Shep Smith on thin ice at FOX ?

[kentuck]

On several occasions, he has disagreed with the chief propagandists at FOX. Perhaps this latest episode may be more than they are willing to endure? Shep questions the "fair and balanced" claims of a report on air. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/28/shep-smith-was-that-canad_n_302399.html

From the article: "The Fox Report" on Fox News, hosted by anchor Shepard Smith, ran a piece by reporter Dan Springer on how Canada's single-payer health care system is forcing Canadians to come to the United States for care because the waiting period for treatment is too long. The report was intended to contrast negatively with proposals in the U.S. to include a public option in health care reform, however Smith questioned whether the report they just ran was actually fair:

Of course you wonder if it's really a fair comparison when no one has introduced a single-payer system here. In fact a government-run option has barely been suggested, at least isn't included at the moment. We'd still have private health insurance here. So, I mean, it's different.

Springer defended the comparison by saying that some critics of a public option say it would inevitably lead to a single-payer system because despite their still being private insurers, there is no way they could compete with a plan funded by the government. Smith replied, "Of course the government says, they compete with FedEx and they compete with UPS, and you have options, and that's what they're suggesting here."

[jaxx]

1. Who's spot is John Stossel going to take?

Shepherd Smith is one of the fauxers who is coherent some of the time. I don't doubt his time is limited there.

[get the red out]

2. I kind of like Shep

I wish he was on a news network or program rather than a cartoonish propaganda machine catering to nuts.

[CBGLuthier]

3. me too

Every once in a while he gets this look as if he realizes he is in the wrong place working for the wrong people. And he has called a few people out for outrageous bullshit.

Maybe he can take Lou Dobb's spot on CNN. That would be good.

[wicket]

5. Oh that would be perfect!

[get the red out]

6. Yes, CNN would be great for him

And Lou needs to hang it up and take a nice long rest! His mental health can't be good at this point.

[TheDebbieDee]

14. I saw a clip of him getting really upset at one point during FAUX's

Hurricaine Katrina coverage. He kept asking the reporter on the scene why something or other wasn't getting done.

Shep's got a heart......

[mwb970]

7. He's the only person on Fox "News" I actually like.

I'm kind of 50-50 on O'Reilly. The rest (Hannity, Douchey, Beck, etc.) are beneath contempt.

[DaveinJapan]

9. "Tiller the Baby Killer" a million times over and you're still 50/50?

Personally, I can't endorse that (I could find a million more examples if you're interested).

[mwb970]

11. I hear you. That's part of the "bad 50".

O'Reilly is also in favor of the public option for health insurance and has been for some time. That's part of the "good 50". When he discusses non-political stories, I often agree with his take, if not always the way he conveys it. Also, he has mellowed significantly in recent months, perhaps in response to the Rodeo Clown's gibbering idiocy.

As always, your mileage may vary. If you don't like him, by all means don't watch him.

:)

[UTUSN]

15. Sorry, but O'LOOFAH "explained" he is NOT for the public option

He was responding to a supposed e-mail that accused him of being FOR it. He went through this rigamarole about being FOR competition in the free market. I didn't follow it, this was two or more weeks ago. He definitely said he was NOT for a "government" option or somesuch.


But definitely he has NOT mellowed, either. What BecKKK does is to be such a WHACKJOB that he provides cover for O'LOOFAH and almost makes him look normal. O'LOOFAH is very well aware of this and therefore provides even more time for BecKKK on the air. Somebody commented here that it's sad that "the baseline" of supposed normality has moved SO far to the WHACKJOB end of things that O'LOOFAH becomes the new normal.

[NightHawk63]

16. O'Reilly is NOT in favor of the public option

He quickly backtracked on his previous statement endorsing the PO. I'm sure the his FAUX bosses got into his ass about it. But either way, screw him!!!


http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/09/23/o_reilly/

You're absolutely right, I don't like him, and I don't watch him. Any little entertainment value he may provide is just not worth the damage this monster causes.

[inna]

18. i sort of like Julie Gonzalez (i'm attracted to her in a way), even though

she's apparently a right winger. :shrug:

i sort of like Shep in a similar way... and he actually seems like he's a nice person.

[nyc 4 Biden]

8. It's good that he is on Faux.

His is probably the only sensible voice the wingnuts hear all day.

[Ineeda]

10. But do they really 'hear' him? n/t

[nyc 4 Biden]

12. Most don't.

But no wingnuts would hear him if he was on CNN or MSNBC.

[MrScorpio]

4. Looks like that Shep is unfairly upsetting the delicate inbalance at Fox

Off with his head!

[The_Commonist]

13. Is Agent Smith starting to see...

...that he is nothing but a tool of the Matrix?

[emilyg]

17. I like Shep.