Howard Dean Goes On FOX News, Calls Them "Shockingly Biased"

Today, Howard Dean joined fellow Democratic Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton by appearing on Fox News, the oft right wing network that employs Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, and other right-wing smear merchants. He used his appearance to try to justify the boycott of the network and its debates by calling their coverage "shockingly biased."

I'll be upfront. I was not happy with Barack Obama for going on Fox. I didn't care that Hillary went on O'Reilly--after all, she's not making a run towards the center, she's making a run towards the hard right of the spectrum.

But thinking from a realistic perspective, he can't just go on MSNBC and Comedy Central and talk to the people he agrees with. He can't just shout into an echo chamber. Think about it: when Barack Obama gave his speech at the 2004 convention, he talked about America being the United States of America. There are Americans that watch Fox News. They might be misguided, they might salivate over the racist diatribes of Sean Hannity and Bill Orally, but they're still Americans. And they can listen to Barack's message.

Anyhow, Dean gave a great performance, I thought. When Chris Wallace asked him if he thought it was a good idea to boycott Fox, this was Dean's answer:

No, I think it was the right thing to do, because there are some things in the news department that have really been shockingly biased and I think that's wrong and I just say so right up front. It is important also for us -- we shouldn't punish the viewers of Fox by staying away. Now those viewers have had an opportunity to look at the debates on other channels, now they're going to have an opportunity viewing on this channel and I think that's fair.

Yep. It's true. Madrassa stories. 24/7 Reverend Wright coverage (they treat Reverend Wright like TMZ treats Britney Spears' vajayjay). But I think he also has a point. There are Americans out there that we need to reach out to. Some of them watch Fox News. And we shouldn't punish Fox News viewers and further divide this country more than it has to be.

I think it's true, as some of the commenters have said, that the only context in which to justify going on Fox News is to lay it out there that you're in enemy territory. You get the best of both worlds: exposure to possible swing voters, you don't piss off your base, and you don't make Fox News seem like a legitimate news source (which it inarguably is not: Pravda was more fair and balanced than this piece of shit network)

You can find the video here at HuffPo

•  tips for Dean

  by jackbauer8393 on Sun May 04, 2008 at 07:50:52 AM PDT

  •  Good man, Howard Dean...

    The man got bigger cojones than HRC!

    by Queenie68 on Sun May 04, 2008 at 07:58:51 AM PDT

    •  This should be a ground rule

      Rules:

      1. Dems don't go on Fox.

      2. If you violate rule #1, say up front that you are in hostile territory.

      Or as Rachel Maddow suggested, tell them that if they are going to claim to be a news outlet, stop acting like a propaganda organ.

      Shame them up front.

      by daulton on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:03:51 AM PDT

      •  What a great line!

        if they are going to claim to be a news outlet, stop acting like a propaganda organ.

        by Happy Days on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:29:04 AM PDT

  •  I agree with Dean

    As long as Fox controls the editing booth, I don't see any point in engaging their viewers.  By tomorrow, they'll have spliced in the "Dean Scream" footage to prove their point that Dean is a crazy man who stands alone in his opposition to the Fair and Balanced reporting at Fox News.  

    I'm afraid that anyone who gets 100% of their news from Fox is too far gone to reach with facts.  Those viewers are still celebrating the execution of Saddam, the mastermind of 9-11.

    by brightstar on Sun May 04, 2008 at 07:59:22 AM PDT

    •  True BUT they are afraid to vote for Grampsy

      too.  I live and work among them.  Dunno why they watch Fox but they do.

      by bakenjuddy on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:37:17 AM PDT

      •  There are some moderates who watch FOX

        I mean, there are certainly the buffoons who wear Bill Orally "Wise Up" tshirts from his website, and they will never be converted, but there are some people who regard it as at least a somewhat good source for news.

        Like, well, for instance, me. I'll admit it. I dabble in Fox. But I have a good reason. I'm an insomniac, I can't stand CNN, and MSNBC always has these weird prison documentaries on at 2 and 3 in the morning... but FOX runs their political coverage basically 24/7.

        It's a bad habit, it's like tonguing that sore spot on your cheek... it hurts a little but it also feels kinda good, and you just can't... stop... doing it

        by jackbauer8393 on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:42:26 AM PDT

        •  Just say no, Jack!

