By 10:40 last night, the guys over at Fox News Channel knew that Obama had tied up California, and effectively won the election. Ohio was not just for show, but close enough. And if FNC, hosted by Karl Rove, among others, was willing to concede a McCain defeat, you know that CNN and MSNBC and all the others were sitting on the news as well.
So why were we all treated to Anderson Cooper talking to a hologram of will.i.am while the next president was waiting in the wings? Wasn't it the point to be the first network that could call this race?
Sarah Palin bashed Barack Obama, which most pundits didn't expect, or advise. She also lobbed some decent punchlines at the talking head class, and for that, we appreciate her. But how did the folks who are paid to over-analyze these type of things, and who were on the receiving end of her taunts, respond to her words? CONTINUED »
Fox News has long found itself defending its "Fair & Balanced" slogan. And rightfully so: Everyday there are endless examples of Roger Ailes' minions schilling for conservatives. Not exactly the straight and narrow its mantra would have you believe. But at the same time, MSNBC's liberal slant has floated on by with less criticism than Fox News has suffered. That's been changing recently; Chris Matthews and, in particular, Keith Olbermann have been fingered in recent months for driving the network's progressive bias, from its opinion shows to its hard news daytime broadcasts. And now Chris Wallace, who managed to stuff endless opportunities for meta media coverage into his Television Critics Association appearance, HE'S NOT GOING TO TAKE IT! CONTINUED »
"But the other thing is, I mean, one of the things is Sean Hannity, terrific personality, and I think a valued part of Fox News, Bill O'Reilly. But, you know, Fox News doesn't have them anchor our evening news coverage. I mean, they know that they are people with sharp political opinions, and so they have people like Brit Hume and, I'm proud to say myself, doing the straight news coverage and then we go for commentary from people like Hannity and O'Reilly. But, yet, there's, there's Keith Olbermann, you know, one minute delivering a rant about "Shut the hell up, President Bush," and then the next minute he's the anchor of their news coverage or their election coverage." [Newsbusters]
Fox News' irritating Chris Wallace on whether he'd take over for Katie Couric: "No. First of all, I don't think they're going to ask and second of all, I'm very happy at Fox News Channel. As much as I grew up in CBS and as much as I associate that anchor chair with Walter Cronkite and the history of broadcasting, I have never been so happy as I have working the last four-plus years at Fox. I suspect I've had a much better last couple of years than Katie Couric." [THR]
The big fuss over Barack Obama visiting Fox News Sunday, two years after Chris Wallace extended an invitation, was all for naught. The interview (transcript here) revealed little, if anything, newsworthy. Must we keep revisiting the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Bill Ayres storylines? What he'll do about his commitment to a federally financed campaign — didn't he already share his intention to work something out with John McCain?
Way to render your airtime – and publicity stunt – irrelevant.
Below, Chris Wallace's post-interview reaction. CONTINUED »
Two years after Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace – noted FNC instigator – invited Barack Obama on the program, the candidate is accepting the invite, effectively ending his boycott of the network show. The one-on-one interview, being taped Saturday in Indiana, will air on Sunday.
Below, Wallace kicks off Obama Watch. CONTINUED »
When Chris Wallace, host of Fox News Sunday, thinks that other hosts on his network, in this case, the wonderful people on Fox & Friends, are doing too much “Obama-bashing,” then they are really doing too much Obama-bashing. WatChris ch as Wallace goes on-air to take his fellow Fox Newsies to task. Their wounded, infuriated faces are priceless, especially at the end.
Editorial Director
