Good Thing Harsanyi Is An Op-Ed Columnist and Not a Journalist

If there’s one thing the Cons have demonstrated perfectly for years, it’s that one doesn’t have to think to have an opinion. One should be able to think to form a news story, but this is too often not the case in today’s media world where entertainment corrupts journalism.

Some snippets of what has become standard drivel from Harsanyi:

Dunn went on to assert that when the president “goes on Fox, he understands he is not going on it as a news network at this point. He is going on it to debate the opposition.” Who knew debating the future of the nation was such a ghastly thought?

In this opinion piece, Harsanyi asks many questions that he should have asked of the Bush “administration” (they weren’t a legitimate administration any more than Fox is a legitimate news source). What about Bush’s policy of establishing invite-only events that were funded by taxpayers? Democrats, Unaffiliateds and Cons alike paid for these events, but only people who agreed not to debate Bush were invited. Bush definitely thought debate was ghastly. Crickets from the right-wingers’ bench.

Just like every other Con whining and gnashing about the obvious unfairness of the Obama administration labeling Fox as opinion-based, Harsanyi wastes plenty of pixels (ink, too) on how anyone could possibly think that the executive branch should be able to decide who’s legitimate and who’s not. Just like every other Con, Harsanyi tries to hide his hypocrisy from public view. Where was his concern when Bush did the exact same thing to MSNBC? More crickets.

Obama’s Admin: Fox Not Legitimate

It’s time to throw some parties!  It’s not the first time it’s happened, and I don’t at this point think it will be the last either.  Two Obama advisers went on two different Sunday TV talk shows and stated unequivocally what most rational people have thought to themselves for years:

Fox is not a legitimate news outlet.

They’re an biased entity with access to the airwaves.  They have opinions, which everyone and every entity has a right to have.  But having an opinion doesn’t make one a journalist or a news network.  They can think of themselves as whatever they want, but it’s impressive and encouraging that the Obama administration is forcefully keeping Fox away with a 20′ pole.  After all, there are thousands (millions?) of opinion-holders out there.  They can’t all get into Presidential press briefings.  Those should be reserved for widely accepted news outlets.

The difference between this administration and the Bush cabal in this arena is stark.  Bush’s cronies used Fox and other non-serious groups (remember the non-credentialed gay prostitute who was allowed into press briefings to lob softballs to the Boy King?) to push their agenda on America by force.  Obama and his staff are serious about actually governing the country.

Hillary Clinton, MSNBC and Fox

MSNBC continues to have troubles with its hosts spouting off ridiculous, sexist comments. The latest episode involved host David Shuster suggesting the Clinton campaign had “pimped out” 27-year old Chelsea by having her place phone calls to celebrities and Democratic Party “superdelegates” on her mother’s behalf. Despite the fact that every race in America from school board to president relies on family members’ direct involvement and support, Shuster singled out the Clinton camp.

That being said, the ridiculousness was nearly matched by the Clintons: “I [Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson], at this point, can’t envision a scenario where we would continue to engage in debates on that network,” he added.

At first blush, it sounds like a good plan, right? Then why would team Clinton continue to agree to a debate on Fox? Which network over the past 20 years has spent more time trying to bring down the Clinton’s? Fox. Which candidate didn’t speak up and refuse to debate on Fox last fall? Clinton. What’s the catch?

Remember this? That’s right: Fox owner Rupert Murdoch (who strongly advocates for further monopolistic control over media outlets and has been investigated for such in other countries and correctly vilified in the US for the same) has hosted fundraisers for Clinton.

Is this how Clinton will “have the strength and experience to lead this country,” she said. “And I am ready to go toe-to-toe with Senator McCain whenever and wherever he desires.” The more voices get drowned out, the better Clinton does. How accepting Murdoch’s money now to set herself up for four years of the 1990′s repeated benefits this country and its desperate need for solutions is way beyond me.

But it’s exactly why I caucused for Obama. And it’s a big reason why there’s no way I’ll work to get her elected if she’s the nominee. People need to wake up: there will be little to no progress made under a Clinton administration for the majority of Americans. Voting for her just because she’s a woman isn’t enough.

*****

Update: KingOneEye has a more in-depth analysis on this.

Edwards, Obama don’t go on Fox

And it’s a good thing too.  It’s not a news network, it’s a propaganda outlet.  “Fair and balanced”?  Sure, if you’re a fringe rightist.  To most everybody else, it’s junk.

Watch Fox hosts whine about Edwards and Obama refusing to go on their nonsense shows.  Comedy gold!  But beware if someone calls Bill-O or Slanthead a name, because they’re big meanies who should immediately apologize.  This from the ‘party of personal responsibility’.  Yeah, right.

Edwards and Obama: do not go on Fox!