New White House Line Against Fox: It's War

The White House's battle with Fox News reached a new high on Sunday, when Communications Director Anita Dunn went on national television to blast Fox as a partisan organization that functions as an appendage to the Republican Party.

"Fox News often operates almost as either the research arm or the communications arm of the Republican Party," Dunn told CNN, adding, "let's not pretend [Fox is] a news organization like CNN is." Dunn also took her beef to the New York Times, saying in a Sunday interview that Fox is "undertaking a war against Barack Obama and the White House [and] we don't need to pretend that this is the way that legitimate news organizations behave."

In the most significant exchange on CNN, Dunn stressed that President Obama now personally views Fox as a partisan opponent, rather than a journalistic organization. "When he goes on Fox he understands he is not going on it as a news network at this point," she explained, "he is going on it to debate the opposition."

That's a big departure from how most of the Democratic establishment engages Fox. It's been a long time coming.

While rank and file Democrats view Fox News as an obviously hostile force, elected Democrats have long struggled over whether to engage or fight the channel. In fact, the Democratic establishment even agreed to empower Fox as an official host and moderator of a debate during the presidential primaries -- but that bit of self-handicapping was scuttled after a coalition of progressive bloggers and activists objected. By the homestretch of the presidential campaign, Obama's campaign dialed up the heat, aggressively confronting Fox with pointed barbs from senior staff, surrogates and sometimes the candidate. (And who can forget Robert Gibbs turning the tables on Sean Hannity on Fox last October?)

When campaign mode ended, however, the Obama team initially struggled with how to counter Fox from inside the White House. There was a wave of Obama-resentment for Fox to ride -- and sometimes stoke off-camera -- and presidents typically stay above the fray of media criticism.

Dunn's new pressure is part of a larger "call em out" strategy, recently telegraphed in Time magazine, to attack lies as "lies" and treat Fox as a place for rough debate with opponents -- not journalistic exchanges. Gibbs says playing hardball will work, and he likens it to, well, hardball: "The only way to get somebody to stop crowding the plate is to throw a fastball at them. They move."

Ari Melber writes for The Nation, where this piece first appeared. He Twitters politics and news at Twitter.com/AriMelber.

 

Follow Ari Melber on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AriMelber

Comments

[S E Martin]

For anyone who really believes Fox News is either "Fair and balanced" or that it's just the conservative version of MSNBC, I say B.S. Fox News systematically distorts its "news" to advance its conservative agenda. It's not even really kept secret that this is what Fox News does.

I challenge you to watch this un-biased documentary about Fox News: (in it, you'll hear the facts right out of the mouths of Fox News employees!!!!)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6737097743434902428#

There is a HUGE difference between Rachel Maddow and Sean Hannity. Namely, Rachel always--and I mean ALWAYS--backs up everything with evidence. Hannity doesn't know what the word evidence means.

I challenge you Fox News lovers to find something that Maddow has fabricated!! You might not like what she has to say (or perhaps who she is), but she is not in any way comparable to the likes of Hannity or O'Reilly, and certainly not Beck.

We can call Murdoch a great many things, and we can call his networks and newspapers many things too, but what they are NOT is journalism. They are propaganda.

[MarkBrio]

Cant ridicule the Administration for stating the Obvious!

[JazzyJim]

FNC is #3 behind "Nick at Night" and "Nickelodeon". Whoopee! The interesting detail here is that the "Nick at Night" and "Nickelodeon" viewers average I.Q. is 112 vs. the FNC view I.Q. of 45.

[Roozbeh]

WATCH OUT for British Conservatives and their point men and organisations in the US:
Fox News, Beck, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, numerous politicians, and etc.
Some in Britain are still of the mind that the US BELONGS TO BRITAIN. They have pretended, for a long time, to be America's best friends and allies. They are dreaming of reanimating the half dead british empire through BRINGING DOWN THE US.
They have already paved some of the way and through their surrogates in REPUBLICAN PARTY, WALL STREET, MEDIA, and etc. have been able to weaken the US considerabaly and soon might even push for BREAKINGUP OF THE USA.
It might sound prudent to bring some before the court of law for TREASON against the US before it is too late!

[texastrixie]

While I agree 100% that Fox is biased and functions as a part of the Republican Party, I don't think calling them out was the best strategy. Bush felt the same way about every news organization EXCEPT Fox, but he just never went on those networks. Benign neglect would have worked better in this situation.

Part of this is Obama's fault. When he finally went on O'Reilly's show, he should have insisted that the interview run all in one show, and that it run with no edits. Obama should have first insisted on reviewing and debunking all the hidden lies and editorial problems with Fox News up until that time. He should have made them go over, and explain why there were so many missteps in their coverage. Once is a misstep, more than twice is propoganda ("terrorist fist bump," Michelle labeled as "baby mama", and as angry black woman). When given the chance, he declined. Made him look weak, and fair game to Fox.

