The Fox Effect: How Roger Ailes Turned a Network into a Propaganda Machine
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28. Tom Sullivan Show, Fox News Radio, February 11, 2008; “Fox News Radio’s Tom Sullivan Aired ‘Side-by-Side Comparison’ of Speeches by Hitler and Obama,” MediaMatters.org, February 13, 2008, mediamatters.org/research/200802130016.
29. Hannity & Colmes, Fox News Channel, April 3, 2008; “On Hannity & Colmes, Coulter Again Made Obama-Hitler Comparison, Said Clinton ‘Would Enjoy Torturing’ Detainees,” MediaMatters.org, April 4, 2008, mediamatters.org/research/200804040005.
30. America’s Pulse, Fox News Channel, June 6, 2008; “Fox News’ E. D. Hill teased discussion of Obama dap: ‘A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab?’ ” MediaMatters.org, June 6, 2008, mediamatters.org/mmtv/200806060007.
31. America’s Pulse, Fox News Channel, June 10, 2008; “Fox News’ E. D. Hill Addresses Her ‘Terrorist Fist Jab’ Comment,” MediaMatters.org, June 10, 2008, mediamatters.org/research/200806100009.
32. “Hume Falsely Claimed Obama’s Half Brother Told The Jerusalem Post That Obama Had a ‘Muslim Background,’ ” MediaMatters.org, June 18, 2008, mediamatters.org/research/200806180008.
33. Jake Tapper, “From the Fact Check Desk: What Did Obama’s Half-Brother Say About Obama’s Background?” Political Punch (blog), ABC News, June 18, 2008, blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/06/from-the-fact-c.html.
34. Michael Wolff, The Man Who Owns the News: Inside the Secret World of Rupert Murdoch (New York: Broadway Books, 2008), 398.
35. Ibid.
36. Hannity & Colmes, Fox News Channel, July 29, 2008; “Hannity Falsely Claimed Obama ‘Abandon[ed] the Troop Visit’ Because the Cameras Weren’t Allowed,” MediaMatters.org, July 30, 2008, mediamatters.org/ research/200807300012.
37. Morning Joe, MSNBC, July 28, 2008; “Morning Joe Let McCain Campaign Manager Describe Attack Ad as ‘the Truth,’ Despite Colleague Mitchell’s Reporting That It ‘Literally Is Not True,’ ” MediaMatters.org, July 29, 2008, mediamatters.org/research/200807290006.
38. “On Hannity & Colmes, Another Corsi Falsehood About Obama,” MediaMatters.org, August 1, 2008, mediamatters.org/research/200808010003.
39. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel, August 15, 2008; “Corsi’s Claim That Obama Posted ‘False, Fake Birth Certificate’ Flatly Rejected by Hawaii Health Department,” MediaMatters.org, August 15, 2008, mediamatters.org/research/200808150001.
40. Hannity & Colmes, Fox News Channel, August 18, 2008; “Fox News’ Sammon Dismissed ‘Nature of’ Corsi Falsehoods as ‘Relatively Innocuous,’ ” MediaMatters.org, August 18, 2008, mediamatters.org/research/200808180009.
41. Jim Rutenberg and Julie Bosman, “Book Attacking Obama Hopes to Repeat ’04 Anti-Kerry Feat,” New York Times, August 12, 2008, www.nytimes.com/
2008/08/13/us/politics/13book.html?pagewanted=all.
42. “Over Five-Day Period, Fox News Provided Far More Campaign Stump Time to Republicans Than to Democrats,” MediaMatters.org, September 13, 2008, mediamatters.org/research/200809130005.
43. Colby Hamilton, “Jerrold Nadler, co-creator of the Permanent Campaign?” The NYC Delegation. May 16, 2010, thenycdelegation.journalism.cuny.edu/2010
/05/16/jerrold-nadler-co-creator-of-
the-permanent-campaign/.
44. Hannity & Colmes, Fox News Channel, October 6, 2008; “Dick Morris’ Claim That Ayers ‘Hired Obama’ to ‘Distribute the $50 Million That Ayers Raised’ Contradicted by NY Times Report,” MediaMatters.org, October 7, 2008, mediamatters.org/research/200810070032.
