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Roger's Reality Show (Roger Ailes Repositions Fox News)
Newsweek - The Daily Beast ^ | Sunday, September 25, 2011 | Howard Kurtz

Posted on 09/26/2011 7:30:40 AM PDT by kristinn

It was...a pure Roger Ailes production—and the latest sign that the Fox News chairman is quietly repositioning America’s dominant cable-news channel.

Hours before last week’s presidential debate in Orlando, Ailes’s anchors sat in a cavernous back room, hunched over laptops, and plotted how to trap the candidates. Chris Wallace said he would aim squarely at Rick Perry’s weakness: “How do you feel about being criticized by some of your rivals as being too soft on illegal immigration? Then I go to Rick Santorum: is Perry too soft?”

“That’s going to get some fireworks going,” said managing editor Bill Sammon, grinning.

SNIP

But the real eye-opener was the sight of his anchors grilling the Republican contenders, which pleases the White House but cuts sharply against the network’s conservative image—and risks alienating its most rabid right-wing fans.

SNIP

Democrats have noticed the change. Says former Obama aide Anita Dunn: “You have the sense that they’re trying to at least appear less of the hyper-partisan political network they had been.”

On the day that Obama is to deliver his jobs speech to Congress, Bret Baier attends a secret White House meeting. Over Dover sole in the Red Room, the president tries to sell his $450 billion plan to a handful of anchors. The earnest, square-jawed Baier is animated upon returning, briefing two news executives in the hallway.

Obama “painted a picture of a double-dip recession” and said if the bill “does not get through, I will blame Republicans” for their “irresponsible position,” Baier says, reading from his scribbled notes. Although the two men clashed during an interview last year in which Baier repeatedly interrupted the president, Obama made a point of praising the previous Fox debate, telling Baier: “By the way, you guys did a great job in Iowa.”

(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: foxnews; kurtz; rogerailes
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More at the source link. Several years ago, Ailes let Fox's lies and smears about Free Republic go uncorrected. I've never trusted them since.
1 posted on 09/26/2011 7:30:51 AM PDT by kristinn
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To: kristinn
Hours before last week’s presidential debate in Orlando, Ailes’s anchors sat in a cavernous back room, hunched over laptops, and plotted how to trap the candidates. Chris Wallace said he would aim squarely at Rick Perry’s weakness: “How do you feel about being criticized by some of your rivals as being too soft on illegal immigration? Then I go to Rick Santorum: is Perry too soft?”

“That’s going to get some fireworks going,” said managing editor Bill Sammon, grinning.

Their instincts were spot-on. It was THE pivotal moment of the debate. It led to Perry's infamous "heartless" remark, which opened the door for Cain's straw poll victory.

2 posted on 09/26/2011 7:39:09 AM PDT by Huck (But the glass IS half-empty!)
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To: kristinn

Roger Ailes and his fairhaired boy....Mittens Romney...

what BS.


3 posted on 09/26/2011 7:41:04 AM PDT by Vaquero ("an armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: kristinn

So, from the Daily Beast comes an article on howFox is going left because Ailes woke up one morning and said, “Hey, I know how to boost our ratings further - let’s get the Pubbie candidates to eat each other up and suck up to O’bummer - yea, that’s the ticket...and I’ll get more invites to those cocktail parties everyone else gets to go to.”
Yeah, right...
Do not go to the Dark Side, Fox - don’t do it.


4 posted on 09/26/2011 7:42:02 AM PDT by matginzac
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To: kristinn

This isn’t anything new. I’m sure this happens every time there is to be a debate (unless the moderator is a namby pamby and doesn’t want to ask any really hard questions).


5 posted on 09/26/2011 7:42:15 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: kristinn

Some years back I didn’t much care for Greta. Now, she has the only program I will watch on Fox. BORe, Sean, are a waste of time. Too bad Ailes doesn’t wake up and offer Dennis Miller a show. Following Greta would be a great time slot.


6 posted on 09/26/2011 7:42:56 AM PDT by Melchior
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To: kristinn
Great Ailes quotes here:

Three weeks after dropping out of the race, Tim Pawlenty showed up to ask for a gig at Fox. But there was a complication: Pawlenty was on the verge of endorsing Romney. “I’m not sure I want to sign you as a paid spokesman for Romney,” Ailes said.

Ailes has a blunt rejoinder to those who say he runs a biased outfit: “Every other network has given all their shows to liberals. We are the balance.”

Ailes seems to relish the feuding among his stars, saying, “O’Reilly hates Sean and he hates Rush because they did better in radio than he did.”

Ailes keeps a wary eye on anchor Shepard Smith, who occasionally backs aspects of the Obama record: “Every once in a while Shep Smith gets out there where the buses don’t run and we have a friendly talk.” And Ailes likes to tease O’Reilly: “You gonna suck up to Obama so you can get another interview at the next football game?”

