed as this one. They are questioning the lack of thought analysis and wisdom that was apparent in this mistaken war. Suck it up they are losing the policy and theological battle. They are just like the islamists with their Religious Zealousness..

[david1737]

Neo-Con-Artists

Please accept that you time through.

Rummy gone=failure of the Neo-Con-Artist policy in Iraq.

[erichsh]

Think I'm kidding?

http://insidetheusa.net/images/blogs/cheney-retire.jpg

Notwithstanding your cherry-picked point of dissention, what about the rest of my points?

[dallison7]

And that classic photo of Cheney with the word "RETIRE" right over his head, carefully cropped from the word "RETIREMENT" which was part of a sign in the back.
Posted by erichsh

You're really not well, son.

[erichsh]

HeyJohnKuhn2 - if you're going to condemn Fox for not allowing commentary such as this because they're "too scared", tell me then why is moveon.org boycotting Fox? Are they therefore "too scared" that Fox reports the stories that get spiked at CNN/CBS/ABC/NBC/ETC?

It's fascinating to me to see how much liberals hate Fox News. Can you guys demonstrate that Fox is consistently factually incorrect in what they do report, or is it just that that they may choose to report stories - the kind of stories that liberals don't want on the air - that get downplayed or spiked outright by the MSM?

And just to illustrate your sense of what constitutes "fair and balance" in how you critique news coverage - what do you think, of, say Helen Thomas or Keith Olbermann? Are these reporters "fair and balanced" or would you grudgingly concede that perhaps they're just a little bit left of center? To paraphrase, I guess it depends on what the meaning of "center" is.

Oh, and the pictures I find on the Internet sites - if I see another beaming picture of Obama with all those gorgeous white stars of the American Flag as his backdrop I think I might gag. Meanwhile check out how Bush and (now) Giuliani get portrayed - scowling, long faces, dark shadows about the eyes. And that classic photo of Cheney with the word "RETIRE" right over his head, carefully cropped from the word "RETIREMENT" which was part of a sign in the back.

[godseyesore-2009]

FOX is aptly named. If you believe ANYthing on that netwowrk, you are due a pack of hounds.

[antoniof123]

After a while you see the hate that spews forth from some peoples mouths. I watch fox news to get a laugh so that I can tell my jokes at work. It has always been a slanted network that does not allow posts like these. The reason is simple they like to screen things they do not agree with.

[johnkuhn2]

FOX has some of the highest ratings on Cable News...

The only reason I log onto to the Fox site or turn on O'Reilly is to ensure I have valid arguments to these dillusional Neo-Cons.... I actually end up laughing at the absurdity of their pro religious rants... It is actually a comic relief when I check these sites out.

And this from someone who was raised and educated in the Catholic Faith... Even my educators understood that the bible was not to be taken literally. They are stories to help us interpret God's teachings. And as far as I remember Jesus' only two messages were, "I present you with a new testament, You can delete the old. Redemption is through me. Treat your fellow man the way you wish to be treated......

[johnkuhn2]

FOX NEWS - Part of 20th Century Fox, Why doesn't Murdoch require the same Neo-Con conservative values when he decides which TV shows to air and which Movies to produce. What a Hypocrite.... Playing both sides of the field as far as I am concerned. O'Reilly please comment on that.

And as far as you people who condemn CBS et al, as liberal news organizations, I do not see FOX.com allowing these types of posts to it's articles. I guess they are to scared

[johnkuhn2]

Why is it that the Network FOX, which brought us some of the most morally corrupt show's in history containing more references to *** (s*x) and drugs and other non conservative subject matter ie; Married with Children, can now eschew the liberal ideas that a free press has always represented. Entertainment be it news or other types of media does not represent Conservative ideas because they are outdated and backwards. Go to your church for these outdated ideas. Let us move forward with liberal progressive ideas that keep us from being just like the islamists we are trying to defeat. Why can't O'Reilly and the other's understand that Religion has been an excuse for war throughout history. And yes History really is repeating itself.

[liberalvet]

http://stopspp.com/stopspp/?p
=85

when you copy and paste the =85 may get cutoff... be sure and add it to get to the article

[liberalvet]

Please everyone wake up to what is happening in America. Please read the following article and see how the NEOCONs and big business is selling the Constitution out. See why news organizations are not reporting what is going on... Wake up beofre it is to late...

http://stopspp.com/stopspp/?p=85

[lochlan-2009]

Everyone knows that fox "news" is an excellent source for continuous Bush propaganda spew. It is going to be interesting to watch what happens to the Unfair and Unbalanced news source now that America is eliminating the majority of the corruption riddled Republican Party. If the Dem.'s have any backbone whatsoever, they'll completely boycott the network.

[formrusmcsgt]

but if Dems think they should avoid Fox News, then the GOP would certainly have to avoid NBC, CBS, MSNBC, PBS, and ANYTHING related to the NY Times!!
Posted by fredgrad2000 at 09:27 AM : Mar 11, 2007

ABC, CBS, NBC news viewership - 26.2 million
FNC news viewership - 1.6 million.

[grumpas]

"Bet you expected nothing but the choir, sorry I'm here to ruin your back patting." posted by edicius1. You are the only one ruining your own back patting! A lot of us got fed up with you mean-spirited Rabid Republican's years ago and started voting for someone else. Instead of gracing the pages of this column why don't you try cleaning up that nasty party of yours (there is a lot of work for people like you there)! Do something worthwhile for once! Instead of running that big mouth of yours!

[fredgrad2000]

Good to see today's comments continue the MoveOn.org tradition I've come to expect here - quite simply everyone KNOWS that most of the "mainstream" media TILTS left (not over the top like most of the commenters here or like the left wing nuts at MoveOn or Code Pink, etc., but fervently much more of the Clinton camp than the GOP camp) and the Fox TILTS right (but only on commentary shows do they have the Sean Hannitys of the world; and they allow a liberal to sit with him - Chris Matthews should BE so balanced!!) - but if Dems think they should avoid Fox News, then the GOP would certainly have to avoid NBC, CBS, MSNBC, PBS, and ANYTHING related to the NY Times!! Those networks and outlets are AT LEAST as far to the left as FOX is to the right...you lefties amaze me; no one buys your brand so you want to make sure that at the least we all have to hear only your voices all the time; any opposing, traditional, conservative voices be dam*ed!! HAHA, well look at the ratings - FOX won't be going anywhere soon; unlike MSNBC!!

[formrusmcsgt]

Democrats will only let liberally biased networks sponsor their debates, god forbid the other side should get a shot...oh wait they don't really believe in god.
Posted by edicius1 at 06:19 AM : Mar 11, 2007

I continue to be amazed at how the neocons consider any media that won't give them a slant to be liberal.

Obviously, in the neocon mind anyway, it's a "for us or against us" situation.