Americans Are Afraid And Ignorant (Please respond to this idiot)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20041120/FOX20/TPEntertainment/TopStories ^

[UpHereEh]

Bring on the Bias, Bring on the Bluster

Before the CRTC's decision to allow the Fox News Channel into Canada, there was some speculation about whether conditions might be attached.

I wonder what conditions might possibly apply -- that it be less hilarious? After all the fuss and anticipation, I think most Canadians who are curious about the Fox phenomenon will be a tad disappointed with the alleged news coverage. What they'll see is a lot of blustering and badgering, a good deal of boasting, and not a lot of news. But they will be entertained.

This is, after all, the channel whose star pundit, Bill O'Reilly, referred to this newspaper as the "far-left Toronto Globe and Mail." The same gent (and I use the term advisedly) roused himself to comment on the coverage of Fox News in this paper by declaring, "Hey you pinheads up there, I may be pompous, but at least I'm honest."

Later, when the "pinheads" comment was taken to refer to Canadians, O'Reilly declared he was referring to staff at The Globe, not Canadians. As for me, he called me "a Canadian intellectual." It was meant to be an insult. I was very flattered and amused.

It was all very amusing. But the core of the Fox News attitude and its bullying, often barking-mad pseudo-news style was revealed to everybody earlier this year when Fox News began its mad dance with Canada and Canadians. Bizarrely, it started when remarks in my column came to the attention of O'Reilly and the matter snowballed.

Me, I simply welcomed the possibility of Fox News arriving in Canada, because its biases and bluster are so darn funny. O'Reilly took umbrage and started name-calling. On air, he said of The Globe, "That paper has consistently taken liberal positions on almost every issue."

"And," added O'Reilly, "Doyle strikes up the band."

Over the next few days I was inundated with e-mails from the United States. Most were abusive and some were outrageously so. I was called "a douche nozzle," "a douche bag" and many variations on the theme. I wrote about the mail, pointing out that it was both nasty and unimaginative. This story received some attention in the United States. I began hearing from Americans by the thousands. Most apologized for their fellow citizens, declared their admiration for Canada, and bemoaned the idiocy of Fox News and its supporters.

Next, The New York Times stepped in. Intrigued by the story, the Times wanted to know more. I gave the Times access to the mail I'd received. In a Sunday feature, the Times then chronicled the back-and-forth between O'Reilly and me, and printed examples of the sort of American mail that came my way. The Times provides stories to newspapers around the world, and this story duly went international. Soon, I was hearing from people in Australia, Britain, France and many other countries.

On Fox, O'Reilly mentioned the Times story. Somewhat chastened by the ignorant, poisonous vitriol of his supporters, he tut-tutted about that sort of behaviour. That was it, really. But the upshot was clear: O'Reilly was revealed as a buffoon, and fans of Fox News were shown to be belligerent crackpots.

Can anybody here possibly take Fox News seriously? Hardly. The channel describes itself as "fair and balanced" when it clearly is not. Its other slogan is "We report -- You decide." That, too, is a joke. There isn't much on Fox News that most reasonable people would describe as "reporting." There is an awful lot of talk. There is shouting, bullying and blather. It is all so ostentatiously over-the-top and biased that it's wonderfully funny.

While it's funny, it is also important that we see it. Fox News Channel has easily overtaken CNN as the most-watched news channel in the United States. It didn't achieve that position by being a sober, diligently objective newsgathering operation. It achieved it by adding an operatic quality to the news -- apparently the future of civilization hangs in the balance, and if the Fox News pundits don't get their way, democracy and decency will disappear.

A lot of Americans are afraid of the rest of the world, afraid of change, and ignorant about what happens in other countries. What they want to hear is a news service that agrees with their suspicions and tells them that, basically, people in other countries are stupid and envious of the United States. Fox News does precisely that.

Fox News undoubtedly helped re-elect George W. Bush. In one instance, O'Reilly interviewed Bush and reminded viewers that the President was brave because he had agreed to be interviewed.

In another instance, a report by a Fox News correspondent was posted on the network's website, just after the first presidential debate. The story claimed that John Kerry had boasted about his manicure and described himself as "a metrosexual." The story was bogus; not a word of it was true. Yet, for a time, Fox News presented it as a legitimate report.

Now in Canada, we're not so small-minded, petty and unsophisticated that we'd even consider making an issue about some guy's manicure. Also, we don't hate France. Loathing of France seems to be the bedrock of Fox News.

I've got a funny feeling that it would be a head-slapper of a revelation to the Fox News Channel that Canada is officially a bilingual country and, for many Canadians, French is their first language.

In fact, I've got lots of funny feelings about Fox. It's going to be hilarious to have daily access to its preposterous view of the world.

By JOHN DOYLE

Saturday, November 20, 2004 - Page R1

[UpHereEh]

This is the leftest media we have to put up with in Canada. Please email this ignorant prick John Doyle, and The Globe And Mail with your comments.

[MNJohnnie]

Kind of obvious that this ignorant bigot has never actually watched Fox News.

[Trippin]

It's ironic, isn't it? Canadian media is a leftist hell hole and in my opinion, THEY are the one's who are afraid and ignorant. Anything that challenges their world view is a threat to them. Canadian media is easily the most hypocritical you will ever come across. I'm so happy Fox News is coming to Canada I can hardly contain myself.

