Comments for Court Ruling: Fox News Has a First Amendment Right to Lie »
Posted By metavirus 6 months ago in NewsA Florida Appeals court ruled there is absolutely nothing illegal about lying, concealing or distorting information by a major press organization. The court reversed the $425,000 jury verdict in favor of journalist Jane Akre who charged she was pressured by Fox Television management and lawyers to air what she knew and documented to be false information.
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fiftynineComment removed: Hard Banned53 Replies
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Natureboy6 months ago
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It's always been legal to lie unless under oath.Which is perjury. Or unless one lies to obtain something which one is not entitled to - which is fraud.
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And it's a good thing, or we'd be in real trouble when she asks us if that dress makes her look fat.
The appelate court's decision actually hinges on whether the FCC's prohibition against intentional misrepresentation qualifies as a "law, rule or regulation" under Florida's whistleblower statute.
That's a much less sexy issue than the whole "legal to lie" thing but on the upside, if it were illegal to lie, publishing this article would have been a criminal act.-
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Natureboy6 months ago
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metavirus6 months ago
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sorry to belabor the point but I happen to be a lawyer and can tell you you're incorrect. look up the definition of "illegal" in a dictionary and you'll see what I mean. "the law" means the whole kit and kaboodle. law can mean civil law or criminal law, among other things. when something is proscribed by "law", that means that act is "illegal". as a result, libel is "illegal", as is murder and speeding. it is against the law to speed -- therefore it is illegal.
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rumple4skin6 months ago
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Natureboy says - "The appelate court's decision actually hinges on whether the FCC's prohibition against intentional misrepresentation qualifies as a "law, rule or regulation" under Florida's whistleblower statute."
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Jibber-jabber obfuscation. Nobody has a right to lie in print or on the air. NOBODY!
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crespi6 months ago
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The difference being that the Enquirer never influenced voting, policy or starting wars, while FoxNews, mouthpiece for the Bush/Cheney White House, has pushed for the most heinous things like the preemptive nuking of Iran (right after telling us that our own student Iraq-war protesters should be tortured, that WE SHOULD TORTURE OUR OWN CHILDREN!) and much much more hatefulness and violent "solutions" to our problems than ANYONE outside of the neo-Nazis and other violent extremist groups..
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crespi6 months ago
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The exacrt bit was:
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Firsts a story that ran both the header and verbal headline of "All terrorists should be tortured." (Remember when they were promoting that?)
Then IMMEDIATELY after , literally, "All terrorists should be tortured," they followed with footage of college students protesting our illegal entry into Iraq and FoxNews again written and verbal headline,"Anti-war protesters are MORE DANGEROUS than terrorists and should be dealt with accordingly."
Not much room for misinterpretation of FoxNews' and the Neocons' intention there.-
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jakesguile6 months ago
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Yikes, ookkieeee then Foxy News.... we'll just... get right on that... torturing of our intelligent college students that disagree with your agenda of Pig Stupidism.... The remote....... where's the remote? Dear God they've stolen the remote!!!!!!
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metavirus6 months ago
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"The only problem is where do we go for the truth?"
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Precisely. The problem with all the major outlets acting like tabloids is that someday soon we won't have anything except for tabloids, simply a sliding scale of more credible tabloids and less credible tabloids-
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tchef6 months ago
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We are pretty much there already. I don't watch any major news network anymore. I get a good bit of my news from the internet, or a radio station that is not affiliated with any major network. I try to look at the events presented and skip the editorial. I can make up my own mind.
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GehlLady6 months ago
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Meta
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I propped this after going to other sources and found your submission to be basically accurate, but I don't really trust most "news" programs. Unfortunately, I find I have to spend WAY too much time surfing many sources to get a balanced view of news.
