The Fox Effect: How Roger Ailes Turned a Network into a Propaganda Machine

by David Brock

  25. Testimony of Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez.

  26. Ryan J. Reilly, “The Black Panther Case: A Legacy of Politicized Hiring,” Main Justice, December 23, 2009, www.mainjustice.com/2009/12/23/the-black-panther-case-a-legacy-of-politicized-hiring/.

  27. Ryan J. Reilly, “Adams Hired for Conservative Credentials, Former DOJ Official Says,” Main Justice, July 6, 2010, www.mainjustice.com/2010/07/06/adams-hired-for-conservative-credentials-former-doj-official-says/.

  28. America’s Newsroom, Fox News Channel, June 30, 2010; “Fox Hypes GOP Activist’s ‘Explosive New Allegations’ Against Obama DOJ,” MediaMatters.org, June 30, 2010, mediamatters.org/research/201006300064.

  29. Erick Erickson, “King Samir Shabazz Should Be 2010’s Willie Horton,” RedState (blog), July 13, 2010, www.redstate.com/erick/2010/07/13/king-samir-shabazz-should-be-2010s-willie-horton/.

  30. The Glenn Beck Program, Premiere Radio Networks, July 9, 2010; “Beck Says New Black Panthers Are Part of Obama’s ‘Party of Thugs,’ ” MediaMatters.org, July 9, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201007090026.

  31. The Glenn Beck Program, Premiere Radio Networks, July 12, 2008; “Beck: They Want a Race War … and Our Government Is Going to Stand By and Let Them Do It,” MediaMatters.org, July 12, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201007120021.

  32. Ben Smith, “A Conservative Dismisses Right-Wing Black Panther ‘Fantasies,’ ” Politico, July 19, 2010, www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/39861.html.

  Chapter 9: A Vote for Liberty

  1. Hannity, Fox News Channel, January 8, 2010; “Fox News Provides MA Senate Candidate Brown a Forum to Raise Funds and Misinform,” MediaMatters.org, January 12, 2010, mediamatters.org/research/201001120029.

  2. On the Record, Fox News Channel, January 11, 2010; “Fox News Provides MA Senate Candidate Brown a Forum.”

  3. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel, January 14, 2010; “Fox News’ Campaign for Brown,” MediaMatters.org, January 19, 2010, mediamatters.org/research/201001190049.

  4. “Huckabee Sends Viewers to His PAC Under Guise of Signing a Petition,” MediaMatters.org, October 5, 2009, mediamatters.org/research/200910050002.

  5. Huckabee, Fox News Channel, October 4, 2009; “Huckabee Sends Viewers to His PAC.”

  6. E‑mail from Mike Huckabee; “Huck PAC—Which Huckabee Promoted on Fox News—Now Soliciting Donations for Campaigns Against Democrats,” MediaMatters.org, November 10, 2009, mediamatters.org/research/200911100002.

  7. Hannity, Fox News Channel, January 11, 2010; “More Fox Advocacy: Morris Tells Hannity Audience to ‘Please, Please Help’ Brown Win MA Senate Seat,” MediaMatters.org, January 11, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201001110059.

  8. Dick Morris and Eileen McGann, “Urgent: Help Us Win in Massachusetts,” DickMorris.com (blog), dickmorris.com/blog/urgent-help-us-win-in-massachusetts.

  9. “Keith Olbermann Suspended over Political Donations,” MSNBC.com, November 5, 2010, www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40028929/ns/politics-decision_2010/t/keith-olbermann-suspended-over-political-donations/.

  10. “Fox News’ Campaign for Brown.”

  11. State of the Union, CNN, October 4, 2009, transcripts.cnn.com/transcripts/0910/04/sotu.05.html.

  12. State of the Union, CNN, May 10, 2009, transcripts.cnn.com/transcripts/0905/10/sotu.01.html.

  13. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel, January 11, 2010; “Fox News’ Campaign for Brown.”

