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Fox News Reporter slammed at rally in Denver
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDGhs_LN7Fk
This is just amazing. The Fox news reporter in the above clip is covering the story of progressive groups that are already gathered in Denver for the convention this weekend. As they are marching, the reporter keeps asking the different participants what their message is. He is rebuffed at every turn. He then asks if anyone believes in freedom of the press. Again he is scorned. Finally the entire crowd starts screaming "F*CK FOX NEWS". It was amazing. I am still shaking my head and laughing.
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Comments (71)
This is so funny, LOL. Thanks...
August 24, 2008 8:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
See my blog, "Fox News, There They Go Again, Part II. for my take on this just after I saw it.
I can't believe my wife actually likes watching Fox News. They are really something else.
August 25, 2008 7:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/08/fox-news-there-they-go-again-p.php#comments
August 25, 2008 7:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only thing that could make me happier than that would be if the entire Convention took up the chant. I'd even be willing to change my middle name to Fuck Fox News for the duration.
August 24, 2008 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hahaha...me too!!!
August 24, 2008 11:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was hard to tell, but I thought they were saying, "Fuck you Fox, Fuck you Fox." LOL
August 25, 2008 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
75,000 people at Mile High chanting FUCK FAUX NOOZ!
August 24, 2008 10:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amusing, but may I suggest a better way to have handled this? It will require a few cameras in the crowd
We now know that Griff Jenkins is in Denver, and that 'freedom of the expression' is very dear to him.
The next time he shows up, be polite. Ask him if he supports freedom of speech. Of course he does. Thank him for this, and congratulate him for his support of free speech. Suggest that he hand over the microphone to one of the crowd so that they may speak freely. If he refuses, ask if he's against free speech. Make sure this is being recorded by the crowd - after all, it's a free speech issue. Suggest that he pass the microphone around the crowd to show his support of free speech. He won't.
Press him on this issue. Keep the cameras in his face. You'll see a repeat of O'Reilly's producer failing to trap Bill Moyers.
YouTube the tape. Pop some corn. Enjoy.
August 24, 2008 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Might catch some flak about this, but in all seriousness, chanting f you and giving the bird to the camera is not a way to win over a large part of this country, regardless of one's feelings about Fox News. It just reinforces the Republican talking points about the Left and how they really just hate this country, etc etc.
I say this in part from the experience of having spent months organizing marches and rallies only to have the press focus on the few in attendance who started screaming profanities and the like. The message we wanted to get out was totally lost.
August 24, 2008 10:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sadly..I know Faux news will portray it as such. But it will be interesting how the MSM portrays it. You can pretty much forget about ABC (fox news lite). Hmmmm. It may just die on the vine as well. But it was great while it lasted wasn't it? :)
August 24, 2008 11:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
All they have to do is show the video of the reporter asking his question, and the crowd's response, in that order, without context, and they are the sympathetic ones in the eyes of the casually viewing public. Especially with those already conditioned to accept the viewpoints of Fox News.
Why? The public simply doesn't bother to look at the whole story - they just use TV news as a headline service. This will probably play badly with a lot of people.
I'm not a big fan of "street theater" type protesting anyway, at least as practiced in the US in recent decades - it persuades no one, and accomplishes nothing. Real victories are won in courtrooms, and more importantly, in legislative bodies. It's less immediately gratifying, and in fact can be downright frustrating at times, especially in a short-attention-span culture. The difference is, changes thus accomplished tend to be longer-lasting and farther-reaching.
Does kind of bring a chuckle to me, though
August 25, 2008 12:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that this isn't actually very helpful. Fox News feeds on this kind of us-vs.-them stuff. This is pretty much the sort of video they went to Denver to get.
August 25, 2008 12:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Riight, and for their next segment, they'll send the guy running the wrong way up the middle of a labor day parade and complain about violent teens when he gets mowed down by a High School Marching Band.
Please. What did that idiot think he was doing?
August 25, 2008 1:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Um . . . he thought he was going to provoke some angry behavior, get it on videotape, and use it to smear the Left in general.
Ding! He succeeded.
But okay, okay, I'll give the marchers credit for realizing what was going on. Most of them made an intelligent effort to ignore him, and "Fuck Fox News" was the best possible slogan in the situation!
August 25, 2008 1:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
And you're right that he was basically slam-dancing the crowd by charging the wrong way. Yeah, come to think of it . . . FUCK Fox news.
August 25, 2008 1:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's the spirit, Alex! We've all said it about a million times in private. Wouldn't it be a JOY to march down a street with thousands of people, letting it rip? Knowing that Fox utterly deserves it?
