News Hounds

Fox Priest, Fr. Jonathan Morris Thinks Obama Is A Godless Heathen

Reported by Priscilla - Mon 11:34 AM

Roger Ailes and the Christian right are very concerned about so called attempts to drive religion out of our "Christian Nation" by the forces of secular darkness. Chief among these forces, according to those who actually believe that there is a "war on Christians," is our Commander-in-Chief whose Christianity, along with his birth certificate, is suspect and very, very troubling. To provide an "imprimatur" for this meme, Roger Ailes has enlisted a "man of the cloth," Catholic priest Father Jonathan Morris who plays to a gullible Catholic audience who believe that "father knows best." Morris has gone from servicing the disgraced founder of the "Legion of Christ" to supplicating before the altar of Ailes for whom Morris' continued presence, including a weekly Fox & Friends appearance on "The Lord's Day," is a win-win. Not only does Morris validate right wing talking points; but he's doing a little informal political campaigning in order to dissuade Catholics voters from voting for Obama who is not exactly beloved by the very powerful American bishops. In advancing the Fox "controversy" about Obama not having selected a church, Morris has already impugned the president. Yesterday, he was back on his Sunday gig doing the same thing and in so doing providing validation for all those "Christians" who have their nice, clean panties in a bunch because the president did not mention "God" during his Thanksgiving address. Jesus is weeping. I guess in addition to being "Commander-in-Chief," Obama is supposed to be pastor-in-chief?

Shocking Racist Comments On FoxNews.Com Article About "Wyclef Jean's" Haiti Fund

Reported by Ellen - Sun 11:04 PM

FoxNews.com posted an article earlier today called, Questions Raised Over Allotment of Wyclef Jean's Haiti Fund. It's not clear to me what the point of the article is - other than to smear Jean - since it dredged up accusations against his management of the charity yet apparently didn't even try to get a response from him (the Miami Herald did). The accusations did seem serious and credible. But not until the second to last paragraph of the article - which you can only read by clicking through to the original article, posted on NYPost.com - are we told that Jean and most of the board during the period in question left the charity in 2010. But even with that provocation, the n-word-laden racial animosity in the comments are shocking. (H/T Ian S.)

The Fox News “Happy Holidays” Hypocrisy Thread – Constantly Updated With Your Help

Reported by Guest Blogger - Sun 1:03 PM

Every year at this time Fox News dusts off and cranks up its Phony War On Christmas machine. Between now and the holidays Christmas, Fox Faux Fury™ will increase exponentially in preparation for Baby Jesus’ Big Birthday Bash™. For the next month the so-called “news” network will go on its Christian Crusade against businesses that have the unmitigated audacity to be inclusive by saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” Make no mistake: The Fox “News” Phony War On Christmas is nothing more than a Real War On Other Cultures: all of those which don’t worship the Christ; despite the fact that He never said “Merry Christmas” in his lifetime. However, in the last number of years News Hounds has noticed that Fox “News” is selective in how it enforces this jihad. The network seems blind to how many of its own advertisers, segments on its own station, and/or articles on its own web sites, that eschew “Merry Christmas” for the far more benevolent “Happy Holiday.” News Hounds is here to stop that and ensure that everyone who uses “Happy Holidays” is noticed by Fox “News.” That’s where you come in, gentle readers: Since we can’t be everywhere—at all times—if you see someone getting away with “Happy Holidays,” it is your RELIGIOUS duty to report them to News Hounds so we can report them to Fox. Tell us the date, time, and a short description and we’ll attempt to verify. The best submission will win a midnite Mass date with Bill O'Reilly and some figgy pudding.

Cashin’ In Advances Misinformation About Fuel Efficiency Standards

Reported by Guest Blogger - Sat 4:57 PM

By Brian

On last Saturday’s Cashin’ In (11/20/11), one topic was the Obama Administration’s energy plans. Host Cheryl Casone "asked" News Hounds Top Dog Christian Dorsey, "Are we going in the wrong direction with regards to regulation, with regards to policy?"

