Should Dems Avoid FOX?

[NativeTexan]

What would be wrong with all serious National Democrats staying completely removed from Fox News and any other hard-right media with the "meanness" factor? (Not "boycott", because that sounds like a protest and temporary.)

I heard, for instance, Jerry Springer talk about when he was on with Hannity last week, that his microphone volume was turned low so that Hannity had the advantage. Springer wasn't complaining. As a matter of fact, he only brought it up because his listeners were complaining about something that Hannity supposedly said either off-air, or after Jerry was gone, and he was just pointing out that he only knew about the volume thing, and to him it wasn't that big of a deal.

But, still, if our National Dems would just stay off of the fascist network, and then just ignore the dares and the double-dares to "debate" them back on their own ground again, I think in the long run it would be a ratings "killer" for Fox. Their goons could meet our people on the more neutral CNN or MSNBC, but ours folks wouldn't darken the Fox News doorway ever again.

Hell, they won't let them talk, (like Springer), and they shout them down, berate them, demonize them, etc. What is the POINT?

Put the goons in their own little box, talking to only themselves, and arguing about us AMONGST themselves. Without Democrats, the moderate "swing" voters would actually see who the real "demons" are, and wouldn't have Dems to be used as "evildoers" and eventually get bored with just the one side. When they watched it on "neutral" ground, they could see more reality than "bad political fiction" like is found on Fox.

What do you think?

[bluestateguy]

1. Possibly

Or, when Democrats get the White House back, cut off Fox's White House press credentials. There is no constitutional right to a press pass.

[RufusEarl]

7. Good idea!

I've often wondered why any Dem would go on fox news, it just seems to add credibility to fair and balanced (BS). I gave up on all cable news networks a year ago, and never looked back.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

2. I think most of us do.

[AlinPA]

13. I believe it means our Dem politicians and candidates.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

14. oops

okay. Gotcha.

Well, that's a good point.

[blondeatlast]

3. We'd go farther if we'd concentrate our efforts on more open minds.

Once the RW media hasn't got the LW to pick on, they'll start backbiting and bullying each other.

We don't need the average Fox viewer, by any means. LEt 'em starve on the slim pickings of their own cattle.

[AlinPA]

29. The average Fox viewer will never vote for a Democrat.

[valerief]

4. They'd let Lieberman talk

There would be only Faux Dems on Faux News, and what good would that do? They'd just argue about diversionary issues.

[blondeatlast]

15. I suggest WE demand that the DNC withhold funding to any Dem

who appears on FAUX.

If we, the grassroots who offer our money and time, demand this--we'll get it.

[AlinPA]

18. I like that. When they call for $$ for DNC, I may say something. I have

already given $$ so I can say my piece when they call again. (I get called every 4 weeks or so)

[LA lady]

21. I like Clark

But I never get to see Clark anywhere else, What's with that?

[NativeTexan]

50. EXQUISITE IDEA!! We all need some of that.........

.....kind of thinking! Let's start a serious campaign about this to the DNC!!

[AlinPA]

5. Yes, Yes, Yes. You nailed it with this: "Put the goons in their own

little box, talking to only themselves, and arguing about us AMONGST themselves."

They would look like jerks.

[NativeTexan]

42. I believe that they would. And why give "aid and comfort" to the enemy?

[xultar]

6. Yes. Watching Faux is like watching closed-circuit @ an insane asylum

why would you do that?

[pkspiegel]

10. Except when Wesley Clark is on...

General Clark is great--adds a little balance and brilliance.

[AlinPA]

11. Clark works for the bastards. I like him, but, what the hell is he doing

with those jerks? He just helps the assholes.

[xultar]

26. You just don't get it do you. How else will the kool-aid drinkers hear

what we have to say unless Wes is there?

Do you think we should leave Faux totally unattended and allowed to run amuck? That would be WRONG.

