Fox News completely jumped the shark today by calling anyone who wants Social Security and Medicare a socialist, and never realizing that they were attacking their own audience.
Here is the video from Media Matters:
John Tamny of Forbes somehow turned a question about the budget into an unintentional attack on the viewers of Fox News. Tamny said, “Well, the tax increase is ridiculous. Because we don’t have a tax problem, revenue problem, we have a spending problem. And when you look at entitlements, I think they’re all an abomination. I don’t think any of them should exist. This is something that should be done elsewhere. But we did make these promises, so the idea should be not entitlements, but to basically say those nearing retirement age are going to be made whole. But for those of you who are not congenitally socialist, who actually want to control your retirement, you can opt out of these various programs. You don’t have to participate in Medicare of Social Security, and that’s how you cut entitlements without cutting off the people nearing retirement.”
Republicans are always talking about keeping Social Security and Medicare in place for those who are “nearing” retirement age, but they never define exactly what they mean by nearing. Do they mean people who are one year from year from retirement age will be covered, or those who are 10 years away from retirement age? This is a critical question because nearly half of Baby Boomers have not saved for retirement.
Speaking of those Baby Boomers, a lot of them watch Fox News. The average age for a Fox News viewer is 65. Those over age 55 are Fox News’s largest age group. According to a Pew study, the largest segment of Fox News viewers by income (33%) make less than $30,000 a year.
Thus, Fox News called the majority of their viewers socialists for wanting/need to take part in Social Security and Medicare.
Are Fox News viewers bright enough to understand that they are the socialists that Tamny was talking about?
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K from Bellingham
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Why would anyone in their right mind opt out of a program they’ve paid into since they began working ?! SS ISN’T an “entitlement” !!
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Sally
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 6:33 pm
And it is not uderfunded, nor running out of money, nor does it cost the government one red cent! The fix to make it work forever? Why, simply eliminate the earnings cap, and start including people like Mitt who only have income from investments. Presto. Done.
Fox Noise hasn’t had a new idea in 10 years.
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ibwilliamsi
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 8:33 pm
Under that scenario, we could all probably retire quite comfortably at 60.
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Phoebe Moody
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 9:21 pm
It’s amazing how the conservative right-wing have “muddied” the true meaning of the term “entitlement”. They imply that “entitlement” applies to welfare recipients who allegedly feel personally “entitled” to government assistance. However, if one has paid into Social Security and Medicare … then THEY are ENTITLED to the benefits of those government trust funds when they reach the qualified age to receive them. Therefore … Social Security and Medicare benefits ARE the TRUE “entitlements”. WELFARE and FOOD STAMPS are “government assistance” … NOT “entitlements”. Let’s all get back on the right track by ACCURATELY defining these things!
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Leo
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 12:23 am
No. It is an entitlement. It is something to which they are entitled. This insane maneuver to turn the word “entitlement” into a bad word is absolutely psychotic, and the fact that everybody has accepted it into common vernacular to refer to legitimate things… that’s simply offensive.
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Sandra
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 11:34 am
I personally prefer the phrase ‘paid beneifts’ and I think the Dems should refer to SS and Medicare as such and explain to the American people that it’s their money and they are ‘entitled’ to it because they paid for it thru payroll deductions. The R’thugs would soon loose that argument and disabuse their supporters into thinking it’s a Government handout.
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Eykis
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 9:29 am
I am truly sick and tired of the word “Entitlement”. I will be 59 yro in January 2013, and have paid CASH into Social Security and Medicare from EVERY SINGLE PAYCHECK since 1968-Not only do I want my PAID-FOR BENEFITS, I want ALL THE INTEREST that could have been EARNED~
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Shadowulf
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Well then call me a socialist then because I need them to survive. Lets call these republitards and tea baggers exactly what they are Eugenicists. They want rid of programs that are needed and counted on by middle class and the poor to survive once they are to old or like me no longer able to work as a means of population and economic control period.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 3:37 pm
This is too rich! I would never suspect that Fox would look at their crowd of viewing neanderthals and think they might be part of the rant?
Worse, Fox would have someone on that calls savings accounts socialist! Thats all SS is. A savings account
congenitally socialist. Now that makes me laugh! We need to start a petition on getting all FOx News listeners off the government teat!
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Sandra
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 11:37 am
Unfortunately FCUK News viewers don’t have the intelligence to realise they are also the beneficiaries of these paid benefits, in their narrow view, they should receive it, because.. other Americans, NO.
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djchefron
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 3:50 pm
You really think that the crowd who shouts get government out of my medicare will make the connection?
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Anne
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 4:05 pm
FOX viewers won’t make the connection, because they will refuse to believe that they were being insulted.
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Paws
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Fox viewers were insulted day after day after day during the campaign by Mitt Romney, his VP, and their surrogates. Yet, they still went out and voted for the GOP candidates that don’t give a damn about them.
