Broadcast nets rejects Obama admin’s attempt to block Fox
posted at 12:55 pm on October 23, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
The collected Washington bureau chiefs of the major broadcast networks rejected a White House attempt to keep Fox News from participating in pool reports. Rather than cut Fox out of the pool, the broadcast bureau chiefs unanimously told the Obama administration that none of them would accept any interviews from administration officials. That forced the White House into retreat:
The Obama administration on Thursday failed in its attempt to manipulate other news networks into isolating and excluding Fox News, as Republicans on Capitol Hill stepped up their criticism of the hardball tactics employed by the White House.
The Obama administration on Thursday tried to make “pay czar” Kenneth Feinberg available for interviews to every member of the White House pool except Fox News. The pool is the five-network rotation that for decades has shared the costs and duties of daily coverage of the presidency.
But the Washington bureau chiefs of the five TV networks consulted and decided that none of their reporters would interview Feinberg unless Fox News was included.
The administration relented, making Feinberg available for all five pool members and Bloomberg TV.
We certainly give these broadcast networks plenty of criticism. Let’s take a moment to recognize their integrity. Jake Tapper stood up to Robert Gibbs earlier this week, and we wondered where the rest of the reporters at the White House were. They certainly showed up today.
Meanwhile, how bad is this for the White House? They now have all of the broadcast networks on record defending their competitor as a news organization. That reinforces reporting Fox News will do in the future, to the detriment of White House efforts to marginalize them. Plus, obviously, they look completely foolish in having to back down from their threat.
In an exclusive, Hot Air has a look at the press passes that the White House planned to issue if the other news broadcasters had caved:
Just kidding. Well, I hope so, anyway. (graphic courtesy HA reader Landshark)
Update: Perhaps this was a bad time for Media Matters to go all in against Fox, eh? Also, edited the headline for better accuracy.
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god I hope not. I think the artist could do better. I think it’s an “Obama Girl” type.
Although this is his Palin…
Ampersand on October 23, 2009 at 3:30 PM
signifying nothing..
The rumor in the little bit of DC I know is that this whole event meant nothing. The press and administration both still want FOX cut down to size or assisted in withering away. This will happen when all but the most misguided and sick viewers find that there is nothing to watch on the channel. And after they get over all the fear which they now have.
I guess they still see us marching ahead to some glorious future.
Not much but that is all I heard.
IlikedAUH2O on October 23, 2009 at 3:31 PM
I also remember that working out well for Bush, because Helen Thomas was pretty obviously full of it, and ridiculously biased. It was generally pretty easy for Tony Snow to rebut her.
(Speaking of Tony Snow, I have to say I miss him a lot; in addition to being a generally good guy, he was a good spokesman for conservatism, and yet he always came across as mild mannered and polite – I bet he could have helped bridge the gap between conservatives and moderates.)
If Fox news is so partisan, surely Obama shouldn’t be afraid to let them ask their “obviously” biased questions. That he is speaks to just how specious his whining is.
RINO in Name Only on October 23, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Hope and Change baby! I think many in the media have a very large ideological blind spot. If there was a Republican as corrupt as Dodd or Rangel it would be on the news every night.
gwelf on October 23, 2009 at 3:34 PM
The press pass looks like the cover of the Marvel comics Spiderman/Obama comic book.
mechkiller_k on October 23, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Oooh. Look. An impartial new organization pimps out its own “reporter” to a Tea Bag event. How legitimate!
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 3:41 PM
Hmm, as I head off to bed here, I wonder about this whole “ordeal”. Is the bigger story the one we’re missing. I mean, the US Government is once again using an unelected, unconstitutionally appointed “czar”? This time to limit the wages and or compensations private businesses are allowed to offer their CEOs. When they demanded a few execs in a dead end department of a financial firm decline bonuses that they were given (because they were dead-end positions) we all screamed bloody murder. It’s what originally convinced me that this administration was exhibiting very Fascist tendencies. Now, we seem to accept that general story. I almost didn’t even bother with what the presser was about. I wonder if this one was just well played by the WH?
hawkdriver on October 23, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Excellent. I see you’ve chosen the “yeah I know Obama is a douche bag politician and that most of the media are ideological hacks but…so is Fox!”
gwelf on October 23, 2009 at 3:49 PM
Good on the other networks for standing up to the Obama gangsters, but it seems worth noting that their “principled” stand was much more about self preservation than about standing up for Fox as a legitimate news organization. This move by Rahm and Barry simply made it too, too obvious what sycophantic lapdogs the other networks are. They were being rewarded with the interview for being good members in standing of the politburo, and it wasn’t just that they knew it, but that everyone else was going to know it, too, if Fox was excluded. Let’s see if they continue to push back on the White House’s war on Fox. I’ll be surprised if they do. Frankly, I think the other networks just want it all to go away because it puts such a spotlight on what silly pawns they are.
