Fox News was caught flagrantly deceiving viewers in a smear on Texas Congressman Ron Paul.
On Superbowl Sunday, Bill O’Reilly asked President Obama what he and the rest of Fox News Channel (or “FNC,” as O’Reilly likes to call it) could do better. “Just give the American people the facts,” Mr. Obama replied (or should I say, squeezed in between interruptions). Given that O’Reilly likes to refer to his show as “the no-spin zone,” it doesn’t seem like the task should have presented much of a challenge.
But it presents a monstrous challenge, because Fox News regularly manipulates its information with half-truths and straight-up lies. Mostly these are philosophical partisan differences raked over the tautological coals with each side walking away from the article feeling just as “right” as they entered it. But now, Fox News, caught in an indisputable, visual display of deceit, has irrefutable (and ‘irrefudiatable’) evidence of their lies to be dragged out all over the web—liked, tweeted, and re-tweeted.
TX Congressman Ron Paul won the CPAC “straw poll” for 2012 presidential favorite for the second consecutive year in 2011. In 2010, Ron Paul supporters were blocked from entering the announcement hall at CPAC, because it had been filled by Mitt Romney supporters. In 2010, when Ron Paul’s win was announced, Romney’s supporters booed vociferously. In 2011, however, when Paul’s win was announced, the audience cheered, and cheered loudly.
Last night Fox News hosted Ron Paul to discuss his second win at CPAC. But in relaying the footage from CPAC, Fox News switched the tape, playing instead the 2010 footage with Paul’s name receiving boos. Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer then asked Paul, “Who was in the audience booing you? Did you get an ID on those people?”
In reality, the only people booing Paul were Fox News themselves—there was no booing of Paul other than the booing they fabricated. Why would they do this? Because Fox News favors a particular type of conservative right-wing lifestyle and candidate, and Ron Paul does not fit the bill.
Recently an ex-employee of Fox News made headlines by calling the network “a propaganda outfit.” This journalistic deceit is likely what he was referencing. Ironically, “propaganda” is the exact term that FNC cronies like Bill O’Reilly and Glenn Beck regularly bandy about in referencing their political adversaries—liberal “extremists” like NBC, or, god forbid Al Jazeera, who are basically all dedicated jihadists in the eyes of Fox.
The Fox News smear against Ron Paul goes to show how far the network will go in attacking its own ostensible allies—Paul is a Republican, and a fiscal conservative, after all—in championing its chosen candidates. But also given how blatant this distortion, it also raises the question of how often Fox News engages in this kind of blatant deceit. For every time the network gets caught lying to distort reality, there are likely countless more transgressions that slip under the radar, and into the unconscious slipstream of Fox viewers.
That Fox even counts as a legitimate news network is scary, especially with the 2012 presidential election looming closer every day.
Below is the 2011 CPAC straw poll announcement. Head to Raw Story to watch Fox News’s story from last night.
February 16, 2011 at 11:49 pm, mobias said:
I love american media, it is now equally on par with politics in regards to integrity (and mudslinging, and rhetorical commentary). There should be a FCC regulation to flash a warning at the beginning of any politcal show, local news media program “WARNING- the views and opinions expressed by this program are NOT to be considered non-bias or non-partisan in nature and should NOT be construed as an example of a fair,accurate, factual or non-partisan source of information.”
http://mobias.blogspot.com
February 17, 2011 at 12:03 am, Bob D said:
Stop the neo-cons who are destroying true conservatism. GO Ron and Rand Paul we are behind you!
February 17, 2011 at 12:19 am, StevenTakenski said:
what’s with the goofy pic of ron?
February 17, 2011 at 12:23 am, Jacob C said:
RON PAUL RON PAUL !!!!!!!!! FUCK THE FOX NEWS!!
February 17, 2011 at 12:23 am, Jacob C said:
RON PAUL RON PAUL !!!!!!!!! FUCK THE FOX NEWS!!
February 17, 2011 at 12:25 am, Billy Lee said:
Ron Paul for 2012…. we are change
February 18, 2011 at 12:59 am, Sharonharbin1 said:
I am WITH YOU. Billy .
All The Way .. We Need A Decent Man Like Ron Paul ..
