Democratic Governors Association calls on Fox to make disclaimers

[ProSense]

DGA CALLS ON FOX NEWS TO MAKE DISCLAIMERS....

Fox News' parent company, News Corp, raised some eyebrows with its $1 million contribution to the Republican Governors Association. There's just no modern precedent for a media conglomerate to offer this kind of financial support to a party's campaign committee.

Today, Nathan Daschle, executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, contacted Fox News CEO Roger Ailes with a suggestion of sorts. The network's news division, Daschle said, should add a disclaimer during its coverage of gubernatorial races. He even wrote a sample script of what Fox News' on-air talent should say: "News Corp., parent company of Fox News, provided $1 million to defeat Democratic governors in November."

<...>

"For the first time in history, your organization is openly and proudly supporting the defeat of Democratic governors with an unprecedented political contribution of $1 million to the Republican Governors Association. In fact, your company provided the single largest corporate contribution to our opposition.... As you are well aware, the stakes could not be higher in the 37 gubernatorial races this election cycle."

I don't imagine Ailes intends to act on this, but the DGA's argument is hardly baseless. Put it this way: imagine what Republicans would be saying right now if the New York Times Company contributed $1 million to the DSCC, but assured Republicans that its coverage of this year's Senate races would remain entirely fair and even-handed.

Daschle's full letter -- and its extremely amusing postscript -- is available below.

<...>

P.S. Many news outlets have covered this controversy, but your own news programs have been strangely silent. I am available to appear on any of your programs to discuss the case for Democratic governors - particularly why our governors best for business growth. Despite my efforts to immediately reach out to your news programs, more than a dozen requests were ignored.

<...>

[Dr Fate]

1. A letter! TEXT on the internet! That will show them. And if FOX refuses?

If FOX refuses, then what?

Well, if they refuse, what we can do is print out his letter, snap in the air and cry "SEE-DEMS are fighting-stop saying DEMS are not fighting!"

Does that about cover it?

Sorry- but I've been reading about "strongly worded letters" from DEMS to Repubs for years- seems all they are good for is passing around on the internet as red meat for the blogosphere.

If FOX complies with the letter, or if this is the opening salvo for a REAL fight against exposing and injuring FOX news, then I will certainly stand corrected. History tells me that this is just another letter for internet consumption-maybe a mention or two on MSNBC at best.

[JTFrog]

2. Your strongly worded internet post of concern

is duly noted.

:shrug:

[Dr Fate]

3. Feel free to save this thread. Once I am proven wrong...

...you have my permission to start a thread about it, calling me out by name. Be sure to link it to this post so that the mods know that it's okay with me.


Do you have an opinion on whether I'm right or wrong about this, or do you just go around "noting" things?

Maybe you could "note" some examples as to how letters like this have gotten us results in the past? I'd love to see such examples. You certainly have many "letters" and "releases" from the past 10 years to choose from.

You are right about one suggestion- my internet posts at DU will be about as effective in making elected DEMS listen to me as their "letter" will be in exposing and taking down FOX.


BTW, happy to rec this thread, for what ever that is worth.

[ProSense]

7. It was sent to Fox, if they refuse

maybe you can demand they go punch someone at Fox in the face.

[Dr Fate]

10. And they will laugh at it. What would be your plan once FOX refuses to comply?

Mine is not to demand they go punch someone at Fox in the face. That is your over-used strawman, not mine.

So what would be your back up plan- maybe send another letter? Ignore the issue? What is your plan?

You first- what do you think elected DEMS should do, not if, but WHEN FOX ignores and otherwise confuses to comply with this letter?

[ProSense]

11. You're the one ranting on and on

If you have a better plan, send it to them. By all means, don't keep it a secret. That would be a more appropriate and effective thing to do than demand that I engage in a contest to match wits with you, the one with a plan.

[Dr Fate]

14. What is your plan, besides more letters?

I have a few ideas that are better than letters that end up as bird cage liner over at FOX- one would be to to limit or outright END FOX's access to the WH and all elected DEMS.

It can be done in a 100% constitutional way, despite what the legions of DU's excuse makers say.

Hey, if this letter somehow works, then it will never come to that- but what would be your back up plan for when the letter fails?

[ProSense]

15. "I have a few ideas that are better than letters " Here is my

suggestion.

[Dr Fate]

16. So you have no plan. Not suprised. You put your faith in "letters" that few will ever even read.

Letters from me to Obama and letters from DEMS to FOX.

Somehow I dont think your "send more letters plan" is going to work.

[ProSense]

18. I admit it, I have no plan in terms of what to do about the contribution, never said I did.

"Somehow I dont think your 'send more letters plan' is going to work."

When did I suggest that the DGA "send more letters"?

Now, are you going to send your brilliant ideas to those who can make good use of them or are you planning to keep your ideas to yourself? A gotcha comment directed at me is irrelevant.

[Dr Fate]

20. Already did. Thanks.

Already posted it all over DU too. I had also posted all this in detail back when FOX aired the fake video.

Suprise-instead of helping me brainstorm on WAYS to fight FOX, almost everyone, down to the last DUer made EXCUSES (many based on false info) for why Obama cant/wont/should not/ do it.


Okay- a LETTER for us to pass around on blogs is a START, I suppose. I'm just saying that if this is ALL we are going to do, then it aint shit. From past experience, seems like this might be all we will do.