          Seriously, I was making a distinction between the people who get 100% of their news from Fox and people like you (and my sister) who watch it occasionally and also can't resist slowing down for all traffice accidents.  The only new people a Democrat will reach by going on Fox are those who only watch Fox.  My premise is that they are too far gone for anything the Dem says to make a difference regardless.

          by brightstar on Sun May 04, 2008 at 11:16:44 AM PDT

  •  It's really the only context...

    ...in which I'd support any Democrat going on Faux Propaganda.

    by wiscmass on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:02:36 AM PDT

  •  Tips for three reasons:

    1. A good diary;

    2. An ironic user name, considering the grief we've given Jack lately;

    3. the word "vajayjay", which means you like Stephanie Miller.  :)

    Oh, yeah; recommended, too.

    by MikeTheLiberal on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:33:07 AM PDT

    •  rec'd

      For three reasons:

      1. I love compliments.

      2. Most people assail me for my user name... glad to see someone gets it

      3. Great sig, great movie.

      by jackbauer8393 on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:46:18 AM PDT

  •  Here's the first part of Dean/Wallace you missed

    Not sure if this clip below plus the clip you have comprises the whole interview, but it's pretty clear that the 2 minute clip wasn't the only part of the interview that Dean kicked ass.

    Here it is:

    by PeteB2 on Sun May 04, 2008 at 04:23:22 PM PDT

•  Way to Go Dean

  About friggin time someone had the gumption to tell the truth on fox.  

  by arogue7 on Sun May 04, 2008 at 07:55:51 AM PDT

•  If I was Dean, I would not be "shocked". Fox is

  biased--no ifs, ands, or buts!!!

  Happy though, that he said it.

  by Phil S 33 on Sun May 04, 2008 at 07:55:59 AM PDT

•  completely agree

  jack.  I hate faux news, hate that I have to tune into their regular channel to watch "House", but I saw the decision by Obama as being completely within and of his message.  

  And god bless Howard Dean.  He knows too well the power of the media to cut a good man off at the knees.

  by juslikagrzly on Sun May 04, 2008 at 07:56:52 AM PDT

•  Not shocking to me

  It's business as usual on Fox News (been that way since day one). Did Howard Dean not watch Fox before these recent stories?

  Now those viewers have had an opportunity to look at the debates on other channels, now they're going to have an opportunity viewing on this channel and I think that's fair.

  What is he saying here? Does the DNC have anything to do with what debates the Obama campaign will agree to against McCain?

  by RokkiBlueboa on Sun May 04, 2008 at 07:57:44 AM PDT

  •  I hope this doesn't mean

    that any of the general election debates will be on Fox. The Democrats would be idiots to allow Fox to frame the questions in a debate.

    by sardonyx on Sun May 04, 2008 at 10:05:04 AM PDT

•  Dean is incapable of pulling a punch

  and I actually admire him for that.

  shockingly biased

  He would taunt a lion in its den.

  by alasmoses on Sun May 04, 2008 at 07:58:13 AM PDT

  •  Speaking for not pulling a punch...

    ...Stephanie Miller told Tweety he is a right-wing tool, and told Neil Covuto they should try doing news for a change...and she has not been invited back to either show.

    Good for her!

    by daulton on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:06:12 AM PDT

    •  I did not know that. Love me some Steph. n/t

      by bakenjuddy on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:39:05 AM PDT

    •  Didn't know this. Thanks. n/t

      by Meteor Blades on Sun May 04, 2008 at 07:16:09 PM PDT

  •  It's why I love the man then

    And love the man now and will always.

    To take that attitude during the "Yay War!" days of late-spring-early-summer 2003 like he did took a true courage of convictions

    by Raybin on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:31:40 AM PDT

•  Way to go Dean. Showing Obama & Clinton

  how to handle these clowns.

  by otheruser on Sun May 04, 2008 at 07:59:20 AM PDT

•  Did he mention McCain's 100 years in Iraq?

  by Sam Loomis on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:11:13 AM PDT

  •  The Drooling Idiot Chris Wallace

    The first question was "Why are you lying about what John McCain said"?  

    Then he showed the entire clip, where, presumably in Chris Wallace's fevered mind, saying "once they stop getting killed" means John McCain didn't stay lets stay in Iraq for 100 years, even though he did.

    The interview was idiotic.

    Dean looked good, but Chris Wallace was so drippingly condescending and biased, and gave Dean so little time to respond, it was a worthless exercize.

    by WinSmith on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:17:14 AM PDT

    •  Did Dean hit back though and mention it?

      When he was on MTP last week, he said it six times in 3 minutes.  Very on message.

