President Obama vs. Fox News - bias or not?

So the White House is upset with Fox News. The President just doesn't like the coverage he gets there. Because they must be less than legitamite since they criticize his Administration. Are they serious?

Now I have no problem with anyone that wants to critique the major news media. There are multiple issues I have, ranging from the disproportionate representation of people of color in television shows to the subliminal reinforcement of stereotypes in news coverage and advertisements. I write about it often. But to be realistic, there is no one major media outlet that is far and away worse than all the others.

Of course when we focus only on the news media I begin to see the situation. Considering that virtually all the news media fawns over President Obama, Fox News actually doing there jobs must be a pain in the ass. They are the one place that reality sinks in, and rockstars prefer groupies to critics.

Think about it. ACORN has abused the system, promoting criminal activities and corrupting votes across the country. It took over a week and a preponderance of evidence before the rest of the media even noticed there was a story there. Hmm, political corruption on a national level. Sounds like a job that the news media is supposed to do.

What about officials in the Government. Besides telling the public about people in positions of power that have less than reputable backgrounds (Van Jones is a great and obvious choice) isn't it the job of the news media to mention the problems (like failing to pay taxes - which almost everyone in or proposed to be in the Obama Administration has failed to do) in our Government? Isn't that what most of the media did non-stop against President Bush?

And those are just 2 examples of many. The fact that a President is a rockstar does not mean they are above critique or observation. It's part of the job. And President Obama has had many things to critique, just check my political blog VASS to see what I mean.

When President Bush was in office, didn't he get hammered with tough questions every time he spoke to the press? Wasn't MSNBC treating President Bush even worse than Fox is accused of treating President Obama?

The media is not perfect. They all have agendas and preferences. But for the White House to attack one organization for doing its job - that smacks of abuse of power. How dare anyone question President Obama. How dare anyone question obvious flaws in policy. They have to be solely stooges for political adversaries and racists. Except that would be a lie to say.

Notice that the White House has not stated any materially important facts that were wrongly reported or commented (ie correcting the name of the city of an upcoming Olympics is not materially important). Notice that there is nothing that wasn't true. They didn't like it, but that does not mean it was false.

No, the White House would prefer that the public either drools with excitement (like some at MSNBC seem to do) if President Obama speaks, or completely ignores the news of the day. It's much easier to pass legislation that no one has read if no one pays attention.

Fox News is not perfect. I have had issue with some of the statements and coverage it has presented over the years. I have disagreed, strongly at times, with the opinions of Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and Sheppard Smith. Yet I watch the channel every day because even when I disagree, the quality of the news and commentary is consistently far superior to other channels. And it is because I watch everyday that the silly internet bashers that misquote, and the bullying of the White House stand out for what they are.

Simply put, if an Administration is hell bent to make sure you don't see something it stands to reason that you should pay attention. Put another way, if this was President Bush telling you not to watch a news channel many would flock to see what he disliked and why. The fact that President Obama is Black and a rockstar politician doesn't change that reasoning.

OJ Simpson trial - injustice unreported

I did not want to discuss this case. But when I listened to the glee from Sheppard Smith (news anchor for Fox News) as he spoke on the news I made up my mind to say something.

The case I am referring to is the OJ Simpson trial. You may not have heard much on this, you might even be surprised to know that his trial in Las Vegas is already underway. And the reason there has not been much media on this is likely because of what the outcome will be.

At this point I feel incredibly confident that OJ Simpson will be sentenced to jail for his life. For all those cheering that sentence realize this – OJ is being jailed based on prejudice and the bias of America.

Whether or not OJ Simpson is guilty of the charges, all 12 of them, stemming from his arrest in Las Vegas is not important. It’s the fact that after more than a decade the legal system, and most White Americans, now have the chance to convict OJ for the murder of Nicole Simpson; which he was found innocent of. The major news media has never accepted that answer. Shepard Smith has always made it clear he despised that verdict. And double jeopardy be damned White America could not live with this.

Every misstep OJ has made since the murder trial ended has been publicized. The media has maintained an onslaught of coverage aimed at 1 goal, tarnishing his image and guaranteeing every American would believe he was guilty of murder and deserved to be in jail. And this trial will be the fruition of all that work.

On the 10th of September the Las Vegas judge, Jackie Glass, decided that 2 members of the prospective jury being contacted by a reported member of the press was not a problem.

On September 12th the jury was selected. 9 women, 3 men. Not a single person on the jury is Black.

On September 16th, after being told not to take into account any of the news or rulings dealing with OJ’s murder trial, the prosecution has introduced it as part of their case.

