So Fox's E.D. Hill has backtracked from her attempt to smear Barack Obama's victory dap, after public protest, media ridicule and, most importantly, quick pushback from her bosses. Today the Times reports that Hill's attack on Obama drew "anger from the Fox News executive suite." Maybe she didn't get the memo. Hill was basically following Fox's old playbook of smearing Democrats with baseless questions and innuendo, but some Fox executives are following Rupert Murdoch's new tone.

The NewsCorp CEO recently praised Obama, predicted his victory, and announced that he was personally involved in the New York Post's endorsement of Obama in the primary. (Video below.) The swift public outrage at Hill's comments also probably helped -- commentators parodied Hill's nutty conspiracy theory, while Media Matters and MoveOn pressed Fox for an apology. MoveOn's Adam Green says alert media activists "are making clear that FOX's right-wing smears against Obama -- even amateur and embarrassing attempts like this one -- will have consequences."

Yet while the "terrorist fist jab" talk is so absurd it seemed destined for instant pop cultural ridicule, the smear still spread from Fox into mainstream debate, and then trickled down to news segments around the country. In Utah, an ABC News affiliate even took to the streets to investigate, in a segment called "Is Obama's 'fist bump' handshake a terrorist greeting?" After a round of interviews, the reporter concluded that "no one thought this was any sort of secret terrorist handshake." As Murdoch and MoveOn's goals overlap, though, maybe the next smear will be preempted instead of retracted.

Comments (43)

1. ol' rupee's got himself a new obama toy now that his hilldancer didn't make the cut.

   same ol' same ol'.

   all we need now is for obama to get robert rubin in as sec. of the treasury

   Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 01:43am

2. Could it be that Faux news will be more news and less faux? Naw......

   Posted by leftofcenter at 06/11/2008 @ 01:45am

3. Better to be nice the next President of United States if you want favorable legislation and continued lack of FCC regulation and oversight. Don't bite the hand that feeds you is a prudent standard even in the arrogant and aristocratic world of Murdoch.

   Posted by OneVote at 06/11/2008 @ 01:55am

4. poor McCain is already being scorned on the talk shows..

   Posted by JOMAMMA at 06/11/2008

   He's a big boy. He can handle it. They will both get their fair share of being scorned.

   Posted by Benchrest at 06/11/2008 @ 02:00am

5. poor McCain is already being scorned on the talk shows..

   Posted by JOMAMMA at 06/11/2008 | ignore this person | warn this person

   Hey you haven't heard? McCain plans to veto all beer - now this has got to have you worried.

   Posted by OneVote at 06/11/2008 @ 02:01am

6. How much will Fox matter to the electoral outcome this year ...

   ... as each time a voter stops to fill up his gastank & registers the current cost per gallon thanks to GOP.

   Tough to match, much less overcome, that oppo campaign.

   Posted by sloper at 06/11/2008 @ 02:05am

7. hey,

   html still works on old threads!

   http://nation-1.thenation.com/blogs/actnow/265949/in_the_city

   Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 02:12am

8. Wednesday, June 11, 2008 10:32:55 AM

   Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 02:12am

9. Posted by sloper at 06/11/2008

   Exactly! Finally, someone sees!

   Whichever party frames this issue and gets the upper hand will have a sledgehammer to beat their opponents over the head with.

   If the Dems frame it as the GOP being incahoots with big oil and taking advantage of the public, they are dead meat.

   If however, the GOP frames it as the Dems being a bunch of tree hugging earth worshippers who refuse to address the issue JUST BECAUSE, well then, defeat will come from certain victory.

   Posted by Benchrest at 06/11/2008 @ 02:16am

10. ˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚... as each time a voter stops to fill up his gastank & registers the current cost per gallon thanks to GOP.

    Posted by sloper˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚

    OPEC CHIEF APPEALS FOR CALM OVER OIL

    Tue Jun 10, 2008

    LONDON (Reuters) - OPEC's Secretary General on Tuesday appealed for calm, saying the record-high crude oil price was unbearable and DID NOT REFLECT ANY SHORTAGE OF SUPPLY IN THE MARKET.

    Abdullah al-Badri also called for measures to curb market speculation, a factor OPEC says is sending prices to unjustified levels. Oil hit a record $139.12 a barrel on Friday and was trading near $136 on Tuesday.

    "I ask through you, through Reuters, really we need some calm. We are panicking too much," Badri told the Reuters Global Energy Summit.

    "The situation is unbearable as far as we are concerned. I want to say, there is no shortage now and in the future." [in the future??! ]

    The comments are the latest to underscore the view of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries that it is pumping more than enough oil and high prices reflect factors beyond its control.

