Howard Kurtz explains that Fox News got Ms. Sherrod fired without even airing a story:
But for all the chatter -- some of it from Sherrod herself -- that she was done in by Fox News, the network didn't touch the story until her forced resignation was made public Monday evening, with the exception of brief comments by O'Reilly. After a news meeting Monday afternoon, an e-mail directive was sent to the news staff in which Fox Senior Vice President Michael Clemente said: "Let's take our time and get the facts straight on this story. Can we get confirmation and comments from Sherrod before going on-air. Let's make sure we do this right."
Sherrod may be the only official ever dismissed because of the fear that Fox host Glenn Beck might go after her.
And props to Jonathan Martin of The Politico:
President Barack Obama has made a mantra out of insisting he and his White House won’t get caught up in “cable chatter,” with aides proudly insisting they don’t let 24-hour news outlets drive decision-making.
But this week’s forced resignation of a previously obscure Agriculture Department employee is just the latest example of Obama officials reacting to a cable news-driven obsession of the right.
Yup, it's steady as he goes and stay the course at the White House.
Fox, Beck ... ahhh, made you jump White House ...
Posted by: Jeff | July 22, 2010 at 12:54 PM
So, do you think Obama was lying when he said he never watches Fox?
Better question: When wasn't Obama lying?
Posted by: MarkO | July 22, 2010 at 12:59 PM
"When wasn't Obama lying?"
He has to sleep some time. He doesn't stop stinking though.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | July 22, 2010 at 01:07 PM
MarkO:
Better question: When wasn't Obama lying?
Let's see...
-"And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
-“It’s not that I want to punish your success, I just want to make sure that everybody that is behind you, that they have a chance for success too. I think that when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”
-"Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket"
-"I do think at a certain point you've made enough money"
Just for starters.
Posted by: hit and run | July 22, 2010 at 01:09 PM
Obummer always lies:
Let me be clear == Obfuscation alert
Some say == quote that nobody has said
Failed policies of the past == produced growth
I quit smoking == and then started again
Posted by: Captain Hate | July 22, 2010 at 01:11 PM
Ah, the USDA is working on Climate Change.
What could go wrong?
http://mexicomfa.com/index.cfm?show=4&id=0702BF4C
Posted by: Pofarmer | July 22, 2010 at 01:23 PM
Also, about the Sherrod dealymathingy. Really don't care less, but, I think that fast response is because those in the White House, those in the NAACP KNOWS that the things that she was charged with go on all the time.
Posted by: Pofarmer | July 22, 2010 at 01:27 PM
Sherrod was never Brietbarts point. It didn't matter if it was her, Whoopi Goldberg, Trigger or Princess Leaha. The point was an NAACP audience was acting approvingly toward a government official discussing discriminating against whites based on their race.
Why hasn't the NAACP apologized to America for approving racial discrimination and perhaps have their members attend racial sensitivity training.
Posted by: Pops | July 22, 2010 at 01:34 PM
""When wasn't Obama lying?"
He has to sleep some time."
Common, Rick, you telling me he's dreaming of MO when he's asleep?
Posted by: Old Lurker | July 22, 2010 at 01:41 PM
Here's an interesting illustration of Obama's success at bringing us into the post-racial world.
Posted by: Danube of Thought | July 22, 2010 at 01:52 PM
Remember when the Rebels attacked the Deathstar. It was really about the janitor in sector 7G.
That punk bastard had to pay!
Posted by: Gabriel Sutherland | July 22, 2010 at 01:55 PM
Pops, liberal misdirection demands Breitbart pay for Sherrod's lyn.., er, crucifixion by the WH, er, conservatives everywhere. It doesn't matter what Breitbart said was his goal; we forgot to focus on the audience.
Posted by: Frau Edith Steingehirn | July 22, 2010 at 02:17 PM
Even more proof of FOX Power, from HuffPo no less!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/why-does-fox-news-have-mo_b_655327.html
Posted by: Johnny Simpson | July 22, 2010 at 02:23 PM
Fox reporting the WSJ is reporting that Harry Reid has said the Cap and Trade bill is dead.
I don't trust the pet shop keeper that uttered the statement, though, do you?
Posted by: Stephanie | July 22, 2010 at 02:47 PM
Now was Ms. Sherrod fired or did she resign ?
Posted by: Neo | July 22, 2010 at 02:55 PM
OT, but my niece just posted that she went through the Minneapolis airport and was stunned to see the huge number of supporters there for former Senator Norm Coleman. I'm sure that recent reports on "election irregularities" have "galvanized the base".
As far as the power of Fox goes, every time I watch Megyn Kelly, I feel something rising within me. Or something.
Posted by: mefolkes | July 22, 2010 at 03:04 PM
Imagine the power of Fox News if they would dump the likes of Shep Smith and the other sensationalists, and search high and low for real old school journalists (Brit Hume).
And don't get me wrong, I love the eye candy and grant that many of the Fox babes are truly professional, but it cheapens the product when the appearance is that you have to be a blonde hotty to get air time.
Posted by: Old Lurker | July 22, 2010 at 03:08 PM
Ole Lurker - now just stop that! Fox can and should be the network of all the blonde hotties fit to view. Well, OK, compromise is acceptable - they can be redheads or brunettes if necessary.
Posted by: Knucklehead | July 22, 2010 at 03:16 PM
Redheads. Anyone else watching the latest season of Dr. Who?