And I don’t know if anyone else has mentioned this, but I think the White House is doing this now because they know that people will be demanding that Fox get one of the debates in 2012. It’s time. They’ve earned it. They are a major media player. A Fox-moderated debate hosted by Brit Hume or Chris Wallace is Barack Obama’s worst nightmare. The moderator will come across as fair, elegant, intelligent, and insightful. Obama’s not accustomed to answering questions from such people. It would be a disaster for his candidacy, and he knows it.
Rational Thought on October 23, 2009 at 3:49 PM
Integrity my butt. Self-protection, maybe.
mojo on October 23, 2009 at 3:52 PM
He’s not a reporter at Fox News Channel, booboo. He’s an opinion host.
NathanG on October 23, 2009 at 3:53 PM
Funny how they refer to him as a ‘journalist’ though. And his employer as a ‘News Channel.’
Creative.
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 3:56 PM
…and on an entirely incidental note, he needs to lose that ‘stache.
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 3:57 PM
Do you think FOX treats the WH fairly?
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 3:57 PM
Kudos to all the members of the press pool. In fairness to them, it was probably very tempting to throw Fox to the wolves, since Fox opinion shows frequently have bad things to say about NBC, MSNBC, ABC, CNN, and CBS.
But they might realize that kicking out Fox means one of them is the next to go.
hawksruleva on October 23, 2009 at 3:59 PM
That’s because of his former affiliation with ABC News. It also states that he’s an analyst. Ya know, sort of like how Andrea Mitchell is a “reporter” and ANALYST at MSNBC.
NathanG on October 23, 2009 at 4:00 PM
You’ll be glad to know, booboo, that he’s anti-Iraq war and a Libertarian, not a conservative. I know, I know. Fox News is biased. So are the rest of the networks.
NathanG on October 23, 2009 at 4:03 PM
I like how the totally impartial “reporter” Andrea Mitchell, dressed down Lamar Alexander in her impassioned defense of obama in reference to his comparison with the Nixon WH.
Stossel is not a reporter. He’s a journalist and commentator.
You got an example? I got ten.
hawkdriver on October 23, 2009 at 4:04 PM
Exactly. Fox News is biased. Not big news. So is MSNBC. They’ve both found their winning models. Bad strategy for Obama, Axelrod, Rahm, Anita “Denture Mouth” Dunn. Grow Fins just can’t admit it.
NathanG on October 23, 2009 at 4:06 PM
At least Andrea Mitchell doesn’t look like a 70s porn star.
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 4:07 PM
Not a fan of the media but I tip my hat to them on this one.
Hilts on October 23, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Is Fox partisan? yeah – it leans right. But you can’t claim other news media who get thrills up their legs and get giddy over his pant creases and when they aren’t actively pushing his agenda give him passes on all sorts of things are fair either. If the media in general were fair we wouldn’t have ‘heroes’ like Tapper and Garrett who our extraordinary because they actually do their jobs as journalists.
gwelf on October 23, 2009 at 4:08 PM
So what is your objection to the WH wanting to control its message. Can’t do that with a ‘news’ outfit whose biases run cou8nter to yours. which is exactly why Palin will never given an interview with the MSM again.
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Oh, and I should add that CNN is mostly biased in the liberal direction, with the exception of Lou Dobbs. Same with MSNBC. Joe Scarborough is a moderate conservative (or something). Fox News only has maybe two reporters that are liberal. Geraldo and Shepherd Smith. Big deal. This strategy is childish. I would have been equally outraged had the Bush administration done the same thing. As for Reagan. Well, much like Meagan McCain, I was too young to know what was going on. :)
NathanG on October 23, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Gwelf? Your the one who’s blubbering about how mean Obama is being to FOX. No, of course FOX isn’t impartial. So why give them interviews?
