Dean: I'd 'Break Up' Fox News

NewsMax.com ^ | 12/02/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean pledged Monday night to "break up" the Fox News Channel along with other conservative news outlets owned by media baron Rupert Murdoch.

"Eleven companies in this country control 90 percent of what ordinary people are able to read and watch on their television," the ex-Vermont governor complained to MSNBC's Chris Matthews, who then asked the candidate point-blank:

"Would you break up Fox? ... Rupert Murdoch has 'The Weekly Standard.' It has got a lot of other interests. It has got the New York Post. Would you break it up?"

Dean shot back, "On ideological grounds, absolutely yes."

A moment later the "Hardball" host pressed: "Seriously. As a public policy, would you bring industrial policy to bear and break up these conglomerations of power?"

At that point Dean seemed to sense that he had gone too far and began to equivocate, saying, "I don't want to answer whether I would break up Fox or not."

The leading Democrat then explained, "What I'm going to do is appoint people to the FCC that believe democracy depends on getting information from all portions of the political spectrum, not just one."

[eddie willers]

My apologies for the one red one.

That's ok....he turned it blue in 2002.

[Nonstatist]

Heck, why stop with FOX News?

Because thats the only one he cares about. The media have been one long horizontal monopoly for many years, and the leftists didnt care. They dont like conservatives, is all.

[Nonstatist]

Would he break up Time-Warner and Viacom? Would he break up Hollywood?

I agree with the poster who said he'dstop with Newscorp (Murdoch's empire). And why is he focused on "media" conglomerations? Theres only 2 American car companies, a handful of steel companies, and so on. Its Fox. Fox is on the Left's brain.

[Jim Cane]

On the other hand, he raises a very interesting point about the application of antitrust law to media conglomerates. I have a hard time accepting the notion of multiple-media ownership in a nation where some industries are prohibited by law from doing the exact same thing.

Excactly! If T.R. were still around, he'd be busting up the AOL-Time-Warner monopoly like an enraged bull moose with sledghammers for antlers. (he'd be extremely old, of course, but full of p*ss 'n vinigar, still)

[yoe]

Rush pointed this out a few minutes ago plus the fact that Dean referred to Russia as the Soviet Union along with all the Dems wanting us out of Iraq and the United Nations in -even ‘tho the 187 member rogue organization has failed to comply with their Security Council to clean up terrorism in their countries.

Dean and the rest also miss the fact that as of now, the US has an air base in the Mid East for the first time ever! Which will serve to keep terrorists countries on the alert, China, Korea, Russia, Iran, Arabia and the rest of the unrest on their toes.

Dean is stupid! He never mentioned breaking up Disney (ABC) or Viacom (huge)...The man is as dangerous as Mrs. Clinton and not at all interested in America as a Republic - just Americans who will give to his campaign and are Democrats. Forget the rest of us!

[biblewonk]

This guy is a stitch.

[Quix]

BTW,

How do we lobby for getting the networks to change back to the HYPORATS having RED states as their Commie hearts ought to own having!

[ZULU]

This man is dangerous, and the liberal left is out to shut down the voice of opposition to CBS, NBC, ABC, Turner and WNBC.

Also, did you catch the face of the bloated slob looking over Dean's shoulder?

That's right, it was the Meathead - from All in the Family.
Liberals never go away, they just older, dumber and fatter
(look at Ted Kennedy).

[Justin714]

I personally think Dean is doing us a huge favor by continuing to make idiotic statements like this. He's starting to show his true color as a Communist.

[Liberty Valance]

This is amazing. Guess he'd be telling us what to read as well. He wants to be President? A chill wind blows indeed.

[international american]

Fox News: "We will keep reporting Dean's idiotic statements until he self destructs"

[Alter Kaker]

Are you suggesting that Newsmax led you on? Actually, Dean DID say it both ways. At least this time, Newsmax was accurate.

I see interview. He is laughing when saying "on ideological grounds, yes;" it is obvious joke. This man may not be joke, but this statement is.

[desertcry]

I agree, but what the howler monkey dean said, gives a very deep view of dean's demented mind and soul. This guy is truly scary, if he gets elected president, that would be the end of what America stands for. It could be the beginning of the 2nd dark age.

[Redbob]

Great map!
Let's help Deanie break Walter Mondale's record!

(Maybe he'd carry Puerto Rico or Guam...)

[Alberta's Child]

The difference is that media conglomerations cover multiple industries that are not directly related but can be inter-connected in an "abusive" manner (from an economic standpoint).

Consider the case of a media conglomerate that owns both a radio station and a record label. If you have noticed recently that the playlist on your favorite radio station is becoming increasingly stale and repetitive, it's because the same conglomerate that owns the radio station also owns a record label and is using the radio station to provide exposure for its own records.

This is the kind of interaction between industries that had been prohibited for years in other sectors of the economy. Railroads, for example, are forbidden from owning any of the industries that they serve -- this was because a railroad that owned a coal mine could drive other coal mines out of business by carrying the coal for "free" on its own rail network.

[Heatseeker]

...cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey sh*t...

Yeah but other than that, he's a heck of a good guy! :)

[tubavil]

Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean pledged Monday night to "break up" the Fox News Channel along with other conservative news outlets...

Well Zeig Heil Mein Fuhrer! Maybe a trip to Israel to see how it is done in practice is in order. Remember, you must first make the 'incitement' and 'hate crime' laws.

[Redbob]

Read it again:

(Matthews)"Would you break up Fox?"
Dean shot back, "On ideological grounds, absolutely yes."

[tubavil]

He'd start with smaller and less well-funded fry first, like FR.

[Redbob]

You're right: Remember how much "talk radio" there was before '87?

That's right: Zero
No radio station would take the chance of having to give free air time to every jerkwad politician who got his knickers in a wad over something someone like Rush might say.