Fox News Calls Michelle "Obama's Baby Mama"... FOX: Producer Used Poor Judgment

UPDATE: Politico Reports that
Fox addresses baby mama drama: Producer used "poor judgment"

Since Salon's Alex Koppelman caught Fox News characterizing Michelle Obama as "Obama's Baby Mama," there's been an uproar over use of such an offensive term.

"A producer on the program exercised poor judgment in using this chyron during the segment," said Fox's Senior Vice President of Programming Bill Shine, in a statement to Politico.

----
ORIGINAL REPORT:
As if implicating her as one half of a "terrorist fist jab" wasn't enough, Fox News has gone on to label Michelle Obama "Obama's baby mama."

Salon's Alex Koppelman writes:

An alert reader wrote in just a little while ago to let us know about something he'd spotted on Fox News Wednesday afternoon. During a segment discussing conservative attacks against Michelle Obama, the wife of presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama, the network described the former as "Obama's baby mama."

I checked, and sure enough, as you can see below, our e-mailer was right. In fact, that description was displayed on screen several times during the segment, which featured anchor Megyn Kelly and conservative blogger Michelle Malkin, an FNC contributor.

Koppelman has the video here, and you can see the stills below.

To be fair, Michelle Obama referred to Barack as her "baby's daddy" on the night he won his Senate seat in 2004.

Comments

[Buddy McCue]

Notice that the headline on the screen says, "Outraged Liberals: Stop Picking on Obama's Baby Mama!"

What "outraged liberal" said these words? FOX News chose to use these words to describe Mrs. Obama, not some "outraged liberal." It's dishonest on the face of it.

[Taaj]

As soon as I am aware of anything coming from Fox news, or supporting Fox News, it is cut off.
The only way for us to take power away is to refuse to be a consumer. fox news needs to go away. It is the news station for the KKK, neo-nazis and farrakans in this country. Decide not to be a bigot and turn off that venomous news organization.

[synthfiend]

Karl Rove works for Fox News as a "contributor". This quite honestly should not be a surprise to anyone. I mean, come on. First the "Terrorist Fist Jab" ( which actually sounds like a pretty cool Kung Fu move. "Master teach me the terrorist fist jab so that I may avenge my family") and now Obama's baby mama. Look for more of this crap as Rove steers Fox news into litigation. When Obama is president he will unleash the IRS' hell hounds on Fox and on Rove.

[awenyyds]

Really would you call Laura Bush George's Baby Mama.

[debonair06]

Exactly,no one in their right mind would call Laura Bush George’s ‘Baby Momma.’ First of all it is very disrespectful and isn’t true! I mean come on folks lets treat people with due respect, regardless of their skin color or anything else to that effect. To think that the ‘baby momma’ comment isn’t a big deal is just plain stupid, it is blatantly disrespectful comment and to say that someone “exercised poor judgment” is complete BS. It amazes me how the Bush lovers and right winged conservative folks don’t see anything wrong with the way Fox News is portraying the Obamas. This is also one of many reasons why I can not stand the conservative folks. They don’t feel as though Bush and his administration have done any wrong. From the Iraqi War, to the debt, to Katrina, to everything else under the sun, Bush supporters hate to deny facts! Case in point look at all of the posts that 'REMEMBER THE ALAMO' has posted and tell me that he/she isn't delusional.

[nellie]

Fox is so venal. It's unendingly stunning. I wonder at their audience.

[oliverwest]

Please, do NOT try this on the street

[rolitt]

This is why my family across this country stopped watching FoxNews and switched to MSNBC and CNN calling each other trading information from these networks instead of FoxNews. FoxNews is triffling and need to learn some lessons from the class exemplied by Tim Russert. Grow up FoxNews for we are a lot smarter than what you give us credit for.

[BigRube]

Here is a way to get back at FOX.
1. Do not watch Fox all.
2. Look for anything that Fox said on Huffingtonpost.
3.Write whatever you want to say about Fox on Huffingtonpost.
4. Email Fox everyday and tell them just how their programs SUX. Everyday,E­veryday,Ev­eryday.

[ObamaEdwards]

Hoist with their own petard, Fox "News" gets more laughable every day. Their age and lack of connection to America is so obvious, they won't be able to save themselves. They are out of touch and going down. Just change the channel.

[LeftVetPatriot]

Poor judgement, my asz. It was blatant, deliberate, racist horseshit.

[RememberTheAlamo]

Hi All . . . entertaining outrage,

Looks like you are missing the point . . .

(1) There are a lot of us who don't like Obama or his wife
(2) There are a lot of us disappointed by their discourse
(3) There are a lot of us who find no connection to Obama
(4) There are a lot of us disappointed with the direction liberals have taken the blue states
(5) . . . and a lot of us are tired by the exit of families from the liberal states to the red states
(6) . . . and their a lot of us who like to watch FOX . . . Go E.D.!
(7) Oh, well . . . free speech . . . don't you just love it!