Fox Disingenuously Turns To Obama-Basher Doug Schoen For “Democratic” View Of 2012 Campaign

Reported by Ellen - Sat 10:44 AM

In a discussion about the 2012 presidential campaign last night, On The Record turned to Democratic turncoat Doug Schoen, ostensibly to balance Republican Brad Blakeman. Of course, Blakeman was a strong advocate for his side. Schoen, on the other hand, used the occasion not just to knock President Obama but to rehash a recent editorial in the Wall Street Journal (like Fox, a subsidiary of News Corp.) arguing that Obama should not run at all for re-election. Schoen’s piece, co-authored with fellow Fox News "Democat" Pat Caddell, was nearly a week old so there was no way Fox producers didn’t know his sentiments – especially since he wrote a similar editorial in late 2010. In fact, guest host Shannon Bream made a point of bringing up Schoen’s editorial. If Fox really wanted balance in this segment, they would have found a real Democratic advocate.

Tamara Holder Smacks Down Hannity On Fast And Furious Witch Hunt

Reported by Ellen - Fri 11:30 PM

Sean Hannity usually chooses sycophants for the discussions that appear on his show as debates (though not always). But he clearly got more than he bargained for on the November 19, 2011 show when he hosted attorney and Fox News contributor Tamara Holder to discuss the Eric Holder witch hunt Fast and Furious controversy and Republicans' demand for the Attorney General's resignation..

Neil Cavuto Tries To Make Sure Ron Paul Won’t Run As A Third-Party Candidate

Reported by Guest Blogger - Fri 4:01 PM

By Brian

Ron Paul appeared on Your World Wednesday (11/23/11), ostensibly to discuss his 2012 presidential campaign and the debate the night before. But it soon became clear that host Neil Cavuto’s main concern was making sure Paul would not run as a third-party candidate.

Fox's Todd Starnes Agrees With Hate Group: Christianity Under Attack!

Reported by Priscilla - Fri 11:10 AM

As Jon Stewart once said, "conservative victimization is the true genius of what Fox News has accomplished." And there ain't no conservative victim like a Christian conservative victim, many of whom find fellowship on Fox & Friends. But it's just not Fox TV that is standing up for Jesus. Fox culture clubber and Jesus BFF, Todd Starnes, who has a Fox radio show and blog, provides a conduit for the slings and arrows of outrageous secularism which are shot on what seems to be an hourly basis into the minds and hearts of good Christian soldiers. Many of his columns deal with affronts to those who love Jesus such as the "Christian Baker Facing Boycott for Refusing to Bake Lesbian Cake." (Note - a lesbian cake is not a generic thing like a chocolate or wedding cake. In this case a Christian baker, after realizing that her customers were a lesbian couple, refused to do their wedding cake). Todd occasionally makes a pilgrimage over to Fox & Friends. His latest little stand up for Jesus routine, on yesterday's Fox & Friends, was about how the US Army has removed a great, big, Christian cross from the door of a military chapel in Afghanistan. Todd thinks that this is part of a nefarious and insidious effort to persecute Christians. Ain't no party like a persecuted Christian party and Fox is bringing it!

Megyn Kelly's Pepper Spray Thanksgiving

Reported by Ellen - Thu 3:33 PM

Even if you think you've heard enough about Megyn Kelly calling pepper spray "a food product, essentially," you've got to watch this hilarious video of Kelly's Pepper Spray Thanksgiving from Funny or Die.

Fox Nation’s Holiday Thoughts: Let’s Give Thanks For The One Percent

Reported by Ellen - Thu 2:10 PM

Even on Thanksgiving, Fox’s thoughts are not on solving our country’s problems and bringing us together as Americans but promoting its ideological agenda with divisiveness. Let’s be real. There’s no reason for blaring a headline saying, Let's Give Thanks For The One Percent, other than as an FU to the 99 Percent/Occupy movements.