I have a feeling this comment will trend the way Congressional ratings do. Everyone says Congress is terrible but ask about an individual’s own Congress critters and they will usually say, “But mine is okay, it’s the OTHER ones that are the problem.” So this comment will either go over their heads or they simply will try and justify or compartmentalize what was said – and they will continue watching Fox and continue voting the way they vote and when they lose all of their benefits, they’ll just blame the nearest Democrat. They won’t even see it coming.
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alan cole
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Unbelievable! I don’t particularly pay much attention to FOX unless I need a good laugh, but it is moments like this that I hope others are paying attention, especially the elderly and poor. On another note, I have derived a fair tax formula that would force the business community and wealthy to address our infrastructure needs. Go to http://t.co/EUA4b8h6 or alancole.blogspot.com
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smarterboy09
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 5:18 pm
If fox news represents the alternative, then socialism is starting to look better every day. Keep it up faux news, you are the best advocate liberalism ever had!
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Kitalaq
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 5:34 pm
For real news that are factual and unbiased, a person that is searching for a news outlet; locally, nationally and globally. Endowed with enough intelligence and common sense would eventually classify Fox News, MSNBC or any other news outlet that tend to be far right biased, nonfactual and counter productive very troubling news organization(s).
I completely do not trust, read and do not connect or get into their website or else I might get into their web of low level of sticking, conpiratorial, destructive thinking that is spread around to those that are gullible, mindless as if they are unable to think for themselves.
It is both interesting and intrigueing why of all people the elected representatives would even support, reiterate and repeat such statements from such news outlets.
I have come to a conclusion that they are “just right wing news organizations to spread all lies of misinformation, disinformation propaganda to mislead Americans for their political goals and objectives.”
Like Tom Ricks assessment. Republican Outlets…As in Republicans Little Kids Mental Control Club House Vocal Outlets LOL!!!
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Rho
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 6:01 pm
When did MSNBC go to the right?
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Mark
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 5:34 pm
I’m sorry, but in order for Faux News to jump the shark, they had to have had both oars in the water first, which has NEVER happened.
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Anne
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 5:36 pm
I wish I could fan this remark for being the funniest on this subject as well as being dead-on in its accuracy.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Steve Doocy. The weak leak in the boat
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AFM
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 6:15 pm
This isn’t an entitlement. As far as am concerned they are annunities.
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JHall
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 6:24 pm
It gets tiresome listening to talking heads making 6 and 7 figure incomes, sometimes more, calling people who aren’t as fortunate socialists, moochers, etc. People pay into Social Security and Medicare, just like if it were a savings plan. They are ENTITLED to have the money they paid in back later in life.
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D. Lowrey
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 8:17 pm
The worst part is telling people that SSI and Medicare are the best deal which has ever been there to catch them. For all of the ones who don’t believe it is actually an entitlement…they will usually make more in payments than they paid into it…so the baggers crying the worst about it would be very pissed off if the only check they got was what they actually did pay into it…NO MORE THAN THAT. This being the case…the baggers who don’t want to be Socialists…we pay them the exact amount they paid into the system. If they’ve been paid more than this…we put a lien onto anything they own. They have a pension…we garnish that for the amount. After this…don’t want them to keep feeling bad…so more checks for them since they’ve all ready gotten what you paid into the system. So what they can’t afford to live…their ideals and being proud of not being a leeching Socialist will keep them warm and a roof over their head.
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Cinnamon
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 2:31 pm
No interest on, in my case for example, money paid in over 47 years?
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Reynardine
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 6:26 pm
Fox viewers are always going to think it is browner, ickier, less Christian people who are to be disenfranchised, not their ril uhMericuhn selves.
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Brian Loudermilch
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Seriously. What Makes you think that Anyone watching
the POX Noise Channel is Smart enough to Know that
THEY have just been Insulted ?
Sorry. POX Noise Viewers are NOT that Smart.
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majii
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 11:27 pm
No, they’re not aware enough that Tamany is talking about them. Heck, they still voted for Romney even though he insulted them by saying they expect the government to “give” them things. They were the many of the 47% that Romney was disparaging. It never occurs to them that when republicans talk about the “evils” of welfare, that they’re talking about them. In their minds, it’s those “other people” who are the takers, even though many of them are worse off than those they label as being “sucking off the government’s teat.”
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Jeff
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 1:13 am
My father raised his kids to listen and read from all sources of info and taught us logic and critical thinking. Dad, I really tried to watch Fox and listen to what they say, but it is JUST A BUNCH OF GREEDY LIARS!!! I tried and I cant listen to them.
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Tom
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 1:42 am
So when did John Tamny become a representative of Fox? Last I heard he is a writer for Forbes and simply a guest commenter on Fox. Would you prefer that Fox allow liberal opinions and filter or exclude conservative opinions? If they did they would be clones of the other network news… exactly what they are trying not to be.
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Jason Easley
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 9:24 am
Due to Fox’s relationship with Forbes, a.k.a. Forbes on Fox, he is also a Fox News contributor. As you well know, many Fox News contributors also have have jobs with other conservative media outlets.
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Tom
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 10:50 am
My point was that he was expressing his own opinion which has no bearing on a message or viewpoint supported by Fox News. Fox does not allow only liberal views or condemn conservative viewpoints when they are expressed as do the major networks. This is responsible, unbiased news. Liberals may not like it because of that but I appreciate the fact that both sides are presented so that I can decide for myself and not be limited to only liberal viewpoints.
