Fox News- fair, balanced, unable to tell blacks apart?

Fox Noise Channel is nothing more than a propaganda outlet for the Wingnut Party.

Fox Noise makes the old Soviet Union news outlet, Pravda, seem "fair and balanced".

Honest mistake? I don't think so. Let's face it, they're playing to a racist crowd. When Giglioani was mayor, every time one of his cops shot an unarmed black 48 times, Hannity would always act stunned at what the issue was! What a choice for Repub hacks, Fox or the Cartoon channel!

Fox Noise also ran a picture of Mark Foley with a depiction of him being "(D) Mark Foley".

One only needs to watch Fox for about 10 minutes to know why the Republican Party is going down the crapper.

Fox News is not news. It's propaganda and biased opinions acting as a mouthpiece for this illegitimate administration. Actually, Fox lies and distorts the real truth. They are certainly not an objective source of news. Look at some of the queer characters who populate Fox News...
Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Brit Hume, Fred Barnes, Chris Wallace, Roger Ailes. Not to mention some of the guests who appear. Folks who are open minded, objective, independent thinkers wouldn't waste their time listening to the garbage and lies that Fox presents.

Frank James, wingnut himself, is no more than the propaganda outlet of the leftie wingnuts.

This article is beneath contempt--perhaps the most bizarre playing of the "race card" in media history.

Just two weeks ago in the Los Angeles Times, a caption on a photo of Chuck D that ran with the review of the music documentary "Rock the Bells" in Friday's Calendar section said the rapper was a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. Should the error be attributed to racism?

It should be noted that this same Chicago Tribune erroneously ran the wrong photos and captions in April 2005 related to coverage of Mafia. It had shown the photo of Frank Calabrese, a Chicago businessman and horse owner, instead of the convicted mobster. Should we assume that this falls within the racist notion that "All Italian Americans are mobbed up!" or presume that it was an innocent error? The same standard should be applied universally, regardless of political leanings of the media entity in question.

Anyone remember when Mark Foley was brought up on those Child molestation charges? Fox News Put the "D" For "Democrat" next to Foley's Name on air, not once, but twice, on two diffrent shows.

oh, come on people, aren't we all the same under the skin and behind the face?
wah, wah, wah, you bunch of freakin' oversensitive babies...

Yea and the Chicago Tribune isn't a left wing liberal rag!

Uh, yeah Joke Rubin, except fox noise has made the same mistakes again and again, and always to the detriment of Dem's and lefties, never hurting rupukelicans. Like when they mis-labeled REPUBLICAN MARK FOLEY as a dem when he was exposed to be the treacherous pedophile the repukelicans were protecting in order to maintain their grip on power.

On my own NBA blog, I posted a picture of Grant Hill with a caption mistakenly saying it was Steve Smith. They are both black, so I must be a racist. Being black myself, I am particularly ashamed.

Way to trump up a non-story, Frank.

The issue is not racism, that is a red herring. The issue is that Fox and the other Republican mouthpieces use inuendo to plant generalized suggestions to their benefit. They are using the wrong clip to connect Conyers and in a more general sense, all democrats, to the wrongdoing. This is systematic and entirely intentional.

I disagree that this is "playing the race card." It's sloppy reporting, plain and simple, and I hasten to point out the number of times that the right (in the persons of Bruce and S. Sherman, most notably) has jumped up and down when they feel Republicans have been misrepresented or maligned by facts not checked thoroughly enough for them. How would they feel if, for example, CNN took a stock photo of Geoffrey Dahmer and labeled it as George W. Bush? And it's not like this and the suddenly-Democrat Mark Foley are the only instances of Fox's slip-ups -- does anybody remember their caption for Niger Innes?

Please understand that I'm thrilled to see Jefferson being led to his just rewards for what he's done, and I hope he winds up doing all the jail time that's coming to him, but he does NOT look like John Conyers. All it would have taken would be for somebody at Fox News to take a look at the images and make sure they were of the right person, forpetesake!

I'm inclined to agree with Jake and JFK here... although I do think Fox News is a right-wing propaganda outlet, that doesn't mean I don't think it's possible that they might make an honest mistake every now and then. I don't see the gain here in getting the footage wrong... 99.999% of Americans (myself included) wouldn't recognize John Conyers if he were standing next to us in the grocery checkout.

The (D) next to Mark Foley's name just as that scandal was breaking? That was a bit too much. I DO think that was more than just an "honest" mistake.

