Media Bias

Perhaps the most damaging myth concerning bias in the media is the persistence and propagation of the false dichotomy between Saudi Arabian petrochemical billionaire prince Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud’s Fox News Channel and NBC Universal, and the implied parody between far-right-wing talk radio hosts such as Glenn Beck, Alex Jones and Rush Limbaugh and National Public Radio, American Public Media, and Public Radio International.

The fallacy underlying this dichotomy is relatively elementary to demonstrate.

On Friday November 5th and Saturday 6, 2010, CNN [17], NPR News [29], ABC News [8][23][24], CBS News [43], CNS News [11], Fox News [7][15], and even NBC News [5][40] itself reported; as did USA Today [14], The New York Times [13][52][53], The Los Angeles Times [16][36][37], The Washington Times [33], The Washington Post [4][42], the New York Post [49], and the Huffington Post [40][51]; that Keith Olbermann, the host of MSNBC most popular primetime news show “Countdown”, had been “suspended indefinitely [7][35] without pay [40][51]” by NBC for donating $2,400 [under Federal Election Commission rules the most an individual donor can give to a candidate per general election campaign] to the reelection campaigns of Democrat Representative Raul Grijalva of the Arizona 3rd Congressional District and Arizona Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords [4] on October 28, 2010 for the 2010 Midterm Congressional Elections:

“One week ago, on the night of Thursday October 28, 2010;” Olbermann wrote on November 5th; “After a discussion with a friend about the state of politics in Arizona, I donated $2,400 dollars each to the reelection campaigns of Democratic Representatives Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords.” [4]

Grijalva was declared the winner in his race on Thursday, November 4, 2010. [4]

Giffords is most popularly known for having been shot in the head [2] and through her brain [38] at point-blank range; along with 18 other people including her district director, then-future Arizona Democratic Congressman Ron Barber [26]; in a mass-shooting that killed the Chief Judge for the United States District Court for Arizona and 5 others; including nine year old Christina Green [who was born on the day of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks] [39]; in the parking lot outside a Safeway supermarket [1] [2] North of Tucson, Arizona on January 8, 2011 by high school dropout, 9/11 conspiracy theorist, supporter of now-former Congressman Ron Paul (R—TX) and Glenn Beck and Alex Jones fan Jared Lee Loughner [19][31] with a legally-purchased [3] 33-round magazine [28][32] semiautomatic [25].

In NBC’s statement, MSNBC President Phil Griffin stated [47] that NBC’s policy prohibits its employees from working on or donating to political campaigns, considering it a breach of journalistic independence to contribute to the candidates they cover:

“Anyone working for NBC News who takes part in civic or other outside activities may find that these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist because they may create the appearance of a conflict of interest. Such activities may include participation in or contributions to political campaigns or groups that espouse controversial opinions.”

In his admission of guilt, Olbermann stated that he wasn’t using his influence to solicit any donations for the candidates:

“I did not privately or publicly encourage anyone else to donate to these campaigns, nor to any others in this election or any previous ones, nor have I previously donated to any political campaign at any level.”

“Countdown”’s 8:00 PM Central primetime time slot on MSNBC was filled by Olbermann’s frequent substitute anchor Rachel Maddow [12] [21] [48], with Maddow’s 10:00 Eastern time slot, now entitled “The Last Word” being filled by Lawrence O’Donnell, formerly the writer of Seasons 6 and 7 of the Emmy Award Winning NBC television drama “The West Wing”, created by Aaron Sorkin.

            “The ownership of Fox News contributed millions of dollars to the Republican Party” Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont pointed out [32]. Australian billionaire Rupert Murdoch contributed two million dollars to Republicans [22] [30] [34] [49] [54], according to Ewen MacAskill of The Guardian on Friday November 5, 2010 [35]. “A number of Fox commentators are using the network as a launching pad for their presidential campaigns and are raising money right off the air.” [34]

As “News Night” anchor Will McAvoy says on the first season finale of HBO’s drama “The Newsroom”: “And that brings us to tonight’s second story.”

