LF: Fox's Trumped Up Attack On Hoffa Just Latest Example Of Their Selective Outrage

Title: Fox's Trumped Up Attack On Hoffa Just Latest Example Of Their Selective Outrage
Source: Media Matters
URL Source: http://mediamatters.org/research/201109060009
Published: Sep 6, 2011
Author: Media Matters
Post Date: 2011-09-06 14:39:13 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 27226
Comments: 59

Fox has repeatedly attacked Teamsters president James Hoffa's statement that union members should "take these son of a bitches out" at a Labor Day rally, suggesting his comments constituted "a call for violence [toward] peaceful tea party members." But Hoffa was not endorsing violence -- he was urging his audience to remove elected officials by voting; furthermore, Fox has a history downplaying explicit threats or violent rhetoric when they are directed at Democrats and progressives.

Fox Attacks Hoffa's Comments As "A Call For Violence"

Fox & Friends Attack Hoffa's Comments, Hype Claim That They "Amount To A Call For Violence On Peaceful Tea Party Members." On the September 6 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, after airing video of James Hoffa's remarks at a rally in Detroit, MI, the three co-hosts discussed the comments and suggested Hoffa was calling for violence against tea party members:

GRETCHEN CARLSON (co-host): Wait a minute, "take them out." That has a certain connotation that is not good news for members of the tea party.

BRIAN KILMEADE (co-host): Right. If you're in the UFC or the WWE, it makes perfect sense.

STEVE DOOCY (co-host): Sure.

KILMEADE: Yes, it does. Knock them out.

DOOCY: Or take out for dinner, that would be great. But that's not what he's talking about.

KILMEADE: And a bit of a surprise. And this is something that clearly goes against what the president said to bring an era of decorum to the debate and not make it so personal. Remember? He said that about a year ago, after the tragic shooting of Gabby Giffords.

DOOCY: Well, maybe this guy didn't hear. Neither did Maxine Waters.

[...]

DOOCY: And regarding the tea party, the Tea Party Express, the head, Amy Kramer, said, "Hoffa's remarks are inexcusable and amount for a call for violence on peaceful tea party members which include many Teamster members." Remember, there are a lot of members of the teamsters union that are also tea party members. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 9/6/11]

Fox Guest Blakeman Calls Comments "Thuggery At Its Best," Suggests "Legs Are Going To Get Broken, Somebody's Going To Disappear." On the September 5 edition of Fox News' America Live, an edited version of Hoffa's remarks was aired. Host Megyn Kelly then asked guest and Republican consultant Brad Blakeman to comment on the cropped video. Blakeman called the comments "thuggery at its best," adding, "It's what unions are good at." Blakeman also said the comments were "the kind of remarks you'd expect out of Tony Soprano" and that "when a union president says 'let's take these son of a bitches out,' it usually means someone's legs are going to get broken, somebody's going to disappear." [Fox News, America Live, 9/5/11, via Media Matters]

But Hoffa Urged Audience To Vote Out Elected Officials -- Not Resort To Violence

Hoffa Told Audience: "Everybody Here's Got To Vote ... Let's Take These Son Of A Bitches Out." In his full comments, Hoffa was urging his audience to vote out Republican members of Congress -- not inciting violence. As the unedited version of Hoffa's comments which aired on Fox & Friends' showed, Hoffa said:

HOFFA (video): We got to keep an eye on the battle that we face, the war on workers. And you see it everywhere -- it is the tea party. And you know, there's only one way to beat and win that war. The one thing about working people is, we like a good fight. And you know what? They got a war, they got a war with us. And there's only going to be one winner.
[cut]
President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march.

[cut]
Everybody here's got to vote. If we go back and we keep the eye on the prize, let's take these son of a [bitches] out and give America back to America where we belong. Thank you very much! Thank you! Thank you. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 9/6/11; Media Matters, 9/5/11]

Fox Has Consistently Downplayed Violent Rhetoric And Threats Directed At Democrats, Progressives

Hannity: "So Do You Think That This Is Just An Effort To Smear Conservatives?" During the March 24, 2010, edition of his Fox News show, Sean Hannity discussed threats made to Democratic lawmakers during debate over health care reform. Hannity said that Democrats "are trying to make a big deal over the weekend and this is denied by a lot of people. I have not seen the videotape that confirms this yet. If anyone has it, send it to me. I want to see it, of racial slurs, anti-gay slurs being made at the Tea Party movement. Do we have any evidence that corroborates this at all?" Later, he asked: "So do you think that this is just an effort to smear conservatives? Is this a concerted effort to say, you know what? They are all a bunch of racists; they're all a bunch of homophobes?" [Fox News, Hannity, 3/24/10 via Media Matters]

