Comments on: Thompson’s SC farewell

By: RandyinOhio

RandyinOhio — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:19:39 +0000

“FOX DECIDES-THEN REPORTS” Quit trying to make the news and just report it.Until there is news just find some feel good stories to talk about.”air and Balanced” I’m not so sure?You have all but gone the way of the MSN.A little power in the hands of a few bias journalist is very disturbing.Please go back to fair and balance reporting.I’m to the point of keeping track of all the sponsors of the evening programming so as to write them to express my concerns.But I’m just one person…..right…but after reading some of these other opinions concerning your reporting I may have some company.FRED is still the MAN.Let go of your lust for shaping public opinion and just REPORT on it ….FAIRLY.

By: ihavewebfeet

ihavewebfeet — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:20:34 +0000

I am without speech.

How could an experienced reporter like Carl Cameron report that Fred Thompson’s speech was a concession?

As a certified FredHead, I am concerned that he may announce withdrawal from the race, but I got no hint of his plans from that speech. Apparently, not many others did, either.

The Fox News attitude toward Senator Thompson has been a puzzle from the start. Since the rumors of his run became reality last summer, FNC has been negative (and sometimes hostile) toward him. It’s as though Thompson was a whiny liberal running under the disguise of a Republican (oh, wait–that’s Ron Paul), a broken record (sorry, I’m thinking of Giuliani), or even someone that might bring us open borders (oops! Isn’t that McCain?).

We have a candidate that is against amnesty for illegals, pro-life, pro-second amendment, for less government in our lives, and all the other qualities that would make a strong Republican candidate and Fox seems to have made it their mission to undermine him at every turn.

I’m on pins and needles waiting to hear his decision. In the mean time, I can’t help but be a tad bitter toward Fox for their part in this uncertainty.

By: James

James — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:21:00 +0000

Fred is the only CHOICE in the race. The rest of the candidates from both sides of the aisle could, on their records alone, run on the same ticket.

PLEASE Don’t Feed The RINOs!

By: Meredith Lowry

Meredith Lowry — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:44:56 +0000

I honestly cannot believe, Carl, that you would call such a speech a “concession speech.” I am most definitely concerned that Fred may be bowing out, but, after watching that speech in its entirety (on the Internet because Fox cut away from him speaking, once again, to give time to other candidates, including those who didn’t do as well), I am not so sure he is going anywhere. That was a very strong speech on the need for true conservatives to come together, not a sad, good-bye talk. I must admit that I was shocked by Fox News and its coverage during the primary. No one was willing to say that the strong 3rd place finish was a great improvement over what polling numbers had been; several claimed that Fred was “going home to visit his mother and that’s never a good sign for a presidential candidate,” refusing to acknowledge that he is visiting her because she is in the HOSPITAL with pneumonia; and Molly, who was at the Thompson campaign headquarters was saying that the crowd was somber and that many of the supporters realized this was the end, but, if you watch the WHOLE speech, people are cheering and screaming in the backgroud. So, according to Fox, Fred is finished, but they keep saying that Guliani is still a strong contender. Let’s be honest here: Guliani’s campaign is the one that should be considered dead. Just look at his polling numbers and remember that he is not a social conservative and will not get the backing of the conservative base. So, who’s left to vote for him? Perhaps a few New Englanders, some independents, and no one else.

I have to say that, for years, I have watched Fox News almost 24 hours per day. I will not watch it again until such bias stops. My hate for bias is the reason I turned to Fox in the first place.

By: Pat

Pat — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:32:54 +0000

I agree with all that’s been written above, about the Fox News coverage of Fred Thompson. When he didn’t announce at the time YOU thought he should, you started the downward slippery slope coverage about Senator Thompson.

I was what you might call a Fox News fanatic. Having my office in my home, there are two TVs on in separate rooms and they were tuned to Fox 24/7. The only time either are turned off is when there is an electric outage, so I can speak as an informed viewer.

You began with fanfare that Senator Thompson would probably be getting into the race. He didn’t do it on your time schedule, as you tried to tell us when he should enter the race and that’s where the slippery slope began. Anytime you mentioned his name, it was a negative. (1) he’s waiting too long to enter the race (2) he got in too late (3) he’s not energetic enough (4) his speeches are flat, (5) no fire in the belly, etc., etc.

If you had kept your negative comments out and showed us his speeches and as you say “we report, you decide” then you really would have been “fair and balanced”. Every time Hillary Clinton sneezes, you report it, albeit your coverage wasn’t always positive, but still, you were showing her face. If only Senator Thompson and Rep. Duncan Hunter had been given some face time on TV, other than negative, there might be a different outcome.

