In reading and viewing the pictures of these ‘Tea bag’ protests thanks to MediaMatters.org, they cite, "Fox News is associating itself in advance with whatever rhetoric emanates at the upcoming events." And they would be correct.
As a writer, by witnessing these protests spirited on by Fox News, they have lost their right to call themselves journalists. True journalism is covering an issue and not being the instigator or where one associates itself with any protest against the government.
In journalism, one covers the story and DOES NOT become the story. A journalist does not interject themselves into the mix period.
Glenn Beck with his ‘9/12’ movement has ceased to be an on-air journalist (not that I ever believed he had the right to call himself that), but is a one man PAC.
In as much as on-air journalists from MSNBC have railed against former President Bush and former Vice President Dick Cheney, you did not see Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow for that matter organizing protests against the former administration. They cited their opinions during the previous administration and that was all. If any viewer based upon what they opined wished to organize a protest, it was done independently and that is the way it should be.
They both have at times disagreed with President Barack Obama, but you do not see them saying to their viewers “Take to the streets” The both of them realize their words have power and never should they cross the line where violence can occur.
When one sees these protests on television or covered via the Internet, those who take part in them (if they are of sound mind) should ask: Is this anger at the government truly coming from me or am I being used by a large corporation such as Fox News? Basically, am I being duped?
In reading this point on Wikipedia.org in which they highlight George Orwell’s book, “1984” they write, “Smith grows disillusioned with his meager existence and so begins a rebellion against the system that leads to his arrest and torture.” By perpetuating these protests and associating themselves with them, isn’t Fox News itself Orwellian in their design to stir up dissent? Those who partake in these protests should ask themselves these hard questions as they are being used by Fox: Will I be arrested? Will Fox News pay my bail if I find myself in a jail cell? Will any harm come to me if I am arrested? After all, jails are not exactly ‘Club Med’ but harsh places. My neighbor now sits in jail, only wishing he could come back home. There is no doing what you want, when you want it in jail. Quite frankly, every minute of the day you are given orders.
Fox News has been known to be the mouth piece for the Republican Party and the conservative movement and with the election of President Barack Obama has done everything in their power to undermine his presidency. Even the NY Post which is also owned by Rupert Murdoch ran that cartoon of an ape being shot, which could have led some nut-job to assassinate our president. While they issued an apology, still the damage was done. You cannot un-ring that bell.
According to MediaMatters.org, "Several Fox News hosts will be broadcasting their shows from the protests and have encouraged viewers to attend them. For example, Glenn Beck has implored his viewers: "If you can't make the one in San Antonio, please go to the one with Neil [Cavuto] or with Sean [Hannity] in Atlanta, that's supposed to be great, Greta [Van Susteren] is in Washington, D.C. Just get out and let your face be seen."
Again, this is a clear example proving that Fox News is no longer a news outlet, but an organization rallying their viewers to confront the government. Should they have their FCC license pulled? If they are inciting those to riot against their government where innocent people can be hurt, I would say so.
On ABC’s “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos, I have seen his round-table interviews with those on the right and left in which he too discusses taxes that Americans must pay to the government. What I have never seen coming from Mr. Stephanopoulos is for Americans to get out and be seen at any anti-tax protest and get their faces seen.
To these protesters: exactly where were you during the Bush administration as your taxes started to go up to pay for the war in Iraq? The cost of this heinous war now stands at over $600 billion dollars and climbs every single second. In fact, on this site, it will show you how exactly those moneys could have been used in your own communities. Your schools and infrastructure are crumbling, yet President Bush did not care and only wished to use your tax money to start an illegal war. I would say, go protest in front of his house in Dallas, Texas: then again, that is not my job as a journalist.
If you wish to talk about pork-barrel spending, I wrote of the American Embassy in Baghdad which has no benefit to you, the taxpayer which at has cost you millions upon millions of dollars. Exactly, where were your ‘Teabag Protests’ as that monstrosity was being built? I hear only silence coming as an answer.
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