So let’s look at this. Reportedly 4 men and OJ entered a hotel room to recover stolen goods that belonged to OJ. Questionably the meeting was set up by one of those men, who has given evidence against OJ for reduced charges. 2 men in the room that day are reported to have had guns, neither of which was OJ. Both of those suspected men have turned states evidence to get off their charges in return for being a witness against OJ.

9 women were reminded that this man is believed by the prosecutor, media and many Whites, to have brutally murdered a woman. They were reminded that for over a decade the media has hammered the thought that this man is guilty though proven innocent beyond a shadow of doubt.

Fear of racial bias for OJ prevented any person in the jury from being African American. Racial bias to convict OJ was never considered in the jury selection. And the potential jurors being contacted by the media, thus hinting at future media stardom – or at least their 15 minutes of fame and a nice check for a book or appearance – was not important.

And someone wants to tell me this is a fair trial. After the initial arrest superseded all other news for 1 week. After a decade of persecution. After acts of retribution by the police on Rodney King (that’s just a guess about the L.A. police). Yeah, a real fair trial.

OJ is going to be convicted of at least 10 of the charges against him. He will be sent to jail for at least 25 years. It was a foregone conclusion the day he was arrested in Las Vegas. That’s why there the huge media circus that week. Validation for all their efforts of over a decade. And it’s why right now there is so little coverage. It has to be fair if they aren’t covering ever second of this stacked deck.

I’m not saying OJ is innocent of the charges in Las Vegas. I’m not saying there weren’t guns present, or that OJ didn’t know they were there. But I have doubt, especially the way this was handled and organized, and prosecuted.

I am saying that OJ is innocent of the murder of his wife, a court said so. I am saying that White America lost their mind on this case, and the media has fed that hate and anger. I recall mobsters being acquitted of multiple murders and getting less coverage or dismay.

The glee of newscasters reporting on the OJ trial just makes me certain. It may be nearly impossible for a Black man to get a fair trial in much of the nation [Jena 6, Rodney King, Sean Bell, Wesley Snipes, and on]; but it’s impossible for OJ.

Some call that justice, I call it the legal system in action. And people wonder why people of color distrust the legal system.

Bill O'Reilly interviews Senator Barack Obama - Thursdsay

Well here is something that I’m sure will top the Nielsen ratings charts on Thursday. After months of waiting, Senator Barack Obama has finally come in for his interview with Bill O’Reilly. And it’s about time.

Now on the left, especially the far-left, Bill O’Reilly is seen as the fanatical face of the right. It’s an unfair accusation, based in the extremist views of those critics. That’s like saying the comments and actions of Code Pink or Moveon.org represent all Democrats, which I would say is equally unfair.

But there is no question that Fox News is the most watched news channel in the nation. It is also no question that throughout the Primaries and since Fox News has been noted as the most unbiased news agency. And it is also factual that Bill O’Reilly is the most popular commentator, reaching millions of Americans of all types of political beliefs.

So it will only be to Senator Obama’s benefit to appear on the program. His audience is so wide and politically beneficial that Senator Clinton appeared as she was regaining ground against Obama in the last few weeks of the Democratic Primaries. And while I dislike Senator Clinton and her policies, she did look good in the interview.

But how might Senator Obama fare?

Well in England we have these headlines on the subject –
Obama agrees to Murdoch's Fox News grilling

Rupert Murdoch broked 'truce' between Fox and Barack Obama

In the U.S. the headline tones are:
The secret Obama-Fox News meeting

OBAMA AND FOX MAKE UP, PHELPS LENDS A HAND, RICH PEOPLE READ

Fox News' Obama Power Play

According to those titles, which I think is a fair and popular representation of the way this is being presented to the world via most news media, Fox News has been seen as an enemy of Senator Obama, and involved in a feud. And Fox is supposed to be biased.

There is no question that some of the commentators on Fox are right-wing. There is no question that I have disagreed with the presentation of various events by Fox News in general. I firmly believe that Fox is prone to presenting African Americans in negative stereotypical tones. Shepard Smith is unquestionably biased in the manner in which he covers cases like OJ Simpson, or the Duke Rape case. Sean Hannity is unquestionably far-right.

But Bill O’Reilly isn’t the above people. In watching his program for years now I see that he is one of the least biased commentators on cable television today. There are issues where he is way off, like anyone, but in general these are subjects where he is as hostile to Whites as Blacks. Child safety is one such example. You just can’t question that O’Reilly is an advocate of all children.

