Fair and balanced Fox News aggressively promotes tea party protests

What are you all worried about, these tea party clowns a just a bunch of fringe kooks. The real news isn't even going to cover it....let FOX cover...big wups. You all sound like that little annoying dog barking the corner of the yard just dying for someone to give it attention.

What are you all worried about, these tea party clowns a just a bunch of fringe kooks

Fox News Channel has 1,307,000 viewers on a typical day..

That's either a lot of "fringe kooks" or a tv station trying to make them into ones - wouldn't you say?

~waves my hand~ Hello!!!

Honestly, why do you guys care? No Bush bashing to do any longer?

Yes - these tea parties are nonpartisan. Not just Republicans watch or listen to Fox News. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, there will be at least two tea parties. Our groups are made up of Libertarians (yeah, I know, y'all think we're right wing "fringe kooks"), disenfranchised Republicans, Independents, and even some fed-up Democrats who are sick of the constant bail outs and requests for more money from companies who can't manage the last bail out(s) they got.

I'd say that's pretty bipartisan.

I'm also willing to bet that these middle-class families would be highly offended to hear a bunch of self-righteous nutjobs on the 'Vine - some even on this thread, from the comments I've read - calling them "fringe kooks".

Y'all have nothing better to do than obsess on bashing people who are sick and tired of companies going to that idiot running the Treasury and saying, "Hey, we need more money"? You have to make fools of yourselves by calling regular Americans "fringe kooks" because we're standing against the seemingly free-wheeling spending going on in Washington? I mean, the more you folks whine about Fox and us "kooks", the more ridiculous you sound. Some of you even sound nervous that regular Americans are protesting the endless government hands reaching into our wallets to take out more money everytime someone considers needing a bailout.

"The regular news" has always been so far in the tank for Obama since the early campaign days (I say early because we all know he's still campaigning and not actually leading) that those networks won't cover anything that projects Obama in a bad light - such as Americans protesting against his financial decisions. Oh, and it's not just him we're fed up with....it's Pelosi, Fwrank, Reid, and the rest of the idiots in Washington who should've been put on term limits about 20 years ago. Do you really expect the drooling, Obama-worshipping medial to cover any of these protests? Of course not!

By the way, anyone know what the campaign schedule is today? Do we have more town hall meetings (that he wouldn't do until the very last debate with McCain and now suddenly he's holding them a few times/week)? Is he giving another "Let's give the auto industry a hand up" stump speech? Can he keep his face out of the camera long enough to maybe give the impression he's leading and not just being propped up in front of his teleprompters to deliver another tired old speech?

You declare that Fox is unfair and unbalanced - so why are they the ONLY station (outside of local stations) covering these protests that are going on nationwide. Has most of the nation suddenly turned into "fringe kooks"?? I kind of thought we were supposed to use somewhat credible journalistic sites here on the 'Vine. Most of what I see bashing those of us fed up with Washington's policies are from The Daily Kos, The Huffington Post, and Media Matters. ~laughs~ You all, in general, are quick to bash ANY site that might be conservative-based, while those rags of sensationalistic journalism I've just mentioned are hailed as wonderfully objective, fair, and truthful publications (along with some of those odd blogs folks post from, too).

What I see here are a bunch of slightly anxious ("they're fringe kooks!!!!!!"), blind, rude comments about what everyday Americans are deciding they have had enough of and will no longer continue to tolerate. We're a Republic, not a Democracy, and we're doing nothing different than our founding fathers did when they were sick to death of the rule of an English King. I guess they were "fringe kooks", too, in your eyes.

GeminiGirl,

{{{{{BRAVO!!}}}}}

I knew you were my friend for a reason! :) Although I’m more of a liberal, on some things and a conservative on others, I would have to agree with 98% of what you said! How strange is that? What it comes down to, as you have undoubtedly pointed out, we need to stop with the bickering and find a way to hold our government responsible for this mess. Force them to do what is right, because nothing else matters.

