Tapper to Gibbs: Who are you to decide what constitutes a news organization?
posted at 12:55 pm on October 20, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Sheer comedy gold from one of the most honest White House correspondents in the business. Jake Tapper used his time in the Briefing Room to challenge Robert Gibbs on the Obama administration’s attempts to brand Fox News as something other than a news organization. Gibbs sputters but never answers Tapper’s essential question:
Tapper: It’s escaped none of our notice that the White House has decided in the last few weeks to declare one of our sister organizations “not a news organization” and to tell the rest of us not to treat them like a news organization. Can you explain why it’s appropriate for the White House to decide that a news organization is not one –
(Crosstalk)
Gibbs: Jake, we render, we render an opinion based on some of their coverage and the fairness that, the fairness of that coverage.
Tapper: But that’s a pretty sweeping declaration that they are “not a news organization.” How are they any different from, say –
Gibbs: ABC -
Tapper: ABC. MSNBC. Univision. I mean how are they any different?
Click over to Tapper’s blog to hear the answer. Ultimately, though, Gibbs thoroughly misses Tapper’s point. The White House is not just some political 501(c)3 issuing opinion statements on policy. They’re the executive branch of government, who exist to enforce laws and are accountable to the people, at least in part (one hopes) through the media. It’s entirely inappropriate to make pronouncements on the credibility of those organizations holding them accountable, especially when they try to wheedle other news organizations into ignoring them.
What do they have to fear from Fox News, after all? It makes them look petty and craven, instead of simply responding on each story and letting other news organizations tell their side of the story. After all, they have no lack of volunteers for that task.
It’s the difference between campaigning and governing. Gibbs et al still haven’t learned it, and they look like Amateur Hour as a result, or worse, Nixonian. At the moment, no video of the exchange is available, but I’ll update this post with it as soon as its available.
Blowback
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A lot of people here aren’t old enough to remember how the media came after Nixon when he criticized them and put out an enemies list. Believe me, it was World War III, nonstop push back. Frightening how times have changed. We have a “compromised” media (as they used to call western media who were penetrated by the Soviets). That is all you can say. And this administration will fund them and protect them. Because they belong to them.
chris999 on October 20, 2009 at 2:10 PM
My question is how the remainder of the “press” would have reacted if the Bush administration had attempted this kind of “containment” and marginalization of MSNBC?
DeathB4Tyranny on October 20, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Gov. Pat Quinn, AFSCME and SEIU told to pound sand
This is the union election that had state officials threaten some of the home health care workers who wanted to remain non-union.
J_Crater on October 20, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Dear Tapper:
C’mon over, they gave me a nice corner office and and the break room pwns.
-John Stossel
Texas74 on October 20, 2009 at 2:11 PM
I stand corrected…thanks :-)
cmsinaz on October 20, 2009 at 2:12 PM
LOL
cmsinaz on October 20, 2009 at 2:12 PM
You certainly are.
BTW, your claim that Fox had more coverage of the Natelee Holloway case is as stupid as the rest of your posts. CNN Headline News equalled Fox’ coverage, and Democrat Chris Cuomo at ABC defended his nrtwork’s going wall to wall with the story.
As usual, pieface, epic FAIL
Del Dolemonte on October 20, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Maybe Tapper is trying to get Gibbs to determine that ABC news is lo longer a “legitimate news organization (as defined by the Obama White House and not any objective standard).
And as for FOX hiring him, no.
He is more valuable at ABC because the WH doesn’t like getting flak from other outlets that they consider “friendly.”
It puts more pressure on the WH to man up or to stop whining about Fox.
Good Lt on October 20, 2009 at 2:13 PM
do you even have to ask?…silly rabbit :-)
cmsinaz on October 20, 2009 at 2:13 PM
HuffPo has 10 most egregious Fox News distortions
Get ready. Looks like the war is on.
faraway on October 20, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Earlier headline: ‘Obama’s name now a synonym for blinkered optimism‘
New headline: ‘Gibb’s name now a synonym for blinkered obamism’
dont taze me bro on October 20, 2009 at 2:17 PM
This is starting to remind me of the tragedy of a lot of our public schools. The main stream media/public schools at one time was where everyone went and then as they became a bastion for social experiments, moonbats, and kooks the main stream media/public schools want to piss and moan and don’t understand why things are blowing up around them. And now they wonder why more and more people are home schooling, charter schools, private schools and FOX News listening. I say “Let them eat cake.”
