Fox News Is Conservative?
— Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 —
I almost never watch Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends.” This past Sunday, however, I turned on the television for two minutes before leaving for church. The three hosts were reporting about a Chicago couple who had remained chaste until their wedding, and who had decided to save their first kiss for the wedding ceremony itself.
This was reported with the incredulity with which one might report a Wiccan moondancing ritual. The discussion went beyond the kiss question to chastity itself, with one of the talking heads announcing, “Try it before you buy it.”
I’m not a media conspiracy hunter, and I don’t mind media bias, as long as one knows where the bias is. What bothers me is that Fox News is counted by so many as a “conservative” voice, when so much of it seems to be simply pro-consumption, regardless of what one is consuming.
Of course Rupert Murdoch can present any viewpoint he wants. It’s his network. But this is hardly “conservative.”
After listening to Shepard Smith’s comments to a pro-life advocate during the Republican convention, I’m also credulous about the “conservative” slant. After berating the lady for daring to call a group pro-abortion, and denouncing anyone who dared link abortion and politics, he stormed off the set like a three-year-old told no for the first time. Hardly a conservative (or mature) response.
btw . . . like the new look.
Nephos, This comment is by Russell Moore. I don’t know why the site lists me as “David Yeiser.” Not all the kinds are out of the Botox yet.
I didn’t see that Shepard Smith response but it doesn’t surprise me. I did hear Sean Hannity’s apologia for Rudy Giuliani’s viability as a conservative leader (”abortion…it’s just one issue”…you know the drill).
To answer Dr. Moore’s question, the answer is NO. Neither Fox News nor the Fox family of networks are by any stretch of the imagination conservative, as that term is properly understood. Folks like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and others of their ilk (not a few of whom are or have been leaders among “conservative” Republican office holders) have hijacked the term in much the same way that the word “gay” has been hijacked.
Dr. Moore,
What is your opinion on the substantive questions that Fox was reporting on? I have seen several television shows over the past month documenting the “purity” movement. The parents within this movement encourage their children to avoid most physical contact such as hand-holding, and all more intimate contact such as kissing. Is kissing before marriage wrong? The parent’s reasoning was that these prohibited acts, if permitted, would lead to other acts that are clearly reserved for the marital relationship.
Where do you think the line is between acceptable pre-marriage intimacy and intimacy reserved for marriage?
Thanks.
Steven
The majority of those who work at Fox label themselves liberal and democrat however, I know the father of a young woman who works there and she is ‘very unhappy working among such conservatives’. I think politically they are far more to the right than any other major outlet. And their anchors are for the most part, conservative both morally and politically. Tony Snow, Britt Hume, Steve Doucey, Judge Napolitano etc are pretty darn conservative in every sense. Sean Hannity is a boorish loud mouth but I’ll take him over Alan any day.
In fairness, Fox claims to be ‘Fair and Balanced’ and you would be hard pressed to say that their claim is false, given the digusting display of media bias in favor of Mr. Obama and the far left.
So are they conservative as an organization, no; but then they never claimed to be anything but fair and balanced.
Steven, I do think that there must be parameters of physical and emotional intimacy before marriage. The issue at hand in this broadcast, though, wasn’t so much about the particular parameters this couple had chosen as about the sheer insult and ridicule with which it was received.
I’m not going to defend the comments of the Fox News broadcasters, nor will I make the claim that Fox News is conservative or liberal. My question though, is how this particular incident classifies as liberal or conservative. I certainly don’t know the hearts of the broadcasters involved in the incident, but shouldn’t we expect nothing less from a news station that isn’t Christ centered? I don’t agree with the sentiments, but I wouldn’t be surprised to turn on the TV at any time during the day and hear just such remarks, whether the station was conservative, liberal, or whatever else. Good points though.