[AlinPA]

27. Look at Limbaugh. Except for a narrow audience, he is considered

to be a totally biased blowhard and is not of any influence with the general public. If leaders stayed away from Fox, it would end up the same. A bunch of assholes squawking among themselves. That guy Holmes / Colmes? would look worse.

[Jai4WKC08]

32. Limbaugh has a BIG influence

Don't kid yourself. The bullshit he puts out gets picked up and passed around the water cooler at work or the bunko table at girls night out. If these people don't hear the truth somewhere, they accept what they hear from Rush as gospel. It ain't like most of them hear all that much about anything important anyway.

[AlinPA]

28. (See blondeatlast's post below).

[xultar]

25. Wes is like the psych dr talking conducting group therapy.

[blondeatlast]

8. You are suggesting that our big guns avoid appearing on Fox, correct?

Rather than we stop watching (which is asking nothing of me, personally!)?

[NativeTexan]

39. I don't watch either.....but why give them TARGETS?

[AlinPA]

9. And, BTW, "goons" is a good way to describe them. Lets start now.

No Dems on that stupid network. My wife and I watched them on the morning "Fox and Friends" for the first time (about 10 minutes)- it was blaring away in a car repair place's waiting room. What a bunch of assholes! That bright lighting is terrible.

[NativeTexan]

45. If it looks like a goon, acts like a goon and talks like a goon....

.....then it is usually A GOON!!

[blondeatlast]

12. Every one of our heavy hitters who appears on FAUX offers Fox

a minute degree of credibility--the opportunity to say they are "fair and balanced."

Once they start in on their own, even OUR enablers, like Lieberman, will avoid the place.

[AlinPA]

16. Let the "goons" on Fox and their guests just squawk their right wing

garbage. People would see them for what they are. It is already a well known fact that Fox is biased; so yes, it helps them when our heavy hitters play into their hands.

[MADem]

17. Give them Helen Thomas's seat at Prez Press Conferences

While the reporters at the daily's insist that she stay up front, at the exceedingly rare Prez press conferences, with the stupid honor guard that monkey insists on, the red rug, the trappings of nonsense, and so forth, she is at the back of the room.

[NanceGreggs]

19. I've been a proponent of this approach for a long time.

The types of shows you're talking about only get viewers who are interested in seeing fireworks, screaming and yelling, and hopefully watching some Democrat being made to look the fool.

Take away that aspect of the programming, and viewership will plummet.

I've heard the argument that people like Limbaugh garner their listeners without Democratic guests, but he is a horse('s ass) of a different colour. That has always been his set-up.

But take away the Democrats from the FAUX line-ups, which have been set-up as (alleged) 'discussion' on both sides of an issue, and you've got NOTHING. Who wants to tune in to watch a bunch of right-wingers discuss anything amongst themselves? The people who tune-in for the screamfest will be bored out of their minds, and will go elsewhere for what they consider to be 'entertainment'.

I've also heard the argument that if Dems don't appear on these shows, they will be completely one-sided without a chance for Dems to speak their piece on a given topic. Well, we all know they don't get a chance to actually SPEAK anyway, so that argument holds no water.

When asked why they don't appear on these shows, Dems can easily take the intellectual high road: "I'm always happy to participate in a discussion about the issues of the day on a legitimate news or political program that invites views from both sides of the aisle. But I don't waste my valuable time on 'fake' discussion shows."

I realize that some Democrats just can't resist watching FAUX, but they should fight the temptation to call in and add their two cents. No one is really listening to you anyway, so why give them your opinion?

Without the 'other side' to rant TO, these TV hosts will have no alternative but to rant AT the absent Democrats. That makes for VERY boring TV fare, and also highlights the fact that these people are mean-spirited, simple-minded, and have nothing to contribute to the political discussion.

No Democratic guests means no one to scream at. No screaming means no viewers. No viewers means no ratings. No ratings means sayonara to the Bill O'Reillys of the world.