Dire Straits on October 20, 2009 at 2:17 PM
What a laugh at those who attack Fox, yet refuse to be critical of Obama cheering and propaganda sections at MSNBC, CNN, NBC, ABC AND CBS (least we forget 90% of the newspapers). Fox is clearly more balanced and this shows in the RATINGS, Fox has more viewers than the rest…COMBINED!
nelsonknows on October 20, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Is that an African sparrow or a European sparrow?
Sir Napsalot on October 20, 2009 at 2:17 PM
I am too young to remember Nixon but I thought he was more engaged in spying on political opponents and not into controlling the news and saying which news organizations are valid and which are not.
IMO Obama is more Putinian than Nixonian. Obama wants to 1)scare other news organizations into not doing stories that Fox does (Beck) 2) turn any independent voters/viewers away from Fox and get them back in line with him 3) tank Fox’s ratings enough that they either conform or go out of business 4) possibly control print media if they ask/get a bailout
Others may disagree because journalists have died in Russia reporting stories that are anti-Putin. I pray this never happens in our great republic but it worries me that when Rohde was captured for 7 months that he wasn’t written about more extensively. In some ways the media has trained us to forget about a reporter who goes missing.
journeyintothewhirlwind on October 20, 2009 at 2:18 PM
The MOUTH OF SAURON, the Dark Lord, has spoken!
nelsonknows on October 20, 2009 at 2:18 PM
You hit that one on the head of the nail with a 16 oz hammer!
Franklyn on October 20, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Let’s go through the HuffPo articles (if they can be called such) and even the comments and pull out the 100 most vile missives ever written there (including the smear against Limbaugh from last week – retraction or none) and post it across the blogosphere as a collective right-post (with stickies).
Let the leftosphere take a look in the mirror, which is something they’re terminally wont to do.
Good Lt on October 20, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Absolutely right. Their only other option is to go after Tapper (ABC’s most influential journalist)personally and I don’t really think they’d dare to do that. Shows the weight that has fallen on Tapper’s shoulders. It’s not the first time he’s had to intercede with a press corps smackdown along the lines of “what are you guys thinking?”
RepubChica on October 20, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Actually, O’Reilly considers himself an independent, Beck considers himself a conservative Libertarian, and Hannity now considers himself a Reagan conservative.
mizflame98 on October 20, 2009 at 2:20 PM
watch out IRAN, TALIBAN and Al QUEDA, we will take care of you if you don’t listen to us…..of course, I am scared of FOX NEWS but you better watch out or else!
SDarchitect on October 20, 2009 at 2:21 PM
So, the White House is singling out Beck and Hannity, which is an admission that they are using the power and prestige of the White House to marginalize and silence dissenting voices.
They don’t label MSNBC as not being a news organization because of Olbermann and Maddow. Nor is he complaining that the NYT has an editorial and OpEd page.
This is the real fascism the left was trying to pin on Bush and is about as un-American as it gets.
RadClown on October 20, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Wasn’t it Major Garrett who broke the story of Axelrod’s email campaign (on healthcare) that was sent to private emails; Garrett kept asking Gibbs “where they got the private email addresses” and FNC had to file a FOCA to get them to answer.
FNC’s Katherine Herrage (?) reported pics of Gitmo detainees protesting the Obama admin which embarrased the WH. Now, the WH/Pentagon won’t allow reporters inside Gitmo.
FNC broke/covered ACORN and Van Jones.
I’m still not sure if the White House is going after Fox or just offering cover for the other news networks for failing to do their jobs?!! Either way, the Obama administration is making a huge mess for their party come 2010. I suggest they grab a mop and begin to clean up the messy economy and get about FINDING JOBS for the American people. He does know how to use a bucket and mop, no??
Oh, and good for Tapper!
TN Mom on October 20, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Alternate thread title: ‘Fisk-ing the Gibbs-ing’
dont taze me bro on October 20, 2009 at 2:23 PM
That’s because leftists lie, it’s what they do.
nelsonknows on October 20, 2009 at 2:24 PM
I… I…. I don’t know!
Waaaaaaauuuuuuuuugggggggggghhhh!
