Edwards declares war on Fox News

[JohnLocke]

Edwards declares war on Fox News
By Jake Tapper and Nitya Venkataraman--ABC News
Thursday, March 8, 2007
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Democratic presidential contender John Edwards responded to the charge of liberal bloggers and announced this week that he will boycott an August debate co-hosted by Fox News.

Seeking to solidify the liberal base of his party, Democratic presidential contender former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., announced this week his boycott of the August 14th Democratic debate in Nevada being co-hosted by Fox News.

Edwards was, in fact, responding to a gauntlet thrown by blogger Markos Moulitsas, founder of liberal website the Daily Kos, who asked the Democratic candidate pool "not to do a Fox News debate," rather "to debate in Nevada with another media partner."
(...)
Moulitsas clarified that his e-charge wasn't to handicap the state or the Democratic party within it but "to deprive the right wing's premier propaganda outlet an easy opportunity to take cheap shots at our guys."

In the hours that followed Moulitsas' boycott request on the Daily Kos, the Democratic field scrambled to hedge their bets. In a move that spoke volumes about the high regard his campaign holds for liberal activists on the Internet, the first candidate to come forward and make a definitive decision not to participate in the Fox News debate was John Edwards.

"We will not be participating in the Fox News debate." Edwards' Deputy Campaign Manager Jonathan Prince said in an e-mail to Moulitsas, "We're definitely going to debate in Nevada, but we don't see why this needs to be one of them."
(...)
Edwards' decision lent momentum to the liberal grassroots movement; Moulitsas called it "showing real leadership on this issue."

In a Wednesday statement to the mainstream media, the Edwards camp also cited scheduling conflicts and a 'jam-packed' schedule as part of the decision.

"Given the wealth of options, the August debate just doesn't seem to be the best use of Senator Edwards' time," wrote Edwards' spokeswoman, Kate Bedingfield.
(...)
In a letter posted Wednesday on the Nevada Democratic party's website, state chair Tom Collins said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who originally hailed the partnership "has asked to take another look."
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Read the rest here.

[lovuian]

1. I admire Edwards for this he is right Fox isn't a news channel

its a Propoganda machine

[saltpoint]

2. I really love Edwards' Don't Feed the Facists policy with FOX.

FOX is a propaganda center for right-wing political interests and it's time liberals and progressives gave them the freeze treatment.

Good for John Edwards.

[AlinPA]

3. This is the kind of leadership we need. Lets get tough on the right-wing.

[Clark2008]

5. Leadership? Edwards?

:rofl:

Sorry - he's pandering again.

[Czolgosz]

9. I really like Clark. Your posts often diminish my enthusiasm for Clark.

[Laurab]

20. Same goes for me

I'm not even an Edwards supporter but I do give credit where credit is due. One or two of the Clark supporters seem to be there always to try to discredit every one of the announced candidates.

I like Clark, and would love to see him enter the race - which he hasn't, although some of his supporters don't seem to notice that one little thing. I have to admit, though, that the constant anti-anyone else posts "diminish my enthusiasm for Clark" as well.

I'm glad Obama denounced Fox News early on, I'm glad Edwards listened to his supporters, and I'm glad Richardson dropped out. With the debate now cancelled, it would appear Edwards led the pack, and should be given credit for that.

[tkmorris]

13. This is what makes DU intolerable near elections

Fans of one candidate who ruthlessly tear down every other candidate. Mr. Clark is very fortunate that I do not hold him responsible for the asinine behavior of his most ardent supporters.

[AshevilleGuy]

21. They really have it in for Edwards,

it got so bad in 2004 that the mods had to step in the week he was chosen for VP. After that I wouldn't vote for Clark under any circumstances.

I do not understand why Clark supporters do this, and it really does NOT help their candidate (who isn't even running!). But every time a pro-Edwards post is made, there they are, without fail. :shrug:

[More Than A Feeling]

14. I get it, you don't think much of Edwards.

I like candidates who are responsive to netroots and grassroots pressure. That's why I like Edwards. Everyone has the potential to make a bad move, the question is: are you going to listen to the people who tell you you are screwing up or about to screw up, and do something positive about it? Edwards has a good chance of answering that question: yes.

[Catchawave]

17. How is he "pandering" ?

Sounds like he's listening to his supporters :D

[AlinPA]

18. With this act, he is fighting the right wing. That's leading. Peace.

[ClassWarrior]

19. You'd rather he pander to the Radical RW instead?

:rofl:

NGU.

[KT2000]

4. Good for Edwards

FOX is only looking for soundbites and photos to add to their arsenal.
Their questions would only reflect an idiot agenda that appeals to the reactionary RW.

IMHO: No Dems should participate.

[David Zephyr]

6. Good for John.

Kudos.

