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

[Shikamaru]

Ok Ok Ok all of this fox bashing needs to stop! "Would someone please think of the Simpsons!?" If you boycott fox, what will happen to the simpsons. Sure sure, they've been on for 18 years, and may only have two or three years left, but c'mon people, this is more important than the news, it's The Simpsons.

:)

I agree with many of your posts, but no one is thinking about the simpsons when they make such harsh comments.

[Tulka2]

You are so right! Who will sell Nuclear power if not Homer? LOL

[Shikamaru]

Tulka2 I like your style

[SaltySaltillo]

Yeah, and Married With Children. The Bundys. There is some quality prime time entertainment coming from that channel.

[Durango]

Quite remarkable programing for the network of "Family Values". ie: a wholly owned subsidiary of the Republican Party.

Or is it the other way around? Republican Party is a subsidiary of Murdochs?

Either makes as much sense.

[Brainspore]

I loved the Simpsons when I was a kid in elementary school. They were still getting chuckles out of me in college. But I think it is safe to say that by the time I finished grad school a couple of years back they had pretty much run out of steam. They had a good run, but it's time to let go.

[Durango]

We quit watching the Simpsons a few years ago. They have become remarkably unfunny.

Nonsequiturs without a point is not humor. And Homer was not an idiot. Sure he was dim. But he had personality.

It is too bad because the Simpsons used to be the best thing on television. But those days are long gone.

[realityczech4u]

That last comment speaks volumes about the state of programming on television. I turned mine off a long time ago.

[quest44]

Jon is so right ! Fox News is nothing more than a Republican playground .Actually those good Republican's don't like to watch any other News stations but Fox because they don't like hearing the truth !

[marijam]

I agree with Jon. It's breathtaking that Rove is a commentator on FOX News. Just goes to show you how much of a mouth piece for the RNC FOX News is.

[SnapShots]

As someone who spent 20 years in the media business and quit four years ago because of what American media has become, I offer this perspective:

The networks start every day with a mindset. That mindset contains three elements: ratings, revenue and programming. This poses three distinct challenges: They have to fill airtime with programming. They need to grow their audience. They need to grow revenue. If any of these falter, people get fired (revolving door) and stockholders apply intense pressure.

Since filling the airwaves 24/7 with news is impossible, they have to create it. They have been positively reinforced with increased ratings and revenue for pulling in pundits, instigating controversy and broadcasting shouting matches.

Resultingly, the bulk of their programming is nothing more than social pollution ... a vessel for advertising. They could produce intellectual programming, but that takes time, costs money and they are not willing to spend either.

We, the people, hold the ultimate power over them, but we don't realize it. If millions of us boycott their advertisers and let them know why, the networks will be forced to change.

We should also pull the Fairness Doctrine off the shelf, dust it off and revive it.

[RayPacNW]

This is what I've been saying - communicate through their sponsors. Let the sponsors know that we are tired of having our intelligence insulted, and that we intend to seek our news elsewhere.

The only trick is, enough people have to do it (and follow through) for this to have any effect. At first glance, we don't look that united. Also, remember, the people watching an unbalanced, partisan news network probably LIKE that network, because it speaks to their tribal political values.

[Loki44]

Fox is more to the right?? Now there's a newsflash. Of course MSNBC is biased as well.. Funny how I don't hear anyone saying that .. hmm.
I do not need the news channel I watch to try and sway me either way. I am smart enough to make my own decisions, and do not want to be led around by a nose ring and told what I "should" believe.
Shame on ALL the networks for not just telling a story down the middle,and letting me decide.
And shame on anyone that needs to be told how to decide.
There is a lot of FOX bashing on here, and alot of it is deserved. But MSNBC is no angel in this. Come on people!! wake up

[SnapShots]

Some may be smart enough to make your their own decisions, but don't assume that millions and millions of other people aren't still enamored by media and celebrity and carry the perception that media and celebrity are the center of the universe.

The networks have been more responsible for the 'dumbing down' of Americans and general ignorance than any other entity in our society other than the Bush administration.

[llnwonderland]

Word.

[SeanOcali]

MSNBC is turning into a more intellectual punditry based network. Intellect itself happens to have a liberal bias. Keith Olbermann is a pundit and does not hide it. I wouldn't care if Fox simply had shows like Hannity and O'Reilly. But they're much more diabolical than that. The entire operation is designed from the top down to promote Republicanism. You CANNOT say that MSNBC is doing the same on the other end. Not even close.

