A DUer caught it last night: Fox only broadcast network that did not air Democratic response to *

[CatWoman]

Summary: Following President Bush's address to the nation on Iraq, Fox was the only broadcast network not to air the Democratic response. Instead, Shepard Smith gave a short description of the response and stated: "Our coverage continues on the Fox News Channel on cable and satellite with the Democratic response and more. Right now, back to your local Fox programming." ABC, NBC, and CBS all aired the Democratic response.

Following President Bush's September 13 prime-time address to the nation on Iraq, Fox was the only broadcast network not to air the Democratic response, which was delivered by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI). Instead, Fox News anchor Shepard Smith, who was hosting Fox's post-speech coverage, stated: "The Democrats will say in the Democratic response later that the larger problems, as General Petraeus put it, are not military but political. The surge, when announced by the president, was designed to give the political leaders in Iraq the time to bring together their strategies to secure the nation and solve their political problems." At the conclusion of Fox's coverage, Smith stated: "Our coverage continues on the Fox News Channel on cable and satellite with the Democratic response and more. Right now, back to your local Fox programming." ABC, NBC, and CBS all aired the Democratic response.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200709140002?src=item200709140002

[AllegroRondo]

1. They should not be allowed to call themselves "news"

[JerseygirlCT]

2. My husband noticed that as well

They ought to have their license yanked.

[meegbear]

3. Did MSNBC show it before Edwards spoke?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

5. They did

Edwards' was a brief paid for slot after the formal Democratic response.

[yardwork]

4. Congress needs to restore the Fairness Doctrine in programming

Broadcasting, even on cable, is not a right. It is a privilege. It is essentially a monopoly provided by the government. Channels that can't follow reasonable rules should get their privilege to broadcast yanked.

[spanone]

6. i switched to faux during the dem response and they were playing it [?]

:shrug:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

7. They can't risk their viewers being exposed to some truth

Risky business it could be indeed if they're viewers were see them for what they are.

[Anarchy.X]

8. "We Report You Decide"

I have hated this company as far back as I can remember, but what has never ceased to amaze me is how they will always refuse to show anything that will give their "base" a reason to disbelieve what they are told.

Then again, it's not as if the people who watch that channel religiously would want to think for themselves.

[KharmaTrain]

9. It's Wrong, But Not Required

First of all...ya think anyone watching Faux would pay any attention to what a "lib" Democrat would say? Maybe its best as this way, Reid's words weren't spun afterwards by Wallce or Britt Fumes or Shep.

The airtime boooshie used last night was not mandatory...all the networks have the option to carry it or not. In the past, networks have refused to carry speeches in primetime since it messes up their programming and money (and we sure wouldn't want to see that). Also, these speeches drive away more people than they attract...and the networks can't wait to get back into their usual, profitable fare. The networks usually block out at least an hour for these speeches, but with boooshie's "chat" going only 20 minutes, methinks the Faux beancounters wanted to get that extra half hour of "America's Worst Dancing Criminals" or whatever shit they show. It was more about the Benjamins. Thursdays is a heavy viewing night and the Faux television network has no real news coverage to speak of...they'd rather those viewers flip over to their cable channel just as much as NBC does the same with MSNBC.

This is also common with the Saturday morning radio addresses. Raygun started these chats back in the 80s and it is usually followed by a Democratic response...but few, if any stations that carry the booosh propaganda ever stick around for the Democratic response. At one station I worked at, I wanted to carry both Raygun and the Democratic response and the station owner objected...not on political grounds (even though he was a right wing asshat) but cause we lost 15 minutes of commercial availabilities.

I hope to see the ratings later today to see how many people tuned in...I bet viewership all but vanished on the networks during that half hour while ESPN, Animal Planet and alternative channels saw a rise in viewership.

[OwnedByFerrets]

10. They couldnt dare pollute their viewers

clean widdle minds with the truth

[Disturbed]

11. It is the Fox Noise way to exhibit "Fair and Balanced".

Don't air the Dem response but present a brief statement about the response.

Anyone that doesn't know by now that Fox Noise is the TV Network of the RWing is stupid.