Posted by: Rob Crawford | July 22, 2010 at 03:17 PM
OL, I'll pretend I didn't read that....
Posted by: Captain Hate | July 22, 2010 at 03:20 PM
I love that Jenna Lee is the daughter of Bobby Lee, who served two three-year stints as quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.
It is a hoot that Kimberly Guilfoyle is the ex-wife of vile San Fran mayor Gavin Newsome. She doesn't dish any personal dirt on him, but she isn't hesitant about trashing his viewpoint.
Rob Crawford, funny you should allude to the fabulous new Companion on Dr. Who. I had thought that my ranking of Companions was set in concrete until I saw this new one.
Posted by: mefolkes | July 22, 2010 at 03:25 PM
DOT at 01:52, No doubt about it IMO, she'll appeal that decision as far as they let her.
Posted by: Pagar | July 22, 2010 at 03:27 PM
Just a note. I used to ooh and ahh about Kiran Chetry when she was on Fox. But now she turns out to proclaim from her new position at CNN that Fox should be shut down. It's a good thing she left Fox, although she was certainly quality eye candy.
Posted by: mefolkes | July 22, 2010 at 03:27 PM
“It’s not that I want to punish your success,
I think that's a lie. I think he believes the only way anybody can get successful (outside of government, the home of those who deserve to be wealthy because they're working for The People) is through exploitation.
I just want to make sure that everybody that is behind you, that they have a chance for success too.
Lie. He wants "everybody that is behind you" to get back what you must have stolen from them (else how could you have been successful?)
I think that when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”
That I think he believes, at least to the extent that "everybody" means "the deserving poor", and nothing from the collapse of the Soviet state to the damage he's doing to this country will convince him otherwise.
Posted by: bgates | July 22, 2010 at 03:32 PM
I had thought that my ranking of Companions was set in concrete until I saw this new one.
First Romana still wins, but Amy comes in a very close second. She's got that girl-next-door thing going for her.
Posted by: Rob Crawford | July 22, 2010 at 03:38 PM
I guess Foxnews.com, FoxNation and Bill O'Reilly's show are not actually part of Fox News. Good to know Tom Maguire and Howie Kurtz!
"On July 19, FoxNews.com reported: "Days after the NAACP clashed with Tea Party members over allegations of racism, a video has surfaced showing an Agriculture Department official regaling an NAACP audience with a story about how she withheld help to a white farmer facing bankruptcy."
http://mediamatters.org/research/201007220004
Posted by: Q | July 22, 2010 at 03:46 PM
So, "Q", no link to the actual FoxNews.com story?
(MediaMatters, unless you haven't realized it, is not exactly a reliable source.)
Posted by: Rob Crawford | July 22, 2010 at 03:53 PM
Mary Tamm's Romana was the most elegantly beautiful. For pure sex appeal, I'd rank Leela and Peri higher. And for enduring girl-next-door looks, that endure to this day, Sara Jane is superb.
Posted by: mefolkes | July 22, 2010 at 03:53 PM
Jane Skinner (who has now left Fox News to take care of her twins) is the wife of Roger Goodell.
I believe I have heard Ailes say that he likes to put the hotties on the air because it drives the left nuts. Good enough for me.
Posted by: Danube of Thought | July 22, 2010 at 03:58 PM
Not the best choice of a screen name, "Q". It makes me think of the supremely arrogant putz in "Star Trek: The Next Generation". On the other hand, the choice may be rather appropriate.
Posted by: mefolkes | July 22, 2010 at 03:59 PM
Yes, when I saw that Gavin had cheated on her, I suspected he had no sense of judgement, and he's proven it on more than one occasion
Posted by: narciso the harpoon | July 22, 2010 at 04:15 PM
OL- megan kelly could kick your butt in an argument! and not just because you were distracted... ;-)
Posted by: Young Lurker | July 22, 2010 at 04:21 PM
Kimberly is a rather unusual-looking woman, but decidedly beautiful, even if it isn't the standard classic beauty. Brainy and hot as blazes.
Posted by: mefolkes | July 22, 2010 at 04:21 PM
YL bringing the intergenerational smack. Well done grasshopper.
Posted by: Captain Hate | July 22, 2010 at 04:29 PM
When is Breitbart going to reveal his source? Has the Texas Fair happened yet because with 'I got it behind the 'world's fattest man' booth from Lucy Ramirez' Andrew could instigate a 'teachable' moment for the MSM. In 2004 'Lucy' got stuck in the eye of the right. Now it's payback time.
Posted by: East Bay Jay | July 22, 2010 at 05:05 PM
She's half Puerto Rican, from the wiki, that kind of explains her exotic looks
Posted by: narciso the harpoon | July 22, 2010 at 05:12 PM
DoT:
"I believe I have heard Ailes say that he likes to put the hotties on the air because it drives the left nuts. Good enough for me."
I suspect it mostly drives the lefty feministas crazy. Good enough for me.
Posted by: JM Hanes | July 22, 2010 at 06:27 PM
The Foxes at Fox are aggravating to some because most are so very bright and professionally accomplished that they cannot be simply dismissed as eye candy for the yokels they presume us to be. By the way, if Bunky is lurking here, or Appalled, I detest car racing, monster truck rallies and "professional" wrestling. But I don't waste a moment demeaning those people who enjoy such things, or even ban them, which is the tendency of Lefties toward things and activities they personally do not enjoy.
Posted by: mefolkes | July 22, 2010 at 07:05 PM