John Edwards has decided to bow out of the August 14th debate in Reno that is co-hosted by Fox News. According to Edwards campaign, “There were a number of factors and Fox was one of those. We’re already planning to participate in a jam-packed schedule of debates across this country … we can’t attend every single debate and forum.” This debate has been under attack for a while because of Fox News’ participation. In an article in The Daily Kos grassroot democrats, the Carson City Democratic Central Committee passed a resolution Opposing the Fox Presidential Debate;
March 7, 2007
WHEREAS, Fox News is not a neutral source of news – it’s a right-wing mouthpiece like Rush Limbaugh that smears Democrats and spreads blatantly false information; and
WHEREAS, Democrats granting Fox News the illusion of credibility would allow Fox to more easily “swiftboat†our 2008 candidates by pushing false Republican attacks into the mainstream media; and
WHEREAS, everyone supports reaching out to new people, but 1 day of Fox coverage is not worth legitimizing Fox’s misinformation the other 364 days a year; and
WHEREAS, plenty of better alternatives exist to Fox News – in Nevada, MSNBC plus its NBC affiliates, for example, get approximately double the viewers of Fox cable plus its local affiliates; and
WHEREAS, we believe that Democrats need to fight back against Fox News and the right-wing smear machine in the 2008 election cycle—not enable it.
BE IT RESOLVED, the Carson City Democratic Central Committee opposes the proposal to let Fox News host a Democratic presidential debate and strongly urges the Nevada Democratic Party to drop that proposal
None of the other candidates have bowed out of this yet, and Bill Richardson has alread signed on. Moveon.org has claimed they have collected 260,000 signatures on a petition that calls the cable network a “mouthpiece for the Republican Party, not a legitimate news channel.” I would call Edwards move a brave one. How many of the Republicans would debate at a forum hosted by Air America? Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who originally hailed the partnership has asked the Nevada Democrats to take another look at it. Fox News has responded by saying, “it is unfortunate that Sen. Edwards has decided to abandon an opportunity to reach the largest mainstream cable news audience in America.” Being the largest and most popular doesn’t make you right. The truth is hard to watch sometimes, and Fox News’ popularity is a testament to that.
Alan Cosgrove
To see The Simpson’s view on Fox News, click this link.
And to see A Family Guy’s take on Fox News, click here.