(yeah, I know, y'all think we're right wing "fringe kooks"),

I don't think you're a "fringe kook!" You're my HERO!! :)

Gemini-

Excellent points. Many liberal radicals and those farther to the left fail to notice there are a great many in their democratic party who are already not happy with the direction of the current administration and congress. It is them as well as the rest of us to the right of the aforementioned liberals who are fed up with how our government is running, and the far left can't really wrap their brain around it. It seems the easiest way for them to process this and deal with it is to consider it a 'far right' thing being propogated by FNC. To be fair, Fox News has promoted it as something in protest of the Obama Administrations policies thus far, and that's not exactly true. It's larger than Obama, whatever the left wants to think.

It's not so much about Obama as it is how our governmental body, the congress, has run of late, and I do not mean in the last 3 months. People have been getting fed up and angry with their government for several years now, and it seems BO has inherited a time when much is coming to a head. Our congressional leaders have seemingly forgotten who gave them their power: We The People. It is time to remind them that they do not have power with impunity, that those who put them in office ARE paying attention, and we are asking them to do OUR will.

When the collective american public voted in an even higher congressional majority and Barack Obama, they were voting for the change sold to them. Did they expect that change to be a tripling of the deficit? Did they expect it to be a congress who votes and signs a bill without reading it? Did they expect to get a government who hands out even more money to failing companies, while they lose their jobs? I think not. THAT is what this Tea Party is about.

The tea parties are certainly not bipartisan.

I direct you to their website here. Notice that along with increased government spending, the tea party organizers have thrown in immigration, abortion, wealth redistribution, EFCA, healthcare, green energy, and fear as agenda topics.

The website is a poorly written Republican talking points memo. Of course Republican talking points are still short on what matters most . . . facts. The status quo got us into this mess. How quickly people forget.

fade player: Sorry to disappoint you, but the metro Dallas groups that are having tax day protests are made up of Democrats, Libertarians, Republicans, and Independents. In short, they're made up (and this is also nationwide, unless you're a conspiracy theorist who's decided that the GOP is making us do this) of folks from across all parties who are sick to death of the spend, spend, bailout, and spend more attitude in Washington.

Where were they the last eight years? Why does the website mention abortion? Healthcare? Unions?

Did anyone else hear the news about huge spending cuts on unnecessary military projects?

Define 'Fair and Balanced'. Fox News is just a tool of the government; let's just enjoy the SitComs and rely on someplace else for 'Fair and Balanced' reporting, shall we?

It's not so much about Obama as it is how our governmental body, the congress, has run of late, and I do not mean in the last 3 months. People have been getting fed up and angry with their government for several years now, and it seems BO has inherited a time when much is coming to a head. Our congressional leaders have seemingly forgotten who gave them their power: We The People. It is time to remind them that they do not have power with impunity, that those who put them in office ARE paying attention, and we are asking them to do OUR will.

BINGO, Alexandra!!! Yet, I doubt you'll get much agreement here.

fade player: Sorry to disappoint you, but the metro Dallas groups that are having tax day protests are made up of Democrats, Libertarians, Republicans, and Independents. In short, they're made up (and this is also nationwide, unless you're a conspiracy theorist who's decided that the GOP is making us do this) of folks from across all parties who are sick to death of the spend, spend, bailout, and spend more attitude in Washington.

It's the same here in Houston, too! All parties are participating in this! Who gives a rats a$$ if the website leans toward Republicans? I am a Democrat and I will be going! This has nothing to do with party lines and everything to do with an out of control government! The attitude our elected officials have is "I can do as I please and there is nothing you can do about it" has got to stop!! PERIOD!! And this includes ALL Republicans, and ALL Democrats!! PERIOD!! This attitude has been going on for a long time and both parties are to blame. We have a chance to let them know we will not stand for this any longer!! I’ll be damned if I’m going to let a PETTY thing like "party line" keep me from doing what every American who loves their country should be doing! Anyone who uses "party line" as an excuse, loves their "party" more than their country. You people make me sick!

Absolute,

Why are you going to the tea party? If you aren't going to support the right-wing agenda presented on their website, how will anyone ever know the difference?

