MSNBC Vs. Fox News/White House

The feud between GE/NBC/MSNBC and the White House/Fox News has intensified. Below, five links that encapsulate Tuesday's developments in the MSNBC vs. Fox News/the White House saga:

• White House's Gillespie Takes NBC News Complaint To Fox (click to watch video):

  Appearing before Fox's Megyn Kelly, who seemed to have a palpably difficult time wrangling her own sense of skepticism, Gillespie complained of how MSNBC dared edit their interview, and how they were forcing viewers to use "streaming video" to see the unexpurgated session between Bush and Engel. He said that NBC News cut the interview "very artfully" - you know, like a White House sponsored Video News Release? - and that the news organization engaged in "deceptive" "masking" - like, say, the White House/Pentagon "message force multiplier" program did!

  
  

• NBC News President Steve Capus Responds To Ed Gillespie's Charges:

  Mr. Gillespie,

  
  I'm in receipt of your email and want to assure you we take this matter very seriously.

  
  We appreciated President Bush's decision to do the interview with NBC News, and believe Mr. Engel's reporting accurately reflects the discussion with the President.

  
  Let me assure you, there was no effort to be "deceptive," as you suggest. Furthermore, the notion this was, "deceitful editing to further a media-manufactured storyline," is a gross misrepresentation of the facts.

  
  

• Olbermann Responds To White House NBC Complaints: The President Doesn't Know What He's Talking About (click to watch video):

  Olbermann aired the full excerpt and blasted the White House saying, "The White House apparently [doesn't realize] that in full, it is clear the President never actually answered Richard Engel's first question and clear that the President either does not know what he talked about or what he is now talking about."

  
  

• Steve Doocy Blasts Keith Olbermann: "A Guy Who Picks On People's Children" (click to watch video):

  "I have a problem with Keith Olbermann," Steve Doocy said. "Keith Olbermann made my son the world's worst person. How can you make a kid the world's worst person?" Doocy asked. "Next time you see Keith Olbermann on TV, just remember: that is a guy who picks on people's children. He completely sandbagged my son, took his comments out of context, and mangled them around the way he does every night. And I am mad at Keith Olbermann."

  
  

• Is MSNBC A Political Liability To NBC?:

  Monday's letter from the White House aide Ed Gillespie to the NBC News president Steve Capus was a high-profile complaint about NBC News and MSNBC -- ­ but it was far from the first.

  
  Critics are increasingly citing MSNBC for what they say is left-leaning partisan political coverage and commentary. More and more, NBC shares staff, office space and an identity with MSNBC, exposing the news division to complaints about opinionated cable hosts like Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews.

  
  Mr. Gillespie's letter -- although focusing on an interview conducted by an NBC correspondent on Sunday -- purposefully tied the news on NBC and the opinion on MSNBC together. The letter requested reassurance that Mr. Olbermann and Mr. Matthews, who are vocal critics of the Bush administration, "don't hold editorial sway over the NBC network news division."

  
  

Comments

[GeorgeP922]

God Bless Keith Olberman.

A true patriot and a hero for our country.

[mike53]

MSNBC is the propaganda department for the dims. They don't even try to hide it anymore.

[ldsrapha]

LOL!!! This coming from a FOX fan?

[Lemeritus]

Wow! Liberals get a couple of measly shows on a network owned by war-profiteering GE (with only one spokesman who is even reliably liberal, at that) and those of you who have rolled in the mud of whole neo-con networks and radio conglomerates have the chuz to complain. Here's a hanky, mike52; tell your story walking.

[jadez]

this is a WINNING issue msnbc.

if you want to rule the airwaves take on fox and the whitehouse.

your viewers will triple and support will flood in.

go get um!

[mike53]

Viewers will triple? To what? About 30?

[theMightyT]

million.

yes. 30 million more than they have now.

[jlang57]

Which would be about 29 more than Fox, Limbaugh and Hannity are managing these days.

The fact is that Olberman has skewered political goofiness of all stripes, not just Conservatives.

Face it, it's over. The Conservative plan to take over the American people's minds and hearts by manipulating what they think about issues is done. Hannity and Limbaugh have failed because their points of view do not fit in with reality and Americans get tired of being at war with other Americans.

Though they have tried to paint Democrats and Liberals as The Enemy, they are not. We are all Americans with different points of view. The real enemy is the group that would seek to set Americans at the throats of other Americans so that they can step in and take over.

Republicans and Democrats, Liberals and Conservatives need each other. No one point of view is all right nor all wrong.

The only thing that is absolutely wrong is thinking that we are enemies. We settled that in 1865, let's not go there again.

It takes no courage at all to stand there and say that 'everything you think is wrong'. It takes a great deal of courage to sit down at a table and say, "Tell me what you think about this. Let's see if we can hammer out a policy that will work for both of us."

