I love reporting on the occasional political stuff: it's like tossing raw meat to a pack of wild dogs and watching them tear at each other. Now read this post and fight! Fight and bite, my polemic pooches!
Sorry, I shouldn't refer to my readers as "polemic pooches," that's not very nice. Anyway, here's the news:
ColorOfChange.org, an online lobby of 70,000 members is imploring the Congressional Black Caucus Institute to reject Fox News as a partner for political debates, citing what they believe are several examples of Fox News treating blacks and their culture unfairly. A series of clips compiled by Robert Greenwald (Outfoxed) showcasing this alleged bias can be seen at the end of this post.
I don't watch Fox News, so I can't say whether any of this is true, but based only on the examples provided by Color of Change, the debate seems to be not about race, but about a difference in socio-political opinion. This seems more about "liberal versus conservative" than anything else. At any rate, I'll let you guys decide for yourselves what all this is really about.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-19-2007 @ 4:37PM
Ian said...
Fox News seems to favor the Replublican Religious Right. Everyone else is treated the same INHO.
At the end of the day if Politicians want to get their message out, to as wide an audience as possible, it seems pointles then NOT to use Fox as well. Or you risk not speaking to their audience.
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3-19-2007 @ 4:06PM
const said...
this is just so darn silly now.
could we also get a mention from TVSquad about the equally racists Jack Cafferty on Wolf Blitzer's situation room? that guy was killing hispanics last week. i guess since no one watches him, it's like the tree falling in the forest.
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3-19-2007 @ 4:19PM
malren said...
This is utterly ridiculous, this video is nothing more than out-of-context race-baiting and can we have ONE FRIGGING PLACE ON THE INTERNET THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE POLITICAL FIGHTING?
Hey-Zeus H. Christmas, this is just nine shades of a stupid post.
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3-19-2007 @ 4:39PM
Adam from TV Squad said...
"This is utterly ridiculous, this video is nothing more than out-of-context race-baiting and can we have ONE FRIGGING PLACE ON THE INTERNET THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE POLITICAL FIGHTING?
Hey-Zeus H. Christmas, this is just nine shades of a stupid post."
Okay.
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3-20-2007 @ 9:57AM
Jasmine said...
This is so true! FOX is biased towards Liberals and/or Democrats, and unfair to Blacks. It is painfully obvious; however, this blatant racism is such a problem many people fail to see it. The sad part is many of these people who refuse to admit there is a racial problem in America and specifically, FOX News are so used to it that they think it is normal. So, YES, DEFINITELY FOX is racist and unfair to Blacks...unfortunately, CNN and Wolfe Blitzer are not far behind. I am a Black woman, and I have to say I think there is a problem. I have concerns as any mother would about the safety and security of my family; unfortunately, if I walked down the streets of my own lovely town and I saw, Rush Limbaugh, Brit Hume, the cast of Fox news, and Hannity on the Right (of course), and a line of Black robbers with guns drawn and knives pointed in my direction on the left, I would run to the robbers on the left to seek safety rather than trust the hatefilled BRIT HUME and those evil doers. These people are terrible!
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3-19-2007 @ 5:40PM
erroneous_nick said...
You too, Adam? Dear God, what a pack of liberals running this website.
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3-19-2007 @ 6:12PM
Jason said...
This is silly. Just another shameless attempt by someone to shutdown FOX News because they don't like how they present the news. If you don't like it, don't watch it. As a black man I am hardly offended by FNC. I'm more offended by the creator of this piece of video because the masses(regardless of race) will eat this up and start whining.... gotta love it!
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3-19-2007 @ 6:13PM
Adam from TV Squad said...
E-Nick,
I like you, but enough with the knee-jerk reactions, already. If you actually read the post you would have seen that I took no side whatsoever, and merely asked if perhaps the issue wasn't racism, but a difference in politcal opinon based on the fallacy that all blacks are liberal.
I did not write this post because of the political content, I wrote it because it has to do with television. My purpose on this blog is to provide information and links for my readers, not to satisfy the whim of every reader who feels this blog should only provide content they want to see.
If you want to argue about some "liberal bias" because a couple writers here don't happen to like Bill O'Reilly (who I believe has never claimed to be conservative), that's fine, but don't apply your labels to me based on what was nothing more than my attempt to share some interesting news with my readers.
This is not a political blog, but sometimes TV and politics do meet.
All that being said, readers of all "beliefs" are more than welcome to send us tips. If it's interesting, someone will most likely do a post about it:
http://www.tvsquad.com/tips/
Regards,
Adam
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3-19-2007 @ 6:54PM
Alex S. said...