Rock Solid Conservative . . .and proud of it!

[BlackWidowPilot]

OK. I'll bite, "RemembertheAlamo," so I take it you're actually proud of the GOP's record as the "party of Christian family values:"

http://www.armchairsubversive.org

I take it you're proud of Cheney's war for oil and empire in iraq launched and sustained by over 900+ *Documented* lies about WMDs and debunked claims of connections between Saddam Hussein and 9/11. I take it you're proud of defective body armour and the casualties that ensued from same, that you're proud of Cheney crony KBR serving rotting food and contaminated water to our troops, that you're proud of deserving vets denied VA benefits as an apparent matter of official policy, that you're proud of billions in taxpayer *cash* missing and unaccounted for in Iraq, that your proud of warrantless wiretapping, that you're proud as a "conservative" should be of irresponsible spending by the most profligate administration in our nation's history, proud because the Busheviks proudly call themselves "conservat­ives."

Yeah, you "conservatives" have so much to be proud of these past seven and a half years from Hell, and our children and grandchildren get to pick up the tab, 'cause it was all good in the cause of "conservatism" and "Christian family values."

"Family values" like the locals in THE HILLS HAVE EYES.

Hypocrisy, thy name be GOP, thy name be "conservative" in America today.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[RememberTheAlamo]

Hi Leland . . . Nice retort! . . . apologies for getting you so wired up . . . need to be careful or you will bust something!

Lets see . . .

(1) Still proud
(2) . . . and yes, a child under God
(3) . . . and proud of Dick Cheney
(4) Know the guys from Haliburton and think they are great too.
(5) Miss and pray for every soldier we have lost
(6) Good with the wiretapping
(7) Disappointed with all the spending . . . was sure we could have cut back on more programs
(8) . . . and quite proud of being just "bitter" ole me:)

Appreciate the investment of your time!

Rock Solid

[MemoFromTurner]

"Rock Solid Conservative . . .and proud of it!"
- - - - - - - -
Proud...pr­oud of WHAT? What passes for "conservative" these days has NOTHING remotely to do with good people like Everett Dirksen and Barry Goldwater -- men who believed in our Constitution -- and EVERYTHING to do with the bottom-lining of the economy, the privatization of our military, selling out to foreign interests, stealing and abridging basic freedoms, and capitalizing on monumental tragedy for political gain. And that's just a quick overview.

Oh, and those Blue States that vex you so -- you know, the ones loaded with liberals -- have kept the Red States afloat economically while they flounder about and lag behind on nearly every count, from education to highways to infrastructure. The Red States are stuck on stupid with their obsession about gay marriage, abortion, etc.; meanwhile all their jobs have gone to Mexico, their roads and bridges are collapsing, and their sons and daughters are being used as cannon fodder in "The Sandlot."

Remember The Alamo indeed -- that was back in 1836, and is just about the era in which the right wing mentality is mired. You might want to think twice about being so publically proud of an ideology that has dragged this once-great country down into the darkest, sewage-laden ditch.

[RememberTheAlamo]

Hi Turner . . . good point! . . . I'm thinking . . . . . . . . . Yep, after thinking twice . . . .I am still proud . . . oh well:)

Just guess we have a difference of opinion of who was dragging the country down.

. . . . but if the Red States were so "damaged" . . . why is that where everybody is going?

Nobody is moving from Alabama to NJ or CA . . . . but, Texas, KY, OK, FL, GA . . . . are daily receiving beaten down liberal state urban emigrants . . . .They are flowing in from both NJ and Mexico . . . just have to say we will need to love them both.



. . . . and if our red territory ever gets a little too much weight for the urban areas to support . . . let us all know . . . . glad to drop the intellectual urban areas from our Christmas card list . . . rarely see then anyway!

Appreciate your time . . . Keep up the spirit!

God Bless,

Rock Solid

[shellshell77]

"Well, bad weather is like rape: if it's inevitable, you might as well relax and enjoy it."

Statement made be a Republican conservative that was fundraising for McCain. Google Clayton Williams!

[ATLiberal]

Are you proud of borrowing from China to pay for the Iraq War?

And the doubling of our national debt under GW Bush and his republican cronies?

And the shoddy treatment veterans get when they return home?

And the rapid decline of US prestige worldwide?

And the use of American taxpayer money to enrich the US corporations "rebuilding" Iraq?

And the use of taxpayer money to pay private armies roaming Iraq that are not subject to any laws?

And the extraordinary rendition of (many who are innocent) detainees?

And the torture of (many who are innocent) detainees?

And the shredding of the constitution to create the "unitary executive"?

And the warentless tapping of US citizens phones?

I could go on, but my word count is dwindling.

[RememberTheAlamo]

Hi ATLiberal,

Thank you for your reply!

