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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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To: Cardhu
As best I can tell, there is only one journalist working at Fox News and that would be Greta. All the rest are news readers and clueless pontificators. Megan Kelly could develop into a real journalist. She's got good instincts and is plenty smart.

Fox business is way better at news but I hear fox management is getting pissed that Fox Business does a better job of covering the news than Fox news does so I imagine Fox business will soon suck at news too.

What I find disturbing is that none of these "news" organizations does any investigative reporting. Greta trys, I will give her credit for that. But the rest do zip, zero, nadda. All they do is react to what is on the wire. None dig in and get "the rest of the story" which 9 times out of 10 is where the real news is.

21 posted on 01/05/2012 9:44:06 PM PST by jpsb
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To: jpsb

the morning show fox and friends,(esp. Gretchen) act like they have a tingle going up there leg everytime they mention romney


22 posted on 01/05/2012 9:58:08 PM PST by make no mistake
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To: jpsb
What I find disturbing is that none of these "news" organizations does any investigative reporting. Greta trys, I will give her credit for that. But the rest do zip, zero, nadda. All they do is react to what is on the wire. None dig in and get "the rest of the story" which 9 times out of 10 is where the real news is.

If you expect Fox News to do a lot more than reacting to whatever comes in on the wire/web, you'll be waiting a long time. It's a lot cheaper to react to what comes in through other channels such as Reuters than putting together an actual ground game that's as large as say CNN or BBC.

I'm not a fan of CNN, but I am still surprised that they've kept a lot of reporters/camera crews around after all these years. It's a lot cheaper and more profitable to just have a bunch of talking heads in a studio reading whatever comes in from the AP or Reuters than paying people to go out and get their shoes dirty.
23 posted on 01/05/2012 10:25:58 PM PST by af_vet_rr
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To: Georgia Girl 2
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.

I really think somebody up high has made it clear to many of them that either they play up Romney or they don't let the door hit them on the way out. A few may have the ratings to avoid that rule, Greta maybe, although I was never a fan since she's a scientologist, but before I stopped watching, you are absolutely right, it felt like somebody was dictating that everybody needs to be on board with Romney.
24 posted on 01/05/2012 10:28:05 PM PST by af_vet_rr
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To: Breto

Despite O’Reily’s vehement denial they are indeed pro Romney. Romney would never get the merciless attack the Bloviator in chief handed to Santorum, last night.


25 posted on 01/06/2012 12:13:58 AM PST by itsahoot (Throw them all out! Especially the Frugal Socialists who call themselves Republicans.)
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To: 38special

DVR and fast forward, the only way to watch TV on any channel, but especially on the big three FOUX news.


26 posted on 01/06/2012 12:20:44 AM PST by itsahoot (Throw them all out! Especially the Frugal Socialists who call themselves Republicans.)
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To: af_vet_rr

No really just like gas prices all go up at the same time, it is only coincidence, no one is dictating Romney preference. Barf, barf, barf.


27 posted on 01/06/2012 12:23:33 AM PST by itsahoot (Throw them all out! Especially the Frugal Socialists who call themselves Republicans.)
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To: TitansAFC; katiedidit1; Cardhu
This is actually quite a good article and worth reading in its entirety at the link.

The quote by Rush is accurate and the part about the channel going after Newt is accurate.

The writer states that Ailes is now worried the channel has gone too far, and who's going to be left standing? He's so worried, in fact, that he's trying to find another worthy candidate... General Petraus...lol. Too late, idiot.

28 posted on 01/06/2012 12:28:33 AM PST by onyx (PLEASE SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC:DONATE MONTHLY! Sarah's New Ping List - tell me if you want on it.)
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To: RitaOK; jpsb

Not only does CNN have the best reporting they also have the best visuals. They listed the candidate’s percentage and number of votes. John King did an excellent job with his map of the counties and explaining where the votes were coming from and his and Wolf Blitzer’s conversation with the two ladies was good television. Fox’s visuals were the worst! They only listed percentages and when they did show their vote totals they were too small to read. I watched CNN because I wanted to watch their vote totals, although I do like Bret Baier—he’s knows his stuff and is likeable. I remember back when Michael Jackson died. On CNN they had confirmation that he was dead at least a half hour before Fox finally confirmed it. Fox is slow and is usually behind everyone else, which is odd because they are supposed to be the leader in cable news.


29 posted on 01/06/2012 12:57:15 AM PST by dupree
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To: Old Sarge

Playing Col. North’s series is a far cry from having him on as a commentator. I think your observation is correct in that Col. North is not actively engaged in the Fox News agenda. I disagree with your bashing Greta. I have watched her during election cycles and I do believe she does try to stay fair and balanced in her interviews and critiques of candidates.


30 posted on 01/06/2012 1:03:12 AM PST by antceecee (Bless us Father.. have mercy on us and protect us from evil.)
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To: onyx

I agree with you that it is a good article - Der Spiegel has good writers. I know that most people rarely go to the link - I am like that myself unless it really interests me.


31 posted on 01/06/2012 6:00:22 AM PST by Cardhu
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To: itsahoot

I agree Bill O’Riely was just rude to Santorum the other night. I was flipping channels and saw it was Santorum so stopped. Bill was ruthless.


32 posted on 01/06/2012 6:13:25 AM PST by denco
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To: denco

if I was one of those twisted lazy occupy wall street types, I’d poop on O ‘ Reilly


33 posted on 01/06/2012 6:19:25 AM PST by advertising guy (dammit)
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To: denco

What really ticked me off was O’Reilly having that worm Colmes on two nights ago - after Colmes’ vicious personal attack on Santorum the other morning. O’Reilly, Colmes and Lanny Davis were yucking it up like old pals. Almost as if O’Reilly was sticking his finger in the eyes of his viewers :-(


34 posted on 01/06/2012 6:29:57 AM PST by Inspectorette
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To: af_vet_rr

“I really think somebody up high has made it clear to many of them that either they play up Romney or they don’t let the door hit them on the way out. “

I agree and its working. Now the newest GOP poll has Newt at third in SC. The Machine is going to push Santorum as the Romney alternative knowing he has no chance and Willard will run away with it. I can already see it coming this morning. This is what they do in Russia. Two parties and the same result no matter who wins.


35 posted on 01/06/2012 8:20:09 AM 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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