For me, it just gets tiring having to operate in a political-cultural environment where we have to NOT ever rage against the monsters. Des posted up John Lennon's "All I Want Is The Truth" lyrics - and rage - earlier, and I think (funny enough) that the Democrats might not go astray with a bit more anger. Look at the Biden selection. Maybe the guys in the streets don't have it quite right, but for one night, all I wanted to say was FOCK FUX NEWS, FARK FOCKS NEWS! (Never was too good with the slogans....)
August 25, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
It isn't about the anger, it is how it is expressed. What must the f word and the bird be the ultimate way to express disgust and outrage. It is about finding creative and thoughtful ways that will resonante with people rather than just causing to say - oh what vulgar people.
August 25, 2008 6:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I myself am having trouble believing that crowds chanting "Fuck Fox News" on a live broadcast was the goal of this reporter.
August 25, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love the labeling pretext: "far left protesters". Faux just loves them labels.
August 25, 2008 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about this as a better way of getting the message out? Thank Jon Stewart and co. for this one.
"The Billboard of the Day, perhaps Month!"
http://msa4.wordpress.com/
August 25, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hilarious.
August 24, 2008 10:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Admit it Gotalife... that was you... there, in the back.... ;-)
August 24, 2008 11:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm so happy right now.
August 24, 2008 11:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm so confused about his delusional idea that unwillingness to answer his shitty question means that people are against "freedom of speech." Leave it to Fox to have no idea what the Bill of Rights is all about...
August 25, 2008 1:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
1,000 people marching forward and he walks against the crowd? Through the middle!? The little weenie was scared shitless and TRIED to make it look like they were out of control. I've never seen a news crew walk against the crowd marching. It was inept AND unprofessional, something you'd see the Daily Show do as a spoof. This is supposed to be a professional journalist? I don't think so. Every march I've ever been in you'd see the camera crews off to the side OUT OF THE WAY, and asking folks from the side to stop and talk.
Maybe some Americans will be stupid enough not to see it was a set up, but I'd think most of them would know an idiot when they see one.,
Hilarious, FUCK FOX NEWS!
August 25, 2008 1:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
This brings back fond memories of days in the 60's...protest and creative! There is just something about people in the streets and democracy that feeds the spirit!
August 25, 2008 1:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, the FNC didn't have much logic to their points:
a) seems to me that the protesters did exercise their freedom of speech
b) seems to me that they did get a chance to make their point
Will it give FNC ammo? I dunno. Sort of reminds me of the little boy in the Emperor's New Clothes who pointed out that the Emperor was naked.
If enough people directly laugh into the FNC's cameras, more and more people will get it.
Kill'em with laughter.
August 25, 2008 2:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're back! I thought you'd left us.
August 25, 2008 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for noticing my absence! ;-)
I never really left, just decided not to post for a while. People were also getting bummed by my posts -- I don't envy the next President who will have to start warning people that the US way of living is close to over.
I was also close to getting too personal here -- which would have blown my "cover".
August 25, 2008 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
A warm welcome back to posting! I missed you. And I miss people like you who would miss me, since so many people consider me a major pain in the ass!
Personally, I thought that Fox News segment was so pathetic that I didn't even know what to say about it. If FN wanted to make the point that the protesters were showing how bad the Democrats are, they certainly failed miserably.
August 25, 2008 8:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow! With all these warm feelings on my return, I should leave more often! ;-)
Thanks for the kind words...
August 26, 2008 1:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
And what kind of name is Griff Jenkins? That has to be some kind of made up frat boy name. Griff??
Not the brightest crayon in the box either. What kind of reporter says "I am going to try to get ahead of this 'thingy'" Then proceeds to ask the marchers if they believe in free speech.
Well duh...they are marching...
I hope Jon Stewart does something with this incident. It is just too rich to pass up.
August 25, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's short for "Griffin" and fairly common these days.
August 25, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Forevermore known as WRONG WAY Griff.
=D
August 25, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ahh..that makes sense. :) It didn't occur to me. Griff seems so odd as a nickname. It reminds me of Biff from Back to the Future.
August 25, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
His Grandson was named "Griff"
August 25, 2008 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't believe that the reporter was that POOR...I mean really REALLY bad. He should have been beaten up just for having few/none journalist skills..
The whole thing kind of reminds me of a scene from KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE (yeah yeah yeah, I'm showing my age) when a guy, dressed in fireproof suit and wearing a crash helmet, walks in the middle of a group of black guys shooting dice. He then yells the N word at the top of his lungs, and takes off, with the guys in hot pursuit.