(1) China . . . don't see the connection?
(2) Would agree the debt is rising . . . am alright with reducing social security or welfare or eliminating the EPA .
(3) Us conservatives give veterans rather good treatment . . . seen some of the more liberal "treatment" of veterns too . . . five liberals attacked and knocked down my 83 year old veteran dad, (78 year old mom and a pregant young lady) for supporting Bush . . . knocked them to the ground and kicked the pregnant girl . . . Dad tried to protect the girl till the police arrived . . . . guess those folks were just exercising "civil liberties"!
(4) Worldwide prestige . . . less than zero importance
(5) Not sure what "enriching US corp" meams? . . vs enriching a european corp?
(6) Private armies . . . okay with it . . . that is what they do there! . . . they like to shoot guns . . and they understand force . . . join the program
(7) Detainees . . . works for me . . . quess they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
(8) Torture . . . even if I liked it . . . McCain will be bringing that to a halt.
(9) constitution . . . . haven't caught up with you yet . . . still amazed at how

[andj]

Even dullards and useful idiots are entitled to their opinions - and I will defend your rights to express those opinions.

However when it comes to being racist, or when it infringes on someone else’s rights (dignity, private property etc) then its not free speech - and its not okay.

And yes, you are also entitled to watch and enjoy faux news for a balanced view, read national enquirer, believe that GOP cares about average middle class citizen (not the top 1%), Bush is an intellectual giant, that the war was fought to liberate Iraqis (not about Oil or the distribution of contracts and favors amongst friends) and the Easter bunny ..........­. but I just wouldn’t brag about it.

[RememberTheAlamo]

Hi Andj . . . and Thank you! . . . appreciate the support of the right to "say things"

Am real good with the "private property" thing! Not sure what you are getting at when you mention dignity . . . am sure the Wackadoodle is anything but dignified . . . but he still gets to talk with impunity. . . . Seems a little bit of a contradiction.

And I do stand corrected . . . while very proud of Bush . . . Fox News, Oil companies and the Easter Bunny . . . I am out-of-place bragging about how cool they are. . . . guess things haven't been going your way for some time now . . . and I should not have mentioned it. . . . Sincere apologies!

You do believe in the Easter Bunny?

With appreciation,

Yours,

Rock Solid

[melonman]

Here are some points you missed, bright eyes:

1) There are more of us who do like Obama and his wife than don't.
2) There are more of us who not only aren't disappointed, but inspired, by their discourse.
3) There are a more us who find connection to Obama.
(4) There are more of us disappointed with the direction right-wing nut jobs like you have taken the red states.

You should try logic the next time you want to make a point. You might actually convince someone you have a logical point to make.

[RememberTheAlamo]

Hi Melonman . . . just a passionate conservative I guess!

Appreciate your keeping the late night retort simple . . .

Don't know that there is much basis to use the word "more" in points 1,2,3,4 (all) . . . unless you have went around and counted (and if you have . .. Thank you!) . . . . . . as to myself . . . I used the words "a lot" since in my daily travels I only seem to cross paths with folks who are disturbed by Obama (and the wackadoodle) . . . haven't met a real live Obamatron yet . . . but I do have high hopes!

. . . . my thought is, the "Obamatrons" hang out in inner urban areas and universities . . . work hard to avoid those areas, so our paths may never cross . . . alas!

As to the Red States . . . they appear to be doing just fine Thank you! . . . the mass exodus out of blue states and into red states continues . . . we must have something attracting all this talent . . . probably it is the Country Music!


And no . . . seek not to convince you (or anyone else) . . . . just letting you know us "right-wing nutjobs" are still out there!

Have a nice evening!

Yours,

Rock Solid

[PatA]

I work in a prison and I can certainly see that Fox News grabbed the term, out of prison lingo (for instance) and tried to use it to be racist....­once again. Male offenders frequently refer to their children's mothers as "my baby's mama". Wonder how many Fox employees know, first hand, about prison language?
I believe that Fox has people working, day and night, to come up with anything racial that they can use against the Obamas. We'll just have to deal with it for the next 8 years.
A thought, does Fox ever refer to McCain being an "old white man"?

[reasoniskey]

I have a personal problem with this type of language because it denotes the Obama children are illegitimate. This is ironic when two of McCain's children, Douglas (1960) and Andrew (1962) were birthed out of wedlock prior to McCain's marriage to his first wife, Carol Shepp (1965). You would think an American woman of Michelle Obama's caliber would warrant more respect than Fox has shown. Moreover, she and her family most closely mirror the conventional American values championed by the right wing. This is why, in my opinion, the vote for evangelicals is up for grabs. Yet only time will tell.

[AdultFilmLegend]

I didn't even know Baby Mama was a "term."

[incontempt]

It was more then poor judgement.­..poor genetics or poor parenting is more likely the culprit here.