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 4:10 PM
In the immortal words of one Joe Wilson, “You lie!”
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 4:10 PM
How come this isn’t on drudge?
It should be the HEADLINE on drudge, and I can’t find it mentioned there at all.
Is it maybe not true or something?
Alana on October 23, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Right then. I’ve learned my lesson the other night to keep it on message and not feed trolls who post absurd comments. Off to bed here. To everyone who kept the comments constructive and polite. Laters!
hawkdriver on October 23, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Seriously? Sarah Palin can’t win the White House. She was a freakin’ CANDIDATE when that happened. I disagreed with her strategy too. It’s stupid and counterproductive. Try again later. Oh, and if somebody can’t admit that the White House was being petty when they tried to exclude Fox News from interviewing the pay czar, then fine. But don’t act like yours is a legitimate argument. If anything, the royal smackdown they got from ABC News, CBS News, etc. is an indication of how petty and stupid the White House’s strategy really is. Fox News is part of the media. Yes, the arguments about the mainstream media are sometimes ridiculous and over-the-top, but sometimes they are legitimate. I watch Fox News with a grain of salt. I’m not so stupid that I can’t switch the channel.
NathanG on October 23, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Yawn.
Do you have any evidence to support your accusation? Or are you just a typical libtard, so eager to fellate Obama, that the accusation itself is enough for you?
malclave on October 23, 2009 at 4:17 PM
And you know this how? F*ck you! Smear. Not news.
NathanG on October 23, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Yawn.
More hate speech from the left.
malclave on October 23, 2009 at 4:18 PM
You’re just racist.
malclave on October 23, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Wow. That’s classy.
NathanG on October 23, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Judging by the standards of fairness of the left wing media during the previous Adminsitration, absolutely.
malclave on October 23, 2009 at 4:21 PM
But apparently stupid enough to switch it on in the first place.
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Boo hoo.
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 4:22 PM
That’s okay. We all know you’re Polanski-esque in your preferences.
malclave on October 23, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Wow, you’re annoying.
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 4:22 PM
You are pathetic
ya2daup on October 23, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Aww, is the poor widdle wiberal cwying?
malclave on October 23, 2009 at 4:23 PM
You’re racist.
malclave on October 23, 2009 at 4:23 PM
In the immortal words of NathaG “And you know this how? F*ck you! Smear. Not news.”
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Give it up, retard. Like you care about racism.
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Minor fix there.
RINO in Name Only on October 23, 2009 at 4:24 PM
So you admit it… facts are irrelevant to you, all that matters is the “message”.
malclave on October 23, 2009 at 4:24 PM
We’ll know for sure when he’s seated at the little kiddies table in Copenhagen.
ya2daup on October 23, 2009 at 4:25 PM
More hate speech form the intolerant left.
Oh, and I’m not the retard… Obama claimed that title for himself.
malclave on October 23, 2009 at 4:25 PM
You’re a douchebag. Not news at all. You’ve been acting like one on a regular basis since you started posting here. You’ve lost the argument so you resort to calling John Stossel a “70s Porn Star.” Go play in traffic with Simplesimon, douchebag.
NathanG on October 23, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Yes. Fake news and missing white girls. Oh, and three plastic morons who you get to call “Friend” every morning–the ex-cheerleader, dumb jock, and weird nerdy guy who’s always trying to sell his own books. Bread and circuses.
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 4:26 PM
And you’re cool with the white house dictating legitimacy to reporters. Fantastic.
Good to know who the O-Zombies are.
TheUnrepentantGeek on October 23, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Hmmm…..talking to yourself now.
NathanG on October 23, 2009 at 4:26 PM
I’m sure John Stossel can handle it. Lighten up, champ. You sound depressed.
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 4:26 PM
As opposed to giving people money and services so they’ll vote for you? Seriously, any dem mentioning “Bread and Circus” has a lot of nerve.
TheUnrepentantGeek on October 23, 2009 at 4:27 PM
More proof of your racism.
malclave on October 23, 2009 at 4:28 PM
The hysteria is fascinating. The WH expresses an opinion and you all act like Josef Goebbels shut down the free press or something. Soooo think skinned. I guess 8 years wasn’t enough for you cowboys. You have major issues with losing or something.
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Kinda like GWB’s cash giveaway to buy the election?