[MerhabaAbi]

While were speaking truth to lies, let's add one more counterpoint. For years we've been hearing tax and spend Democrats. It's time to set the record straight and talk about borrow and bankrupt Republicans.

[Trophoto]

Here here. Fanned.

[Whipsmart13]

Look out....the Obama Administration has just turned into the "Nixon Administration - Part Deux"

[rkimball]

ok, who's lying? obama's one & only interview on fox news with bill o'reilley, obama refered to the interview as tough questioned but fair. fox news also was rated high in it's fair coverage of both dnc & gop campaigns.

lest we forget o'rielly was tougher on bush & highly critical of his policies, especially his last year in office.

the only difference between fox news & the rest of the media is that george soros can't control fox.

[ashtray]

Yes, Fox News is the one bastion of light, the one haven of truth, the only media outlet with integrity that can stand against the evil hordes of liberal media.

I find it hilarious that one segment of the population has an easier time believing that there is a huge liberal conspiracy to control all media than that there is just one media outlet that has sold itself out to the Republican party.

I figure that the belief makes it fun for them to feel like some sort of hero against great odds or something. The delusions of grandeur on the right are pretty silly sometimes.

[WorldofTomorrow420]

The right pretty much has a whole host of delusions.

[eShirl]

"fox news also was rated high in it's fair coverage of both dnc & gop campaigns."

Rated high by whom?

[S E Martin]

I seem to remember O'Reilly defended Bush until the bitter end, especially on torture!!!

Do you have some video clips of O'Reilly being critical of Bush??

[Quipman]

It's about time someone took theses clowns masquerading as a legit news outlet on. If the White House does nothing then the lies and distortions from Fox keep on getting pick up by the other not so sorry networks where they are repeated over and over again. If Fox is bold enough to put GOP talking point lies out there they better be big enough to the blow back and there will be blow back. Stay tuned this should be fun to watch.

[rkimball]

these so called clowns are winning the hearts & minds.

[TheVeryIdea]

Quipman...Why is it you liberals just don't get it?
You have..MSNB­C,NBC,CBS,­ABC,CNN,PB­S, marching along to PBO's 's every command and can't stand it that one....just ONE network stands alone and dares to have criticism of the WH. I say be thankful there is one media venue that has the courage to look at this administration more objectively. I think that's a healthy thing..and don't be concerned over your assumption that FOX news is lying...if they are it will be proven, people will "get it" but so far they've exposed the Acorn scandal and put pressure on the WH to force Czar Van Jones to resign and none of this was talked about by the above mentioned main stream media until weeks later, don't this concern you?

[eShirl]

Something is not automatically left-wing just because it isn't far right-wing.

[Kevin Ehsani]

all those networks that you identify as the liberals network have criticized president obama several times... more than FOX could ever imagine to criticize bush during the last 8 years. and its not all about having one network that criticizes the president, it is more about not smearing him with unproven lies. you just think its all a left-right issue, which is a close minded POV. people like you need to realize that the majority of the country (99%, to be exact) that dont watch fox news dislike it because they are not only a propaganda arm for the republican party and prop them up as some kind of great entity (while claiming they are "fair and balanced"), but on top of that, they lie and slander liberals constantly.

fox is like the TV version of talk radio, and with just as many outrageous statements, too. sure, it is healthy to be objective... but whether you may believe it or not, the other networks are objective as well, but they dont do it in the same vitriolic fashion fox news does. and its laughable that you tell us "don't be concerned over your assumption that FOX news is lying...if they are it will be proven, people will 'get it'"... thats the thing... their lies have been proven and they have been exposed countless times, you just dont know about it because you dont do your research to find out what fox lies about.

[Shenygirl1]

Fox's investigation of Acorn seems to be getting a great deal of recognition from the repugs recently. But, the money Acorn received from the federal government was small change compared to the amount that Haliburton and Blackwater pilfered from our tax dollars in Iraq. Those war profiteers stole billions and that little fiasco has never been mentioned on Faux Noise. The waster and fraud that those companies have engaged in is outrageous and every time a Democrat tries to investigate, they are ridiculed and put on hold.

[ailbhe]

Your going to go to war with them? Can you find a better way to give them credibility? They are salivating over this.

Talk about hypersensitive. Has the White House seriously got nothing better to do than attack political opponents and by the sounds of it attempt to shut down free speech.

[Sobeton]

LOL they never had creditability.. WH spokesperson was responding via an interview.

[Kaviraj]

Oh, Fox, Glen Beck, Hannity is free speech now? It is incitement to treason.

[Melissa]

Too funny, I'll bet their ratings went through the roof last night! It makes the WH look really silly.

