Howard Dean tells Fox News they're 'shockingly biased'

[Amerigo Vespucci]

"There are some things in the news department that have really been shockingly biased and I think that's wrong and I just say so right up front," DNC Chairman Howard Dean told Fox News Sunday. "It is important also for us -- we shouldn't punish the viewers of Fox by staying away. Now those viewers have had an opportunity to look at the debates on other channels, now they're going to have an opportunity viewing on this channel and I think that's fair."

Watch the video here: http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/05/04/foxnews-sunday-dean-calls-fnc-shockingly-biased/

Transcript of the exchange follows.

WALLACE: The left wing of your party is in a snit over all these Democrats appearing on Fox. In fact, the head of MoveOn.org had this to say about Democrats on Fox. "It legitimizes a right wing network that is going to use that credibility to smear them in the general election." He and the head of the Daily Kos are using words about you guys showing up here as weak, idiotic, stupid. How do you respond to the left wing?

DEAN: What I'd say is this: we stayed off Fox for a long time because your news department is, in fact, biased. But, Chris, you haven't been. You've always been tough, but I always thought fair and I still think that's true. And we need to communicate with people who are going to vote in the Democratic Party. Hundreds of thousands of Republicans have turned their back on their own party to vote in the Democratic primaries in the last six months. We owe it to our -- to all the American people to reach out to those folks. This is not about Fox News. That's not why I'm here today. I'm out because I want to talk to your viewers directly about why this election is important and what we can offer the American people.

WALLACE: Let me ask you, and obviously it's always about the millions of people who watch these shows. Looking back, do you think it was a mistake for the Democratic Party to boycott Fox debates and all the other programs during the last year and thereby boycott getting your message out to the millions of people who watch?

DEAN: No, I think it was the right thing to do, because there are some things in the news department that have really been shockingly biased and I think that's wrong and I just say so right up front. It is important also for us -- we shouldn't punish the viewers of Fox by staying away. Now those viewers have had an opportunity to look at the debates on other channels, now they're going to have an opportunity viewing on this channel and I think that's fair.

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Howard_Dean_tells_Fox_theyre_shockingly_0504.html

[Warpy]

1. Dean once again demonstrates the perfect balance

between flattering the host to whom he owed his appearance while being scathingly critical of the organization's editorial bias.

Years of dealing with sick and cranky people were great training for dealing with sick and cranky Fox viewers and editorial staff.

I'm sure there are valid criticisms of Dr. Dean. Being tone deaf is not one of them.

[depakid]

2. Praising the smarmy Wallace is a big mistake

and the Dems will live to regret enabling and legitimizing Fox.

What next? A slot on Limbaugh?

[The Gunslinger]

11. I agree. Dean should have stopped at "Fox News is Biased"

Would he call Billo fair and balanced if he was on his show?? At least he didn't apologize or try to clarify his comments.

[DJ13]

3. I wish he would say that to MSNBC and CNN too

They are also biased, towards one Dem candidate over the other, and thats no better than Fox's bias.

[notfullofit]

8. MSNBC pre-empted "Conviction" for Obama vs Wright

yesterday with Dan Abrams.
Nobody else came close to their coverage.
Tweety was all over it on Friday too.
When is enough enough?

Sorry but I'm beginning to think they are worse than CNN and Fox.

[Radical Activist]

4. Chris Wallace is very biased.

His interview questions with Obama repeated all the hate radio memes.

[Cleita]

5. The truth is that Fox and the other news networks, but particularly

Fox, are our version of Pravda, the propaganda news of the Soviet Union. That is the truth and someone needs to say it. I'm glad that Dean got half way there, but now someone needs to go the whole way and call it for what it is on national TeeVee in prime time, a propaganda tool for the international right wing oligarchy.

[spin]

6. All the major news services are biased...

You gain voters by going on the channels that disagree with your viewpoint. You present your views and counter theirs. You may not change many viewers' minds but you will change some.

You prove that you have the guts to walk into the lion's den and walk out proudly in one piece.

If nothing else, you gain some respect.

If you fail to fight the "good fight" then you deserve to fail.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

7. Wallace is a pro at trying to put forth wrong wing rhetoric.

Dean started to talk about McCain, and not too harshly and Wallace accused Dean of bashing McCain! Geeze!!!!

[Berry Cool]

9. In other news,

Howard Dean said he was "shocked, shocked" to find that gambling is going on at Rick's place.

[Median Democrat]

10. Howard Dean Is Wrong!

There is nothing "shocking" about it. ; )

Everyone with a half a brain knows that Fox news is biased, but give Howard props for saying it right up front.

Rupert Murdoch is the U.S. version of Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's Prime Minister, richest man, and media mogul. News Corp is nothing more than Rupert's personal blog.