1.      “Fast facts: 2011 Tucson Shooting: Arizona Shooting Fast Facts”. CNN. August 7, 2012. http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/07/fast-facts-2011-tuscon-shooting/ http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/10/us/arizona-safeway-shootings-fast-facts/ 

2.      “Gabrielle Giffords Shot: Congresswoman Shot in Arizona: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona Was shot in the Head Saturday When an Assailant Opened Fire outside a Grocery store During a Meeting with Constituents, Killing Six People and Wounding 13 Others”. The Huffington Post. January 8, 2011. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/08/gabrielle-giffords-shot-c_n_806211.html 

3.      “Gun Used In Ariz. Shootings Purchased Legally”. CBS News. January 8, 2011. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gun-used-in-ariz-shooting-purchased-legally/

4.      “Keith Olbermann Suspended For Campaign Contributions To Grijalva, Giffords and Conway”. The Washington Post. Friday November 5, 2010. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/05/AR2010110505025.html

5.      “Keith Olbermann Suspended Over Political Donations: MSNBC TV Host Gave Cash to 3 Democratic Candidates in Apparent Violation of NBC Ethics Policy”. NBC News. November 5, 2010. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/40028929/ns/politics-decision_2010/t/keith-olbermann-suspended-over-political-donations/#.U7y2uvldV8E http://www.today.com/id/40028929/ns/today-today_news/t/keith-olbermann-suspended-over-political-donations/#.U72y5_ldV8E  

6.      “MSNBC’s Olbermann Returns to Work”. CNN. November 10, 2010. http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/11/09/olbermann.reinstatement/

7.      “MSNBC Suspends Keith Olbermann Indefinitely For Contributing To Democratic Campaigns”. Fox News. November 6, 2010. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/11/05/msnbc-suspends-keith-olbermann-indefinitely-contributing-democratic-campaigns/

8.      “MSNBC Suspends Olbermann For Political Donations”. ABC News. November 6, 2010. http://abc7news.com/archive/7769355/

9.      “Olbermann Suspension Ending Tuesday: MSNBC TV Host Violated Rules about Political Donations”. NBC News. November 7, 2010. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/40062578/ns/politics-decision_2010/t/nbc-olbermann-suspension-ending-tuesday/#.U72y-_ldV8E

10.  “Tucson Shooting Timeline”. The Washington Post. January 14, 2011. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011/01/tucson-shooting-timeline-pima.html

11.  Bauder, David. “NBC Suspends Olbermann For Donations”. CNS News. November 5, 2010. http://cnsnews.com/news/article/nbc-suspends-olbermann-donations

12.  Bauder, David. “Keith Olbermann Fired? MSNBC Relationship was “Failing for a Long Time”. The Huffington Post. January 22, 2011. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/22/keith-olbermann-fired-msn_n_812637.html 

13.  Carter, Bill and Stelter, Brian. “Olbermann of MSNBC Suspended Over Donations”. The New York Times. November 5, 2010. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/olbermann-suspended-from-msnbc-for-campaign-donations/ http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/06/us/06olbermann.html?_r=0

14.  Christie, Bob. “MSNBC Suspends Olbermann For Political Donations”. USA Today. November 5, 2010. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2010-11-05-olbermann_N.htm

15.  Christi, Bob. “MSNBC Suspends Keith Olbermann For Political Donations”. Fox News. November 6, 2010. http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/18471822/msnbc-suspends-keith-olbermann-for-political-donations 

16.  Collins, Scott. “Keith Olbermann Suspended From MSNBC Over Democratic Donations: Olbermann Suspension Ignites Debate: Punishment of MSNBC Host Over Donations To Democrats Has Some Asking If Rules Meant to Protect Journalistic Objectivity Apply when a Channel or Show Lets Opinion Flow Freely”. The Los Angeles Times. November 5, 2010. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/11/keith-olbermann-suspended-from-msnbc-over-democratic-donations.html http://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/05/entertainment/la-et-olbermann-20101106

17.  Desola, David and Mooney, Alexander. “Olbermann Suspended For Dem Contributions”. CNN. November 5, 2010. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/05/olbermann-donated-to-three-dems-in-apparent-violation-of-nbc-policy/comment-page-2/

