It seems as though FOX News is always a hot topic in this forum?

Question

As a conservative, I don't allow TV commentators nor radio commentators to sway me one way or the other. I read an awful lot and depend more on the written media for information than anything else.

It's said that the Liberals have a stronghold when it comes to Internet sites and various blogs. Is that true?

What are your leanings and what influences your political beliefs? Written media? Commentators? Internet blogs and sites? Or, do you dig for information with the hopes that it's not slanted in one direction or the other and simply take it from there?

Answer 1

I listen to NPR, read the paper, watch a little TV, talk to people from all sides, look up what they talk about online and then formulate an opinion.

Edit:
You know what's sad.. I probably got my thumbs down because I said NPR... if I would have said Rush my scores would have been exactly reversed most likely.... and if I would have just said "the radio" I wouldn't have had any thumbs down except for from the trolls.

ah bias.. how I love thee

Answer 2

As a purley anecdotal observation, I would say that the left has had a pretty mcuh free reing on the internet, up until recently. And now that that is ending they are actually threatening people, pretty wild isn't it, much like the extreme left do on Yahoo, they are trying any way possible to prevent people from getting out the truth.

I am a moderate, have been all of my life, have voted in the past for both parties, but since about 1990 when I saw the Democrats make a hard left turn I have voted for Republicans. With the best effort I can make, I do not watch at all ABC, CBS, CNN or NBC, I learned many years ago that pretty much everything they say is slanted to the left. I quit reading the papers when most started an online edition. I do not read the major metropolitan papers unless someone recommends an article, this for the same reason as the television networks, they are all biased to the left. So I read a lot of blogs, and pick and chose which news articles to follow. I read a lot of straight news websites that used to be print media. I tend to take a variety of looks at an important issue and then sift the data before making up my mind. I spend much too much time online, but it is the only way to be educated because you cannot get it from the regular news any more.

I also check out Kos and the DNC sites regularly to keep track of what they have going, and what is so funny about that, is I can read answers hear and they are almost a cut and paste from the extreme left wing sites. Seems that the left can only regurgitate what they are told instead of forming their own opinions.

Answer 3

I am swayed by a preponderance of truth. Truth does not come from ax-grinders and vested interests. Unfortunately it isn't always clear when the communicator is grinding an ax or protecting an interest.

That is when my critical thinking skills and instincts take over. The quality of an argument wins out over the shrillness, repetitiveness, or volume of it. Openness to skepticism wins over pronouncement of dogma.

So the shrill, the loud, the dogmatic, the talking-point repeaters, on both ends of the spectrum are ignored. Those that ask the tough questions and illicit thoughtful answers are the ones I pay attention to.

I read the newspaper everyday. I don't always see network or local TV news. I listen to NPR in the car. All of these sources lean toward insight and thoughtfulness and away from shrillness and dogma. But none get it right all of the time.

The blog-sphere is most democratic. It's hard to imagine in this country, which seems so evenly split, that one side or another would have a stronghold on it.

As for strongholds, I would say that conservatives have it for talk radio and liberals have it for 'fake news' comedy- e.g. Daily Show, SNL Weekend Update, Bill Mahre.

Answer 4

When I'm not being sarcastic and having fun, I would describe myself as a conservative but no too far right. I believe that with the exception of the fanatics on both the extreme right AND left, the majority of people feel the solutions to most problems can be found more towards the center.

While my beliefs are conservative, when it comes to information I do try to keep an open mind to all sides of an issue. I use radio, print and blogs together to try and help me make the most informed decision possible. Special Interest groups have their owns agenda's so while I may read their info or visit their site, I don't take what they're selling as gospel

Answer 5

I generally like to combine a wide variety of sources.

In the mornings I listen to NPR on my way to work. When I eat at my desk Ill look through Google and Yahoo news for any eye-catching headlines. If none, then Ill wander of to the Wall Street Journal site and read through articles there.
At home Ill flip from MSNBC to CNN to Fox to see what the topics are for today while Im on the treadmill.

