When 'off mic' is on

Posted: Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:01 AM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC’s Chuck Todd, Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro
Just asking: Why isn't there a debate about the ethics of the Fox decision to release the off-mic conversation?

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Comments

MSNBC debating journalistic ethics is like making Charles Manson a community organizer in charge of the Welcome Wagon. Neither make much sense.

Quinn Brokaw, PA (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:07 AM)

Wow!! Did you re-read your question?

You asked about 'ethics' and FOX NEWS!!

THAT is laughable!! There is no debate when one notices the unethical behaving unethically!!

GA GUY (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:07 AM)

Because we all know FOX will do anything to get ratings.

Billy, MI (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:07 AM)

What about McCain joking about killing Iranian civilians through cigarettes?
First Read , which is more newsworthy?
What if it was Obama who joked about killing Iranians?

Shame on you guys for ignoring this story !

Steve NewYork NY (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:07 AM)

Indeed. However, I think that a greater debate should be had over Fox News' practices in general (see: Photohop work on enemies pictures).

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:07 AM)

NBC is correct. All negative stories concerning Barack Obama should be silenced.

Barack is the new Jesus (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:08 AM)

Fox news plays dirty all the time. They have no ethics.

Being practical—I would rather use by brains on issues that are possible and worthy.

Andrea, New York City (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:09 AM)

Fox is evil!

Cheryl, Wisconsin (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:09 AM)

I agree there should be that discussion. But then maybe we've all just come to expect unethical behavior from Fox when it comes to their unrelenting, unashamedly racists and sexist targeting of Democratic leadership. Sad that they can still even put "news" in their title. Alfred R Murrow would be very sad...

Suz in KS (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:10 AM)

NBC is confused by Fox's tag line 'We Report - You Decide'. NBC is more of the 'We Decide What to Report - and if you don't like it, too bad'.

Foxxy Brown (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:10 AM)

One should always assume the mic is on. Don't say ugly unless you intend to be ugly. I am more concerned about MSNBC using the word "cocky" with a black candidate and perhaps using "confident" if it were a white candidate. Shame on you and Chris Matthews. My guess is that around the water cooler you guys are using the same words there too. Clean it up! These things are not being said on other networks.

Ron Indiana (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:10 AM)

The same reason there wasn't any debate about the RACIST names and accusations that Obama and his supporters made against Hillary & Bill,...that were completely false.

Have THE GUTS to post this you little turds (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:10 AM)

Unfortunately, FOX NEWS has very little in the way of ethics. Anyone progressive or a Democrat appearing on FOX NEWS has to be very careful in their dealings with the network.

Not only did I find Rev. Jesse Jackson's comments insulting and repugnant, but that he should have known better to say those things period in a FOX NEWS studio!

Obama-Junkie, IL (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:11 AM)

Fox people are unethical, liars the biggest twisters of the truth. Why do people watch Fox? The only reason I can see to watch Fox is for laughs, and or to teach your children what is NOT the way to act/talk.

A NEW AMERICA (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:12 AM)

Why isn't there a debate about the ethics of 90% of what Fox News does? That would include using Karl Rove, a McCain campaign advisor as a regular "political analyst" on their programming without revealing his ties to an active campaign.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:13 AM)

I guess this kind of works into the constant repeated playing of Connie Chungs interview with the obviously senile mother of Newt Gingrich. The one where Connie prompted Newt's mom to call Hillary something that sounds like 'witch'? The networks kept showing that one for weeks.

Georgeio Lammers (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:13 AM)

Ok first off Fix Fux Fox News has no ethics. The are as pathetic as listening to Rush Limburger. That is why I find it funny that the call themselves fair and balanced.
Now to the statement made by Rev Jackson, I find it odd that a man of God would speak like that. But when you consider that this man has a illegitament child out there and he was hit by Obama's statement.You could see why he felt that way . I was not offended by Obama's statement but then again I am a proud father with my children in hand.

Brian M De. (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:13 AM)

Easy - FOX has no ethics and everyone knows it. Taking the high road never would have occurred to them.

Kathy Q. Newtown, CT (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:14 AM)

Ethics? Fox? Same sentence? Where have you been the last seven years?

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:14 AM)

Any network that employs ranters like Matthews and Olbermann shouldn't start a discussion about ethics.