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 4:30 PM
I’ll lighten up when you open your eyes and admit that the Obama administration tried an idiotic strategy. I may be hysterical, but you’re suffering from Obama-worshiping hysterical blindness. But thanks, booboo.
NathanG on October 23, 2009 at 4:30 PM
I’m tired of this fin stuff.
Does anyone know why this isn’t on Drudge?
Alana on October 23, 2009 at 4:30 PM
A political blunder, perhaps. But certainly not idiotic. And certainly warranted, given FOX’s shameless advocacy for all things Tea-Bag.
We’ll see how Barbie does with Oprah, shall we?
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 4:32 PM
It does get those site hits though, eh?
Grow Fins on October 23, 2009 at 4:32 PM
Is Fins Allahpundit?
Otis B on October 23, 2009 at 4:32 PM
No, we’re just not eager to be on our knees slurping away like you are.
malclave on October 23, 2009 at 4:33 PM
She’ll do infinitely better than Obama did with Wallace when he did his round of Sunday morning political shows.
malclave on October 23, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Oh, before I go. I did see this rather compelling article about Fox Media Bias. You have to admit it when it does exist.
hawkdriver on October 23, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Sounds like someone has a bad case of contempt for the masses. As for fake news, that’s a rather amusing accusation, given that the competition regularly promotes fabricated quotes, “fake but accurate” memos (which were anything but accurate, given Bush had volunteered for Vietnam, as Mapes knew at the time), and transparently doctored photography.
RINO in Name Only on October 23, 2009 at 4:36 PM
FIFY…
Now that I’m thinking about it, maybe… Just maybe…
Khun Joe on October 23, 2009 at 4:46 PM
I know you clicked, troll….
Suckah!
hawkdriver on October 23, 2009 at 4:49 PM
The donks get another smackdown. Woot!
Geochelone on October 23, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Oh that is sweet.
I’m picturing the chick as Campbell Brown. Contessa Brewer maybe? This is one time I’ll away from using Chris Matthews.
*shudder*
landshark on October 23, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Boo hoo. Indeed.
lorien1973 on October 23, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Sorry, kid. Stossel now works for Fox Business Channel, not Fox News.
Epic FAIL, as usual.
BTW, still waiting for your credible and multi-sourced cites proving Fox News is “biased”. Not holding my breath.
Del Dolemonte on October 23, 2009 at 5:02 PM
7 lies in under 2 minutes
MB4 on October 23, 2009 at 5:05 PM
“To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history.”
Quick. Who said it?
lorien1973 on October 23, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Long live the First Amendment whether Herr Obama likes it or not.
MB4 on October 23, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Spoken by an expert on the subject?
Del Dolemonte on October 23, 2009 at 5:06 PM
No, CNN does the fake news. See “Tailwind” and “Eason Jordan”. When you can find any comparable examples from Fox, we’ll talk. But you can’t and you know it.
As for “missing white girls”, CNN gave that story just as much play, as did ABC. So that lie won’t fly here either.
Epic FAIL yet again.
Del Dolemonte on October 23, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Easier than that. Try CBS and national guard memos.
NBC and Dateline – ton of faked stories there. It’s like a treasure trove.
lorien1973 on October 23, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Go to tube and search ‘dan rather zimbabwe’ – There’s a good video of him giving a hand job to the dictator as the guy says he’ll never take away private property (which, of course he did later). And dan rather honoring some fake economic recovery. Fake news.
lorien1973 on October 23, 2009 at 5:16 PM
So if I understand the post by IlikedAUH2O you should not allow NEWS Channels that you don’t like to have access to News, so that you can get rid of them. Boy does that sound fair and balanced. Oh right IlikedAUH2O is a liberal so he doesn’t understand those words.
This kind of crap that the White House tried to pull should be heading him towards lawsuits and eventual impeachment. I just hope this country survives long enough to get him out of office or at least till the votes come out for the new Congress in 2010.
SgtRed on October 23, 2009 at 5:26 PM
I guess Fox needs to start fact-checking SNL sketches so it can REALLY be a legitimate news organization. Or maybe its anchors should start confusing Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. That’ll do the trick!
rockmom on October 23, 2009 at 5:39 PM
More like the sole mechanism by which your party stays in power, knucklehead.
