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In my recent article regarding FOX NEWS not being as "Fair & Balanced" as they claim, and specifically focused on comments by Sean Hannity, the reader-response was very strong from both sides of the equation. Most of the responses did support my comments about FOX and Hannity, but for them, I was probably just "speaking to the choir" in a lot of instances. What did surprise me was the strong "venom" and "fowl" language from those that apparently have put "FOX" in the position of a virtual "Cult", in their dedication to the right-wing cable network. This is regardless of how totally false the FOX information happens to be.
The idea of FOX actually presenting the "truth" to their viewing audience, especially in today's election era frenzy, seems to be irrelevant to FOX and their stable of broadcast personnel. They will apparently do whatever they have to do, in order for their "candidate of choice" to win, no matter how it is achieved........legal or not!
This lack of truthfulness by FOX NEWS was well documented in a recent video from Brave New Films (BNF). Here is a synopsis of what was shown, using actual video clips, taken directly from FOX's cable TV programs.
By using clips from FOX's actual programs, BNF went out of their way in showing the accuracy of the blatant lies being presented by FOX NEWS. These items were all taken from the; FOX Morning Show; Hannity & Colmes; The O'Reilly Factor, Hannity's America; and various FOX NEWS regular broadcasts. It even includes a video clip of Rush Limbaugh telling an "untruth" about Obama on his radio talk show.
Here is an example of a few of the "untruths" that were presented over the past few months by FOX NEWS & Company:
>>> FOX Falsehood #1:
A female FOX NEWS "talking head" is shown stating that Barack Obama's Tax Plan would "raise the taxes on a family that earned $61,000 a year, by $2,100".
>>> Truth:
Obama has stated in his many discussions and speeches that; "If I am president, I will not raise taxes on any family or individual making less than $250,000 per year."
>>> FOX Falsehood #2:
Another male FOX NEWS talking head is shown saying that Obama; "was being very arrogant because his team was putting together a presidential transition team, even though he hadn't yet been elected". The FOX announcer goes on to say that; "This has never been done before!"
>>> Truth:
Setting up a transition team by someone running for President, (that was not already the President or a Vice President) is done all the time. Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, "ALL" had set up their transition teams while they were running for the office.
>>> FOX Falsehood #3:
Sean Hannity is shown in a clip saying he has; "Never seen or heard of Obama talking about how great this country is."
>>> Truth:
Seven different film clips are then shown of Obama giving different speeches to large audiences saying how "America is the greatest country the world has ever known." He is also shown talking about ;" How great it is that someone with my background has been given the opportunity to run for the presidency of the greatest nation on earth."
>>> FOX Falsehood #4:
A female FOX announcer is shown stating that; "Obama refuses to salute the flag or to even wear an American Flag lapel pin."
>>> Truth:
A film clip is then shown of Obama saluting the flag at multiple occasions and wearing an American Flag Lapel Pin in multiple locations and during multiple speeches.
>>> FOX Falsehood #5:
A FOX clip is shown of Sean Hannity on his "Hannity & Colmes" show saying; "Obama cannot show even one time where [right wing] talk radio or Sean Hannity have made an issue of Obama's race."
>>> Truth:
A film clip is then run, showing; Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage and FOX's John Gibson, "ALL" making negative comments about Obama and his being "black".
>>> Falsehood #6:
In an "O'Reilly Factor" video clip, Bill O'Reilly is shown talking about an Obama ad. In the ad it shows John McCain stating on film that he; "Voted with President Bush 95% of the time." O'Reilly then says that since this film of McCain was taken way back in 2003, Obama was being "deceptive" in showing it today.
>>> Truth:
Yes, it is true, the film of McCain was shot back in 2003. However, according to his voting record, in 2007, "McCain still voted with Bush 95% of the time, and he voted with Bush 100% of the time in 2008! "
>>> Falsehood #7:
Both Sean Hannity and a female FOX announcer are shown in a clip saying that Obama canceled his visit with the wounded US troops in Germany during his successful trip abroad because; "The Pentagon told Obama that they wouldn't let him bring in reporters and video cameras."
>>> Truth:
A film is then run showing a broadcast interview with the NBC reporter that had accompanied Obama throughout the trip to Europe and the Middle East. This reporter states on camera that Obama's plan from the beginning of the trip was that the reporters and cameras would be held back on the plane while Obama visited the troops in Germany. She went on to say that it was announced that the visit with the wounded troops was finally cancelled when Obama decided that he did not want it to look like he was using the wounded US troops as pawns for an election campaign.
>>> FOX Falsehood #8:
Author and analyst, Dick Morris, a regular visitor to FOX, is shown in a FOX video clip stating that; "Barack Obama is un-American!" However, Mr. Morris doesn't state or present any basis for making this accusation.
>>> Falsehood #9:
In a FOX NEWS clip, both Sean Hannity and Newt Gingrich are shown saying that Obama is totally wrong on his US energy plan. They go on to say that Obama's total energy plan is for ; "People to just inflate their tires to save gas."
>>> Truth:
Obama has a very comprehensive US energy plan. (Just go to www.BarackObama.com and read it for yourselves.) And yes, Obama did make a comment about inflating tires as a way to save gasoline. In fact, NASCAR, AAA, Consumer Reports and Popular Mechanics all recommend keeping automobile tires inflated properly and the engines properly tuned for saving fuel. The US Department of Energy says that by making these adjustments, US motorists could; "save 1.2 Billion gallons of gas per year".
Please note:
A day after Obama made this comment on keeping tires properly inflated, Senator John McCain was filmed agreeing with Obama and making the same recommendation about proper tire inflation.