    "We are not happy with the current level of price for one reason. It has nothing to do with the fundamentals," he said.

    OPEC, source of two in every five barrels of oil, is pumping 32.2 million barrels per day (bpd), more than estimates of demand for its oil in 2008, Badri said.

    The International Energy Agency, adviser to 27 industrialized countries, on Tuesday raised its forecast for the need for OPEC oil this year by 300,000 bpd to 31.6 million bpd -- still below OPEC's output.

    In support of his point that prices are being driven by factors other than supply, Badri said world consumption of 87 million bpd is smaller than the value of trading in oil-related financial instruments.

    Badri said the "paper market" equaled about 1.36 billion bpd and he was critical of investment banks, some of whose forecasts for rising prices have been partly credited for sending oil to new peaks.

    "SPECULATORS ARE PLAYING A BIG ROLE IN HIGH OIL PRICES. ALSO THERE ARE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, THE VALUE OF THE DOLLAR AND THE GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION."

    ••••••• hmm? now, whose fault is that? •••••••

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 02:20am

11. from certain victory.

    Posted by Benchrest

    you know,

    the truth just might work this time.

    [although obama's "team of advisors" will advise against it]

    "SPECULATORS ARE PLAYING A BIG ROLE IN HIGH OIL PRICES. ALSO THERE ARE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, THE VALUE OF THE DOLLAR AND THE GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION."

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 02:26am

12. you know,

    the truth just might work this time.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008

    Maybe, but I'm not holding my breath.

    Posted by Benchrest at 06/11/2008 @ 02:30am

13. *Y*A*W*N*

    They have to fake concern for second, then get back to their grind.

    Not long ago, some of you may even remember, FOX was orgasmic over Rev. Wright. I wonder how many times they played the clips.

    Here's some news they should deliver: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2004/07/b122948.html

    Neocons love monopolies! Trickle down piss.

    Posted by winyahn at 06/11/2008 @ 02:34am

14. i am.

    prevailing winds are from the southwest.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 02:35am

15. Murdoch said before the war, "The greatest thing to come out of this for the world economy...would be $20 a barrel for oil. That's bigger than any tax cut in any country."

    "SPECULATORS ARE PLAYING A BIG ROLE IN HIGH OIL PRICES. ALSO THERE ARE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, THE VALUE OF THE DOLLAR AND THE GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION."

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 02:36am

16. Murdoch told Newsweek before the war, Bush "will either go down in history as a very great president or he'll crash and burn. I'm optimistic it will be the former by a ratio of 2 to 1…One senses he is a man of great character and deep humility."

    "SPECULATORS ARE PLAYING A BIG ROLE IN HIGH OIL PRICES. ALSO THERE ARE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, THE VALUE OF THE DOLLAR AND THE GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION."

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 02:37am

17. Murdoch owns the Weekly Standard, the neoconservative journal that employed key figures who pushed for war in Iraq.

    "SPECULATORS ARE PLAYING A BIG ROLE IN HIGH OIL PRICES. ALSO THERE ARE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, THE VALUE OF THE DOLLAR AND THE GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION."

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 02:39am

18. for example.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 02:39am

19. Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008

    Perception, FZ. Perception is everything.

    Posted by Benchrest at 06/11/2008 @ 02:40am

20. perception is twelve fifths of reality.

    trooth -- it's like "creme".

    and the trooth shall set you frea.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 11:34am

21. Not sure what game Murdoch is playing...maybe hoping an "all Dem Government will re-invigorate the Right"...

    or he simply may have had enough of Bush and the neo-cons and doesn't want "Four More Years" anymore than anybody else.

    Posted by Mask at 06/11/2008 @ 11:48am

22. poor McCain is already being scorned on the talk shows..

    Posted by JOMAMMA at 06/11/2008

    Maybe he deserves it. He really is a subpar candidate for you guys.

    Posted by Hman23 at 06/11/2008 @ 12:24pm

23. Heard on CNN Jack Cafferty yesterday that 75% of the so called economic expansion under BushCo went to the top 1% wealthiest in the good ole USA. Jack Cafferty,paraphrased, thinks we are in big....big trouble.

