Jon Stewart, Fox News Trade Barbs

From the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz:

DENVER, Aug. 25 -- Jon Stewart ripped the cable news networks Monday as a "brutish, slow-witted beast" and castigated Fox News as "an appendage of the Republican Party."

Wearing a gray T-shirt and a healthy stubble, the "Daily Show" host told reporters that Fox's fair-and-balanced slogan is "a (expletive) you to people with brains" and that only "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace "saves that network from slapping on a bumper sticker . . . Barack Obama could cure cancer and they'd figure out a way to frame it as an economic disaster."

"I'm stunned to see Karl Rove on a news network as an analyst," he said of the Bush White House aide-turned Fox commentator.

A Fox News spokesman replied that "Jon's clearly out of touch," citing a Pew study showing the network has the most balanced audience in cable news, 39 percent Repubicans and 33 percent Democrats. "But being out of touch with mainstream America is nothing new to Jon as evidenced by the crash and burn ratings of this year's Oscars telecast."

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Comments

[USindependent]

If Jon Stewart is so out of touch with the mainstream? We all would be watching something else.
Fact is, he is funny as hell and especially when he makes fun of the Neocons.
He can run circles around Fox news. They give him a lot of material.

[wakeuptothecon]

you know why we watch FOX it is the Howard Stern Effect
"I can't wait to see how they spin this latest one"
that is the only reason to watch Fox ministry of disinformation

[gez]

The 'fair and balanced' logo seems to have mysteriously disappeared from many of Fox New's programes. Even this dis-honest channel seems have a conscience. You only have to look at their
biased coverage of the conventions to know where this Republican mouthpiece stands. 'Fox and friends' is probably the worst offender. Their philosophy is if a Democrat does something wrong,
interview a Republican for their opinion, if a Republican does something wrong just gloss over it our viewers won't know the difference. If you saw Steve Doocy's interview the Pres. Bush it was like watching two college buddies being reunited.
The cleverest interview was probably O'Reilly with McCain. On the surface it seemed tough. But if you read between the lines he was giving advice on how to beat Obama
It's one thing having a conservative agenda, it's another to be so dis-honest.

[painter77]

Faux News...when The ratings get low..the skirts get high...and the Breasts get a bit higher,,the bleach comes out..and all is well

[spencerb]

I went to school with Fred Barnes. I liked the cheerful young fellow that he was. Who stepped on his scrotum? His commentary for Fox is everything Fox could hope for - conservative and unbalanced. I watch Fox from time to time when I want to get my blood pressure up. They are all about shouting down the opposition and talking over anyone who disagrees. At least Fred lets the other guy talk.

[Ron1951]

Faux News "fair and balanced"? I think not. And while I'm at it, I am canceling my subscription to the Wall Street Journal. The changes in tone since Murdoch took over have gone from conservative to absurd. Karl Rove as a regular editorial contributor. That's just more than I can take.

[somberdays]

I LOVE watching Fox News. It's like watching dead pan humor 24/7. I mean, where else could we get such poignant lines such as Palin has foreign policy experience by virtue of Alaska's proximity to Russia? Keep them coming Fox News!

[enemyofgod72]

Anyone who believe's that Fox News provides "fair and balanced" unbiased news needs to seek out their nearest mental health clinic and check themselves in. Fox News is nothing more than a propaganda arm of the the GOP. By the mere existence of Fox News the integrity of every other news organization is brought into question which I believe is the true purpose of Fox News. If one "major" news organization is clearly biased then we tend to see bias on all networks. Bill O'Reilly-esque morons like Nancy Grace and Glenn Beck only feed this perception. We all need to be more cynnical and skeptical though when all the major news outlets are owned by a very few highly powerful corporations whose main goal is to make sure we are as ill informed as possible so we'll buy whatever they are trying to sell us.

[KJennings15]

I received a call from a 'national polling' firm last week where I was asked my opinion about cable news - specifically Fox, MSNBC, and CNN. After several questions about my viewing habits and my impression of each news channel, I was asked which of these three news shows most closely fit the bill of 'Fair and Balanced'. I answered "CNN". I was next asked if I felt that Fox news fit the bill of 'Fair and Balanced', and said that "No, not in any way shape or form, in my opinion." and the gentleman asking the questions asked me to wait a minute. During that minute, I could hear him talking to a female, who apparently had been listening in. I could hear her say "Hang up." and he said "What?" and she said "When you get that answer, hang up. Hang up now." and he did. I've been wondering about this so called poll - and how apparently it was going to only include those who answered in a specific manner.

[DM]

Sure plenty of non-conservatives watch Fox News. I have it right there on the cable box next to the Comedy Channel ... and it delivers! Generally it's as funny as comedy but has the extra spice that those clowns don't seem to know how stupid they appear.

I'm going to be taping the next few O'Reilly factors to see his 25 part smear of Obama in a pique over Obama not making himself available for an interview. It should be a classic series of Bill O making a complete ass of himself!

[KillgoreTrout43]

Great Friggin Post. Smart!

[shadow322]

There is No Way any legitimate poll could conclude the patrons of FOX news are of near equal political patronage - No Way! FOX is made up of has-beens in the broadcasting industry saving their careers by spewing propaganda for a presently powerful illegitimate minority. They are no different than listening to Oxycontin Limbaugh on the radio. I don't have to agree with one's politics to admire or befriend them BUT I DO RECOGNIZE WHEN SOMEONE'S POINT OF REFERENCE IS BASED ON LIES! Absent the SWIFT BOATERS against a true war hero we would not have had a 2nd term Bush. Does anyone doubt their lies? So now T. Bone who financed the thing wants America to once again trust him on powering up this country. NOT ME T BONE! You lost all credibility when you bought the last presidency - who needs you?

[Merckx]

Stewart and FOX. It's not a fair fight. Stewart against all those talking heads.
FOX better go get some help.

[ScapeGoat]

Jon Steward...talking truth to power!

[cjger]

During the Clinton Admin the right-wing radio & TV (then in its infancy) revved up the rhetorical heat to such an extent that some citizens, whom we might label 'crazy,' took it upon themselves to crash light planes and take shots with an AK47 at the White House! Other crazed lunatics might have had other plots that were thwarted. The right wing can turn opposition into fanaticism. They ARE dangerous.

[ilovemydoggy]

The Fox News reporters concerns:
Women: best Salon to get their hair streaked blonde
Men: which is better beer? Japanese or Australian

Baby boomer views on news & culture: http://www.Vaboomer.com

[Firstconsul]

Oh, that's rich... the "audience" for the network is "fair and balanced", so that makes the mockery of newscasting that Fox produces OK?
Christ, people-- folks are tuning into the "Simpsons." It isn't even referring to idiots that turn into that dreck for NEWS.

Seriously, the Obama Administration should consider stripping Fox of it's Washington news credentials. If all they are going to do is reprint the GOP talking points anyway, they don't need to be at the press conferences, or have access to the Administration. They are propaganda arm of the GOP, and it is time they are treated as what they are

[jnratliff]

Seriously, the Obama Administration should consider stripping Fox of it's Washington news credentials. If all they are going to do is reprint the GOP talking points anyway, they don't need to be at the press conferences, or have access to the Administration. They are propaganda arm of the GOP, and it is time they are treated as what they are

Now that is a great Idea Firstconsul!