White House: Fox News Is Not A News Organization

Wingnuts fling feces in 5... 4... 3...





Does any rational person still really doubt this? Fox News has always had a conservative slant which is their right. They're in the business of infotainment and they'll hawk whatever will turn a profit. But "fair and balanced" it's never been. And anyone who says that MSNBC is a liberal equivalent is sorely mistaken. Other than the two straight liberal shows (Countdown and The Rachel Maddow Show) who base their stories on facts instead of lies and distortions, show me the Fox News equivalent of Morning Joe or Hardball? Show me a liberal nutball on MSNBC crying on a nightly basis with leaps of logic on a prop blackboard. Sure, Keith Olbermann can be over emotional, but look for criticisms and factchecking on his show based on what he says instead of how he says it and you'll have a long, hard search.

The White House has every reason to be wary of real news organizations falling into the for-profit, if it bleeds it leads, Fox style of "news" broadcasting. No one says Fox can't have it's opinion, but purposely misleading or distorting facts, or building a segment based on RNC talking points complete with typos is not news.

Mixed Messages?

When you have multiple people going out on the Sunday talking head shows to push health care reform, there's bound to be a screw up when you're not repeating faxed talking points verbatim, which the Democratic party does not do.

Sebelius' comment on the public option not being "an essential element" was definitely a hiccup. But she did clarify her statement.

When John King asked her, "So the public option is not a deal-breaker from the president's standpoint?", Sebelius did not deny his assumption and answered:

"Well, I think there will be a competitor to private insurers. That's really the essential part, is you don't turn over the whole new marketplace to private insurance companies and trust them to do the right thing. We need some choices, we need some competition."

It may have been a verbal slip. But the main goal remains: the essential part is competition. If you don't trust private insurers then what's the other option? A public plan, because the co-op idea is still private.

I'm happy with the following statement and that's what I'm holding on to while every pundit tries to convince us of hedging by President Obama because, after all, that's news, isn't it?

Nothing has changed," said Linda Douglass, communications director for the White House Office of Health Reform. "The president has always said that what is essential is that health insurance reform must lower costs, ensure that there are affordable options for all Americans and it must increase choice and competition in the health insurance market. He believes the public option is the best way to achieve those goals."

Deny, Deny, Deny...

...the inevitable.

Richardson Disputes Bill Clinton's Claim

"The Clintons should get over this," said Bill Richardson regarding the vitriol that has been thrown after his endorsement of Barack Obama.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Wednesday sharply disputed Bill Clinton's reported claim that Richardson promised to endorse Hillary Clinton's bid for the White House.

"I never did," Richardson told CNN. "I never saw [President Clinton] five times. I saw him when he watched the Super Bowl with me. We made it very clear to him that he shouldn't expect an endorsement after that meeting."

He continued by adding that he was close to a Clinton endorsement but backed off when the campaign got nasty.

Here's his CNN interview with John King. What I find appalling are some of the comments left by Clinton supporters calling Richardson a "traitor" or assuming he sold out for a veep nomination. A traitor! We're living through and watching the most corrupt administration in the history of our nation steal elections, dry up our treasury, start illegal wars for oil under the guise of national defense, profit from war while shredding the civil liberties not only of supposed "enemies" but of American citizens - and Richardson is a traitor? Sometimes people throw that word around too lightly.

Richardson chose to endorse Obama for the same reasons millions upon millions of other people are supporting him - why is that so wrong? He's closer to either of these campaigns that any of the ridiculous commenters on a CNN news page. Don't you think he'd have a little more understanding of the situation?

What also strikes me is the fact that the Clinton campaign tried to downplay this endorsement as insignificant. Well, if it was so insignificant, then why was Bill so upset about it? Maybe they just assumed Richardson was in their pocket and didn't treat him well. 'Oh, that chubby, brown boy will be on our side, don't worry 'bout him.'

The contradicitions continue with Clinton and her campaign and it just smacks of more desperation - and frankly I'm tired of the entitlement attitude. I'm not suggesting she bow out. In fact, I hope she stays in and continues to get her ass kicked. Instead of a graceful exit, she'll walk away with her tail between her legs and lose more political clout in the process - something that may turn out to be a good thing in the end.

So let her go on to barely win Pennsylvania by a few points while Obama continues to cut into her lead as recent polls show. It won't be enough. And then what happens when she loses North Carolina and Oregon? Stay in the race, Hillary. But don't look to keep changing the rules after its all over. That would be criminal.