Fox is not a news organization. It is a mouthpiece for the Republican party's talking points. If Fox disappeared tomorrow, the world would be a more well-informed place.

Fox claims to be "fair and balanced". Of course, the people who have decided that this is so are eminently qualified: a gang of Republican toadies and bimbos who think Brit Hume is an intelligent man and William Kristol's moronic opinions are still somehow relevant.

Wait till my boss Representative U. Tom weighs in in support of Fox News!

Anyone remember when Mark Foley was brought up on those Child molestation charges? Fox News Put the "D" For "Democrat" next to Foley's Name on air, not once, but twice, on two diffrent shows.

Fox news came about because of the unbelievable liberal bias in the media. Yes Fox is generally more conservative but it's because CNN and the like are generally liberal and don't present alternative opinions and news.

Most of the people who only watch CNN are shocked to see what Fox broadcasts because they aren't used to the other perspective. In many cases they are afraid that they're are other people who don't agree with them and bash them because of it. (see most of these posts)

Wasn't Obama educated at a Western-hating madrassa school? It must be true because I saw it on Fox News. I think Ann Coulter was on that day too, muttering something about treason.

I'll vote for Prez. Gore any day.

^^ Yea, nice comment, too bad it was your dirt bag Hilary Clinton who broke that Obama story.

Happy to read the posts, 99% of them are so open minded... I always demagogue those who don't agree with me and call them names. So much for the liberal doctrine of "open mindedness."

Speaking of censorship, once again the Pick-and-Choose sensors at the LIBune can't handle truths.

We'll try this again: CBS-BS News ran with FALSE National Guard memos. NBC News deliberately blew up cars to make it seem they blow up.

WGN News recently ran footage of George Bush rather than hot dog eating contest.

And Doug R. Chris Wallace is not a conservative? What are you smoking? And while you note the various conservatives, you forget to mention these liberals on Fox: Alan Colmes, Juan Williams, Mara Liasson, Greta Van Susteran, Bill Hemmer, Susan Estridge, Bob Beckel and a host of others. But I know, the token one or two conservatives on other news outlets (CNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS) are fair and balanced, right? Why is Democrat George Stephanopoulos the host of This Week? Or Tim Russert host of Meet the Depressed? Or why are both their network's Washington bureau managing editors?

Was MSNBC being racist when they referred to conservative commentator Niger Innis by another, less than flattering first name back in 2002?

Let me get this straight. Whenever a news program puts up the wrong video, it is a mistake except if it is Fox News, in which case it is intentional?

And, by the way, the error regarding Foley is likely the result of someone confusing his name with that of the much better known former Democratic congressman Tom Foley.

FOx News - is that the same Fox News that was partnering with the Congressional Black Caucus to sponsor a democratic debate and the democrats pulled out. Could make the arguement that the democratic presidential canidates are a bunch racists. I could make that arguement, but that doesn't make sense - neither does this.

I think Fox news made an honest to God thickheaded mistake tinged with ignorance on a technician's part and not some malicious Machiavellian racist ploy to discredit African American Democrats. That said I think Fox News has more spin than a tornado in a Kansas mobile home park and is just as reprehensible in skewing facts to foment right-wing indignation for ratings. Since 9/11 (did ANYONE watch Fox News before 9/11?) Fox News has been playing the need for catharsis and outrage for the angry white male (and angry white female with big hair) audience like Nero playing a fiddle. But are they racist? No. They're too savvy to know there's money to be lost if they play the race card.

Anyone catch Olberman last night?

13 times in the last few years, any negative news about W or the White House is quickly over-shadowed by breaking news of terror threats. Just coincedence.

"WGN News recently ran footage of George Bush rather than hot dog eating contest" -John D

What in the world are you trying to say?

Anon, there is not a liberal media in this country. Sensationalistic but not liberal.

SS,

Of course Fox did it on purpose. It's called 'supercharging' the message.

You get to hit Jefferson and backhand Conyers at the same time. People that saw the original propaganda piece will not necessarily see the retraction.

They did the same thing when they called Foley a Florida Democrat, and other notable 'mistakes'.

My post should read: Chris Wallace is a conservative?? Wallace is not a conservative and never has been, just like daddy. He is more fair and honest than daddy though.

And Frank, how many mistakes does the Tribune make on a daily basis? Should we keep track on a daily basis of all the mistakes the Tribune makes?