Doocy: "So Why Are People Angry? Maybe Because They Didn't Want This [Health Care] Bill?" On the March 25, 2010, edition of Fox & Friends, while teasing a segment about threats against Democrats, Doocy said: "Meanwhile, some House Democrats getting extra security after a series of death threats and even a little vandalism over their health care votes. So why are people angry? Well, maybe because they didn't want this [health care] bill?" [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 3/25/10 via Media Matters]

Carlson Agrees It's "Disappointing" That Democrats Are Making Threats So Public And Says "They Should Just Stop Discussing It All Together." After Doocy said that Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) "thinks the Democrat lawmakers are feeding the public's frenzy over the threats by discussing them so openly in the media," Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson said: "It's such a political thing, though, guys. I think it would be happening on the other side of the fence, too, that maybe the other political party would try to take advantage of a situation, and that's disappointing. I think it's disappointing -- they should just stop discussing it all together. Just agree on the fact that it's disappointing behavior, no matter who's doing it." Later, after Kilmeade said, "You hurt your own cause when you have racial epithets or have homophobic phrases," Carlson stated, "It ruins it for everybody, just like the kid who acts up at the birthday party." [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 3/25/10 via Media Matters]

Fox

& Friends Airs Viewer Emails Comparing Threats Against Democrats To American Revolution, William Ayers. Later on the March 25, 2010 edition of Fox & Friends, after Carlson said, "The most important thing is what you think about all of this, because you are the ones that are going to go to the polls eventually," Fox & Friends aired several emails from viewers that condemned the threats but also appeared to defend violent actions. One email claimed that Democrats are using the threats "to gain sympathy. Like Rahm Emanuel said, 'you never waste a crisis.'" Another read: "[W]hat did they expect when they basically stole from the American people. What do they think 1776 was about & wasn't there some violence back then?" A third email said: "I don't like violence & it is wrong. Having said that, why should Democrats be surprised? Bill Ayers of the Weather Underground bombed the Pentagon & now he is a 'respected' speaker of the left. Why should Democrats expect anything different?"

Excerpts from the emails:

[Fox News, Fox & Friends, 3/25/10 via Media Matters]

Cupp: Democrats "Want Us To Feel Sorry For Them That They've Gotten A Couple Of ... Angry Voicemails." During the March 24, 2010, edition of Hannity, Fox News contributor S.E. Cupp said, "You know, Democrats who did this -- who sort of rammed this [health care bill] down our throats regardless of the fact that it actually won't save us any money, it's going to bankrupt us and the American people didn't want it -- want us to feel sorry for them that they've gotten a couple of angry, you know, voicemails. They should read my e-mail. You know, what did they expect? No one condones threats. No one condones the violence, but I'm glad people are angry. I hope they stay angry." [Fox News, Hannity, 3/24/10 via Media Matters]

Fox Nation: "Are Threats Really Elevated, Or Are Dems Playing Politics?" In March 2010, Fox Nation displayed a picture of several Democratic congressmen alongside the headline, "Are Threats Really Elevated, or Are Dems Playing Politics?" The headline linked to a NewsBusters post that claimed there were "no specific examples of alleged threats of violence [against Democrats] cited" and that the media and politicians are "trying to construct a meme of conservative violence as we run up to the 2010 elections." From Fox Nation:

fn1

[Fox Nation, 3/24/10 via Media Matters]

Charles Krauthammer: "I'm Sure A Lot Of This Is Trumped Up. ... You Are Always Going To Have A Kook And A Nut Here And There." On the March 24, 2010, edition of Fox News' Special Report, Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer said of the threats, "I'm sure a lot of this is trumped up the way of the unruliness of some of the crowd on the day of the voting in the House was trumped up. You are always going to have a kook and a nut here and there. It's being used by supporters of Obamacare to tar opponents with, you know, threats, violence, being un-American in general. I think it ought to be denounced, as the Republicans have. It should be. But it's not reflective of those who oppose the bill." [Fox News, Special Report, 3/24/10 via Media Matters]

Trotta: "The Left Wing Virtually Invented Violent Dissent" And The Press Is "Wildly Exaggerating And Embroidering" Threats To Members Of Congress. On the March 27, 2010, edition of Fox News' America's News HQ, Fox News contributor Liz Trotta said: "The left wing virtually invented violent dissent going all the way back to the 1960s. So to hear everybody wildly exaggerating and embroidering what's happened in Washington is really rather laughable. And the media has been suckered into it." [Fox News, America's News HQ, 3/27/10 via Media Matters]

Mob hit men got the order against Hoffa's dad -- 'TAKE HIM OUT'. It wasn't a suggestion to vote Hoffa out of his position.

