Is the Conventional Wisdom Wrong Again?

Many if not most of the talking heads on the weekend talk shows have declared the White House's attacks on Fox News Channel to be self defeating. There have been comparisons to Richard Nixon's hostility to NBC. Fox has enjoyed increased ratings by attracting defiant viewers. Though there may be some superficial similarities, the differences are important. Fox News clearly violated the long accepted standard of journalistic independence when they participated in the Tax Day Tea Parties last spring. Despite Nixon's paranoia, NBC never engaged in any activity that crossed the line as blatantly as the actions of Fox certainly did. Furthermore, the White House's strategy has shown some signs that it is working. Fox has, so far, toned down their coverage of Tea Party II. Since they have been called out, they have to be aware that their credibility is at stake. This is a potential long term problem that will not be offset by whatever short term bump they get in their ratings. They run the risk of being prisoners of the zeitgeist of the times and, therefore, irrelevant when faux populism becomes passe. The White House would be well advised to keep the scrutiny on Fox, at least as long as Fox continues to provide such easy targets.