[AzRealProgressive]

According to a news story here on HuffPo MSNBC is imploding.

[Durango]

Truth has a well known Liberal Bias as well.

[Tony4609]

Have you ever seen "Outfoxed?" Is it an accident that the majority of Fox News viewers believed that Hussein was backed by Al Queda whereas the majority of non-Fox viewers knew that no link existed? Fox News is an abberation created by Rupert Murdoch with the sole purpose of advancing conservative views, and is undermining the American political process. Fox News should, in all "fairness" drop the "news" from their label and just say what they really are - a pundit conservative rag.

[JestMe]

I have not watched more than a "reminder minute" of Fox News in a few years. If I walk into an establishment that has it idling on their TV set, I leave or change the channel. That they would scoop Rove up is the kicker. It says it all. Thinking peolple see Fox for the crapball that it is.

[Redrover666]

Since you're one of those "thinking people", you ought to ask yourself how you got so absurdly partisan that you will leave or refuse to enter an establishment over what news network is on the tube. Pretty silly behavior and childish thinking.

[nekroscope]

I do not agree that this is poor behavior, it is a free country and the person that posted can do so if he chooses, I applaud this person for leaving rather than trying to force his opinions and reservations on others, unlike Fox News who under the guise of "Fair and Balanced" spouts One sided jabber in order to support their chosen agenda.
In regards to Rove, it is shameful to think that someone who has disgraced this country as much as he has, and by the way is currently in Contempt of Congress, can still be afforded a forum where he can continue to do so. SHAME ON YOU Fox!

[HillbillyBob]

I also leave a restaurant or other place that has fox noise on, it upsets my meal, sours my stomach, and besides I would rather spend my money on real patriots that act like citizens, not send their money and support of fascist view and try to force feed that to me.
As and example last week we went to a barbeque place, that runs fox noise.
Obama had visited there last week and the waitress had to make the point she could never ever vote for a n___ err black person.
I wanted to leave immediately but my partner said no sit still. A minute later said waitress went to other tables and did not come back to ours when she realised we were hummaseksuls.

[Bubba Gump]

This "silly behavior and childish thinking" is called freedom. I don't do something just because you pressure me to do it. Hey, Redrover. Do us all a favor. Write all this down and fax it to "W" and company. Would you please?

[lee53]

I too can not watch Fox News. As a registered Independent, whom has voted only on issues, never party, and voted such for more than 20 years can not tolerate their BS. If Fox News just reported the news, fair and balanced as they advertise...I would watch. But I leave the bar, restaurant, or change the channel when they are on. My intake on news is BBC, CNN, PBS and weigh them all out to arrive at my opinion.

[jtmoney]

Karl Rove is creepy. He looks like he should be registered on some online list for something.

[Obama4Life]

What is this "Online List" thing. I keep hearing people talk about it but I have no clue what they are talking about.

[SnapShots]

From story above: '... 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." ... '

Folks, it's hillarious that Fox's response uses the same type of intentional spin that Stewart is criticizing them for!!! Stewart makes comments about their PROGRAMMING and Fox responds with unrelated numbers about viewer demographics and Oscars ratings.

Boycott products and services that advertise on Fox and send emails to the advertisers telling them why you are boycotting.

[protagonia]

fbc fell for it! They took the bait and get reeled in.

Mean, stupid news - BY mean, stupid people FOR mean, stupid people.

[AzRealProgressive]

80% or more of the posters here watch FOX. On many threads the nightly news from FOX is dissected in depth. Are you saying all of the posters here who watch are mean stupid people?

[Redrover666]

Please write and boycott. No one, even Obama, cares what the far left thinks, wants, likes or dislikes

[dogman44]

You sure do make a lot of assumptive statements backed by nothing.And you twist
words so that quietly leaving an establishment becomes "stomping out", suggesting
people were creating a scene or disturbance and calling them fools for rejecting
the lying fuks on fox. As for the left, I doubt you know anything about what they think. It's
beyond your limited black and white comprehensive abilities.

Daniel W. Scott

American citizen / Social Democrat / decorated soldier

[Zork4]

With respect, sir, what policies do you consider "far left"? What makes a person or politician "far left"?

[lee53]

I have been doing just that for a few years now. Better yet, I have encouraged friends and relatives to STOP watching FOX all together. It was not easy, but once you show them the facts...a few times with FACTCHECK.ORG. You win the argument. No one wants to be watching fictional news.

