Help Turn Of Fox News

Dear Sandy,

In the coming days, many of us will be spending time with family and close friends. You might find yourself in a house with Fox News on the TV, or you might find yourself in the company of a family member who likes to talk about the "truth" coming from Fox. You could also be with folks who understand the damage Fox does, but haven’t heard about this campaign. Any of these could be a great opportunity to talk about why you don’t watch Fox and why you’re part of the movement to get it turned off in public places. And if you have any good conversations, let us know.

There's no need to be confrontational. The person you’re talking with may not be receptive to what you have to say — and that’s ok. But you might be surprised. This is about sharing your concerns and beliefs, and hearing the thoughts of someone you love. When people are approached respectfully by someone they like and trust, it creates space for them to think and change.

Here are some pointers:

1. Remain calm. The point here isn't to start an argument — it's to share information. Even though some people may be hostile to what you have to say, keeping your cool can help defuse tense situations and make even skeptics receptive to what you have to say.

2. Just the facts. We’re often tempted to use inflammatory language when describing Fox News and their tactics — "evil" or "racist," for example. But think of the impact that this language might have on someone you’re trying to win over to your point of view. Does the fact that they watch Fox News make them "evil" or "racist"? Better to stick to the facts by describing what Fox News Channel does — stoking racial fear, helping to spread dangerous conspiracy theories, and distorting the truth. You can refer to our flyer "The Case Against Fox" for a few examples of what Fox News does, and the impact of their actions.

3. Listen to what others have to say. If you want to be listened to, then you should also be willing to listen to others' perspectives. If they state something untrue, you can and should offer facts to correct the record when you can — but not until after they've finished their thought. And remember, the point isn’t to get into an argument or even prove that you're correct. It's to share your point of view.

4. Offer more information. If the folks you talk to are interested in learning more about our campaign, just have them check out TurnOffFox.org. They can sign up for the campaign at that website.

The holiday season provides a unique opportunity to help more people understand what Fox is, how it poisons national discourse, and what role everyday people can play in stopping the damage.

After you have these conversations (even with those who already understand the issue), we would love to hear how they went.

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

-- James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Natasha, and the rest of the TurnOffFox.org team
December 22nd, 2010

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Misinformer Of The Year Is ... No Big Shock ... Sarah Palin

Dear Sandy,

This year, we've chosen Sarah Palin -- former half-term governor, current Fox News contributor and prolific Facebook user -- as our Misinformer of the Year.

It was a tough competition. On issues like health care, net neutrality, climate change and immigration, the conservative media offers an unprecedented flood of distortions, exaggerations and utter fabrications. We at Media Matters for America work around the clock to expose, fact-check and counter this non-stop flood of lies and attacks.

Click here to watch the "Misinformer of the Year" video and support Media Matters for America with a tax-deductible donation.

This year, Palin stood out for her sheer ability to dominate our national conversation and draw the attention of the entire news media to her factually challenged claims and vicious attacks. She has blurred the line completely between media figure and political activist.

When Glenn Beck's over-the-top rhetoric and conspiracy theories inspired unhinged gunman Byron Williams to target the Tides Foundation with violence, Palin could have stood up for responsibility and helped rein Beck in. Instead, she legitimized him and his attacks, saying "I stand with you, Glenn."

From spreading lies about "death panels" to cropping Obama's comments about "American exceptionalism," from her comfortable perch at Fox News to her self-promoting books and reality show, Palin has truly broken new ground in misinformation.

In the year to come, Palin is sure to keep up her efforts at dominating the headlines, influencing the political process and advancing falsehoods and distortions at every turn -- aided and abetted by millions in free airtime and glowing coverage from her friends at Fox News. We are prepared to fight back -- but we need your help.

Click here to watch the "Misinformer of the Year" video and support Media Matters for America with a tax-deductible donation.

Thank you for your support.

David Brock
Founder and CEO
Media Matters for America

When Fox News Wins Democracy Loses ... A Message From Media Matters For America

Dear Sandy,

Glenn Beck and Fox News have had a toxic effect on the political process, and they're only going to push harder now.