February 17, 2011 at 12:26 am, charles walker said:
rupurt murdock is one of 3 people who control all the media for their war profit agenda
February 17, 2011 at 12:28 am, joshchicko said:
Wake up America and stand behind Ron Paul’s message. Help us to break the business of party politics and elect more representatives who actually work for the people.
February 17, 2011 at 12:33 am, Markdl said:
Ron Paul = Truth
Go to hell Fox News!!!
February 17, 2011 at 12:51 am, Ffmpeg said:
Ron Paul 2012
February 17, 2011 at 12:59 am, Gary C. Huggins said:
Ron Paul R3VOLUTION 2012.
February 21, 2011 at 8:30 am, Robert Dewey Evans said:
I feel so betrayed by the news channel I held in such esteem – but no longer, if they would result to this kind of a lie, a spin story “No Spin Zone”… I am so appalled and just pissed off! I will not trust FOX NEWS now – this saddens me to no end. Thanks to Allex Jones (infowars.com) for making me aware of this atrocity. Just Dam!! Read the story and see for your self. Google search “FOX NEWS CAUGHT”. Semper-Fi Marine!
February 17, 2011 at 1:14 am, Anonymous said:
Fox fabricated boos?!!! That’s your beef? First off, I don’t believe it. Second, I would not classify it as a smear. Third, its a minor thing if it did happen and certainly doesn’t deserve this kind of attention because the results were what viewers paid attention to. The attendees may have noticed but the viewer not at all. I think Alex is being petty and silly.
February 17, 2011 at 2:56 am, MotherofInvention said:
When a “news” outlet, promoting itself as “fair and balanced”, switches videotape to promote an outcome that is different from what really happened, that is fabrication. And worthy of a “beef”. How can you not believe what videotape clearly proves? The remainder of your statement is unclear; however, as a “viewer”, I paid attention to the way in which the attendees responded. That is what the tape was for! Results could have been reported without the video if the intention was to inform and not smear.
February 17, 2011 at 7:42 am, Aaron said:
The only thing that best portrays the definition of “silly” are people so willfully ignorant and naive enough to give a discredited main stream media outlet the benefit of the doubt regarding an outright obvious ploy to treat its viewers as complete idiots. Now that’s silly but that’s alright keep watching Fox’s Fake News they know their audience well and our proud to have you defend their lacking integrity.
February 17, 2011 at 11:31 am, Orleman73 said:
Do you actually think people pay attention to the numbers rather than some idiot reporter making Dr. Paul look like a fool? Which is more powerful in this Idiocracy? Look up banned Ron Paul interviews on Youtube and then see if you change your ignorant mind sheeple.
February 17, 2011 at 2:09 pm, Anonymous said:
why not just show the tape from this year`s results?
there were lots of cheers in that one-all the boos from last year definitey paints a very different picture
February 17, 2011 at 1:21 am, Guest said:
That photo of Ron Paul is funny.
February 17, 2011 at 1:21 am, Guest said:
That photo of Ron Paul is funny.
February 17, 2011 at 1:48 am, THE HEEAT said:
Come Ron, We are behind you 100%, VICTORY!
February 17, 2011 at 2:09 am, Rev Trask said:
Fair and Balanced? Yeah, right!
February 17, 2011 at 2:39 am, Fatherliberty1776 said:
You are correct about Fox News, but dont think for a second any of the other channels are not fabricating the same nonsense. Most everything on any mainstream channel is deceptive conditioning. As William Colby, former Director of CIA, warned, “the Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media.” Ron Paul is against the FED, the special interests, globalization, and is for the Consititution and liberty. For that the media must destroy his image.
February 17, 2011 at 2:39 am, Fatherliberty1776 said:
You are correct about Fox News, but dont think for a second any of the other channels are not fabricating the same nonsense. Most everything on any mainstream channel is deceptive conditioning. As William Colby, former Director of CIA, warned, “the Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media.” Ron Paul is against the FED, the special interests, globalization, and is for the Consititution and liberty. For that the media must destroy his image.
February 17, 2011 at 3:00 am, Valsart55 said:
This was supposed to be a place where honest truth was told… I’m ashamed of FOX, makes me sick to think they are this way.. Their going to lose a lot of watchers for this.