Ready and willing to be proven wrong.

And yes- you did suggest that I send my plan to DEMS- thus part of my "send more letters" reference.

[ProSense]

21. Wait

"Already posted it all over DU too. I had also posted all this in detail back when FOX aired the fake video."

I hope you actually contacted the DGA (by e-mail, letter or phone) about your plan and are not relying on them to find your ideas by reading stuff you posted all over DU.

Somehow, I think that's what you're expecting.

"And yes- you did suggest that I send my plan to DEMS- thus part of my 'send more letters' reference."

Seriously, in your own words: "TEXT on the internet! That will show them."

[Dr Fate]

22. Wait. Already did it. How many times do I have to reapeat myself?

I correspond with my contacts who still work at the DNC all the time. Do a search of my old posts from 2004 and you will find many where I brag about working for them. I know and talk to plenty of professional, partisan DEMS from CA, SC and GA as well.

If you think all I do in post on DU, then you would be wrong.

Also sent letter to my reps with my suggestions that they ban FOX and encourage others to do so. Also emailed GIbbs and the WH proper.

I do this if for no other reason, so they and people like you cant hit me with yet another excuse or try to blame me instead of elected DEMS.

LOL! I've played this DU game before- the old "You cant talk until you have marched 20 miles with a sign and written 20 letters" crap- done it.

You can try to blame me all you want, but sorry- it's not my fault if DEMS fail to make FOX comply or otherwise resovle this issue.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. They're starting at the beginning.

Didn't the Republicans begin the last take over starting with the Governorships?

[ProSense]

5. There are 26 Democratic, 23 Republican and 1 Independent Governors.

Republicans are trying to do everything they can, including enlisting the GOP media, to change that.

[Dr Fate]

6. The GOP is not "trying" it, they are doing it.

The GOP is not "trying" to enlist the GOP media, they have DONE it. The GOP not only has the mouthpiece, now they are even getting cold cash too.

The DEM response? So far, a cutesy letter for us to pass around. I hope that is not the end of it.

[ProSense]

8. What are you doing?

The DGA's response thus far has been a lot better than ranting on a disscussion board.

[Dr Fate]

12. A few political types will read this letter on the internet. Maybe someone on MSNBC will mention it.

If it goes farther than this and DEMS actually do soemthing that will force FOX to comply or otherwise stop them in their tracks, then you can call me out, by name. You have my permission.

Sure- more Liberal bloggers who already hate FOX and GOP political types who love them no matter what will read this letter than they will read my posts- I concede that much. What is your point?

What am I doing? I'm questioning the effectivness of strongly worded "letters" and "releases" that seem to go nowhere. Maybe you can give me some examples from the past where "letters" like this have worked?

If you dont have such examples, then I might ask you the same question- What are you doing?

[JTFrog]

17. Hanging out in the shade.

Like a good professional leftist.

:shrug:

[Dr Fate]

19. Do you have any examples of how "letters" have ever stopped the GOP or FOX before?

Can you otherwise assure me that elected DEMS can and will make FOX comply, or better yet, force FOX to ask the GOP to return the donation, or force the GOP to return it?

Something besides TEXT that will actually resolve the wrong doing?

Perhaps your Gibbs inspired, unoriginal name calling is the best that the excuse making wing of the DEMS has on this.

If you have no examples of how letters like this actually make the GOP move on things, then maybe you as a Non-professional/amatuer(?) non-left centrist(?) better get out of the shade and make sure you know what you are talking about.

[JTFrog]

25. Trust me, I wouldn't step foot in the shade. n/t

[Dr Fate]

27. So you have no arguments and ZERO examples- just insults/excuses. Why am I not suprised?

It's all one can expect from the amateur center these days.

If you cant provide even ONE SINGLE SOLITARY example of how letters like this have worked, then its just like conceding that they do not.

[JTFrog]

28. I'm a professional noter.

I just go around noting things.

:shrug:

[Dr Fate]

29. You can either tell us how this letter is going to do the job, or you cant.

I'll "note" that so far, you cant. Guess I'm a pro at noting things as well. ;)

But seriously- do you have an opinion on whether this letter will force FOX to comply or not?

If you think it will work, then explain how.

[Hekate]

23. Branching out with suggestions, that kind of thing.

:shrug:

[Dr Fate]

24. God forbid if the "professional left" asks whether "letters" do jack shit or not.

I've searched my memory and I cant think of ONE example where it worked.

I've asked for examples on this thread too, so far, nothing.

I'd say that asking questions and expressing doubt where warranted is what separates us pros from the hacks.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. Well, we're exposing the media's prejudice, aren't we?

Or is this something else that isn't making it into the mainstream media?

[Dr Fate]

13. To each other, at least. I thought the DEM blogosphere already knew about it.

If this gets beyond internet text or beyond a few mentions on MSNBC (mostly viewed by Liberals who already hate FOX), I'll be suprised.

I DO Agree with you that this should be the opening salvo with more to come. The past shows me that this letter is about all we will get, but I'm ready to stand corrected on that.

As it is, I think this letter will do jack shit- if you are correct, it might expose the issue to a few more viewers, which IS a good thing, but that is hardly enough.

[JTFrog]

26. K&R n/t

[Dr Fate]

30. Kick! Recommended yesterday...Any updates yet?

Has FOX complied yet?

Any updates on how "the letter" is working out?