Fox has clearly been caught out being totally unethical, but I'm afraid this is not as uncommon as it should be across the spectrum of these large so-called "news" organizations.-
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metavirus6 months ago
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i hear ya. getting the real story involves a heck of a lot of WORK these days. as a former republican/libertarian, i still have a number of trusted sources in the reasonable right-of-center online world that i look to. now that i'm a left-of-center independent, i find myself needing to plow through lots of competing noise in order to get at the truth. and forget cnn or most of msnbc or cnbc to give me anything of value. most anything i find of value these days comes from online, with some exceptions given for some BBC reporting, some true investigative journalism out of the NYT and WaPo and the Economist.
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chip566 months ago
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metavirus6 months ago
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i just love it how the basic stance of most cons on propeller has become a game of "I know you are but what am I?!?" so many folks here seem incapable of engaging in a discussion of a particular issue on the merits without resorting to THEY DO IT TOOOO!!!!!!!
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Oh, and P.S., there's a difference between "Lying" and "Bias". Sometimes news outlets that are BIASED report LIES. But other times news outlets that are BIASED report TRUTH. Bias does not equate to lies and lies do not always equate to bias.-
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crespi6 months ago
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Olbermann, though on occasion slanted himself, does a great job of pointing out fallacies, propaganda and outright lies of FoxNews and the Neocon think tanks that are joined to FoxNews at the hip.
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Debunking FoxNews lies like "liberals start all the wars," or "Michille Obama is a gangster," or Republicans are more moral than Democrats," or "Card check mean no more secret vote," etc.
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jakesguile6 months ago
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Happy hour started a lil' early and chippo's house. Get yourself informed. Fox does nothing but lie. They print whatever they feel like and don't apologize for it unless they're made to. At least when CNN and MSNBC make a mistake, they retract it and apologize. They actually try to report based upon fact and relevant information, not just from batshitty-award nominees
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rumple4skin6 months ago
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ok CHIP56 - It's true. Most of the crap coming from FOX is a lie. Were it not true then there would be no need to rule on the legality of lying to the public. Because there is no newly-accepted definition of news other than the old-school dictionary definition (hich of course does not apply) any BS group can call itself a news organization. FOX qualifies under the 'anything we report is news' banner. What a joke ... what a tragedy.
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The Florida Court of Appeals needs to be retired.
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PsychoHosebeastComment removed: Spammer, Abusive3 Replies
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metavirus6 months ago
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i was wondering when endoscopy would wander in here and treat us to another "The libtards DO IT TOO!!!!!11!!!!!"
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true to form, as always.
P.S. I think it's hilarious that people are now jumping all up in ABC News' business when they, out of all the major networks, were the most critical of Obama before and after the election. I can understand NBC but to now call down a fatwa upon ABC is hilarious. Give these guys another 6 months and the only networks good pure conservative christian folk will be permitted to watch will be Fox, Fox News, Disney Channel and ABC Family (oops, scratch that, Disney and ABC Family are associated with the ZOMG LIBTARD KOOL-AID DRINKIN ABC NEWS!!!)
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rumple4skin6 months ago
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The Center for Media and Public Affairs gets a no vote from me:
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For ifmd91 - The media watchdog group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) has challenged CMPA's non-partisan claim, based on the argument that much of its funding has come from conservative sources, and that its founder, Dr. S. Robert Lichter, once held a chair in mass communications at the American Enterprise Institute and was a Fox News contributor.[18][19] After a Washington Post article referred to CMPA as "conservative," the Post published a "Clarification," which concluded, "The Center describes itself as nonpartisan, and its studies have been cited by both conservative and liberal commentators."[20] Media Transparency documents that between 1986 and 2005 CMPA received 55 grants totaling $2,960,916 (unadjusted for inflation).[from:? "Center for Media and Public Affairs, Inc.", Media Transparency, accessed February 2008.] The data reveals that the overwhelming proportion of CMPA's funding comes from conservative foundations.
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lrobertsonbooks6 months ago
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The Supreme Court has ruled that almost anything goes in politics. By the same token, heaven help the moron in the news who shorts a stock and then trashes the stock on the air. Especially since the SEC is trying to prove it isn't corrupt, they will be all over the moron like flies on you know what.
