Obama: Principles, What Principles?

It looks as though the blush is coming off the Obama rose - another not a man of all the people politician, just a man all for himself. Today he takes a double barreled hit on two ethics related matters.

A photo has emerged suggesting he violated Senate ethics rules:

A snapshot of Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and his chief political/media adviser David Axelrod -- taken in the Senator’s Capitol Hill office!

ROLL CALL reports: Congressional ethics rules forbid the use of federal office space for political and campaign activity.

A spokeswoman for the Obama camp declined comment to the paper.

Barrel two: What is it that makes a smaller audience via CNN more appropriate than Fox for any political debate? The Congressional Black Congress was co-sponsoring the debate, but that's not good enough for Obama, just another nutroots hero caving into their effort to shut down free speech by attempting to marginalize America's largest Cable News network.

Barack Obama has chosen not to attend September's presidential debate co-sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus Institute and Fox News, an aide said, effectively dooming the event.

Obama is the only member of the Congressional Black Caucus running for President, and his decision allows other candidates to skip the debate without facing criticism that they are turning their backs on a leading black institution.

"CNN seemed like a more appropriate venue," the aide said, adding that Obama himself had not called CBC leadership or Fox executives to deliver the news. "It was handled at a staff level."

Comments

[Victor]

Fox News is not real news. Its akin to the Daily Show hosting a debate. Sorry cons, terror alerts and natalee holloway updates do not real news make.

[templar knight]

Victor, you homo, you wouldn't know a Fox from a cable anyway. You're too busy breaking the law. I can hear you now, "The president is violating the law. We are a nation of laws....whiny...whiny...whine." While you plot to break the law. You whiny little bastard...you are pathetic. Now, go whine to Ziffy.

[Victor]

Homo? You rednecks and your gay imagery. Comical closeted fools.

[Purple Avenger]

"Fox News is not real news."

That may or may not be. What does it have to do with their ability to broadcast a debate? I'm quite sure they have cameras, people who can use them, production staff, etc. None of which is particularly political.

[templar knight]

Vickie just hates Fox News, PA, it has nothing to do with whether it is capable of producing the debate itself. Typical nutroot, knows nothing beyond what the NYT tells him, and his dating habits limit his knowledge as he has no contact with the opposite sex. He hates anything that doesn't promote his alternate lifestyle.

[Zifnab]

"The Congressional Black Congress was co-sponsoring the debate, but that's not good enough for Obama, just another nutroots hero caving into their effort to shut down free speech by attempting to marginalize America's largest Cable News network."

Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest news station of them all? Why, FOX News, of course!

How could that wicked, wicked Obama turn his back on the fine, upstanding, resplended news organization? Was the fact that they constantly misspelled his name? Perhaps calling his church a cult just didn't sit right with him. Maybe that thin-skinned Negro just couldn't stand being called a Halfrican on over half a dozen different occations. Or maybe Barak Obama is a muslim extremist who just wouldn't be able to resist strapping on a HEX vest and detonating himself on top of Neil Cavuto.

Who knows? But I'm sure FOX will have a balanced and well-researched opinion on that matter to share with its solid audiance of half a million and falling.
http://www.newshounds.us/2005/05/18/fox_news_in_ratings_free_fall.php

I just want to know when FOX planned on scheduling all this debate talk between their 24/7 ANS updates and edge-of-your-seat expose on old people golfing.

[templar knight]

Yeah, CNN has the largest audience of any cable outlet. That's why they were picked. And besides, they hate Republicans, and the President. That in itself gives them an advantage. Yep, CNN it is. But only Vickie and Ziffy will watch it, and Obama has their vote already, so who cares?

[templar knight]

Yeah, CNN has the largest audience of any cable outlet. That's why they were picked. And besides, they hate Republicans, and the President. That in itself gives them an advantage. Yep, CNN it is. But only Vickie and Ziffy will watch it, and Obama has their vote already, so who cares?

[BCMG]

David Axelrod could plant $90k in bribes in the freezer and the Dems still wouldn't care. Nothing will happen to Obama; ethics are for Republicans. Anything goes with Dhimmicrats.
Oh and btw Zifnab; my JOB is to pull cable media research and Fox is still on top. I'll get you the latest ratings. Give me a minute.

