Fox News "Tea Party" Coverage Crosses The Line: Media Matters

Fox News is throwing some serious promotional resources behind its coverage of the conservative-driven, anti-tax "Tea Party" movement. The network is encouraging viewers to participate in protests, which it plans to cover live from at least four locations across the country. Now Media Matters says, the network has gone one teabag too far.

Fox News is making a mockery of its famous slogan, the progressive media watchdog says:

Despite its repeated insistence that its coverage is "fair and balanced" and its invitation to viewers to "say 'no' to biased media," Fox News has frequently aired segments encouraging viewers to get involved with "tea party" protests across the country, which the channel has described as primarily a response to President Obama's fiscal policies.

The Media Matters item goes on to beat up Fox for dozens of recent on-air statements it views as too favorable of the tea party movement, such as Glenn Beck's exhortation to "celebrate with Fox News" on tax day.

Fox's Tea Party cheerleading stands in stark contrast to the studied silence observed by CNBC, whose own Rick Santelli got this whole movement started. Since Santelli's impromptu rant blasting government spending on bank bailouts and mortgage relief, he and his network have kept their distance.

The Huffington Post has been asking readers to help us cover -- but not to "infiltrate," per Neil Cavuto -- the many-hundred events as they happen across the country. Click here if you're interested in signing up.

Comments

[Kate6494]

Are you joking me? Did you listen to CNN and their disrespectful remarks about those who protested? Last time I checked we had a freedom to assemble and voice our concerns. Fox News was just encouraging those to do just that. Unlike CNN who slandered, degraded, and made sexual remarks. I will NEVER watch CNN again. To treat ANY group of Americans that way should be considered a hate crime in and of itself. A law suit should be coming their way!

[iblogleft]

Does anyone have a list of fox advertisers we can all boycott?

[govprof]

Place a point on a graph that represents this country's scope of government in 1789. Place another one representing the scop of government today, 2009. Now draw a line from the first, through the second, and project it out ten or twenty years. Where will that put us then and will we be satisfied with the choices we made today? That is how we should evaluate government using wisdom and not partisan rhetoric.

[trunk65]

I remember reading an interview with a Civil War mother, whose Confederate son had fallen at Gettysburg. She said,"We are just poor dirt farmers from South Carolina, and my boy was a good boy, who thought goin" off to war was an adventure. What I ask myself is why he had to die so some rich lady in Charleston can keep slaves to do her chores." Angering the population, and turning them on each other, is an old trick, very effective in times of turmoil and uncertainty. As you throw that teabag in the water, just remember the rich, greedy a-holes sitting at the bar at the country club thank you for fighting to keep their way of life afloat.

[dicktation]

This protest is neither republican or democrat based, after all there is no longer a difference between the 2 parties. Both parties have sold out to big corporations, the same people that got Bush in office are responsible for getting Obama in office. As a matter of fact, if you look up campaign contributions you'll see that not only did they donate to Obama, but also to McCain, Clinton and Dodd and others. Obama said in his campaign he would allow lobbyists to influence his policies, yet his cabinet is full of them and former CEO's of the corporations and banks being bailed out. Bush laid the foundation for what Obama is building on. I believe this Tea Party is about more than just our taxes going up, it's about the whole system of government being destroyed. Whether you are a Republican or Democrat, everybody should participate and demand change. Otherwise you're just a Republicrat or Demublican. When are you going to get fed up (no pun intended), when your income taxes reach 50%? 60%?, 80%? But what do I know? I'm no genius. I do not have a college education, but I did learn how to connect the dots at a young age.

[Exit]

Are you kidding? Not Republican or Democrat? This is a Fox News, anti-Obama event for it's Republican dittoheads.

[ww745]

No he is not kidding. I am not a republican. I went to protest. I was also against GWBs policies and illegal war.

[iblogleft]

95% of America just got a tax cut. This protest is about ignorant people, and pride in being ignorant.

[ww745]

Wrong. This is about insane out of contol spending on bad ideas. Not only by Obama. By bush and others as well.

[smarish]

When are they gonna get rid of Cavuto? I can barley stand to listen to him speak. If they don't can him, at least ask him to clear his throat once in a while! Damn!

[flossophy]

Crosses the line like going wall to wall with Cindy Sheehan?

[JuliaV]

Bush left a staggering $510 BILLION debt.

The current debt is now $1.2 TRILLION

CBO estimates in 8 years it will exceed $10 TRILLION

I will be at my Tax Day Tea Party April 15th to tell Big Brother to stop tea bagging Americans.

[GlenRast]

510 billion debt from Bush? What planet do you live on? Thanks for highlighting the fact that tea party crazies have absolutely no clue what their talking about.

