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Fox News Takes Center Stage in Primaries
Der Spiegel ^ | January 5th 2012 | Gregor Peter Schmitz

Posted on 01/05/2012 7:42:26 PM PST by Cardhu

Fox News has long been seen as the American right's staunchest defender. But this election year has seen the channel demolish the campaigns of several Republican frontrunners. But what is good for ratings may not be good for US conservatives.

With two decades of experience under his belt, US journalist Bret Baier is a veteran in his field. Yet hardly anyone has ever accused him of being particularly fair or balanced. Baier is, after all, a host on Fox News, the most important television network for American conservatives. And he knows where he needs to stand -- when in doubt, lean to the right.

When former President George W. Bush was still in office, Baier flattered him with questions about his ranch in Texas and his favorite hiking trail. He has been less chummy with Bush's successor, Barack Obama. In an interview, the Fox host interrupted the president 16 times in 20 minutes.

It has now been a month since Baier, 41, sat across from Mitt Romney, the favorite to become the Republican nominee for president. Romney is not fond of speaking with the media. But Fox isn't just any network; it's the most powerful political television station in America. Fox News wants to drive Obama out of the White House, and Romney is seen as the Republican contender most likely to defeat the president in the November 2012 election. So what could possibly go wrong in an interview with Fox News?

But suddenly Romney was faced with several unpleasant and, apparently, unexpected questions. Baier grilled him about instances during his political career when he had changed his mind, on such issues as healthcare reform, immigration policy and abortion. Romney has often been accused of flip-flopping, but Baier's questions were so pointed that the former governor of Massachusetts came across...

(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: foxnews; primaries
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"The presidential contenders can hardly afford to challenge the Murdoch powerhouse. Many of the Republican candidates have worked as commentators for Fox in the past, and if they hope to do the same in the future, they have to play Fox's game. But in doing so, they are also disqualifying themselves for the country's highest office."
1 posted on 01/05/2012 7:42:32 PM PST by Cardhu
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To: Cardhu

Isnt FOX part of the Romney super PAC. They sure act like it


2 posted on 01/05/2012 7:49:24 PM PST by Breto (The republican leadership are morons)
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To: Cardhu

Bret cut Krauthammer off tonight as Charles was going into Romney mode attacking either Santorum or Gingrich.


3 posted on 01/05/2012 7:51:32 PM PST by OrioleFan
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To: Cardhu
Fox News has long been seen as the American right's staunchest defender. But this election year has seen the channel demolish the campaigns of several Republican frontrunners. But what is good for ratings may not be good for US conservatives.

Fox News has done Conservatives no favors this election. A lot of us are done with Fox News. For me it was the celebrity smut they were masquerading as news, but it was not helped by them shilling for Romney or pushing the homosexual agenda to our children with the Fox network.

Fox News will not be watched in my household ever again.
4 posted on 01/05/2012 7:53:37 PM PST by af_vet_rr
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To: af_vet_rr

I trust you like CNN better?


5 posted on 01/05/2012 7:56:05 PM PST by abercrombie_guy_38
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To: Cardhu

Faux News-Romney is dead to me. They started losing me when they were the network of “dead blondes and white Broncos”, with Greta van Gasbag and Gerry Rivers as their leading muckrakers. Even COL North won’t talk to them anymore.


6 posted on 01/05/2012 7:58:09 PM PST by Old Sarge (RIP FReeper Skyraider (1930-2011) - You Are Missed)
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To: af_vet_rr

I used to watch FOX a lot with emphasis on the word used to. In this election cycle, I think they have been unfair and unbalanced. I have come to realize that their bottom line is money. Nothing else matters to them.


7 posted on 01/05/2012 8:00:01 PM PST by Essie
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To: Cardhu
Ailes and Murdoch put the hammer down on even the mention of the term natural born Citizen by the hired help.

They are no friends to our Constitution.

8 posted on 01/05/2012 8:02:01 PM PST by Godebert
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To: Old Sarge
Even COL North won’t talk to them anymore.

Since when? He had a "War Stories" Special on FNC in December.

9 posted on 01/05/2012 8:03:23 PM PST by Yankee (ANNOY THE RNC AND THE MEDIA: NOMINATE NEWT GINGRICH!)
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To: abercrombie_guy_38
I trust you like CNN better?

