Rachel Maddow, Frank Rich Dissect Fox News, 'Murdoch Primary' (VIDEO)

Rachel Maddow and Frank Rich discussed what they called the most important part of the Republican race for president on Maddow's Thursday show: the so-called "Murdoch primary."

Maddow began by noting the power that Rupert Murdoch wields through his media outlets — beginning in Britain, where evidence of the blunt force of his newspapers is everywhere, and continuing in America through Fox News and papers like the Wall Street Journal.

Fox News, she said, had adopted the canny strategy of telling its viewers "not to trust anybody else" and to "deride and essentially wage war on all other media sources." She also echoed the feelings of many others by saying that Murdoch and Fox News CEO Roger Ailes are as much active participants in Republican politics as they are observers of them — and that they are more than willing to use the influence of their network to shape electoral outcomes.

Maddow then wondered who was winning the battle for Fox News' affection. She focused on Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, the two leading candidates, and found the network seemingly tipping the scales in favor of the former House speaker. In particular, she seemed astonished by anchor Bret Baier's willingness to publicly reveal that Romney complained about his contentious interview with Baier. In her words, Baier was signalling to the audience that "Mitt Romney's a real whiner." She contrasted the tough treatment Romney received with the laudatory session Gingrich had with Sean Hannity.

Rich then joined the discussion. He said that the seeming decision of Fox News to back Gingrich over Romney was a "practical" decision. He called Romney "the un-Sally Field," saying, "people really, really don't like him...there's something plastic and off-putting and fake."

Background on Newt Gingrich:

Comments

[somearelost]

08:52 AM on 12/05/2011

This Madduh guys' shtick is really getting old.

[Emmett Booth]

05:59 PM on 12/04/2011

Frank Rich remains so damn awesome, although my favorite of his work is probably his scathing, dead-on putdown of "United 93."

[theteam4us]

09:08 AM on 12/04/2011

Ahhha I NEED APPROVAL ON MY COMMENT . I WILL TRY AGAIN . RACHAEL
, DON'T GIVE IN TO THESE HEARTLESS PEOPLE . WE THE 99% ARE BEHIND AND BESIDE YOU . IF IT WERE NOT FOR YOUR VOICE HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE , FREE HEALTH CARE / FREE HOUSING / HIGH PAYING JOBS SAY 100K PER YEAR , SHORT WORK WEEKS SAY 10 HOURS 6 MONTHS VACATION , NO MORE BORDERS, LOOK WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO US. WE DON'T NEED BORDERS . THEY HAVE SHAMED OUR COUNTRY . WE NEED TO CHANGE ITS NAME . NO MORE DRUG WARS LEGALIZE THEM ALL , CHANGE THE COUNTRY'S NAME TO HAPPY LAND . DON'T GIVE UP / / DON'T GIVE IN
LOVE YOU ALWAYS , THE 99'S

[hatmadder]

10:17 AM on 12/04/2011

Kill your TV honey: It's slowing you down.

[bagadoughnuts3]

03:01 PM on 12/04/2011

If they" legalize drugs" you're going to have a problem.

[richie37]

08:36 AM on 12/04/2011

jezz who really gives a dam what these to clowns think

[liberalOrgonian]

08:35 PM on 12/04/2011

that's "two".
Why here clearly wasting your time if you don't give a dam?
LOL

[AntiTalmud]

02:29 AM on 12/04/2011

A new show, "Rachel and the Zio-con"

[DavBri]

01:43 AM on 12/04/2011

Rachel Maddow is nothing more than a Conspiracy Theorist. Say what you will about Fox News, she is her own worst enemy. I gave up on her after this:

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/10/maddow-falsely-claims-politician-had-advance-warning-of-oklahoma-city-bombing/64870/

[Francois Bergeron]

04:40 AM on 12/04/2011

At least she admits her mistakes.
Your "news" network does not. They lie. And you like it. You want more of those lies that support your cultural framework.

[somearelost]

08:51 AM on 12/05/2011

weak

[mercedes1947]

05:20 AM on 12/04/2011

She retracted and apologized, nice try.

http://www.breitbart.tv/maddow-retracts-and-apologizes-sort-of/#idc-container

[Neils60]

10:55 PM on 12/03/2011

It appears that the more Ms. Maddow and Mr. Rich talk about their favorite subject, the Fox News Channel, the better Fox does on its most important segment of its broadcast day, the 25-54 year old demo. I can understand Ms. Maddow's fascination with the success of a competitor. (She once remarked that she was amazed at former FNC broadcaster Glenn Beck's ratings, which she described as "through the roof".) But, Frank Rich? He's a guy, that if he never appeared on television again, no one would ask why, because no one cares.

[Francois Bergeron]

04:42 AM on 12/04/2011

They are 2 of the smartest people out there. Surely their opinions, whether you agree with them or not, are worth a looksy.

[mercedes1947]

05:22 AM on 12/04/2011

Fox Spews is hardly her favorite subject.

[rusknative]

07:27 PM on 12/03/2011

Am I reading this correctly? One Cable network, takes their Cable network time, to discuss and evaluate the Other Cable network goings on and stuff, instead of having anything original and thoughtful about the REAL WORLD outside of the Cable TV network world, which frankly, I know nothing about and care less. No one in my real world life works for Cable TV or is a reporter on either deal...so why would I want to spend my time listening to a Competitor pontificate elitist comments about their biggest competitor? Isnt that something that they should just compare ratings and ad revenue with each other, or mud wrestle each other or something other than waste the time on my cable TV that I pay for to listen and watch REAL WORLD stuff....sorta like a non doctor having to watch two doctors digging around in someone's open guts on a operating table and criticizing each other for being bad doctors....me, I won't the patient to survive, get well, and get out of the hospital.....I sure don't want someone holding up a spleen or liver chunck and telling me about how clumsy the idiot was that cut it out....