Into the gorge of eternal peril.
UltimateBob on October 20, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Excellent point.
Mirimichi on October 20, 2009 at 2:26 PM
The Left thought Tony Snow was horrible White House spokeman. Is Mary Jane already legal and I just missed the memo?
Dire Straits on October 20, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Kudos to Tapper, a reporter with at least a shred of integrity left. Don’t always like his picture of the right–but hey, we should all adjust to the idea that people are going to disagree. The left needs to learn that.
Axeman on October 20, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Because almost nobody else is doing it.
Jim Treacher on October 20, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Well, he impllied he did. Given the guy’s track record to date, that usually means he doesn’t know one end of it from the other.
Blacksmith on October 20, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Sad, but True.
What do we call it when almost nobody does what they’re supposta do. Does it start with “cluster”?
Janos Hunyadi on October 20, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Of course it isn’t. It focuses on silliness like missing blondes in the Caribbean and Terry Schiavo. Always good for a laugh, though!
simplesimon on October 20, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Hi, Skippy! I’ll be laughing this afternnon when Beck airs the video of Ron Bloom,ex-Car, now Manufacturing Czar, calling the Free Market System silly.
kingsjester on October 20, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Here is what I hear every time Gibbs, (The MOUTH OF SAURON, the Dark Lord),opens up his pie hole:
“Do not bandy words in your insolence with the Mouth of Sauron!” he cried, “Surety you crave! Sauron gives none. If you sue for his clemency you must first do his bidding. These are his terms. Take them of leave them!”
nelsonknows on October 20, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Gibbs is a total jackass.
CP on October 20, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Good for Tapper.
CP on October 20, 2009 at 2:35 PM
I’d be pissed if I were Major Garrett having to sit there and listen to that.
CP on October 20, 2009 at 2:36 PM
I wonder if John Edwards is going to request that The National Enquirer be placed on the Not a Real News Outlet list?
Oldnuke on October 20, 2009 at 2:39 PM
If this “official” statement that Fox News is not legitimate,
does it also mean that Major Garrett, Carl Cameron, and Jim Angle are now 86′d from the Capitol and White House grounds?
I know it sounds absurd, but how far are they going to take this stance because it seems they having been laying the ground work for several weeks now.
betsyz on October 20, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Declaring any news organization as illegitimate or criminal for reporting “state secrets”, which is anything that critizes those who rule, the government demands or declaration as forbidden, is an every day experience for those who live in communist China socialist Venezuela are any other dictatorship. Obama and his administration, mostly comprised of communist and socialist, have nothing but praise for both of those dictatorships. Maybe this declaring Fox news as not a news organization because they don’t spin the news to favor Obama like the other news organizations is just the shot across the bow before takeover or our dear leaders acceptance of an appology and Fox employes volunteering for re-education so that they can fall in line with the party agenda. For the good of the people of course. The listening to Fox news causes mental illness, which will cost the Obamacare more money to cure.
Franklyn on October 20, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Nixon was constantly criticizing the media. (Agnew, too.) He didn’t trust it. To a certain extent you can’t blame him, but the media was nice to Nixon (pre-Watergate revelations) compared with the way they treated GWB for eight years. You are correct to the extent that the enemies list included mostly non-journalists and Nixon didn’t target a specific news organization. The media was different then. You didn’t have one news organization that catered to the center-right and others which were so closely aligned with the Democrat party. The media was mostly center left in those days. All of media organs were essentially interchangeable.
chris999 on October 20, 2009 at 2:42 PM
As opposed to olbafarts corrallary about SP as a turkey is slaughtered, no executed as the times put it
what a show
such executive excellence on the tee
could you imagine how’s these commie shit heads would crumble if they had to endure what Bushs administration had to
what a laugher
total and complete amatuers
Sonosam on October 20, 2009 at 2:44 PM
I definitely reguard HuffPo as a true News Agency.
ROFLMAO
Dire Straits on October 20, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Go Tapper! Poor old sparrow-brain Gibbs is going to have a HELL of a time getting an honest job after this gig.
Given this latest move by Barry to cover up dissent, the presence of two declared Maoists on his inner staff should be no surprise, and I expect to see more “outed” as time passes.
