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The Right-wing Media Spin Cycle: Lie, Terrify, Win, Repeat

October 26, 2009 12:29 pm ET

Media Matters releases new video showing right-wing media's leading role in driving movement

Washington, DC - Today, Media Matters for America released a new video demonstrating how the conservative echo chamber operates in the age of President Obama. Conservative activists - aided by Fox News, a political organization disguised as a news network - use distortions, lies, and smear tactics to shape public opinion and influence national policy.

To watch the video, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQnmxW-UyKo

"Unlike the Clinton and Bush years, the right-wing echo chamber is now aided by a network that has thrown any remaining shred of journalistic credibility out the window, " said Eric Burns, President of Media Matters. "The modern conservative movement has gained an enormous megaphone in Fox News that they are using to impact legislation and shape public opinion."

Burns added: "People need to decide how long they will allow the policies of their country to be dictated by a media outlet accountable not to voters or constituents but to ratings."

BACKGROUND:

The new video released by Media Matters begins by tracing the evolution of the false claim that a provision in Democratic health care reform bills that would allow Medicare coverage of end-of-life counseling would actually implement "death panels," a fiction invented by conservative activists and leaders and hyped by the right-wing media. Following a period of baseless media-led attacks, the end-of-life counseling provision was dropped from the Senate Finance Committee's bill.

Media Matters has been documenting the baseless smears and distortions that the right-wing media have used to influence national policy, as well as analyzing the new role and power of the conservative media organizations - some of which, like Fox News, have become political operations disguised as journalistic outlets - and which now serve as the "voice of the opposition" to progressive principles.

"Voice of the opposition": Fox News openly advocates against Democratic Congress, White House

SUMMARY: Since Barack Obama's inauguration, Fox News has frequently engaged in political advocacy against the Democratic Congress and White House. Specifically, Fox News personalities have promoted and encouraged viewers to "join" tea party protests, Glenn Beck's organization The 9-12 Project and its September 12 "March on Washington," and town hall meetings; engaged in a witch hunt seeking to "get rid of" Obama administration officials and nominees; implored viewers to call Congress and the White House to protest Democratic policies; and celebrated "victor[ies]" when Democratic legislation has been stalled.

Fox News' War

SUMMARY: Following Anita Dunn's description of Fox News as an "arm" of the Republican Party, Fox News personalities have suggested or claimed that the White House declared "war" on the network. In response, Media Matters for America has released a video showing the factually inaccurate smears, blatant political organizing, and explicit lobbying that Fox News has engaged in. Many of these activities have been occurring since January 20 and have only increased in frequency as time has passed.

Fox News Is the Story

SUMMARY: Fox News Channel is twisting American politics in an unprecedented way, and too many members of the press still aren't getting it. The White House has exposed Fox News for what it is: not a news organization, but a partisan political entity that is waging a war aimed at destroying the Obama administration and its progressive agenda. Fox's Glenn Beck said so himself last Friday, predicting that he would soon "take the administration down."

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Media Matters for America is a progressive research and information center dedicated to monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the media. For more information, visit www.mediamatters.org.

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- by DellDolly (October 26, 2009 2:09 pm ET)
  4
  
  The Obama Administration is acting like true patriots in pointing out the biases and distortions of FoxNews. It will benefit every American if we can stop their nonsense and get back to a vibrant and relatively truthful opposition party atmosphere in the USA.
  
  Reply Report Abuse
  - by Conchobhar (October 26, 2009 3:26 pm ET)
    
    The right wing attack on a free press began at least as far back as George H. W. Bush's ambush of Dan Rather in a CBS interview. It was orchestrated by, surprise surprise, Roger Ailes. There has been a very successful Republican and neocon campaign, ever since, to intimidate news organizations. They do it through limiting access, and through surrogate attack dogs. Rupert Murdoch has added his particularly malevolent and highly profitable brand of propaganda journalism to the mix. Combined with Ailes, he's brought a UK sensibility (media outlets with political agendas) to the US without, however, any regard for facts.
    As a reporter who escaped from the NY Post to the Times once said, the mission of a NewsCorp employee is to, "search and distort."
    
    Take no comfort in the fact that Fux News has a viewing audience no larger than 1% of the US population. History is full of examples of small, committed groups bringing down great governments. In none of history's examples, however, have they had massive corporate backing. News Corp is one of the most profitable international conglomerates in the world. Even if none of the others, such as Exxon/Mobile, etc, backed it, it could do great damage.
    
    Reply Report Abuse
  - by Conchobhar (October 26, 2009 3:26 pm ET)
    2
    
    The right wing attack on a free press began at least as far back as George H. W. Bush's ambush of Dan Rather in a CBS interview. It was orchestrated by, surprise surprise, Roger Ailes. There has been a very successful Republican and neocon campaign, ever since, to intimidate news organizations. They do it through limiting access, and through surrogate attack dogs. Rupert Murdoch has added his particularly malevolent and highly profitable brand of propaganda journalism to the mix. Combined with Ailes, he's brought a UK sensibility (media outlets with political agendas) to the US without, however, any regard for facts.
    As a reporter who escaped from the NY Post to the Times once said, the mission of a NewsCorp employee is to, "search and distort."
    
