FOX Brainwashes Rep. Fred Hobbs (D-TN)

The FOX effect on the Republican mind is beyond dispute. Now Fred Hobbs, a former state representative and a member of Tennessee's Democratic Executive Committee, provides a chilling example of what FOX's powerful propaganda techniques can do to the minds of Democrats.

In the June 13 issue of the City Paper, Hobbs was asked why Democratic superdelegate Congressman Lincoln Davis (D-Pall Mall) was reluctant to endorse Barack Obama. Hobbs said this:

Maybe [it's] the same reason I don't want to -- I don't exactly approve of a lot of the things he stands for and I'm not sure we know enough about him. He's got some bad connections, and he may be terrorist connected for all I can tell. It sounds kind of like he may be.

Of course, there's absolutely no proof of this, and Hobbs was appropriately criticized for this statement. But in a recent letter of apology to the Tennessee Democratic Executive Committee, Hobbs revealed how he had gotten it so wrong:

I was not as well prepared as I should have been when speaking with reporters, and I should have taken more time to research Senator Obama's positions. My comments did reflect questions I had after what I had seen reported on FOX News, but I should have taken some time to check the accuracy of what I saw on television before speaking publicly. My statement that Senator Obama "may be terrorist-connected" was incorrect, and I apologize for making it.

There it is.

FOX's powers of misinformation are so powerful and insidious that they could even cause a prominent member of Tennessee's Democratic party to believe that Obama might have ties to terrorism. If this is what FOX's lies can do to committed Democrats, imagine what it does to the minds of Republicans and Independents. And those people probably share what they've "learned" from FOX with friends, family, and coworkers.

And if you watch FOX's coverage of Hobbs' initial comments, notice how Brett Baier makes no mention of the fact that Obama does not have connections to terrorists. My guess is that you'll also hear a deafening silence from FOX now that Hobbs has identified FOX as the source of his misinformation. This rumor of Obama's alleged terrorist connections didn't come from some shady anonymous mass email -- it came from FOX. At least that's where Hobbs heard about it. My guess is that he heard this claim so many times from so many people on FOX and said with such conviction that he could not believe that they would all be lying. But he was wrong. He believed the lies, amplified them, and now it may even lead to his resignation.

A while back, I wrote about the many reasons why Barack Obama should not go on FOX. Aside from the fact that FOX is simply the Republicans' propaganda outlet and not an actual news organization, another big reason is that FOX viewers are primarily conservative Republicans who vote overwhelmingly for Republicans, evidenced by the incredibly lopsided percentage of FOX viewers who voted for George W. Bush (88%) over John Kerry (7%) in 2004.

Some would respond by saying, "What about Democrats who watch FOX? Shouldn't Obama be reaching out to them?" I couldn't believe that any Democrat would watch FOX unless they enjoyed being demonized, but Hobbs proved me wrong. Maybe there are some Democrats out there who watch FOX -- but watching FOX makes Democrats think like Republicans.

I'd say put another nail in the coffin of the claim that FOX is "fair and balanced," but that casket got buried a long, long time ago.

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Comments

[mamacat]

The suggestion that there is anyone running for president who is a terrorist is so absurd, it could only come from Faux News.

As to the idea that Obama is a Muslim, besides the point that he is a Christian, why should it matter whether or not he is Muslim? There are fundamentalists of all religions, but that doesn't make all Christians bad, just as not all Muslims are bad.

If I may be so bold, I would venture to say that most Christians, and most Muslims, are pretty decent people.

[Beachchick]

Fox has to go. It is not news; it is not fair or balanced; it undermines democracy; it coarsens the culture. Fox is the antithesis of journalism and free speech.

[Phil123]

So, because it does not merely parrot the leftist talking points all day (like all of the other channels), then in the interets of free speech, you'd silence it. This is solid neoliberal thinking, and is totally Orwellian. I'm not surprised. This is the new liberalism. It is hard to distinguish from fascism.

[iswideopen]

Fox News is nothing more than Tabloid Television. They spue hatred and bigotry and they know how well it works. Maybe they will hire Rush Limbaugh next; they may as well. "Journalist Wannabees" with zero integrity and are shameless. Hope when all contracts are re-negotiated, many are rebuked on reputable networks because of their non-reporting at this network. Would serve them right. Enjoy the rating of hatred while they last. You lost me years ago. I have a well balanced brain.