18.  Dolak, Kevin and Goldman, Russell. “Olbermann to Be Back on the Air Tuesday”. ABC News. November 7, 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/keith-olbermann-return-countdown-msnbc-boss/story?id=12082531

19.  Fahrenthold, David. “Jared Loughner’s Behavior Recorded by College Classmate in E-Mails”. The Washington Post. January 9, 2011. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011/01/jared-loughners-behavior-recor.html

20.  Farhi, Paul. “MSNBC Ends Suspension of Host Keith Olbermann”. The Washington Post. Monday November 8, 2010. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/07/AR2010110703863.html

21.  Farhi, Paul. “MSNBC Axes Popular TV Host: Keith Olbermann and MSNBC Part Ways: Olbermann’s Split with MSNBC May Have Been Long in the Making”. The Washington Post. Saturday January 22, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/21/AR2011012107169.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/21/AR2011012106861.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/22/AR2011012204023.html

22.  Folkenflik, David. “Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp Gives Big to GOP”. National Public Radio. August 18, 2010. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129277651

23.  Goldman, Russell. “Olbermann Sidelined From MSNBC For Making Political Contributions”. ABC News. November 5, 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Keith-olbermann-sidelined-msnbc-making-political-contributions/story?id=12069567

24.  Goldman, Russell. “Keith Olbermann Suspended From MSNBC For Political Contributions”. ABC News. November 6, 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/WN/keith-olbermann-suspended-msnbc-political-contributions/story?id=12074305 http://abcnews.go.com/WN/keith-olbermann-suspended-msnbc-political-contributions/story?id=12074305&page=2  

25.  Grow, Doug. “Semi-Automatic Pistol Used In Arizona Shootings Is Available In Minnesota, Too”. Minnesota Post. January 11, 2011. http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2011/01/semi-automatic-pistol-used-arizona-shootings-available-minnesota-too

26.  Gutierrez, Thelma. “Giffords Leads Crowd In Pledge At Vigil Marking One Years Since Shooting”. CNN. Monday January 9, 2012. http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/08/us/arizona-shooting-anniversary/

27.  Hartfield, Elizabeth. “Ron Barber, Former Giffords Aide, Wins In Giffords Old District”. ABC News. June 13, 2012. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/06/ron-barber-former-giffords-aide-wins-in-giffords-old-district/

28.  Isikoff, Michael. “Tucson Shooting With High-Capacity Magazines Reignites Gun Debate”. NBC News. Sunday January 9, 2011. http://investigations.nbcnews.com/_news/2011/01/09/5801374-tucson-shooting-with-high-capacity-magazines-reignites-gun-debate

29.  James, Frank. “MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann Suspended, Angering Liberals”. National Public Radio. November 5, 2010. http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2010/11/05/131105376/msnbc-s-keith-olbermann-suspended-angering-liberals

30.  Kurtz, Howard. “News Corp Defends $1 Million Donation To Republican Governors Association”. The Washington Post. Wednesday August 18, 2010. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/17/AR2010081704338.html

31.  Lah, Kyungh and Martinez, Michael. “Loughner Pleads Guilty To 19 Counts In Tucson, Arizona, Mass Shooting”. CNN. Wednesday August 8, 2012. http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/07/us/arizona-loughner-plea/

32.  Lautenberg, Frank. “Ban High-Capacity Gun Magazines like One Used in Tucson”. CNN. January 12, 2011. http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/01/12/lautenberg.high.capacity.clips/

33.  Lengell, Sean. “Sanders Backs Olbermann in Tussle with MSNBC”. The Washington Times. November 5, 2010. http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2010/nov/5/sanders-backs-olbermann-tussle-msnbc/

34.  Lichtblau, Eric and Stelter, Brian. “News Corp Gives Republicans $1 Million”. The New York Times. August 17, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/us/politics/18donate.html 