February 17, 2011 at 2:14 pm, patriotChick said:
One can only hope.
February 17, 2011 at 3:00 am, Valsart55 said:
This was supposed to be a place where honest truth was told… I’m ashamed of FOX, makes me sick to think they are this way.. Their going to lose a lot of watchers for this.
February 17, 2011 at 3:04 am, Valsart55 said:
Go Ron. Victory to a patriot…
February 17, 2011 at 3:09 am, mista x said:
Fuck faux news
February 17, 2011 at 3:23 am, Sugar Price said:
Any politician that is smeared by the main stream media needs to have your attention. Please listen to these types of people because their message is very important. They are smeared for a reason.
February 17, 2011 at 3:24 am, Kate said:
On to a Ron Paul victory in 2012! The people are aware and in your corner.
February 17, 2011 at 3:24 am, Kate said:
On to a Ron Paul victory in 2012! The people are aware and in your corner.
February 17, 2011 at 3:27 am, Shed Plans Man said:
This is EXACTLY why I stopped watching the MAINSTREAM NEWS 7 years ago! Literally EVERYTHING you see nowadays is complete and utter BULLSHIT.
99% of the news in this country is “form fitted” and custom designed to push someones hidden agenda… usually driven by monetary purposes by those who control our own government.
Turn off the damn TV and go spend some time with your family and friends! Life is too short for this type of nonsense.
February 17, 2011 at 2:13 pm, patriotChick said:
I do like to watch to see what agenda they are currently pushing. Know your enemy.
February 17, 2011 at 3:38 am, Flohoff said:
Notice how quiet the other media outlets are too of this subject of media minipulation. Tells you something doesn’t it.
February 18, 2011 at 2:37 pm, Anonymous said:
Honor among thieves. The MSM as a whole is one giant propaganda machine.
February 17, 2011 at 3:55 am, john charles webb jr. said:
Ron Paul , proves that there in NO CONSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK , SO sENATOR pAUL IS NOW ‘DISSED’ BY THE COUP BITCHES LIKE ROTTWEILER O’REILLY , WHOM GOD IS SENDING TO HELL: VERY SOON :
February 17, 2011 at 4:15 am, Peter Dudek said:
Do you honestly think Ron Paul should join the Democratic Party???
“Like” this if you laughed at the sheer stupidity of this idea.
John, you are just as deceived by the “Left” media as Republicans are by the “Right” media.
Wake up! Snap out of it! Open your mind, look for truth objectively and discover what millions of people already know: The Democratic Party and The Republican Party are two heads on the same evil snake.
February 17, 2011 at 9:57 am, john charles webb jr. said:
I AGREE WITH YOU PETER ABOUT TWO HEADS OF THE SAME COIN :
SO DOES RALPH NADER , GREEN PARTY
JOHN CHARLES WEBB JR.
THE ARMED BEARS PARTY
February 17, 2011 at 4:27 am, Circumfert2001 said:
Once more into the breach, lads. The revolution was only delayed. Make mine freedom please. God bless you Ron and Carol Paul and happy 57th wedding anniversary. From all our family to yours. Love you to the heigth , width and breadth black space dares stretch. Would count the drops of rain , my answer be the same. Mrs, Paul really liked my little dog in New Orleans and told on she would have to get her one. Always wondered, If Ron touches a little dog because of me. Sighh… In Christ all things are possible.
Sincerely, Cherry
February 17, 2011 at 4:33 am, kay said:
It seems like Ron Paul is one of very few people that is actually honest to us American citizens and that we can trust.
February 17, 2011 at 4:33 am, kay said:
It seems like Ron Paul is one of very few people that is actually honest to us American citizens and that we can trust.
February 17, 2011 at 4:37 am, Cc0623 said:
It does not surprise me that Fox would stoop this low, it seems to me there are very few news media outlets that report the truth or have integrity in their reporting. What really chaps my backside is people in general turn to the news thinking they are getting honest and accurate reporting when in truth they are getting manipulated by the media. What happened to integrity in journalism?
February 17, 2011 at 4:40 am, Anonymous said:
Why are the FOX neocons so afraid of Ron Paul?
