Openness is great. However, it certainly eliminates the "fair and balanced" mantra.

I've already stated that I feel this approach is far more "fair" than networks attempting to be more covert with their agendas. I stand by that assessment.

 

I've thought a little more about the "balanced" part, and I believe that even if Fox was deeply involved in generating these events, (which I doubt is the case, I suspect they were promoting more than generating) they are more in line with traditional American values as lived and practiced for over 230 years, than the current "tax and spend" activities coming out of DC.

 

What made America great was the opportunity for even the poorest member of society to rise above the conditions of his birth and achieve success... and possibly wealth and power in a land of opportunity. The problem is, the path to success for those at the bottom involves hard work, discipline and self-sacrifice. I come from generations of a family in which this has proven to be true for each one. It ain't quick and it certainly ain't easy... but it works almost every time it's applied. (Kinda like abstinence being 100% effective at preventing unwanted pregnancies.)

 

We have a culture mesmerized by the vacuous celebrities on television driving Bentley's and Hummers and living large for no other reason than they were born pretty or can sing or can run a little faster or jump a little higher than everyone else. We have a culture who believe it's their birthright to have three square meals a day, a house, a car, heat and AC, and enough dough to hang out at the mall or multiplex... regardless of whether they're willing to earn it or not... and the "evil rich" folks who did earn those things are wrong for not sharing over half of what they earn.

 

So, in summary, even if Fox actively pushed the tea parties, it's far more "balanced" with traditional American values than what I see on any of the other news outlets.

I don't believe that a "news" organization should promote a political viewpoint. I also don't believe that Hannity, O'Reilly, Olberman, or Maddow are part of a "news" organization. They are infotainment. So if Hannity wants to say everybody so go to a tea party that's fine. If Olberman wants to say that those who go to tea parties are idiots that's fine too. They have staked out their territory. I'll give as much credence to infotainment that it deserves. What bothers me more is those who claim to be unbiased reporters of the news, a distortion-free mirror of the days events, and even claim special privilege for the service they provide but who are nothing more than political hacks with an agenda. Remember, Dan Rather was supposedly a "news" guy.

 

 

This is what the media is, first and foremost. They are biased towards infotainment.

Here is the thing, you must look at all networks as INFOTAINMENT. They are not news organizations. Once you understand that everyone is in business to make money, then you will watch these programs with a cautious eye. Misinformation runs amuck in the interest of being first.

 

They can support any movement or anything that makes them money. Bottom Line!

 

They are what we thought they were!

I was just reminded of the rallies in support of illegal immigrants a couple of years ago. Every news organization was on the scene celebrating this very "left wing" series of protests.

 

But, a series of protests across the nation by law abiding citizens tired of being taxed into poverty by a government too big for its own good is either missed, ignored or insulted by all but Fox News.

 

If nothing else reveals an AGENDA and BIAS in our media, this event makes it crystal clear. More than the coverage by Fox, the lack of coverage by everyone else betrays a very clear lack of "fairness" of "balance."

I was just reminded of the rallies in support of illegal immigrants a couple of years ago. Every news organization was on the scene celebrating this very "left wing" series of protests.

 

But, a series of protests across the nation by law abiding citizens tired of being taxed into poverty by a government too big for its own good is either missed, ignored or insulted by all but Fox News.

 

If nothing else reveals an AGENDA and BIAS in our media, this event makes it crystal clear. More than the coverage by Fox, the lack of coverage by everyone else betrays a very clear lack of "fairness" of "balance."

 

Thought this tied into your post:

 

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04162009/gossip/pagesix/cnbc_sweats_obama_bashing_164608.htm

 

Don't they also own MSNBC?

I've thought a little more about the "balanced" part, and I believe that even if Fox was deeply involved in generating these events, (which I doubt is the case, I suspect they were promoting more than generating)

 

 

So, in summary, even if Fox actively pushed the tea parties, it's far more "balanced" with traditional American values than what I see on any of the other news outlets.

 

Don't kid yourself. They were the #1 promoter of this and that's why this event got such great turnouts. Obviously Fox has a lot of viewers and when you put a graphic at the top of the screen saying something like "FNC Tea Day" and you send your top personalities out to help rally the troops its obvious as their level of involvement. They may not have started it. They did though promote the heck out of it EVERY day on every show/newscast.

 

Lastly, your definition of "balanced" and the true connotation of the word to the average American are not even close to being the same.