Democrats, Libertarians, Republicans, and Independents

Oh please.....save your spin for Faux News!

You folks would have some legitimacy if these "parties" have been going on since Reagan's tax HIKES and the endless defecit spending since....

What's the ratio of Republicans/Libertarians to all other participants? 10 to 1? 20 to 1?

fadeplayed,

Why are you going to the tea party? If you aren't going to support the right-wing agenda presented on their website, how will anyone ever know the difference?

I would suggest you check out your local "tax time tea party" and make your decision on that. From what I have found this is not a "party line" issue.

Here is something that most of you don’t even know. Take a look at this and tell me if this is a party line issue. This government (democrats and republicans) are lying out their a$$ and Tim accidentally admitted it! Straight from the horses mouth. I don’t give a phuck what party you are. I am outraged!! So, let me know if "party" really matters anymore?

Still bailing out the banks in 2010

So you are outraged by the bank bailouts? Me too. For me though, the cause of this mess weighs heavier than the solution. These "tea parties" are a decade too late to address my outrage.

All I can say GeminiGirl is good rebutal. Go catch your breath. I haven't seen anything intelligent or points against what you said from any of the left on this post.

fadeplayer,

If you had looked at the link and read the article you would know it's much bigger than that! With that being said. Your comment only proves your unwillingness to open your eyes! Many in their own party refuse to open their eyes to the big picture. They continue through life believing that "party" matters and that is what makes them an American. But hey, that’s ok!! Thanks for your comment.

There is one other thing I would like to know?

What means more to you? Your Country, or your Party? It’s funny, but I guess this is like asking what means more to you, your spouse or your child? I know. Difficult choice isn’t it?

Is there really anyone who actually thought that these tea parties were nonpartisian? They must absolutely believe that the public does not have functioning brains.

Teresa, are you suggesting Liberals don't have a fuctioning brain? These tea parties are for ANYONE who doesn't support higher taxes, dear.

Yes - these tea parties are nonpartisan. Not just Republicans watch or listen to Fox News. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, there will be at least two tea parties. Our groups are made up of Libertarians (yeah, I know, y'all think we're right wing "fringe kooks"), disenfranchised Republicans, Independents, and even some fed-up Democrats who are sick of the constant bail outs and requests for more money from companies who can't manage the last bail out(s) they got.

GeminiGirl...Dead on comment. Around here, it's a thoroughly nonpartisan issue. In fact, many of our county's Republican Party committee and our Democrat Party committee are riding together. There will also be several people that aren't active politically...they just can't afford to live under Obama Rule.

TaxDayTeaParty.com -- which describes itself as the "Online HQ for the April 15th Nationwide Tax Day Tea Party Rallies" -- states: "The Tea Party protests, in their current form, began in early 2009 when Rick Santelli, the On Air Editor for CNBC, set out on a rant to expose the bankrupt liberal agenda of the White House Administration and Congress. Specifically, the flawed 'Stimulus Bill' and pork filled budget."

Is that the part of the article that I didn't read Absolute? Or was it this part of the article?

In the case of the current crisis the blame appears to have been assigned almost totally to Obama, at least by the thousands of U.S. taxpayers attending near-spontaneous "tea parties" in protest of the Democrats agenda of more taxes, increased spending, higher deficits and a surge of borrowing to pay for it all.

Sounds kinda partisan so far, but wait there's more:

TaxDayTeaParty.com lists Fox News contributors Michelle Malkin and Tammy Bruce as "Tea Party Sponsors." The sponsors section also lists American Solutions for Winning the Future, whosegeneral chairman is Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich.

Malkin, Bruce, and Gingrich . . . bipartisan? I'm beginning to think you were right; one of us didn't read the article. You should check it out.

BTW, this just in today on the bailout tip . . . Wells Fargo intends to repay the treasury all 25 billion dollars loaned to it by the end of the year. Hurray.

fadeplayer,

HOUSTON TEA PARTY

For Release: Wednesday, April 8 / Contact: Lanelle Samms . (281) 480-3768 . samms@hal-pc.org

Houston Tea Party Set For Tax Day

(Houston, Tx.—April 8, 2009) It’s a Tea Party—and it’s revolutionary!!! On Tax Day, Wednesday, April 15, at 4:00 p.m., taxpayers from across Houston and Southeast Texas will gather in downtown Houston at Jones Plaza to protest unprecedented government spending in Washington. Wednesday is the deadline for mailing federal income taxes.

