Leadership, Messaging, Strategic Blueprints, Views on News • October 20th, 2009

Obama vs. Fox

by Chris Lato

The White House has an ax to grind with Fox News. The question is whether this is really a wise battle to be engaging in.

On the one hand, we have Jacob Weisberg calling Fox News un-American and heavily biased. So sayeth the author of ‘The Bush Tragedy.’

On the other hand, William Murchison with the Dallas Morning News argues President Obama has an ‘enemies fetish’ and Ruth Marcus at the Washington Post says picking this fight is ‘dumb.’  

Some may wonder whether the White House should have more important things to be worried about right now, or whether they have the same concerns about perceived bias at MSNBC (to cite just one example).  Also: should questions of free speech and freedom of the press be considered here? The comments, coming directly from the White House, are a bit ominous.

This brouhaha, minor though it may ultimately be, harkens back to a time when ‘the vast right-wing conspiracy’ was working to bring down President Clinton.

As a PR tactic, the White House seems locked in campaign mode – that is to say, a constant opponent offers them something to run against and rally around.

And, softball questions in public venues from cute little kids aside, skepticism and tough criticism in tough times comes with the job. Surely the President understands this. After all, even President Bush had a bit of media criticism to deal with every once in a while.

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