[Victor]

This is a great ploy by the dems. Fox has no credibility this move reinforces what a hack 'entertainment' channel it really is. Let Hannity debate O'Reilly about where the WMDs are.

[LOL]

heres an example of past debate questions fox asked prez candidates:

Clark: I wonder if you could take a moment and explain to us why, at the end of your time as the supreme allied commander of NATO, you were not re-upped and why such folks as Retired General Hugh Shelton have suggested you were effectively fired for what he called character and integrity issues.

Edwards: Senator Edwards, the rap on you, you're a one-term senator. You are a trial lawyer and, therefore, you're supposed to be compromised by that somehow. The expectations for you were so high in the beginning that you were on the cover of Newsweek magazine, yet in the latest Newsweek poll out today, you're in the bottom of the pack.
What happened?

Dean: We are attempting to imagine each of you in the White House in the Oval Office, and in that spirit, Governor Dean, I have this question for you.

You have been unstintingly critical of this war, yet, with all due respect, you have commanded nothing more than the Vermont National Guard. You did not serve in the military.

How would you, as president, be able to exert any credibility, any command over a post-war Pentagon?

Kerry: Senator Kerry, I want to direct the next question to you, in part because you voted for the Iraq resolution but have also opposed the $87 billion. To many, that speaks to an inconsistency that your candidacy has been criticized by, for having a difficult to explain position on the Iraq war.

Is it inconsistent for you to support the resolution and not the reconstruction money?

Lieberman: Senator Lieberman, you've certainly not called the positions that your rivals have taken on the war and on the funding unpatriotic, but you have called it inconsistent. You've suggested that it's weak and that it sends a duplicitous message to the world.

You've heard a variety of opinions expressed by your rivals. Why are they wrong?

------------

As you can see most of the "questions" are actually just smear statements, and then asking the candidate to reply. Except of course the Lieberman question. Why give fox news legitimacy when it doesn't even try to journalistic?

Another reason is that the Democrats should not support a news organization that tries to keep its viewers ignorant on the important issues:
http://www.thetalentshow.org/2003/10/03/faux-news-keeps-viewers-dumb/

Why should a major party support a news organization that does not inform its viewers?

[Zifnab]

But... but... but... LOL?! The people have the right to know! When did Clinton stop beating off his wife? Why does Barak Obama want to blow up Isreal? How can John Edwards appear on national TV running for President when millions of starving children are in the streets, desperate for money that his Presidential campaign deprived them of?

These are fair and legitimate questions, questions that Demoncratic candidates need to answer before Republicans can choose not to vote for them. Demoncrats are breaking the LAW and no one cares! Why doesn't anyone investigate Demoncrats for breaking LAWS?! Barak Obama ISN'T EVEN BLACK! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA~!

[mkultra]

Two weeks ago during a Congressional hearing it was revealed that the RNC was using the GSA as a satellite office. Rove's top aid Scott Jennings used a GSA staff meeting on GSA premises to strategize with GSA employees about the then pending November 2006 election. The powerpoint for the presentation was very interesting.

The evidence was crystal clear. Yet the violation received virtually no attention (getting lost as it did among the other Republican scandals).

And yet here we have a photograph - a photo - you know, no sound, of Obama and close aide, whose friendship goes back years, and it's a scandal of the first rank. Despite, of course, any evidence of what they were actually discussing.

If this is the best that wingnuts can come up with to "get" Obama, they need to call on some of the Swiftboat guys.

Hey Dan - did Obama ever give that Koran back? You were upset about this a few weeks ago, if I recall.

[Victor]

Personally, I support Mitt Romney. He is a leader and has been a hunter all his life.

[TheSpartan]

Wait, so they drum up a bogus story about him and a Madrassa and now he's supposed to go out of his way to get them ratings?

[Aussie]

Wow evil Fox.

Here in Australia Rupert Murdoch was known as something of a civil-rights advocate before he took over his father's newspaper business on the road to global hegemony.
Cop that conspiracy theorists. But he is a tough little Scot who's at his best in a scrap. Fighting him just makes him stronger!
Anyway, Australia's first black singer superstar, a Sri Lankan from Malaysia with a Muslim name, will tell you how Rupert helped him become a star in the 1960's. Personally. He has family pictures with Murdoch. This 'evil right wing' thing is just in some people's fevered imaginations. There are no such people in the real world.