I disagree with the approach of the video, but I think there is a point to be made. I think the segment has some things put into it that are taken out of context, but I am in agreement that there is covert institutional racism existing in North America that is not limited to the media at large (neither just Fox News). I don't see how it's a liberal/conservative divide, since it doesn't matter whether the liberals or conservatives are in control -- there's still going to be embedded racism.
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3-19-2007 @ 7:08PM
erroneous_nick said...
"This is not a political blog, but sometimes TV and politics do meet."
Two comments about that. To the first half: you could've fooled me. To the second half: they meet more often than not on TV Squad.
Yeah Adam, your words took no side, but again it's an article bringing potential controversy to Fox News. How many articles have been done doing the same to CNN or Olberman or others of a similar ilk? Not many. Nothing like you "impartial" writers bring up about Fox. It's still one-sided here and the denying is getting both hollow and monotonous.
Oh, and the real laugher of it all is you pull a "Bob Sassone"! Writing about a channel/show you don't watch. Add to that using the overused "knee-jerk reaction" and you're almost there. All you need to do now is mention a "vast, right-wing conspiracy" and you'll get your liberal looney card.
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3-19-2007 @ 7:17PM
erroneous_nick said...
Oh, and don't give me that bullshit about sharing some "interesting news". That news isn't "news", it's crap.
While you may have used humor in describing the reaction your article would have, you *knew* what you were going for, so don't sit there all innocent and insult my intelligence by saying you only want to share "interesting news".
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3-19-2007 @ 7:21PM
Gavin said...
Fox is a joke and a sham. Anyone that defends the type of loaded "news" that they distort is just blind to the reality around them. Keep on drinking the Kool-Aid folks and bury your head deeper in the sand while the nation continues to spiral into the crap pile.
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3-19-2007 @ 8:03PM
Adam from TV Squad said...
"Two comments about that. To the first half: you could've fooled me. To the second half: they meet more often than not on TV Squad."
E-Nick, I have never seen any evidence of this so-called "bias" on this site other than you mistaking every anti-Bill O'Reilly post as an "anti-Conservative" one. Did you ever stop to ask yourself if perhaps those bloggers who dislike O'Reilly just happen to dislike him as a TV personality, and that it is has nothing to do with politics? I certainly couldn't say one way or the other, because I can't read the minds of my fellow bloggers, but I do know I don't immediately jump to conclusions every time the words "Olbermann," "Fox News," or "O'Reilly" appear in a post.
I know, Sassone clearly dislikes O'Reilly and likes Olbermann. If that bothers you, then your beef is with him and not me, and no one is trying to stop you from disagreeing with anyone. I will not, however, allow you to accuse me of being biased when I make every effort not to make my personal politics a part of this blog. Trust me, if I did I'd have both liberals and conservatives attacking me.
I don't like Bill O'Reilly. I also don't like Michael Moore. So which am I, E-Nick? Am I a "looney liberal" or a conservative like yourself? Or am I perhaps just a person trying to provide interesting content for his readers, a person whose politcal viewpoints have never been written about on this blog, either in a blatant or subtle matter?
"Yeah Adam, your words took no side, but again it's an article bringing potential controversy to Fox News. How many articles have been done doing the same to CNN or Olberman or others of a similar ilk? Not many. Nothing like you "impartial" writers bring up about Fox. It's still one-sided here and the denying is getting both hollow and monotonous."
I'll repeat myself: if anyone finds an interesting tidbit, they can send it to us, regardless of how politically-charged it is.
I don't go looking for stories that bash Fox News, this one just happened to be on PR Newswire, a site for press releases I check every day.
As far as your suggestion that we're not "impartial," you're absolutely right. This is a BLOG, not a NEWSPAPER. Almost every post you read reflects that writer's personal opinion, and it should ONLY reflect that writer's opinion. The reason we have comments is for readers to agree or disagree.
"Oh, and the real laugher of it all is you pull a "Bob Sassone"! Writing about a channel/show you don't watch. Add to that using the overused "knee-jerk reaction" and you're almost there. All you need to do now is mention a "vast, right-wing conspiracy" and you'll get your liberal looney card."
Once again, I posted this because I thought it was interesting and would spur discussion, and it has. I came right out and said I don't watch Fox News, which is why I didn't take any definite stance on the issue and ended my post with "I'll let you guys decide for yourselves what all this is really about."
If I had said I don't watch Fox News and then went on to say how much it sucked, then your statement would have merit.
Also, even though it's none of your business, I want to mention that shortly after writing this post I sent an e-mail to a good friend of mine where I complained about all the idiotic things liberals do that bother me. For you to think you can label me based on my posts is both arrogant and presumptuous.
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3-19-2007 @ 9:37PM
Aaron said...
