White House lashes out at Glenn Beck, Fox News ‘lies’

By Daniel Tencer
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 -- 4:30 pm
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glennbeckcrying White House lashes out at Glenn Beck, Fox News liesIn another sign that the Obama administration is increasingly willing to take on its media critics directly, the White House blog has published a comparison of Fox News "rhetoric" versus "reality" on the issue of President Obama's support for Chicago's Olympic bid.

The statement went so far as to use the expression "Fox lies."

"Last night Fox News continued its disregard for the facts in an attempt to smear the Administration's efforts to win the Olympics for the United States," the White House blog entry begins. "In the past, hosting the Olympics has been a source of pride and unity for the country, but once again Fox News' Glenn Beck program has shown that nothing is worthy of respect if it can be used as part of a partisan attack to boost ratings."

Some Republicans criticized the president earlier this week for his last-minute plan to fly to Copenhagen to help Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. While some have accused the president of hometown favoritism, on Tuesday Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said the trip was a distraction from larger priorities; Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO) said the president should stay in the US and focus on the war in Afghanistan.

Fox News' Glenn Beck picked up and expanded on those talking points Tuesday night, and on Wednesday the White House responded with a scathing debunking of numerous points the TV personality made.

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The statement attacked Beck for claiming that the Olympics cost the city of Vancouver $1 billion, pointing out that the Vancouver Winter Games haven't taken place yet. It also took a Beck guest to task for claiming that Chicago has had to close its city government several days a week because of a fiscal crunch; "Chicago has had one reduced-service day in 2009, and will have two more on the Friday after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve," the White House retorted.

The statement concludes: "For even more Fox lies, check out the latest 'Truth-O-Meter' feature from Politifact that debunks a false claim about a White House staffer that continues to be repeated by Glenn Beck and others on the network."

The White House now appears unafraid to take on Fox's controversial coverage of the Obama administration directly.

On Sept. 20, President Obama appeared on five Sunday talk shows, but not on any show hosted on Fox. Asked why, a White House spokesperson suggested it was retaliation for the Fox network's decision not to broadcast the president's Sept. 9 address to Congress on health care.

“We figured Fox would rather show So You Think You Can Dance than broadcast an honest discussion about health insurance reform,” a White House deputy press secretary said. “Fox is an ideological outlet where the president has been interviewed before and will likely be interviewed again; not that the whining particularly strengthens their case for participation any time soon.”

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Story comments are below...

  • SharksBreath
    Fox News is not a news organization. It's a political operation.
  • Tampathunder14
    That is just typical for Liberals. So, do you consider MSNBC a news organization? Really, I've tried to sit there and watch MSNBC and CNN and all here them doing is praising Obama like he is god or something. I'd say these to "news organizations are political operations because they don't bring up stuff such as the corruption in ACORN, the czars (which are supposed to be vetted by congress), or corruption in Washington. The media is supposed to be a watchdog for the people not a tool for the government to change the way people think by twisting the truth or just straight out lying. Take off the blinders when you watch either one of these and you will see what I mean.
  • roooth
    This is just typical for an ignorant winger.

    I know wingers have a real problem with facts - but here's a couple for you anyway.

    FOX is a wing of the Republican Party - to the extent that they even took their daily "news" talking points from the Bush White House and named a man who ran the Republican Party as head of the network.

    If you accept FOX's made-up expose of ACORN as pure fact, then you are the one wearing blinders - which makes you exactly the kind of ignorant, unquestioning viewer FOX depends on - because intelligent people who do their own research and don't take any one station as having the only truth don't believe ANYthing that FOX says.

    And czars? How stupid are you? Really? Just because Beck spews about "czars" you get your panites in a wad. Bush had more czars, Nixon had czars, Reagan and Bush I had czars - were you all excited about those? No? No one to lead you by the nose then?

    Obama's "czars", some of whom are just standard appointments - something a Beck viewer won't know, because Beck will never say it - have been confirmed - IF the appointment required confirmation. Several that Beck is getting you all upset about aren't really czars and do not require confirmation.

    These are things you would know if you would stop clogging your brain with FOX crap and educate yourself before you shoot your mouth off.

    But, nooooooo, instead, you come here and spew talking points that we already know about and know are lies, because we don't just listen to FOX and assume they are telling the truth.

    I hate to tell you, Bucky, but the most rampant corruption today is in the mental processes of FOX viewers and the Republican's wing-nut base.

    I bet you think Orly Taitz is on to something....
  • Tampathunder14
    First of all I am not a right winger by all means. That is a huge misconception, I'm more middle of road because I agree with some things that Liberals say and I agree with things that conservatives. I'm sick of both parties by the way. I've actually done tons of research about ACORN from multiple sources, alot of non partisan sources. By the way, I also do my research especially when I see something on the news. You must be very immature, by the way, to be calling me stupid. Do your research and you'll find Obama has appointed more than any other president, about 52 compared to Bush's 46 and Reagan's 1 czar. It's not liberals or conservatives that are problem, it's progressives like John McCain, George W. Bush, Obama and the list goes on and on. Before ypu start you start making claims do your research and stop being a hypocrite.
  • Nick
    Absolutely Tampathunder. Thank you.

    THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRATIC/REPUBLICAN ISSUE!!!!

    This is not a liberal/conservative issue!! This is the product of a corrupt administration. Obama's administration didn't start it, but they're making sure the people now know about it. Bush didn't have corrupt people working for him? Right. Nobody has said that. Nobody has come to Bush's defense and said that there was no progressivism in that administration, because there absolutely was.

    Anybody who wants to personally attack a conservative because you can't put up a logical argument, go for it. I hope you realize that the moment you attack the PERSON instead of the ISSUE, people discredit you immediately, and it makes you look extremely immature. That's all I see between the two "wings" is the immature personal attack BS. If you can't attack an issue without attacking the PERSON, you've got a lot to learn.

    Face it. This is a failing administration. Obama has been one of the biggest failures as president that we have ever had. He's a 4-year president, I guarantee there's no second term.

    There are better things to deal with than the stupid Olympics. We could never have an Olympic event again and nobody would care. We should keep paying to send him overseas where people don't care! NOBODY CARED THAT HE WAS THERE!! He thought that people would go "oh wow it's the president, let's bow to him and tell him we'll give him the Chicago Olympics" but they didn't! Nobody cared!

    Plain and simple, your messiah is failing miserably.
  • jlewd
    Plain and simple -- that's you in a nutshell, moron.

    Yeah, your hero GW did a great job with this nation, didn't he? But keep lying the big lie: it's all you morally corrupt, intellectually bankrupt rightards have.

    That, and Fox.
  • roooth
    "Obama has appointed more than any other president, about 52 compared to Bush's 46"

    Wrong. Iused to give the corrected info to all you WINGERS who try and pretend to be moderates while all you post are right-wing talking points.
    No more. The numbers you quote are straight from FOX and right-wing sites like Drudge.
    Either get your facts straight, or post a link to one of your non-partisan sites.
    BTW - you're not the first winger to claim to be a moderate while spewing RW talking points.
    It's so '08.
  • Tampathunder14
    I'm so just sick and tired of you. I swear to god I am not a right winger. Why do you have to play politics? This not about right versus left. I don't just claim to be moderate I actually am. I'm for abortion, stem cell research, legalization of marijuana, I don't have a problem with gay marriage. On the conservative side, I agree with cutting taxes, protecting gun rights, smaller government, less spending, major immigration reform. I guess you could say I'm a little more libertarian.So, I think you should just shut up about that point. Secondly, prove to me that the information I got was wrong (don't say its cause of fox news). Show me the information, unless you just don't know what you are talking about. This is always what liberals do when they don't have the facts.
  • jlewd
    Nice try. You're obviously a righwinger dressed up to look like something other.

    Where were you when we discussed eight years of Bushit?

    Yeah, that's what I thought.

    You've learned well from Fox:

    1. Make up figure.
    2. State as fact.
    3. When your fabrication is called out, shift blame to person pointing out fabrication and demand they disprove you.
    4. Repeat with next retarded talking point.

    P.S. -- Why would you point fingers at "liberals" if you weren't a con in independent's clothes? You're fooling no one here, Tamponthunder14.
  • Tampathunder14
    There is not a frickin' nice try. What the hell do I have to say to prove that I am not a right winger? I was not politically active during his presidency but I've done my research on his presidency and there he was just as bad as Obama, since they are both progressives. The only reason I point my finger at liberals is because they are the ones doing the name calling. I'm not trying to fool anybody, I am a truthful moderate. Is name calling really all you can do? You must be really immature to turn to name calling. Grow up and stop playing politics.
  • jlewd
    Do you even have a point? No, you do not have a point.

    You point your fingers at liberals because you're a troll.

    End of story.

    Next time, use the ALL CAPS so we can easily disregard your lame posts.

    One line above says it all: "I was not politically active during his presidency." Suddenly, now there's a black man in office and you're a political stalwart?
  • Tampathunder14
    I actually became knowledgable about politics after 9/11. I know that sounds strange but I started to understand how important it was to study all the issues. In the last 2 years of Bush's presidency, I became pollitical active. I don't frickin' about if Obama is white, black, or purple, I just don't agree on his policies. Once again with the name calling, why can't you just say something without name calling. I see you are suggesting that I am a rascist. YOU DON'T KNOW ME, so you shouldn't make that kind of judgement.
  • jlewd
    No, we don't know you -- and we won't be able to tell any more by your pointless, meandering posts.

    You became knowlegeable about politics after 9/11? That's one year in Bush's term. Where were you the other seven? It's been a matter of public knowledge that Furious George pretty much destroyed this nation: where was your mock concern during his reign of terror?