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ahmonrey6 months ago
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nowaynobama6 months ago
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Hey all you liberal A-Holes, for your information there were plenty of Lib/Dems on board about WMDs. Kerry, Kennedy, Hillary to name a few so don't go down that road you can't win that argument. Also MSNBC tells just as many lies as anyone and they are biased, who isn't ? Also just because no WMDs were found does not mean they didn't exist. Saddam Husseins former general stated live in my church they were shipped to Syria under the guise of humanitarian aid after an earthquake in Syria. The planes were gutted and BINGO,there buried in the desert. Don't give me the B...s..t taht I'm brain washed into believing these what Libs call " lies " I could say just the same for all your Liberal B...S..T !! so kiss me A... !!
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bigG6 months ago
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Was this guy who spoke in your church the same one who gave intelligence to Bush/Cheney?
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There is absolutely no way Saddam would have allowed the WMD's to be given to an enemy.
That's right bub - Syria and Iraq normalized relations AFTER Saddam's ouster. They hadn't been on friendly terms for more than 20 years. -
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tchef6 months ago
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Yes there where plenty of Democrats that fell for the lies. We unfortunately didn't look at the evidence. We trusted our President and his administration. That was a huge mistake. But there is a big difference between someone who is deliberately lying and one who mistakenly believes the lie. Iraq was never a threat to us, and they knew it.
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Dennis2426 months ago
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Leathermonster replies:
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“I will NEVER again watch Fox News. How Dare they!?
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You probably never did watch Fox News, anyway.
Go ahead. They won't even miss you.
But, to ;your point; If Fox News had lied, you'd not need to go back to a case that was brought, nine years ago, to find an incident in which a deliberate "lie" was uttered.
By example, in the typical O'bama speech, I can provide you instances wherein he lies, several times in a given speech.
Here's the best example of a lie; "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" See the difference? A bold, declarative statement, made after the fact, before the utterer knew that he'd been caught, by dint of semen saved on the blue dress. But, I'm sure that most of us can clearly see, and discern the difference. A "lie" in most contexts can simply be a matter of content, or opinion.
What, exactly, was the "lie" that Fox News told? Was it a statement, that was proven to be wrong, after the fact? Or, was it simply a difference of opinion between the woman writer, and her bosses at Fox News. That, more likely was the case. Otherwise, you'd not have to resort to nine year old cases to find a suitable "lie."
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ADAGUY6 months ago
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Are U grasping at straws or what?
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If you seriously can't recall any of the lies that have been spread by Fox & Company, then you aren't listening.
The fact is that Fox lies constantly as they have no reason not to. The courts ruled long ago that these shows such as hannity, Bill Orielly, Limpballs, etc, are not required to be accurate in their broadcasts, as those they are smearing are "celebrities", and these shows fall under the same class as Letterman, and Leno. That is they are not considered "news shows', therefore they are classified as "entertainment", and accuracy of content is not an issue.
Any more questions?-
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mrfishr846 months ago
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Examples? Here's a good lie - All american troops will be out of Iraq. Our town just sent over a platoon of mps for an entire tour, to work security. Here's another lie - 98% of you will not see your taxes go up. Cap and Tax. You stupid stupid people - how is Obama going to pay for this massive spending without raising taxes on more than 2% of the people in this country. He CAN'T. Here's another lie. I'm gonna close guantanimo. How's that coming, prez? It was a stupid statement - not one wants our detainees, especially not us.
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crespi6 months ago
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Obama TRIED to close Guantanamo but REPUBLICANS USED FEAR "there will be TERRORISTS in your back yard!" This fear-mongering scared the stupid wimpy Democrats and achieved the REPUBLICAN GOAL of preventing the closing of Guantanamo. (I live in Colorado. Bring ALL those terrorists and WE'LL hold 'em in our supermax prison. Unless you are saying those highly trained and comptent corrections officers can't do their job.)
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Your arguments don't work when it was CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS preventing President Obama from accomplishing a goal. And those lies about "no terrorist was ever tried and held on American" soil were pushed heavily by who ,FOXNEWS, of course.
