Obama Takes Shot at Fox News
KURTZ: You might see "Rolling Stone" as an unusual venue for Barack Obama's midterm message, not because it doesn't have a big readership, but because the magazine recently prompted the firing of Stanley McChrystal by reporting the general's disparaging comments. But Rolling Stone's founder, Jann Wenner, who conducted the White House interview, was a big Obama backer in 2008. And this sit-down gave the president a chance to defend his record, even if he did have to field questions about what kind of rap music is on his iPod. When it came to Wenner's question about Fox News, Obama didn't hold back, saying the network pushes a point of view -- "It's a point of view that I think is ultimately destructive for the long-term growth of a country that has a vibrant middle class and is competitive in the world. But as an economic enterprise, it's been wildly successful." That, of course, was an engraved invitation for Fox News hosts to punch back.</s>SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS: Once again we are seeing that if you dare to disagree with the president's left-wing agenda, you do so at your own risk. Mr. President, this network did not put into place policies that are going to result in higher taxes, higher health care premiums, and fewer jobs. Nor did this network go around the world apologizing for America.</s>KURTZ: But another cable network got a big wet kiss. Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton talking about</s>MSNBC: "If you're on the left, if you're somebody like Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow, or one of the folks who helps keeps our government honest and pushes and prods to make sure that folks are true to progressive values, then he (the president) thinks that those folks provide an invaluable service." Rachel Maddow expressed her thanks.</s>RACHEL MADDOW, MSNBC: That was very nice. A nice personal -- very flattering, but it's also nice in the sense that in an election year, it is nice for liberals to hear someone from the Democratic- controlled White House talk about liberals without swearing at them.</s>KURTZ: So is this an attempt by the White House to make up with the so-called "professional left," and will attacks on Fox backfire? Joining us now, Dana Milbank, columnist for "The Washington Post"; Julie Mason, White House correspondent for "The Washington Examiner"; and Matt Lewis, columnist for PoliticsDaily.com at AOL. Matt Lewis, does Obama's trash-talking about Fox News help or hurt Fox?</s>MATT LEWIS, COLUMNIST, POLITICSDAILY.COM: Well, I think it helps Fox, clearly. You know, in fact, there was a recent survey that came out that I think showed that Fox is most trusted in certain terms of people getting their news, 42 percent, I think, compared to, I think, 22 percent for CNN and 12 percent for MSNBC.</s>KURTZ: -- primary election news.</s>LEWIS: Right. And presumably, it's because maybe they trust it, or maybe they find it entertaining. But yes, clearly this is going to be good for Fox. I think it's good for Obama, too, if your goal is to rev up the liberal base, and that's clearly the strategy they've employed.</s>KURTZ: Dana Milbank, every time Obama talks about Hannity or Fox, it seems like he kind of elevates them.</s>DANA MILBANK, COLUMNIST, "THE WASHINGTON POST": I think that Fox News should be sending him flowers each time he does that and encouraging him to do it over and over again. The Obama administration has been terrific for Fox News, less great for others. But you always want to be in the opposition, particularly when it's an ideological network or outlet. So he's been a magnificent gift for them, and he makes it very difficult for</s>MSNBC. KURTZ: And Julie Mason, why would the spokesman, Bill Burton, single out Olbermann and Maddow for praise? What's the thought there? Yes. It was very strange.</s>JULIE MASON, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, "THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER": I think Burton does MSNBC no favors by basically declaring it the network of the White House --</s>KURTZ: Because?</s>MASON: -- of the Obama administration, because, you know, Rachel Maddow holds herself down as a journalist. And there are journalists at MSNBC just like Fox News. It's not all pundits, it's not all O'Reilly. There's actual journalists there trying to do their job. And to give a stamp of approval -- for the White House to give a stamp of approval undermines the credibility of the journalism that's going on there just like it does when he criticizes Fox.</s>KURTZ: I mean, Maddow is a liberal commentator, to be sure.</s>MASON: She's a liberal commentator, but --</s>KURTZ: Actually recent got an interview with Vice President Biden.</s>MASON: Sure, she definitely has a viewpoint, but she does consider herself a journalist.</s>KURTZ: All right. Now, Fox's parent company, News Corp, just -- I mentioned this at the top of the program -- gave $1 million to the Chamber of Commerce, not necessarily for political activities, but the Chamber is spending a lot of money trying to elect Republicans this fall. And this follows the $1 million News Corp donation to the Republican Governors Association. Now, I know other major media companies make these donations, ,but not in this magnitude, and not only to one side. So, does this make it look, Matt Lewis, like News Corp is in bed with the conservative Republican side?