[Oldsailor]

I'm reminded of the statement made by Bernie Goldberg that the liberal elites are just like fish that just don't know that they are wet.

[nutmeg]

A lot of Americans are afraid of the rest of the world, afraid of change, and ignorant about what happens in other countries. What they want to hear is a news service that agrees with their suspicions and tells them that, basically, people in other countries are stupid and envious of the United States. Fox News does precisely that.

FoxFan ping! (barf alert on this one)

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my FoxFan list. *Warning: This can be a high-volume ping list at times.

[Dallas59]

"Now in Canada, we're not so small-minded, petty and unsophisticated that we'd even consider making an issue about some guy's manicure. Also, we don't hate France. Loathing of France seems to be the bedrock of Fox News"

The rest of the world governments do a pretty good job of helping their people"hate" the United States. Of course, the the millions that come here legally and illegally, and the millions who fight to get here aren't quoted in his story. He doesn't know anything about the "world". He's all one sided. Case closed.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Why respond? Let him die cold and stupid.

[Grampa Dave]

More vile pap from a Canute Fudge Packer for Kerry.

This maggot has been out the closet and pushing the gay agenda for a long time.

http://search.yahoo.com/bin/search?p=JOHN%20DOYLE%20Gay

One of those links shows this: Gay Culture 20 years Later
... Queers count! Gay and lesbian relationships are as valid as heterosexual relationships ... Tom Edge, Lorna Murray, Tom Gale, John Doyle, Jeff Winkler, Anita Jensen Matt Keufler, Delwin ...
www.times10.org/maureen32000.htm -"In the 1970s when I joined the Gay Alliance Toward Equality (GATE), Barry Breau still worked quietly in a government office, Michael Phair had just come out and Liz Massiah had not yet moved here. That shows long ago it was! At the time I was not out, although that was to change very quickly. In the early 1980s, GALA came into being and I continued to work for change with Michael, Liz, George Davison, Katherine DeBree, Tom Edge, Lorna Murray, Tom Gale, John Doyle, Jeff Winkler, Anita Jensen Matt Keufler, Delwin Vriend, Nick Zwagstra and many others whose names escape me today. Later, Anna Hanscher, Murray Billet, Roz Osternforf and a number of other lesbians and gay men would join us. We were few in number but mighty in energy. Our office was Michael Phair's living room and every week Tom Gale would deliver his weekly supply of letters and petitions to the legislature. And boy did we work to ensure he had a good supply!. During the week we visited bars, dances, churches, organizations and where ever 2 or more persons were gathered together to talk to them about equality and ask for their signature on a letter and or a petition. Many people would sign only with their first name but it was important that they be heard."

The Jason Blairs of the media are out full force trying to trash GW, Republicans, Christians and anything conservative since GW pounded their boy, moi Kerri!

[Gunrunner2]

". . .tells them that, basically, people in other countries are stupid and envious of the United States. Fox News does precisely that."

And the problem is. . . .what? Truth is nothing if not honest.

[ARridgerunner]

Ping

[The Electrician]

Responding to this guy will just feed his inflated ego. Whether he is intentionally making idiotic statements in order to stoke the fires, or whether he is simply clueless, he's not worth my time - other than to get a bit of comic relief by reading the article.

[schaketo]

After all the fuss and anticipation, I think most Canadians who are curious about the Fox phenomenon will be a tad disappointed with the alleged news coverage.

Sounds a little like Ted Turner when told that Rupert was going to take it straight at CNN.

It's funny how these idiots react when threatened. Can't wait to see the ratings after about 6 months on the air.

[Dog Gone]

Yeah, yeah, Fox viewers are stupid knuckledraggers and President Bush is a chimp. Can't the left come up with some new insults when discussing us?

[bubman]

Thxs John Doyle for your "indepth analysis" I just ordered my satellite dish and I am looking forward to seeing what most americans are raving about. Buy Bye CBC CTV NBC CBS ABC & CNN, Hello Fox and hopefully HBO and ESPN. Good fu$&ken riddance.
You know if you freepers don't post any of the Globe's garbage I wouldn't read it. I have given up on this rag years ago. National Post is more my cup of tea!

[EdReform]

Queer infested media!

BTTT

[UpHereEh]

I second your entire statement!

[Richard Kimball]

Is this the same Canada that threatened to file charges on Michael Moore for making comments about their elections? Is this the same Canada where you have to get government permission to express your views, and can still be thrown in jail if the government disagrees with those views? Is this the same Canada that won't allow "Focus on the Family" episodes to air, because they don't support the homosexual agenda?

We don't fear a free press. Oh, and as to disliking France, the 21 billion scammed out of the mouths of Iraqi kids, a work force so lazy they didn't want to come back off of vacation during a heat wave that killed 10,000 people, and French troops opening fire on unarmed civilians on the Ivory Coast might have something to do with that. Of course, you probably didn't hear about that in Canada.

UpHereEh, hang in there. You're an outpost in the US shock the world tour.

[Grampa Dave]

I didn't realize that you could order a dish satellite system in Canada. For some reason, I thought the left wingers in Canada had banned satellite reception in Canada.

[WorkingClassFilth]

"I'm so happy Fox News is coming to Canada..."

VOA in living color. They'll probably jam it though.

[Grampa Dave]

QIM = QUEER INFESTED MEDIA

This has a good ring to it and would be a good lead line with I reply with a Yahoo search to these vile articles showing the Gay background of the Jason Blair wannabe.