Maybe it is just me, but these two MSNBC people seem not to have a lot of important stuff going on in their REAL lives to talk about if this is the best programming they can come up with.

[Acharn]

11:13 PM on 12/03/2011

Well, exactly. If you actually PAY to watch this stuff I think you were tricked into buying something other than what you thought you were buying. That seems to be the American business model now that the banks have shown how profitable it can be. Look, it's all opinion/entertainment all the time. It's just like the Washington Post putting their editorials in the news section, disguised as news stories. It's all about making people believe their agenda. And They're all right-wing, just some more extreme than others. I love Maddow, but I wouldn't pay to watch her show.

[rusknative]

12:24 PM on 12/07/2011

I subscribe to Time Warner Cable. That is how I pay for all of my TV viewing. No, I could ignore one newspaper , but with cable, you get a PACKAGE which means you cannot opt out of one and keep the others.

[timmmahhhh]

11:25 PM on 12/03/2011

Maybe they are sick of the minions that watch the other channel voting in a bunch of people that work against their own interests because they are brainwashed by that false news network. There were several other stories on the show beyond this one.

And no it's not just you - there are plenty equally duped, and a bunch of tr0lls that pretend they are to profit from the corporate masters that fund them.

[rusknative]

12:24 PM on 12/07/2011

I am sorry, but I have no clue what you are trying to say here.

[Joe Padilla]

06:18 PM on 12/03/2011

Frank Rich should know abject corruption when he sees it.

[EspritDeVoltaire]

04:51 PM on 12/03/2011

NG attempting a Nixon style redemption on his past while not being able to win any younger voters expecting to win the White House is a REAL Hail Mary pass.

[bgeditor11]

02:38 PM on 12/03/2011

Has anyone else noticed that most of what Rachel Maddow talks about is related to Fox News? Can you imagine how boring it would be if all Diane Sawyer talked about on ABC was how annoying Brian Williams was because he is ahead in the ratings?

[s0uthparkc0nservative]

03:53 PM on 12/03/2011

Reactionary newscasting at its "finest".

[media sux]

04:34 PM on 12/03/2011

exactly right! The more they get stepped on the more they shriek.

If Maddow spent as much time looking for facts as she does feeding her jealousy and hatred she may even get ratings above that of a gas pump display. As for Rich...simply pathetic!

[LiberalLee]

05:32 PM on 12/03/2011

Since ABC isn't known for broadcasting dreck, Diane Sawyer wouldn't have much to talk about.
Nor has ABC gone to court to protect its right to air opinions written by its owners disguised as 'truth'.
Fox's inability to tell the difference between fact and fiction IS newsworthy, no matter how much they and their viewers might wish otherwise.

[TQQ]

02:23 PM on 12/03/2011

Maddow needs to drop the vitriol and begin conducting herself in a more civil manner.

[candlewax]

03:32 PM on 12/03/2011

You mean like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXZj4Wy58Pk

or this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsUY9g2kZD0&feature=related

[Joe Padilla]

06:21 PM on 12/03/2011

Yea so do want to belong to party that competes with that nonsense?

Two wrongs don't make a right.

[mercedes1947]

05:36 AM on 12/04/2011

I so love it when they set themselves up for us. Fanned. My fav of all time is this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU-XN5kuoKE

Fast forward to 3 min in.

[LiberalLee]

03:56 PM on 12/03/2011

And have you sent Little Glenn Beck the same memo?

[glenya7121]

01:23 PM on 12/03/2011

Last I heard New York Tmes was losing Money..Msnbc ratings are low and FOX News is making money and their Ratings are High..What's Wrong with this picture? Oh, I know..at FOX you are allowed to wear Crosses around your neck, speak of God and say Merry Christmas. FOX has a Judge, a Priest, A Minister, 2 Doctors, a Psychiatrist, some of the Lady Anchors have Law Degrees, Phd's. Some left CNN and came to FOX. I also understand Rachel Maddow applied for a job at FOX and did not get it, perhaps the reason for her hatred for FOX.

[wincek101]

02:17 PM on 12/03/2011

Really?? Is that why Ms. Maddow doesn't care for FOX? Sounds like you get all your information from a Judge, a Priest, A Minister, 2 Doctors, a Psychiatri­st, and some Lady Anchors who have Law Degrees, Phd's, all wearing crosses, speaking of God and saying Merry Christmas. And don't forget Mrs. Bachmann's "hundreds of scientists and Nobel Prize winners" who decry global warming and evolution. They are great places to get a handle on reality...yup...

[askandtell]

02:44 PM on 12/03/2011

An example of the Fox viewer; less educated than those that don't watch television.

[webbandit]

01:04 PM on 12/03/2011

Somewhre in hades Josef Goebbels and Lee Atwater are high fiving it up for FOX.

[scooter1]

12:39 PM on 12/03/2011

As usual, Rachel is correct. Personally, I would rather see the previous night's report on the conservatives "tax fairy" starring Sen. "I want to raise taxes on the middle class" Kyl.