It's time to take on Fox

John Edwards, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton all rejected a proposed Fox debate--they know Fox is a Republican mouthpiece. The Fox debate was presumed dead until this weekend--when Joe Biden unexplicably announced he would attend. Can you tell Joe Biden to stop legitimizing Fox? Click Here

Dear MoveOn member,

As you know, Fox cable station is a Republican mouthpiece masquerading as a "fair and balanced" news source. That's why MoveOn members helped get Nevada Democrats to drop a Fox-sponsored presidential debate[1], and African American activists recently persuaded John Edwards, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton to reject a Fox/Congressional Black Caucus presidential debate.[2]

For all intents and purposes, that debate was dead and candidates had agreed to a CNN/CBC debate instead. But this weekend, for some unexplicable reason, Joe Biden announced he would attend the Fox debate. He played right into Fox's hands, calling them an unparalleled forum to speak to voters[3]--when their viewership is actually quite small.[4]

Can you call Joe Biden? Tell him to stop legitimizing Fox as a credible news organization. He should publicly announce he will not attend the Fox/CBC debate.

Joe Biden for President: 302-574-2008

Help us track our progress, report your call here:
http://civ.moveon.org/call?cp_id=525&tg=403

This is not about Democrats being afraid to go on Fox, or about whether Fox is free to air their right-wing views. It's about whether Democrats will help Fox lie about who they are--putting them on a national stage as a "fair and balanced" debate moderator. Democrats would never let Rush Limbaugh moderate a debate as if he were neutral or credible, so why should they let Fox?

Joe Biden needs to understand that if Democrats pretend Fox is a credible news station now, that makes it easier for Fox to swift-boat Democratic candidates and progressive ideas later. Fox's ability to propel false stories into the mass media is its real source of power--not its viewership.

• After Democratic victory in 2006: "Be on the lookout for any statements from the Iraqi insurgents...thrilled at the prospect of a Dem controlled Congress." Fox reporter Martha MacCallum then went on air and claimed terrorists were dancing in the street, with no proof.
  
• On George W. Bush, during 2004 campaign: "His political courage and tactical cunning are worth noting in our reporting through the day."
  
• On US troops dying in Iraq: "Do not fall into the easy trap of mourning the loss of US lives and asking out loud why are we there? The US is in Iraq to help a country brutalized for 30 years protect the gains made by Operation Iraqi Freedom and set it on the path to democracy." Fox anchor Brit Hume then commented on-air about 2000 American deaths in Iraq: "By historic standards, these casualties are negligible."[5]
  

Can you call Joe Biden? Tell him to stop legitimizing Fox. He should publicly announce he will not attend the Fox/CBC debate.

Joe Biden for President: 302-574-2008

Help us track our progress, report your call here:
http://civ.moveon.org/call?cp_id=525&tg=403

Thanks for all you do.
--Adam Green, MoveOn.org Civic Action
May 30, 2007

P.S. Can you support this people-powered campaign today? Fox is spending millions trying to produce a Democratic debate, but regular people are pushing back and winning. Your donations of $10, $20, or more make this people-powered campaign possible. You can donate here:
https://civic.moveon.org/donatec4/creditcard.html

Sources:

1. "Democratic Party Dumps FOX," MoveOn.org Civic Action, March 9, 2007
http://civic.moveon.org/foxnevada/victory.html

2. "Edwards Drops From Second Fox Debate, Says Network Is Biased," AP, April 7, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2632

"Clinton, Obama Shun C.B.C.-Fox Debate," New York Times, April 9, 2007
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/clinton-obama-shun-cbc-fox-debate/

3. "For Democrats, Debate on Fox Reveals Divide" New York Times, May 27, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2633

4. "Slumping Fox News Celebrating 1st Decade," AP, October 1, 2006
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Oct01/0,4670,TVFoxAnniversary,00.html  

6. YouTube -- Fox Attacks: Obama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouKJixL--ms

YouTube -- Fox Attacks: Black America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY04gIruZ4E