It may be the only good thing to come of Barry’s ascension…the marxists have dropped pretenses and hauled the red flag to the masthead. It’s pretty clear who is who and what they want to see happen.
The only question is whether they can be stopped and how much damage by them can be undone.
Harry Schell on October 20, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Bwahahahahha! It’s so very Chavez-lite. They have balls but they are empty.
BrideOfRove on October 20, 2009 at 2:46 PM
I love the image Drudge has up today of Gibbs holding up that BB pic. Political statement aside, that’s Gibbs in a nutshell. I bet he got beat up all the time on the playground.
Mr_Magoo on October 20, 2009 at 2:47 PM
I’m guessing that mr. murdoch will have a hell of a time getting fcc clearnance to buy NBC, as has been rumored.
DrW on October 20, 2009 at 2:49 PM
I just checked this out. Is this really the top 10 worst distortions? This is it? Pathetic. That HuffPo piece only reinforces my desire to aquire my TV news from Fox.
visions on October 20, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Do not covet the Tapper, it will marginalize him. He is a beachhead of balls in the MSM. We must hope he rubs off on the rest of ‘em.
NickelAndDime on October 20, 2009 at 2:51 PM
All of these attacks are funded by Soros.
Get the 60 Minutes December 20, 1998 tape of the interview between Steve Kroft & Soros.
tetriskid on October 20, 2009 at 2:51 PM
This idiot is not worthy to shine the late Tony Snow’s shoes.
kingsjester on October 20, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Hey! What is going on on Thursday? The FCC is meeting and are going to decide the fate of the internet? Meaning what? That it will be taxed? Who will have access (print and read)to it? This is another one of 0bama’s czars sitting on that commission.
Mirimichi on October 20, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Mutila la Constitucion? Wow eso son palabras fuertes! De la prensa? Ortega presidente de por vida-grrr!!! Bueno pero que esta pasando en Latinoamerica? Hay una pestilencia y propagacion de dictaduras y comunismo.
Son pocos los que quedan, y los que quedan no creo que tengan una buena impresion de Obama.
He dicho! PPF
ProudPalinFan on October 20, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Sorry to nitpick, but it’s the First Amendment that recognizes our right to free speech. The Second Amendment recognizes our right to keep and bear arms.
I’m sure some one already caught this (haven’t read pages two and three of the comments, yet), but I just couldn’t let it go.
pugwriter on October 20, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Everyone tries to work the refs. Nobody I can recall has went to these lengths though. My belief is that plenty of others would have tried if they felt they could get away with it, but there was never any way the media would have allowed it. Leftwing as they might be they never would allow this. Now the White House is calculating they have the other in line enough that they can take this path. I still think it is going to backfire. God bless Tapper for holding them accountable.
stldave on October 20, 2009 at 3:08 PM
from Mr. Magoo.
I knew a few large kids that would would have parked his ass on a tetherball and given him the ride of his life in school.
nor on October 20, 2009 at 3:09 PM
What do you have against sparrows? LOL. Gibbs’ brain is much smaller than a sparrows’. Try amoeba.
blr2449 on October 20, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Oh y Jake, gracias mil por hacer un excelente trabajo y tirar a Gibbs al medio, por lambeojo!
ProudPalinFan on October 20, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Swallow.
Get it?
omnipotent on October 20, 2009 at 3:11 PM
That’s the last question Jake gets for a while. Bad Jake. Bad boy.
ROCnPhilly on October 20, 2009 at 3:20 PM
What few are reporting is that Fox News is growing thanks to more liberals watching. These are people tired of being surprised by stories reported after-the-fact by liberal media. They just want to know what the hell is happening before it’s already happened, a basic human impulse and the reason why media exists. Their media exists only to sustain a “narrative”, not mainly to report the news.
rrpjr on October 20, 2009 at 3:40 PM
After it broke “Watergate,” I don’t believe that can truthfully be said about the Washington Post.
In fact, it seems to me that Nixon’s assault on the Post serves as a fairly good template for the Obama administration’s treatment of Fox. As Twain quipped, history doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.