  14. Hannity, Fox News Channel, January 18, 2010; “Quick Fact: Hannity Revives Distortions of Coakley’s Remarks About ‘Terrorists’ and Catholics in ERs,” MediaMatters.org, January 19, 2010, mediamatters.org/research/201001190001.

  15. Glenn Beck, Fox News Channel, January 18, 2010; “ ‘Religious Bigotry’: Beck Smears Coakley over Her Remarks on Emergency Room Procedures and Treatments,” MediaMatters.org, January 18, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201001180017.

  16. Jim Hoft, “Game-Changer—Martha Coakley: Devout Catholics ‘Probably Shouldn’t Work in the Emergency Room’ ” Gateway Pundit (blog), January 14, 2010, gatewaypundit.rightnetwork.com/2010/01/game-changer-martha-coakley-devout-catholics-probably-shouldnt-work-in-the-emergency-room-video/; “Coakley: Catholics Shouldn’t Work in the ER,” FoxNation.com, January 15, 2010, nation.foxnews.com/Martha-coakley/2010/01/15/coakley-catholics-shouldnt-work-er.

  17. Ken Pittman Show, WBSM-AM, January 14, 2010; “Fox News’ Campaign for Brown.”

  18. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel, January 19, 2010; MediaMatters.org, January 19, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201001190006.

  19. “Brown Win Could Cause Huge Stock Rally,” FoxNation.com, January 18, 2010, nation.foxnews.com/business/2010/01/18/brown-win-could-cause-huge-stock-rally.

  20. FoxNation.com, January 18, 2010; “Non-‘Biased’ Fox Nation Promotes Video Claiming a ‘Vote for Scott Brown Is a Vote for Liberty,’ ” County Fair (blog), MediaMatters.org, January 18, 2010, mediamatters.org/blog/201001180015.

  21. Lee Fang, “Carl Cameron Gets Chummy with Brown Supporters, Ducks Question of Fox News’ Ethics,” ThinkProgress.org, January 19, 2010, thinkprogress.org/politics/2010/01/19/77913/fox-ethics-brown/.

  22. Philip Rucker and Eli Saslow, “Gov. Palin Says She Will Quit, Citing Probes, Family Needs,” Washington Post, July 4, 2009, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/03/AR2009070301738.html.

  23. Ibid.

  24. Katie Couric, CBS News interview with Sarah Palin, September 30, 2008.

  25. Rich Lowry, “Palin on CBS,” The Corner (blog), National Review Online, September 27, 2008, www.nationalreview.com/corner/170741/palin-cbs/rich-lowry.

  26. David Carr, “AP Fact-Checks Sarah Palin Book,” Media Decoder (blog), New York Times, November 16, 2009, mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/the-ap-fact-checks-palins-book/.

  27. The Glenn Beck Program, Premiere Radio Networks, January 14, 2010, www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/35049/.

  28. Brian Stelter, “A Host Defends Her Brand,” New York Times, May 24, 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/05/25/

  business/media/25greta.html.

  29. Ibid.

  30. Interview with Media Matters for America conducted by Joe Strupp. May 16, 2010.

  31. Ibid.

  32. The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel, November 19, 2009.

  33. Chris Ariens, “Ratings for Sarah Palin Debut on Fox News,” TVNewser (blog), MediaBistro.com, April 2, 2010, www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/ratings-for-sarah-palin-debut-on-fox-news_b24948.

  Chapter 10: One Million Dollars

  1. Lauren Weppler, “A FOX News Analyst Comes to Town,” WTAP-TV, September 1, 2010, www.wtap.com/news/headlines/102032563.html?ref=563.

  2. “Report: More Than 30 Fox Newsers Support GOP in 600-Plus Instances During Midterms,” MediaMatters.org, October 27, 2010, mediamatters.org/research/201010270005.

  3. Ibid.

  4. Ibid.

  5. Dara Kam, “Attorney General Candidate Bondi Makes Final Push for GOP Support,” Palm Beach Post, August 20, 2010, www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/attorney-general-candidate-bondi-makes-final-push-for-870595.html.

  6. Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, University of California, San Francisco, legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/wra83b00/pdf?search=%22ailes%22.