[Phil123]

Imagine that. FOX had the power to brainwash an intelligent neolib. They must use subliminable messages or something.

[StrayTalk]

Old German expression: "When the fox preaches, look to your geese."

Common expression: "John is sly like a fox"

Hip expression: 'Mary is really a fox"

New expression: "Karl can lie through his teeth just like FOX"

[XME]

Clearly the guy bought into smears that he's heard, which makes him a fool. But what makes him bigger fool is admitting to the world that he gets his information from Fox...and that he takes what they say as fact!

[kvet]

Lately, I have noticed more and more demographic similariti­es.....( I know I will come under fire for this one......) But,,,,,?
Dick Cheney is absolutely RIGHT !
The West Virginia Problem isnt only in the Mountains.­....It spans into Tennessee.­....

[kvet]

But,,,,,,,­,Maw,,,,,,­,,I saw it on FOX TV........­Aw Maw !!!!

[DShawn233]

As a Tennessee resident I am not suprised by this at all. There are people in this state that have still never seen a black person, in their lives, other than on TV. The white sheet club was founded in this state. That fact alone should end the discussion and any suprises concerning anything that comes out of this state in the future.

[realpolitic]

I do not know either why a Democrat would watch Fox and why a Congressman would make such an irresponsible statement about the party's candidate before some inquiries. Any Fox viewer is poisoned against Obama and Democratic positions because they hear smears all day discused as actual facts. Fox is not a news organization, but one that creates a fantasy narrative. One needs a hardy willing suspension of disbelief to watch Fox. To me, the network is nauseating.

[Grace2008]

Hobbs was not brainwashed by FNC and Hobbs is not a committed Democrat. What Hobbs IS ... is a committed racist who was happy to denigrate a black man and seek cover under Fox's misinformation campaign. He's trying to have his cake and eat it too just like all of the so-called "working, hard-working Americans, White Americans" in Appalachia and elsewhere who have the audicity to call themselves Democrats of any stripe!

[Nolewoman]

Hear! Hear! I second that emotion! Well put.

[PKSSK]

The fact that you represent this guy as a "prominent Tennessee democrat" does not speak well for the educational system or constituents of the state of Tennesee. I think the guy is an absolute idiot and embarrasment to the democratic party who allowed him to be a member. He obviously represents the undeducated racist mentality of the viewers who rely on Fox News for information. The end result is to feed misleading propaganda that distorts, lies and destroys what little intelligience the Fox viewers have.

[poropo]

i keep saying that fox news is a worst network that i have ever see in my lifetime. but all my praying and fasting will come true oneday. please join me to pray and fast so that there should be remove from air.

[2351]

I'm surprised that fox has not come out and trashed this guy. Fox is horrible and I would be surprised if their ratings were not down because most people cringe when you mention fox. The way that people get on the democratice executive committee is by vote of fellow democrats. This is just sad. I'm sure that there are a number of voters out there who feel the same way and have the same information and thoughts that this guy had. Many people refuse to be informed, but I'm surprised that someone on the executive committee would be making statements like this, as members of the democratic committee are responsible for key democratic functions in their counties, especially in the precincts that these individuals represent. If I lived in that county, I would as that this individual be removed from the committee. These committees meet monthly and any voter can attend their meetings. You can probably find out more information about the executive committee from the local democratic headquarters. I think that you can locate information online from the county democratic party where this individual lives. I sure would be at his next meeting to motion the committee to dismiss him, which has to be voted on by the committee.

[spardicus]

State run media that is allowed to call itself 'News'

+ people who prefer to have their thoughts fed to them because it's easier than learning

= what we have now (and elections to get out of this mess are still close!)

[takeamericanback08]

Anybody who supported Bush has to be enraged. Not only are they embarassed whenever Bush speaks, but they must feel like a fool. So how do losers every win? They lie and lie and lie and lie...What better way that to get attention then if your intentionally lie about everything.

[FLindependant]

Why would any self-respecting intelligent citizen, much less a legislature, watch Fox News for anything more than comic relief.

[conniedogs]

Because he's none of those things!