[HillbillyBob]

i have tried and tried to get my now no longer friends and family to go check snopes or factcheck rather than send me the obama is a socialist or muslim or devil worshiper.
I have reached the end of being reasonable,
I have put them all on spam. If they cannot wake up after all that has happened and still try to tell me this stuff is true..I don't need to hear from them. When it all goes in the pot. I I'll tell them with evil glee I have been trying to tell you not to watch fox noise or vote for the current crop of neokkkons, but learn about them and make up your own mind, to get off my phone, off my porch and forget you ever knew me because you are as much to blame as the crooks themselves. I have tried to be reasonable, I am all through with that.

[Bubba Gump]

Boycott is exactly right, SnapShots! Just switching the channel doesn't stop the misleading of America; only when the FOX advertisers lose a chunk of their "almighty dollars" and are told why it's happening, only then will FOX be motivated to be "fair and balanced."

[jsloo]

Karl Rove is a Criminal.

Tell Fox News he doesn't belong on Television, spreading hate and fear.

Here is their phone number: 1-888-369-4762

[Redrover666]

How does he instill hate or fear in you?

[izzy3r]

Just because Rove spreads hate and fear, doesn't mean that logically thinking people are instilled with hate or fear by his rhetoric. There are many people who know nothing about current events other than what they hear on their Fox News broadcast. Fox's "fair and balanced" slogan is a joke. The very fact that they've added Rove to their broadcast shows what their agenda is.
Actually, you would be scary if you weren't so pathetic. Every comment board has someone like you who takes the comments of anyone who doesn't agree with him and twists them and skews them to try and make them sound like something other than what the poster intended. You are a little man with a little mind; you have no real facts to back up your accusations; and you belittle others to try to make yourself look more intelligent. Guess what? It doesn't work. Everyone on this comment board has your number and they laugh at your comments.

[AzRealProgressive]

Last time I checked you had to be convicted of something to be a criminal. Innocent until found guilty by a jury of your peers. You should have included the phone numbers to the print media that he writes column for, , the Washington Post, Newsweek, etc.

[applespider]

I wish this site would lead an effort to not recognize Fox News. Just black them out. Refuse to reference their talking heads, their little shows, and their efforts to get attention.

[RRoadrunner]

FOX biased? No really? Now that head-line material LOL

[ilovemydoggy]

I LOATHE Fox News. From tthe smug witless reporters in the morning -- the requisite dyed-blonde bimbo who sits between the 2 men. The men seem like the type of guys you meet in a bar after a college football game. Vapid, banal, insipid. They know nothing about history, or culture.

Baby Boomer views: http://www.Vaboomer.com

[fanoftruthiness]

Obviously even the former Miss America knows it's easier to service two guys at the same time when she sits in between them!

[pwg357]

What is interesting to me about the Fox news reply to Stewart's remarks were the words "out of touch". Notice they did'nt say "wrong" or even "misinformed" just "out of touch". Interesting...
This is how Fox news ALWAYS seems to respond to criticism and to me it reveals their very deep neocon roots.
To them truth is a popularity game and broadcasting the art of "creating reality" (the well known stable of any neocon's intellectual diet).
It does'nt matter to them if it is true that they would spin even the most heroic and self-sacrifising action of any liberal into the most blatant example of contemptible evil. So what? They just bring up Stewart's ratings at the oscars and pretend they won. Knowing full well that many of their brainwashed viewers will buy it.
I wonder how Fox news would have covered the Civil Rights movement? Woman's Suffrage? Vietnam war? Civil War? American Revolution? ( I bet they would have been Loyalists to the crown!)

[LibDrummer]

Outstanding post!

[stewie814]

Fox "News" is always really bitchy in its responses to situations like this. They find it impossible to take the high road.

[UsofA]

There you go. This exchange embodies the main difference between liberals and conservatives. When it comes to truth, some use it. Conservative machines like Fox, slander it. Rove on Fox is an aptly appaling alliance and worth Stewart's, and all American's, derision.

[Loki44]

So if Fox news is a "conservative" machine as you say. Thjey you will agree that MSNBC is a Liberal
machine correct?

[KillgoreTrout43]

How is MSNBC a liberal network? Please explain.

[HillbillyBob]

not really just slightly less to the right, and besides I locked the stations that fox controls out of my cable box. I can ignore them at home too.