  7. Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, University of California, San Francisco, legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/htu63b00/pdf?search=%22ailes%22.

  8. The Glenn Beck Program, Premiere Radio Networks, October 14, 2009; MediaMatters.org, October 14, 2009, mediamatters.org/mmtv/200910140013.

  9. Joe Strupp, “News Corp. Million Dollar Donation Sparks Ethics Concerns,” County Fair (blog), MediaMatters.org, August 18, 2010, mediamatters.org/blog/201008180066.

  10. Ben Smith, “Fox Parent Gives $1 Million to RGA,” Politico, August 16, 2010, www.politico.com/blogs

  /bensmith/0810/Fox_parent_gives_1_million_

  to_RGA.html.

  11. Keach Hagey, “Kasich Inspired News Corp.’s RGA Gift,” Politico, October 6, 2010, www.politico.com/

  blogs/onmedi
a/1010/Kasich_inspired_News_Corps_

  RGA_gift.html.

  12. “The Chamber’s Latest Ad Aims to Mislead AZ Voters,” PoliticalCorrection.org, October 22, 2010, politicalcorrection.org/adcheck/201010220012.

  13. “The Chamber of Commerce’s Health Care Lies Keep Getting ‘Worse,’ ” PoliticalCorrection.org, October 8, 2010, politicalcorrection.org/adcheck/201010080009.

  14. “The Chamber of Commerce’s Deeply Dishonest Attack on Grayson,” PoliticalCorrection.org, October 8, 2010, politicalcorrection.org/adcheck/201010080016.

  15. Alan Pike, “Astroturfing the Airwaves: 20 Largest Right-Wing Groups Bought 144,000 TV Ads, 77% Anonymously Funded,” blog at PoliticalCorrection.org, November 9, 2010, politicalcorrection.org/blog/201011090001.

  16. Keach Hagey, “Kasich Inspired News Corp.’s RGA Gift,” Politico, October 6, 2010, www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/1010/Kasich_inspired _News_Corps_RGA_gift.html.

  17. Sarah Pavlus, “AUDIO: Murdoch Says News Corp. Donations Were in Interest of ‘Shareholders and the Country,’ ” County Fair (blog), MediaMatters.org, October 15, 2010, mediamatters.org/blog/201010150017.

  18. The Glenn Beck Program, Premiere Radio Networks, October 14, 2010; “Beck: The Chamber of Commerce Is ‘Our Parents, Our Grandparents—They Are Us,’ ” MediaMatters.org, October 14, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201010140033.

  19. Paul Bedard, “Glenn Beck Sparks Record Donations to Chamber of Commerce,” US News and World Report, October 21, 2010, www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2010/10/21/glenn-beck-sparks-record-donations-to-chamber-of-commerce.

  20. Glenn Beck Tracking Footage, November 21, 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VSwvt778rY.

  21. Ibid.

  22. The Glenn Beck Program, Premiere Radio Networks, June 18, 2010; “Beck Says It’s ‘Divine Providence’ 8–28 Rally Is on Same Day as MLK Speech, Adds: ‘It’s Time We Picked That Dream Back Up,’ ” MediaMatters.org, June 18, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201006180017.

  23. The Glenn Beck Program, Premiere Radio Networks, June 15, 2010; “Beck: At 8–28 Rally, We Will ‘Pick Up Martin Luther King’s Dream That Has Been Distorted,’ ” MediaMatters.org, June 15, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201006150013.

  24. The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel, August 19, 2010; “O’Reilly Hosts Beck to Promote 8–28 Rally: ‘I Don’t Think Black People Own the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King,’ ” MediaMatters.org, August 19, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201008190066.

  25. Glenn Beck, Fox News Channel, May 7, 2010; “Beck Pushes His August 28 Rally in D.C.: ‘The Capitol Will Fix Itself if We Just Stand Between Washington and Lincoln,’ ” MediaMatters.org, May 7, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201005070040.

  26. Restoring Honor, C-SPAN, August 28, 2010; “Beck Introduces the New ‘Black Robe Regiment,’ ” MediaMatters.org, August 28, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201008280018.