Now you’re all hyperventilating—reporting that Senator McCain is the front runner, although he has only won 2 states while Governor Romney has won 3 and has more electoral votes. Another example of you trying to create the news, rather than report it. I thought that was just the “other” networks who played those games.

You do NOT know what Senator Thompson is going to do and I feel it’s irresponsible for you to report that he gave his “farewell” speech in SC. That was another negative.

I have now turned Fox News off and if someone will let me know when you decide to be more fair in your coverage, I might consider tuning in again.

By: Denise Dodd

Denise Dodd — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:17:15 +0000

WOW! What are you all afraid of? You must be afraid of something since you have tried so very hard to discourage Fred from running for President. And in doing so have totally disgusted your own fans. It was obvious that you all wanted Rudy to win and when he didn’t pan out like you wanted, you had to start bashing Fred. Rudy hasn’t done well at all, but you would never know that by listening to all of you. I don’t know if you all have noticed, but we just started this entire process. I could care less if a couple of liberal states haven’t supported Fred and I just chalk up South Carolina as getting it wrong. There are a lot of other states who haven’t had the chance to vote yet!!! Why on earth do we have to decide so quickly? Don’t our votes count??? Believe me we don’t want to get stuck with Romney, McCain, or Huckabee. (as far as I’m concerned, Rudy is out of it, no matter what Fox may think) If Fred doesn’t run, then someone else better get into the race, because I will have no one to vote for. I’m in Ohio and I have Democratic friends who intend to vote for Fred, too. FoxNews better pull their head out of the sand pretty quick. You are sounding like the other networks….no, you’re worse than the other networks. We expected much more from you and you have failed us miserably!!!

Denise Dodd

By: Mary Garcia

Mary Garcia — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:15:37 +0000

I would like to see more unbiased coverage of Fred Thompson too!

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:31:35 +0000

I don’t Fox News has been particulary unfair to Senator Thompson, its just htat he has been rather a disappoinment as a presidential candidate. First there was the long, protracted, “will I run, will I not” era, which went on for too many weeks. Then he seemed less than enthused about campaigning, at least to a lesser degree than Romney and Huckabee. Thompson has noot been able to catch fire as McCain has, and once SJM got going, he had much more momentum than Thompson.

Fred also suffers from being more of a Huckabee spoiler at this point, and slamming the Baptist minister, may help his numbers, but also projects him as being anti-evangelical. I am not saying that the perception is justified, but it hardly seems presidential. The question is does Thompson want to stay in the race, largely to beat up on Huckabee, so he helps Senator McCain. And I am not sure he has the energy to go through the motions, just o run interference for SJM.

Fred may be a truer conservative than SJM or Huckabee, but as far as projecting a better positive image, and getting the votes and delegates, Romney is doing a much better job. The party may not want Fred to be Mccain’s hatchet man, because they might need someone like Huckabee on the ticket; and they don’t want to discourage the evangelicals, without whom, they have zero chance in the November election.

By: AD

AD — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:20:11 +0000

I agree with what is being said and it is not just because I happen to also be a Thompson supporter. The speech was audible and even when it was clear to the commentators that it could be heard, they chose not to listen in. We likely heard more of Hilary’s thank yous out in the Midwest the other night before FNC cut out than we heard of Thompson actually speak. Yes, I concur that a decision should be announced soon so as to quell the presumptive “he’s down; he’s out” and that FNC is entitled to suggest what it wants to (although like you guys are getting called out for, where is the “fair and balanced?”), but I also find it obnoxious that not only are candidates alleging he took my votes but that FNC is trying to upend and silence a candidate. Winnowing the candidate field should be left for the candidates/campaigns to decide and the voters/delegates to the national conventions, not for the media. Quite frankly, I think most of us hope your presumption proves fallacious much like some of the early polls and past early election assumptions have too. I usually support and commend the work you and your station do, especially in contrast to other network and media outlets, but this time, I admit, the bias was a little more apparent and a little less “fair and balanced” to not only how Democratic and Independent candidates are typically treated, but other Republicans too so I spoke up.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:43:39 +0000

In reply to Dina Sorn:

I too am a Thompson supporter in Ohio. My vote is for Fred. I do not want a Huck/Mitt/Rudy/McCain.

If Fred drops out, I won’t be mad at the media. I will still vote for Fred if he’s on the ballot, and will probably write him in during the general election. If that means we have a term with Hillary or Obama in the Whitehouse, so be it.