Fox News Cycle: Building a smear, one segment at a time

 

I've been writing about FOX News' campaign to smear Media Matters over at Crooks and Liars for the past three weeks. No low has been too low for them. Fox News is a bit hot under the collar over Media Matters holding them accountable for their lies and distortions while promoting Republicans running for office with free air time and other perks. With the News of the World scandal unfolding in the UK, it's just a matter of time before it unravels here. 

It should disturb everyone -- conservative and liberal alike -- that hacking, breakins, theft of tax returns, and unfounded character smears are part of News Corp's culture. Even as news breaks about former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's tax returns, bank accounts and phone being hacked into (not to mention confidential medical records), it's worth remembering that the man who currently heads up Dow Jones & Co -- Wall Street Journal publisher -- was involved with News of the World and the Times in the years involved. 

I predict this story rolling across the Atlantic into the United States like a category 5 hurricane. Meanwhile, they continue to manufacture stories over there and pretend it's news. 

I'm not much for online petitions as a general rule, but there are some worth their weight in gold. Media Matters and CREW are pushing for a federal investigation into News Corp and the allegations that 9/11 victims were targeted for hacking. You can sign the petition here to ask Congress to open an investigation immediately. Also, you can follow their DropFox program to encourage sponsors to drop ads from their networks here.