Politics

‘You lie!’ Clarence Page calls Fox News Channel’s ‘fair and balanced’ slogan ‘worst lie’ of 2010

Jeff Poor Media Reporter
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The dictionary defines lying as making an untrue statement with intent to deceive. So when Fox News calls itself “fair and balanced,” is the network “lying?” According to Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page, the answer is yes.

On the Dec. 26 broadcast of “The McLaughlin Group,” panelists were doling out end-of-the-year awards. One segment was dedicated to the “worst lie” of 2010. Each pundit nominated a worst lie of the year: MSNBC’s Pat Buchanan cited Arizona immigration law, reminding viewers of Nazi Germany; Newsweek’s Eleanor Clift noted the Obama administration’s failed bailout and stimulus policies; FNC’s Monica Crowley said it was a myth that under Obamacare, Americans would keep their health-care plans, and moderator John McLaughlin talked about the idea that Obama had quit smoking.

Page used his turn to take a shot at the Fox News Channel.

“Fox News, ‘fair and balanced,’” Page said. “Second year in a row.”

At the end of 2009, Page took a similar shot at FNC, calling former White House Communications Director Anita Dunn’s claim that FNC is a “wing of the Republican Party” the “fairest rap of 2009.”

At least this year, Page didn’t say “teabaggers” when describing the Tea Party movement.

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