You don't spit in the wind.
You don't take the mask off the ol' Lone Ranger
and you don't mess around with Progressives!
August 25, 2008 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
That is just screaming for a video reference. :)
August 25, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Isn't it obvious that he was being that bad on purpose?
August 25, 2008 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do they have a farm somewhere, where they grow these white Aryan anchorbabes? :-)
At first I thought I was watching Orwell's "1984", where the concerned telescreen personality is repeatedly and urgently informing us of the grave threat of the "FAR LEFT".
Then, when they cut to Griff, I realized I was actually watching "Wild Kingdom".
Here we are, in deepest uncharted primeval DNC territory, observing the dangerous habits of the deadly Far Leftist! Observe, as I fearlessly approach one, and taunt this creature with my trusty Fox News-flagged microphone!
OH MY GOD! The beast has been aroused, and now it's attacking!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!
:-P
August 25, 2008 1:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
So what's the deal with Griff the reporter always asking if they believe in the freedom speech when he's askin questions in the middle of a protest march all the while almost getting trampled. What does not answering a question have anything to do with freedom of speech?
I wonder if Fox News will cover the protests at the Republican convention?
August 25, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL! Memo to Fox News:
When you have DEMONSTRATORS... and a reporter is there... "free speech" is NOT about the reporter!
The Victimology dance of Fox News is amazing... anyone wanna trade your status of "demonstrator" for "owner of a national, 24/7 propaganda channel"?
August 25, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love how they pretend to be concerned about his safety.
How many reporters have gotten killed in Iraq trying to cover real news, and this pansy is afraid of some college kids with signs.
Ooh, they flipped him the bird. Poor baby!
August 25, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
The profanity probably sends the wrong message (although it was hilarious). I think the proper response would have been along the lines of, "you're Fox News? I'll save my comments for a *real* news network." And then some pointing and laughing for good measure...
On the other hand, everyone chanting "Fuck Fox News!" certainly got the point across succinctly :-)
August 25, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
The pigs at Fox deserve it.
August 25, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shouldn't the Fox reporter be fired for letting himself get pushed around by a bunch of weenie, liberal freaks?
How can I expect a pussy like that to protect me and mine from the Godless propaganda machine that is the Democratic party?
August 25, 2008 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
He looks like Jerry Lewis in the Nutty Professor. "Oh pretttty laddddyyyy....
August 25, 2008 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't folks realize that he's there to bait liberals into making asses of themselves? I mean, you see how the anchor spun it afterwards. Don't be fooled. This wasn't funny at all.
August 25, 2008 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree.
August 25, 2008 7:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Time to contact the FCC and report on how offended we are, how Fox has offended community standards and sensibility and push for a HUGE fine....
August 25, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I saw the video and there's nothing funny about it. The crowd looked and sounded like idiots - the last people that Obama should want Americans to think are his base or representative of Democrats in general. The Fox reporter didn't ask anything that deserved that kind of response. Intelligent answers would have been easy to give and could have done justice to the march or shamed Fox, whichever was in play. When they talk about "recreate '68" they sound like morons. I watched the riots of that convention and there was nothing to celebrate or glorify. They were horrible, ugly and doomed Humphrey - yielding Nixon. Its time for Obama supporters and the wing nuts that hang around the Democratic Party to grow up; they can start by ditching the '68 nonsense.
Dont' think that McCain's people wont' have tape of this freak show and meld it into Ayers commercials.
These fools are one of the reasons that this yellow dog Democrat is going Independent.
August 25, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
O please.
Y'all are a bunch of wimpy old ladies.
If you don't think it's time to fight back, then what the hell do you think? We've laid down and let them lie and use propaganda against us and the nation for 7 solid years - ever since 9-11.
Enough is enough.
August 25, 2008 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah . . . "My sense of DECENCY is OFFENDED!" Fox's tactics were pretty obvious, they got what they came for, and YDDs (who weren't going to vote for a black guy anyway) now have an excuse they can point to.
August 25, 2008 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK, so these kids weren't too smart. I'll take them any day over the frat-boy chickenshits I see walking around with McCain buttons.
You're gonna let the behavior of others change your beliefs and voting?
Go back to Planet McCain, tell them you've posted on a liberal blog, said bad things about Democrats, and they'll give you your toaster.
August 25, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, right. How about you go and join all the other fake Democrats in the corner and plan more PUMA parties, k?