Faux Noise is not real news. It is a propaganda arm of the Republic party.

oh yeah. This just proves how completely and utterly Fox News hates black people. I'm sure they had a meeting about this prior to making this pseudo-mistake. A page right out of the nazzi book of propaganda I tell ya.

Get a life, people. These anti-Fox posts read like a bunch of teenagers still rejecting their parents.

"Conyers doesn't really resemble Jefferson."

- Frank James

LOL. Really? Are you kidding me? He doesn't resemble Conyers doesn't resemble Jefferson at all except for the fact that they are both African American.

You fell into the same trap Fox did. Hell, it's not like there are hundreds of black congressmen that experienced hands would make such a mistake.

This was clearly Fox's way of playing the race card. And Fox doesn't have to apologize.

No one believes Fox is so inexperienced or uncordinated. So clearly this was purposely done to get a rise out of its white constituency.

The Right has reacted to this story just as it has reacted to all of Dear Leader's many transgressions. Since the Right thinks in terms of bumperstickers and slogans, my supporting examples follow suit.

1. Two wrongs make a right.

Consider all the posts pointing out supposedly comparable instances of "liberal" media mistakes.
Bushie analog.: It was ok for Scooter to obstruct justice over the outing of covert CIA WMD specialist for purely political reasons, because Bill Clinton obstructed justice by lying about how far he went with Monica. It was ok for the Republicans to botch the entire Iraq war, because the Somalia "Blackhawk Down" mission failed on Clinton's watch.

2. Incompetence is expected.

Some posters attribute this to a mistake. That's charitable and unduly credulous.

Fox News is a major network with dozens of highly competent people in editorial/factchecking roles. This story alone surely had at least four of them directly involved in creating and reviewing its content. But according to our deadenders, not a single FN person could be bothered to raise the question whether they had the right guy. Were they all mistaken, or is it possible that maybe Rupert and his field generals don't mind dropping a few "mistakes" now and then for cheap, easy (if minor) political points for the "good" guys?

Bushie analog: Throughout the vast halls of the Pentagon are tucked away thousands of competent people who devote their working lives to tasks such as analyzing another country's WMD capabilities, or figuring out with high accuracy just how many armed Humvees are needed to supply predicted demands, and when they can be bought and deployed. Yet the Bushies can't even conceive of the notion that maybe the Admin. disregarded WMD info that countered their propoganda. Or that they had a pretty good idea that the "war" would cost much more, and take much more time, than the public would ever support.

No,the career professionals simply got it wrong. They tried hard, but they're just not quite smart enough.

3. Death by a thousand cuts.

Some posters suggested, in effect, that this just not a story. True enough, in isolation, this isn't the most egregious case of racial or other insensitivity by a media outlet. However, entire books have been written detailing other such malfeasance by FN. One might reasonably question whether the whole is worse than the sum of its parts.

Bushie analog: you name it -- warrantless wiretraps; recess appointments for people who'd never get Congressional approval; signing statements; political firings of prosecutors and subsequent coverups; Harriet Miers and Mike Brown. All significant abuses on their own that the deadenders consistently and repeatedly tried to pass off as no big deal. Even though I'd disagree that these are not bad individually, I think it would be hard to disagree that in the aggregate, Bush's numerous failings have harmed the country.

Just as Bush is left with only few deadenders who support him, so too Fox News has become such a discredited joke that only a blind few pay it any heed. It's no coincidence that they're the same people.

I am crazy tonight! kill me not! Bush has taken us to war for no reason. We do not hold him and his administration accountable!I say now tonight the plan for the new american century, writers are pretty much the people that have decieved this country. These people will go down in history as tratiors and that is good to go.

News for the Zombie right wing nation. Real republicans must be appalled. Bill-O-me!!!

stop illegal immigration.

fox news is better than the others.

breitbart.com is best

dont care

Bubba,

On WGN News the copy they were reading was of a hot dog eating contest, but the video being shown was of Bush. They had the wrong video to go with the copy. That is what I am saying. And the point being that obviously there was a mistake, just like with Conyers instead of Jefferson. I mean, what is he gain by deliberately showing Conyers and not Jefferson?

They showed Conyers becaue he will be leading impeachment hearings when the DC Dems stop cowering in a corner (i.e., when their polls drop low enough over their weakness to force action).