February 17, 2011 at 5:47 am, Liberty2012 said:
Man those war mongering statist neocon shills at fox are really worried about there precious federal reserve aren’t they!
Time to kick some neocon a$$ and get our country back. Bring it home Ron!!
February 17, 2011 at 7:18 am, Razor Ledj said:
Fox News is on Par with the Onion. Only the onion is at least funny.
February 17, 2011 at 7:19 am, Anonymous said:
RUN RON RUN….the fact that they would try so hard to make him look bad, SHOWS that they are scared…..scared of the truth being herd… scared of losing the statis quo. RUN RON RUN
February 17, 2011 at 9:27 am, ObserverMI said:
You must be joking?? Could the footage at all been a mistake? Or is it clearly a big conspiracy? Uh, why didn’t they simply ‘not’ even have Ron Paul on? He’s on fox tv and radio often.
And all of the other ‘strrrreeeatching’ of innuendo of possibility…. if they’re so bad, where’s all the examples?? I mean, they run 24 hours a day with ‘Thousands’ of hours of footage and all this comes down to is a possibility of one few second clip??? Is that all your hanging your hat on that FOX is such a bad bad boogie man?? WoW…. what a waste of a read. Get intellectually honest with yourself and be a grown up. Pathetic.
February 17, 2011 at 4:13 pm, Anonymous said:
You are clearly retarded… or at the very least delusional. This was a totally staged event given that in the real footage there is massive applause and cheering for Ron Paul, and the Fox News reporter questioned Ron Paul immediately after basically asking why there was so much booing at the result.
This is mass manipulation and I cannot believe Fox even still has a license to broadcast. Have you not noticed the complete non-coverage of Ron Paul in the mainstream media? I mean for God’s sake man, I am sitting here typing this from England and even I can see the manipulation clear as day from here!
Your media is an absolute shambles. Ours is not great but at least our broadcasters at least do not sell blatant, outright lies as yours does. Wake up for goodness sake!
February 17, 2011 at 10:49 am, Anonymous said:
I uploaded a new Youtube video I made.
FOX News Deception CPAC Official Uncut Announcements 2010 Vs 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5Mx5MZqgPk
February 17, 2011 at 11:09 am, Jose said:
Too many people are onto fox/false news now days but saddly not enough to move the sheeple away from it.
February 17, 2011 at 1:58 pm, Kenneth Joseph Huber said:
Send this article to EVERYONE!!! Ron Paul “can’t win” if we don’t expose the lies…
February 17, 2011 at 5:21 pm, Paulgostoso2 said:
Corporate owned media at it best/worst again! Unfortunately too many Americans are too dumb to figure it out!
February 17, 2011 at 9:13 pm, PatRedstone said:
Why does Ron Paul scare the GOP when clearly he has the popular Republican vote? Answer: The (Iraq) War & The (Afghanistan) War & The (Drug) War.
February 18, 2011 at 2:43 pm, Anonymous said:
You won’t find any of the other major news outlets mention this even though it would be the perfect opportunity to attack a competitor. My guess is that there really isn’t much difference between neocons and neotards – they just have different pet projects is all. Scratch off the surface and its the same big spending, big govt rat underneath.
February 18, 2011 at 9:18 pm, Political Atheist said:
Run Ron, Run! The rEVOLution is now!
Turn off all corporate controlled media and open your mind and see who the real criminals are. The globalists are freaking out because everyone knows both parties are the big gov party continually screwing us. Only Dr. Paul has the courage to speak the truth.
February 19, 2011 at 3:42 am, Ok1jwc said:
FOX news MSNBC BOTH are a buch of minstry of “truth” propagandists.
Neither can stand up to Ron Pauls truth telling and CONSISTANT message of liberty and limited government and not butting into forigen nations business proping up tin pot dictators murderers and tortures ALL of which BOTH major parties agree with.
Wake up democrats wake up republicans! turn off FOX aAND MSNBC before it is too late! Stop being so easily duped by them. Google Ron Paul and hear the refreshing truth that you have not heard all these years.
Listen to the ONLY man in washington who our founding fathers would approve of!
February 19, 2011 at 3:48 am, Ok1jwc said:
The left AND the right BOTH fear Ron Paul. He is the ONLY canidate who would fight EVERY battle for our fallen republic to return to its original intent.
