No, the WH war on Fox News is not over

The Chi-Trib’s Swamp blog reports on something many of us predicted at the time of the so-called “truce” made between Fox News and the Obama admin: That it was a TINO (Truce In Name Only). Peter Nicholas writes (via Memeorandum):

At least one Democratic political strategist has gotten a blunt warning from the White House to never appear on Fox News Channel, an outlet that presidential aides have depicted as not so much a news-gathering operation as a political opponent bent on damaging the Obama administration.

Political consultants are a staple of cable television talk shows, analyzing current events based on their own experiences working on campaigns or in government.

One Democratic strategist said that shortly after an appearance on Fox he got a phone call from a White House official telling him not to be a guest on the show again. The call had an intimidating tone, he said.

The message was, “We better not see you on again,” said the strategist, who spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to run afoul of the White House. An implicit suggestion, he said, was that “clients might stop using you if you continue.”

In urging Democratic consultants to spurn Fox, White House officials might be trying to isolate the network and make it appear more partisan.

Threats? Bullying? Trying to isolate your opponent? It’s all part of the Chicago-On-Potomac/Saul Alinsky Way, baby.

One Dem strategist interviewed by Nicholas says he knows it’s happened to other liberal strategists and his sentiment about it is right on:

White House Communications Director Anita Dunn said Thursday night that she had checked with colleagues who “deal with TV issues” and they had not told people to avoid Fox. On the contrary, they had urged people to appear on the network, Dunn wrote in an email.

But Patrick Caddell, a Fox News contributor and a former pollster for Democratic President Jimmy Carter, said he has spoken to Democratic consultants who have been told by the White House to avoid appearances on Fox. He declined to give their names.

Caddell said he had not gotten that message himself from the White House. “They know better than to tell me anything like that,” he said.

Caddell added: “I have heard that they’ve done that to others in not too subtle ways. I find it appalling. When the White House gets in the business of suppressing dissent and comment, particularly from its own party, it hurts itself.”

And this country, too.

McQ responds:

I’m not sure how anyone can be surprised by such tactics. No one is surprised when a jackal acts like a jackal are they? Then why should anyone be surprised when an Alinsky trained Chicago politician acts like an Alinsky trained Chicago politician?

Would now be a good time to ask how the left would be reacting had such a concerted effort against any left wing MSM outlet taken place by the Bush administration? And perhaps more importantly, can we question their patriotism yet? :-?

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