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Democrats, Fox News and the Internet

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Nevada Democrats canceled a presidential debate on the Fox News Channel after Internet activists called Fox "a mouthpiece for the Republican Party." Should the Democrats boycott conservative Fox altogether?  What does this episode say about the growing impact of the Internet on American politics?  Also, President Bush is dogged by domestic issues as he winds up his trip to Latin America and, on Reporter's Notebook, Spain's plan to build a tunnel to Morocco.

  • NOTE: For those who were listening to today's program about the Nevada Democratic Party and Fox News, guest Doug Schoen was identified as a Democratic strategist, which he is.  Doug Schoen is also a paid commentator for Fox News, which we did not know until after our broadcast was over.

Making News

Senate Votes to Open Debate on Iraq ()

President Bush wound up his Latin American tour today at a joint press conference with Mexican President Felipe Calderón, but was dogged by questions about domestic politics. He said Attorney General Alberto Gonzales can still be effective despite admitting mistakes in firing US Attorneys. Meantime, in an 89-to-9 vote, the Senate broke a deadlock and agreed to debate the war in Iraq for the first time since the Democrats took control.  Tim Starks reports for Congressional Quarterly.

Guests:
  • Tim Starks: Intelligence reporter for Congressional Quarterly
Links:

Main Topic

Democrats, Fox News and the Internet ()

With caucuses scheduled for early next year, Nevada's Democratic Party scheduled a presidential debate on the Republican-leaning Fox Cable News Channel this coming August. National Democratic Chair Howard Dean said that was a way of reaching a large audience of disgruntled conservatives who might be looking for a new place to go.  Internet activists complained that Fox News is "a mouthpiece for the Republican Party," and now the debate has been cancelled.  MoveOn.org is one Internet voice telling the Democrats to freeze Fox out all over the country. Is that good strategy or "political suicide?"  Who decides what's "fair and balanced?"  What's the lesson about the impact of the Internet? We hear from journalists, watchdogs, political activists and political scientists.

  • NOTE: For those who were listening to today's program about the Nevada Democratic Party and Fox News, guest Doug Schoen was identified as a Democratic strategist, which he is.  Doug Schoen is also a paid commentator for Fox News, which we did not know until after our broadcast was over.
Guests:
  • Adam Green: Civic Communications Director at MoveOn.org
  • Doug Schoen: Democratic strategist Fox News contributor
  • Amy Mitchell: Deputy Director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism
  • William Mayer: Professor of Political Science at Northeastern University
Links:

Reporter's Notebook

Spain and Africa to Be Linked by Tunnel ()

Geologists believe that Europe and Africa were separated by the Strait of Gibraltar about 5 million years ago. Now Spain and Morocco are making plans for an underwater rail connection, like the "chunnel" under the English Channel that connects Britain and France. What about terrorism and illegal immigration? Giles Tremlett, author of Ghosts of Spain and reporter for Britain's Guardian newspaper, has more on the engineering project of historic ambition.

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