Exerpts from NYT's David Carr's "The battle between the White House and Fox News" which escalated when Obama trotted out Anita Dunn, WH comm dir, who publicly fingered Fox as "the opponent." Do you like the NYT graphic with brass knuckles?
So far, the only winner in this latest dispute seems to be Fox News. Ratings are up 20 percent this year, and the network basked for a week in the antagonism of a sitting president
It could all be written off as a sideshow, but it may present a genuine problem for Mr. Obama, who took great pains during the campaign to depict himself as being above the fray of over-heated partisan squabbling. In his victory speech he promised, “I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.”
Tactics aside, something more fundamental is at risk. Even the president’s most avid critics admit he exudes a certain cool confidence. The public impression of him is that if anyone were to, say, talk trash on the basketball court with Mr. Obama, he would not find much space for rent in Mr. Obama’s head.
On the official White House Web site, a blog called Reality Check provides a running tally of transgressions by Fox News. It ends with this: “For even more Fox lies, check out the latest ‘Truth-O-Meter’ feature from Politifact that debunks a false claim about a White House staffer that continues to be repeated by Glenn Beck and others on the network.”
People who work in political communications have pointed out that it is a principle of power dynamics to “punch up “ — that is, to take on bigger foes, not smaller ones. A blog on the White House Web site that uses a “truth-o-meter” against a particular cable news network would not seem to qualify. As it is, Reality Check sounds a bit like the blog of some unemployed guy living in his parents’ basement, not an official communiqué from Pennsylvania Avenue.
The American presidency was conceived as a corrective to the royals, but trading punches with cable shouters seems a bit too common. Perhaps it’s time to restore a little imperiousness to the relationship.
Boy, I thought they were smarter than this. At least Obama was, and he must be signing off on this.
ReplyDeleteThat White House cocoon makes people do strange things.
I guess a bunch of people from the liberal academy just aren't used to hearing opposing views.
Very odd.
Obama has thin skin. This is patently stupid to take on Fox News - the #1 cable news network. As Mr. T frequently uttered in The A Team: "I pity the fools."
ReplyDeleteObama has thin skin
ReplyDeleteI think so. He can calmly sit for a hour long lecture by some Marxist thug on how evil America is but if someone criticizes him, well, that's not acceptable.
I can imagine Emmanuel signing off on this - "Cut off their f****ing heads!" - but Axelrod?
This is really stupid.
Part of it falls under the Sanctimonious Shithead rule: We're right, and therefore righteously indignant that anyone opposes us. Obama's campaign rhetoric about listening to those with whom they disagree, was just so much wind.
ReplyDeleteThe O team will just burn up all their political credits hunting the sly Fox. When they really need it, the capital will be gone.
ReplyDelete