The
escalating war
between the White House and FOX News took an unexpected turn on Tuesday.
During a morning press conference, Jake Tapper, White House
correspondent for ABC News,
challenged the Obama
administration's claim that FOX is "not a news organization." In surprisingly friendly terms, Tapper referred to the rival network as a "sister" organization. Here's his row with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs:
Tapper: It’s escaped none of our notice that the White House has
decided in the last few weeks to declare one of our sister
organizations “not a news organization” and to tell the rest of us not
to treat them like a news organization. Can you explain why it’s
appropriate for the White House to decide that a news organization is
not one?
Gibbs: Jake, we render, we render an opinion based on some of their
coverage and the fairness that, the fairness of that coverage.
Tapper: But that’s a pretty sweeping declaration that they are “not a news organization.” How are they any different from, say –
Gibbs: ABC -
Tapper: ABC. MSNBC. Univision. I mean how are they any different?
Gibbs: You and I should watch sometime around 9 o’clock tonight. Or 5 o’clock this afternoon.
Tapper: I’m not talking about their opinion programming or issues you
have with certain reports. I’m talking about saying thousands of
individuals who work for a media organization, do not work for a “news
organization” -- why is that appropriate for the White House to say?
Gibbs: That’s our opinion.