  27. Restoring Honor, C-SPAN, August 28, 2010; “Beck: 25 Years from Now, ‘the Next George Washington’ in His Audience Will Stand at Lincoln Memorial and Proclaim, ‘I Have a New Dream,’ ” MediaMatters.org, August 28, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201008280021.

  28. The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel, September 15, 2010; “Fox News Contributor Sarah Palin Advises GOP Candidate O’Donnell to ‘Speak Through Fox News,’ ” MediaMatters.org, September 15, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201009150072.

  29. Hannity, Fox News Channel, September 21, 2010; “O’Donnell Follows Palin’s Advice, Speaks Through Sean Hannity,” County Fair (blog), MediaMatters.org, September 21, 2010, mediamatters.org/blog/201009210070.

  30. Ibid.

  31. Felicia Sonmez, “Christine O’Donnell: I’m Not Doing Any More National TV Interviews,” The Fix (blog), Washington Post, September 21, 2010, voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/christine-odonnell-im-not-doin.html.

  32. Joe Strupp, “Fox News Source: O’Donnell Chose Hannity to Get ‘Certain Kind of Treatment,’ ” County Fair (blog), MediaMatters.org, September 22, 2010, mediamatters.org/blog/201009220037.

  33. The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel, September 15, 2010; “Fox News Contributor Sarah Palin Advises GOP Candidate O’Donnell.”

  34. Howard Fineman, “Christine O’Donnell Tells GOPers: ‘I’ve Got Sean Hannity in My Back Pocket,’ ” Huffington Post, October 14, 2010, www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/14/christine-odonnell-sean-hannity-republicans-fundraising_n_763487.html.

  35. Hannity, Fox News Channel, September 15, 2010; “Hannity Hosts O’Donnell to Thank Him and Direct His Viewers to Her Website,” MediaMatters.org, September 15, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201009150067.

  36. Hannity, Fox News Channel, October 7, 2010; “Hannity: Nevada Voters ‘Have a Duty’ to Throw Reid out of Congress,” MediaMatters.org, October 7, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201010070058.

  37. Hannity, Fox News Channel, June 14, 2010; “HannityPAC: The GOP’s Man Inside Fox,” MediaMatters.org, November 2, 2010, mediamatters.org/research/201011020013.

  38. Jon Ralston, “I Made $236,000 off Rush Limbaugh, and Hannity Was Profitable, Too,” Las Vegas Sun, September 21, 2010, www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/ralstons-flash/2010/sep/21/angle-i-made-236000-rush-limbaugh-and-hannity-was-/.

  39. David Brody, “Exclusive: Sharron Angle Talks to the Brody File,” The Brody File (blog), CBN News, July 14, 2010, blogs.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/archive/2010

  /07/14/exclusive-sharron-angle-talks-to-the-brody-

  file.aspx.

  40. Hannity, Fox News Channel, October 8, 2010; MediaMatters.org, October 8, 2010, mediamatters.org/blog/201010080003.

  41. Hannity, Fox News Channel, June 10, 2010; MediaMatters.org, June 10, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201006100066.

  42. Emily Cadei, “NRCC Raises $7 Million at Annual Dinner,” CQ Roll Call’s The Eye, March 23, 2010, blogs.cqrollcall.com/eyeon2010/2010/03/nrcc-raises-7-million-for-tues.html. This blog post has since been taken down.

  43. David Saltonstall, “Giuliani’s Fox-y Pal Cash Flap,” Daily News (New York), August 19, 2007, www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2007/08/19/2007–08–19_giulianis_foxy_pal_cash_flap.html.

  44. The Sean Hannity Show, ABC News Radio, September 20, 2005; “Hannity Pledged ‘Maximum’ Contribution to Clinton Challenger Pirro, Asked Listeners to Donate Too,” MediaMatters.org, September 20, 2005, mediamatters.org/mmtv/200509200007.

