Fox News lied. To everyone.

Recently saw this article posted by mediamatters at the end of March. It details the progression of Fox News' advocation against Obama & the healthcare bill, and how the network actively sought to misinform, enrage, and then encourage citizens to go forth and do their bidding.

The power of journalism gone awry, in the most serious kind of way.

Fox News did the following:

1. Had their hosts denounce the healthcare plan (during both the "news" and "opinions" hours) and celebrated when Democrats faced setbacks or difficulties

2. Encouraged viewers to contact congress & state their opposition to the bill (stepping away from reporting and moving towards advocation)
3. Announced, publicized, and encouraged viewers to go to different protest rallies across the country. Then, they would broadcast these people on the network, creating a continuous stream of making news for themselves and influencing the behavior of their viewers.

4. Offered unequivocal support of Republican congressmen (including Scott Brown) and used the anger (that they created) to springboard their platform of bolstering Republican campaigns & election coverage. Also offered support to tea partiers who harassed Democratic congressmen & women. Furthermore, they solicited donations for Republicans and boasted about how much they raised.

5. Misinformed viewers copious times about the information in the bill, the implications of the bill, and the effects the bill would have, all in an effort to promote their own agenda.

Mediamatters really did their research here, and they have all the video & clips to back up their assertions. I don't doubt what they found is true. I'm not even shocked. I am saddened that a news network, who still continues to claim non-intervention and non-partisan coverage of issues (complete with the mantra "fair & balanced") could be so harmful to the practices of journalism as well as detrimental to the American people. Many Americans were outraged when they learned the Bush administration had lied to them. I wonder how they would feel if they learned the same of their beloved Fox news.

This is undoubtedly the media's power to influence the minds of Americans, at its worst.