“I like Bloomberg, he’s a friend. But f--- him and the salt. I like salt. It’s not his business.”

7 posted on 09/26/2011 7:44:31 AM PDT by iowamark (Rick Perry says I'm heartless.)
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To: kristinn

Unless one subscribes to GBRTV, FoxNews is all we’ve got. Pitifully.


8 posted on 09/26/2011 7:44:31 AM PDT by netmilsmom (Happiness is a choice)
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To: kristinn

yes, fox is disappointing.

but fox is all we have. hannity is the nearest to our views.

o’reilly’s ego show is #1. why i don’t understand.

the left got rid of many of beck’s advertisers.


9 posted on 09/26/2011 7:44:39 AM PDT by ken21 (ruling class dem + rino progressives -- destroying america for 150 years.)
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To: kristinn
I've never trusted them since.

This is a great example of why businesses come and go. As Fox swings left to pick up market share more of the right will pick up on it and begin looking for alternatives. Eventually, someone in the cellar or breaking into the business will pick up on it and swing right. They will pick up that segment of the Fox viewers and Fox will decline. The left they are trying to pick up will never be supporters like the right were because the left really doesn't want to delve into issues. They just want sound bites and to emote.

10 posted on 09/26/2011 7:46:06 AM PDT by wmfights (If you want change support SenateConservatives.com)
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To: kristinn

Same here and for the exact same reason.


11 posted on 09/26/2011 7:54:09 AM PDT by RIghtwardHo
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To: kristinn

Rather silly of them. Conservatives made Fox a success, and it can all be just as easily undone. With so many liberal networks, who needs yet another one? Sometimes I find myself watching CNN lately—at times, it’s less liberal than Fox. But mostly, I confess, I’m just watching news less, and reading FR more. Still, sad to see Fox turn into a pumpkin.


12 posted on 09/26/2011 7:54:09 AM PDT by MizSterious (Apparently, there's no honor when it comes to someone else's retirement funds.)
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To: iowamark

Those are great quotes. Ailes has said at some point he’s going to write another book (it’s been 20-something years since the last one.) I hope he does it soon. The man is very smart, blunt, and always interesting.


13 posted on 09/26/2011 7:54:55 AM PDT by Huck (But the glass IS half-empty!)
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To: kristinn

Your candidate has already been chosen for us, they just want us to shut up and swallow hard and vote for Mitt. Although they have a back up in Christie just in case....


14 posted on 09/26/2011 7:55:02 AM PDT by McGavin999
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To: Huck; All
It's a scalp FoxNews can hang on their wall and pat themselves on the back. Doesn't matter whether it did anything to help the country choose a strong presidential candidate, they got their moment.

I'm still waiting for Romney's turn in the box.

Given the on-air support he enjoys among the Fox talent, I won't hold my breath.

15 posted on 09/26/2011 7:55:14 AM PDT by newzjunkey (Ryan: Obama "a pyromaniac in a field of straw men" / Andre Carson's racism goes unchecked)
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To: matginzac

Fox News is not immune to dial turning. The best lay of the land can be found on talk radio. And one can drive while listening!


16 posted on 09/26/2011 7:59:25 AM PDT by Paperdoll (NO MORE RINOs!)
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To: ken21

Give your cable the boot and switch to GBTV. Glenn has only gotten stronger. Well worth the money and he is covering things you won’t see on TV at all, even Fox and Hannity. I’m starting to think there was much more going on at Fox that led Glenn to leave. They have definitely gotten softer on important issues-it is disgusting.


17 posted on 09/26/2011 8:01:12 AM PDT by Pat4ever (NO MORE!)
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To: Al B.; onyx; Brices Crossroads; sarah fan UK; Lakeshark; RonDog; Dengar01; Students4Palin; ...

Head’s up on what is happening to Ailes and Fox, with respect to Sarah Palin and her wisdom in avoiding those awful “debates.”


18 posted on 09/26/2011 8:02:18 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin has crossed the Rubicon!)
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To: kristinn

In the MSNBC debate, Williams and Co tried to get the GOP wannabes fighting amongst themselves. MSNBC failed.

CNN had better luck and got them firing shots. FoxNews got them to continue sniping at each other.

So far, the Media have been winning the GOP debates, as the GOP contenders shoot each other in the foot.


19 posted on 09/26/2011 8:03:52 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: kristinn

I think the headline is misleading. Because they were tough in their debate means they are tacking to the left? Hardly. If Perry is soft on immigration, Fox is doing the conservative cause a favor by bringing it out. I think the debate was really good. I have been supporting Perry because he is the conservative with the best chance of winning. I am now re-thinking my position. In light of the straw poles, I would love to see Herman Cain rise in the polls. I think he’s the best candidate in the race, period! I can’t find any difference in my position with Cains. He’s a great speaker for the conservative cause and he would tear Obama up in a debate.


20 posted on 09/26/2011 8:04:23 AM PDT by Old Teufel Hunden
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