Petition To Megyn Kelly To Eat Pepper Spray Now Has More Than 25,000 Signatures

Reported by Ellen - Thu 1:15 AM

As I posted yesterday, Fox News host Megyn Kelly has received some serious criticism for calling pepper spray, "a food product, essentially," during a discussion on The O'Reilly Factor about students getting pepper sprayed at UC Davis. Now a humorous petition has been started calling on her to eat or drink a dose on the air. (H/T AlterNet)

News Corporation Accused Of Trying To Bribe An Australian Senator

Reported by Ellen - Thu 12:59 AM

In yet another sign that News Corporation’s unethical and illegal behavior is not limited to newspapers in Great Britain, an Australian senator has come forward with a nine-page statement accusing an executive at the media conglomerate’s Australian arm of offering him favorable coverage if he voted against a particular piece of legislation the News Corp. division wanted defeated. After the senator voted the other way, he said he was suddenly unable to get anything published in the paper. Australian police are now investigating.

Steve Doocy Urges Harassment Of Suffolk University Dean?

Reported by Priscilla - Wed 3:41 PM

Not only is Fox "News" your place for "fair & balanced" news; but it also is the place for some right wing community organizing. Recently, a Suffolk University professor made some very negative comments about the US military. In response to a school solicitation for care packages for soldiers, Suffolk Law professor Michael Avery wrote an e-mail to fellow profs in which he said that "I think it is shameful that it is perceived as legitimate to solicit in an academic institution for support for men and women who have gone overseas to kill other human beings." He then went on to complain about the large American flag in the school's atrium. (Dude, what were you thinking!). As expected, the right wing world is outraged. So it wasn't surprising to see their mouthpiece, Fox News, advance the outrage on their morning home for right wing outrage, Fox & Friends. This morning, Steve Doocy (who never wore the uniform) was fighting mad about this affront to the soldiers. He interviewed an active duty army reservist U.S. Army Reserves Major Robert J. Roughsedge, who just quit his position as an adjunct professor at Suffolk, because he doesn't approve of how the school supports Avery's free speech. And if the Fox audience is as upset as they should be, Steve Doocy, in doing a little activism, has provided them with an outlet for their anger.

About Megyn Kelly And Her Pepper Spray Is “A Food Product, Essentially” Comment

Reported by Ellen - Wed 1:45 PM

I’m going to be a bit of a contrarian here and stand up for Megyn Kelly a bit. Yes, I thought her now widely-ridiculed comment that pepper spray is “a food product, essentially” comment was dumb and disingenuous. But in the context of her overall remarks about police pepper spraying protesters at UC Davis, it wasn’t quite what it seemed. Kelly was not saying pepper spray was harmless. Nor was she excusing the police for using it on those grounds.

Bill O'Reilly Supports UC Davis Cops Who Pepper Sprayed Peaceful Protesters?

Reported by Priscilla - Wed 12:41 PM

The video of non-violent UC Davis students has gone worldwide. The college Chancellor, Linda Katehi, has stated that the campus police defied her orders when they used the strong, military grade pepper spray against peaceful students who did not appear to be, as claimed by the police, "encircling" them. There is outrage about what appears to be excessive force against those who, like Martin Luther King Jr, were engaged in non-violent protest. But Bill O'Reilly, who would probably have been apoplectic if this had happened to non-violent anti-abortion protestors, was rather sanguine about this. He dismissively said that “we don’t have a right to Monday morning quarterback the police." In other words we shouldn't second guess the police. Really?

James Murdoch Resigned From British Newspaper Boards

Reported by Ellen - Wed 12:36 PM

As the News Corp. phone hacking scandal continues to smolder, news comes that James Murdoch (son of Rupert) has resigned from the boards of News Group Newspapers Limited and Times Newspapers Limited. Apparently, this happened in September but is being reported now. However, he remains chairman of News International, the umbrella corporation that owns the papers, and deputy chief operating officer of News Corp. overall.