    Maybe it is preposterous to ascribe forward thinking to the likes of Murdoch, but for some of his advertisers, likely it is not. Under the old adage that you shouldn't kill the goose that laid the golden egg, perhaps there is some concern even from the superrich that their greed is killing off their markets. If folks don't have any disposable income, how the hell are they going to buy advertiser's products. Poof.....advertising dollars will drop, and Murdoch is stuck with a media network liability. Four more years of Bush economic policy under McCain is guaranteed to push the good ole USA over into the abyss....if we aren't there already. For purely selfish reasons, maybe some of the superrich are deciding we better start giving something back. Maybe. Of course, the alternative argument of take the money and run is a choice that many have and will continue to consider.

    Posted by OneVote at 06/11/2008 @ 12:31pm

24. Posted by OneVote at 06/11/2008

    Totally meaningless, I admit...but....

    latest Polling Report (www.pollingreport.com) survey of the major polls....

    Obama still stomping McCain.

    Posted by Mask at 06/11/2008 @ 12:55pm

25. Obama still stomping McCain.

    Posted by Mask at 06/11/2008 |

    Post nomination bump to where he should be -- diehard Clinton supporters will relent and come over to Obama (whats the alternative?) and pretty clear sailing ahead (I hope - no screwups - no skeletons). It will be nice to see some new faces. Baring some concocted "security" concocted by the Repubs like Iran attacking Iraq - its Obama's race.

    Posted by OneVote at 06/11/2008 @ 1:08pm

26. Baring some concocted "security" concocted by the Repubs like Iran attacking Iraq - its Obama's race.

    Posted by OneVote

    october surmise?

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 1:18pm

27. Baring some concocted "security" concocted by the Repubs like Iran attacking Iraq - its Obama's race.

    Posted by OneVote

    funny thing.

    i was going to post basically the same thing in response to mask.

    but then i thought he might want to bet me some ¢¢¢, so i let it go.

    Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:23:36 PM

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 1:23pm

28. Posted by OneVote at 06/11/2008

    one thing to keep in mind...Obama has already faced the WORST political machine he could, and he beat her...I mean...it. (heheh)

    If there was "more on Obama"...the Clintonites would have dug it up WEEKS ago to bury his nomination....there was none.

    They threw Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, and "clinging to guns and God"....and she couldn't close the deal.

    Plus McCain is trying his damnedest to "move to the Center" (and nobody believes him), while costing him energy from his base.

    Posted by Mask at 06/11/2008 @ 2:01pm

29. one thing to keep in mind...Obama has already faced the WORST political machine he could, and he beat her...I mean...it. (heheh)

    Posted by Mask at 06/11/2008 | ignore this person | warn this person

    I am with ya. I think the only race in this presidential election has been already decided. Repubs need to focus on how they are going rebuild their brand. Right now its not fit for human or animal consumption.

    Posted by OneVote at 06/11/2008 @ 2:24pm

30. october surmise?

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008

    Its their only shot. Maybe our Secretary of Defense will stop them -- if its in his power. I was elated that Gates has the balls to fire Air Force yes men incompetents and stop funding some ridiculous missile defense. We really need to clean house at the Pentagon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Guys like Schumer are currently trying to build the case to buy off Putin in order to get the nod for "stronger" action against Iran. His ilk are desperate, and willing to sacrifice NATO alliances and progress with have made in containment of a Russia that looks like it wants to reclaim its superpower status. Very very nervous time. The hawks realize that this may be their last shot at stopping a nuclear Iran by preemptive military action.

    Posted by OneVote at 06/11/2008 @ 2:35pm

31. the WORST political machine he could, and he beat her...I mean...it.

    it beat itself.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 2:51pm

32. The hawks realize that this may be their last shot at stopping a nuclear Iran by preemptive military action.

    Posted by OneVote

    quite a tangled web has been woven.

    the caveat is that the rumblings are good for the price of oil, a benefit to greedmongers on all "fronts".

    things just may calm down; the price of oil is reaching an economic tipping point

    and

    certain "players" may want to influence a certain election.

    "SPECULATORS ARE PLAYING A BIG ROLE IN HIGH OIL PRICES. ALSO THERE ARE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, THE VALUE OF THE DOLLAR AND THE GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION."

    Wednesday, June 11, 2008 2:57:22 PM

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 2:57pm

33. obama said this to murdoch on foxmews:

    Rapid permafrost thaw expected, researchers warn

    Melting could happen much more quickly than previously thought, putting towns and roads at risk, study says

    Published: Wednesday, June 11, 2008

    Permafrost, which covers close to half of Canada and threatens to release vast stores of carbon into the atmosphere, could undergo a much more rapid thaw than previously thought, according to an American study. The rate of climate warming over northern Canada, Alaska, and Russia could more than triple if Arctic ice continues to retreat rapidly, says the report, which highlights the vulnerability of permafrost and the roadways, communities and ecosystems now sitting on the frozen ground.