[blondeatlast]

22. "...no alternative but to rant AT the absent Democrats. " Nail, meet head.

If Limbaugh were on TV, he wouldn't last long, because that's EXACTLY what he does.

What--you mean, he was on TV? (snicker)

I rest OUR case! :toast:

[NativeTexan]

43. Great talking points, Nance!

[IsItJustMe]

51. I have always wondered why Dems would show up on FAUX. It's beyond

stupid.

[sendero]

54. I think that would be great...

... but you know that they will ALWAYS be able to find some a-hole who is nominally a "Dem" to use as a punching bag.

It might be worthwhile if all the big-name Dems, i.e. anyone in Senate or Congress, big name consultants, etc - off of there, but there is never a shortage of folks who will bend over just to be on TV.

[Radical Activist]

20. Yes. They already do it to us.

Bush does this to shows that don't "report" on him favorably. They should get a taste of their own medicine.

[NativeTexan]

47. They have been controlling the media this way......

.........for too long. Give it to THEM for a change!

[blondeatlast]

23. Let's let O'Reilly suffer Limbaugh's fate on the tube.

Playing to an audience of blue-blazered elitist dittoheads made for CRAPPY tv, and Limbaugh went down in flames.

Without the visible "opponent," he was dull as dishwater.

Gee, I wouldn't want that to happen to the Big Giant Head, would you? :rofl:

[NativeTexan]

46. O'Reilly just sucks!! And of course the dragon lady.....

....

[HockeyMom]

24. No diference between Fox and CNN anymore

Marginal difference with MSNBC. Our media is now CONTROLLED. People need to wake up to that fact and find other sources, and THINK FOR THEMSELVES.

[snowbear]

37. CNN is far from perfect.. but no where close to Faux (yet)

I can tolerate Lou Dobbs, Anderson Cooper, and a few of the other CNN mediaheads. Hell.. now that Daryn Kagan has finally dumped Rush Limpballs, I don't even automatically change the channel when she's on!

My ultimate favorite person on CNN is their chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour!!

I also really appreciate what an incredible job Baghdad correspondent Nick Robertson :P does, and Tony Harris rocks!!

I can't name one single Anchor at Faux that I can tolerate listening to. Then again.. I haven't watched them in years. As much as I love General Clark, no way I'll watch Faux even to catch him.. Geez, I hope he doesn't renew his contract with them!!!

Instead, I just tune into DU to find out all about his appearances or into News Hound to hear about Faux's daily LIES.

I got a major kick out listening to Al Franken and Joe Conason talk about Faux spinning Bush's poll numbers this past Friday.

Faux located (or hired) some completely unknown, never heard of pollster who said (on Faux News) that Bush had a 48% approval rating, but that when you add in the margin of error of 7%, that he's actually polling nationally somewhere around 55%, 56..



Conason reminded listeners that as far as polling goes, there is no such thing as a "7% margin of error" and that even if there was... why would Faux choose to only quote the + numbers of the bogus poll?

I've heard that Greta Van Susteren is one of the few Faux employees who is not a rightie.. I haven't heard her talk since the 2000 election when she was with CNN, so those of you who actually watch that network might know?

CNN can definitely be irritating, but I sure don't agree that they are as bad as Faux. Not yet anyway.

[NativeTexan]

40. Kyra Phillips and Heidi Collins make for .......

.....Great journalism...OK i just like watching them...could do that with the sound down...but CNN is actually starting to bend its stripes back toward the center, since the political winds are starting to change.

[davidwparker]

30. Already do. Downgrade your cable/satellite service to get rid of it

like I did and with the savings, donate to Democracy Now!, FSTV, or Link TV. I downgraded my satellite to the basic channels, with the movie packages and and French channel. Saved $20 per month, which I turn of to progressive TV.

Yes, speaking with your $$$'s is a good thing to do. Fox and MSNBC are no longer available for selection.