    Take no comfort in the fact that Fux News has a viewing audience no larger than 1% of the US population. History is full of examples of small, committed groups bringing down great governments. In none of history's examples, however, have they had massive corporate backing. News Corp is one of the most profitable international conglomerates in the world. Even if none of the others, such as Exxon/Mobile, etc, backed it, it could do great damage.
    
    Reply Report Abuse
  - by Conchobhar (October 26, 2009 3:25 pm ET)
    
    The right wing attack on a free press began at least as far back as George H. W. Bush's ambush of Dan Rather in a CBS interview. It was orchestrated by, surprise surprise, Roger Ailes. There has been a very successful Republican and neocon campaign, ever since, to intimidate news organizations. They do it through limiting access, and through surrogate attack dogs. Rupert Murdoch has added his particularly malevolent and highly profitable brand of propaganda journalism to the mix. Combined with Ailes, he's brought a UK sensibility (media outlets with political agendas) to the US without, however, any regard for facts.
    As a reporter who escaped from the NY Post to the Times once said, the mission of a NewsCorp employee is to, "search and distort."
    
    Take no comfort in the fact that Fux News has a viewing audience no larger than 1% of the US population. History is full of examples of small, committed groups bringing down great governments. In none of history's examples, however, have they had massive corporate backing. News Corp is one of the most profitable international conglomerates in the world. Even if none of the others, such as Exxon/Mobile, etc, backed it, it could do great damage.
    
    Reply Report Abuse
  - by Conchobhar (October 26, 2009 3:26 pm ET)
    
    The right wing attack on a free press began at least as far back as George H. W. Bush's ambush of Dan Rather in a CBS interview. It was orchestrated by, surprise surprise, Roger Ailes. There has been a very successful Republican and neocon campaign, ever since, to intimidate news organizations. They do it through limiting access, and through surrogate attack dogs. Rupert Murdoch has added his particularly malevolent and highly profitable brand of propaganda journalism to the mix. Combined with Ailes, he's brought a UK sensibility (media outlets with political agendas) to the US without, however, any regard for facts.
    As a reporter who escaped from the NY Post to the Times once said, the mission of a NewsCorp employee is to, "search and distort."
    
    Take no comfort in the fact that Fux News has a viewing audience no larger than 1% of the US population. History is full of examples of small, committed groups bringing down great governments. In none of history's examples, however, have they had massive corporate backing. News Corp is one of the most profitable international conglomerates in the world. Even if none of the others, such as Exxon/Mobile, etc, backed it, it could do great damage.
    
    Reply Report Abuse
    - by Conchobhar (October 26, 2009 4:03 pm ET)
      1
      
      Apologies. I've reported the duplicates.
      
      Reply Report Abuse
  - by Conchobhar (October 26, 2009 3:26 pm ET)
    
    The right wing attack on a free press began at least as far back as George H. W. Bush's ambush of Dan Rather in a CBS interview. It was orchestrated by, surprise surprise, Roger Ailes. There has been a very successful Republican and neocon campaign, ever since, to intimidate news organizations. They do it through limiting access, and through surrogate attack dogs. Rupert Murdoch has added his particularly malevolent and highly profitable brand of propaganda journalism to the mix. Combined with Ailes, he's brought a UK sensibility (media outlets with political agendas) to the US without, however, any regard for facts.
    As a reporter who escaped from the NY Post to the Times once said, the mission of a NewsCorp employee is to, "search and distort."
    
    Take no comfort in the fact that Fux News has a viewing audience no larger than 1% of the US population. History is full of examples of small, committed groups bringing down great governments. In none of history's examples, however, have they had massive corporate backing. News Corp is one of the most profitable international conglomerates in the world. Even if none of the others, such as Exxon/Mobile, etc, backed it, it could do great damage.
    
    Reply Report Abuse
    - by NiceguyEddie (October 26, 2009 4:05 pm ET)
      3
      
      Uhhh... Good point, but I heard you the first time! ;)
      
      Reply Report Abuse
      - by Conchobhar (October 27, 2009 2:00 am ET)
        
        Deftly done.
        
        Reply Report Abuse
    - by Sara Bellum (October 26, 2009 4:36 pm ET)
      2
      
      Either you REALLY want to get your point across or you hit the send button a few too many times there boss :)
      
      Reply Report Abuse
      - by Conchobhar (October 27, 2009 12:17 am ET)
        
        You're right, Brainy, I did. I'd been censored twice, just previously, and I was ticked off, thinking maybe I'd been flagged.
        Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa, (mea culpa, mea culpa)
        
        Discovered it almost immediately, and asked MMFA to pull five, but they haven't done it.
        
        Reply Report Abuse
- by Military Man (October 26, 2009 3:45 pm ET)
  2
  
  Why is that the Republican can always dish it out but can't take it. They along with the Bush Administration dubbed the media left wing media for 8 years. They called at CNN and MSNBC and still do; case in point Bill O'Reilly. I am glad Pres. Obama and his staff stood up to the bully's at Fox News. They hate the fact that the Republican are out of power. "Fair and Balance", my A@#!
  
  Reply Report Abuse
- by bewildered (October 26, 2009 10:03 pm ET)
  1
  
  The level of hate and fear is sickening and I'm not even American.
  
  Reply Report Abuse