Should Faux 'News' host a Democratic primary debate?

Dear MoveOn member,
The Democratic Party of Nevada just announced plans to let Fox News host a presidential primary debate. But Fox isn't a legitimate news channel. It's a right-wing mouthpiece like Rush Limbaugh and the Drudge Report—repeating false Republican talking points to smear Democrats.

Fox has already tried to skew the '08 race by accusing Senator Barack Obama of attending a terrorist school. CNN immediately exposed the charge as false, and Obama hit back by refusing to appear on Fox—sending them scrambling. Democrats can force Fox to be fair and balanced by fighting back hard.


Can you sign this petition asking the Democratic Party of Nevada to drop Fox as its partner for the presidential primary debate?

The full text of the petition is: "Fox is a mouthpiece for the Republican Party, not a legitimate news channel. The Democratic Party of Nevada should drop Fox as its partner for the presidential primary debate."


Clicking here will add your name to the petition:
http://civic.moveon.org/foxdebate/o.pl?id=9923-1747679-0_z1Hc&t=3
It's very important to also invite our friends to sign this petition. If ever there was a battle where we could beat Fox, this is it—since Democrats will make the ultimate decision, not Fox executives. But to be convinced, Democratic leaders need to see a growing public backlash.

We'll deliver the petition signatures to the Democratic Party of Nevada and let petition signers know what next steps they can take to make a difference.

Fox has also spread false smears about Hillary Clinton this year. Plus, when Democrats trusted Fox to host a presidential debate in 2003, Fox undermined Democrats with on-screen headlines like "Democratic Candidates Offer Grim View of America."

We can fight back. The Washington Post reported that "the Obama camp has 'frozen out' Fox News reporters and producers in the wake of the network's major screw-up in running with the erroneous Obama-the-jihadist story." "'I'm still in the freezer,' one Fox journalist said." Fox News CEO Roger Ailes has personally called Obama twice to smooth relations.

Thank you for all you do.
–Noah, Adam G., Marika, Wes, and the MoveOn.org Civic Action Team
Thursday, February 22nd, 2007

This is one case where the leopard doesn't change his spots.

but that would would be way over the heads of Faux viewers.

nothing good can come of this

This gives our candidates a chance to talk to the right leaning crowd and show them that we don't have pieces of baby stuck in our teeth. It is also a chance to appeal to right-leaning independants. Unfortunately politics is not seeing who is most ideologically pure, it's seeing who can get 50% + 1 electoral votes. That means we've gotta win over some moderates and this is a way we can do it. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer... It benefits us more than it does them.

Remember when Jon Stewart went onto Crossfire and they expected it to be a powderpuff interview and Tucker Carlson was drawn and quartered on live television? I can see Barack or Richardson doing the same to Hannity or O'Reilly. So long as it is not the skeleton of Colmes. I think that this would be a great strategic move.

They will be coaxed to fire on each other and other Dems. You should know by now that O'Really and InsHannity don't let Dems speak when they're on together.

Time to step into the real world, AU

in exactly the same way that the recent gathering had a question specifically slamming a particular candidate BY NAME as a topic ...

NOT TO PARTICIPATE ! Have their people schedule them all participate in a Habitat for Humanity project in the NOLA area instead :toast:

Fox news was created to control the message and staunch debate. When everyone agrees what is left to discuss. It would be nice for our candidates to go on Faux news listen to the question, and respond by trashing Faux news. Give them a little taste of their own poison.

Fox News makes it clear on a daily basis that not only is it not a friend of the democratic party, but objectivity and fairness are not standards by which they operate.

I find it extremely concerning that a network that made such baseless and reckless assertions regarding Senator Obama would be invited to host what is intended to be an objective debate among democratic candidates about issues that are important to democrats.

I think it's also worth pointing out that since the madrassa allegations, Senator Obama has refused to appear on Fox News. To invite Fox to host a debate in which Obama is participating is an insult- not just to Senator Obama, but to those of us who expect the media to behave in a manner that is impartial, balanced, truthful, and responsible.

Fox clearly has no interest in media integrity and I implore you not to reward their bad behavior by giving them fodder that will undoubtedly be used to further their ongoing crusade against democrats.

Thank you for your consideration.