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Lori
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Seriously???
“This is responsible, unbiased news.”
I don’t think that actually means what you (apparently) think it means.
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Tom
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Yes, that is exactly what I think it means… telling the whole story without bias. During the presidential debates I got sick of listening to the major networks wrap-up of each candidates comments which were for the most part entirely different from what I had just heard with my own ears. Often it was he said this but he meant that… We aren’t idiots. We heard what he said and we know what he meant. The media is notorious for twisting the meaning into something entirely different from what was said and meant.
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djchefron
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 11:30 pm
I dont care if faux is consevative but I do care that they tell the truth and like it has been written, the truth will set you free.
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Gary Vaughn
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 6:28 am
I have a brother that is tea bagger all the way, and when Fox called all the voters stupid I asked him if that didn’t make him think they were just a little off. His reply was, Oh they are just talking about you liberals. They just don’t get it at all.
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Randall
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 9:36 am
This thread of comments is far loonier than the original goofy statement by the Forbes guy. Why would you people attack Fox News for a comment made by some guy from Forbes? Oh, I know why. Because you’ll say and do anything to attack Fox for any reason. It’s kind of pathetic, really, since I bet that none of you watch Fox regularly, and some probably never do. If you watched them, you’d realize that except for a couple of opinion shows (which are clearly described as opinion, not news) Fox really is quite “fair and balanced”–at least far more so than the horrid MSNBC or the mainstream networks.
Every time I think the far right and the tea partiers are nuts, I just have to read stuff like this post and these comments to realize that the left are even more prejudiced, bigoted and stupid.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 11:37 am
I love these kind of posts. He calls MSNBC horrid yet doesnt realize because he doesnt watch it that the mornings on MSNBC are conservative and the evenings are liberal.
There is not a second on Fox News that is Fair and balanced. Not even a microsecond.
Everything you say about the left here applies to you
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aus ferret
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 10:39 am
No entitlements? So no subsidies to: farmers, defense contractors, unviable businesses? No concessions to religious groups, no extra tax breaks to the extremely rich? No perks for executives and politicians?
Everyone receiving at least a living wage and paying the same rate of tax?
What a wonderful USA that would be!
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Alejandro Moreno
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 11:06 am
You have to be intellectually challenged to be able to watch (and believe) Fox in the first place. So to expect these same viewers to suspect that they are part of the problem, is to not understand their severe cognitive dissonance in the first place, which contributes to their blinding stupidity.
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Randall
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 11:10 am
The moderator apparently doesn’t want to post my comment. Do only lefties get to comment on this site?
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Shiva (Moderator)
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 11:14 am
Its posted. So everyone can see how the koolaid works. Do you take it with a straw?
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Mary
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 11:28 am
The sad truth is most of the faux cult members do not realize that they are being called socialists.
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Mark
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 12:48 pm
he problem is that Medicare and Social Security aren’t entitlements. In a sense, it’s like calling your savings account an entitlement. Sure you’re entitled to your own money and in the same way, we’ve paid into the Social Security and the Medicare programs. Therefore, that’s our money. It’s not a handout rather it’s our own money. So, stop taking the money out of the lockbox, Congress, and we’ll be fine.
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Tom
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 8:03 pm
I agree with Mark 100% on this one. Medicare and Social Security is made up of our money. Are we entitled to it? You bet we are, since I know in my case I have been contributing since the mid-seventies. Now SSI… that is a different story.
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Ernie Ferguson
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 1:36 pm
At some point, the Fox viewership will realize that they are being included in the general condemnation.
I don’t watch Fox, but I view their clips and what strikes me is the overall constant negativity. About pretty much everybody and everything.
I just have a feeling that some of their viewers are starting to tire of the endless rant against everyone and everything.
I noted that about the Republican convention. It was a festival of “nattering nabobs of negativity” (credit to Spiro Agnew on that one…). Didn’t sell all that well.
Fox better change their schtick or they’re going to exclude even their own.
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Karli
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Fox fair and balanced? Didn’t the election outcome provide sufficient evidence to the contrary? The shock experienced by those who get their news from Fox was palpable, because Fox had been telling them they were going to win and win big. This was a classic example of group-think, wherein divergent opinions are stifled so the group thinks everyone agrees. Fox is not the only example of this – it happens across the political spectrum, but I’d expect that something like last month’s election would alert you, Randall, and anyone capable of thinking independently, that the information upon which they have been basing opinions and expectations is questionable.
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David
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 7:12 pm
Am I the only one that noticed that “Fox News” didn’t say anything, the guy that made the comment works for Forbes, so how is “Fox News” saying or jumping the shark in this case? It’s one guys opinion that doesn’t even work for Fox.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 8:32 pm
Does Forbes on Fox ring a bell?
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Tom
Dec. 3rd, 2012 at 3:31 pm
David,
Note my similar comments above and no you aren’t the only one that noted that Fox News didn’t say anything.
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