If Kerry wins he will have to contend w/ Fox News (comments on "Outfoxed")

[bluestateguy]

I saw a screening of "Outfoxed" on Sunday and I have a few comments.

Fox has a lot more power than it did when it was unveiled during the Clinton Administration. The Clinton White House could afford to ignore Fox, or treat them as nothing more than an amusing gnat. Now, however, Fox leads in all the cable ratings, it is closely tied to the right wing radio talk shows and it clearly influences the behavior of the other cable news channels and sometimes even the network news. They have the power to wreck Kerry's presidency should he win. It must be dealt with aggressively in a Kerry Administration.

The first thing Kerry would have to do is make it clear that the party is over for Fox. No more special privileges. In fact, his press secretary should revoke all White House press passes from Fox reporters. There is no constitutional right to a White House press pass. Administration officials should be ordered to NOT TALK to Fox reporters, and congressional Democrats should be encouraged to do the same. Other options that should be considered would include an executive order to reinstate the "Fairness Doctrine" on the airwaves, an FTC investigation into the use of the trademark "Fair and Balanced" and if Democrats can win back one chamber of Congress, congressional hearings into corporate media bias and mass subpoenas of Fox executives, producers and reporters.

Fox may find ways to retaliate, and they may bias their coverage even more, but that will only confirm to people that they are a biased news organization in the first place. If they shape up then the Administration could back down.

It's time to stop playing nice with these folks. If you extend them a hand of friendship they will only bite it off.

[LibertyorDeath]

1. When Kerry wins he should pull their broadcast license ASAP

[Lone_Wolf]

2. Fox News is a 24/7 campaign commercial for the Repukes...

It should be banned from broadcasting within 60 days of the General Election.

[toddzilla]

3. two words..

FAIRNESS DOCTRINE