Considering who it came from, this is most vile and ugly threat of violence we've seen from a prominent person in the political sphere in the U.S. for many years.

I see you support Fox editing Hoffa's comment. Fox has a long history of doing this.

Taking things blatantly out of context is what lying Democrats do, not Fox News.

He thinks people should start killing Republican politicians? Is that what are you saying? You really believe that?

The question is whether the edited version changes the context and meaning of the remarks. In this case it didn't.

I got wise to how one's own words can be taken out of context and distorted beyond recognition during the early 90s when the Democrats were pounding the drums about a healthcare crisis in America.

The Democrat Party ran an add against Carroll Campbell (running for governor of South Carolina). Here is what the Democrat add showed Campbell saying:

This was the moment that I realized that the Democrats just weren't wrong, but that they were also evil liars.

Fox News accurately reported the context and meaning of Hoffa's speech. This kind of violent language has no business in civil discourse.

To:Skippy, toe-jam, old man Fred Alzheimers Mertz, _jim, loonymom/ming, e-type-jackoff, goober56, Wrek, calcon, dummy DwarF, continental op, Biff, gobsheit and meguro From: Capitalist Eric Message: You're SOCIALIST morons. ESAD.

"THE MILITIA IS COMING!!! THE MILITIA IS COMING!!!"
--Sarah Palin's version of "The Midnight Ride of Paul revere"

Do you honestly believe that 70 year old women protesting against big government at Tea Party rallies are dangerous terrorists?

Hoffa's dad was affiliated with the Mob. His dad was killed by the mob. Teamsters have a history of violence.

Who is more likely to commit violence against their opponents -- granny or Hoffa's union goons?

"THE MILITIA IS COMING!!! THE MILITIA IS COMING!!!"
--Sarah Palin's version of "The Midnight Ride of Paul revere"

When was the last time there was Teamster violence? And what, exactly, does a mob hit of Hoffa's dad have to do with that?

"THE MILITIA IS COMING!!! THE MILITIA IS COMING!!!"
--Sarah Palin's version of "The Midnight Ride of Paul revere"

The Tea Party/GOP is always ready to show a little class. Remember Gaby Giffords? the member of Congress who was shot by that mutant Jared Loughner with a 9mm Glock. Remember how the local Tea Party candidate offered fundraisers before the shooting where constituents could meet him out at a gun range for a little of the old rock-n-roll?

NOW the classy folks over at the Republican Party in Arizona have a new fundraiser-

offering as a prize the same type of gun used in the attempted assassination of Gabrielle Giffords.

On August 26 the Pima County Republican Party sent out its regular online newsletter, e-Tracks [PDF]. It contained your standard newsletter stuff – an intro from the chairman, a description of local candidates, a calendar of upcoming events, the usual parliamentary bullshit…then comes the fun stuff. The stuff that really shows where the Republican heart is at. The newsletter also inculded an eye-catching giveaway to raise money for GOTV (Get Out the Vote) efforts. For the low, low price of $10, readers can purchase a raffle ticket (out of 125 offered) for a chance to win a brand new handgun. Not just any handgun, but a Glock 23. That's right… the very same kind of gun (his was a model 19, but there is no major difference.) Loughner used to murder a judge, a child, and several other citizens as well as severally wound Representative Giffords.

"THE MILITIA IS COMING!!! THE MILITIA IS COMING!!!"
--Sarah Palin's version of "The Midnight Ride of Paul revere"

He made a long speech. In one part he was railing against the Tea Party. Later in the speech, he told his audience to "to take these son of a bitches out".

Just go to Youtube and look at the unedited speech. It's all there for everyone to see.

Sarah Palin Commonsense Conservatives & lovers of America: "Don't Retreat, Instead - RELOAD!" Pls see my Facebook page.

"THE MILITIA IS COMING!!! THE MILITIA IS COMING!!!"
--Sarah Palin's version of "The Midnight Ride of Paul revere"

Do you understand the difference between a political party and an alleged "news" organization?

