Roger Ailes on Oabama; “He is under-exposed and over-exposed. He said he is going to be transparent. He is not. So that is under-exposure. He is on television every time I look at the television set. He is kind of over-exposed but he is not letting us in on any of the inner workings of what he is trying to accomplish. He has got. Peter Robinson:The press and people respond to that. You cannot pull that off. Roger Ailes:No they have an investment in him now because they jumped so far in the tank during the election they cannot get out. But, he is smart. If you go to the American people sincerely and say look, I really believe a 12 trillion dollar deficit is a good idea. You have to sell it, but it is going to be a hard sell. He has to sell his ideas. Richard Neustadt, you know in Presidential Power, 50 or 60 years ago wrote that the real power of the Presidency is the power of persuasion. Peter Robinson:Right. Roger Ailes:He said I did not sell my health care plan well enough. Peter Robinson:He had a year. Roger Ailes:He had 127 appearances to sell it, so either he needs to look at his speech writers or exactly what he is saying about it. The bottom line is if you think you can trick the American people; the old line is you...” http://fora.tv/2010/02/05/Uncommon_Knowledge_Fox_and_More_with_Roger_Ailes
Agree completely with your assessment of Roger Ailes. There is no question he is a dedicated supporter of the Republican cause and one that describes himself publically as a conservative (which, no doubt, fills most of the MSM with a white rage).
It is obvious that Murdoch hired Ailes because of the latter’s professional abilities and not because of his political views. My concern, however, is based on recent evidence the corporate atmosphere could be changing.
Here is a 2009/2010 (?) statement by a member of the Murdoch family:
“I am by no means alone within the family or the company in being ashamed and sickened by Roger Ailes’s horrendous and sustained disregard of the journalistic standards that News Corporation…(and) its founder (Murdoch) aspires to,” said Matthew Freud, who is married to [Rupert Murdoch’s daughter Elizabeth]”
Does anyone believe that was a knee-jerk, “unauthorized” public statement?
Even apart from this, Ailes’ position within the Murdoch empire remains as fragile as any employee; as pointed out in #52 above he has two choices if a determined Murdoch leans on him.
Is Ailes waivering on his policies?
I missed Ailes’ purported televised statement (Jan 2010?) that “Fox is no longer at war with Obama” but, if true, can only imagine what would have prompted him to make such a statement.
Nor can I quickly find credible evidence that Ailes confronted Murdoch over the latter’s prospective endorsement of Obama, but wonder if anyone would think that Ailes would not step forward on such a matter. In any event, the matter may have been resolved by the increased contract Ailes received and the fact Murdoch made no such endorsement.
There could be intense pressure on Ailes if the second largest holder of voting stock actually recently said and believes that he can control the FOX news content.
As an aside, those of us who have spent any time in a ME Muslim nation are not impressed by the fact that the richest guy in SA, a member of the royal family, is an astute businessman.
So, we may see an interview unedited by O and his handlers that exposes O and is somehow published over O’s objections (Good Hunting, Bret!)
Or we may see a telecast that gives full respect to the Office of the President.
As pointed out above, FReepers soon will be able to judge for themselves whether O is playing FOX.