But he is fair. His interview with Rev. Jesse Jackson was fair. His interview with Senator Clinton was informative and fair. His discussions with Rev. Al Sharpton are fair. And he has often covered news stories that I have highlighted that no other major news media, including the hard news of Fox, touch.

On the other hand it does seem obvious that he has a problem with the people Senator Obama knows. Which is not entirely wrong.

So I expect these questions to be asked:

• The association with Bill Ayers
  
  
• The association with Rev. Wright
  
  
• The association with Tony Rezco
  
  
• Senator Obama’s exact views on domestic drilling and alternative energy
  
  
• Senator Obama’s plans for taxing business, his definition of rich, and the economy
  
  
• If Senator Obama will finally admit that the Surge has worked
  
  
• How Senator Obama plans to pay for his nationalized healthcare and how it would be implemented
  
  
• Why a timetable for retreat would be in America’s best interest
  
  
• Whether Senator Obama will or will not speak with Iran and other anti-American governments without conditions
  
  
• The reversal Obama took when he selected a standard of ‘old’ politics – Sen. Joe Biden – as his Vice President
  

Each of the above items are questions that have existed since the Democratic Primaries and each has failed to be resolved fully.

If Senator Obama can answer these questions well, he should have a huge boost in his polling. If he fails to answer them, or does so poorly I expect to see him drop quickly.

Letter to Sheppard Smith of Fox News Part 2 - 9.19.2007.2

Continued from Letter to Sheppard Smith of Fox News Part 1...

I noted that in your Studio B program of that same Friday, you spent approximately 40 minutes covering the aspects of the OJ case. Roughly half of that time was review of coverage that had been expressed consistently on Fox News since at least 10am that day. Other items of news, particularly a storm warning as I recall, received barely 30 seconds of coverage. Why did you focus so much time to this one story?

Over the past year and a half, you have consistently referred to OJ Simpson’s prior case when referring to any questionable murder involving family members or interlinked persons. I believe that you have made such references roughly 7 times a month over the last year and a half on average. In each case your usage of the OJ murder trial inferred, or outright declared as I recall, guilt on the part of OJ. But as you are aware from the coverage you did of the trial, 12 peers found Mr. Simpson innocent of the charges. What justifies your tacit implication of Mr. Simpson as a murderer?

Do you feel that your negative commentary about Mr. Simpson and the outcome of his case on national television has had a negative impact on African Americans in the nation? If not, how do you justify that belief?

On September 13th, you were the only individual in national televised news media, that I am aware of, to cover the then breaking news on the torture, rape, and abuse of Ms. Megan Williams of West Virginia. To my knowledge your roughly 3 minutes of time on television was the only televised coverage to date. Why has this story not been covered?

In your coverage, and that of Fox News and other major news media, of the Bobby Cutts case, you were able to learn of every job Mr. Cutts had ever had. You were able to report on every child and relationship he had, within the first 3 days of the breaking news as I recall. You also presumed, apparently from your words and tone, his guilt from the first day of coverage. That same presumption of guilt, in depth fact finding, and emotional responses were not provided to coverage of Mr. Christopher Vaughn who murdered his wife and 2 children at the same time. Why is that?

Do you believe that there is a bias in the media against African Americans?

Why was there no coverage, that I am aware of, on the conviction of Mr. Jonathan Riches, who murdered 2 Black men 42 years ago and has only just been brought to justice, although authorities knew at the time of the murders of his guilt?

I want to note that while I have asked hard questions here, I realize that some answers can only be your speculation and that you have no control over what is done at the corporate level. I also want to commend you on much of your reporting.

As I mentioned, only Studio B covered the news about Ms. Megan Williams, to my knowledge. I share your love of this country, and those in the Armed Forces that protect us. I agreed with your anger that you received more emails about an injured dog as opposed to homeless vets being dumped on the streets instead of receiving medical treatment. And I continue to watch Fox News and your coverage daily.

Again, my purpose is to provide you an opportunity to respond to my questions and to allow my readers and myself the chance to understand how the news is covered. Perhaps more importantly this is a chance for my readers and I to learn what determines coverage and degree of depth we see on televised national cable news.

Mr. Smith I look forward to your response, in part or in whole, and I will publish it verbatim as I stated previously. If you and/or the staff of Fox News would like to reach me directly on this matter or any post I have made, you may contact me at info@vassconsult.com or 718-344-6921.

