Many Fox stories ‘not true,’ White House spokesman says

By John Byrne
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 -- 7:53 am
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367 fox foley Many Fox stories not true, White House spokesman saysHow many false stories? At least five in last month

In its ongoing war with Fox News Channel, the White House has fired one over the bow.

At his press briefing Tuesday, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked about President Obama's comment, "I've got one television station that is entirely devoted to attacking my administration."

"My question: Did he mean to say one television network, or was he informing this opinion, watching one station, a FOX network?" the reporter queried.

"I think the President was clear in what he said," Gibbs replied. "And I think, based on your question, you understand the answer too."

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"How do you respond to criticism that the administration's posture towards FOX News constitutes some sort of bullying or chilling of speech?" the reporter returned.

"We get questions throughout the day, seven days a week, about policies here at the White House, questions that you guys want answered," Obama's spokesman replied. "And our goal is to make sure that you have the facts as you do your job. That's what we do for everybody.

"Well, specifically, the comments by Anita Dunn about FOX not being a real news network?"

"I have watched many stories on that network that I've found not to be true," Gibbs said, then moderated his answer. "I think everybody in this room has been likely on the other end of a phone conversation with me when I've had issues with your stories. I don't think that's new."

One of Fox's falsehoods appears above right. The network has often identified Republican politicians in trouble as Democrats. Pictured above is former Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL), who engaged in lewd instant message conversations with a young male page.

Other Fox falsehoods published in the last month alone include:

* Fox recently claimed that the founder of a gay student group was associated with a man-boy love organization.
* Fox made up a deficit claim when reporting on Obama's 2009 government budget.
* Fox made up facts about the costs of the Olympics.
* A Fox advertisement lied about the coverage of tea party protests on other television networks.
* Fox's Glenn Beck repeatedly lied about Obama policy "czars."

Glenn Beck, Fox News' perennial hatchetman, challenged the White House on his show to name anything that was untrue.

Beck recently called President Obama a "racist," sparking advertiser flight.

On his show, Beck installed a red phone for the White House to call him on and told them to "correct anything on this program."

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Story comments are below...

  • steveginil
    I have a very good 40-year friend of mine who had moved out to a rural area long ago, and I only had sporadic contact with her over the last 10 years. On a phone call recently, she started to tell me how there was only one really honest and objective news network out there. I could tell where she was going with that.

    I asked which one it was.

    She said, "FOX."

    I said, "Oh, really?"

    She launched into a Glenn Beck-ian, Rush Limbaugh-ian tirade.

    I interrupted and said, "Sorry. Goodbye. Forever."

    Once someone has gotten past the Moonie-indoctrination threshold, short of an intervention, there is nothing you can do.

    Except feel sorry for them.
  • bridge4300
    you are a perfect example of liberal tolerance.
  • bridge4300
    you are a perfect example of liberal tolerance.
    glad we aren't friends.
  • steveginil
    You are welcome to that opinion.

    Why did I do that? you might ask.

    The one single thing I am 100% intolerant about is intolerance. If there is one quality about FOX and the society they are trying to push on all of us is intolerance. I do not have to keep hearing their intolerance coming at me from every direction. I do not have to accept their saying "We are the only people who are really human, and the rest of you are something less."

    They think EXclusively, and I think INclusively. To me, that is liberal tolerance. The Internet is FULL of liberal blogs which are FILLED with diatribes against the intolerance of FOX and Red Staters. Why is it okay for DailyKos to laugh at mouth-breathers, but not me? Why is it okay for "Talking Points Memo", "Crooks and Liars", and "Washington Monthly" to ridicule the hell out of right-wingers, but I can't tell a friend they are just too damned intolerant for me, and go to hell? It is the same thing.

    When my friend has gotten over her ditto-head-ness, she is completely welcome back into my life. Until then, I don't have to listen to her anymore than I have to watch FOX News.

    Do YOU watch FOX News? If not, aren't you doing the same liberal intolerance you are accusing me of?

    It is not a case of me expecting her to toe my behavioral line. It is a case of her trying to stuff right wing crap down my throat and me saying no, it ain't gonna happen. Did you notice the line where I said she was on a diatribe?
  • bridge4300
    May I quote you? "I can't tell a friend they are just too damned intolerant for me, and go to hell?" Sounds like YOU are the intolerant one.

    By the way, I am not a liberal. Thanks ~ but no thanks.
  • sanchosdad
    why does the white house allow fox into the press room. throw their asses out. what are they gonna do? lie and whine like they already do?
  • bridge4300
    Oh, so now we pick and choose what main news organizations can attend press briefings? I thought I lived in the US not North Korea!
  • chazzjazz
    Let's face it Rupert Murdoch is an enemy combatant and his Fox news network is a republican spin machine. I always say they should rename Fox to the WMSU network. We make sh!# up network.
  • Fox News is an entertainment channel for right wing lunatics. That's it.
  • shag11
    Faux "News" daily lies and disparages, and while I don't watch that network, I am grateful for this site and others that have actual footage of the lies.
  • johnttt
    Well they lie AND THEY KNOW THEY LIE ....and it has become such a standard for them that they feel they have every right to lie......it's like the mormon thing "Lying for God" it's ok to lie if it's for the greater good. Finally without the bully pulpit it's all coming home to roost, The lying, the bigotry, playing to the base (snake handlers) among other thing so your gonna hear some really loud screaming about mistreatment........just remember it's a VERY small group, just very noisy group.....any they'll fade into the background eventually because in the end no one really cares what they think (and what they think are mostly lies) Has anyone notice the very loud lying voice emerging call LIZ CHENEY ? They'll keep throwing shit against the wall until someting sticks and LIZ is the latest shit !!!
  • Kip
    Hey Rawstory I also heard the sky blue, rain is wet, and the ground is hard. As long as were just pointing out random true things.
  • xoriku
    Doesn't anybody here remember what news was really like about 20-25 years ago???? There used to be rules in place that news had to be news, and televised opinions had to also give air time to opposite opinions. When all those rules were removed, the news became entertainment. Not news. They only thing a news show care about are ratings. It wasn’t until those laws were changed that we started having all these problems!! The problem with most Americans is that because it's a news show, they believe everything that is said as real news. Let’s change the laws back to what they were before, and make people who report news have accountability!!! Let’s change the laws, and go back to being able to hear information and decide for ourselves how we feel about any issue.
  • YearningForLiberty
    Fox, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, Obama, Gibbs, Cheney... they ALL lie, politicians and "journalists" alike. What else is new? Gibbs calling Fox News liars is like the pot calling the kettle black. Meanwhile the banksters, insurance fraudsters, and defense industry leaches are laughing at all you gullible sheep while they count their profits. Sad but true...
  • bayside
    Fox was taken to court and the judge said news networks are expected to lie, giving fox license to hate all it wants too..
  • rhetoricus
    Name one example of CNN, ABC, CBS News lying. Just one.

    I can give you dozens of examples of FOX lying. Let's get the actual examples out there.
  • wellwellwell
    ALL MSM NEW IS FAKE!

    So there.

    THe only MSM new show worth watching is ONLY CERTAIN GUESTS that come to Glen Beck or anything with Judge Andrew Napolitano and its online.
  • Yeah, right...Glenn Beck. How about Free Speech TV? Ever hear of it? Or Democracy NOW! ???
  • stanmarloshkovip
    I think the political infighting is manufactured to cover up how little difference the U.S. foreign policy is between Obama and Bush. It is like listening to all the bickering noise of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum when they really agree on everything.
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