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W.H.'s Dunn calls Fox News 'opinion journalism masquerading as news'

By Jordan Fabian - 10/08/09 11:09 AM ET

White House communications director Anita Dunn took on Fox News on Thursday, calling the cable channel "opinion journalism masquerading as news."

The Obama administration had its share of public disputes with the channel, which it often calls inaccurate and biased.

"It's opinion journalism masquerading as news," Dunn told Time magazine. "They are boosting their audience. But that doesn't mean we are going to sit back."

Last month President Obama snubbed Fox News Sunday when he appeared on Sunday talk shows that aired on NBC, ABC, and CBS. The White House also used its blog to slam Fox host Glenn Beck's take on the president's visit to Copenhagen to push Chicago's Olympic bid. The post directed readers to a link documenting "even more Fox lies."

Michael Clemente, Fox News' head of news, argued that the White House's criticism of the network often confuses their pundits' opinions as news. He compared commentators like Beck to "the op-ed page of a newspaper."

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs echoed Dunn's comments. "The best analogy is probably baseball," Gibbs said. "The only way to get somebody to stop crowding the plate is to throw a fastball at them. They move."

Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/62241-whs-dunn-calls-fox-news-opinion-journalism-masquerading-as-news
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Comments (30)

Affirmitive Action can't fix teleprompter, and it can't silence opposition - yet.BY John in Houston on 10/08/2009 at 12:36
And Rachel Maddow's sarcasm is top notch journalism, right? The fact is Fox reported the ACORN scandal, Fox reported the Van Jones scandal while no other news channel or outlet would touch it. This is why attacking them seems so petty and underhanded. Call them opinionated that's true they are. But they also give some very compelling facts that can't (or shouldn't) be ignored. THAT is why they are growing their audience and Congress and Obama are hurting in the polls. Hey Dems, stop whining about the news outlets you all sound like Nixon!BY w8ingforchange on 10/08/2009 at 12:45
Anita Dunn is a dunce. Glen Beck has never claimed to be a journalist he is just a guy. What truely worries the WH and the congress is he tells the truth. If he was lying I am sure they would have called him on instead of just calling him mames. Fox news is the least biased of all the networks and I watch them all. I think the WH owns 2 major networks now!. Millions of Americans wouldn't be watching if they weren't fair in there reporting. Look at the hate on the ED show. Also how about that Anderson Cooper tell me he isn't baised and also his comments about these people that attended the tea parties was just disgusting, he should be selling papers on the street because he sure isn't a news reporter.BY john daley on 10/08/2009 at 12:50
Mullah Obama's latest propaganda blitz to make sure that all infidel Americans obey his edictt without question. How dare U.S. Citizens watch any other news source other than Mullah Obama's state run media? We are to converted into good little muslim/christian/narcissistic Obamabots and share the Chris Matthews joy of multiple Obamagasms each time the Dear Leader graces us with his pearls of wisdom and guidance.BY Romulan on 10/08/2009 at 12:51
As an intelligent consumer of news product, I realize that Beck, Hannity, Greta and O'Reilly are journalists providing their opinions. Heck, that is the format of the shows they do. These shows are NOT news shows, they are opinion shows. There are news shows on Fox, Bret Baier has a good show for example, that is based strictly on news with comment by a panel that includes people from the right and the left.A better question to ask is, how long have the networks (NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC) been providing "news" that is opinion based? This is a much bigger problemBY Big Bob on 10/08/2009 at 12:52
Now isn't that a funny analogy - throw them a fastball. I believe that is what the WH has done to the American people since they took office in January.BY JKTX on 10/08/2009 at 12:55
John in Houston, you sir, are a moron. Or "moran" as your colleagues might write.You can blather all day about how Obama can't speak without a teleprompter and try to convince yourself Obama is unintelligent. All that will get you is lost credibility. Obama is obviously intelligent and well spoken. He looks even better compared to the clown who held office before him. I wouldn't encourage those comparisons if I were you. Ya dimwit.BY Mike in St Paul on 10/08/2009 at 13:00
Everyone I know watches Fox News. Everyone I know occasionally will glance at CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, Time, Newsweek, NYT… and then go back to Fox news.What does everyone know that the White House (specifically Mr. Gibbs) does not know?This WH is out of touch with the average person.BY Bill Sanford on 10/08/2009 at 13:05
This W.H. bunch of dimwits are the biggest bunch of whiney crybabies in history.BY Rabbit on 10/08/2009 at 13:15
I would call Obama an inexperienced fool masquerading as a president.BY Rob on 10/08/2009 at 13:24

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