IMO IMO IMO (cant say that enough) some peices of the clips seemed very racist. Im not saying that its the only channel that crosses lines but i have to say i was offended. and Im glad i saw it because it serves as a reminder that just because i dont see it everyday racsist still exist in what ever form they may come.
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3-19-2007 @ 10:57PM
erroneous_nick said...
You sure protested a lot. Must've hit a nerve. And yes, you've hit a nerve back. It's the same nerve, that infamous last one, that TV Squad loves to take aim at.
Since it didn't sink in the first time, I'll try to explain it again. You *say* you just post articles you find interesting. You *say* you don't go looking for articles that bash Fox News (as others who write here have said). You *say* you send emails about things that liberals do that bothers you.
Yet...
You *post* an article that show Fox News in a disparaging light. Actions speak louder than words.
To be fair, your articles are usually the least offensive from a standpoint of politics. But when you steer into political territory you follow the same path as your co-bloggers.
The point I'm making here is that whenever there's something about politics, or news channels, the negative articles have mostly, if not nearly all, been about conservatives and/or Fox News. To help illustrate my point, I searched back for the last six headlines for each of two news networks; Fox News and CNN. They are as follows:
FOX NEWS
--------
-"Is Fox News unfair to blacks?"
-"Fox News, Bill O'Reilly being sued."
-"Chicago Tribune sues Fox's Red Eye"
-"Fox News calls Anderson Cooper 'the Paris Hilton of TV news'"
-"Fox News to air controversial 9/11 movie footage tonight"
-"FOX News' version of Daily Show fails to impress"
CNN
------
"CNN must be in the front row"
"CNN examines Atlanta bus crash"
"CNN International launches The Screening Room this month"
"Harry Potter and the Curse of the CNN Pranksters"
"CNN's Pipeline free all day tomorrow"
"CNN-HD launches this fall"
For Fox News, we have them possibly being racist, getting sued, calling a CNN reporter names, controversy and failure, in that order.
For CNN, we have them keeping front-row seats in the White House press room, examining a tragic bus crash, launching a new series, getting punk'd by some silly pranksters, offering free web services and going hi-def.
If you can't see how that looks biased towards CNN, the liberal news channel and against Fox News, the conservative news channel then you're not looking. Even a study led by UCLA found bias in the media, so I guess TV Squad is just very typical. That's really too bad.
BTW, I do like you and your articles, Adam, but I expected better of you if/when you wrote again about news/politics. I guess you're typical, too, and that's also really too bad.
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3-19-2007 @ 11:16PM
scott said...
er·ro·ne·ous –adjective
1.containing error; mistaken; incorrect; wrong: an erroneous answer.
2.straying from what is moral, decent, proper, etc.
hmmmm...
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3-20-2007 @ 12:43AM
Adam from TV Squad said...
Note to everyone:
A nice RSS reader (I use Google Reader) and these individual feeds are a nice (though not perfect) way to avoid content you don't want to read:
http://www.tvsquad.com/feeds/
There are no individual feeds for each blogger, though.
Adam
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3-20-2007 @ 4:57AM
E-Nick Eat Sh!t said...
E-Nick, here's a thought... If you don't like the content here at TV Squad. If the writers here annoy you so much, why don't you stop reading this site?
Ya know what? There are sites that p!ss me off. Drudge, Fox "News," etc. Instead of visiting them every day and making a vein on my neck bulge, I just don't visit those sites. It's really pretty simple.
There are dozens of places that blog TV. Find another one. If none of them suit you, start your own.
In any case, get a frakking life, moron!
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3-20-2007 @ 9:33AM
erroneous_nick said...
How can I take seriously the comments of someone who hasn't the spine to use his regular nickname?
Your display of cowardice by changing your name is so typically liberal. I suppose you probably have a roadmap to canada tattooed on your yellow belly in the event you'd be asked to serve your country, too.
The fact that my comments anger and irritate a liberal coward like you only emboldens me to make further comments of a similar nature. I appreciate your telling comments, they make me extremely satisfied that my purpose has succeeded. The more I can piss off a spineless liberal like yourself, the better!
It's almost too easy.
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3-20-2007 @ 9:38AM
erroneous_nick said...
Adam, it's all cute and fun for you to joke about your readers fighting amongst themselves, but not so much fun when you're dragged into the fray, is it?
If your vehement claim of not being liberal is to be believed, you aren't doing much to cement your veracity when you reply showing how much difficulty you have in "taking it" after "dishing it out". It's a liberal trademark to be able to sling barbs but not easily receive them.
When you start an article saying how much you love these types of articles because of the inevitable fighting that will occur, you shouldn't be surprised when you find yourself in the ring. Be careful what you wish for.
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