Right-Wing Comedian Brad Stine Helps Make Facts And Knowledge A Joke On Fox & Friends

Reported by Ellen - Wed 1:50 AM

As Aunty Em noted, the curvy couch crew on Fox & Friends uses right-wing comic Brad Stine to outsource outrageous smears and then pretend it's all in good fun. In fact, the hosts are so amused by Stine’s brand of attack-the-left humor that he’s becoming a regular fixture on the show. On Monday, November 21, Stine returned for at least his third visit, this month, this time to riff on the decline of American pride. His conclusion? “Marxist” and “fascist university professors” are the cause. The three hosts almost fell off the couch kowtowing to him.

Steve Doocy Pimps Catholic Bishop's Claim That Birth Control Mandate Is "War on Catholics"

Reported by Priscilla - Tue 3:22 PM

Fox News does seem to be rather cozy with the Catholic Church whose bishops are very unhappy with the Obama administration. The Catholic bishops, one of this country's largest and well funded lobby groups, is circling its wagons and preparing to fight for Catholic "religious liberty" which is really a fight against the Obama administration health care reform mandate which includes "conscience clause" provisions and birth control mandates which require employers pay for reproductive health care including contraceptives with no co-pay. The bishops say that the birth control mandate violates Church teaching. Given that Fox News seems to be an arm of Vatican Media (their only contributing clergy person is a Catholic priest who does tow the GOP right wing line of thought) it wasn't surprising to see Fox Knight of Malta, Peter Johnson, Jr., recently defend the bishop's position on "religious liberty." And this morning, Fox provided more reinforcement for this meme and a shout out to Fox's Catholic anti-choice audience when good Fox Catholic Steve Doocy interviewed a Catholic bishop who also provided some sweet Obama bashing. The world's oldest celibate (!) men's club seems to care far more about women's bodies than the abysmal American economy which has income inequality worse than some third world countries. Nice to see that "Fair & Balanced" Fox "News" is helping their newest crusade which, in the 21st century, doesn't involve the Saracen hordes - but is rather, a war on the reproductive rights of American women. And in the process, Fox is sending the message that Obama is anti-Catholic in order to move some Catholic votes into the "R" column. So it's all good...

Bill O'Reilly Defends Christmas Because Jesus Guided The Founders ?!?

Reported by Priscilla - Tue 11:51 AM

Unlike Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly is educated. He has an undergraduate degree and two Masters. And that's why it's truly amazing that O'Reilly believes that a Jewish teacher is responsible for evolution and the tides. But Bill's undergrad degree is in history (as is mine), not science, and that why it's even more amazing that, in his recent "defense" (as if it's in jeopardy!) of Christmas, he said that “the teachings of Jesus, the man, heavily shaped the founding of this nation.” This is clearly not mainstream history; but the kind of bogus America as "Christian nation" history being promoted by Glenn Beck pal, David Barton, whose academic credentials are also not exactly mainstream. If Fox viewers are misinformed, this is an example of how this happens. But hey, Bill's fans take his word on faith alone, so it's all good.

Brian Kilmeade Brings Us Another Sexist Term For Women

Reported by Priscilla - Tue 10:12 AM

Yesterday, in a discussion about a poll which showed that a large percentage of men don't care if their significant other makes more money, Brian Kilmeade took a page from the Dennis Miller lexicon of old-school and otherwise sexist terms for women. In response to Steve Doocy's comment that the percentage is even higher, the brown haired guy that isn't Steve Doocy said this: "You think that 90% of men wouldn't mind if their babes, their skirt, their chosen one was making more money." Toward the end of this comment, Gretchen Carlson did, laughingly, say "excuse me, what, it's amazing that women make more money than men with those kinds of thoughts." (Hey Gretch, next time you want to whine about Bill Maher, you might want to remember this.) But "skirt," seriously? Hey Brian, the 40's called, they want their vocabulary back.