45. Scott Shane, “Obama and ’60s Bomber: A Look into Crossed Paths,” The New York Times October 3, 2008, www.nytimes.com/2008/10/04/us/politics/04ayers.html.
46. Hannity & Colmes, Fox News Channel, October 13, 2008; “Dick Morris Falsely Claimed Obama Was ‘General Counsel’ for ACORN,” MediaMatters.org, October 14, 2008, mediamatters.org/research/200810140011.
47. “Fox News Repeatedly Allowed Dick Morris to Solicit Funds on Air for Anti-Obama Ad,” MediaMatters.org, October 31, 2008, mediamatters.org/research/200810310018.
48. Ibid.
49. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel, October 30, 2008; “Fox News Repeatedly Allowed.”
50. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel, October 31, 2008; “Fox News Repeatedly Allowed.”
51. Andrew O’Hehir, “I Watched Fox News for Five Hours Last Night,” Salon, November 6, 2008, www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/11/05/watching_fox.
52. Ibid.
53. Ibid.
Chapter 4: A Stalin-esque Mouthpiece
1. Hannity & Colmes, Fox News Channel, November 6, 2008; “Morris, Hannity, Limbaugh Implicate Obama in Stock-Market Decline—Analysts Disagree,” MediaMatters.org, November 7, 2008, mediamatters.org/research/200811070011.
2. Hannity & Colmes, Fox News Channel, November 14, 2008; “Hannity, Hewitt Revive ‘Obama Recession’ Claim,” MediaMatters.org, November 17, 2008, mediamatters.org/research/200811170016.
3. Interview with Media Matters for America conducted by Joe Strupp, May 17, 2011.
4. Hannity & Colmes, Fox News Channel, December 9, 2008; “Disregarding Fitzgerald’s Warning, Media Use Blagojevich Scandal to Engage in Guilt-by-Association Against Obama,” MediaMatters.org, December 10, 2008, mediamatters.org/research/200812100014.
5. Eric Boehlert, “Fox News Insider: ‘Stuff Is Just Made Up,’ ” MediaMatters.org, February 10, 2011. Interview with Media Matters, mediamatters.org/blog/201102100007.
6. “Koop Criticizes Evangelical Leaders on AIDS Stands,” Los Angeles Times, June 10, 1989, articles.latimes.com/1989–06–10/local/me-1321_1_aids-epidemic-rev-d-james-kennedy-aids-stands.
7. John Dart, “Southern California File,” Los Angeles Times, July 1, 1989.
8. Steve Rendall, “An Aggressive Conservative vs. a ‘Liberal to Be Determined,’ ” Extra! (published by FAIR: Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting), November/December 2003, www.fair.org/index.php?page=1158.
9. Ibid.
10. Sean Hannity biography page, www.ksfo.com/showdj.asp?DJID=9876.
11. Ibid.
12. Matea Gold, “Fox News’ Glenn Beck Strikes Ratings Gold by Challenging Barack Obama,” Los Angeles Times, March 6, 2009, articles.latimes.com/2009/mar/06/entertainment/et-foxnews6.
13. Unlikely Mormon: The Conversion Story of Glenn Beck (DVD; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2008), excerpt viewable at www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpVi6JwjjGU&feature=player_embedded.
14. Product Description on Amazon.com, www.amazon.com/Strategery-Terrorists-Outwitting-Confounding-Mainstream/dp/product-description/B001PTG3GU.
15. “Sammon and Boughton Officially Upped at Fox News,” FishbowlDC (blog), Mediabistro, February 26, 2009, www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/sammon-and-boughton-officially-upped-at-fox-news_b15133.
16. Joe Strupp, “Sources: Fox Management Slanting D.C. Bureau’s News Coverage,” MediaMatters.org, October 29, 2010, mediamatters.org/blog/201010290023?lid=1147907&rid=56347393.
17. Ibid.
18. Howard Kurtz, “Journalist Major Garrett Leaves Fox News TV for National Journal Print,” Washington Post, August 26, 2010, www.washington post.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/25/AR2010082504484.html.
