So much for MSNBC being the liberal Fox News

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201006160007


So much for MSNBC being the liberal Fox News

June 16, 2010 9:02 am ET by Eric Boehlert


The constant claim from right-wing media commentators that MSNBC is just like Fox News, only liberal, has never made any sense. MSNBC is supposedly a liberal Fox News because it employs a handful of hosts who identify with liberal, or Democratic politics? But how does that compare to Fox News, which only employs hosts who identify w/ conservative, GOP politics.

Of course, MSNBC does straight news during the day, whereas Fox News hasn't done straight news in several years. Most importantly, MSNBC doesn't just make stuff up. Fox News does. All. The. Time.

But for anyone who needed additional proof that MSNBC is not the liberal Fox News (i.e. MSNBC is not an appendix to a political party), last night's coverage of Obama's primetime oil spill address was a perfect example. As has been noted, MSNBC's talking heads, including Keith Olbermann, did not give the speech high marks.

Some highlights:



Tough stuff.

Now, can you imagine the Fox News crew of paid pundits (Brit Hume, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, etc.) covering a primetime speech by a Republican president and, just moments after its conclusion, thoroughly trashing the effort as being ineffectual and uninspired?

Of course not, because that would never happen. (People would lose their jobs.) Why? Because Fox News is the Opposition Party. It's entirely vested in the success of one political party, which is why it can't afford to practice actual journalism. i.e. Because the truth might occasionally seep out.

So next time a conservative insists MSNBC is the liberal Fox News, ask them to point you to the time when Fox News pundits trashed a GOP president in primetime.

like Faux is for the republicans?

I personally don't

I want a network that emphasizes more liberal thinking but not a cheerleader for any politician

to m$nbc. This proves it's a lie. And MM does follow faux, so we don't have to.

...if you read the entire O/P?

I've heard others claim "Well maybe Limbaugh is bad, but Olbermann is just like Limbaugh"

They need to go back and read other oval office speeches and see just how much exacting detail is in them. The answer is none.

They're so sensitive to criticism, they are overcompensating for being called the liberal Fox News. Just like the rest of the MSM is now overcompensating on criticizing Obama because they never criticized or questioned Bush when they should have.

That is, if you think the voters are manipulated by these things.

If they can have their propaganda channel and we can't have ours, then dammit don't complain that we don't have "leadership" and don't get everything we want!

Propaganda appeals to sheep

but they are no longer journalists.
they are entertainers.

and Fineman expressed their opinions and criticisms and didn''t just toe the party line as Fox always does.

work for a corporation. I will never forget scarborough admitting on Real Time that they got their a.m. talking points from the powers that be. :shrug:

ratings which = money.

I almost don't view Morning Joe as representative of MSNBC, it's like the red-haired stepchild.

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along w/BP.

would be a better solution. What exactly do you think they'd do to not make things worse, or what could they do to make things better? Any way you slice it, the admin is between a rock and a hard place at the moment.

I think pepperoni.

LOL

They would be claiming an "Oval Office Speech is not the time to be a policy wonk" "he was too long winded"

Fuck these fools

They wanted the story to be "MSNBC doesn't cater to the president isn't a Fox News" instead of anything else.

Tweety, Olbermann, Maddow, Fineman, the whole mess.

All they care about is ratings. They don't give a fuck about what's happening.

Hell, Olbermann's mask came off for me when I found out the idiot isn't registered to vote and never votes.

I personally think he should, and that it's foolish that he doesn't, but his opinion last night had NOTHING to do with what MSNBC brass "told" him to say, and nothing to do with any "fear" of being considered someone who caters to the President.

Nor did Rachel Maddow's. I am absolutely convinced that these two, if no one else (and I can't even say Tweety and Fineman weren't doing the same) were speaking their true minds, with no consideration of ANYTHING else.

I know tinfoil hatting is a popular activity, especially with we liberals and the media. We don't trust them. Some of us assume there isn't a real person amongst them...all they care about is their money, their reputation, their ratings, and pleasing their overlords.

I'm not like that. I think I can tell the sincere ones from the fakes. And Olbermann and Maddow are for real. If you don't agree with them, that's your choice. No one says you have to. But don't assume they're saying things they don't really mean, or feel.

Plain and simple, any person who does not vote is completely useless and a total fake if they are a pundit. Not voting makes him WORSE than Glenn Beck, IMO.

It's all about ratings and it's all about the bottom line.

Yes, even for "precious" Rachel Maddow.

Don't kid yourself. None of them give a flying fuck about anything else.

Hope you don't fall off.

I have been listening to Rachel since her AA days. I personally think she is much better on TV. Her reporting on the gulf oil disaster has been nothing short of incredible. Every part of the story and its rippling effect throughout the region is being covered. She must have a crack staff & some great researchers. I think she does give a 'flying fuck' or she wouldn't be so persistent in her coverage.

Keith was the same when the health care was being debated/trashed. He didn't have to donate & promote the health care clinics held all over the US. It made a difference that his father's health was declining at the time too. He acknowledged his and his father's position fortunate circumstance in the care his dad was receiving. He used the power of his situation to promote the terrible state of health care in this country. He, too, gave a 'flying fuck'.

Olbermann has been very open about why he does not vote. While I may not agree w/ it, he does feel it would make a difference in his reporting - so it probably would. I certainly do not discount the good he has done just because he does not vote.

Because they support no one, and trash whoever is in office, regardless?

So they only seemed to be on our side when bush was President. Turns out they are not. They make money by bashing whoever it is that is in office.

They are mere entertainers just like Beck.

the lionizing of these comedians is scary. We say people are insane for following Limbaugh and Beck. So why is it OK here?

We want the truth.

I will never understand politician worship.

Thanks for that phrase; it really crystallized what I am seeing here too.

It was so widely panned, I think they had no choice.

I know, McCain wasn't president, but he was the top Republican candidate at the time.

been water boys for Obama from day one and i don't want water boys from media!!

But last night they were spot on!