FauxNoise is sending the message that "Conyers is Bad." Mainly an inside "joke" to them -- whistling past the impeachment graveyard.

Wow, no wonder all you left wingers are so hysterically angry all the time.
You've got people like Frank James and others trying to creat controversey and get you riled up over nothing.

Frank...your treading into the John E. category.

One reason why FOX is so successful is that they are very law & order-oriented and the other channels seem more reluctant to spell out important issues of values and justice.
FOX owes Conyers a huge apology.
I don't believe FOX is racist - sneaky in some ways, dittohead in many ways, and incompetent in how they handled the Jefferson tapes - but not racist.
I am not defending FOX, just saying that they do many things very badly but a few things better than most - and that other news sources should emulate the latter.

Fox News is about as fair and balanced as the old Soviet news agency TASS.

I would care little for their idealogical bias if they were up front about it instead of trying to position themselves as the voice of reason by claiming other news outlets are biased.

It's also funny to listen to Fox News employees like Sean Hannity complain about the "mainstream" media when they work for one of the largest media conglomerates in the world.

Perhaps the most insidious lie is their claim to present "both" sides to every story. Not all stories have two sides; some have dozens and some have just one.

They use this argument to reduce cold hard fact to matters of debate and interpretation. It truly is an assault on reason.

Is Fox News composed of Bull Conner style racists?

Probably not, but they are notoriously careless when something is simply not important in their view. To them all blacks and all Democrats simply look alike and are not important enough to bother with.

John D,

Understood. The difference is that WGN does not have a history of malicious 'mistakes' like Fox.

Check TheReamer at 9:38 as to the gain from such an error.

Bubba, I checked Reamer, and I still would love to know what those Fox news mistakes are?

Ok, once or twice they listed Foley as a Dem, not a Republican. I've seen the same type of error on all television newscasts.

Does that "error" equal the false National Guard memos put forth by CBS-BS News? Or the fake cars blowing up by NBC News? Or CNN's Gen. Westmoreland and Agent Orange report, which cost the network millions? Or how about Jayson Blair and the NY Times?

So far Fox News does not have one scandal like NBC, CBS, CNN, NY Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post, etc. have had. Not one.

Twice, Fox allowed Bill O'to accuse American soldiers of massacreing Nazis at Malmady. It was the other way around and I have yet to see Fox repudiate his twice made claim and/or apologize to the families of those American soldiers who were massacred by Nazi thugs.

Oh, yes, Fox does have scandals. Here is one, a huge one, that will suffice to make the case. See http://www.projectcensored.org/publications/2005/11.html or http://www.foxbghsuit.com/
To defend themselves in court against a whisteblower claim, Fox argued that there are no laws that prohibit news stations from distorting the news. They even claimed that the First Amendment lets broadcasters lie or deliberately misrepresent/distort public news reports. Fox didn't dispute that they pressured their reporters to broadcast a false story, only insisting that they had the right to do so. Wouldn't you agree that this confession basically destroys the credibility of Fox News? Fair and balanced, certainly not. Unbalanced fare, absolutely.

For all of you conspiracy theorists, if you take a moment from dodging black helicopters & CIA-sponsored crack dealers, note that Fox, like all other networks, is a bottom-line media company. ALL content, politically-biased or otherwise, must be weighed against advertising revenue. With the exeption of state-run media outlets, this is a universal truth. Therefore, assess the notion of a politically or racially motivated "error" versus positive or negative impact on advertising sales revenues, and you must admit that the notion that these "repeated mistakes" were intentional is silly. Your myopic view of the network and the errors does not support your viewpoints! As Hillary found out, attributing everything to a "Right Wing Conspiracy" does not help one's crediBILLity.

Just do what I did five years ago -stop watching Fox news.

Mr. Frank James,

Excellent reporting. I would like to read your piece on the CBS Evening News falsifying documents against George W. Bush. Until I see that piece, then I can only consider you are nothing but a political hack---exactly what you are claiming Fox News to be.

I don't want to use the 'H'-bomb here, but unless you went after CBS Evening News and Mr. Dan Rather with the same zeal and evil-looking snicker crawling across your face, then I'm afraid I can only conclude that you are inconsistent, intellectually dishonest and also a ... oh, what the hey... a Hypocrite.

As I said, I will gladly retract everything I said if you can produce for me a link to something on that story that you wrote and recorded---and I want to see that same smarmy snicker on your face when you do it too.

Thank you.