CNN haplessly bashes Fox News

image by rees

article from Don Surber
June 7, 2009

The CNN argument is Fox’s rating went up because Bush was president — and then went up because Obama is president. Oh, the excuses are delicious.

First, let me tip the fedora to Ed Driscoll, who plucked a post at Huffington Post by CNN co-founder Reese Schonfeld.

Fox News has been No. 1 for seemingly 100 years now.

It is only 9.

Schonfeld: “Nine years ago, when FoxNews sprinted past CNN to become America’s number one news network, I attributed its ratings gains to the election of George Bush and the triumph of Fox-watching conservatives. I figured conservatives would be savoring their victory while liberals were averting their eyes in disgust.”

OK, got you. Those dumb-ass, gap-toothed hillbillies clinging to their guns (me) watched because Bush was elected, but would stop watching once Bush failed.

But that did not happen. So what is the story this year?

Schonfeld: “There’s no need to throw any more numbers at you – Fox is gaining, CNN is wilting. Why is this happening when the country still seems about 58-42* in favor of Obama? My best guess is the passion of those who detest Democrats, liberals, and in particular, Barack Obama.”

* Obama actually won the election 53-47, not 58-42.

I see. We dumb-ass, gap-toothed hillbillies clinging to our guns watch Fox News because we hate Obama.

Or maybe we watch because we can trust Fox News but not CNN. Oh, I know the conservative hosts well — O’Reilly, Hannity, Beck, maybe Van Susteren. But I also know the real newsmen — Shep Smith and Bret Baier. I can discern between opinion and fact.

Speaking of Beck and Van Susteren, CNN might wonder why their numbers are dramatically higher on Fox News than on CNN.

CNN has lost its credibility over the years by repeatedly favoring the left over the right. Its coverage of the Gulf War was atrocious. Its bureau in Baghdad covered up the crimes of Saddam Hussein.

CNN lost me as a viewer long before Fox News came along. I would watch, get disgusted with the bias and turn the damned thing off.

Schonfeld wants to have it both ways. President Bush brought in viewers to Fox. President Obama brought in viewers to Fox. Guess what? Unless CNN starts playing fair and balanced with the news — until it stops treating conservatives like so many old coots — President 45 will send viewers to Fox, as will every president after that.

Trust.

I can trust Fox. I cannot trust CNN. Even if there were no Fox, I would not watch CNN.

Click to read the comments and more articles at Don Surber