posted on July 19, 2004 04:43:04 PM new
Advocacy Groups Challenge Fox News Slogan
By JAKE COYLE
NEW YORK (AP) - Fox News' use of the slogan ``Fair and Balanced'' constitutes deceptive advertising, two political advocacy groups claimed today in a petition filed with the Federal Trade Commission.
Liberal MoveOn.org and historically nonpartisan Common Cause assert that Fox News' reports are ``deliberately and consistently distorted and twisted to promote the Republican Party of the U.S. and an extreme right-wing viewpoint.''
Alleging consumer fraud, the complaint calls for the FTC to order Fox News, consistently the highest-rated cable news network, to cease and desist from using the slogan.
Irena Briganti, a Fox News spokesperson, told The Associated Press that ``while this is clearly a transparent publicity stunt, we recognize all forms of free speech and wish them well.''
James Kaminski, a former FTC lawyer currently practicing advertising law with Arent Fox Attorneys, sees little chance for the petition, noting that the FTC does not wade in political waters.
``Whether (Fox is) biased or not ... it's a freedom of speech issue,'' he said.
But Chellie Pingree, president of Common Cause, said the legal actions were consistent with the First Amendment. ``Fox has no obligation under the law to be fair and balanced, just not to market itself as fair and balanced,'' he said.
After a press conference announcing the petition, members of MoveOn.org and Common Cause marched to the Fox News Headquarters to hand out DVDs of the recent documentary ``Outfoxed,'' which alleges a pattern of right-wing biases in the network's reporting, citing statements by former Fox employees and internal memos.
posted on July 19, 2004 05:16:38 PM new
Thanks, KD, this is funny. They have a right to their motto. End of subject. This comes under the heading of nuisance law suit and Common Cause should have to pay a bond for the court costs, in case it is ruled to be such. It's OK to take pictures of Barbra's house, too.
posted on July 19, 2004 06:47:55 PM new
First they go after Nader....now Fox News.
The lefties just can't handle competition it appears.
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"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
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"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
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