What I learned as a liberal talking head on Fox News

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Do you honestly not feel embarrassed to write this sort of thing? You really should.

I bet you anything he's not embarrassed. He's just that special.

[B_J 2,752]

I don't know enough about the author as to whether they were as opposite ends of the spectrum politically than the people she/he worked for, but whenever I see someone say how much they were completely opposite one way (their emphasis) and were persuaded by the sheer kindness of his/her colleagues, I'm skeptical. Why? Because all my life I've had friends or colleagues with different view points - some of them are genuinely nice people and enjoyable to be around, but my political views aren't grounded on congeniality, but rather on rationality and a sense of what our country's identity is about. Maybe those on the Right can say the same and that's fine, but try and find an example of Fox News and its on-air personalities conveying anything other than pure contempt for any idea or position that deviates from their agenda. I'm sure O'Reilly and Hannity are really nice guys when they aren't pimping for the propaganda machine they work for, but none of that matters when they've made a living convincing their viewers that Liberals and Left Wing policies are anti-American, dangerous and evil.

I think that's why you are getting the kinds of responses that are not so fluffy.

I don't think the person was ever persuaded to change their opinion, but they did point out that you'll never change somebody's opinion by telling them how stupid and awful they are for having that opinion.

I know you've seen it here where, because somebody disagrees, then they are called all kinds of names. You see it all the time especially in racial and religious discussions. And you definitely see it on both sides. What's really sad is, for some people, that's all they add to the discussion.

I think I posted this because it reminded me of a personal Bill Clinton story. I always sort of detested the man because of his treatment of women. Then I talked to somebody that knew him personally and they told me a story about him that changed my opinion. After that, I sort of came to the realization that, especially among the last few Presidents, there's bad qualities in all of them, but there is also a whole lot of good in them. I just try to apply that to my life and not have so much hatred and condescension for people who have a different opinion than me.

[UncleBeer 244]

try and find an example of Fox News and its on-air personalities conveying anything other than pure contempt for any idea or position that deviates from their agenda.

The Pew Research Center (biased, but to the left) has found that MSNBC is far more biased than Fox.

... At the other end of that spectrum lies MSNBC, where opinion fills a full 85% of the channel’s airtime. Pew found that Fox News spent 55 percent of the time on opinion and 45 percent of the time on reporting.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't think the person was ever persuaded to change their opinion, but they did point out that you'll never change somebody's opinion by telling them how stupid and awful they are for having that opinion.

I know you've seen it here where, because somebody disagrees, then they are called all kinds of names. You see it all the time especially in racial and religious discussions. And you definitely see it on both sides. What's really sad is, for some people, that's all they add to the discussion.

I think I posted this because it reminded me of a personal Bill Clinton story. I always sort of detested the man because of his treatment of women. Then I talked to somebody that knew him personally and they told me a story about him that changed my opinion. After that, I sort of came to the realization that, especially among the last few Presidents, there's bad qualities in all of them, but there is also a whole lot of good in them. I just try to apply that to my life and not have so much hatred and condescension for people who have a different opinion than me.

I agree, but I would say that on-air personalities like O'Reilly set the tone. Same with Rush and long list of others. I disagree that it happens equally on 'both sides' because for one, identifying American politics as existing entirely on two opposite ends is a fallacy. American voters are far more complex than what the pundits try to sell to their viewers. The Republican Party has been hijacked by ultra Right Wingers whose ideology leaves no room for any deviations from those positions because their very ideology is based on absolutes. Just listen to their rhetoric. If we want to lesson such divisiveness and incivility in public discourse, we have to vote with our viewership - turn off the O'Reilly Factor and other programming that follows the same format.

Edited April 17, 2014 by Porterhouse

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The Pew Research Center (biased, but to the left) has found that MSNBC is far more biased than Fox.

I'd say news corporation companies being investigated for illegal phone hacking is a bit more important than bias

[B_J 2,752]

I agree, but I would say that on-air personalities like O'Reilly set the tone. Same with Rush and long list of others. I disagree that it happens equally on 'both sides' because for one, identifying American politics as existing entirely on two opposite ends is a fallacy. American voters are far more complex than what the pundits try to sell to their viewers. The Republican Party has been hijacked by ultra Right Wingers whose ideology leaves no room for any deviations from those positions because their very ideology is based on absolutes. Just listen to their rhetoric. If we want to lesson such divisiveness and incivility in public discourse, we have to vote with our viewership - turn off the O'Reilly Factor and other programming that follows the same format.

There are people on the left who are just as, if not more repulsive than those on the right (thinking of Ed Schultz here); but I think the Fox personalities reach a much larger audience and are much more influential. I know there are people who don't seem to see the difference between news reporting and opinion. So, too many take everything O'Reilly and others say as fact. I think that happens on the left as well, but not as much.

I think American politics is becoming far too polarized. While I know VJ is not a good representation of the average voter, just reading here you can see that there aren't too many in the middle. And, if you're going to be fair, while most posters in the VJ CEHST pool remain civil, those who are consistently rude tend to come from the left and not the right - with notable exceptions like the Marvin stalker.

[Peikko 1,575]

I'd say news corporation companies being investigated for illegal phone hacking is a bit more important than bias

Who's looking for unbiased reporting? I do not care what the bias is as long as there is some substance. Bias is easy to navigate but lack of factual input? Not so much.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'm more concerned that Tony Blair is on Rebecca Brooks speed dial for legal advice and Peter Coulson worked for David Cameron.

Rupert Murdoch is shady.

Edited April 17, 2014 by Papa Lazarou

[decocker 7,198]

david icke for president 2016!

[Peikko 1,575]

David Icke? He did get very weird. I remember when he was a fairly normal sports commentator and now this? Bizarro.