FEAR & UNbalanced: Confessions of a 14-Year Fox News Hitman

[ABX]

This is very damning. It comes from one of the Conservative business hosts. Read it in full at the link....

:::snip:::

...The Fox News opinion panel scam works like this. More often than not, in my panel segments I was the protagonist or “designated hit man” aka the one called on by the host (as instructed by the producers in my ear or the ear of the host) to “kill ‘em.” You’d know I was the designated hit man when the panel show hosts tossed the final death blow 15–20 seconds to me when they say “Toby you have the final word.”
But before I delivered the final rhetorical death blow …understand the producer of the segment had given me my script 24 hours BEFORE the show started . I knew 24–48 hours in ADVANCE of taping how the designated liberal was going to argue his/her point…and more important how I was going to win the day with our partisan audience.
All I had to do was perform my lines with conviction and leave the host enough time to “tease” the next totally choreographed and contrived segment.....


https://medium.com/@tobinsmith_95851/how-roger-ailes-fox-news-scammed-americas-la-z-boy-cowboys-for-21-years-1996ee4a6b3e

[ABX]

This is an interesting snip. I've heard this about Powers from several sources. She was never a consultant or even liberal, just an actress playing a role.

But yet another big part of the Fox News scam is that many times the “Democratic Strategist” label was a ruse — let’s call them “fake analysts”.
For example Kirsten Powers (now a contributor for CNN) was promoted by Roger as a “Democratic Strategist” with experience in the “Clinton White House.”
In reality she is a prime example of the fake political analysts Ailes launched with fudged or outright fake resumes. For years I would hear from ACTUAL democratic strategists in my DC hometown that they had no idea who Kirsten was and that she had no significant political experience at all.

[truth_seeker]

This is an interesting snip. I've heard this about Powers from several sources. She was never a consultant or even liberal, just an actress playing a role.

If Fox did/does this, do you suppose others in the industry did/do it also?

[ABX]

If Fox did/does this, do you suppose others in the industry did/do it also?

Absolutely, it is the industry norm. And other networks have picked up these people, like Powers, knowing full well who she is. This is a good exposure of the underbelly just coming from one network but I wouldnt be surprised if you srart to have these tell alls coming from the others soon as every network is getting so over the top in their antics.

It is all like realty tv. All fake, even the ones you like.

[Frank Cannon]

It is all like realty tv. All fake, even the ones you like.

And your point is?

[Cripplecreek]

Not really surprising.

[ABX]

And your point is?

It is always good to know when you are being played or manipulated. It helps to find the truth behind the story versus just following the line that is gamed to sell itsef to you.

[corbe]

    Very Insightful Article @AbaraXas
    Thanks for sharing, I particularly agreed with this.

What continues to blow me away to this day is . . most Fox News fans STILL don’t seem to get that the Fox opinion programming they are addicted to is just as fixed and fake as pro wrestling.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

If Fox did/does this, do you suppose others in the industry did/do it also?

Of course not, what in the world are you thinking?

Next thing you know you'll be trying to convince us they used some sort of email mailing list to coordinate their talking points.

[Sanguine]

You mean they choreographed the interview beforehand?  Of course they did!  Do we really think they didn't have their questions and talking points ready before the interview?  I would have expected that.  "You ask them about ____, and when they answer _______, you've got 'em.  Checkmate." 

How do you expect they do it?  No one on the team talks it out beforehand?  They go on without a plan?

[Cyber Liberty]

Who's Tobin Smith?  I've watched quite a bit of FNC and FBN and I've never seen this guy.

[ABX]

Who's Tobin Smith?  I've watched quite a bit of FNC and FBN and I've never seen this guy.

Really? He was one of the major financial gurus on FBN. He cohosted Bulls and Bears and Cashing In as well as was a regular expert on other shows.

[Cyber Liberty]

Really? He was one of the major financial gurus on FBN. He cohosted Bulls and Bears and Cashing In as well as was a regular expert on other shows.

He must have looked a lot different than the fellow at the top of the story.  I watched those Saturday morning shows all the time.

[ABX]

You mean they choreographed the interview beforehand?  Of course they did!  Do we really think they didn't have their questions and talking points ready before the interview?  I would have expected that.  "You ask them about ____, and when they answer _______, you've got 'em.  Checkmate." 

How do you expect they do it?  No one on the team talks it out beforehand?  They go on without a plan?

I guess you didnt read the whole thing, it wasnt just scripted Q&A, but fake pundits with fake bios playing a role. And thats just the tip of the iceberg in this.

[ABX]

He must have looked a lot different than the fellow at the top of the story.  I watched those Saturday morning shows all the time.

The guy in the big picture at the top is Roger Ailes. This is Smith.

[Sanguine]

I guess you didnt read the whole thing, it wasnt just scripted Q&A, but fake pundits with fake bios playing a role. And thats just the tip of the iceberg in this.

You caught me.  I only read what you had quoted in your post.

[Cyber Liberty]

The guy in the big picture at the top is Roger Ailes. This is Smith.

Ooops.  I recognize him now.  I never liked him.  Not a left or right thing, he just always struck me as a pompous jerk.

[Sanguine]

Nope, I read it and it just doesn't do what the headline says it does.  First of all, Tobin seems to have a very low opinion of Fox viewers.  Maybe because I'm not stupid enough I just didn't get what they were doing. 

[Wingnut]

You caught me.  I only read what you had quoted in your post.

Yep.  Ya caught her! Ya caught the tater!

[Sanguine]

Yep.  Ya caught her! Ya caught the tater!

Serves him right.

[Old Warrior in Exile]

What continues to blow me away to this day is . . most Fox News fans STILL don’t seem to get that the Fox opinion programming they are addicted to is just as fixed and fake as pro wrestling.

Then I demand to see the gals over there in the mud wearing skimpy swimsuits.

[austingirl]

I don't think I ever saw Tobin Smith on Fox New, just Fox Business. Haven't seen him in quite a while.

[Cripplecreek]

It is always good to know when you are being played or manipulated. It helps to find the truth behind the story versus just following the line that is gamed to sell itsef to you.

The fact is that very few in the right wing media really believe the line they're selling much less actually live any kind of conservatism. That's for the rubes who buy their BS.

They've pulled off their final biggest scam and now face a steady decline. The consolation is the fact that those who bought it get to go to their graves knowing that they were the willing morons who betrayed conservatism and America.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Fox is no worse than any other network. Libs attack it because its conservative.