    "We are expecting the Arctic to warm faster than the rest of the world, and this suggests that in relatively short, 5-10 year periods that rate of warming can really go up," says David Lawrence, lead author of the study conducted at the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research.

    "It means we might get a big part of the temperature change within the next decade or two, rather than later," Lawrence said in an interview. "There could be jumps."

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 3:08pm

34. "SPECULATORS ARE PLAYING A BIG ROLE IN HIGH OIL PRICES. ALSO THERE ARE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, THE VALUE OF THE DOLLAR AND THE GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION."

    Wednesday, June 11, 2008 2:57:22 PM

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 |

    No question about it. Saudi's have much as said that they will sell you oil all day long at $60/barrel. The oil market is totally manipulated and oil interests are making hay while they can. Now Bush is pushing for drilling in ANWR and coastal US - his swan song gift to the oil companies - and he is using our price distress to push his agenda. There is little correlation between the price of oil and the increase in demand over the Bush years, aside from the fact that both have gone up. There is no supply and demand graph any energy analyst could draw that explains the astronomical increase in price vis a vis demand (unless of course you factor in manipulation and corruption).

    The anger and economic distress factor from the electorate will play nicely for Obama. Bush's appeal to the Saudi's and other OPEC members to increase production fell on deaf ears - if you can believe him. Bush has absolutely no problem with these characters buying American assets including national security assets with their petrodollars. This is just criminal.

    The switch to Euro based currency standard for oil trading is just around the corner. Much of this is being factored into the projections of Goldman Sachs who projected oil to $200/barrel recently as I recall. I thought Goldman was full of it a couple of years ago when they were projecting $150/barrel - we are almost there. They know more than we do.

    Bush's no tax and deficit millitary spending is turning the dollar into toilet paper. He pays only lip service to alternative energy research and funding. It is clear that he could care less about the citizens he serves. Bush family has been in bed with OPEC for a long time.

    I am not sure what the tipping point is. Speculators, producers, suppliers, refiners are playing Russian Roulette with the economy. Supply will be reduced in accordance with reduced demand...the end result of which is little significant decrease in price. Oil is just not a free market anymore. Way too much collusion. Time to take a serious look at regulated markets.

    Posted by OneVote at 06/11/2008 @ 3:38pm

35. Time to take a serious look at regulated markets.

    Posted by OneVote

    commie.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 3:46pm

36. Posted by OneVote

    the u.s. already EXPORTS anwr/coast levels of oil.

    but it's oh, so cheap to suck up!

    no gov's to topple/buy off (well, come to think of it....)

    close to guzzlrland...

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 3:47pm

37. Posted by OneVote

    yep.

    if they go euro....

    saddam talked euro....

    flush.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008 @ 3:48pm

38. Posted by OneVote

    commie.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008

    Golly Frosty - how does it go?....

    "I would rather be RED than Dead"

    Posted by OneVote at 06/11/2008 @ 4:44pm

39. no gov's to topple/buy off (well, come to think of it....)

    close to guzzlrland...

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/11/2008

    And lets not forget:

    This land is your land,

    This land is my land,

    From the Artic Wildlife National Refuge,

    To the Gulf of Mexico,

    From Coastal California,

    To Coastal Florida,

    This Land was Made for You and Me.....Not Exxon

    Posted by OneVote at 06/11/2008 @ 4:48pm

40. When you call the democratic presidential candidate of the United States of America a terrorist (or Hillary "skank" as MSNBC did) you have to slither out out of neocon bunker and fake nice. This is how far they've pushed the edge of "journalism" into the gutter.

    Posted by winyahn at 06/11/2008 @ 4:59pm

41. Now all the candidates need to do are get themselves some good Vice Presidents. There is a poll at http://www.votenic.com that even includes Hillary Clinton in their poll, so check it out.

    Posted by votenic at 06/12/2008 @ 10:59am

42. I live in Brazil, and Fox News is on basic cable, whereas you have to pay extra for CNN. Murdoch is anything but a fool.

    I'm a Democrat, just to clear that up. I think that assuming Obama has wrapped up the race at this point is very, very dangerous. We need to work hard, and work together, to get a decent, honest government--regardless of party!

    I'm certainly not convinced that Americans are going to vote for a Black man. I'll believe that after the official vote count is in.

    Posted by cassenthri at 06/13/2008 @ 11:36pm

43. I'll believe that after the official vote count is in.

    Posted by cassenthri

    that can be hard to believe on occasion.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/14/2008 @ 12:13am