19. Interview with Media Matters for America conducted by Joe Strupp, May 17, 2011.
20. Bill Sammon e‑mail, obtained by Media Matters for America, October 27, 2009.
21. Hannity, Fox News Channel, August 18, 2009; “Luntz Births Another GOP Talking Point: It’s a ‘Government Option’ Not a ‘Public Option,’ ” MediaMatters.org, August 19, 2009, mediamatters.org/mmtv/200908190002.
22. Special Report, Fox News Channel, October 27, 2009; Ben Dimiero, “Leaked Email: Fox Boss Caught Slanting News Reporting,” County Fair (blog), MediaMatters.org, mediamatters.org/blog/201012090003.
23. Ibid.
24. Special Report, Fox News Channel, October 26, 2009; Dimiero, “Leaked Email.”
25. Special Report, Fox News Channel, January 14, 2010.
26. Fox News Sunday, Fox News Channel, January 17, 2010.
27. “33 Internal FOX Editorial Me
mos Reviewed by MMFA Reveal FOX News Channel’s Inner Workings,” MediaMatters.org, July 14, 2004, mediamatters.org/research/200407140002.
28. Howard Kurtz, “Tilting at the Right, Leaning to the Left,” Washington Post, July 11, 2004, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41604–2004Jul10.html.
29. The Rush Limbaugh Show, EIB Network, January 20, 2009, rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2009/01/16/Limbaugh-i-hope-obama-fails.
30. Glenn Beck, Fox News Channel, January 20, 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=35eRxxZ-Ar0.
31. Hannity, Fox News Channel, January 21, 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=35eRxxZ-Ar0.
32. The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel, January 22, 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=35eRxxZ-Ar0.
33. Glenn Beck, Fox News Channel, January 23, 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=35eRxxZ-Ar0.
34. Huckabee, Fox News Channel, January 24, 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=35eRxxZ-Ar0.
35. Fox News Sunday, Fox News Channel, January 25, 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=35eRxxZ-Ar0.
36. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel, January 27, 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=35eRxxZ-Ar0.
37. Glenn Beck, Fox News Channel, January 30, 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=35eRxxZ-Ar0.
38. Hannity, Fox News Channel, February 2, 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=35eRxxZ-Ar0.
39. Special Report, Fox News Channel, February 5, 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=35eRxxZ-Ar0.
40. Happening Now, Fox News Channel, February 10, 2009; “Fox Passes Off GOP Press Release as Its Own Research—Typo and All,” MediaMatters.org, February 10, 2009, mediamatters.org/research/200902100019.
41. Happening Now, Fox News Channel, April 1, 2009; “Cut and Paste: ‘FOXfact[s]’ About GOP Budget Nearly Identical to GOP Rep. Ryan’s Op-Ed,” MediaMatters.org, April 1, 2009, mediamatters.org/mobile/research/200904010017.
42. America’s Newsroom, Fox News Channel, April 23, 2009; “Fox News’ Hemmer ‘Keeping Track of the Stimulus Money’ by Lifting Research from GOP Website,” MediaMatters.org, April 23, 2009, mediamatters.org/research/200904230018.
43. The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel, January 28, 2009; “On O’Reilly Factor, Morris Falsely Claimed Aid to States in Recovery Plan ‘Doesn’t Stimulate Anything,’ ” MediaMatters.org, January 29, 2009, mediamatters.org/research/200901290001.
44. Mark Zandi, testimony before the Committee on Small Business, U.S. House of Representatives, July 24, 2008, www.economy.com/mark-zandi/documents/Small%20Business_7_24_08.pdf.
45. Special Report, Fox News Channel, January 29, 2009; “AP’s Retracted Stimulus Bill Falsehood Finds a New Home at Fox,” MediaMatters.org, January 30, 2009, mediamatters.org/research/200901300002.
46. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel. January 29, 2009; “Fox & Friends’ Doocy Repeated False Claim that Stimulus Package Includes $4 Billion for ACORN,” MediaMatters.org, January 29, 2009, mediamatters.org/research/200901290026.