[BCMG]

Source: Nielsen Media Research, 4Q‘06 (9/25/06-12/31/06), (latest available book) HH Rating and
HH, P2+ and A25-54 AA(000). 24-Hour = M-Su 6a-6a, Prime = M-Su 8p-11p:

Total Day
FNC: HH AA% = .7, HHAA(000)=652, Age25-54 = 250, Age35-64=360
CNN: HH AA% = .5, HHAA(000)=444, Age25-54(AA 000) = 179, Age35-64 (AA 000)=262
MSNBC: HH AA% =.3, HHAA(000)=263, Age25-54(AA 000)=130, Age35-64 (AA 000)=167

Mon-Sun 8a-11p
FNC:HH AA% = 1.1, HHAA(000) = 1,035, Age25-54 = 350, Age 35-64=544
CNN:HH AA% = .7, HHAA (000)= 642, Age25-54 = 248, Age 35-64=353
MSNBC: HH AA% = .4, HHAA(000)= 383, Age25-54 = 187, Age 35-54 =252

I hate it when people bring up ratings but they have no understanding of them. Anyway, here they are. This is overall viewership using standard methods. And I've sourced it.
FNC gets 34% of the total day cable news market share, and 35% of prime time among 25-54 year old adults. CNN gets 25% total day and prime, and the rest is divvied up.
If I pulled just O'Reilly and Hannity's ratings, they would thump any and everybody in cable, except sporting events on FSN or ESPN. But both of those shows usually crop up in among the weeks top cable shows with the sporting events - e.g. you'll see major league baseball games, basketball games, and a Hannity and O'Reilly mixed in there, which means those individual shows can average about a 7 or 8 and that's big in cable.

[daveinboca]

Looks like Obama didn't want to get outflanked on the left by the Breck Girl. Too bad for him because he's going to lose a lot of respect from the independents in the middle who watch Fox NEWS and consider it fairer and more balanced than some deranged ninnies like Matthews or Olbermann. No one on CNN has the personality to even show up as a major commentator. Glenn Beck at least stands for something. Or am I wrong?

Atheist drunk Ted Turner has created the perfect multi-culti network with no character, color, or personality. Just droning PC platitudes and bromides.

[Zifnab]

"If I pulled just O'Reilly and Hannity's ratings, they would thump any and everybody in cable, except sporting events on FSN or ESPN. But both of those shows usually crop up in among the weeks top cable shows with the sporting events - e.g. you'll see major league baseball games, basketball games, and a Hannity and O'Reilly mixed in there, which means those individual shows can average about a 7 or 8 and that's big in cable."

Yes, that is big. In cable.
Meanwhile, American Idol brings in a rating of 31.2
For every guy watching cable news, there's about 15 watching that idiot with the giant hair sing badly.

If Obama boycotted Simon Cowell, maybe someone would have something to say about him hurting himself with a lack of exposure.

But an audiance of 600k in a country of 300 million? The cable news networks don't play kingmaker to the Presidency. They play the court jester. One step up from E!

[scarshapedstar]

Um, I think what often gets missed in the "FOX has more viewers than CNN, therefore the Republicans will win the next election!" debate is that FOX simply does the news way better than CNN. I'll say that anytime, anywhere. CNN sucks ass.

Let's see. You've got the amazing animatronic Wolf Blitzer doing his mummy impression for, what, 6 or 8 hours a day. Wow, that was a great call on somebody's part. The only entertaining moment on the Shituation Room is when Jack Cafferty says something pointed/humorous/delivered in something other than a monotone and Wolf blushes and stammers and flop-sweats. Anderson Cooper and Paula Zahn are at least nicer to look at, but eventually you feel dirty when you realize that neither of them have the slightest notion of what a followup question is supposed to sound like.

And that's the high point. The rest is a pathetic attempt at stealing FNC viewers, which makes about as much sense as hosting hockey on Lifetime. Loop Dobbs gives us the 3721839th consecutive State of the Borders report. Nancy Grace shrieks about how jaywalkers should be put to death. And then Glenn Beck gives us edgy frat-boy observations about how you're not supposed to say bad stuff about Obama, 'cuz he's black, but Glenn's not afraid to break the rules. Again.

And this is supposed to be the Democratic Mecca. Right. If I called up and said that Bush's approval is about to hit the twenties, Wolf would counter that the Fox News poll shows his numbers bouncing due to (insert irrelevant pageantry here).