35.  MacAskill, Ewen. “US TV Anchorman Keith Olbermann Suspended for Donating to Democrats: MSNBC Journalist Held To Be In Breach of Company Rules After He Admitted Giving money To Three Candidates in Midterm Elections: Keith Olbermann, Host of Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Has Been Suspended Indefinitely by MSNBC”. The Guardian. Friday November 5, 2010. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/05/nbc-anchorman-suspended-donating-democrats 

36.  Maertz, Melissa. “Keith Olbermann’s Suspended Suspension: Why Did MSNBC move So Fast?” The Los Angeles Times. November 8, 2010. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/11/keith-olbermanns-suspension-the-swift-response-of-msnbc.html  

37.  Malcolm, Andrew. “Keith Olbermann, Worst Person in the World, Suspended By MSNBC”. The Los Angeles Times. November 5, 2010. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/11/keith-olbermann-msnbc-keith-olbermann.html

38.  McKinnon, Shaun. “Gabrielle Giffords Shooting: At the Edge of Mayhem”. USA Today. February 8, 2011. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-06-giffords-shooting-chain-of-events-chapter-2_N.htm

39.  Meyers, Amanda and Neergaard, Lauran. “Congresswoman’s Condition Stable; 8 Still Hospitalized”. Chicago Sun Times. January 10, 2011. http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/3233390-417/congresswomans-condition-stable-8-still-hospitalized.html#.U72CnPldV8E

40.  Mirkinson, Jack. “Keith Olbermann Donated To Three Democrats: Olbermann Suspended: Keith Olbermann Has Been Suspended Indefinitely Without Pay For His Donations To Democrats”. The Huffington Post. November 5, 2010. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/05/keith-olbermann-donated-democrats_n_779359.html  

41.  Montandon, Mac. “Countdown” And Out: Keith Olbermann Suspended Over Political Donations”. NBC News. Friday November 5, 2010. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/entertainment/television/NATL-MSNBC-Anchor-Keith-Olbermann-Suspended-Following-Political-Donations-106779118.html

42.  Montgomery, David. “MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann Suspended for Contributing to 3 Democratic Candidates”. The Washington Post. Saturday November 6, 2010. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/05/AR2010110504496.html

43.  Montopoli, Brian. “Keith Olbermann Suspended From MSNBC: Keith Olbermann Donations to Democrats May Have Violated NBC Ethics Policy”. CBS News. November 5, 2010. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/keith-olbermann-suspended-by-msnbc/  http://www.cbsnews.com/news/keith-olbermann-suspended-from-msnbc/ http://www.cbsnews.com/news/keith-olbermann-donations-to-democrats-may-have-violated-nbc-ethics-policy/

44.  Mooney, Alexander. “News Corp Gave $1M To Chamber of Commerce”. CNN. October 1, 2010. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/01/report-news-corp-gave-1m-to-chamber-of-commerce/

45.  Moraes, Lisa. “MSNBC Has Big Ratings Night with Keith Olbermann’s Return”. The Washington Post. Thursday November 11, 2010. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/10/AR2010111006951.html

46.  Petri, Alexandra. “I Know Why Keith Olbermann’s Suspension ended so quickly”. The Washington Post. November 7, 2010. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/compost/2010/11/i_know_why_keith_olbermanns_su.html

47.  Rose, Adam. “Keith Olbermann to Return Tuesday, Phil Griffin Announces”. The Huffington Post. November 7, 2010. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/07/keith-olbermann-to-return_n_780141.html

48.  Rupar, Terri. “Olbermann Signs Off From “Countdown”. The Washington Post. January 21, 2011. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2011/01/_visit_msnbccom_for_breaking.html

49.  Rutenberg, Jim. “With Another $1 Million Donation, Murdoch Expands his Political Sphere”. The New York Times. October 1, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/02/us/politics/02murdoch.html

50.  Sanderson, Bill. “Keith Olbermann Suspended At MSNBC Over Political Donations”. The New York Post. November 6, 2010. http://nypost.com/2010/11/06/keith-olbermann-suspended-at-msnbc-over-political-donations/

51.  Shea, Danny. “Keith Olbermann Suspended From MSNBC Indefinitely Without Pay”. The Huffington Post. November 5, 2010. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/05/keith-olbermann-suspended_n_779586.html