Of course not. Don't like any of the MSM outlets, Fox News included. They all push too much celebrity sleaze as news, and they are all shilling for Romney.
10 posted on 01/05/2012 8:05:31 PM PST by af_vet_rr
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To: Yankee

Did he really? I missed that! Like I said, I don’t watch Faux News-Romney anymore.


11 posted on 01/05/2012 8:06:49 PM PST by Old Sarge (RIP FReeper Skyraider (1930-2011) - You Are Missed)
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To: OrioleFan

“Bret cut Krauthammer off tonight as Charles was going into Romney mode attacking either Santorum or Gingrich.”

Really, I believe they have had their tail scorched in recent days by real conservatives calling in, yelling and screaming over FOX biases, presumptions and unqualified discussions against anything, or anyone, that doesn’t promote Romney. Caterwalling cleavage clapping going on at FOX is getting XXX, if you have the kids around, it’s too much.

I have dumped them over except for snippet cheating, (Greta)if one of the conservatives is going to be on. Haven’t even watched Brett B. Can’t take the disappointment of their roll over for the Establishment. Greta strikes me as incredibly incisive sometimes, but fair and I come away informed in some way.


12 posted on 01/05/2012 8:08:52 PM PST by RitaOK (The higher you poll in Iowa, the more embarrassing it is for you.)
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To: Cardhu

My dad used to tell me that nobody could ever take away my integrity. He said to lose it, I had to give it away.... and once gone, I could never get it back.

I’ve kept my integrity, Faux news gave theirs away.

FOX news has lost ALL credibility with me and they will NEVER get it back.


13 posted on 01/05/2012 8:09:17 PM PST by Gator113 (~Just livin' life, my way~..... GO NEWT GO.....!)
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To: RitaOK
if you have the kids around, it’s too much.

That was the first sign for us - we have grandkids and other young relatives around, and it reached the point where we couldn't have Fox News on in the mornings for fear they'd be pushing some kind of sleaze as news and the kids would see it. Then came Fox and their "Glee Club" show that was pushing homosexuality to high school kids. Them shilling for Romney does not surprise me in any way.
14 posted on 01/05/2012 8:13:34 PM PST by af_vet_rr
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To: abercrombie_guy_38

Actually, I do like CNN better in every case where there is crisis, or a national engagement going on somewhere. There contacts in the middle of an event, every single time, is unbelievable. They seem to get beyond just parroting the story, they pull up sources from underneath the story. Now when it wonders off the hard news reservation of the event and goes into pundit pumping hype, they’re among the worst, along with everybody else.

For example, it was CNN who was first to get the two adorable little old ladies on the line, and practically out of bed, who not only counted the vote in that missing precinct, but who phoned it in for certification. There numbers did NOT match what the media had been given to report, and the story took off from there. Today we hear this evening that Santorum probably won! Wow! What to think? I dunno.


15 posted on 01/05/2012 8:21:11 PM PST by RitaOK (The higher you poll in Iowa, the more embarrassing it is for you.)
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To: af_vet_rr

I so agree with you. It is no favor to children (or adults)
to be anywhere near FAUX. You and I have FR, the entire internet at our disposal, and CSPAN, so what’t the point really of settling for the hype.


16 posted on 01/05/2012 8:29:40 PM PST by RitaOK (The higher you poll in Iowa, the more embarrassing it is for you.)
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To: af_vet_rr
The commentator that has surprised me the most on FOX is Britt Hume. He is really for the establishment Republican and knocks everyone else to the ground. I'm for Newt because he has guts against BO and that's all i care about. Hume constantly trashes Newt. I can't watch him anymore.
17 posted on 01/05/2012 8:44:04 PM PST by dandiegirl
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To: OrioleFan

“Bret cut Krauthammer off tonight as Charles was going into Romney mode attacking either Santorum or Gingrich”

About time. Kraut has gone off the reservation and what the heck has gotten into Brit Hume? He is bashing Newt with the best of them. Its like they all drank the same kool aid or something. They are frothing at the mouth to jam Willard down our throats. Its not even subtle.


18 posted on 01/05/2012 9:13:53 PM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: RitaOK

Totally agree, prior to spin time, CNN beats all the other news outlets hands down. For breaking news or a fast moving story CNN is the best.


19 posted on 01/05/2012 9:25:48 PM PST by jpsb
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To: Cardhu

I just changed the channel when Karl Rove came on Hannity. I’m sick and tired of that blowhard.


20 posted on 01/05/2012 9:28:16 PM PST by 38special (Sad, really.)
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