DO NOT trust FOX NEWS for getting your information about the elections, or any other accurate news for that matter. Not if you want the truth.
"FAIR & BALANCED"................ hardly.
In fact, they're not even close.
FYI: You can watch the video that is referenced above by going to :http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/48918-how-to-stop-the-smears-against-obama.
The idea of FOX actually presenting the "truth" to their viewing audience, especially in today's election era frenzy, seems to be irrelevant to FOX and their stable of broadcast personnel. They will apparently do whatever they have to do, in order for their "candidate of choice" to win, no matter how it is achieved........legal or not!
This lack of truthfulness by FOX NEWS was well documented in a recent video from Brave New Films (BNF). Here is a synopsis of what was shown, using actual video clips, taken directly from FOX's cable TV programs.
By using clips from FOX's actual programs, BNF went out of their way in showing the accuracy of the blatant lies being presented by FOX NEWS. These items were all taken from the; FOX Morning Show; Hannity & Colmes; The O'Reilly Factor, Hannity's America; and various FOX NEWS regular broadcasts. It even includes a video clip of Rush Limbaugh telling an "untruth" about Obama on his radio talk show.
Here is an example of a few of the "untruths" that were presented over the past few months by FOX NEWS & Company:
>>> FOX Falsehood #1:
A female FOX NEWS "talking head" is shown stating that Barack Obama's Tax Plan would "raise the taxes on a family that earned $61,000 a year, by $2,100".
>>> Truth:
Obama has stated in his many discussions and speeches that; "If I am president, I will not raise taxes on any family or individual making less than $250,000 per year."
>>> FOX Falsehood #2:
Another male FOX NEWS talking head is shown saying that Obama; "was being very arrogant because his team was putting together a presidential transition team, even though he hadn't yet been elected". The FOX announcer goes on to say that; "This has never been done before!"
>>> Truth:
Setting up a transition team by someone running for President, (that was not already the President or a Vice President) is done all the time. Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, "ALL" had set up their transition teams while they were running for the office.
>>> FOX Falsehood #3:
Sean Hannity is shown in a clip saying he has; "Never seen or heard of Obama talking about how great this country is."
>>> Truth:
Seven different film clips are then shown of Obama giving different speeches to large audiences saying how "America is the greatest country the world has ever known." He is also shown talking about ;" How great it is that someone with my background has been given the opportunity to run for the presidency of the greatest nation on earth."
>>> FOX Falsehood #4:
A female FOX announcer is shown stating that; "Obama refuses to salute the flag or to even wear an American Flag lapel pin."
>>> Truth:
A film clip is then shown of Obama saluting the flag at multiple occasions and wearing an American Flag Lapel Pin in multiple locations and during multiple speeches.
>>> FOX Falsehood #5:
A FOX clip is shown of Sean Hannity on his "Hannity & Colmes" show saying; "Obama cannot show even one time where [right wing] talk radio or Sean Hannity have made an issue of Obama's race."
>>> Truth:
A film clip is then run, showing; Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage and FOX's John Gibson, "ALL" making negative comments about Obama and his being "black".
>>> Falsehood #6:
In an "O'Reilly Factor" video clip, Bill O'Reilly is shown talking about an Obama ad. In the ad it shows John McCain stating on film that he; "Voted with President Bush 95% of the time." O'Reilly then says that since this film of McCain was taken way back in 2003, Obama was being "deceptive" in showing it today.
>>> Truth:
Yes, it is true, the film of McCain was shot back in 2003. However, according to his voting record, in 2007, "McCain still voted with Bush 95% of the time, and he voted with Bush 100% of the time in 2008! "
>>> Falsehood #7:
Both Sean Hannity and a female FOX announcer are shown in a clip saying that Obama canceled his visit with the wounded US troops in Germany during his successful trip abroad because; "The Pentagon told Obama that they wouldn't let him bring in reporters and video cameras."
>>> Truth:
A film is then run showing a broadcast interview with the NBC reporter that had accompanied Obama throughout the trip to Europe and the Middle East. This reporter states on camera that Obama's plan from the beginning of the trip was that the reporters and cameras would be held back on the plane while Obama visited the troops in Germany. She went on to say that it was announced that the visit with the wounded troops was finally cancelled when Obama decided that he did not want it to look like he was using the wounded US troops as pawns for an election campaign.
>>> FOX Falsehood #8:
Author and analyst, Dick Morris, a regular visitor to FOX, is shown in a FOX video clip stating that; "Barack Obama is un-American!" However, Mr. Morris doesn't state or present any basis for making this accusation.
>>> Falsehood #9:
In a FOX NEWS clip, both Sean Hannity and Newt Gingrich are shown saying that Obama is totally wrong on his US energy plan. They go on to say that Obama's total energy plan is for ; "People to just inflate their tires to save gas."
>>> Truth:
Obama has a very comprehensive US energy plan. (Just go to www.BarackObama.com and read it for yourselves.) And yes, Obama did make a comment about inflating tires as a way to save gasoline. In fact, NASCAR, AAA, Consumer Reports and Popular Mechanics all recommend keeping automobile tires inflated properly and the engines properly tuned for saving fuel. The US Department of Energy says that by making these adjustments, US motorists could; "save 1.2 Billion gallons of gas per year".
Please note:
A day after Obama made this comment on keeping tires properly inflated, Senator John McCain was filmed agreeing with Obama and making the same recommendation about proper tire inflation.
DO NOT trust FOX NEWS for getting your information about the elections, or any other accurate news for that matter. Not if you want the truth.
"FAIR & BALANCED"................ hardly.
In fact, they're not even close.
FYI: You can watch the video that is referenced above by going to :http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/48918-how-to-stop-the-smears-against-obama.
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