Here's the actual quote: "Everybody here’s got to vote. If we go back, and we keep the eye on the prize, let’s take these son of a bitches out and give America back to an America where we belong".

It's obvious the "taking out" refers to voting them out. That's why Fox edited it out of their clip.

I do. I also remember ABC News outright lying about a situation I was personally involved in when I was in Greece with the U.S. Air Force in the early 80s.

Just go to Youtube and look at the unedited Hoffa speech. It's all there for everyone to see.

I've already seen the unedited speech. Too bad Fox viewers won't bother themselves to do the same.

If some half-wit union thug takes Hoffa's words to heart and knocks off some eeeeeeeeevil tea-partier, who will they blame it on?

It'll take a real strettttttttttttch to blame THAT on Bush or Palin or the tea-party.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Fox did not completely change the meaning of Hoffa's words like the Democrat Party completely changed the meaning of Carroll Campbell's words.

The words "take the son of a bitches out" means something very specific to the son of a mobster. It means get rid of them by whatever means necessary.

Yes it certainly was a veiled threat, not a direct threat. He's too smart to make a direct threat. But the wink was passed along that some serious muscle is needed against the opposition. Everyone knows this. You even know this, but won't admit it.

The left (including the leftist media at MSNBC) have been bashing grandmothers at Tea Party rallies as "terrorists" poised to commit acts of unimaginable violence against America.

Here we have the son of an assassinated mobster saying "let's take the son of a bitches out".

This is what Hoffa -- the son of an assassinated mobster -- was doing. He was giving the go ahead signal to as many half-witted union thugs as possible.

Sorry, BS, not you, or any other water carrier for the DNC can unring the bell baby Hoffa rang yesterday. Nor can you ever disassociate your messiah, Owe- bama, from it.

It took me all of about 10 minutes to determine that Skippy's opinion might be - shall we say - just slightly partisan.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

"THE MILITIA IS COMING!!! THE MILITIA IS COMING!!!"
--Sarah Palin's version of "The Midnight Ride of Paul revere"

NOW the classy folks over at the Republican Party in Arizona have a new fundraiser-

offering as a prize the same type of gun used in the attempted assassination of Gabrielle Giffords.

"THE MILITIA IS COMING!!! THE MILITIA IS COMING!!!"
--Sarah Palin's version of "The Midnight Ride of Paul revere"

"Take These Son a Of Bitches Out" -- James Hoffa Junior (son of an assassinated mobster) talking about the Tea Party.

That is what he said. The message was clear. There will some half-witted union thug that follows his advice.

Sure! In your usual sleezy way, you attempted to use the pic you posted as proof old women were carrying weapons at townhall meetings/and/or/teaparty rallies.

He holds exactly the same position as his assassinated mobster dad -- head of the Teamsters.

I grew up in Detroit. I remember when Hoffa disappeared. I've been to Hoffa's favorite restaurant (which was in Southfield, close to where he disappeared). I've seen mobsters there.

The left has done everything possible to paint salt-of-the-earth Americans as some extreme terrorist threat.

What else can they do? Their policies have failed humanity for 100 years. From Stalin's Russia to Pol Pot's Cambodia to Kim's Korea -- they leave nothing but death and destruction in their wake.

The left is entirely driven by envy. No matter how good they are doing individually, they can't stand the fact that others might be doing better.

This envious obsession with others drives them mad and causes them to support tyrants who enslave and murder in the name of equality.

And that thug will probably pick on someone who can't defend themselves very well like women and old people, or set a bomb somewhere and run like hell..... Typical leftard goon......

When asked by a Liberal what I bought my Granddaughter for her 1st birthday I replied, "MORE AMMUNITION"!!!! -----------------------------"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

Yep, and it wouldn't surprise me if a TP member with a CCW permit blows them away.

The above "defense" of the completely indefensible thug fucker's statements are why you collect so much verbal spit on your snout.

Death to everybody who does not get outta my way. (decided to retire the beatdowns on old worthless retread posters that are bozoed)

Do you believe that the 70 year old women at Hoffa's rally who were told to vote to take the bastards out mistook that as an order to shoot to kill?

"THE MILITIA IS COMING!!! THE MILITIA IS COMING!!!"
--Sarah Palin's version of "The Midnight Ride of Paul revere"

war, I believe there are sick people in all the parties who would take these words literally and act on them, I just don't think it's right to smear the intire party, any party, unless there is proof otherwise.