Fox News: I know, right?

7:46 Sep 21, 2012 56

That Fox News Channel is principally the messaging arm of the US Republican Party is not, in itself, news. Although there is a vestigal part of the operation that conducts something recognisable as journalism, the endless, ubiquitous talk-show elements are something else altogether.

But you don't really get to see Fox in full cry until there's an emergency. Like, say, when Michelle Obama gives a convention speech -- or when the Republican candidate for the Presidency has his campaign hurled into crisis when a tape emerges of him saying what he really thinks.

Last night's Daily Show featured an extended item about Fox's response to the "47% tape", under the banner Chaos on Bullshit Mountain. Just watch it. It helps to bear in mind that actual memos with actual talking points go out every day at Fox. That's whay everyone says the same thing -- until they're told to say the next thing. It's amazing.

Part one

Part two:

Part three:

56 responses to this post

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Christiaan, 10:54 Sep 21, 2012

Can't see em. Are these Flash only?

Portugal • Since Dec 2006 • 121 posts Report
Russell Brown, in reply to Christiaan, 11:04 Sep 21, 2012

Can’t see em. Are these Flash only?
Yes. That's the only embed code they give out.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Cecelia, 11:08 Sep 21, 2012

It beggars belief.

Hibiscus Coast • Since Apr 2008 • 559 posts Report
Gareth Ward, 11:42 Sep 21, 2012

Only managed to see the first and third ones there, but man Stewart gets fired up in that last one. Haven't seen him like that for a while...

Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report
Gareth Ward, 11:48 Sep 21, 2012

By the way, what surprises me with the Romney tape is the focus on his "47% entitlement" lines. It's actually the "and so my job is not to worry about those people" line that blows me away - here's a man intending to be President who claims his job is not to worry about 47% of the population?!

Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report
Ian MacKay, 11:51 Sep 21, 2012

And the lesson therein is that the Media can be a vehicle for Political Bul---Err ...Spin----err .... Honest Information. Thank goodness NZ MSM is squeaky clean.

Bleheim • Since Nov 2006 • 498 posts Report
Angus Robertson, 12:04 Sep 21, 2012

...or when the Republican candidate for the Presidency has his campaign hurled into crisis when a tape emerges of him saying what he really thinks.
When a politician addresses a potential donor, what will the politician say?
A: the politician will say what he/she "really thinks".
B: the politician will say what he/she thinks the donor wants to hear.
Do you really think John Banks told Kim Dotcom truth - that when push came to shove, he'd shaft him in a heartbeat and scurry off avoiding all contact?

Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report
Steve Barnes, 12:10 Sep 21, 2012

Is it me or is anyone else getting PAS in bold italics?
Has someone done the old strong tag again?
eta
Apparently it's just me... as you were, I shall reboot.

Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report
Sacha, in reply to Gareth Ward, 12:14 Sep 21, 2012

It's actually the "and so my job is not to worry about those people" line that blows me away - here's a man intending to be President who claims his job is not to worry about 47% of the population?!
And Obama gracefully kicks his ass on that in the (soft) Letterman interview.

Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report
Kyle Matthews, 12:14 Sep 21, 2012

Only managed to see the first and third ones there, but man Stewart gets fired up in that last one. Haven't seen him like that for a while..
It's actually something that he's done in the past couple of weeks that he hardly ever does - speaking direct to the audience in what's a personal polemic. Normally he lets the video or the irony of his news people speaking in 200% support of the stupid ideas point out their stupidity.

Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report
Steve Barnes, 12:23 Sep 21, 2012

perhaps its about time the world was run by people who know what they are trying to achieve for the people rather than themselves. Oh hang on... that's Socialism and that is evil... apparently.

Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report
Paul Williams, 12:48 Sep 21, 2012

Brilliant satire/commentary. The three clips build to the entirely reasonable righteousness of the last.

Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report
Angus Robertson, in reply to Paul Williams, 12:57 Sep 21, 2012

Effective polemic for the converted. Three clips of bull pukky build to a sanctimonious condemnation of Team A by in-the-pocket Team B player.

Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report
Richard Aston, 13:01 Sep 21, 2012

Great television and man Stewart is on fire !
Good lesson for NZ perhaps - with that level of bullshit going down those that can see it need to shout loud (very) and clear or the bullshit will win .

Northland • Since Nov 2006 • 510 posts Report
Sacha, in reply to Richard Aston, 13:07 Sep 21, 2012

those that can see it need to shout loud (very) and clear or the bullshit will win
this

Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report
Russell Brown, in reply to Angus Robertson, 13:22 Sep 21, 2012

Effective polemic for the converted. Three clips of bull pukky build to a sanctimonious condemnation of Team A by in-the-pocket Team B player.
Stewart will do the same thing to MSNBC sometimes, but it simply doesn't provide the constant, rich diet of material. Fox's all-hands-to-the-pump response to Romney's calamity was extraordinary.
I mentioned the coverage of the Michelle Obama speech -- they rattled through about a dozen commentators in 15 minutes, and every single one uttered the same line, about her speech being all about government as compared to Romney's which was about personal enterprise. It wasn't hard to work out what was in Roger Ailes' memo that morning.
And if you're seriously attempting to draw an equivalence between Fox News and the Daily Show ...

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Daniel Wilton, 14:18 Sep 21, 2012

The sad thing is that his core supporters will double down and back him more vehemently.
There is a great piece on the finger pointing of both parties later in show that shows people's willingness to spout the party line blindly.
We need to make we don't stray down this path.

Wellington • Since Jan 2009 • 54 posts Report
Bart Janssen, 14:31 Sep 21, 2012

The thing that is most poignant is that the very people Romney is discarding as irrelevant to his campaign are the very people who will vote for him regardless of what he says.
Satire highlights the medium but it is the people who suffer from the Romney policies who deserve better representation.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report
Russell Brown, in reply to Daniel Wilton, 14:31 Sep 21, 2012

There is a great piece on the finger pointing of both parties later in show that shows people’s willingness to spout the party line blindly.
Yeah. It's telling. Almost hard to watch.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Russell Brown, in reply to Daniel Wilton, 14:37 Sep 21, 2012

The sad thing is that his core supporters will double down and back him more vehemently.
Unless they happen to be other Republicans in tough races. They're already running away as swiftly as possible.
It does seem that the past week has been a major turning point. It's not a done deal for Obama, but Nate Silver has pretty declared the Republicans' ambition for a Senate majority dead and buried.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Michael Hogan, 14:51 Sep 21, 2012

Love it. Comedy Central site has all his shows in entirety the day after they air. He is debating Fox's biggest mouthpiece, Bill O'Reilly in something called Rumble in the Air Conditioned Auditorium, which should be worth watching if only to gain a bit more insight to the right wing fear- mongering mindset. They are usually pretty civil as guests, but a formal debate should set Stewart loose. He is definitely no slouch intellectually. As for O'Reilly, well, the mind boggles..

Waiheke Island • Since Nov 2006 • 31 posts Report
wendyf, 15:15 Sep 21, 2012

Ahem. I'm a newish MySky subscriber (thanks to daughter) and loving being able to record stuff and whizz through the ads. I don't have all that's on offer, but I do have Comedy Central and I can't find the Daily Show. Help, please...

Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 88 posts Report
Gareth Ward, in reply to wendyf, 15:29 Sep 21, 2012

I can't find the Daily Show.
I'm assuming he means on The Daily Show website - the NZ Comedy Central channel doesn't run it anymore as far as I'm aware (f*&% knows why)

Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report
Russell Brown, in reply to Gareth Ward, 15:31 Sep 21, 2012

I can’t find the Daily Show.
I’m assuming he means on The Daily Show website
Or by ... other means.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Danielle, in reply to Gareth Ward, 15:51 Sep 21, 2012

(f*&% knows why)
Because we all really, REALLY want to watch Benny Hill repeats, apparently.
Fuckers.

Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report