John King vs. MSNBC and FNC?
Mediaite’s Steve Krakauer writes about John King wading into the recent Obama controversy over his renewed war on FNC by indirectly taking some shots at FNC and MSNBC…
“Sometimes you feel sad to be left out of a big debate,” he said. “This is not one of those sometimes.” And then he found a way in.
King started with Pres. Obama’s comments that Fox News was a “destructive force” in America, playing some of the more anti-Obama comments from Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. He followed that by noting Bill Burton had called MSNBC “an invaluable service” – and proceeded to play some of the most vitriolic clips from Ed Schultz and Keith Olbermann.
When King got back on camera, all he needed to say was, “got it?”
I don’t read as much into this as Krakauer does. It’s too soon to draw any conclusions about King’s show based on one segment that occurred during one show. What I will say is that those personalities who were shown in those clips are not the types who will just ignore King’s “attack”. Expect some blowback…
September 30, 2010 at 7:29 am
I doubt there will be any blowback. If you watch the whole segment it’s a balanced and mostly accurate discussion of Obama policies and why he and his surrogates made the decision to make the statements they made.
It’s not a critique of FNC or MSNBC shows. In fact, aside from showing the clips and the “got that” quip, there is little or no discussion of the shows, their hosts or content. It’s all about Obama’s election strategy.
Check out the whole segment and you’ll see what I mean. Much ado about nothing.
September 30, 2010 at 9:04 am
I loved it. He’s saying what many of us have been saying. When the left says something vitriolic and nasty, it’s ok because they agree with it. When the right says something disagreeable, it’s evil and must be stopped. I think that it’s as much a criticism of the President as anything else, and another example of why he lowers himself by discussing media-issues.
September 30, 2010 at 10:30 am
“He’s saying what many of us have been saying. When the left says something vitriolic and nasty, it’s ok because they agree with it. When the right says something disagreeable, it’s evil and must be stopped.”
^Who is the “he” you refer to? JK doesn’t say that or anything like that. The only one criticizing the POTUS was Erick Erickson and even he didn’t go that far. Did you look at the video?
September 30, 2010 at 10:42 am
Perhaps that was my interpretation of what JK said, and by extension, what other conservatives might think. As far as Fox responding, it seems to me that the comment was just as critical of Obama as anyone else. It had that whole ‘fair and balance’ flavor to it.
September 30, 2010 at 11:00 am
^ JK didn’t say anything but “Got it?” which was a tiny bit of snark based on the comments he had just played. After that he just asked a few questions and let the four pundits have their say.
My POV was best expressed by Gloria Borger, yours, I assume, by Erick Erickson. John King expressed no opinion that I could see. In fact he was very careful to point out that any statement he made was a quote from someone else.
September 30, 2010 at 11:05 am
– John King expressed no opinion –
Hence my observation of ‘fair and balanced’, and the reference to my ‘interpretation‘,. An ‘interpretation’ which might be drawn by other conservatives, such as the ones on Fox. These aren’t difficult concepts.
September 30, 2010 at 11:13 am
I guess I’m just stupid because I have no idea what your talking about.
BTW: It seems to me, the segment is actually better suited to Howard Kurtz’s Sunday show than JK’s.
September 30, 2010 at 11:17 am
^ Sorry for sounding that way. It’s clear in my head, if not on the page.
September 30, 2010 at 11:21 am
JK isn’t saying it, the President is. JK is reporting it. What I’m drawing from it is the fact that Obama is praising one network with one set of whacks, while criticizing a different network with another set of whacks. As I hear it, the President is the adult in the room, (or should be) so he shouldn’t be taking-sides in an argument between children.
September 30, 2010 at 11:25 am
^ I get it now but of course I don’t agree.
Gloria Borger expressed my opinion better than I ever could.
September 30, 2010 at 11:27 am
Sigh. Of course you don’t.
September 30, 2010 at 11:31 am
I need an Advil.
September 30, 2010 at 11:40 am
I haven’t seen the clip, so I’ll jump on the original Obama statement. It’s one thing for Regular Joe to agree with this shrieking blowhard, and consider that one dangerous, but POTUS shouldn’t be wading into those waters. It’s beneath the office.
September 30, 2010 at 12:20 pm
I don’t know what Steve saw, but I saw no bashing in the clip. King was basically reporting on the story and got some clips that would back up the white house’s claims, that is all. I don’t expect any kind of blowback.
September 30, 2010 at 12:35 pm
^ Steve?
September 30, 2010 at 12:38 pm
^ Oops. Sorry Jacky. I thought you were talking about the commenters; forgot the original post.
September 30, 2010 at 12:39 pm
You think I’m confusing..
September 30, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Oops. I guess there was a Steve in there.