Here is the thing, you must look at all networks as INFOTAINMENT. They are not news organizations. Once you understand that everyone is in business to make money, then you will watch these programs with a cautious eye. Misinformation runs amuck in the interest of being first.

 

They can support any movement or anything that makes them money. Bottom Line!

 

They are what we thought they were!

 

You can't have it both ways. Many on here now and many who are no longer active CONSTANTLY bashed CNN/MSNBC for not being unbiased. "You can't have news anchors being biased" was the common cry.

 

So which is it?

I was just reminded of the rallies in support of illegal immigrants a couple of years ago. Every news organization was on the scene celebrating this very "left wing" series of protests.

 

But, a series of protests across the nation by law abiding citizens tired of being taxed into poverty by a government too big for its own good is either missed, ignored or insulted by all but Fox News.

 

If nothing else reveals an AGENDA and BIAS in our media, this event makes it crystal clear. More than the coverage by Fox, the lack of coverage by everyone else betrays a very clear lack of "fairness" of "balance."

 

Why do you keep ignoring the obvous difference? Did MSNBC send out KO to these protests and have a banner at top of their screen saying "MSNBC Immigration Protest?"

^ I think the caption is bad production, but I do not really think the intent of Fox was to sit and actually promote these things. If that was the case, it was the worst promoted event ever because it was not mentioned near as much as being portrayed. Fox may be a lot of things, but one thing they are not is stupid.

 

Fox's biggest attraction, Bill O'Reilly, hardly breathed a word about the Tea Parties. It is the only show I really watch consistently on Fox, and last night was the first I can remember him mentioning it.

Is Fox News "infotainment?"

 

When it comes to Hannity and O'Reilly, ABSOLUTELY!

Don't kid yourself. They were the #1 promoter of this and that's why this event got such great turnouts. Obviously Fox has a lot of viewers and when you put a graphic at the top of the screen saying something like "FNC Tea Day" and you send your top personalities out to help rally the troops its obvious as their level of involvement. They may not have started it. They did though promote the heck out of it EVERY day on every show/newscast.

 

Lastly, your definition of "balanced" and the true connotation of the word to the average American are not even close to being the same.

 

Who's kidding who? Thousands showed up in downtown Cincinnati in March, prior to Fox jumping on the bandwagon.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090315/NEWS01/303150014

You can't have it both ways. Many on here now and many who are no longer active CONSTANTLY bashed CNN/MSNBC for not being unbiased. "You can't have news anchors being biased" was the common cry.

 

So which is it?

 

I do not want it both ways. I want my news to be factual, without someones opinion. Bottom Line. I do not watch more than one story a day as I cannot handle ANY of the organizations propaganda. I don't want it. I wnat the who, what and where. When they getting in to the speculative "why" they all lose me. Give me the why from the principals mouth, not them or their experts that are not even there.

I do not want it both ways. I want my news to be factual, without someones opinion. Bottom Line. I do not watch more than one story a day as I cannot handle ANY of the organizations propaganda. I don't want it. I wnat the who, what and where. When they getting in to the speculative "why" they all lose me. Give me the why from the principals mouth, not them or their experts that are not even there.

 

So you don't watch Fox? MSNBC?

So you don't watch Fox? MSNBC?

 

NO Way. I could care less about the anchors opinions about a story. What makes them an authority on ANY subject? They went to school to study journalism? The are political science majors? I want news, not opinion. If I listen to Rush, I know what I am getting. I look at the news organizations as Rush like enterprises on TV. ESPN does the same thing when a star does something wrong. They speculate or bring in experts on what the star was thinking. I don't need all of that, just the facts.

 

It drives me nuts.

Why do you keep ignoring the obvous difference? Did MSNBC send out KO to these protests and have a banner at top of their screen saying "MSNBC Immigration Protest?"

 

How have I ignored anything? I've stated very clearly that (at the very least) I respect Fox for being up front with their agenda.

 

MSNBC is just as obvious to anyone with half an intellect. Just because they don't put a caption over the screen expressing their political support of the "MSNBC Cindy Sheehan 24/7 Political Soap Box" or the "MSNBC Keith Olberman Pseudo News Anchor Propaganda Engine" or the "MSNBC Immigration Protest" does not somehow make their agenda less evident or one bit more legitimate.

 

The fact that an uncomfortable percentage of their mentions of the tax protests were in the form of sophomoric wisecracks involving "tea bagging" rather than simply reporting a news event did a lot to offset my criticism of their clear agenda... not.