Barnestormer on October 20, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Gibbs to Tapper: Eees, not party line, Comrade. You do not question our opinion nor our authority.
onlineanalyst on October 20, 2009 at 3:44 PM
I’m writing my senators today(Inhofe and Coburn)and asking them where in the hell are the GOP while the communists in the White House are literally destroying the country, attacking free speech, taking over companies, destroying the economy, and eviscerating the constitution. Are they just going to stand by watching it happen and not call the Dems on it? Rush said today that we’re watching it happen before our eyes. We all know it and see it. Surely they do too, but why the silence? Are they not going to even put up a fight?
silvernana on October 20, 2009 at 3:48 PM
I have a new respect for Tapper…
d1carter on October 20, 2009 at 3:49 PM
Apt analogy, though I’m not quite sure I’d place Obama on as high a pedastal as Sauron. ;)
If I had to make an analogy I’d go with Rahm Emmanuel as Grima Wormtongue and Obama as Saruman.
Actually, Obama as Saruman works, especially in this sense:
“Those who listened unwarily to that voice could seldom report the words that they heard; and if they did, they wondered, for little power remained in them. Mostly they remembered only that it was a delight to hear the voice speaking, all that it said seemed wise and reasonable, and desire awoke in them by swift agreement to seem wise themselves. When others spoke they seemed harsh and uncouth by contrast; and if they gainsaid the voice, anger was kindled in the hearts of those under the spell. For some the spell lasted only while the voice spoke to them, and when it spake to another they smiled, as men do who see through a juggler’s trick while others gape at it. For many the sound of the voice alone was enough to hold them enthralled; but for those whom it conquered the spell endured when they were far away, and ever they heard that soft voice whispering and urging them. But none were unmoved; none rejected its pleas and its commands without an effort of mind and will, so long as its master had control of it.” ~ “The Speech of Saruman,” J.R.R.Tolkien, The Two Towers
And while I certainly wouldn’t cast Glenn Beck as Frodo you can’t deny his rather obvious hobbitish qualities. :D
Niere on October 20, 2009 at 3:49 PM
It’s not a question of where he grips it! It’s a simple question of weight ratios! A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut.
BrideOfRove on October 20, 2009 at 3:51 PM
LOL! What a bunch of getalifes.
Nothing in there to compare, of course, to CNN’s Peter Arnett lying to hus gullible viewers about the US nerve-gassing Laotian civilians, or CNN not reporting Saddam Hussein’s atrocities against his own people for 10 years. Likewise no comparison to CNN’s showing of Iraqi snipers;-eyes views thry their scopes at their American targets just before they pulled the triggers.
Del Dolemonte on October 20, 2009 at 3:51 PM
Did anyone else read this piece by Jeffrey Lord about how the FCC is in cahoots with a liberal coalition of churches, particularly the UCC, to shut down opposition (conservative) media voices by labeling it “hate speech”?
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/10/20/fcc-church-conspiracy-to-silen
The attack is coming from all sides, and it is carefully orchestrated.
George Soros’s fingers are in this mischief, too, as are Bill Moyers’s.
onlineanalyst on October 20, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Ninjapussy is more like it. Fox leans 75% right. All other networks lean 90% hard left except MSNBC which leans 99% hard hard left, like Obama.
Basilsbest on October 20, 2009 at 3:55 PM
I thought HuffPo was going broke.
Jeff from WI on October 20, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Ninjaputzy is more like it. Fox leans 75% right. All other networks lean 90% hard left except MSNBC which leans 99% hard hard left, like Obama.
Basilsbest on October 20, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Obama as the White Wizard has a sort of ironic tinge to it, as well.
But definitely the characterization fits.
hawksruleva on October 20, 2009 at 3:58 PM
I don’t understand the war. The Fox viewers are loyal for the most part. They aren’t going to listen to Obama if they’re Fox viewers, because basically, they think Obama is a Commie crook.
As for the other network viewers, I’m sure each network has it’s own small, (by comparison), band of loyal supporters. Some may move to Fox, almost NONE will move to them from Fox, so all Obama is doing is peaking the interest of viewers of other networks, to try Fox, and possibly become hooked.
The White House employs idiot tacticians.
Jeff from WI on October 20, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Jake Tapper brought it, Bob “Butter Knife” Gibbs, White House Lickspittle, scurried away.
ya2daup on October 20, 2009 at 4:04 PM
O’Reilly may consider himself an independent but he is really a middle-of-the-road, egotistical, ratings hungry media whore poseur who kissed Obama’s fanny when he did the interview with him prior to the election and — now that Beck’s diatribes are ringing true — he is doing everything he can to jump on the anti-Obama bandwagon. a
VoyskaPVO on October 20, 2009 at 4:11 PM
Warms my heart to see some good Monty Python pop up in an unrelated thread!