Sincerely,

Michael Vass
President – M V Consulting, Inc.
718-344-6921
info@vassconsult.com

Letter to Sheppard Smith of Fox News - 9.19.2007.1

As my daily readers are aware, I have been commenting on aspects of the current OJ Simpson allegations for several days. Some of the more consistent items I have mentioned about this has been the presumption of guilt expressed by the media, the implied and stated expressions of joy by news commentators, and the lack of attention on items I have felt were more deserving of at least part of the time that has and continues to be dedicated to coverage of OJ. Several of these items are far more expansive than merely the OJ case, and are factors I believe have been consistently biased in the media for some time.

One individual I have directly quoted several times and discussed the emotional expressiveness about is Mr. Sheppard Smith of Fox News. His apparent glee has stuck out among most in the major news media and I have noted it. I will say that this is not the first time I have taken umbrage with the reporting of Mr. Smith, or others at Fox News. I must also note that there have been several news stories that only Mr. Smith has covered, and his emotional outrage, or joy, has been a mirror of my own feelings.

Given these facts, on reflection I felt it is only fair that I provide Mr. Sheppard Smith an opportunity to respond to some of my comments about his responses and choices, both recently and in the past. I am including a verbatim copy of my email letter to Mr. Smith, and will provide a verbatim response from him, or Fox News, when received.

My letter is as follows:

Mr. Sheppard Smith,

I am a daily viewer of Fox News and am familiar with your reporting on Studio B and in the evening report. I am also a blogger for several blogs including several that deal directly with entertainment, the news media, and current events. It is because of these blogs and my most recent comments on your reporting that I am writing this letter.

I want to make you aware that this letter will be reproduced verbatim on my Black Entertainment USA (blackentertainmentblog.com) site. My corporation, websites and blogs, and I have no affiliation with any political party or political organization. Any response from you and/or Fox News will also be published verbatim.

My purpose is to give you the opportunity to respond to the comments I have made in reference to the coverage of the OJ Simpson allegations and the lack of coverage on several other recent news events. I understand that you are not solely responsible for the news that you cover, but your apparent choices and actions have led me to quote you on several occasions and see you as a surrogate for most news media coverage of late.

I have noted that on Friday, September 15th – the first day of news about trouble for OJ in Las Vegas – you were what I would describe as gleeful, bubbly and pleased by this news. On Monday and Tuesday since, you have made several comments indicating your pleasure at the distress of OJ. I would like to understand why your reaction to that breaking news was such?

Continued in part 2...

The news today is not about OJ Simpson, but African Americans Part 2 - 9.14.2007.4

Continued from The news today is not about OJ Simpson, but African Americans Part 1...

On September 12th the major news media spent 5 minutes in 24 hours to discuss the repeated rape, torture and abuse of a Black woman by 4 White males and 2 white women in West Virginia, which occurred 5 days earlier. To date, there has been no further mention of this case. There is no information on the Brewster family, the mother and son that owned the shack the victim was held in for days. We know nothing of the motive, where these people worked, their relationship to the victim, or anything else. It was mentioned, once, that there may have been racial slurs used in the commission of these acts; and it is a FACT that the federal government will not pursue hate crime charges on this case. I cannot tell you why as there has been no reporting to tell me about it.

On August 14th at 3:30pm Sheppard Smith on Fox News stated

Pop some popcorn, its OJ time

As he continues to discuss the allegations against OJ for over 34 minutes now. What is going on?

The major media is so obsessed with punishing a Black man, that was lucky enough to afford the legal representation that members of the Kennedy family, and so many others have done before him. One Black man was not convicted of a crime, and it has resulted in a decade of pursuit waiting for him to get into trouble.

Yet, a woman is abused in the most horrible ways and there isn’t a whisper made. I’ve said it before, if 6 Black people raped, cut, beat, fed rat and dog feces, tortured, kidnapped and God knows what else to a White woman the Blacks involved would be lynched and the media would discuss every instant of their lives. We would know everything down to the spelling of their kindergarten teacher’s names.

Do I care if OJ is innocent? NO, not then and not now. He paid enough money to win his case in the past, and that’s what it takes to win trials. Especially if you are African American. Do I care if he did what he is accused now? It doesn’t matter, as the constant decrees by Sheppard Smith of

It’s Fantastic Friday; we’ll have more coverage on OJ in a moment

implies. He has spent 2 ½ minutes discussing anything but OJ. What is wrong with America?

I’ve lived 4 decades, and I understand quite well the discrimination I’ve had to fight to gain what I have today. I realize that I have more today because of what happened before I was born. I know that it could be far worse.

But 4 ½ hours of news coverage on a Black man, sheerly for the glee and thirst for revenge this nation has, out of 6 hours scares me. It feels like I am being told that I am worthless. That my life is worth nothing but an afterthought and that persecution against me will follow me for life. If I am even suspected of a crime, it means that I MUST be guilty and WILL be treated as such.