It's amazing what you can accomplish when you put your prejudices down and listen.

[JohnIII]

I've watched Olbermann quite a few times. He and his companion Maddow are totally biased.
Bush could say "hello" to someone and they would pick it a part.

I'm not saying Bush is beyond criticism. Quite the contrary. But Olbermann and company are not objective at all. They bash Bush, McCain and Hillary nightly. Yet they defend Obama every chance they get.

When has Olbermann ever been critical of Obama?

[CaseyBabes]

If he gets the chance he'll throw a cheap shot at anyone. Bullies are like that, but we all know bullies are cowards...­........Ol­berman has a stage and knows of it's impunity at MSNBC/NBC.

[ldsrapha]

So tell me, are you suggesting that Olbermann doesn't have the right to Freedom of Speech. The White House doesn't like what he is saying so they censure him? ARE WE LIVING IN CHINA OR CUBA? Come on people, if this is what you want I am sure they would give you refuge in these countries and take McBush with you!!!

[JohnIII]

No, I'm not saying that at all. He can say what ever he wants. I was just saying he is biased.
And it's transparent. Very much like Fox. Just the other way.

[Ramirez]

Olbermann is in the tank. His show is now a one-hour Obama ad.

[DebraCraig]

Thank God the American public finally has a news channel like MSNBC that isn't afraid to tell it like it is. Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews are my heros when it comes to journalists. I hope they don't change a thing.

[MarciaJ720]

I think it is obvious how the Whitehouse is sending a message out to anybody else who may entertain the idea of interviewing the PResident. Our way or the Highway. Edit it just like we want, even if you have to cut out 90% of the interview.

For a Whitehouse who has used FOX news as their main propaganda machine to say anything is the tops in hypocrisy. People have woken up (well, at least 2/3's of Americans are now awake).

MSNBC is owned by GE - who have a lot of money invested in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and do not want them to end. I won't be surprised if you see less hostility against this Administration (with orders from GE Brass to tone it down).

Then again, MSNBC needs to turn a profit and GE likes those too - but war is still more profitable.

[chrisbee]

TEAM OLBERMANN!!!

[connorin]

You know, as much as you kiddies here whine about Fox News, please note, they don't have Hannity and O'Reilly hosting the news coverage of the actual primaries.­..yet MSDNC has KO and Matthews out there as their hosts...so really...w­ho's the partisan network?

PS: I don't care if your a conservative, a liberal, a communist, a facist, a christian, a jew, a muslim or whatever..­.KO's attack on Doocy's son and naming him WPITW over it is just plain wrong!

[Joeinloth]

Doocbag is as doocbag does! Proof that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree - and, neither does the SAP!!

[theMightyT]

but ripping apart a kid who has no health care is fine?
a la limbaugh, malkin, coulter et al?

hypocrite.

[pahpah25]

WELL//IF YOU 'KNOW' OLBERMANN AND MATTHEWS ARE PARTISAN, WHATS YOUR POINT? I'KNOW' FOX NEWS IS PARTISAN SO WHEN IF I WATCH IT.....I TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERAT­ION..ITS WHAT GROWN -UPS DO........­IT CALLED 'POLITICAL COMMENTARY­'..WHICH, EVEN TO A RIGHT WINGER. SHOULD IMPLY 'OPINION'.­AS TO THE DOOCEY[?] KID[?] ..HIS FATHER PUT THE KID OUT THERE.....­.SO HE HAD BETTER LEARN TO TAKE HIS LUMPS JUST AS CHELSEA CLINTON AND AMY CARTER HAVE HAD TO....TWO YOUNG WOMEN WHO HAVE MUCH MALIGNED BY RW TALK RADIO AND TV.

[ldsrapha]

It wasn't wrong, it was perfectly legitimate . His son is in his mid-twenties. You all are acting like he is 5.

[juevosrancheros]

It was Doocy's son's decision to use his father's influence in order to make an appearance on national television. Last I checked, college-age students are adults, and Doocy's rather snarky question to McCain about Clinton was fair game. Doocy Sr.'s self-indulgent "I'm proud of my son" piece on Fox News afterward was also difficult to stomach. If the kid wants exposure and to walk in his dad's unimpressive footsteps, is he therefore entitled to media protection? Put your foot in the ring, prepare to take all that comes with it.

[LouisPWu]

My only suggestion: Keith Olbermann should start giving several 'Dishonorable Mention' prizes in his 'Worst Person in the World' contest. Just naming three miscreants each night is like snipping off the top of an iceberg with a pair of fingernail clippers.