[ilse]

Every time faux fox says something hateful or tells a lie, the white house will only slap them then. The white house is not interested in having a war with faux fox, they just want to call them out everytime they lie or say something hateful. It's only fair. They have every right to do that. Many of us are fed up with their BS and it's time to stand up to them and call them out.

[Trophoto]

Free speech you say? Fox has the freedom to say whatever it wants. The White House has the freedom to say whatever it wants about Fox News. Where is the shut down of speech. Criticism is not restraint. It is a right of free speech unto itself.

[Loveforlife]

Well since I guess GW was adored for 8 years by the Media, we should allow an attack on Fox. That or the WH and anyone else that doesn't like the # 1 rated cable channel, could just "click" it off.

[JazzyJim]

If no one watches Fox - Is it relevant? No.

[1will]

They have the highest ratings.

[seal62]

No they dont,,,they have a small base that beileves the crap mass produced on fox.How many watch the history channel?....i bet foodnetwork has better ratings.

[ObamaFan02]

This White House is digusting. Apparently vacationing at that $20 million beachfront estate in Martha's Vineyard, staying in his $7,000 a night ultra posh suite at the Waldorf for his UN stay and going on $25,000 taxpayer funded dates to NYC has made Obama forget about the millions of people who have become unemployed since Obama took office and those who are losing their homes and the growing numbers who can't put food on the table for their familes. Through all this, the White House chooses to fued with Fox News? Is this a cruel joke?!

Newsflash to Obama. We have a huge majority of our party in the House and a filibuster proof majority in the Senate. If things are not getting done, its not the fault of Fox News, Rush Limbaugh or so called "racists" which is defined as anyone opposes your viewpoints. Its YOUR imcompetence and inexperience that is halting progress. The sad thing is that you would rather point fingers than be a man and roll up your sleeves and get the job done. With the majorities that our party has in Congress and with you being President, there are NO excuses for you Mr. President. Get the job done or get out of the way for somone who can get it done.

[HeartT]

Like who? Who do you propose can get it done? That's why he won and is still winning. There isn't a get it done idea among the lot of Republicans. You, like them, represent the wing of Americans who hate America. FOX needs to be confronted for lying to us. And since real journalists don't have the guts to do it, I'm glad that the White cares enough about the severeity of the choices we the people have to make to ensure that we get the truth. And if that means debunking the lies that FOX spreads, then so be it.

[ObamaFan02]

What is Obama continuing to win outside of Nobel Prizes? His polls numbers have dropped like a rock. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan rage on. Unemployment is raging toward historic levels. We are at all time deficit spending levels. Indefinite detainee prison holds still on. GITMO still open. Warrentless wiretaps still in place. Wall Street is making billions while main street American struggles to survive. Don't Ask Don't Tell is still policy even though Obama could have stripped it at Day 1 if he wanted. DOMA still on the books. Where is the win?

It is America that is losing. Jobs are being lost by the millions and countless families are being kicked out of their homes and many can't even pay their utility bills or keep food on the table. Unlike you, I care about America. I am not so in love with one man that I forget about what's good for the country or for our party. What Fox says is irrelevant. Our Democratic Party dominates the House and Senate and the Executive Branch. Our Party now makes the laws not Fox News. Get it? The Republicans don't have the numbers to stop us either in Congressional votes. You far left fringe types must have skipped your basic government classes. The Congress makes the laws and the President signs them into law or vetoes them. Fox News does not control that process.

[billhodges]

Glenn Beck took Ms. Dunn & the WH head on today on his show and it was great to see that Fox is not going to be brow beat by the White House.

Glenn thanked the WH for their effort just as I had thought they would.

Keep it up Obama because Fox can handle the the attack, but can you!

[JayInDallas]

Fox, in time will be shown to be the propaganda machine it always has been. Post-Bush it has become nothing more than a series of soapboxes where liars, recovering drug addicts and other empty talking heads exercise fear-mongering and whine about an administration that was elected by an overwhelming majority. The GOP is dead. Killed by it's own members through blatant hypocrisy, greed and self-righteousness as it continues to do so today.

Its a tough time to be a Republican. I used to be one. I don't even recognize the party anymore.

I guess someone has to do the job of sweeping graft, adultery, bribery and other "indiscretions" by Republican politicians under the rug while screaming about how the Democrats are destroying the country.

[JazzyJim]

Like I said, the more nutty Beckers, Birthers and the Oraly Taitz party gets, the better for America.

Murdoch & Beckers - the laughing stock of the world!

[billhodges]

If that makes you feel better then please believe it.

[Einstein44]

Can we outfox the Fox corporation? Let us wait and see.

[billhodges]

All it will do is make Obama look petty.

[MerhabaAbi]

Perhaps it makes him look petty to Fox viewers, but to the rest of us, it looks like he is couragous to take on liars.

[Kevin Ehsani]

a "wise man" once said, "If that makes you feel better then please believe it."