Jones Plaza is located in the theater district across the street from Jones Hall, at

601 Louisiana at Capital. The venue was changed from the earlier announced location, when interest from the public grew and more space was needed.

The Houston Tea Party Society is a non-partisan, grass-roots organization of citizen taxpayers demanding the roll-back of unprecedented spending legislation and socialist policy in Washington that threatens to erode our freedoms and put our children and grandchildren in debt for decades.

“Our commitment is to economic liberty,” said Tea Party organizer Felicia Cravens. “We’re not defined by party politics----in fact, it is Washington politics that brought us here. ‘We the people’ want Washington to start listening—and not just to the special interests!! If they don’t listen, we will find new leaders.”

Our U.S. Congress:

- voted for the $787 billion stimulus package without even reading it

- Packed $7 billion in earmarks to special interests into the ‘09 Omnibus Spending Bill

- passed a budget expected to “double the publicly held national debt, to over $15 trillion”*

Washington is taking our hard-earned wealth and redistributing it to others; punishing those who practice responsible financial behavior, rewarding those who do not; abandoning free market principles; and putting future generations in debt.

The Houston Tea Party website is located at http//houstontps.org. The Society is planning future events, including a rally on July 4, Independence Day.

Houston is one of at least 350 American cities and communities across America where thousands will protest on April 15—it is expected to be the largest multi-city, mass gathering in U.S. history.

The Tea Party movement was inspired by the Chicago group that sprung up after CNBC reporter Rick Santelli aired traders at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange expressing their anger about the mortgage bailout. Santelli challenged Chicago to have a tea party in the Revolutionary spirit of the Founding Fathers.

fadeplayer

Here.........&........Here

This Tea Party if for everyone!

Well I guess if they say it . . . it must be true. I chose to check out the sponsors listed at houstontps.org. Anyone that is buying this non partisan bull should check out the sponsors too.

http://www.americansforprosperity.org Catchy name, all partisan agenda.

http://www.conservadoralliance.org Right wing ACORN? Nice.

http://futureofthehcrp.org Harris County Republican Party (no explanation needed)

http://priceofbusiness.com/ with Kevin Price (does he know his name is in the address?)

http://www.ragingelephants.net/ Sounds like an angry GOP site . . . it is.

http://www.thecivilrightonline.com Way more "right" than civil.

I know a lot of you are asking, "If this thing is non-partisan; where are the moderate sponsors?" I'm sorry, I just can't find any. Could you help me out Absolute?

fadeplayer,

I have a couple other things to check out and will get back to you.

Is that the part of the article that I didn't read Absolute? Or was it this part of the article?

No! There was a link on my other comment that I wanted you to check out, but you missed it. Let me help you out. :)

Click here.

I hope you will read it. :)

I really just wish you guys would have sent your tea bags to Bill Clinton, Phil Gramm, and the 90 senators that voted "aye" on the Gramm-Leach-Bliley act of 1999. You could have done a lot more good then. Now, it just comes off as whining.

But in all seriousness, the top marginal tax rate is going up 3% points. Does that really require a tea party. Do you pay in that bracket Absolute?

Tea party supporters say their reasons for demonstrating on Fountain Square are simple. “To actually show the state and federal government that we’re displeased with the way that they’re handling our money. That’s our money,” said George Piper.And: “This is not a Democrat thing. Or a Republican thing. It’s a government thing.”

Absolute zero, This is a partisan event. It is disingenuous for fox to claim anything else.

Well that certainly explains why I'm riding with our Dem. County Supervisor. I'll tell him he's a closet Conservative because Teresa said so. I think he'll be surprised. I'm betting he believes he's going to this event because he can't survive under these rising taxes that CONGRESS passed.

