EDITORIAL – Dems not obliged to appear on Fox

Freedom of the press is a beautiful, self-regulating and self-correcting device…. Freedom of the press is a beautiful, self-regulating and self-correcting device. Theoretically, if society doesn’t trust a news service, it won’t use it. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case – which is why the politically charged Fox “News” channel is still pumping out propaganda daily.

Luckily, some people are realizing that the power of change lies with them, and they are encouraging candidates interested in their votes not to recognize the faux-news organization. Democratic front-runners Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards aren’t attending two Fox-sponsored debates. The first, now canceled, was scheduled for August and co-sponsored by the Nevada Democratic Party. The Congressional Black Caucus Educational and Leadership Institute is co-sponsoring the second debate scheduled for September, which has yet to be canceled despite the absence of Clinton, Obama and Edwards, according to the Associated Press.

Fox proponents are questioning the caliber of the candidates who declined their invitations to the debates, wondering if they will be able to stand up to Iranians and Koreans if they can’t stand up to Fox News.

It’s not so much a question of quality as it is denying the affirmation that Fox is a legitimate news source. The juxtaposition of “Fox” with “News” is unnerving and offensive to people who value the ethics of journalism. Its news content is skewed, on the offensive and prone to misunderstandings. It has established itself as the last place people look for thoughtful debate between people of differing ideologies.

Why would Democratic candidates waste their time at a debate on a channel that their constituents don’t watch – Fox News viewers most likely won’t be voting in Democratic primaries. Perhaps Fox should just stick to its target audience, sponsoring Republican-only debates until after the primaries.

Democratic candidates will be attending a CBC- and CNN-sponsored debate, a venue that a spokesperson for Obama called “more appropriate,” according to the AP.

The truth is, these candidates will gain nothing from voters who despise and resent Fox News’ less than “fair and balanced” news. Fox can spin the candidates’ unwillingness to participate any way it wants, but the truth is that it’s less of a knock on the candidates’ credibility than Fox’s. Democrats only love their candidates more for basically giving Fox the middle finger.

Now we’re not suggesting that what America needs is to split into “ideological camps,” but we need to see both sides crossing over and having meaningful discussions. What we aren’t in support of are politically biased news forums, and we’re glad to see people are taking a stand and using the power they have to self-correct free press.