    Name calling works for Beck and Fox. What's good for the goosestep, is good for the gander.

    Make a point and make it clearly -- otherwise, stop whining about being misunderstood. You're the root of the cause.
  • Tampathunder14
    Well, I was very critical of the things he did during his presidency the whole time. Reign of Terror, I think that a little over exagerated. I disagreed with his bailout, stimulus, and a long list of other things. Except for how he handled our national security. I'm not whining, you have no idea just how annoying it is. I think the main root of the cause is ignorant people not conservatives or liberals. Stop being hypocrite saying that only Fox uses name calling cause you used name calling in your previous post. You called me a troll. I have not been name calling you. What about the democrats who called the protestors racist teabaggers, nazi's, unamerican, dangerous. Why haven't you criticized them?
  • jlewd
    The teabaggers ARE racist nazis -- and tremendously unAmerican. (Pictures of Hitler everywhere, swastikas everywhere, signs reading "we came unarmed -- this time" -- what the fuck is that if not totalitarian?) Did you read any of these morons' signs or listen to any of their bullshit protests? Christ, they played like a color version of Weimar Germany. The entire movement should be criticized for being nothing more than KKK Lite.

    Troll is not a name: it is a job description.

    Curiously, you did not mention torture or lying America into the Iraq War -- apparently, you were cool with that.

    Reign of Terror is not only appropriate -- it is an understatement. George W. Bush fucked this country in ways his father and great grandfather only dreamed of.

    As for national security, we were attacked during this moron's watch -- how the hell is that successful? And don't even try the "he kept us safe" crap -- we were attacked because of his administration's negligence and arrogance: otherwise, how did over 3,500 people die on Sept. 11 and 5,000 Americans die in Iraq?

    The red is starting to come out in the wash. I stand by everything I've said.
  • Tampathunder14
    First of all thats only a few people cause those are the photos the fringe media uses. That doesn't represent me or any other person in the tea parties. Just cause someone in the government says doesn't always mean its true. We were attacked because of Clinton's negligence, he knew about am emminent attack. He had two terrorist attacks during his administration, one on the world trade center, and the USS Cole. Plus, he had plenty of opportunities to take out Bin Laden and he didn't. September 11th happened in his first year in office. When you can carry on a more mature conversation, let know cause then we can talk about the issues. Its obvious you are being very immature and you have your head so far up your butt, you can see China. I'm done with this, its no use arguing with a child.
  • jlewd
    Few people, my ass. Do an image search on Google: those numbers don't lie -- that's your job.

    We were attacked because your asshole met with the Taliban and threatened them right from the start -- I believe the quote was "we can greet you with a carpet of gold or a carpet of bombs." Suddenly, all deals were off. Next thing you know, we have 9/11 -- and that after dipshit and his crew disregarded an intelligence report entitled "Osama Bin Laden Likely to Attack Within United States." Bush was a fucking retard and so are you for siding with him. As usual, your stereotypical villain and lame-ass, trite claim; "B-but, Clintion!" It's a new century, Neanderthal: get with the evolution.

    Also, if you're going to lie half-assedly and pull shit out of your sorry ass, at least try to make your bullshit a little more interesting. This shit is amateurish even for a seasoned troll.

    Also, go fuck yourself, retard. You couldn't find your way out of a dog-leg maze with a map, let alone concoct an interesting argument with your falsehoods and stupidity.

    Maturity has nothing to do with this: being sick of lying sacks of shit like you has everything to do with it. Take your bullshit to some white supremacist/ teabagger site where it is more appropriate. Also, pull your own head out of your own corpulent, obviously cracker-assed crackerish ass before engaging in any debate: you sound like a fucking idiot and your trollish ways are way too obvious.
  • jlewd
    And we can keep this up until each reply is a letter or a fraction of a letter per line, and nothing will change: you still won't have a clue, and I won't care if you do or don't. I only like to remind fools that the shoe is on the other foot and you've got at least three more years and more likely seven to go, so suck it in, dickwater: it's our turn to run things now.
  • Tampathunder14
    Do you kiss your mother with that mouth? Only immature person would refer to foul language to try and prove a point. You are obviously being very ignorant by referring to me as a cracker, thats technically not racist. Please grow up, there is no reason to use that language just cause we don't agree.By the way, I'm not white, I'm hispanic. That is what makes racist. Go ahead play a race card cause you don't have anything better to say. Maturity has alot to do with this cause name calling is for 1st graders. Thats the problem with the world, its the people who make race part of everything. For you to think I'm racist, well thats just plain ignorant. I'm smarter than you could ever now and I take offense out of the retard comment cause I have a disability, not mental
    (so don't even go there), so don't make rash judgements.
  • Tampathunder14
    Its really hard to be a white supremacist if your hispanic.
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