Timeless comedic genius!
Now, back to the serious conversation – someone slap Gibbs with a fish.
Midas on October 20, 2009 at 4:11 PM
Jake Tapper has surprised me several times over the past year or so with moments like these, I’ll give him credit where its due.
beachgirlusa on October 20, 2009 at 4:15 PM
The other day I actually heard some Obamabot whining about Fox not carrying one of Barak’s many command performances their entertainment channel. Barack Obama has already had more face time than Clinton and Bush together in both their terms..he is every all the time..Fox ran that silly stunt of Obama addressing Congress on its news channel…along with virtually every other network in the country…these people are like spoiled children.
Terrye on October 20, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Or just fart in his general direction
BrideOfRove on October 20, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Jeff from WI on October 20, 2009 at 4:01 PM
The Administration is lashing out at Fox because, really, what else they got?
They’re a collection of jackasses and idiots who can’t get out of their own way. They are getting rolled like a drunk on Bourbon Street by the economy, by foreign governments, hell, they can’t even get their own people to pass their crappy health care “reform” bill.
So they lash out an a convenient target, one that their shrinking, shrill, inane base will enjoy.
What else they got? Not competence or integrity, that’s for sure.
NoDonkey on October 20, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Wasn’t Beck on CNN for some time?
Terrye on October 20, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Love to see that on camera!
scalleywag on October 20, 2009 at 4:17 PM
The lack of specific examples is telling. I expect that Fox will fight this if it actually materializes.
MSNBC, you’re next!
ya2daup on October 20, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Anyone have video of this exchange??? Would love to see it.
bagadeez04 on October 20, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Remover your blinders! George Soros is the Dark Lord! Obama is The Mouth of Soros!
ya2daup on October 20, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Tapper must have pictures of some one high up at Disney having sex with dead goats. There seems to be no other reasonable explanation of how he has been able to persist at ABC while continually committing blatant acts of journalism.
djaces on October 20, 2009 at 4:25 PM
On his best day Gibbs aspires to reach the exalted role (to him) of Gollum.
ya2daup on October 20, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Exit question…………..when Tapper moves to Fox (my sources say negotiations are ongoing……….) what the hell will Gibbs stick in his mouth then besides both feet? Let’s keep this clean gents……..
Cinday Blackburn on October 20, 2009 at 4:27 PM
I can see why Beck and Limbaugh are a thorn in the WH’s side. But guess what? If the WH were to do make some fantastic accomplishment that blew the world’s socks off, such as, well, blowing Iran’s nuclear facility to smithereens…or give the gays the rights he promised them, or start taking the tanking economy seriously instead of playing the blame game. Or hey, maybe they could come up with some kind of realistic health care reform that doesn’t drive the nation bankrupt and take away everyone’s choice…or they could quit SPENDING, that might give Beck and Rush something POSITIVE to say about this administration.
scalleywag on October 20, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Uhm no, you said it’s “indefensible”
Beck and Hannity are OPINION shows; Their DEFENSE is their ratings.
Ratings? They both beat their “competition” 2 to 1, sometimes 3 to 1.
What is “indefensible” would be MSNBC OPINION shows,
Tingles, Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann and Mr. Ed
DSchoen on October 20, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Maybe he knows the true story as to why Disney and ABC refuse to release “The Road to 9/11″ on DVD?
Del Dolemonte on October 20, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Thank Heavens for a few good reporters who aren’t afraid. Or at least quell their fear enough to do their job.
It is so sad to watch the networks blather on with words put in their mouths by this administration. I honestly never thought it could happen in America. Yet we see it now every single day.
God Bless you Jake Tapper and if ABC tries to muzzel you make the move to Fox like all the other honest journalists have done.
I’m afraid that this administration is going after Fox. They are going to try to shut them down.
They may even be coming for Hot Air.
I don’t know how we stop them.
petunia on October 20, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Are our city dailies not newspapers because they have op-ed pages?
onlineanalyst on October 20, 2009 at 4:39 PM
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