"Outfoxed" clears away the smoke and reveals the "fair and balanced" motto of Fox News to be an outrageous sham. Early in this fast-paced and highly informative documentary produced and directed by the talented Robert Greenwald, Fox star commentator Neil Cavuto exclaims, " ... if, God forbid, John Kerry is elected president."
The Cavuto comment makes one laugh robustly at any "fair and balanced" claim in the wake of that revelation and much more, such as the harangues of rightist stalwarts such as Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly. It also tempts one to play the game of "if the shoe were on the other foot" regarding the right and Cavuto's statement.
What type of response would be generated by the right and, through the swift ripple effect, the entire media if Dan Rather were ever to state on CBS, " ... if, God forbid, George Bush is victorious in the presidential election"? How long would it take for the vigilante posse to be formed and the gallows to be erected in the center of town? This would be the most calamitous outrage since the uproar over Bill Clinton having extra-marital sex with an intern.
The documentary's informative value is enhanced by the appearance of ex-Fox employees explaining company policies. One former executive recalls fondly the good old days in the network's early period. Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch gave his reporters and commentators the opportunity to function on their own without the intervening look over the shoulder from Big Brother.
That early period soon shifted abruptly to the pattern that has unfolded thereafter, one of Murdoch imposing his pronounced right wing views and the network becoming an adjunct of the Republican Party. Memos would be presented with talking points for the day established. Generally they would consist of either making a particular liberal Democrat look bad or the Bush White House look good, or both.
One sees that the view adopted by some of certain liberals being wimps and wilting under intense right wing heat is not the major factor where Fox is concerned; power lies with the microphone and blustery Bill O'Reilly is a classic example of taking advantage of corporate advantage. The lesson to be learned at Fox and elsewhere is that power resides with control of the microphone, and with it the network.
O'Reilly controls a tight mike. When he is pushed hard his voice notably rises and he becomes flustered. If the tide is not swiftly turned and his adversary continues to pummel the position he advocates the interview is terminated. A classic instance was when young Jeremy Glick, whose father worked for the New York Port Authority and died in the September 11 tragedy, appeared as a well-informed guest who had closely studied O'Reilly's interview pattern beforehand.
When a coolly confident Glick told O'Reilly what he thought about the Bush administration action of bombing Afghanistan in the manner that it did, killing peasants rather than terrorists, the blustery host began shouting and ultimately called for security guards to escort his guest out of his interview room. Glick explained that, after he went to obtain a cup of coffee in an anteroom a few feet away, concerned security guards asked him to leave for fear that O'Reilly might strike him and would be sent to jail.
Another Fox pattern was exposed in this illuminating documentary. When commentators receive their talking points they are instructed to repeat certain words as part of a mantra designed obviously to brainwash under the guise of providing information to viewers. The expression "some people are saying" is used as a preface for a leading comment, either supporting a Republican position or hammering Democrats. Over the course of time, according to the strategy, the sayings will stick and become imbedded thought patterns as well as perhaps part of that individual's lexicon.
"Outfoxed" reveals the dangers of corporate power immersed in the clutches of a Rupert Murdoch with the means of delivering propaganda broadcasts on behalf of the Republican right while operating under the pretense of "fair and balanced" coverage.
Also revealed is the episode from election night 2000 when George W. Bush's first cousin John Ellis declared the then Texas governor to be the winner. This launched a stampede of other news organizations, giving the Republicans the huge advantage of being perceived winners when the bitter Florida Recount battle began.
Add Prime
to get Fast, Free delivery
| Additional DVD options | Edition | Discs | Price | New from | Used from |
Watch Instantly with 
| Rent | Buy |
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2004
- Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2004