</s>LEWIS: Well, I mean, look, you're right. I mean, we can talk about General Electric and NBC and other networks, but also, let's keep in mind --</s>KURTZ: But one million bucks.</s>LEWIS: Right, but Rupert Murdoch also in favor of more immigration, testifying the other day. A lot of conservatives see that as wanting illegal immigration. So, it's not always in terms of being on the talking points, but I think it is an interesting topic to bring up. Clearly, it's like a newspaper. There has to be separation between the, you know, editorial page and the news page. And I think in terms of ownership, if Rupert Murdoch is going in there and saying you guys need to talk about this, that's a serious issue. Otherwise, I think we could say that about other networks.</s>KURTZ: All right. I want to play some sound here involving Fox News. Two of the most prominent commentators, of course, Karl Rove, late of the Bush White House, and Dick Morris. Here's some of their analysis of these midterm races.</s>KARL ROVE, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Now is the time to lay it on strong. The Republicans have come this far because of very strong convictions.</s>DICK MORRIS, FOX NEWS COMMENTATOR: I think we can win. The Republicans will win a huge number of them, as well as state legislative chambers.</s>ROVE: I'm helping raise $50 million, $3 million of which we've already spent on behalf of Sharron Angle in Nevada.</s>KURTZ: So, "The New York Times" reports that Rove, as he just said, raising a lot of money for Republican candidates this fall. And Morris told Politico that he's, for the first time now, endorsing candidates, he's out there campaigning. He said, "I'm outraged by the Obama agenda." Should they be on as analysts when they are so actively helping one side?</s>MILBANK: Well, and three of the leading Republican presidential contenders are actually on the Fox News payroll, so --</s>KURTZ: For those that don't watch much Fox, we're talking about Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, and, of course, Newt Gingrich.</s>MILBANK: And others who are on there regularly as well.</s>KURTZ: But we know they're ex-politicians.</s>MILBANK: Here is the distinction. There's nothing wrong with being an ideological network. A conservative network is one thing, a Republican network is something very different. So Fox doesn't want to look like they're shilling for the Republican Party, just like MSNBC doesn't want to look like they're shilling for the Democrats. Nothing wrong with being liberal or conservative, but you lose credibility when it appears that you are an actual partisan.</s>KURTZ: To me, raising money is the dividing line. Now, CNN's contributors include James Carville an Paul Begala, who sign fund- raising letters for Democratic groups. And I don't think anybody who does that ought to be on as a commentator, but cable networks disagree.</s>MASON: No, you're absolutely right. And again, it undermines the credibility of the message, and it increases that sort of apathy and cynicism about what's going on in the news media and in politics. So it's a difficult marriage. It's unfortunate. It undermines us all, I think.</s>KURTZ: And MSNBC had three guys -- Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz and Harold Ford -- who all considered running for the Senate as Democrats, although they did not. So, does any of that -- do you think I'm splitting hairs here, or should -- you know, Karl Rove did criticize Christine O'Donnell for about five minutes.</s>MASON: But he did it with force.</s>LEWIS: Well, then, my question would be to Karl Rove, he's raising money. Was he invested in Mike Castle, the Republican, winning? Did that influence his analysis, where he was very critical of Christine O'Donnell, as was I, I should add. But I had no, you know, financial interest in that. I'm not accusing him of that, but once you start to allow money to enter into it, we start to ask these questions, that should be disclosed.</s>KURTZ: Before I go to break, Julie Mason, we saw on Friday Rahm Emanuel in an emotional ceremony leaving the White House. Aren't the journalists really going to miss Rahm?</s>MASON: Yes.</s>KURTZ: He spent a lot of time talking to reporters, yelling at reporters, on the record, off the record.</s>MASON: Yes. You know, but the Obama administration, let's just say it can be a little boring sometimes. And Rahm really brought the entertainment value right up there. He was fun to cover.</s>MILBANK: He was one of the great press secretaries we've ever had.</s>KURTZ: And what about Pete Rouse? He's such a strong silent type that he didn't even speak at the ceremony in which he was introduced as the interim chief of staff. All right. Let me get in some commercials here. Up next, should journalists jump on every flimsy allegation that pops up whether it's against Meg Whitman or other candidates?