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Adamkunn6 months ago
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Here's the best example of a lie; "I did not have sexual relations with that woman"
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Let's take a look at a few other famous liars.
"I have a wide stance." Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho)
"I was hiking the Appalachian Trail." Governor Mark Sanford (R-South Carolina)
"I did not sexually harrass under age Congressional Pages." Congressman Mark Foley (R-Florida)
"I did not out Valerie Plame." I. Lewis "Scooter" Libbey (Republican)
"I never brokered weapons sales to Sadaam Hussein." Secretary of Defense Donald "Rumsferatu" Rumsfeld
"Barack Obama pals around with ter'rists!" Sarah "The Brain Wizard" Palin
For every ONE lie a Democrat tells, you get at least ten Republican lies. If I had to document every lie Rush "Went to the Dominican Republic With Off Market Viagra To Screw Underage Children" Limbaugh has told, I'd crash the servers.-
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hefaa1Comment removed: Hard Banned
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TcarosComment removed: Hard Banned
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mrfishr846 months ago
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Haha - Fox news haters crack me up. All major news, liberal or conservative, lie to push an agenda. Wake up people. Who denies the press got Obama elected? No one with a brain! (which apparently is less than half of the country - enjoy socialism America)
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tchef6 months ago
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I deny that the press got Obama elected. The Republicans had spent the last eight years ruining the country. They offered a sacrificial lamb candidate with nothing to offer but more of the same.
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Obama ran a brilliant campaign. He has done more for this country in his first few months in office that Bush did in all eight years. Yes this country is still in trouble, we have a long way to go to get us back on course.
And to your socialism comment George Bush made several large moves to socialism. Just look and the bank bailouts ( started by Bush before Obama took office ) and the prescription drug plan. -
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djn3nunez36 months ago
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Who denies the press got Obama elected?
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I do. He beat Hillary. The Democrats won because of Bush. It didn't really matter if it was Clinton or Obama, either one could have beaten McCain.
The press in this country is a joke and Faux is the biggest joke of them all. -
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rumple4skin6 months ago
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mrfish84 - Who denies the press got Obama elected? No one with a brain! (which apparently is less than half of the country - enjoy socialism America)
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If you do not like the country that is trying to be reborn under a democratically elected President and not one appointed by the less-than-supreme court, leave this one quickly and quietly after having a news conference on your favorite 'news' station.
I don't think that people hate FOX but they have very good reason to agree that what FOX 'does' is not news. Further ... what they 'do' is not (here's the lie} "fair and balanced."
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Dennis2426 months ago
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sjd8325block35 minutes ago
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Would someone please give me the background on this piece?
What is this story referring to? In fact,what is/was the story?
And, who the heck is Jane Akre?
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Jane Akre
is apparently an ambulance chaser who lost a suit, on appeal to Fox News. The suit was brought by Jane and her husband, and was ruled "for the Plaintiffs," in 2000. Fox counter sued Jane and her husband for 1.7 million dollars in 2004. That's what this fight is about.
I don't believe that Jane or her husband can show you a Bill Clinton type "lie." That is, an outright lie, after the fact. "What we have here, is a failure to communicate."
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Dennis2426 months ago
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mrfishr84block
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8 minutes ago
Haha - Fox news haters crack me up. All major news, liberal or conservative, lie to push an agenda. Wake up people. Who denies the press got Obama elected? No one with a brain! (which apparently is less than half of the country - enjoy socialism America)
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Oh, you noticed that too, did you? We're facing a herd of Serial posters tonight. They're going after Fox News because Fox has a bead on their "boy." I'm sure that this Cadre of shills is being directed by O'bama, from the White House.
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Dennis2426 months ago
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Tcarosblock59 minutes ago
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Fox news has faded into oblivion.
Everyone knows it's like watching the "Simpsons" or some surreal cartoon. What's with all the bimbo's with lip gloss?