They're even posting NON PARTISAN tea party invitations on craigslist!

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/eve/1062555868.html

It's amazes me sometimes.

We go through 8 years of the biggest, unfunded expansion in U.S. government history and no one makes a peep. Then we get Barack Obama; he wants to raise the top effective tax rate to 32.8%, and people start tea bagging.

The overall effective tax burden is decreasing, I repeat, decreasing by .02% points from the Bush tax plan. You are throwing a anti-taxation tea party amidst a substantial tax reduction.

Have fun. I hope "they" get the message.

But in all seriousness, the top marginal tax rate is going up 3% points. Does that really require a tea party. Do you pay in that bracket Absolute?

No, I wouldn't say that I do.

I’ve tried to show you, and explain why all people should get involved in this and you don’t take me serious. I’m done wasting my time with you on this matter. I wish you the best of luck, fadeplayer. Take care!

First: The message is clear and non partisan- that present AND FUTURE proposals will raise taxes in oneway or another on all Americans whether it be income tax or energy tax or whatever. and FOX news is reporting it correctly, while the faux news (that is MSNBC) will i'm sure mimimize it.

Second: did anyone else laugh their butt of at the notion of FOX news as a tool of government?

Third: most Conseratives admit that the Bush years were not full of conservative policies, which is why 4 more years of even more tax and spend is driving people over the edge. There were peeps about how Bush overspent, but they were drowned out with the puerile Will Farrell type satires- which is how libs avoid getting to the real point, preferring to belittle someone's, i.e. Bush's speech (which is why I was not surprised Obama makes fum of the Special Olympics -liberals are allowed to say anything because, after all, we know they care!) rather than face the issues.

Conservatives saw this coming, which is why we hated the fact since a liberal ran against a radical liberal in the last election we had little choice.

Fourth- of course such over funded, bloated proposals and legislation such as the health care. green initiatives etc are going to be a part of this- they are the foundation of where the money is being wasted, without these excuses the administration couldn't dupe people into buying the spending bills.

And finally, I can't believe there is one thinking person in this country who really thinks their total tax burden will be increased during the next 3 years 9-1/2 months (and counting) of this administration. By 2012 the only people not voting Conservative will be those too poor to afford away to the voting booth.

The message is clear and non partisan- that present AND FUTURE proposals will raise taxes in oneway or another on all Americans whether it be income tax or energy tax or whatever. and FOX news is reporting it correctly

That's actually not part of any plan right now; I'm not ruling some higher taxes out in the future, but the plan simply doesn't exist; therefore, all reporting on the issue is pure speculation.

most Conseratives admit that the Bush years were not full of conservative policies, which is why 4 more years of even more tax and spend is driving people over the edge. There were peeps about how Bush overspent,

Anyone remember, "Deficits don't matter?" First uttered by Dick Cheney, and parroted on Fox during every budget debate.

of course such over funded, bloated proposals and legislation such as the health care. green initiatives etc are going to be a part of this- they are the foundation of where the money is being wasted, without these excuses the administration couldn't dupe people into buying the spending bills.

You are almost correct . . . energy and health care (and defense) is where the money is being wasted; however, it is being wasted there right now, and the ideas are to lessen the burden of these already huge burdens. Only 50% of the energy that we produce makes it to its destination in this country. How much does that cost us? We already pay for healthcare for anyone that needs it, we just have to pay astronomical prices for ER visits, and huge costs bulking up the insurance company's bottom line.

If you have to drop $1,000 a week into a car to keep it running, you are justified in buying a new car. Get it?

"Country First" . . . invest in it.

Health care costs will not be solved by throwing a huge pile of money at them as a first step. They need to be allowed to float in the free market.

Energy? We need to invest first in cost efficient energy sources. As these become more expensive the free market will create a need for alternatives, and as those alternatives become viable they will naturally be implemented.

Defense? This is a separate issue, better discussed in a separate thread, but suffice it it is a judgement call how much is enough to protect us and our allies, and how little before we sacrifice our allies and become isolationist. The side issue naturally is cost over runs, but that is, again, a separate issue.