[proud patriot]

7. Good move

:thumbsup: I wish more Dems would take them on as well.

Faux Noise does us no favors regardless of what we do.

[saltpoint]

8. Agree. Anybody with a (D) next to their name is smeared on FOX,

and the deliberate, on-purpose smearing is subversive.

[Colobo]

10. Good move by Edwards

[NDP]

11. John Edwards is not boycotting anything. He's not "attending" the debate. "Boycott" used against

Edwards by the media is intended to make him look like a wimp, or a spoiled child who's "boo hooing" because Fox News is doing a debate.

Do not use the word "boycott" for what Edwards is doing. He is not "attending." If you get invited to a party and you don't go, that does not automatically mean that you are "boycotting" it, does it? Of course it doesn't, and just because Edwards is not attending the Fox debate, does not mean that he is "boycotting" it.

People are assuming something that has never left Edwards' mouth. He never said "I'm boycotting this" so stop saying that he is.

[DarkTirade]

12. About time somebody stood up and did something about it.

[Apollo11]

15. Definitely not a declaration of war

until someone shows me where John Edwards or anyone on his staff said something negative about FOX News.

Has Edwards said that he will not accept any invitations to appear on FOX News?

I would love if candidates came out and said "FOX News is right-wing propaganda".

That's very different from declining an invitation to take part in one debate.

[spooky3]

22. Here's an email from his deputy campaign director:

Dear spooky3,

You may have heard by now that John Edwards was the first candidate to officially say no to the Fox News debate in Nevada—and because of the hard work of so many grassroots and netroots Democrats, news is breaking tonight that Fox is out.

Fox has already started striking back at John for saying no. (There's a surprise—Fox attacking a Democrat.) Last night, Roger Ailes—the life-long Republican operative who is now Chairman of Fox News Channel—said that any candidate "who believes he can blacklist any news organization is making a terrible mistake" and "runs a real risk of losing the voters."

And John's not their only target. Tonight Fox News Vice President David Rhodes is telling news organizations not to get involved in the Nevada Democratic Caucus because of "radical fringe" groups—meaning grassroots Democrats (that would be you)—who objected to Fox's long history of spreading Republican propaganda at the expense of Democratic leaders.

The whole right wing is getting in on the attack; the Drudge Report is blaring the headline: "War! Dems Pull Out of Fox News Debate."

Enough is enough. It's time to send a clear message to Fox News and their allies that their right-wing talking points and temper tantrums won't go unchallenged anymore—when it comes to what Democrats should do in the Democratic primary, we'll decide—no matter what they report:

http://johnedwards.com/r/7157/158072/

Fox News has already proven they have no intention of providing "fair and balanced" coverage of any Democrat in this election.

In recent weeks they have run blatant lies about Senator Obama's background. And Fox was only too happy to give Ann Coulter a platform to spew more hate a few days after her bigoted attack on Senator Edwards and the gay community.

Now it's time for Democrats to stand together and send a clear message to Roger Ailes, Fox News and all the rest of them: bias isn't balance, but turning tables is fair:

http://johnedwards.com/r/7159/158072/

The truth is, Fox News can "report" whatever they want. And when it works for us, we'll deal with them on our terms. But this campaign is about responsibility and accountability, and we need to send the message to Fox that if they want to be the corporate mouthpiece of the Republican Party more than they want to be an impartial news outlet, they shouldn't expect Democrats to play along.

You can send that message by contributing today, and remind Fox News that in this election, Democrats won't take their spin lying down:

http://johnedwards.com/r/7161/158072/

Thank you for standing up for what we believe in.

Jonathan Prince
Deputy Campaign Manager
John Edwards for President

P.S. -- If the folks at Fox wonder why nobody thinks they play it straight, they should take a look at what Roger Ailes said about debates in 1988 when he was a top Republican spinmaster for then Vice President Bush: He told the Washington Post, "I don't know that we need to do more than one . There's no reason to think we'd need more than one." And he told the New York Times, "I don't think you learn anything about the issues" from debates. So please send Roger Ailes a message: Hypocrisy isn't fair and it isn't balanced; it's just hypocrisy—and we've had enough of it from you.

[NDP]

24. Why would they say something negative about Fox? John Edwards is running for President

not the head of the ACLU. He has better things to do with his time than go back and forth with Fox News. He said enough. Time to move on.

[seashorelady]

16. Will you stand up? Well sir, you just did.

[leftcoastpac]

23. Chicken little?

Seems to me, that if Edwards "really" felt all that confident in himself he'd take on the #1 rated news source head to head, not run and hide. Words (political) have to be said , even in the enemy's home court. I'd admire him a lot more, and so would the right if he showed SOME guts!! He lost my vote, chicken little with his head up his ass!!!