52.  Stelter, Brian. “Maddow Says Olbermann’s Suspension Shows Difference between MSNBC and Fox News”. The New York Times. November 5, 2010. http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/maddow-says-olbermanns-suspension-shows-difference-between-msnbc-and-fox-news/?ref=us

53.  Stelter, Brian. “2^nd MSNBC Host Suspended Over Campaign Donations”. The New York Times. November 20, 2010. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEFD7143DF933A15752C1A9669D8B63

54.  Weiner, Rachel. “Fox Parent News Corp Donates $1 Million To Republican Governors Association”. The Washington Post. August 17, 2010. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/08/fox-parent-news-corp-donates-1.html

55.  Williams, Pete.  “New Threat Note Found In Tucson Shooting: Recovered Cases Confirm 31 Shots Fired; Pistol Sales Jump in Arizona”. NBC News. January 11, 2011. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/41021843/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/new-threat-note-found-tucson-shooting/#.U72AMPldV8E    

“The ownership of Fox News contributed millions of dollars to the Republican Party”

-Senator Bernie Sanders (I—VT)

ü  On December 3, 2012, Bob Woodward [17]  reported for the Washington Post [18] that eighteen months before, on April 27, 2011, Fox News Founder and Chairman Roger Ailes told General David Petraeus; Commander of United States forces in Afghanistan, that he should resign from the military [15] in six months and run for the Presidency of the United States [7][8][9], telling Petraeus that he would run his Presidential campaign [4] and that Australian billionaire Rupert Murdoch; head of Fox News’s owner NewsCorp; would bankroll the campaign [2]. “Everybody at Fox loves you.” Ailes’s spokesperson; former senior Republican Henry Kissinger national security aide and Reagan Pentagon spokeswoman and Fox News national security analyst [12] Kathleen McFarland; told Petraeus in his office in Kabul, Afghanistan [6]. “The one who’s bankrolling it is the big boss;” Referring to Murdoch; “Roger’s going to run it [16]. And the rest of us are going to be you’re in-house.” [13]

ü  Gabriel Sherman reported in Salon on Wednesday January 15, 2014 that in the summer of 2010, Ailes set out to recruit Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to run for President. [14]

ü  It was reported on Sunday February 2, 2014 that after 2012 Republican Presidential nominee Willard Romney introduced his Vice Presidential running mate; Republican Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan; during the final months of the 2012 Presidential campaign, Ailes referred Ryan to Ailes Communications speech coach Jon Kraushar. Ailes directed his network, the Fox News Channel, to begin overtly comparing Ryan to former Republican President Ronald Reagan.

“A number of Fox commentators are using the network as a launching pad for their presidential campaigns and are raising money right off the air.”

-Senator Bernie Sanders (I—VT)

ü  The Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity gave $5,000 to the leadership political action committee, called Many Individual Conservatives Helping Elect Leaders Everywhere [MICHELEPAC], that supported now-former Minnesota Republican Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann,; as did his wife Jill; and did not disclose it.[3]

ü  On April 11, 2014, it was reported that Hannity had endorsed Jack Kingston in the Georgia Republican Senate Primary on March 27, 2014. [19]

ü  On June 20, 2014, it was reported that Hannity had endorsed Republican two-term New York State Assemblywoman and Congressional Candidate Claudia Tenney.

ü  On June 9, 2014, it was reported that Hannity had endorsed Republican Mississippi State Senator and United States Senate candidate Chris McDaniel.

ü  On September 13, 2010 Hannity touted Republican North Carolina Congressional candidate Ilario Pantano on his Fox News Program.

ü  On September 20, 2005, Hannity promised on his nationally-syndicated radio show to give the maximum contribution to New York United States Senate candidate Jeanine Pirro and urged his listeners to donate as well, promising to provide a link to her campaign website; which features a photograph of her with Hannity a local event held in her honor in February 2005; on his own web page. Hannity donated $4,200 to Pirro.