[nerakami]

WHAT ???!!!! Fox News for weeks has played and re-played (countless times) a 2 minute sound-bite of a 30 mins sermon from Rev. Wright in their effort to smear Obama and they have the gall to complain because some one has done it to them.... the nerve.... It doesn't feel so good now does it Faux News.... learn to swallow your own bitter pill before you give it to someone else.

[jaschrod]

Hey, give FOX a break, when an air head like Steve Doocy makes comments, it has to be degrading to FOX. We really cannot expect anything of substance from FOX, so why pay any attention to what they have to say, I sure don't.Igno­ring them is the best thing to do, no one likes to be ignored.

[Chavez08]

Fear not FOX pedophiles and White House Reichstag arsonists, - GE is still chock-full of corporate propagandists. Besides, you still have ABC, FOX, CBS, CNN, BBC America,..­.

[Bluedog12]

Keep it up MSNBC! You're making the Fauxites crazy by using their own tactics against them. This is by far the most entertaining thing on cable. Reading the reactions of the right is enjoyable because it points to the hypocrisy in their use of media. I have got to ask whether Faux is a wholly owned subsidiary of the GOP or is the GOP is owned by Faux? It’s undeterminable at this point. Doocy, whose son was used to "sandbag" Obama, complains about Olberman picking on his kid? What a couple of wimps! Then you have the White House complaining to Faux about NBC editing and misrepresenting the Presidents words. Complaining about media bias and deliberate misrepresentation of one’s words on Faux? BaHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[bobo6]

Wouldn't Mr. Doocy's son make us all proud if he went to Iraq and fought the the great menace of terrorism ? I think that should be the true test of Fox family patriotism.

[jaschrod]

Good idea, but he is just as much a coward as his father. Nuts do not fall far from the tree.

[Bluedog12]

There are "other people" that do that kind of thing. They volunteer and we wear flag pins.

[mouselion]

The White House needs to quit telling ANY news organization how to run their business or what editorial viewpoint to be aligned with. It's a good thing thaat these guys are almost out of the picture -- they just don't get that there are boundaries which they are not allowed to cross. This is one of them. It is OK for the White House to say they emphatically disagree with something, but not to demand changes within an organization. NBC should definitely call them on that one, considering it is threat to free speech and democracy.­.

[connorin]

and yet you complain about any view spouted by fox...try look up the word hypocrite, Androcles

[frappe]

The Bush Administration has been one of the most secretive, if not the most secretive, of all past administrations. Their Orwellian style of information management has been deeply antithetical to American ideals and democracy, proving to be a disaster for the country in practical terms e.g. the Iraq war.

Clearly, what we need more of is the free and uninhibited flow of "real" as opposed to "doctored" information. For too long, the Bush administration has relied on political manipulation and outright thuggery for keeping everyone "in line". We are seeing more of this now, even though it's very late in their administration. (Apparently, they wish to play a more active role in this year's political contest. Bush's recent political statements in Israel are certainly an indication of that. Pathetic.)

People are tired of the Bush administration's treachery and lies. If anything, we need a more principled dedication to publishing the truth -- the facts -- regardless of the political consequences. It is an essential part of our Constitutional system of "checks and balances". Without the truth, the consequences can be quite severe, as we've learned from our experiences in Iraq.

My advice to GE, NBC, and MSNBC is not to buckle under the political pressure but to simply wait for the next president to assume office. The Fourth Estate plays an absolutely crucial role in our system of government. For our democracy to work properly, the citizenry MUST be kept informed (as opposed to "deceived").

[HSimpson]

"Clearly, what we need more of is the free and uninhibited flow of "real" as opposed to "doctored" information. "

I agree with this statement. Isn't this the reason why the Q&A session with the Pres should have been shown in its entirtety?

[frappe]

You know exactly what I was referring to when I used the word "doctored" in my posting, above. Primarily, it referred to the numerous examples of the lies and distortions used to involve us in the war in Iraq.

If Bush had answered the question posed to him "truthfully", instead of avoiding answering the essential questions asked, I'm sure that the interview would have been published in full. But why publish what is obvious bullsh*t when it clearly doesn't serve the interest of getting to the truth.

Your president is a liar and a deceiver.

[Marrigan]

What's a viewer to do when they can't stand any of the people mentioned in this latest squabble? What bugs me the most about MSNBC is that (1) they don't carry enough actual news, (2) their evening line-up is solid screaming forums, (3) they take the weekends off.
Morning Joe is 3 hours of political chit-chat, but absolutely no in-depth discussions about ISSUES. They have the nerve to talk about how the candidates need to talk about issues, but they either can't or won't have guests on to talk issues.
Their news coverage is horrible. Must be that they don't want to compete with the Today show, but what's their excuse for the remainder of the day and especially on weekends?

[mouselion]

I don't care too much for Oberman or Matthew's style, however it is the principle of the matter. It's a >free< press.