47. Glenn Beck, Fox News Channel, February 4, 2009; “Beck on Bank ‘Nationaliz[ation],’ Executive Pay Caps, EFCA, SCHIP,” MediaMatters.org, February 4, 2009, mediamatters.org/mmtv/200902040022.
48. The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel, February 6, 2009; “Beck on O’Reilly Factor: ‘We Are Really Truly Stepping Beyond Socialism and Starting to Look at Fascism’; Compares Proposals to Nazi Germany,” MediaMatters.org, February 6, 2009, mediamatters.org/mmtv/200902060027.
49. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel, February 10, 2009; “Beck Says of Stimulus Package, ‘It Is Slavery,’ ” MediaMatters.org, February 10, 2009, mediamatters.org/mmtv/200902100007.
50. Glenn Beck, Fox News Channel, February 11, 2009; “Beck: ‘You Know What This President Is Doing Right Now? He Is Addicting This Country to Heroin—the Heroin That Is Slavery,’ ” MediaMatters.org, February 11, 2009, mediamatters.org/mmtv/200902110028.
51. Your World, Fox News Channel, February 11, 2009; “Fox News Jumps at GOP’s Mouse Tale,” MediaMatters.org, February 12, 2009, mediamatters.org/research/200902120023.
52. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel, February 12, 2009; “Fox News Jumps at GOP’s Mouse Tale.”
53. Greg Sargent, “Pelosi’s Office: Conservative Talking Point About $30 Million for Mice Is Fabrication,” The Plum Line (blog), Washington Post, February 12, 2009, theplumline.whorunsgov.com/stimulus-package/pelosi-staff-conservative-talking-point-about-30-million-for-mice-is-fabrication/.
54. Glenn Beck, Fox News Channel, February 12, 2009; “Fox News Jumps at GOP’s Mouse Tale.”
55. Trillion with a T, Fox News Channel, February 14–16, 2009; “Fox Special Promoted Numerous Myths and Falsehoods About Obama and the Economic Recovery Bill,” MediaMatters.org, February 18, 2009, mediamatters.org/research/200902180019.
56. Remarks by President Obama at Strasbourg Town Hall, White House, April 3, 2009, www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-President-Obama-at-Strasbourg-Town-Hall/.
57. Ibid.
58. Hannity, Fox News Channel, April 6, 2009; “Hannity Falsely Claimed Obama ‘Seemingly Apologiz[ed] for Our Engagement in the War on Terror,’ ” MediaMatters.org, April 7, 2009, mediamatters.org/research/200904070002.
59. Hannity, Fox News Channel, April 8, 2009; “Fox News Figures Outraged over Obama’s ‘Christian Nation’ Comment,” MediaMatters.org, April 9, 2009, mediamatters.org/research/200904090033.
60. “Joint Press Available with President Obama and President Gul of Turkey,” Cankaya Palace, Ankara, Turkey, April 6, 2009, www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Joint-Press-Availability-With-President-Obama-And-President-Gul-Of-Turkey.
61. Liz Peek, “Chavez Handshake May Cost U.S. Billions,” FoxNews.com, April 22, 2009; “FoxNews.com Financial Columnist Claims ‘Chavez Handshake May Cost U.S. Billions,’ Because It Signifies Obama Will ‘Buy Chavez’ Friendship,’ ” County Fair (blog), MediaMatters.org, April 22, 2009, mediamatters.org/blog/200904220007.
62. Nicholas Johnston, “Lieberman Says Obama Off to ‘Good Start,’ Cites Cairo Speech,” Bloomberg, June 13, 2009, www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=ewsarchive&sid=ak5htM4suvD8.
63. Hans Nichols, “Obama Cairo Speech ‘Signal Achievement,’ Republican Lugar Says,” Bloomberg, June 6, 2009, www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pidewsarchive&sid=anR10RbcGdeQ.
64. Bill Sammon e‑mail, obtained by Media Matters for America.
65. America’s Newsroom, Fox News Channel, June 4, 2009; Simon Maloy, “FOXLEAKS: How Bill Sammon Slanted Fox’s Cairo Speech Coverage,” County Fair (blog), MediaMatters.org, February 8, 2011, mediamatters.org/blog/201102080014.