There is a crime being committed today, and it has nothing to do with OJ Simpson but it does affect every African American, Latino, Hispanic, Asian and every other person of color in this nation.

This is what I think, what do you think?

The news today is not about OJ Simpson, but African Americans - 9.14.2007.3

Oh the jubilation in America today. I have been watching the news (Fox News channel) since 10am. The worst or best depending on your point of view, news out all day has been OJ Simpson. You might think nothing else has happened in the country or world with all the coverage this has gotten.

Most jubilant of all the commentators (news anchors these days comment and interpret the news far too much to call them newscasters) is Sheppard Smith, on the air since 3pm. The man is fairly glowing with joy announcing that OJ Simpson is potentially in trouble. He spent the first 11 minutes 30 seconds of his program discussing nothing else. He even preempted news on a hurricane report. At 3:15, after a commercial break, he his back at it on the same subject.

So far today every 3rd news story has been about OJ Simpson. Whether it’s about the alleged robbery in Vegas, or the book that was initially considered completely vile and insulting and is now being published to make the Goldman family money.

Honestly, I could care less about OJ. He is no superstar since he left football. His life is anything but astounding. But he does not deserve the attention and media focus he receives. Jack the Ripper got less attention.

But here is the point I want to make. Some may say, ‘Michael, you go on and on about the imbalance of the media. You claim there is bias in news stories and racism in the nation. But it’s really not that bad.’ And I agree it’s not that bad, compared to the 1920’s when Rosewood was destroyed, or the 1960’s when fire hoses and police dogs (not to mention an uncounted number of murders) were unleashed on African Americans. That doesn’t mean it’s good.

On August 24th the major news media ignored the news that a murderer was finally going to be brought to justice. The fact that it took over 40 years to do so was never mentioned. The fact that local police knew who killed to Black teens and did nothing was not mentioned. It was just glossed over.

Continued in part 2...

OJ is an example, but not the root, of a problem Part 2 - 8.1.2007.2

Continued from OJ is an example, but not the root, of a problem Part 1...

Why is it that the major news media spent two days discussing the fact that Sean Bell was shot by police and have yet to mention significantly that the police have been indicted of the crime? Why is it that the media spent four days discussing how Mr. Wesley Snipes “was hiding” from the IRS when he was accused of tax fraud and not one news institution could even hint during that entire time that he might be working overseas? Yet I, with out their resources, came to that conclusion the first day. Why is it that when it was found to be true that Mr. Snipes was working and volunteered to give himself up to the authorities, there was huge press implying that he was being arrested against his will the second he walked off the plane on US soil. Yet today they have not followed upon the story once while I, with my far more limited resources, know that he is fighting this case. Why is it that I’ve reported that out of roughly 2000 potential fraud cases committed by his tax accountants he is the only one accused of plotting, as the mastermind, to commit fraud? The media is biased and of course I’ve said this many times.

The fact that OJ has also mentioned this does not lessen nor take away from the fact that he is right. The bias is so extreme as to be the keys sitting on the desk while you search the house for them.

Let me ask something different, obviously the Goldman family, the Brown family, the major news media and most of America - that is not African American - hates OJ Simpson. In particular the families of the murder victims have actively pursued Mr. Simpson for over a decade, which I can understand. They believed his guilt even though a court has proved his innocence. Generally in America that is supposed to be the end of the story but OJ is black so it isn’t. The Brown and Goldman families stated clearly that before the book If I Did It came out their only desire was to insure that this book would never see the light of day. They stated that this was an insult to the memory of their loved ones. And that did stop the book from being published. Now they have acquired the rights to the book. What are they doing with those rights? They are actively seeking to publish the book under a new title. I have to ask why?

If the book was so horrendous and in their view an admission of guilt, that it did not deserve to be published, then why are they looking for money? I am surprised that their position on this book has turned now that they can profit from it. I’m not saying they don’t deserve to profit or that they are not still suffering a loss. Yet it seems obvious their motivation is profit. That seems a bit insincere to me.

In each interview that I have observed on Fox News with the Goldman’s the questions been asked, will you add your commentary (the Goldman’s commentary) to the book. Shouldn’t the question be, why are you trying to profit off of a book you claimed was an insult and should never see the light of day? How can news reporters say, like Sheppard Smith of Fox News who at 3:31pm August 1, 2007 stated his, belief of guilt on OJ’s part when the fact is OJ was proven innocent in a court of law by his peers (which included White Americans in the jury)? The bias is immense.

Continued in Part 3...