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Here's a new Democrat/Liberal change of word meaning, for you. As of tonight, "Oblivion" means leading the pack of cable news channels, by double, and triple digits.
Read on;
Fox News Channel (FNC) is an American cable news and satellite channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation. As of April 2009, it is available to 102 million households in the U.S. and further to viewers internationally, broadcasting primarily out of its New York City studios.
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marylinc19416 months ago
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Do your on reacearch and fond out what is true. If you go into finding out if Fox is or not telling the truth. Go to to the trouble to find out. When you do you will find out tat Fox is the one that is telling the truth. You really need to find out about the man obama. He is heading down the path that Hitler did. Read, search, I will stay with Fox.
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sprzats6 months ago
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I looked this case up and how you can defend Fox is beyond me. We need reporters like Jane and Steve. We don't need another Fox.
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http://www.brownpride.us/forum/fox-news-sued-have-...-
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crespi6 months ago
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I wouldn't be mentioning Hitler, Neocon Marylinc1941.
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When Bush's GRANDFATHER was a eugenics freak and co-hosted international eugenic conferences (one where an AMERICAN scientist put forward the idea of "gassing the unfit'" that a german eugenicist related to Hitler and gave Hitler the idea for the final solution Holocaust, and Prescott Bush was also directly tie through Brown brothers Harriman as Hitlers personal bankers in America, was involved in Silesian Steel, which used Polish slave laborers that Bush knew about and profited from, George HW Bush had an actual old school German Nazi on his campaign staff that had to be publicly dropped when revealed, and George W's suspending habeas corpus, spying on his own citizens with illegal wire taps, building Fema detention center concentration camps around the country (which were never utilized thank God), and starting a war to funnel government money to arms dealer cronies are all the Hitler model.
No, I wouldn't be mentioning Hitler AT ALL, if I were a lowdown ultra-Conservative, Republican skunk.
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Skeptic6 months ago
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Let's see - Jane Akre and her husband were fired from the local Fox affiliate in 1997. The station they worked for was owned by New World Pictures. News Corporation, a conglomerate founded by Rupert Murdoch, became an investor in New World Pictures in 1994 but did not become the owner of WTVT, the station that fired Akre, until 1997.
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This is an article written, without references, by Metavirus and submitted to Library Grape. Then Metavirus posts the article to Propeller. It is simply a pathetic article written by a pathetic author for some unknown pathetic reason. -
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babybuffsmom6 months ago
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Not to rain on your LIBERAL VS CONSERVATIVE beat down--but is anyone aware of the details of this case? The case before the court involved the use of growth hormones in cows, not politics,and whether a not a reporter had a right to tell a "truth" which could potentially open her employer up to lawsuits. As that employer did not agree that her "proof" that the information was unreliable could withstand a court challenge for which they would be held culpable she was not allowed to use said info. Educate yourselves before you spew please... the rest of us have better things to do with our time....
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adofilli6 months ago
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Well you dumacrats are at it again--
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This is the kettle calling the pot black
If the other networks told the true
we would not be looseing our country
at very monent--But this is the very
tactic used by the dumacrats when they
are being defeated at ever turn --- -
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PsychoHosebeastComment removed: Spammer, Abusive
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Georgia506 months ago
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Do you liberals feel the least bit...I don't know...sheepish...about taking six long years to catch up to this story? Taken in this light, I guess you're to be commended for your awareness that Obama won in 08. I guess we have to wait until 2014 to hear about how McCain and Fox nevertheless tried to steal the election.
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cleare6 months ago
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there's nothing new about lies in the press. anyone else ever hear about "yellow journalism" especially around the turn of the 20th century? in fact, inflammatory claims, both true and untrue, in the press go back to the very beginnings of our country.
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but, just because this activity is protected as free speech and isn't illegal, journalists now have codes of ethics...and these aren't being respected any more than the truth by most news and information outlets.
in my considered opinion, some outlets consistently provide more accurate information than others. i tend to hop, skip and jump between the sources i've come to trust --- all these sources make extensive use of fact checkers. -
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