66. Special Report, Fox News Channel, June 4, 2009; Maloy, “FOXLEAKS: How Bill Sammon Slanted Fox’s Cairo Speech Coverage.”
67. The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel, June 4, 2009; Maloy, “FOXLEAKS: How Bill Sammon Slanted Fox’s Cairo Speech Coverage.”
68. Hannity, Fox News Channel, June 4, 2009; Maloy, “FOXLEAKS: How Bill Sammon Slanted Fox’s Cairo Speech Coverage.”
69. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel, June 5, 2009; Maloy, “FOXLEAKS: How Bill Sammon Slanted Fox’s Cairo Speech Coverage.”
70. “Remarks by the President on a New Beginning,” Cairo University, White House, June 4, 2009; www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-cairo-university-6–04–09.
71. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel, April 29, 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=35eRxxZ-Ar0.
Chapter 5: Time for a Tea Party
1. Squawk Box, CNBC, February 19, 2009; “Politico Falsely Claimed that Santelli’s ‘Rant’ Criticized ‘Careless Banks,’ ” MediaMatters.org, February 25, 2009, mediamatters.org/research/200902250011.
2. Ibid.
3. Glenn Beck, Fox News Channel, April 6, 2009; “Beck Says You Can ‘Celebrate with Fox News’ at Any of Four ‘FNC Tax Day Tea Parties,’ ” MediaMatters.org, April 6, 2009, mediamatters.org/mmtv/200904060023.
4. Kate Zernike and Megan Thee-Brenan, “Poll Finds Tea Party Backers Wealthier and More Educated,” New York Times, April 14, 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/us/politics/15poll.html.
5. “Fox Promotion
of Tea Parties Follows Years of Attacking Progressive Demonstrators,” MediaMatters.org, April 17, 2009, mediamatters.org/research/200904170036.
6. Interview with Media Matters conducted by Joe Strupp. May 17, 2011.
7. On the Record, Fox News Channel, February 27, 2009; “Report: ‘Fair and Balanced’ Fox News Aggressively Promotes ‘Tea Party’ Protests,” MediaMatters.org, April 8, 2009, mediamatters.org/reports/200904080025.
8. Special Report, Fox News Channel, March 25, 2009; “Report: ‘Fair and Balanced’ Fox News Aggressively Promotes ‘Tea Party’ Protests.”
9. America’s Newsroom, Fox News Channel, April 6, 2009; “Report: ‘Fair and Balanced’ Fox News Aggressively Promotes ‘Tea Party’ Protests.”
10. Glenn Beck, Fox News Channel, April 6, 2009; “Report: ‘Fair and Balanced’ Fox News Aggressively Promotes ‘Tea Party’ Protests.”
11. Ibid.
12. Hannity, Fox News Channel, April 2, 2009; “Report: ‘Fair and Balanced’ Fox News Aggressively Promotes ‘Tea Party’ Protests.”
13. “Report: ‘Fair and Balanced’ Fox News Aggressively Promotes ‘Tea Party’ Protests.”
14. Ibid.
15. Jeanne Jakle, “Glenn Beck to Broadcast TV Show in Front of Alamo,” Jakle’s Jacuzzi (blog), San Antonio Express-News, April 2, 2009, blog.mysan antonio.com/jakle06/2009/04/glenn-beck-to-broadcast-show-in-front-of-alamo/.
16. “Report: ‘Fair and Balanced’ Fox News Aggressively Promotes ‘Tea Party’ Protests.”
17. Ibid.
18. America’s Newsroom, Fox News Channel, March 24, 2009; “Report: ‘Fair and Balanced’ Fox News Aggressively Promotes ‘Tea Party’ Protests.”
19. “On the House: Fox Aired 107 Ads for Its Coverage of Tea Party Protests over 10 Days,” MediaMatters.org, April 17, 2009, mediamatters.org/research/200904170011.
20. Ibid.
21. Ibid.
22. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel, April 15, 2009; “Carlson’s Suggestion on How to Show Support for Tea Parties: ‘You Can Hang [a Teabag] from Your Mirror, Too, Like Fuzzy Dice,’ ” MediaMatters.org, April 15, 2009, mediamatters.org/mmtv/200904150008.