[just4shiggles]

There sure are a lot of monday morning quarter backs on the republican side these days. They must have forgotten that Bush left a major mess for President Obama to clean up and I doubt that any of them know what the hell they are talking about when complaining about how he is doing it. I hope they all will soon realize that our President is one of the smartest guys we could ever hope to have working on this for us right now. I'm sure that they'd rather be teabagged than admit it, but hopefully they'll all find that he is doing the best thing for this country.

[AndyWright68]

You're right Bush left a mess for Obama. now Obama is taking that mess and making it worse. He is smart and ignorant. It's a shame he has done more damage in his first few weeks then Bush did his entire 8 years (economy wise). He is destroying the dollar and bankrupting our country. Stop defending him. You're just supporting treason. Yes, that's right, I said it, "Treason". It is treasonous to steal the people's money against their will and hand it over to private companies making the people dependent on government services they do not want.

[GlenRast]

Is it time for your meds yet?

[Philip Feather]

Let me see...correct the problem by the equivalent of throwing gasoline on a fire.
Can you please get your nose a little closer to his rear-end!

[clb1631]

The words of Hamilton best addresses those critics then and now:

"But some people try to make you believe, we are disputing about the foolish trifle of three pence duty upon tea. They may as well tell you, that black is white. Surely you can judge for yourselves. Is a dispute, whether the Parliament of Great-Britain shall make what laws, and impose what taxes they please upon us, or not; I say, is this a dispute about three pence duty upon tea? The man that affirms it, deserves to be laughed at."

[AndyWright68]

Wow! There are a lot of socialists here. Please, all of you, pack it up and move to Cuba. We are taking back our country and you are on the wrong side. You will lose. We are Americans and we believe in our Constitution, Freedom and individual liberty. You want free health care and a nanny state then leave our country. When the dust clears you will be very sorry you supported socialism in America. We fought to be free once and we will do it again!

[GlenRast]

'We' fought to be free? When and where did you fight to free America? You're a great example of the depth of the tea bagger's delusions. None of you have a clue what you're talking about.

That said where were your ancestors during the revolutionary war?

[trunk65]

It always amazes me when puffed up bullies make threatening statements about what they are going to do, and call their foes silly names. Action speaks, my friend, and in November, we took action.

[miamia]

I would love to see how these protesters are treated by Faux News considering how they always portaray left wing protesters as anarchist.

Are anti-government protesters anarchist?

[AndyWright68]

No. they're Patriots!

[Rolf618]

So all of a sudden protesting is cool with the GOP.

Oh the irony - repugnican blow hards support these protesters, and in the same breath denounce similarly satirical protests by liberal groups like Code Pink.

I wonder what its like not to have a soul...

[Hawkeye17]

When the next attack like Oklahoma City happens(and it will), we know who will bear part of the blame...Fox News. Far be it for people to actually pay taxes to support their country huh? This the fruit of the Me Generations labour(or lack thereof).

[RightWingMarine]

because Fox news covered a nationwide event and some of their commentors spoke about it means they are culpable in terrorist attacks?

Pay our taxes to support our country? How is paying for unConstitutional bailouts of any industry supporting our country? Our elected reps swore to uphold the Constitution and most of them from both parties have reneged on that promise.

[GrooveGrl4]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't think of a better way for these people to get me to take them seriously than to dress up in period costumes and reenact the Boston Tea Party.

Although, it is kind of fitting. It serves to remind us that a lot of people really haven't changed much since America became its own country. We can thank our independence to a bunch of white males who didn't want to pay their taxes.

If you don't want to pay your taxes, that's fine. If that is the case, you shouldn't have access to our schools, roads, and anything else that is funded through taxpayer money.

[AndyWright68]

You mean we can't use all your crappy services. We have to get the work done right by using quality services. Ouch!

[Hazelnut]

Yes, like those "crappy " paramedics and firefighters that come when someone dials 911--a service provided by taxes.

[natalie0nine]

Right - For which those of us who pay taxes, gladly pay.

[AndyWright68]

So being forced to pay for poor service is something you are proud of?

[RightWingMarine]

there are precious few services that should be provided by the govt. Most often anywhere the govt is involved results in poor service. Are you happier with the service at the USPS or with a private carrier? Would you rather be treated at a VA hospital or a private hospital?

[AndyWright68]

Well said!

[AndyWright68]

Well said RightWingMarine. HazelNUT, cities using private run ambulance have better, faster service. Look it up. All gov't run services are poor. Free Markets, Capitalism, Competition are the answer not your mommy state. Why steal from people to provide poor service?

