Here is a great piece about why we cannot be naive about the idea that some magical PR strategy or political stunt will rally support for Health Care reform or financial reform in an environment where the media is corporate controlled and paid for. The media loves to blame the Obama administration for the stalled effort on health care reform because it obscures the corporate media's active roll in stopping health care reform. While some folks point to Keith Olbermann, nothing Keith did compared to the media blitz sponsored by Fox News.
2009: A year of Fox News political activism
With the inauguration of President Obama in 2009, Fox News transformed itself from a conservative media outlet into a partisan, right-wing political organization that openly viewed itself as the "voice of the opposition." Throughout the year, Fox News has declared war on the Obama administration, the Democratic Congress, and progressive organizations by, among other things, campaigning for the firing of various administration officials, partnering with conservative groups and politicians to oppose progressive policies, and even allowing its own contributors to fundraise on-air for conservative political causes.
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Glenn Beck launches 9-12 Project, leading to 9-12 protests
Beck launched 9-12 Project, which he said spurred "millions" to get "involved" in protests, including 9-12 march on Washington. On March 13, Beck announced the launch of his 9-12 Project for those "looking for direction in taking back the control of our country." At the conclusion of this broadcast, Beck told his viewers to get to work and, "We'll meet back here in six months, all right?" On August 12, Beck described the 9-12 Project as giving "ourselves an outlet of voice to connect, because you needed to community organize. ... Well, you've already done it. There are 9-12 Projects and rallies happening all over. The biggest one seems to be in Washington, D.C., on September 12." On August 27, Beck said of the 9-12 Project: "A few months ago, I told you, you got to know you're not alone. You've got to know. You got to unite. Talk to people. Make sure you know you're not alone, through the 9-12 Project. We started that. Millions all involved across the country and the 9-12 Project and other organizations like it. I knew we needed to connect with one another."
Fox News relentlessly promoted 9-12 protest. Organizers involved with the September 12 March on Washington credited Beck with inspiring the 9-12 movement, and Fox News, led by Beck, relentlessly promoted the 9-12 march. Fox News also aggressively promoted the Tea Party Express tour -- whose last stop was on September 12 in Washington -- on Fox News, Fox Business, TheFoxNation.com, and FoxNews.com -- going so far as to cheerlead for the protests and advertise the Tea Party schedule so viewers "can be a part" of the events. Indeed, a Fox News producer was even caught coaching the crowd to cheer during a stop on the Tea Party Express. Following the protest, Beck and other Fox News hosts exaggerated the number of participants, with Beck at one point going so far as to claim -- based on calculations by a "university" that he could not "remember" -- that "1.7 million" people showed up for the march. PolitiFact.com reported that a fire department official said "he thought between 60,000 and 75,000 people had shown up."
Fox News serves as driving force for April 15 "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties"
Fox News heavily promoted April 15 tea parties. Fox News heavily promoted and advocated for the April 15 tea parties, which it characterized as a response to Obama administration policies. Fox News frequently aired segments -- from both opinion and news personalities -- publicizing the protests and encouraging viewers to get involved with them. In many instances, Fox News provided attendance and organizing information, such as dates, locations and website URLs. In early April, Fox News announced that four hosts from the network -- Beck, Neil Cavuto, Greta Van Susteren, and Hannity -- would appear live at four tea party sites and would broadcast the protests live throughout the day. At one point, Fox News even referred to the tea parties as "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties," and the Fox Nation also hosted its own "virtual tea party."
Fox News aired over 100 commercial promotions and over 20 segments in less than two weeks. From April 6 to April 13, Fox News featured at least 20 segments on the protests, and from April 6 to April 15, Fox News aired at least 107 commercial promotions for their coverage of the protests. On the April 15 edition of CNN Newsroom, media critic and Reliable Sources host Howard Kurtz said, "I don't think I've ever seen a news network throw its weight behind a protest like we are seeing in the past few weeks with Fox and these tea parties."
Fox News' coverage boosted protests, pushed other outlets to cover. On the April 18 edition of Fox News Watch, host Jon Scott asked: "Did the FOX coverage and promotion of the coverage, did it force the other networks to pay attention to it?" Then-Fox News contributor Jane Hall replied: "I think it did because the other TV networks ended up leading with it." Dozens of national and local news reports credited Fox News for publicizing and boosting the protests. Indeed, the Odessa (Texas) American reported of a rally outside Odessa City Hall: "Statements like 'I saw it on Fox' were heard around the crowd."
Fox News promotes disruptions of health care town halls
Fox promoted anti-health care reform disruptions of town halls. Following the August 2 disruption of a town hall event hosted by Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Fox News personalities repeatedly lauded such protesters and urged viewers to take similar action. Fox & Friends guest co-host Peter Johnson Jr. said to protesters, "We thank you for representing Americans, and we hope that other Americans get out there." Johnson added: "We need to have this every day throughout August." Additionally, co-host Gretchen Carlson asked viewers: "Are you gonna call" your member of Congress "or are you gonna go to one of these receptions where they're actually there?" Co-host Steve Doocy similarly said: "If you want to contact your congress members and sound off, go to FoxNation.com." Fox & Friends also ran the on-screen text, "Hold Congress accountable! Now is the time to speak your mind." Hannity also said of town hall protests: "That's a pretty good way to fight back." And Fox News contributor Dick Morris responded by stating, "We gotta sign that protester up" and also by urging viewers to "fight back" by calling Congress.
Fox News' town hall coverage amplified opponents of health care reform, ignored supporters. A Media Matters review found that during the week of August 24, Fox News aired 22 clips of town hall meeting attendees expressing an opinion or asking a question that opposed progressive health care reform efforts but aired zero clips of town hall attendees expressing an opinion or asking a question in support of reform.
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