Administration Loses Bid to Exclude Fox News (2)
The Obama administration on Thursday failed in its attempt to exclude Fox News from participating in an interview of an administration official, as Republicans on Capitol Hill stepped up their criticism of the hardball tactics employed by the White House.
The Treasury Department on Thursday tried to make “pay czar” Kenneth Feinberg available for interviews to every member of the network pool except Fox News. The pool is the five-network rotation that for decades has shared the costs and duties of daily coverage of the presidency and other Washington institutions.
But the Washington bureau chiefs of the five TV networks consulted and decided that none of their reporters would interview Feinberg unless Fox News was included. The pool informed Treasury that Fox News, as a member of the network pool, could not be excluded from such interviews under the rules of the pool.
The administration relented, making Feinberg available for all five pool members and Bloomberg TV.
The pushback came after White House senior adviser David Axelrod told ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday that Fox News is not a real news organization and other news networks “ought not to treat them that way.”
Media analysts cheered the decision to boycott the Feinberg interview unless Fox News was included, saying the administration’s gambit was taking its feud with Fox News too far. President Obama has already declined to go on “Fox News Sunday,” even while appearing on the other Sunday shows.
“I’m really cheered by the other members saying “No, if Fox can’t be part of it, we won’t be part of it,’” said Baltimore Sun TV critic David Zurawik, calling the move to limit Feinberg’s availability “outrageous.”
“What it’s really about to me is the Executive Branch of the government trying to tell the press how it should behave. I mean, this democracy — we know this — only works with a free and unfettered press to provide information,” he said.
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Cy Says:
Indefensibly petty. Kind of disappointed in Barack about all this. Whatever happened to IGNORING your detractors? Not enough work for him as it is?
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 3:23 pm
mike Says:
First they came for Fox news and I didn’t watch Fox news so I never said anything…..
Thank you to the other networks for standing up to a tyrant and supporting FOX. Barry Obama’s true nature is being exposed for all to see. Open your collective eyes people and see how dangerous he is.
mid island mike
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 3:39 pm
FREE Says:
They are only covering there own asses.
I so wish it was because they believe in the first amendment but its just they don’t want to be next.
You might notice the lack of coverage on this from the alphabet networks. How come??
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 4:28 pm
fernstalbert Says:
This is so Obama, do it, then deny, deny and deny! Pathological mindset – who me? Watched Glen Beck go to “bat” today on this issue. His analysis would be amusing if it wasn’t so frightfully true. There is an enemies list and you are on it! Which organization/person is next - the White House says BOO! Just in time for Halloween.
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 7:29 pm
MaryT Says:
All the other networks should boycott O until he appears on FNS.
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Fay Says:
I watched Glen Beck today, at least the USA has Fox. I have given up on Power Play. Yesterday was the last straw when Craig Oliver told CTV viewers to Shut Up. Message taken CTV!
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Soccermom Says:
Haven’t watched CBC or CTV news or commentaries since the Coalition of Losers and don’t miss it one bit.
Hmmm, Glenn Beck or Tom Clark? Oh my, that’s a tough choice, lol!
Posted on October 24th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
UV Says:
Well I see that King George Bush II recently visited Canada and was welcomed with a shower of shoes.
Strange but when former President Clinton visits, no one throws shoes at him. In fact, many did not show up for his last lecture.
Posted on October 24th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Soccermom Says:
George impressed a lot of people: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Bush+vindicated+during+visit+city/2135229/story.html h/t SDA
Having a look at some of the professional protestors there to boo George, well, many of them are 9/11 truthers; in other words – COMPLETELY NUTS.
Posted on October 24th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Cynapse Says:
… unlike the “patriots” who are still trying to prove Obama’s a Kenyan Muslim?
Anyway, post mortem on this is that Obama would have been far better off ignoring Fox and letting them do what they do. Nobody except right wing cheerleaders thinks Fox is anywhere approaching fair and balanced, with the exception of the AP wires they post directly on their website. If that is understood then the White House must understand that trying to cut off Fox is only going to harden its fans while raising freedom-nuts’ hackles and even making some moderates uneasy. Other people will follow Fox now just to see what the hype is about. If the White House had done nothing, Fox would still be speaking almost entirely to its right-wing audience. Now it is officially the voice of freedom. Good job, Rahm.
Who’s running that clown show? It’s becoming very hard to defend.
Posted on October 24th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Joe Says:
And in your rose coloured world Cynapse the CBC is the most balanced news agency I assume. I sure like their motto ‘We report, you decide’. Oh wait that’s not correct they only report the the lens of “Canadian Values”.
Posted on October 24th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Cynapse Says:
And in your rose coloured world Cynapse the CBC is the most balanced news agency I assume
You assume wrong. Of course they don’t have the cojones to claim they are fair and balanced while stacking their editorial staff with pitbulls from one side and poodles from the other side.
CBC is also Canadian and hopefully would reflect Canadian values. You wannabe-Republicans will have to admit some day that most Canadians don’t want to be part of the Holy American Empire and aren’t going clap like trained seals every time the GOP finds a new country to bomb. I assume this is why you work out your bloodlust by cheering Sarah Palin et al instead of people from your own country.
Posted on October 25th, 2009 at 11:10 am