[Hazelnut]

RightWingMarine, with all due respects to you if you truly are a Marine, but where I live the post office does a really great job. Local mail often is delivered the next day after mailing. I have never been to a VA hospital for services, but I have sat in the emergency rooms at private hospitals for 4 hours and longer waiting for services, if that answers your questions.

[AndyWright68]

You're right they are pretty crappy. Never show up on time and when they do it's too late. You're right. it would be better of f if we hire private companies. They would do a much better job.

[Hazelnut]

I don't know anything about you, AndyWright, but I know a lot of people who have been helped and had their lives and homes saved by firefighters and paramedics. Crappy, indeed. Back in the old days, individual households did have to pay for fire protection, if a family was poor and could not afford to pay, well, tough luck for them. It doesn't matter what anyone says or what the facts really are, you will stick to your point, even if it makes no sense.

[natalie0nine]

It's not about "not wanting to pay our taxes", groovegirl - do you read newspapers, listen, or watch the news at all? It is about the outrageous spending and the bankrupting of future generations - It is a way to say "we've had it with the irresponsible spending." And to protest any IMPENDING HIGHER taxes that are surely coming to pay for all of Harry and Nancy's lame brain programs.

[Gould123]

OUTRAGES spending? Well Fargo banks just announced 3 billion profit after bailoutmoney!OOPS!

[Geranium]

Great!! Now when will they be paying us back???

[CrittersRTasty]

Good question. So far the current administration doesnt appear to want to allow banks to pay back bailout moneys.

[Merrihands]

Um...give me 25 Billion and see if I don't show ya a first quarter 3 billion dollar profit...duh.

[duchessofdork]

WHERE was all this outrage when Bush took us from a budget surplus to a huge budget deficit???!!!!

THAT is why we don't take y'all seriously.

[JuliaV]

Fiscal conservatives have been seething since Nov. 08 about Bush's 700 BILLION Bank Bailout. Add the Obama 1.2 TRILLION stimulus of January to the 770 BILLION omnibus !!!

We are blaming ALL who signed those mad bills into law !!!!

This is not a partisan issue. It is a matter of telling politicians ENOUGH ! Our children deserve better than the $10 TRILLION debt CBO estimates will exist in 2020.

[clb1631]

Did you not see Bush's poll number at the last of his term? The majority of the country was outraged of the handling of spending by our government. Problem is as the voters often do when they are furious with the Pres in office, they don't really learn about candidates and go for the person that is the most different. Then we all end up in more trouble then we were before. Carter!!! One would think the public would have learned their lesson.

Two wrongs don't make a right. Just because Bush had a large deficit your approving even a larger one because there is a Democrat in the office now? How dumb does that really sound? Think about it. That's why we don't take you seriously!!!

[ww745]

What budget surplus? If you go to the treasury web site and look up the national debt. You will find it went UP every year Clinton was in office. Look at it this way, If you pay your rent, yet you do not pay your utilities and keep the cash do you have a surplus? Of course not. Thats how Clinton achieved his "surplus". Plese do not believe me. Go look it up.

[CrittersRTasty]

"It serves to remind us that a lot of people really haven't changed much since America became its own country."
The irony here is that you meant this as an insult! From an ideological standpoint, I'd have to consider this a compliment. Put these folks in the same company as those who fought for independence and forged the framework of this country. I dont think you're going to hurt their feelings.

[Ken Hollern]

Are you implying that the 50% who aren't paying taxes right now shouldn't be allowed government services? And the 50% of us who work hard and do pay taxes are the only ones who can send our kids to school, drive, and have our mail delivered....Hmmm I think I might agree with you! Cost of government would drop very quickly if everyone paid for the service they receive.

It's a don't bite the hand that feeds you thing.

Ah...the challenges of outwitting a liberal.

[dwillisno1]

I learn something new each day. Today I learned that tinfoil hats come in three corner style. I didn't know that before.

[Hazelnut]

Lol! I am sure those type of costumes don't come cheap...I am wishing these folks would have spent their money on a history book instead. They would realize that what they are protesting now has nothing in common with the original "tea party". **Sigh** Many astute posters have pointed that out here at Huffpo, with dates, facts, etc. However, I do not think the participants really care. They are off on a tangent and do not want to be confused by facts. Mores the pity.

[JuliaV]

Colonists objected to the Tea Act for a variety of reasons, especially because they believed that it violated their constitutional right to be taxed only by their own elected representatives. Thus the Boston Tea Party ensued.

American taxpayers feel disenfranchised by the Federal Governments forceful imposition with efforts such as omnibus, stimulus and TARP. If you opposed Bush's Bank Bailout, then you are among such a group. Welcome to the peaceful Revolution.

The government works for us, not the other way around.

[duchessofdork]

:)