"Everyone is scared of Fox": Why Mickey Kaus quit the Daily Caller

[babylonsister]

I know, shocking!

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/17/8237929/mickey-kaus-fox

"Everyone is scared of Fox": Why Mickey Kaus quit the Daily Caller

Updated by Andrew Prokop on March 17, 2015, 6:50 p.m. ET


A well-known blogger has quit his job at the conservative website the Daily Caller — because his employer wouldn't let him criticize Fox News.

Mickey Kaus announced his departure earlier today, and Politico's Dylan Byers was the first to get the scoop on his resignation. "I wrote a piece attacking Fox for not being the opposition on immigration and amnesty," Kaus, an opponent of granting legal status to unauthorized immigrants, told Byers. But, he said, Daily Caller editor-in-chief Tucker Carlson took down the piece, saying, "We can't trash Fox on the site. I work there," and adding that this was a rule.

""I think that's a problem on the right, Fox's monopoly on star-making power""

Kaus argued that this was a symptom of a larger dynamic in the conservative movement, telling Byers, "Everybody is scared of Fox. ... Fox is their route to a high-profile public image and in some cases stardom. Just to be on a Fox show is a big deal. And I think that's a problem on the right, Fox's monopoly on star-making power."

Kaus came up in the world of liberal policy journalism, with stints at outlets like the Washington Monthly and the New Republic, before becoming one of the first well-known political bloggers. He worked at Slate for much of the 2000s, and gradually grew more conservative, harshly criticizing the Democratic Party on topics such as the influence of unions. (He challenged Sen. Barbara Boxer [D-CA] in a primary in 2010, but ended up with just about 5 percent of the vote.)

In his past few years at the Daily Caller, Kaus has increasingly focused on his opposition to a path to legalization for unauthorized immigrants, criticizing "amnesty" supporters on the left and right. Check out Byers' piece for more on how Kaus' exit went down.

[MADem]

1. Fucker Carlson used to work for CNN--back when he had a shred of dignity, notwithstanding the stupid

bow ties! Now, he's got a website and a paycheck for selling his soul!

Funny, though, that they're turning on one another--like too many rats in a box.

[pscot]

5. Yes but it took Fox to make hin a star

[MADem]

7. Actually, I think he was taken more seriously when he was on that Bite-n-Scratch show on CNN...

He certainly had a more diverse audience, at any rate...

[SomethingFishy]

2. Wow.. so Fox news isn't far right enough on immigration for this clown?

It's almost hard to wrap your brain around. A far right wacko quits his job at a far right wacko website because a far right wacko TV station is holding a monopoly on far right wackos. Who apparently aren't far right wacko enough.

Wow.

[Fumesucker]

3. Wonkette had a few things to say about Mickey Kaus back in the day..

http://wonkette.com/311092/i-guess-we-should-talk-about-mickey-kaus-blowing-goats-now

I still can't read his name without thinking about goats.

[Cha]

4. Yes, "shocking".. They can't "trash fox".. but they sure can trash the White House.. not scared of

them.. this isn't Russia.

babylonsistah

[Ken Burch]

6. This should be a lesson to anyone who still thinks Mickey Kaus is some sort of a liberal. n/t.

[mercuryblues]

8. he quit

because he wasn't able to criticize faux newz for not being right wing enough. Poor fella.

[trumad]

9. LOL

Mickey Kaus... what a doofus.