Alright, so I’ll comment on a current event. Fine.
On NPR this afternoon, I was listening to a discussion about the confrontations between President Obama and the Fox News Channel and various charges going back and forth, not the least of which being that Pres. Obama apparently said that Fox is not a real news network.
President Obama seems to have a problem keeping focused on items deserving of Presidential attention. He should not have allowed himself to get into the Harvard professor/Cambridge police situation, and he should not be stooping to get into this muck.
That’s why he has subordinates. If someone on his staff made such a comment as his/her own remark, it would be one thing. For it to come from the President is, well, un-Presidential.
The truth is, Fox isn’t a real news network. Of course it isn’t. It’s a mouthpiece for the Right. If not before, it completely sold out when it decided to put on a right-oriented comedy show a couple years ago. You’ll note that other news networks don’t have comedy shows. That Fox is known for its commentators, and not its reporters, is another telling fact.
The difference between me saying this and the President? I’m a stay-at-home dad with a blog. I’m not under any obligation to act Presidential.
By stepping into this nonsense, Pres. Obama allows himself to get into a tete-a-tete that cannot ever be productive. This kind of argument will, inevitably, degenerate into Fox supporters and Obama supporters yelling “Is not!” and “Is too!” at each other.
Won’t that be fun?
It creates a distraction from anything productive. While some might think that this is exactly what Pres. Obama has in mind, I think it’s a bit simpler — this is a miscalculation. The truth is, Pres. Obama doesn’t have a lot of time in a national spotlight, and isn’t handling it particularly well. If he wasn’t the President, it could be amusing to watch him have fits over the criticism — whether just or not. There are many other examples … people who aren’t President, don’t handle criticism well, and are amusing to watch. You know which ones I mean, I think.
(Updated)
Sigh …
Right after I wrote my piece, I found this one from John Shore. It’s better. Read it.
October 21, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Mine certainly isn’t better; it’s just different. Yours is fantastic; you write in such a warm, friendly style. I love it.
October 21, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Oh, come on!
“Complaining that Fox News isn’t news is like complaining that a lemonade stand isn’t a bar. It’s not supposed to be. That’s not its purpose.”
That was brilliant!
October 21, 2009 at 8:59 pm
(Paul, I moved your comment to the post about Rush Limbaugh and the NFL.)
October 22, 2009 at 6:27 am
Really? And I thought it would get me in hot water for evincing the image of children drinking. But then I remembered: everyone loves a drunk kid.
Boy, I’m gonna regret jokes like that when I’m in hell.
October 22, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Hi Wickle!
I’m torn over this development.
On one hand im elated that Fox is being called out by the highest office in the US for what it “isn’t”..a legitimate news network.
But on the other hand Fox is now using this to further its agenda of dividing America.
Last night i flipped over to the beginning of Fox’s evening line-up of programs, and every one of them led off with “The White Houses war against Fox”
In other words, Fox is cleverly using this to paint themselves as the victim.
Perhaps, as Media Matters has done, we should start calling it “Fox News’ War on the White” LOL
Fox declared war on this administration before Obama even took the oath of office in January.
There’s an interesting clip up at youtube today that points this out.
October 22, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I agree on that point … this is only going to fuel Fox. Because Fox isn’t a real news organization, they’re going to run with this and wear it as a badge of honor. This is part of the brilliance of John’s remark about the lemonade stand.
That’s a tactical mistake, now that you mention it.
Fox is providing yet another great illustration of the corruption that C. S. Lewis was illustrating in “The Screwtape Letters” when he talked about two people deliberately trying to aggravate each other, then getting indignant when they’re accused of trying to aggravate each other.
So, yes, I did just suggest that Fox is under demonic influence. Oh, well …
October 22, 2009 at 2:32 pm
“So, yes, I did just suggest that Fox is under demonic influence”
Wickle, i agree with you 100%. Satan is the author of confusion, rebellion, and anarchy. And that is exactly what this networks talking heads are promoting.
What has really thrown me, are the number of Christians who follow every word they say, believing it is unquestionably, truth. But then again, there are Christians who believe Beck is a prophet.
By the way, i didn’t intend to post that video clip. I thought i was only including the link. aha…
October 22, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Christian adoration of Glenn Beck is one of the more-confusing phenomena I’ve ever seen. The man really represents the replacement of the Gospel with politics, I suppose.