  45. Saltonstall, “Giuliani’s Fox-y Pal Cash Flap.”

  46. Jana Winter, “EXCLUSIVE: Aide to Harry Reid Lied to Feds, Submitted False Documents About Sham Marriage,” FoxNews.com, October 25, 2010, www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10/25/exclusive-aide-to-harry-reid-lied-to-feds-submitted-false-documents-about-sham-marriage/.

  47. Ibid.

  48. Special Report, Fox News Channel, October 27, 2010; “Hatchet Job: Fox Crops Reid Statement to Pretend He Has a Political Scandal,” October 28, 2010, mediamatters.org/research/201010280001.

  49. Ibid.

  50. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel, October 26, 2010; “Fox Kicks Off GOP GOTV Efforts by Almost Exclusively Hosting Republicans,” MediaMatters.org, October 27, 2010, mediamatters.org/research/201010270027.

  51. Glenn Beck, Fox News Channel, October 26, 2010; “Fox Kicks Off GOP GOTV Efforts.”

  52. Hannity, Fox News Channel, October 26, 2010; “Fox Kicks Off GOP GOTV Efforts.”

  53. Ibid.

  54. Ibid.

  55. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel, October 26, 2010; “Fox Kicks Off GOP GOTV Efforts,” MediaMatters.org, October 27, 2010, mediamatters.org/research/201010270027.

  56. Interview with Media Matters for America conducted by Joe Strupp, May 17, 2011.

  57. Michael Tomasky, “Obama and the Bus, Which Was Not a Bus at All,” Guardian.co.uk, October 28, 2010,

  www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/

  2010/oct/28/barack-obama-fox-news-back-seat-of-car.

  58. Hannity, Fox News Channel, October 26, 2010; “Unreal: Fox News Claims Obama Invoked Racial Segregation with His Car Analogy,” MediaMatters.org, October 27, 2010, mediamatters.org/rese
arch/201010270029.

  59. Ibid.

  60. Fox & Friends, Fox News Channel, October 27, 2010; “Seriously!? Fox Claims Obama Was Referring to Racial Segregation with His Car Analogy,” MediaMatters.org, October 27, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201010270009.

  61. America Live, Fox News Channel, October 27, 2010; “Fox’s Monica Crowley: Obama’s Car Analogy Comments Were ‘Appalling’ and Had ‘Racial Overtones,’ ” MediaMatters.org, October 27, 2010, mediamatters.org/mmtv/201010270025.

  62. America’s Newsroom, Fox News Channel, October 27, 2010; “Day 2: Fox Continues Its Relentless GOP GOTV Efforts,” MediaMatters.org, October 28, 2010, mediamatters.org/research/201010280024.

  63. America Live, Fox News Channel, October 27, 2010; “Day 2: Fox Continues Its Relentless GOP GOTV Efforts.”

  64. Hannity, Fox News Channel, October 27, 2010; “Day 2: Fox Continues Its Relentless GOP GOTV Efforts.”

  65. America’s Newsroom, Fox News Channel, October 28, 2010; “FOX GOTV Day Three: Fox Continues Its Week of Relentless Campaigning for Republicans,” MediaMatters.org, October 29, 2010, mediamatters.org/research/201010290024.

  66. Your World, Fox News Channel, November 1, 2010; “The Final Push: Fox Provides Forum for GOP Candidates’ Last-Minute Appeals,” MediaMatters.org, November 2, 2010, mediamatters.org/research/201011020026.

  67. Hannity, Fox News Channel, November 1, 2010; “The Final Push: Fox Provides Forum for GOP Candidates’ Last-Minute Appeals.”

  68. America’s Newsroom, Fox News Channel, November 1, 2010; “The Final Push: Fox Provides Forum for GOP Candidates’ Last-Minute Appeals.”

  Chapter 11: The Puppet Master

  1. The Daily Show, November 3, 2010, www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-november-3–2010/chris-wallace.

  2. Alex Spillius, “Karl Rove Questions Sarah Palin’s Suitability for President,” Daily Telegraph, October 27, 2010, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-politics/8090279/Karl-Rove-questions-Sarah-Palins-suitability-for-president.html.