      Actually, with Wallace bringing this up, it helps keep it in the air for people to digest.  All that explaining no one really acres about.

      As Josh Marshall put it best, all you hear is "Iraq" + "stay" + "100 years".

      No one cares about the rest.  It's fun watching them go nuts when we beat them at their own game.
      Then again, he did say that and he does mean it so there's that.

      by Sam Loomis on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:28:01 AM PDT

      •  Yes but as fast as he "clairifies"

        he adds more fuel to the fire, i.e., troops in harms way for oil...poor guy can't help himself.

        by bakenjuddy on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:41:49 AM PDT

    •  re: The drooling...

      Dean looked good, but Chris Wallace was so drippingly condescending and biased, and gave Dean so little time to respond, it was a worthless exercize.

      Yet Dean told Wallace that he (Wallace) is not biased.

      That's bullshit.

      You don't appear on Fox & say "This network is biased" only to cancel that out by then admitting the specific person interviewing you is not biased.

      Dean, Obama, Hillary, etc. need to realize when they go on Fox they are being trotted out as zoo animal far left liberal caricatures.

      Fox has no interest in what any Democrat has to say. (The "interview"  will always be perverted into a series of gotcha moments & thinly veiled digs at liberals).

      The sooner the progressive community realizes this, the better.

      by wyvern on Sun May 04, 2008 at 09:29:28 AM PDT

•  Have you guys heard Glenn Beck open his mouth?

  He's incredibly biased and offensive.  And he's employed by CNN. Should Democrats stop going on CNN?

  by steveGA on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:49:07 AM PDT

•  Why can't Democrates hold together like

  Republican?

  Do not go on FOX propaganda News period.
  Just boycott. Everyone. No exceptions.

  That is the only way to keep them talking to just themselves and to expose that they are just an arm of the the Bush regime.

  by Crazy like a fox on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:54:38 AM PDT

•  Fox News Viewers?

  This is a group that votes Republican in higher percentages than red state voters, gun owners and evangelical Christians. The regular viewers are so obviously a group that is stubbornly and happily ignorant, no rational person should want to court their vote.

  This is one area, from his 2004 quote about the voters with Confederate flags in pick-up trucks to this quote on Fox News, where Howard Dean just doesn't get it.

  by jpspencer on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:57:10 AM PDT

•  Perhaps

  such a direct attack on Fox News will get them off the Wright matter and onto picking on Dean and the "Democrat" party.  That would be a good thing - Dean running interference for Obama (not by design, but by effect).

  by accumbens on Sun May 04, 2008 at 09:09:50 AM PDT

  •  I can see that.

    Dean has been "under the radar" for a while, probably to avoid the Obama/Clinton conflicts.  Now that the end game has been defined and accepted (in reality world!), Dean's aggressive side can come to the fore.  He will integrate in ever more effective ways with the "Obama": (candidate, voting rights activist, inspirer, Data Base Master, leader, progressive movement, spiritual awakening, political realignment,  etc.).

    by kafkananda on Sun May 04, 2008 at 09:26:44 AM PDT

•  Fox = Propaganda. They should be prosecuted

  by Mtheorist on Sun May 04, 2008 at 09:33:01 AM PDT

•  Still a waste of time to appear on Fox.

  Why bother? Their audience is composed of racists, religious bigots, and dedicated neocon killers. Who cares who they vote for? If I were a Dem pol, I would be ashamed of myself if a Fox viewer voted for me. WTF is wrong with Dems who appear on Fox? Are they masochists or secretly attempting to lose? Don't they understand that Fox will twist that footage, label them as terrorists on the scroll, and redub the audio into "I hate Amerika" rants to be used during the general election?

  Frankly, I think some Dems are so stupid about this they need to be run out of the party.

  by skrymir on Sun May 04, 2008 at 09:37:54 AM PDT

•  Democrats should go on Fox

  to catch Fox viewers' children young,and give them alternate narratives, like madrassa curriculum reform does. Seriously.

  by indianobserver on Sun May 04, 2008 at 10:25:17 AM PDT

•  OK, let's try this out:

  There are Americans that watch Fox News listen to Rush Limbaugh. They might be misguided, they might salivate over the racist diatribes of Sean Hannity and Bill Orally Rush, but they're still Americans. And they can listen to Barack's message.

  Therefore, given that Limbaugh has a far larger audience of salivating Americans than Fox News, Obama should get an interview on Rush.

  </ snark ></p>

  by Meteor Blades on Sun May 04, 2008 at 07:15:28 PM PDT