At some point Ill come to a conclusion about a particular topic. If its important, Ill go to the internet to do more research. I also participate in a number of online forums that disucss world events, amongst other things ;)

To the guy typing in ALL CAPS above, Im not sure how you came to the conclusion that the NYT and NPR tell you what to think. Certainly NPR has a bit of lean to it, but youre an adult (well, maybe not) so take the information youre given and make your own decision.
Sometimes Ill flip on Bill OReilly for kicks. I havent been brainwashed yet.

Answer 6

I watch everything, including FOX. It's funny how many people have this perception that the media is "liberal". Where did so many people get this idea? Oh, because they talk about it on FOX all the time. Say it often enough and people think it's true.

That being said, I've seen some slanted things on every news outlet. Sometimes they slant left and sometimes they slant right. Bill O'Reilly gets a lot of play in the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel but most would accuse them of being a lefty newspaper. I also remember when FOX labeled Mark Foley a Democrat when he was caught in his scandal (but they "later" fixed it). When Arlen Spector was grilling Alberto Gonzalez, they labeled him a Dem. too (just coincidence I guess). And the Dan Rather story of Bush's questionable military career didn't sit well with the public either.

Answer 7

If you take the information where you can get it, you can usually sift through it and get rid of the left and right lean and eventually find the center of truth.

When i was a child I went to the doctor and had stitches. The doctor told me that it wouldn't hurt. Of course it was very painful, and, I learned a valuable lesson: Many times lies are more reliable than the truth.

All that being said, I have noticed that the liberals seem to be overly obsessive when it comes to Fox News, while most conservatives that I know (myself included) just look at it as yet another cable news network, no more, and no less reliable than any of the others.

Answer 8

I don't see how you can not "allow TV commentators to sway (you) one way or the other." For example, the Bush book is hot news on every channel EXCEPT Fox. I watched O'Reilly last night and he did a segment on an Anna Nicole book rather than the authorized autobiography about Bush. There are many, many newsworthy revelations in the book but I have not seen one word about it on Fox. The selection of the story is the first way that the news sways your opinion without you even knowing. Second, the terminology used immediately helps to sway your opinion. Fox consistently uses Neocon friendly terms such as The War on Terror rather than the War in Iraq. The subtle manipulation of the news goes on and on.

I try to view a variety of news sources including television (CNN, MSNBC, Fox and the networks), print (local paper) and internet including BBC which provides a fresh outside point of view.

Answer 9

I see Fox as a money making enterprise that cleverly carved out an untapped niche in the marketplace to get advertising dollars: patriotic older Americans.

I do not watch the television to receive news unless a disaster of some sort strikes.

I read the washington post and ny times at least a few times a week, the Economist, listen to the BBC and NPR when driving.

I think Internet sites provide terrible opinions and news programming, generally speaking.

I read voraciously books on history and politics, and, try to understand today's events through a historical prism.

Answer 10

Not being from the US the first time I saw Fox News I thought it was a satire. I found it extremly amusing.

Then I was informed it was genuine.

I'm still not convinced that it can be.
The reason that it's the number one "news" broadcaster is because it supplies everything in a 3 second soundbite, which is how many Americans like it.
It is totally right-wing in it's political stance and anyone who comes onto the programme to give a different opinion is continually shouted down. Hilarious!

Really, it's the televisual version of a childs comic.

My own political views, like yourself, come more from the printed media. Also I have the advantage of having the BBC, which doesn't have to answer to shareholders and their political affiliations. History and world events have also shaped my thinking.

Answer 11

I keep up on here. Theres plenty from both sides and I will click on the links. Then I google the source data if possible. I think its actually fair and balanced.

(rant in 5,4,3,2,1)
I dont trust the media in the least. After they railroaded us into Iraq they lost all credibility. Yes I hold them to a greater accountablility than the warmonger Bush. They are the defenders of the first amendment they could have averted this war. IF 60 minutes had posted the aluminum tube debunk when they found out about it instead of 2 years after the war started........., they all wrote and said the same thing. Worse than our 1 party system with 2 faces the modern day Janus is the media for sale!! They above all betrayed the constitution.