Over the past two years, Fox has gone from a conservative-leaning news source to an active player in politics -- and things have taken an even darker turn as Beck's nightly show on Fox has brought right-wing extremism into the mainstream. Beck routinely launches outlandish attacks painting his progressive targets as part of a sinister conspiracy to intentionally destroy the country.

When advertisers sponsor Fox News, they're not just buying commercial airtime. They're making an affirmative investment in a political game -- one that puts dishonest smears, fearmongering, and vicious attacks ahead of accuracy. Money that goes to Fox funds Beck's conspiracy theories, baseless political attacks, and outright promotion of right-wing candidates for office.

Companies that are considering advertising on Fox need to keep that in mind, and they need to hear from you.

Give your tax-deductible donation today to help us fight Fox, Beck and conservative misinformation.

Every day, we at Media Matters for America monitor Fox News and its allies in the conservative media, researching claims, exposing violent rhetoric, debunking misinformation and preventing falsehoods from spreading unchallenged.

We've had success in making sure others in the press know that Fox is a player in politics, not an observer. We need your help to keep up that fight and get the message out to potential Fox advertisers. Unless it hits them right in the bottom line, Fox News has made it clear it won't rein in Beck and other serial misinformers.

You can be part of that fight.

Give your tax-deductible donation today to help us fight Fox, Beck and conservative misinformation.

Thank you for your support.

David Brock
Founder and CEO
Media Matters for America

While Repeatedly Showing Shooting Video Clip, O'Reilly Asks Is It Appropriate To Show

Right-wing Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly does and says stuff that makes you shake your head in utter disbelief.

OK, while warning his viewers about the real violence in a video clip of a shooting scene in Florida during a school board meeting, O'Reilly repeatedly plays (teases) the footage.

Also, while repeatedly showing the footage of gunman Clay Duke's shooting rampage to his viewers, O'Reilly asks if the footage should be shown.

WTF?

Are U.S. Supreme Court Right Wingers Set To Show True Bias Against President Obama?

Rumors abound that some of the U.S. Supreme Court justices are considering not attending the President's upcoming State of the Union address.

It was a topic of discussion this past weekend on Fox News Sunday as U.S. Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer was interviewed.

Some of the justices apparently have their panties in a bunch because President Barack Obama was critical of one of their decisions.

If these justices are that weak, that they can't take that little bit of criticism, then that truly is disturbing.

BUT, if they are whining and pouting because they are upset with the politics of what President Obama said, then that is pathetic.

Aren't judges/justices supposed to be impartial? Would their protest (should it happen) be indicative of a U.S. Supreme Court that truly is political?

From Crooks and Liars:

During his 2010 State of the Union address, Obama criticized the court's Citizens United decision which said that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts cannot be limited.

"With all due deference to separation of powers, last week the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests – including foreign corporations – to spend without limit in our elections," Obama said.

"Well, I don’t think American elections should be bankrolled by America’s most powerful interests, and worse, by foreign entities. They should be decided by the American people, and that’s why I’d urge Democrats and Republicans to pass a bill that helps corrects some of these problems," he added.

While Democratic lawmakers cheered for the president's remarks, Justice Samuel Alito could be seen mouthing the words "not true."

Weeks later, Chief Justice John Roberts said the address had "degenerated to a political pep rally."

"The image of having the members of one branch of government standing up, literally surrounding the Supreme Court, cheering and hollering, while the court -- according to the requirements of protocol -- has to sit there expressionless, I think is very troubling," Roberts said to University of Alabama law students.

It will be interesting to see what whiners like John Roberts, Sam Alito and high-court right wingers do.

Crooks and Liars:
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/justice-breyer-very-important-attend-state-u

Sammon's Memo Is Latest Evidence Of System Bias In Favor Of Far Right On Fox News

Bill Sammon's memo to the Fox News staff fighting to shape the health care debate in a pro-Republican way is not really a big surprise.

Sammon, the biased Washington managing editor for Fox News, is a true right winger. As we know, Fox News has been almost 100-percent opposed to health care reform.

Beyond calling it "Obamacare," an effort to try and substitute the president's name for "health," there is the issue of "public option" vs. "government option" going on these days.

Sammon, who might as well be on the GOP payroll, has made his slant clear as reported by Media Matters for America:

At the height of the health care reform debate last fall, Bill Sammon, Fox News' controversial Washington managing editor, sent a memo directing his network's journalists not to use the phrase "public option."