FREE EVERYTHING! WHOO! OBAMA GONNA PAY MY GAS BILL!
TheUnrepentantGeek on October 23, 2009 at 5:39 PM
Except that they didn’t just “express an opinion,” you Orwellian nightmare come true. If you paid attention to the bloody article linked here you’d know exactly how far past that they went.
Reading comprehension FAIL!
TheUnrepentantGeek on October 23, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Photo satire: Journalists Protest Ideologically Segregated White House Press Pool http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/10/journalists-protest-ideologically.html
Mervis Winter on October 23, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Yes, I am aware of those, but like to keep the focus on CNN, because they claim to be a real news organization. They even claim to be “the most trusted name in news”.
But real news organizations don’t fact-check “Saturday Night Live”, or cover up crimes against humanity for a whole decade just so they can keep a bureau office open.
Del Dolemonte on October 23, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Agreed. While Clinton was in office CNN was commonly referred to as the Clinton News Network. All things Clinton (only positive stories) all the time!
rukiddingme on October 23, 2009 at 5:51 PM
LOL. It was a Democrat media that called the election in Florida for Gore in 2000 before the polls in the state had even closed. And then after his attempt to steal Florida failed, they went to Florida themselves to recount the ballots hoping to prove he really won. And when that didn’t work, they tried to keep the results quiet.
Del Dolemonte on October 23, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Ed,
I like the press pass.
Can I buy it someplace? or put it on my blog?
Thanks,
patch on October 23, 2009 at 5:53 PM
I left a comment at the WaPo the other day on this stuff, that said there is enough FAIL in all of the so-called mainstream media outlets that the legitimacy of ALL of them could be called into question. That includes The Washington Post, which actually had a reporter win a Pulitzer Prize for a fake story, The New York Times (Jayson Blair, Judith Miller, front page stories on alleged subliminal advertising by the RNC), The New Republic, NBC News, CBS News, ABC News, CNN, Reuters, and the Associated Press….the list goes on.
We can concede that Fox News has slipped on a story or two — and I still have seen no concrete evidence of that, just whining about the conservative slant of its evening commentary shows — and that STILL puts it squarely in the mainstream with ALL of these other news outlets.
rockmom on October 23, 2009 at 5:55 PM
That was Dan Rather, to be precise. I was watching it, and my parents lived in the Florida Panhandle so I knew the polls had not closed there. Fox News refused to call Florida at all that night, and was the first network to notice that the exit polls in Florida appeared horribly wrong.
Meanwhile, Tom Brokaw immediately yelled “we won!” in the NBC newsroom after Rather called Florida for Gore.
Nah, no liberal bias there…………
rockmom on October 23, 2009 at 6:02 PM
GrowFins
Getalife
The fact that you march in lockstep just shows you are a puppet.
CWforFreedom on October 23, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Fins to think that the other media outlets all were fair to Bush is just silliness . You are just a whiner who prefers a heavy handed government to squelch free speech and access.
CWforFreedom on October 23, 2009 at 6:04 PM
I see Fin-tard is picking up from last night with the same Media Matters copy -and-paste baseless and sorry ass diversionary attempt that “Fox isn’t a legitimate news organization” to get away from the issue of intimidation and First amendment assault of President Toonces and his thugs.
Whatever stipend Axelturd is paying you is too much, SFB.
Dr. Carlo Lombardi on October 23, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Media Matters? They’re the ones who aren’t legitimate. Witness their correction pages.
Del Dolemonte on October 23, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Rockmom is right that it was CBS who pulled the trigger. I’m somewhat willing to give them a pass on this(with AP off somebody has to do the “to be fair” bit) because I honestly think they based that call on exit poll data which turned to be out completely bogus.
No pass for what they did four years later when CBS intentionally aired those fake memos as legitimate in an effort to get Kerry elected. The network should have had its license permanently pulled for that and CBS execs and Rather should have faced criminal charges.
highhopes on October 23, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Well…I..guess I can appreciate the MSM’s stand here….and….well…it’s does show some…int.e…gri…..
…nope,sorry can’t do it.
I despise these lying a$$ activists in the MSM to much to pat them on the back for acting like they are “supposed” to act in the first place.
Baxter Greene on October 23, 2009 at 6:51 PM
OBAMA VS FOX SFW
Greed on October 23, 2009 at 7:03 PM
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