Florence Netts, Tyler Texas (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:14 AM)

what are you fussing about? that IS news. if someone would bash the republican candidate in this way you'd be the first in line to air it!!
thanx

joe kelly lex., s.c. (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:14 AM)

That is a very good question as i know there are mnay conversations that are off camera that would make most of america cringe if they were let out. I think this goes back to fox news an others broadcasts not reporting the news but making the news themselves
this is one reason everyone is so upset with the
media because it seems if fox dosent report it, its not news to every other station as well. When will we start seeing networks report what the believe is news like Iraq asking for a time table for withdraw
and the finance problems mccain has had with his housing taxs. please report all the news not just what fox says is news.

James Lawton, OK (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:18 AM)

Because we all know how Fox loves to start trouble with the Democratic Party. They have no ethics. Zero.

And Fox doesn't mind the negative attention they receive. They thrive on it. Look at them. The most unprofessional uninformed on air staff in the history of civilization.

One more thing - they lie.

Krauthammer could quite possibly be the worst.

And to think I thought Hannity and O'Reilly and Ducey and Kristol and Barnes and Ingraham and Malkin and Miss America were below contempt.

Scary people. Hateful people.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:18 AM)

Rev. Jackson should be ashamed of himself for his remarks. This is simply a case of Rev. Jackson not being able to handle the accomplishments of Obama. I think few people in the black community (of which I am part), feel Obama is talking down to them. Prisons are disproportionatley full of young black men, which means they are not in the homes rasing their children. Somebody need to be an example and speak the truth to that situation. For whites who want to be critical of Obama or question his judgement regarding this matter I simply say, if you are not a person of color you probably have very little perspective on the subject and you should rely on those who come from the black experince to enlighten you. When you black girls are coming up seeing images and hearing music that glorifies them being called bitches and ho's, SOME BODY NEEDS TO SAY SOMETHING.

God bless Obama, and God help Rev. Jackson.

Michele, Arlington, TX (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:19 AM)

What are you asking us for? YOU are the MSM.
YOU'VE got the bandwidth.
We just post and hope the moderator isn't cranky today.

Gary Schear, bozeman Montana (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:19 AM)

oh yeah, did you forget about trent lott? not even close in comparison between the comments!

joe kelly lex., s.c. (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:20 AM)

Fox and ethics? Talk about an oxymoron. That being said, are you being a little self righteous MSNBC? You know you would have run it too if it happened on your network. The media can't help itself. If it bleeds, it leads.

Sheila, St. Louis (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:21 AM)

because their Fox and they're very much like Bush...

above others and they are excluded from anything considered moral, ethical and right!

ya know (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:21 AM)

Mic off doesn't make the comment right. We too often only get to see politicians' masks. It is refreshing to see their true faces for a change.

Retirement Investment Advisor, Bethesda, MD (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:22 AM)

FR you are correct about the ethics, but if Jesse Jackson didn't make those comments, there woudln't be anything to report. Plus, he only apologized once he knew it would air, and not because he was sorry for saying it. Why did he feel the need to say something against Obama anyway with that regard. As an African-American mother who resides in Philadelphia, we need more of our leaders to speak out against what too many of our fathers have chosen to do. Too many have abandoned their families. I am married, but not to my son's father who abandoned my son years ago at the tender age of 5. Old enough to have a distinct memory of what he had and no longer has. Old enough now to say he can't remember the sound of his father's voice or his face without looking at pictures of the past. I grew up with my father, so I don't know he feels, but I feel his pain. Obama knows that pain and can speak on it first hand. For someone like Jesse Jackson to say he wants to cut Obama's u-know-what off for telling the truth, he should be shunned. Is Jesse taking care of the little girl he fathered out of wedlock?

Crabs in a barrel. Something we try so hard to overcome...everytime we try to get out, one of our brothers or sisters pull us back in. Jesse said what he really feels about Obama when he thought no one was listening. I think he isn't as happy as he appears to be for the great chances Obama has to do what he could not....become our first Black President.

Obama '08

Fee, Philadelphia (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:22 AM)

Thats like asking why does the National Enquirer report what they report!

jim mi (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:24 AM)

Ethics and Fox is an oxymoron

tj, dallas, tx (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:24 AM)

Priceless-Keith Olbermann can spew his liberal hatred for 60 minutes every night, not even pretending to offer a balanced approach to news, and you all are criticizing Fox for unethical practices.

Drill Baby Drill (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:24 AM)

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