Instead, Sammon wrote, Fox's reporters should use "government option" and similar phrases -- wording that a top Republican pollster had recommended in order to turn public opinion against the Democrats' reform efforts.

Journalists on the network's flagship news program, Special Report with Bret Baier, appear to have followed Sammon's directive in reporting on health care reform that evening.

Sources familiar with the situation in Fox's Washington bureau have told Media Matters that Sammon uses his position as managing editor to "slant" Fox's supposedly neutral news coverage to the right. Sammon's "government option" email is the clearest evidence yet that Sammon is aggressively pushing Fox's reporting to the right -- in this case by issuing written orders to his staff.

As far back as March 2009, Fox personalities had sporadically referred to the "government option."

To borrow the famous (some might say infamous) words of Dennis Green, "They are who we thought they were." He wasn't talking about Fox News, but it certainly fits.

This is why you can't trust a lot of what you hear from Fox News without checking it against other reputable and fair media outlets.

Sarah Palin's Own Words Describe Her Perfectly: Proudly Intolerant

Who knew that Sarah Palin's own words could describe her as well (or better than) her toughest critic.

From Fox News (Fox Nation), her media relations organizations:

In tonight's episode of "Sarah Palin's Alaska," the former governor showcases the Alaska tundra while caribou hunting with her father. Beyond proving she's a great shot, the episode is giving Palin an opportunity to "proudly" take aim at "anti-hunting hypocrisy."

"Tonight's hunting episode of Sarah Palin's Alaska ‘controversial'? Really? Unless you've never worn leather shoes, sat upon a leather couch or eaten a piece of meat, save your condemnation of tonight's episode. I remain proudly intolerant of anti-hunting hypocrisy. :)" Palin posted on Facebook and Twitter today.

Palin's pro-hunting posts began on Friday when she urged fans to tune in to "see how we fill our freezers and feed our families with home-grown tundra-roaming Alaskan wild game. We'll show you how Alaskans hunt. As my friend Sue says, ‘the tundra is the type of landscape that will make a man out of anybody.' And, PETA..." she wrote on Facebook.

When I think of Sarah Palin I think of proudly intolerant. She was speaking of hunting, but I see it as ideally descriptive of her as a person and as a politician.

Sarah Palin Clearly Wants To Be President ... If She Is Willing To Go To Haiti

Frankly, the fact that Fox News celebrity Sarah Palin was willing to go to Haiti, and spend that much time around that many black people, shows me that she is strongly considering running for president of the United States.

I can't see many other reasons why she would want to be around that many black folks (even if it was a controlled and made-for-television Fox News special).

Detroit News:
http://www.detnews.com/article/20101212/POLITICS03/12120313/1025/POLITICS03/Sarah-Palin-visits-Haiti-under-tight-guard

Bernie Goldberg's Slobbering Love Affair With The Rich Who Exploit The Poor

Bernard Goldberg, a right-wing analyst who makes frequent appearances on Fox News to spread his far-right messages, thinks the rich are not getting enough from the poor.

In Saddam Hussein-like fashion, Goldberg essentially suggests that the poor should build a monument to the rich as pointed out by News Hounds.

I suggest that we build a big bronze and granite monument, a statue to honor some truly American heroes, unsung American heroes… the rich… Try to imagine an America without rich people. Rich people pay the freight for a whole bunch of things that are good, like taking care of poor people who can’t afford to buy food and medicine and sending other kids to college… The top one percent of all wage earners pay almost 40 percent of all our federal income taxes. The top five percent pay 60 percent and the top 10 percent pay 70 percent. Now I’m not saying, Megyn, that these people are selfless philanthropists. I’m not even saying that they need a tax break. But I’ll tell you what they don’t need. They don’t need to be vilified by people like Bernie Sanders and a whole bunch of other liberal Democrats in Congress.

…I’m not defending anybody who’s crooked or anybody who sent this economy into a tailspin… There are a lot of people out there who worked hard for their money… Maybe they’re not making a million or a billion dollars but something over $250,000. These people deserve our gratitude. I mean, how many poor – by the way, the bottom 50 percent of taxpayers… pay a paltry 2.7 percent of all the federal income tax. So how many of those people, how many of those people do you think are helping the poor in this country. It’s the rich who are disproportionately paying taxes and disproportionately helping the poor.