Meanwhile, you watch Fox, and there's big swooshy intros that put Stephen Colbert's to shame, even for bond index reports. There's no pretense of bringing on some token liberal to take the predetermined losing side in every argument. The hosts are unafraid to laugh, shout, and question assertions. And instead of (or is it in addition to?) that boring ticker at the bottom notifying you that DNA testing proves Seabiscuit is related to Secretariat, they straight-up tell you what each story is supposed to prove, in 5 words or less "(FOX FACTS: DEMOCRATS HATE AMERICA"). I may hate them, but they know how to put on a show, for christ's sake.

[Buzzy]

Just saw CNN's coverage of Obamas violation of the Congressional rules and ethics. They actually slammed him pretty hard, chalking it all up to a near total lack of experience and asking if that wasn't a problem in a person who would be President. Apparently CNN's in Hillary's pocket these days.

I watch both CNN and Fox but I really don't have much use for MSNBC (prolly why I didn't know Imus has a morning show there).

[bbbustard]

Thanks scarshapedestar for the totally astute diagnosis.

[BobInStamford]

Fox is not news. Its fodder for the mouth-breathers. To agree to a Fox debate is to give Fox legitimacy. Fox deserves no legitimacy, hence no Dem debates. Maybe it can broadcast a new Terry Schiavo special instead. Surge on, brave terror alert level watchers!!!

[Buzzy]

Hiya al Qaeda Bob, how are things in Islamabad today?

[Zifnab]

You have to keep in mind, this is the crowd would cry out discrimination and foul play if the debate was being held at Bob Jones University during a KKK rally. The Thugs are just pissy cause Democrats aren't playing at being Republican Lite anymore. Its so hard to convince the nation to vote for you when the opposition presents a sane, viable, and intelligent alternative to "LET'S NUKE EVERYTHING!"

[Legalize]

"Its so hard to convince the nation to vote for you when the opposition presents a sane, viable, and intelligent alternative to 'LET'S NUKE EVERYTHING!'"

To be fair, it doesn't take a hell of alot of effort to rebut the GOP and its fanboys these days.

[ET]

Thanks for the FACTS, BCMG. Also, Aussie. Thanks for the perspective. The idea that FNC is a right wing propaganda machine is another BIG LIE from the libtards. Repetition makes it true in the minds of the ignorant puppets.

Hey, bobsuckshard - stroke on, loser!

[Phoenix]

Thumbs up to you, Scar. Good analysis. I don't know about the 'predetermined losing token liberal', though. Hannity gets his butt whipped. You might not know it because he starts screaming, but otherwise, you're right. Same with Bill - he does the scream thing when he's getting toasted.

[daveinboca]

Good take on FNC by scarstar. But Fox does have animated fights between sides, and real takes on the seamy side of politics, even Repub mistakes. But the Dems offer a target-rich environment for turkey-shooting and Fox does that job for its viewership.

Which Bobsuxhard and Ziffy Tube should know is as large as CNN and that other cable outlet combined. And thinking people watch cable, which leaves out those two.

[Zifnab]

"And thinking people watch cable, which leaves out those two."

hahahahaha! Yes, thinking people. Indeed. If you need me, I'll be wearing my smoking jacket, lounging in the atrium with my copy of War And Peace absorbing the greater wisdom of Geraldo Rivera having a spitting contest with Bill O'Reily. Then off to the opera! How quaint!

[bloodrage bob]

golly. seems the liberal idiots *really* don't like the existence of fox news. unauthorized by the party. deviation from party dogma. could lead to god knows what....maybe even negative reports on the incredibly corrupt DiFi.

i thought you morons were all about diversity? first amendment? 'let a thousand flowers bloom'?

or does that only apply to gay porn on cable; and crucifixes in jars of urine? anything *political* must be vetted by the party? is that what (you will of course mendaciously deny) you're saying?

[LogicalSC]

What leftards want is more of CNN's debates where they stack the audience with "undecided conservative voters" from the Obama campaign staff to ask scripted questions about the most important liberal issues, killing unborn babies and homosexual dating.

Meanwhile, CNN handles the tough questioning of Obama like does he wear white shoes after Labor Day , who is his idol favorite, and who does his facials.