ü  In late June, 2010 Hannity arranged to fly former Republican Georgia Congressman Newt Gingrich in to headline a fundraiser for New York Congressional candidate John Gomez. On March 7, 2010 it was reported that Hannity had promised Suffolk county Republican Party Chairman John LaValle and Conservative Party Chairman Edward Walsh in February 2010 that he would “do all he could” to help promote Gomez; his friend since third grade in Hempstead, New York;  fundraise and bring in headliners for events. On September 24, 2010 Hannity helped Gomez solicit donations on his radio program. In May 2010, Hannity and his wife donated the legal maximum of $9,600 to Gomez’s primary and general campaign, according to the Federal Election Commission. In July, 2010 Both Hannity and Bachmann touted Gomez on his Fox News program the day before Bachmann appeared at a rally and fundraiser; touted by Hannity on his Fox News program [11] the day before; for Gomez in Long Island, New York.

ü  On October 5, 2010, Hannity told Meg Whitman that he hoped she wins for Governor of California on his radio program.

ü  On September 4, 2008, the Cincinnati Plain Dealer  and the Dayton Daily News reported that Hannity, in encouraging former nine-term Republican Ohio Congressman John Kasich to run for Governor of Ohio, “pledged to give $10,000 to Kasich’s campaign should he run, as well as have his wife give another $10,000.” Hannity scheduled an April 2010 fundraiser for Kasich. On October 9, 2009, Kasich brought Hannity to a high dollar fundraiser, tickets to which cost between $500 and $5,000, at the home of Republican millionaire industrialist Ed Crawford in Kirtland Hills in Northeast Ohio. [10]

ü  On October 13, 2010 Hannity urged West Virginians to help John Raese for Senate.

ü  On August 9, 2007, Hannity fundraised for Republican New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani [1][5] at a closed-door, 250-per head fundraiser in Cincinnati, Ohio.

ü  On May 18, 2012, Hannity endorsed Ted Cruz on his radio program and supported Cruz on his Fox News show on May 21, 2012.

1.      “He’s ready! Rudy Giuliani Talks With Sean Hannity”. Fox News. February 6, 2007. http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/02/06/ready-rudy-giuliani-talks-with-sean-hannity/

2.      Bernstein, Carl. “Why The US Media Ignored Murdoch’s Brazen Bid To Hijack the Presidency: Did the Washington Post and Others Underplay the Story through Fear of the News Corp Chairman, Or Simply Tin-Eared Judgment? The Ailes/Petraeus Tape Made Clear to Many That Murdoch’s Goals in America Have Always Been Nefarious”. The Guardian. Thursday December 20, 2012. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/dec/20/bernstein-murdoch-ailes-petreaus-presidency 

3.      Elliott, Justin. “Sean Hannity Gives $5,000 To Michele Bachmann: The Fox Host And His Wife Each Donated To The Conservative Congresswoman From Minnesota In August”. Salon. Thursday September 23, 2010. http://www.salon.com/2010/09/23/bachmann_hannity_donation/  

4.      Garofoli, Joe. “Fox’s Chair Roger Ailes Told Petraeus He’d Quit to Manage His Prez Campaign”. Albany Times Union. December 4, 2012. http://blog.timesunion.com/politicssource/foxs-chair-roger-ailes-told-petraeus-hed-quit-to-manage-his-prez-campaign-audio/3391/

5.      Koppelman, Alex and Renzas, Erin. “Rudy Giuliani’s Ties to Fox News: Judith Regan’s Lawsuit against News Corp Alleges That Rupert Murdoch’s Firm, Which Owns Fox News, Wants Giuliani to Be President. A Look at Links between the Candidate and the Company”. Salon. Thursday November 15, 2007. http://www.salon.com/2007/11/16/regan/   

6.      McFarland. K. “My Petraeus Interview firestorm Silly, Off-Base”. Fox News. December 4, 2012. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/12/04/my-petraeus-interview-firestorm-silly-off-base/

7.      Meresca, Clara. “President Petraeus? Fox Chairman Liked The Sound Of It”. NBC News. December 4, 2012. http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/president-petraeus