We could write a book about Bernie Goldberg and call it, A Slobbering Love Affair: The True (And Pathetic) Story of the Torrid Romance Between Fox News and the Rich Elitists Who Want to Preserve a Slave-Like Society.

The rich are rich on the backs of hard-working and oftentimes underpaid folks (not too unlike what happened during times of slavery and not too unlike what happens with those who exploit so-called illegal immigrants.

The O'Reilly Sucks Blog Highlights Bill O'Reilly Going Ape S--t Over A Cartoon

I am always amazed at how Bill O'Reilly obsesses about almost every slight (real or perceived) against his precious Fox News.

O'Reilly is like the parent of a serial killer, who says "he/she was such a good kid." Like that parent, O'Reilly will go to great lengths to take up for Fox News no matter how inaccurate, racist or biased.

These days, O'Reilly has been whining about some shots the hit Fox Broadcasting cartoon "The Simpsons" has been taking at Fox News (see the cartoons below from Steve of The O'Reilly Sucks Blog that I found).

Below is what Steve had:



But of course O'Reilly did not find it funny at all. The Fox News blowhard came to the defense of his network, labeling the cartoon characters as pinheads.

O'REILLY: Continuing to bite the hand that feeds part of it, Fox Broadcasting once again allows its cartoon characters to run wild.

VIDEO from The Simpsons featuring helicopter emblazoned with "Not Racist But #1 With Racists" slogan. As the helicopter lets one passenger off at the statue of liberty, it becomes unsteady and the pilot says, "We're unbalanced. Its not fair" before crashing.

Pinheads? I believe so.

Even though O'Reilly slammed them, the Simpsons was right back to needling Fox News on last Sunday's show in which the right-wing network was given yet another alternative slogan, this one reading "Unsuitable For Viewers Under 75."



Fox Broadcasting and the producers of the Simpsons are not living in fear of Papa Bear Bill O'Reilly.

Our Friends At Fox Try As They Might, But Can't Politicize High-School Player Who Prayed After TD And Was Flagged

Far-Right Nutty Racism On The Floor Of The House Of Representatives

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Rep. Steve King and Rep. Michele Bachmann advancing the perception of racism from the far right.

King talks about "drug addicts" and "reparations" and a very "urban" senator (talking about President Barack Obama's support of compensation for black farmers who were the victims of discrimination) and advances the stereotype of blacks being lazy and looking for a handout.

Do we need to draw a racial map here.

This is racial politics at its most despicable, but not unexpected with King and Bachmann - to classic right-wing bigots.

Player Hatin' Palin Is Back At It With Her Attacks On Michelle Obama

There has been no shortage of talk about quitter former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's ridiculous and misguided comments attacking first lady Michelle Obama who is leading a national campaign to combat obesity among young people.

You will hear a lot of people say a lot of things about what Palin is doing, but before I get to that lets get to some of what she had to say via Roland Martin on CNN who cited Huffington Post:

"Take her anti-obesity thing that she is on. She is on this kick, right. What she is telling us is she cannot trust parents to make decisions for their own children, for their own families in what we should eat.

"And I know I'm going to be again criticized for bringing this up, but instead of a government thinking that they need to take over and make decisions for us according to some politician or politician's wife priorities, just leave us alone, get off our back and allow us as individuals to exercise our own God-given rights to make our own decisions and then our country gets back on the right track."

I really think this comes down to one thing: the blind-rage hatred that people like Palin and others on the right have for the Obamas.

This is a reckless and ignorant attack on Palin's part. Part of it is she is selling a book, but another part of it shows how pathetic it is that people would actually vote for her to be president of the United States.

Palin is driven by blind-rage hatred of anything that does not fit her world view and right-wing self righteousness.

A VERY large number of these extremist right wingers, tea baggers, birthers, truthers, etc. flat out hate President Obama and have ever since summer of 2008 when he emerged as the front runner to represent the Democrats in the presidential election.

CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/24/martin.michelle.obama.palin/index.html?hpt=T2

Is It Wrong To Tell People What Should Or Should Not Offend Them?

That should offend you.

That should not be offensive to you.

These are two sentences I've heard from people pertaining to issues (mostly issues related to race and racial sensitivity ... or insensitivity).

Check out this video:

I Am Not A Mascot from UCD Video Group on Vimeo.

Bitter John McCain Still Attacking President Obama, And Weakly So

Sen. John McCain continues to look like a bitter and petty man any time President Obama's name comes out of his mouth.

This, from Think Progress, is another example of Sen. McCain attacking President Obama over the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" gays-in-the-military policy:

But McCain remained undeterred. He agreed that decisions about integration should not be held hostage to the opinions of servicemembers, but then insisted that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell doesn’t pose a problem for gay soldiers or the military. He also reiterated that the Service Chiefs — three of whom publicly endorsed the study last week — are still concerned about repeal:

CROWLEY: Doesn’t [Gates] have a point?

MCCAIN: Well, I think he certainly has a point. I would also certainly say that we should remember where this all started. There was no uprising in the military, there was no problems with Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. [...]

It wasn’t a problem because you didn’t have. It’s called ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ Okay? If you don’t ask somebody and they don’t tell and it’s an all volunteer force. [...] The fact is, this was a political promise made by an inexperienced President or candidate for Presidency of the United States. [...]

The fact is, that this system is working and I believe we need to assess the effect on the morale and battle effectiveness of those people, those young Marines and Army people I met.

But, the "inexperienced" line is nothing more than an irrational cheap shot on Sen. McCain's part. Bitter John McCain again shows that he is and was far from presidential and that he is little more than a typical partisan politician.

More from Think Progress:

McCain’s characterization of President Obama as “inexperienced” is particularly petty, however, since every Democratic president and presidential candidate since President Clinton has come out against the ban.

It's weak on McCain's part.

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/11/28/mccain-dadt-letter/

Here Is Another Example Of How Weak Ron Christie Is To Defend Rush Limbaugh

Ron Christie's analogy to President Obama is absurd and indicative of a man who has sold out to an ideology that is oftentimes excusing of racism and sometimes flat-out guilty of racism.

Hat tip to The Field Negro for appropriate naming Christie "House Negro Of The Day."

Ailes Of Fox News Goes All In With Tea-Bagging Morons With Crazy Comments

Far-right extremist Roger Ailes of Fox News

Roger Ailes, chairman of Fox News and a far-right zealot, is at it again with the talking points that his network has made famous: Barack Obama is socialist.

Fox News, which long ago divorced itself of any hint of objectivity, has now gone to openly cheerleading for far-right causes and candidates and against anything viewed as left of the political middle. The comments of Ailes, as documented by Howard Kurtz, are indicative of a man who is no journalist and essentially overseas a network that is a 24-hour right-wing propaganda machine.

This is from Media Matters for America:

Ailes: Obama was "told by the French and the Germans that his socialism was too far left." From Howard Kurtz' November 17 Daily Beast article:

"The president has not been very successful," the Fox News chairman says in a lengthy interview. "He just got kicked from Mumbai to South Korea, and he came home and attacked Republicans for it. He had to be told by the French and the Germans that his socialism was too far left for them to deal with."

The 70-year-old Ailes, dressed in a lavender shirt and tie, goes on in this vein, saying the network isn't singling out Obama for criticism but that its style "tends to be more direct" in challenging presidents. Then he offers this observation about Obama:

"He just has a different belief system than most Americans."

That seems a rather loaded phrase--different belief system--even if you strongly disagree with most of Obama's policies. It fits the view of those who are trying to paint the president as being outside the mainstream. But from the big second-floor office at Fox's Midtown Manhattan headquarters, it's the rest of the media that are using a distorted lens.

This is nothing new with Fox News, a network that now clearly is devoted to advancing Republicans, tea baggers and nearly all conservative causes.

Bill O'Reilly Lies ... I Know ... It's Redundant

Which Palin Should Be President: Sarah Or Bristol?

In choosing between mother and daughter Palin, for president (I didn't mean to frighten) ... I honestly think Bristol might make a better president than Sarah.

Look At Who's Voting In This Election