Your example of a car costing $1000 a week makes my point. The best thing to do is to get a better, cheaper, more efficient option, not just walk into a dealership and say "I'd like to spend $50,000 for a car, but here is $500,000. $50,000 for the car, another $150,000 to hire someone to pick out the car, another $150,000 to study which one is best for me, and another $150,000 to create a job washing it.

That is the Obama way, and don't see country first anywhere.

Despite how you may find it represented on Fox News and talk radio, "throwing a huge pile of money" is what we do now, not what we should be doing in the final healthcare plan. I remain hopeful that a structured, cost efficient coverage system will be put in place, but I doubt that that can be accomplished with piecemeal ideas designed to cater to moderate Republicans. Single-payer still remains our best option for lowering the overall cost of healthcare in the country, but the insurance lobby is entrenched within both parties.

Defense is a separate issue . . . and it is being addressed this week. There's been lots of interesting news about taxpayer money being saved on superfluous projects. So I thought amidst all of this teabaggery, it would be a great time to bring it up.

Cost efficient energy sources are exactly what we need . . . better yet, a smart grid that eliminates 75%-85% of our energy waste right now. I don't know if they talk about it on Fox News; but the word on the street is that fossil fuels are finite and running out. We burn twice as much coal than we need to, simply because we are lacking a smarter energy grid. I believe that funding for a smart grid was included in the legislation that got everybody so damn teabag happy.

We have taken the ostrich's approach to every domestic issue for far to long. We can't keep kicking the can because we are running out of road. Protecting the status quo created this @!$%#storm, and the election was a vote for change. It's happening, and I suspect it will turn out a lot better than you think.

Of course they are finite, that's my point. As they become rarer and harder to obtain, alternative energy sources will naturally become viable- and the sooner it is used, the sooner it will become less attractive. But I guess when Washington is run by people with little or no private sector experience, it stands to reason they wouldn't realize this.

Smart grid is about the scariest idea I have heard in a long time. To automatically regulate each home? Ridiculous.( Aside from the fact Obama will override it to get the 79 degree oval office temperature he loves), it will force people to look for ways,for example, to override the system inefficiently- the same as anyone who has lived in a heat controlled building knows how to do-and that is reality, not the silly commercials that paint the illusion of utopia on television.

And thats not even addressing the issue of being vulnerable to hackers, being cost prohibitive- the list goes on.

We have been obstructed in having a smart energy program, but not in he way it is spun to us.

Clean burning coal plants are not pushed enough. Getting fuel from the tar fields in Canada. Safe, 4th generation Nuclear power plants are of the table,yet inefficient renewable energy sources that have to be massively subsidized are promoted by left coasters.

I'm afraid it will be even worse than imagine, just as the first months of this administration, and previous reckless Bush spending like a social liberal has opened the door for this catastrophe, giving head in the sand libs a reason to ignore the dangers and say "well Bush did it and no one complained"

Because all of the rest are so fair and balanced.

So then can you name the party's they are in?

OMG Glenn Beck in San Antonio?!?!? /sarcasm

I'm not sure what I'd say if I ever met him... How do you start a conversation with a person like that? lol

Because all of the rest are so fair and balanced.

If that means that they don't repeat RNC talking points, then yes they are.

San Antonio- Glenn Bleck

Washington D.C. -Greta

I would say that these tea parties might be a great time to organize a peaceful protest of the unbalanced and unfair FNC. Nothing that faux likes better than a peaceful march it seems.

Ummmm...you DO know that Glenn is a Libertarian and Greta is a registered Democrat whose husband worked on the Kerry campaign, right?

All media outlets put their own spin on reality, and anyone that thinks that there is any real difference between Republicans and Democrats is naive. It is like good cop bad cop or pro wrestling. They just serve themselves and their own, either that or they just hate us.

uhm, Pat, you do know that Greta's husband is one of Sarah Palins most avid supporters.

Is this another thing that's true because Teresa says it is? Her husband (John P Coale) donated over $28,000 over the past year to DEMS, Teresa. Not a penny to Palin.