More Evidence Of Fox News Bias … Particularly Racial Bias

Here is some more evidence of Fox News channel’s racial bias.

Fox News And Its Ongoing Attacks Of Black Americans

Fox News has been on a campaign of bigotry against the black community through irresponsible and inaccurate reporting, unbalanced “expert” panels, right-wing commentators all up and down, right-wing broadcasters, a right-wing lean and a right-wing agenda that is hostile toward black Americans. The network has a long history of proving to be anything but fair and balanced.

U.S. News and World Report’s Michael Barone Proves To Be Misguided About Sarah Palin’s Critics

Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was criticized for a lot of things, but U.S. News and World Report’s Michael Barone recently made one of the most outrageous claims I’ve heard (and I’ve heard some outrageous claims). Of course, Barone’s claim is perfect gasoline to pour on talking points from the extremist wing of the Republican Party. This man claims that the media (he says, of course, the “liberal media”) attacked her because “she did not aborther Down syndrome baby.” This is horrifyingly ignorant. Palin, I believe, has mostly been commended for her willingness to bring this life into the world and show a willingness to be a mother to a child who will, obviously, have special needs. Her criticisms had more to do with mistakes that she and perhaps the campaign in general made during the run for the White House. Any difficulties she had with the media should not be blamed on the liberal media or that baby. Barone continued: “They wanted her to kill that child. … I’m talking about my media colleagues with whom I’ve worked for 35 years.” His ridiculous comments were not well received as, according to Politico, as “[a]bout 500 people were in the room, and some walked out.” The Think Progress article continued, “Barone did not dispute his remarks, saying he ‘was attempting to be humorous and, as many in public do, went over the line.’” Frankly, it’s difficult some days to understand exactly what some people view as humor. By any sane person’s thinking, this was nothing resembling humor.

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/12/barone-palin-abortion/

Bill O’Reilly Fights To Defend Right-Wing Church Guy Rick Warren

Fox News conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly is fighting hard to defend Rick Warren, a very high-profile conservative preacher, who has been outspoken in his opposition to the controversial topic of gay marriage in the state of California. He and one of his guests (from one of those unbalanced panels since he brings a very conservative perspective) were very upset that protesters had targeted Warren, who hosted the big forum that brought then presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain in for one-on-one interviews. As we know, for as much as O’Reilly tries to portray himself as a person who embraces fundamental fairness and calls it both ways, we know that he is nothing of the kind. He is in the tank for conservatives and he is upset because Warren’s white, conservative church is being protested for its opposition to gay marriage. Warren is entitled to his beliefs, but people also are entitled to protest. As far as O’Reilly’s whining about the lack of protests against black churches, he might want to think about why individuals like he and Warren are big targets for their controversial views. Warren is a celebrity-type figure who runs a mammoth church. Warren and O’Reilly should look at it this way: So, Big Bill, if you want to be in the spotlight (and enjoy the fruits of such a status) then don’t complain about the heat or glare of the bright lights.

Crooks and Liars:
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/bill-o-wants-know-why-there-were-no-protes

File This One Away In Case Sarah Palin Tries To Run Against Barack Obama In 2012

Back to being the governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin has been working the interview circuit fairly aggressively since she and Sen. John McCain fell short in their bid for the White House. It’s hard to fault Palin for her ambitiousness. I imagine that, in some ways, she probably is a likable person, but in no way, shape or form was she ready to become vice president of the United States in 2009 – never mind president. Some are already contending that Palin has her sights set on a possible run for the White House against President-elect Barack Obama in 2012. But, if she does decide to challenge a sitting president (only time will tell how well he will be doing with this horrible economy he will inherit, current bailouts, the possibility of more bailouts and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan … to begin) here is a small piece of ammunition she has given to Obama (he just needs to use that old-school trick of carefully cropping the quote below and taking it a bit out of context as many far less-ethical politicians are apt to do) and the Democrats during an interview with NBC:

“I’m comfortable with Barack Obama as our commander in chief, assuming that he has those around him who recognize …. that terrorists have not changed their minds … Those who recognize what the threat is and how to deal with the threat.”

Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/12/palin-im-comfortable-with_n_143205.html

What Is It With Fox News Commentator Greta Van Susteren And Sarah Palin?

As far as credibility and fundamental fairness are concerned, it sure seems that Fox News commentator Greta Van Susteren has long since waived any pretense of objectivity with regard to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Throughout the recent campaign, Van Susteren was one of Palin’s chief defenders as she went out of her way and beyond her duties to defend the honor of the Alaska governor. It seemed, in the beginning at least, that conservative Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly was a bigger cheerleader, but Van Susteren knocked out Bill and took that title in convincing fashion. How many times were Van Susteren’s viewers subjected to these up-close-and personal interviews, on-site interviews in Alaska and live shows during the campaign from inside a Palin-John McCain rally? How many times was Van Susteren at a rally for Joe Biden or Barack Obama? How many times did she step up to defend Obama when he was being attacked for controversial comments from his former pastor, for being called an Arab, for being called a Muslim, for being called a terrorist, for being called a communist, for being called a socialist, for people saying they would never vote for a black candidate for president and so on and so forth?

News Hounds:
http://www.newshounds.us/2008/11/11/van_susteren_advocates_for_palin_again.php

Another Ignorant Republican Comparison Of President-Elect Barack Obama To Adolph Hitler

We’ve heard it so many times before, throughout the presidential election, but the demonization of President-elect Barack Obama continues – a week since the end of the election. The latest is yet another comparison of President-elect Obama to Adolph Hitler. Here is a quote from Republican Congressman Paul Broun about President-elect Obama’s proposed civilian security force (an idea once backed by some prominent Republicans):

“That’s exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it’s exactly what the Soviet Union did. When he’s proposing to have a national security force that’s answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he’s showing me signs of being Marxist. We can’t be lulled into complacency. You have to remember that Adolf Hitler was elected in a democratic Germany. I’m not comparing him to Adolf Hitler. What I’m saying is there is the potential of going down that road.”

It appears the beat goes on for angry Republicans clinging to hatred and all too eager to champion the politics of division and demonization.

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/11/broun-obama-gestapo/