PDA

View Full Version : Fox is going down - but Sen Tom Coburn? He's moving up with class


Dorian Gray
8th April 2010, 03:54 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_ts1514

That story starts out with Murdoch being Murdoch, but I wanted to draw your attention to this:
snippo marx

But while Fox News' head cheerleader was trumpeting his network's objectivity and slinging scorn at liberal bias he sees in the rest of the media, Fox News' coverage and its connection to the activist right has been drawing flak from some prominent national conservatives.

Yesterday, Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn, who is strongly identified with both the fiscal- and social-conservative wings of the GOP, wound up cautioning some conservative constituents at a town hall gathering not to "catch yourself being biased by Fox News that somebody is no good."

Coburn's plea for viewer skepticism came in defense of his courtly aside about Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whom he characterized as "a nice person." When a wave of grumbling followed, Coburn stood his ground, asking the crowd "how many of you all have met her?" before proceeding to chide them for echoing the Fox-branded view of Pelosi as a poor specimen of humanity.

The Coburn episode was especially striking, since he happens to be one of the most stalwart conservatives in the Senate, netting a 96-point rating on the 100-point scale furnished by the American Conservative Union.

snippo lighter

That is just... cool. I can't ... it's just classy. Here's one of the most conservative guys in Congress stepping back and using critical thinking and skepticism, and saying "I don't agree with her ideology, but that doesn't mean she's not a nice person. And maybe you shouldn't boo her unless you've met her, huh?" He's not drinking the kool-aid. He's not borrowing talking points. He's just doing his job. And that's refreshing.

That's also me, Dorian Gray, recognizing something good about a reeeeeeeally conservative Republican, for the record.

The Fallen Serpent
8th April 2010, 07:21 PM
I agree. This is a very positive civil action for him to take. Kudos to the man. Much respect for him even if I disagree on ideological grounds. This is certainly something that both sides of the spectrum can take to heart.

Meadmaker
8th April 2010, 08:22 PM
I first heard of him when I read his book "Betrayal of Trust" Ever since, I've liked the guy. I disagree with him ideologically, but he's honest and genuine.

BenBurch
8th April 2010, 10:52 PM
Coburn is a gentleman. I wish we had 31 more like him!

As for Fox;

Ladewig
9th April 2010, 02:46 AM
Here's one of the most conservative guys in Congress stepping back and using critical thinking and skepticism, and saying "I don't agree with her ideology, but that doesn't mean she's not a nice person. And maybe you shouldn't boo her unless you've met her, huh?" He's not drinking the kool-aid. He's not borrowing talking points. He's just doing his job. And that's refreshing.

That's also me, Dorian Gray, recognizing something good about a reeeeeeeally conservative Republican, for the record.

I'm glad he is taking a less partisan approach, but I have to question your statement that not booing someone unless you've met her is using one's critical thinking skills. I can most certainly and objectively look at a politician's voting record and speeches before making a rational decision that I strongly agree or disagree with that person's political position. I do not have to meet people before I decide to boo them.

MattusMaximus
9th April 2010, 10:13 PM
Thank you, Sen. Coburn

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/77474823c4a54b00a.gif (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=12117)

Accidental Martyr
9th April 2010, 10:32 PM
How quick before they turn on him?

fullflavormenthol
10th April 2010, 01:05 AM
I like him, because people like him remind me why I used to identify with the Republican party. I feel that I am a Republican, but I just feel so out of place in the modern Tea Party/Fox News GOP that I just don't vote for these people anymore. Things have gone so far away from Reagan that I am really sick everytime they invoke the man as if he would support kooks like Sarah Palin or even Michael Reagan in the crap that they say.

Magyar
10th April 2010, 05:58 AM
I am shooting a note off to the Senator, offering my respects for his comments, as well as a note to my representatives suggesting that they follow such examples.

We should ALL do this!

Dorian Gray
10th April 2010, 02:51 PM
I'm glad he is taking a less partisan approach, but I have to question your statement that not booing someone unless you've met her is using one's critical thinking skills. I can most certainly and objectively look at a politician's voting record and speeches before making a rational decision that I strongly agree or disagree with that person's political position. I do not have to meet people before I decide to boo them. That's a way of "meeting" her. Contrast that with just booing her because a ticker, talking head, pundit or teabagger told you to.

You might have a point, though. It's not really critical thinking. It's just thinking. Either is refreshing.

daredelvis
10th April 2010, 09:16 PM
That's pretty much the way the Senate ran in the olden days, prior to '94, that is.

Daredelvis