Dear Mr. Ailes;
I have to say that recently I and a large number of conservatives that I communicate with on the grass-roots forums are starting to get fed up with this recent departure from the "Fair and Balanced" approach. Last night when Bill O'Rielly decided to have Dick Morris on and have a Veteran-bashing spree without once taking a "no-spin" stand, I thought to myself that it was just Bill "Bloviating". However today with Shep Smith coming out and denouncing the Swift Vets for Truth as liars without providing any evidence to back it up, it has truely highlighted what we see as a growing left-ward trend. I understand that you're under pressure from the mainstream media, but I have to say that you are about to lose a huge chunk of your base.
Give these Veterans the chances to show their ad and dig get the truth out there. It is not going to be possible to bury this story, so trying to do so will be utterly ineffectual and result only in you losing your loyal viewers. If you start to report just the same way as the rest of the media, then we frankly have no use for your channel anymore. Just look at what happened when the base got motivated and abandoned CNN -- you're company is marching right into the same trap.
If you're concerned about your channels ratings and objectivity, it would be advisable that you take a look at the reactions that are taking place on www.freerepublic.com. A large percentage of your loyal base are growing close to the point of boycott, and remember, we can get our news online, so we only watch FOX News Channel because it is entertaining, balanced and convenient. You might want to check this thread in particular:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1186519/posts
I strongly urge you to review your policy and stop caving to the left's incoherent charges and get back to your roots. We are your core supporters. We are the ones that spent extra for extended cable service so that we could support your channel, and we are the ones that earn you your advertising revenue through our viewership. You're losing us. So far we haven't advocated a formal boycott, but it is getting very close to that point.
Best Regards,
I wonder how Shep can back out of this? (without hitting anyone)
I hope FNC realizes that you speak for a lot of us.
"I sent my email to Roger Ailes and CC:'d Shep. "
Superb letter!
That is a wonderful letter. It is truth. I sure hope he listens to you.