August 25, 2008 7:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Didn't you hear the "reporter? " These weren't all Obama fans... Perhaps you can "comfort" yourself that the vocal and obviously annoyed marchers weren't "the chosen."
They were, however, great.
You remind me of those namby pamby offended Tories who were shocked, just shocked I tell you, at those crass rebels around 1776.
Maybe you've heard of them. They were known as "The Founders." Go have another latte and get over yourself.
August 25, 2008 8:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I fucking love it.
I'm so sick of propaganda and lies.
August 25, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
As I stated earlier, this kind of behavior on marches gets in my craw, as someone who organized a few, simply because it doesn't do anything about the propaganda and lies, or whatever else on is trying address. In this case, it just reinforced to all those who were faithful FOX news watchers that their "side" is reasonable and thus see the truth, whereas those on the other side just hate their country etc. If they wanted to say something, Stop the War Stop Torture would have been good, not Fuck You.
August 25, 2008 7:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Could you get just a little more condescending? This might be a record. What Fox News watchers saw was a scared rabbit doing an idiotic thing.
What was it you saw, oh elevated one?
August 25, 2008 8:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, and I'm speaking not of the choir but the people who tune into FOX news for their information, they saw unpatriotic youths giving the bird and saying fuck you. How in any way does that lead any of them to go, oh wow they're right FOX is a bunch of lies. I'm speaking of my view, but the point of a march is not to preach to the choir but to maybe get those on the other side to at least take another look at the issue. At best it reinforced their image of the type of person who is against the war as dispectful and unable to articulate what they stand for.
I'm sorry if it comes across as condenscending, but to me (as with some of the others in this post) this wasn't funny. The reporter was an idiot, the questions he asked were idiotic, and FOX is scum, but the marchers lost an opportunity to make a statement that could have, maybe, possibly, caused one or two regular FOX viewers to pause and reflect.
August 25, 2008 9:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Respectfully, TenaX, I don't think fighting back is chanting "Fuck You" to a reporter - if the marchers don't display self respect others will just ignore them as fools or juveniles. I don't remember King leading marches that featured that conduct and those are the templates for the real difference making marches.
August 25, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those guys had it right. They knew that if their MESSAGE was going to get heard they had to do it with dignity and poise. FFS, they wore TIES! And they looked good doing it.
August 25, 2008 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
If they really want to "recreate '68", they need a bunch of cops to beat them with nightsticks.
August 25, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love me some freedom of speech, but chanting fu#k fox news is just shooting yourself in the foot.
Am reminded of the '99 WTO riot is Seattle. In the end all people will see are unruly lefties who threaten civil society.
The guys at the beginning who declined to speak had it right. Freedom of speech is sometimes best used NOT to speak.
August 25, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Though in Seattle things got really out of control. I hope these guys keep their gang mentality in check and it stays cool.
August 25, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was there in WTO and I know what you are talking about. On the last day, we were able to march through Downtown Seatle chanting "This is what Democracy looks like" over and over. Simple and clean, and peaceful. At least for the business people who watched us march through the streets it would hard for them to say Oh but they're just a bunch freakin anarchists.
August 25, 2008 6:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL
Unruly lefties.
God Bless 'em
August 25, 2008 8:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly right, Boxofrain. Also, chant that garbage at the wrong time and you will have cops pulling out their billyclubs. I was at a rally in DC once - a peaceful one - and mounted cops formed a phalanx and trotted past us. It sent a powerful message, but we were lawful and cops were respectful and nobody was hurt; our message was heard by the President, who came out onto the portico to see what was up. One of our crowd thought that it would be cool to flip the bird at Carter. Whether he saw it or not, he immediately turned and left. I was disgusted and did the same. Moron.
August 25, 2008 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Darn. Outwitted again. I guess Democrats are just no match for Republicans. If they were, they'd get some empty-headed Ph. D. to write a book explaining that McCain wasn't really a POW and that he was actually playing dominoes in Guam at the time, and enlist a bunch of ex-military to swear that McCain was really a traitor and a coward. Liberal groups could buy this book in bulk, conferring bestseller status on it, which would ensure the author could make more than 100 television appearances injecting this narrative into the mainstream. . McCain would be grilled about it on Meet the Press and would lose his temper and have a stroke, which would sew up the sympathy vote and ensure his election by a landslide ...
August 25, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, wait. That didn't come out right...
August 25, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
He was sent there to stir up trouble.
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/25/fox-jenkins-dnc-protest/
August 25, 2008 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
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