[blondeatlast]

34. Not much need to ask DUers to not watch FAUX. The OP is

suggesting that representatives of the Left not APPEAR on FAUX--and I think its a stellar idea.

[NativeTexan]

48. Thanks....and it would only prove that when given a choice....

.....most real indepenent thinkers, would bail on crap like FOX and turn to something more realistic.

[IsItJustMe]

31. I get to Damn angry when I watch it. So, for health reasons, stay away

[NativeTexan]

44. Can create some high blood pressure, can't it?

[NNadir]

33. I never watch Fox. Why would I?

I'm always mystified when people complain about what's on Fox, about Bill O'Reilly, etc. I have no idea what Bill O'Reilly's like, nor do I give a shit what he says.

We know what they're going to say and do. We know they're a propaganda outlet. Why should we ever watch them?

[NativeTexan]

49. Propaganda is RIGHT. And it has been under Karl Rove's.......

....control for YEARS!

[Iris]

35. I do.

Better ways to get information - not gonna waste my time on "entertainment news."

(Plus, I'm a much happier person for it!)

[snowbear]

38. I just don't buy that theory... I just don't...

I hear those excuses on here ALL THE TIME.

"Gotta know what the enemy is up to" ------------->

"Want to see what the other side is talking about" --->

"Need to hear what the competetion is saying" ----->

I don't buy those excuses for one second. There's far too many other places to find out about their lies without wasting your braincells on their crap.

To me it's a bogus excuse for closet Faux DU'ers (or in Iris' case, not even a closet Fauxer) who are supporting that trashy network.

[Iris]

59. Excuse me, but you read my post wrong. (I DO Avoid Fox)

I don't even have Fox News on my remote control's channel line up.

However, I will say I have no problem hearing the views of the "other side" on Morning Edition or All Things Considered b/c at least then it's presented in a way that is not meant to stir up emotion to sell advertising and I can make my own judgments about the story without a commentator telling me what "some people" think.

[NativeTexan]

61. Watching is much different.........

......than allowing ones self to be humiliated in front of a hostile audience!! Which gives Rust Limpass and the like more fodder to "expose" to the public....

[0007]

56. I agree Iris. There is a much better way to get information than

joining the many morans that tune in to those nitwits.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

36. sounds good to me

I've often wondered why ReichWingers keep sticking their heads in that FOX-hole anyhow.

[NativeTexan]

41. "ReichWingers".....Ghost you KNOW that I gotta love that....

....term!! But demanding the DNC hold funds from those who give aid and comfort to the enemy on FOX...that is something to think about....don't remember who posted it, but GREAT idea..huh?

[rman]

52. No because it's the only way to reach a significant part of *'s base

[NativeTexan]

53. We won't EVER reach the FOX part of the Idiot's Base.....

....and when our people are ON there, they just make them look foolish by the shouting them down, and berating them. THAT is what our people are invited there FOR!!

[blondeatlast]

55. FAUX is a support group for the RW base; a trip to the spa, as it were.

It's crappy marketing for our gang to appear on FAUX.

FAUX viwers are known as a base for a reason; they don't change their minds--period--and are used as a tool.

The average FAUX viewer is solid in their resolve to vote Republican, even for the wacko Rs. There is nothing we can do to change that, nothing at all.

As I say, just remember Limbaugh's TV fate; he went down in virtual flames.

[NativeTexan]

60. Exactly.........

..........and if they don't have kindling....they can't build much of a fire!!

[CarolNYC]

57. Wow, it's amazing, actually quite stunning...

to see how little some people know, realize or understand about what's going on outside their apparently quite narrow world....discouraging too. :(

On the topic of right wing media, I can't recommend enough that everyone read David Brock's Republican Noise Machine, BTW....unless, of course, you'd prefer not to know.....

[blondeatlast]

58. I have read RNM--that's precisely why I think the OP has

an excellent idea.

Pray tell, what do we GAIN by our guys appearing on FAUX?