Without someone like Dr Paul we have ZERO hope of returning to a free and prosperous nation. Just further decent into economic chaos, TSA police state, and in the end a disasterous world war.
October 19, 2011 at 11:22 am, Thuranekhin said:
“The left AND the right BOTH fear Ron Paul. He is the ONLY canidate who would fight EVERY battle for our fallen republic to return to its original intent.”
- Dennis Kucinich (D) and Ron Paul are friends. Both being Libertarian, and both supporting each other, hold out hope that there are others supportunig a return to Constitutional government.
February 19, 2011 at 4:01 am, Ok1jwc said:
Oh and for you very few retards posting on this story who really believe this was just an “honest” mistake and “no big deal” just look up clips of the neo-con talk radio propagandists who down played Pauls win and cpac all week. They CONSTANTLY talk about Sarah Palin like SHE actually has a freaking shot at the white house but not Ron Paul. How dumb do they think we are?
I am sorry I used to watch Fox news and had some respect for it but THIS IS OBVIOUSLY a hoax designed to make its own audience think that no one wants Ron Paul and that he is not a serious canidate.
If you can’t see that you are beyond help.
February 20, 2011 at 4:19 am, Dmcginity said:
has fox news ever put on faked “documents” on the air right before an election to try to harm a democrat candidate like dan rather and CBS (and the entire rest of the US Media) did for decades to republicans before FNC came along and presented a remotely american favorable view, and kicked the competition’s ass in doing it?
February 21, 2011 at 4:54 am, SISDERTINE said:
Ron Paul Rocks, Fox New’s Kicks Ass!!! Great Americans
February 21, 2011 at 8:23 am, Robert Dewey Evans said:
I feel so betrayed by the news channel I held in such esteem – but no longer, if they would result to this kind of a lie, a spin story “No Spin Zone”… I am so appalled and just pissed off! I will not trust FOX NEWS now – this saddens me to no end. Thanks to Allex Jones (infowars.com) for making me aware of this atrocity. Just Dam!! Read the story and see for your self. Google search “FOX NEWS CAUGHT”.
February 21, 2011 at 1:33 pm, Anonymous said:
Fox, you’re agenda from 2008 is showing, but in your desperation, you’ve become clumsy and overt in your efforts to squash early momentum of support for Paul. Attempting to dismiss this as an ‘accident’ with that lame apology only further damages your credibility.
February 22, 2011 at 2:50 am, ikihi said:
RON PAUL 2012
February 22, 2011 at 11:05 pm, ikihi said:
There is a mainstream media blackout against Ron Paul.
February 24, 2011 at 6:39 pm, Bob Down said:
Yep – manufactured consent.
Have a watch of Max Keisers latest discussion on this topic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hPvRjpRjLg
Take the time to watch all of it – the first part is a bit slow getting to the point.
Max can sometimes be a bit over the top but listen to what’s being said here – this manufactured consent is going to spread online!
The Air Force putting out a software contract for software to manage virtual armies online. Yep – they are coming to invade your twitter, facebook etc with disinformation and manufactured consent
I wonder about some of the comments supporting fox on this blog – makes you wonder if they are real people doesn’t it – I mean who could be so stupid so as to believe fox are wholesome?
February 24, 2011 at 6:41 pm, Bob Down said:
Yep – manufactured consent.
Have a watch of Max Keisers latest discussion on this topic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hPvRjpRjLg
Take the time to watch all of it – the first part is a bit slow getting to the point.
Max can sometimes be a bit over the top but listen to what’s being said here – this manufactured consent is going to spread online!
The Air Force putting out a software contract for software to manage virtual armies online. Yep – they are coming to invade your twitter, facebook etc with disinformation and manufactured consent
I wonder about some of the comments supporting fox on this blog – makes you wonder if they are real people doesn’t it – I mean who could be so stupid so as to believe fox are wholesome?
February 09, 2012 at 4:35 pm, Why is Ron Paul skipping the one event he can actually win? | Death and Taxes said:
[...] somewhere, it would probably be Minnesota.Nonetheless, there is one Republican vote that Paul has dominated as the top dog for the past two years: the CPAC straw poll.Last year Paul’s supporters [...]