[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/10/16/beck.dunn/art.dunn.gi.jpg
caption="White House communications director Anita Dunn has called Fox News an arm of the Republican Party."]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The Obama White House may have started another war it can't win.
On yesterday's Sunday talk shows - Senior Adviser David Axelrod said of Fox News, "It's not really news. It's pushing a point of view.” And he asked that other news organizations not treat Fox like it's news.
The president's Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, also said Fox is "not a news organization so much as it has a perspective."
This all started when White House communications director Anita Dunn called Fox an arm of the Republican Party and said the Obama administration would treat the cable news network as they would an "opponent."
Dunn is now in a dust-up with Fox News' Glenn Beck, concerning a speech where she quoted Communist leader Mao Tse Tung. Beck calls that "insanity."
There is also a January video of Ms. Dunn where she talks about how the Obama campaign controlled the news media. She says they went around the "filter" of the news media and spoke directly to the American people. Actually, a lot of the time they did.
Fox News says the White House "continues to declare war" on them instead of focusing on critical issues like jobs, health care and two wars.
And they have a point. It could be said that bickering with Fox News is a waste of valuable time and energy that could be better spent solving the nation's myriad problems.
Here’s my question to you: Is it a good strategy for the White House to go after Fox News?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
John says:
No. This bickering with the likes of Beck and O'Reilly just makes the Obama White House look petty and weak, and only helps the ratings for Fox News. Horrible job of time management for Team Obama! Spend your time wrestling with senators over a public option!
Pete from Sarasota, Florida says:
A politician cannot win a fight with the press. God help us all if this ever becomes the case, regardless of party affiliation. This is not going to play out well for the president since no American, regardless of party affiliation, will tolerate a loser.
T.J. says:
Enough already! Stop reporting anything about Glenn Beck. He is an insane nut job. His opinion is of no value to anyone, except other insane nut jobs. Stop enabling this psychotic fraud by constantly reporting what he has to say about...well, anything!
Debi from Virginia says:
Going after Fox News indicates to me that the White House is worried. Finally someone with backbone is exposing the corruption and background of advisers in the administration.
Carmen from Davie, Florida says:
It is censorship, pure and simple. Every media outlet should read between the lines of Axelrod's statement that other news networks not go the way of Fox. This means if they report something the White House doesn't like they could get censored as well.
J.R. from Idaho says:
When you report on the stories you have created, you have become illegitimate. Fox is balloon boy.
Elinor says:
Cafferty is being Fox News. Instead of attempting to present the question in an impartial, journalistic manner, Cafferty clearly loads his question against the Obama administration. Sounds very Fox-like to me.
Catty says:
Well, Fox's ratings have increased about 20% this year alone. Meanwhile Obama’s approval ratings have decreased. You tell me if it's a good idea.