Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Defining a News Channel: A Telling Exchange Between Opinion Show Host Geraldo Rivera and News Anchor Bret Baier

Last week Fox News Channel was once again lambasted by the leftist media as a partisan operation functioning as an arm of the RNC, hell-bent on destroying Barack Hussein Obama's Holy regime presidency, after Special Report anchor Bret Baier conducted a well executed and persistent interview with the president.

This is, of course, nothing new; anyone who flips over to CNN or MSNBC from time to time (or checks in here) certainly knows the other cable news networks constantly deride FNC and complain about what they perceive as a bias. Some hosts on other networks essentially make a living petitioning Fox News Channel to no avail, for they who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

As events transpired on the floor of The House of Representatives on Sunday, Fox News Channel carried video feeds in the background during shows throughout the evening as their prime-time hosts offered discussion on this major news story.

However, any time the network broke into coverage of a specific event such as a vote count or a speech on the House floor, the show in progress was preempted and news anchor and Special Report host Bret Baier assumed the role of moderator and anchor.

As the events of the evening came to a close, Geraldo Rivera was to assume hosting duties, as is typical for a Sunday night on FNC. Bret Baier closed his final panel and discussion and offered control to Rivera. As Baier attempted to sign off, Geraldo attempted to engage Bret in a discussion about the historical nature of the evening's events.

I am not here to judge Geraldo for his opinions. Anyone who has watched Geraldo through the years understands that his politics lean somewhere along the lines of moderate Democrat, and that's fine. What I found most fascinating as this transition unfolded was the ability and determination Bret Baier showed to remain the consummate professional in his duties as news anchor.

Geraldo made multiple attempts to bring Baier into a heartfelt and opinion-based discussion about the new legislation, but Baier held his ground. Discussing only facts as they pertained to the points Geraldo was making, Baier displayed exactly why he was chosen to succeed Brit Hume as the primary host of Fox News Channel's political coverage.

Quite simply, this is what makes Fox News Channel the best in cable news.

Compare the professionalism of Bret Baier as seen in the first clip with MSNBC'S coverage of the presidential primary, as seen in the second clip.





Now share this post with a liberal friend or relative who doesn't believe that Fox News Channel is a real news network. They still won't agree with you, but you'll always know you put the truth in front of them and gave them the chance to accept reality....

16 comments:

The Conservative Lady said...

Great example of FNC being the Fair & Balanced news network compared the MSNBC. And what a stark contrast between Jerry Rivers (Geraldo) and Bret Baier.
We saw that live and hubby commented on Bret's not looking too happy about being asked the questions by Geraldo.

Pink Liberty said...

I thought Fox News was very professional and efficient in it's presentation of the healthcare vote. I also the think the general commentary about politics is driven by abstract concepts bent on making the Obama administration look as bad as possible. I watch the talking heads formulate their non-substantive and highly speculative arguments in very creative ways. They are pretty good at it, but it looks forced a lot. It is very biased, and just because other networks are biased in other ways doesn't make Fox less so (and vice versa).

Amusing Bunni said...

I don't get cable, so I missed this Sol, thanks for posting it. I'm glad we have FOX news!

Fuzzy Slippers said...

Baier is a consummate professional and news anchor. He's Fox News. The fringe media gets confused (or actually deliberately confuses) the Fox pundits and opinion show hosts with the actual news reportage, which as you've shown is indeed "fair and balanced."

The fringe media, however, seems to have no similar problem defending Olberman, Madcow, and Matthews as "opinion media." Hmmm.

Woodsterman (Odie) said...

I'm sorry Soloman, the only thing I come away with is my continued hatred for Geraldo Rivera !

One Ticked Chick said...

I didn't see the exchange between Geraldo and Brett Baier. I did however, hear Carl Cameron refer to protestors outside the Capitol on Sunday as hecklers. I was taken aback by that. I like Carl Cameron and believe he does a good job of objective reporting, but for that statement, shame on you Carl, you should know better than that.

Right Ideas said...

Fox news is the only real news channel out there. The others are mouthpieces for the Democrats. It is really sad what our new and reporting has come to.

Kid said...

Bret is extremely capable. I have a lot of respect for his abilities. It's great to know he is there.

Soloman said...

TCL -

I thought the same thing when I watched it live, and picked up on it again watching the clip. Baier looked like he wanted to tell Geraldo to just move on with his own show, but he gracefully held his unbiased position and conversed with him anyway.

Soloman said...

Pink -

I think the general content of most all the media is determined to show Obama in as positive a light as possible - thus the current marketing across all the networks of the sudden "approval" of this disastrous bill, and the painting of Conservatives as violent and hateful.

Fox does tend to be the lone voice making an effort to expose Obama for the mistake that he is.

However, what I point out is that Fox has a news division that holds to straight reporting with no bias. That is what Baier, Shep Smith, Carl Cameron, and Major Garrett (and others) do.

Then you have the opinion shows - Hannity, Beck, etc.

On MSNBC, you get a ton of opinion from people like Contessa Brewer, Andrea Mitchell, and David Schuster, who are supposed to be news people - and then you get Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann calling their programs "news hour" when what they truly are is opinion based upon news events.

Huge difference.

Soloman said...

Bunni -

Always glad to post some good info for you!

I too am glad we have Fox - somebody's got to keep the libs honest!

Soloman said...

Fuzzy -

Agreed. I think Baier has done an exceptional job of filling the shoes of Brit Hume, and if anything he is better at displaying no bias. With Hume during his "panel" segment you could always tell where he was coming from, but Baier really just asks the questions and avoids entering the fray.

Soloman said...

Odie -

Don't hate on the man... he can't help it that he's such a damned goofball...

Soloman said...

Ticked -

I don't know if I saw the scene you describe.

If he was accurately reporting about people along the marching line and they really were shouting at Pelosi and the rest of the libs, then so be it. If I were there, I would have been "heckling" Pelosi and her goon squad, and I wouldn't want Carl to be a shill for a political position - even mine.

However, if he was just standing in front of a generic crowd of Tea Party people and calling them "hecklers" I'd be shocked as well, because he's usually very unbiased.

Soloman said...

Right Ideas -

Generally speaking, you're absolutely correct.

I will admit that on occasion I find a decent interview or discussion on another network, but those instances are becoming more few and farther between - especially since the anointment of Obama.

Soloman said...

Kid -

Agreed. Like I mentioned to Fuzzy, I think he's done an excellent job of replacing Brit Hume, who truly is a legend and was the face of Fox News since its inception.