Recently, I criticized Lawrence O’Donnell for proudly proclaiming that MSNBC would not invite Trump defenders on the network because they are liars. O’Donnell’s comment brought a rare joining of voices from across the political spectrum denouncing the knowing bias in such statements. Once again, however, President Donald Trump has supplanted the story with his own equally objectionable statement. On Tuesday, he attacked Fox News for interviewing Democrats like Sen. Chris Van Hollen and declared “this will be the beginning of the end for Fox.” If so, it would mean the end of journalism since Fox News was merely offering both sides of these stories in interviewing one of the senators who will be voting in the upcoming trial.
In a series of Twitter posts, President Trump again attacked Wallace, who has been equally tough on both Trump and his critics. This is earned him the ire of Trump on multiple occasions. Trump has previously insisted that Fox should not allow any criticism of him or his Administration to be heard. In his tweets, he stated:
“Really pathetic how @FoxNews is trying to be so politically correct by loading the airwaves with Democrats like Chris Van Hollen, the no name Senator from Maryland. He has been on forever playing up the Impeachment Hoax. Dems wouldn’t even give Fox their low ratings debates…So, what the hell has happened to @FoxNews. Only I know! Chris Wallace and others should be on Fake News CNN or MSDNC. How’s Shep Smith doing? Watch, this will be the beginning of the end for Fox, just like the other two which are dying in the ratings. Social Media is great!”
These continuing attacks on Fox are deeply disturbing since they are calling on the network to be little more than an extension of the White House and Trump campaign. In other words, it would have to stop being a legitimate journalistic organization. That includes the suggested ban on interviewing Democrats, including senators who were key players in these stories. It is an attack on our concept of independent and balanced journalism.