8.      Miller, Jake. “Fox News Chief Urged Petraeus To Run For President”. CBS News. December 4, 2012. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fox-news-chief-urged-petraeus-to-run-for-president/

9.      Mirkinson, Jack. “Roger Ailes Tried To Get David Petraeus To Run For President”. The Huffington Post. December 4, 2012. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/04/roger-ailes-david-petraeus-president_n_2236722.html

10.  Naymik, Mark. “GOP Gubernatorial Candidate John Kasich Turning to Sean Hannity to Help Raise Campaign Money in Northeast Ohio”. Cleveland Plain Dealer. October 1, 2009. http://www.cleveland.com/naymik/index.ssf/2009/10/gop_gubernatorial_candidate_jo.html  

11.  Pareene, Alex. “Fox Democrat Doug Schoen to Be Special Guest at GOP Fundraiser: The Pollster Is Scheduled to Be a Guest at a Party for One of Hannity’s Favorite Republican Candidates”. Salon. Thursday October 7, 2010. http://www.salon.com/2010/10/07/doug_schoen_republican/  

12.  Pilkington, Ed. “Roger Ailes Reportedly Urged David Petraeus To Run For President In 2011: Bob Woodward Reports On Recorded Conversation In Which A Fox News Analyst Relayed Offer From Ailes and Rupert Murdoch: The Discussion Behind Woodward’s Story Takes Place In the Then-General’s Office In Kabul Before Petraeus Became CIA Director”. The Guardian. Tuesday December 4, 2012. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/dec/04/roger-ailes-david-petraeus-president 

13.  Rayfield, Jillian. “Fox News President Reportedly Tried To Get Petraeus To Run For President: “It’s Never Going to Happen.” Petraeus Says In An Audio Recording”. Salon. Tuesday December 4, 2012. http://www.salon.com/2012/12/04/fox_news_president_reportedly_tried_to_get_petraeus_to_run_for_president/

14.  Sherman, Gabriel. “Fox News’ Greatest Failure: Roger Ailes, Chris Christie And The Quest For A Republican President: Fox Honcho Roger Ailes Started 2012 Dreaming Of A Christie Presidency. By The End, His dreams Had Become Nightmares”. Salon. Wednesday January 15, 2014. http://www.salon.com/2014/01/15/fox_news_greatest_failure_roger_ailes_chris_christie_and_the_quest_for_a_republican_president/

15.  Wemple, Erik. “Five Takeaways from the Fox News—David Petraeus Conspiracy”. The Washington Post. December 4, 2012. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2012/12/04/five-lessons-from-fox-news-roger-ailes-david-petraeus-conspiracy/

16.  Wong, Alex. “Murdoch Wanted To Bankroll Petraeus’ Presidential Campaign; Fox News Chief Wanted To Run It”. RT. December 4, 2012. http://rt.com/usa/petraeus-fox-news-president-264/

17.  Woodward, Bob. “Fox News Chief’s Failed Attempt to Enlist Petraeus as Presidential Candidate”. The Huffington Post. December 3, 2012. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/03/david-petraeus-for-president-fox-news-roger-ailes_n_2235429.html 

18.  Woodward, Bob. “Fox News Chief’s Failed Attempt to Enlist Petraeus as Presidential Candidate”. The Washington Post. December 3, 2012. http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/fox-news-chiefs-failed-attempt-to-enlist-petraeus-as-presidential-candidate/2012/12/03/15fdcea8-3d77-11e2-a2d9-822f58ac9fd5_story.html

19.  Young. Camie. “Hannity Endorses Kingston In Senate Race”. Gwinnett Daily Post. Wednesday April 16, 2014. http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/news/2014/apr/16/political-notebook-hannity-endorses-kingston-in/

To anyone who identifies MSNBC as the "left-wing equivalent" of The Fox News Channel; or who posits that any liberal or progressive "parallel" to Fox News even exists at all; the appropriate response is the one that now-former Congressman Barney Frank (D--MA) gave to Teabagging Partiers attempting to disrupt his August 2009 town hall: 

"In what universe do you spend the majority of your time?"