Obama/Insight: After effects…
The Washington Post’s Mary Ann Akers blogs about the after effects of the Insight Magazine story for FNC and whether Obama is freezing out the network…
The same source pointed out that Fox News political correspondent Carl Cameron interviewed Obama on Monday during the senator’s trip to attend a field hearing on Hurricane Katrina.
But, as others pointed out, Cameron’s interview wasn’t prearranged; Cameron walked alongside Obama, who didn’t even stop while answering the questions.
No one is suggesting the icy conditions are permanent. In fact, a thawing of sorts may already have begun thanks to two telephone conversations Fox News Channel CEO Roger Ailes had with Obama.
Aides to Obama said they weren’t sure what exactly was said during the conversations. A Fox News spokesperson, who, though an official voice for the company asked not to be quoted by name, could neither confirm nor deny that conversations took place between Ailes and Obama. But of the “alleged freezing out” of Fox journalists by Obama’s office, she said, “If true, perhaps Mr. [Robert] Gibbs should reconsider that ill-advised strategy given his candidate is trailing by 20 points in the polls.”
UPDATE: FishbowlDC has more information…
A FOX News insider adds a bit more details to the story, telling FishbowlDC that it was Senator Obama who called FOX News Chairman & CEO Roger Ailes prior to the freezing out and both calls were made without the knowledge of Obama’s staff.
The insider tells us that, while Ailes did not apologize, the conversations were cordial. Our source said that Obama spokesperson Robert Gibbs made an “error in judgment” by attacking Fox News and now supposedly freezing them out, which makes this Foxie’s quote in Akers’ story all the more noteworthy: “If true, perhaps Mr. [Robert] Gibbs should reconsider that ill-advised strategy given his candidate is trailing by 20 points in the polls.”
Obama will be politically dead in the next 6 month killed by over exposure and viewer burn-out.With any luck Mrs Clinton will meet the same fate.
Comment by mike — January 31, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
i feel bad for genuine Fox journalists who have their jobs made harder by “hosts” pontificating from their comfy studios.
It also looks like Moody and Ailes weren’t happy with Doocy either.
Comment by Mr A — January 31, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
“i feel bad for genuine Fox journalists”
If they were legitimate journalists they wouldn’t be working for FOX.
Comment by MikeD — January 31, 2007 @ 3:10 pm
I agree Mr. A!
Comment by Terance — January 31, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
Here we go w/ more FNC bashing. Facts are, they have some of the best journalists in the business. You may dislike what some of their commentators have to say, but to slam every reporter that works there is a travesty.
Their staff is as solid as it gets. Brit Hume was honored by the Clinton White House for his reporting while at ABC. Eric Shaun has been tremendous exposing the corruption at the United Nations. Jim Angle & Carl Cameron are excellent political reporters. I could go on….
Comment by bigred — January 31, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
Shephard Smith’s coverage of the Katrina aftermath, Jennifer Griffin and Bill Hemmer’s coverage of the Israeli conflict this past summer, Rick Leventhal anywhere, …..
Comment by Scott — January 31, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
Carl Cameron is not a great reporter, Shepherd smith is good and so is Bill Hemmer. None of them can come close to Anderson Cooper or David Shuster though.
Comment by Sam — January 31, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
David Shuster is a joke, and incredibly biased. He wrongly reported Karl Rove would be indicted, wrongly reported Hastert would step down, and basically echoes Olbermann’s talking points every night.
Comment by bigred — January 31, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
FNC’s general assignment reporters are awesome, it’s a shame they don’t get more recognition… Jeff Goldblatt, Jonathan Serrie, Phil Keating, Laura Ingle, Adam Housley, Dan Springer, and Steve Brown, just to name a few.
Comment by OverHere — January 31, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
Obama and others owe fnc NOTHING! NOTHING..NADA. Last time I checked one was free to choose who they spoke too. What is ailes gonna do, really get his people on the air to play it up, threaten? poor fnc they whine too much.
Comment by Big Dave — January 31, 2007 @ 11:03 pm
AND…maybe it’s time for fnc to decide what it wants to do…NEWS or commentary/opinion programming.their audience doesnt know the difference!
Comment by Big Dave — January 31, 2007 @ 11:05 pm
Obama needs FOX more then FOX needs Obama.
Comment by mike — January 31, 2007 @ 11:08 pm
Dave- If FNC needs to make that decision… so do all the other channels… be realistic.
Comment by ImNotBlue — February 1, 2007 @ 12:05 am
Dave, I love how you categorize all FNC watchers as mindless drones. You sound like Olbermann. “Their audience doesn’t know the difference” between news and commentary. I’m part of their audience, and I’m pretty sure I can tell the difference.
I’m also smart enough to know your repetitive posts before I even look at your name. Get a new gimmick.
Comment by bigred — February 1, 2007 @ 12:11 am
Big Dave — As a read your post my first thought was Big Dave sound just like Keith Olbermann. Then as I read on bigred took the words out of my mouth. For many years in an effort to keep myself open to all views I have watched a cross section of news and commentary. Everyday I tape (now DVR) most of cable news primetime. i.e. I have watched everyone of Chris Matthews shows since the O.J. days when his show followed Geraldo (by the way Dan Abrams was to Geraldo as David Shuster is to Matthews). My point is that I am part of Fox News audience and thankful that they are there to keep everyone on their toes.
Comment by Aunt Mary — February 1, 2007 @ 2:01 am
Big Dave, you’re so redundant. But seriously, why do you assume that people who watch FNC ONLY watch FNC? Isn’t it just as bad if someone gets all their news from CNN, or MSNBC, or ABC News, or CBS News? I agree that getting all your news from one source is bad. I, like Aunt Mary, watch a cross section of news and commentary. You’re the one who seems mindless, constantly repeating the same comments over and over and over.
Comment by OverHere — February 1, 2007 @ 9:47 am