Fox News Chairman On Crossfire: "Set Up To Have The Left Win."

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI

April 12, 2002

Two emails to Roger Ailes, Chairman of Fox News, and his responses.

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Email from Mary MacElveen to Roger Ailes

Subject: We Demand to Be Heard, Mr. Ailes!
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002 11:51:47 -0400
From: Mary MacElveen <xxx@xxx.xxx>
Organization: A DEMOCRATIC FOOT SOLDIER
To: ailes@foxnews.com

Mr. Roger Ailes
Fox News
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York City, New York 10036

Dear Mr. Ailes,
April 11, 2002

As you know all too well, Mr. Ailes all the buzz lately is about the revamped Crossfire on CNN. People such as me are watching it in droves. Finally, we liberals have two powerful men to speak out on our issues. Those esteemed men are James Carville and Paul Begala. It has come to my understanding that the GOP is upset with this new show. Poor babies! We have had to listen to them for quite sometime, and we liberals and moderates have had enough!

Many such as me, Mr. Ailes are taking the time to write Walter Isaacson and CNN in support of this new Crossfire. We are getting our message out on the Internet to support this show, and finally take a stand for our beliefs. We are also taking time out to watch which sponsors advertise on your network, and react in kind. By telling them that we will not purchase their products should they choose to advertise on such a right wing biased network. We liberals have dollars too, Mr. Ailes and we shall put those dollars into networks and shows that best represent our ideas. I have even suggested to Mr. Isaacson that he rip your network's motto out of your hands. That motto being fair and balanced. Because certainly your station is not.

As you know all too well, Mr. Ailes Al Gore received over 500,000 over George Bush in the popular vote, but your station erroneously called Florida far too soon for George Bush. More people heard and responded in kind to Mr. Gore than to Mr. Bush in their votes. We will remember this, Mr. Ailes and judging from last years elections we won some solid victories.

My suggestion to you, Mr. Ailes is to live up to your motto and get some more liberal hosts on your shows that do represent us and do so with conviction.

Sincerely,
Mary MacElveen
Sound Beach, NY

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Email from Roger Ailes to Mary MacElveen

Roger Ailes Reply Number One to My Letter:

Subject: Re: We Demand to Be Heard, Mr. Ailes!
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002 11:53:21 -0400
From: "Ailes, Roger" <roger.ailes@foxnews.com>
To: 'Mary MacElveen' <xxx@xxx.xxx>

Its dying in the ratings. You are being hustled to flack for the because
its set up to have the left win every night by beating up the old man
and the kid twit. Clever but it will fail.
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Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld (www.BlackBerry.net)

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Now Roger Ailes Second Comment to My Letter:

Subject: RE: We Demand to Be Heard, Mr. Ailes!
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002 12:15:43 -0400
From: "Ailes, Roger" <roger.ailes@foxnews.com>
To: 'Mary MacElveen' <xxx@xxx.xxx>

Some moron left wing newsletter must be advising a bunch of pathetic losers who sit home a play with themselves on computers to write to me to tell me to be more fair and balanced. These uncreative robots make every letter sound the same . THE LEFT MUST be losing the war if they are reduced to this low level crap.

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Email from Rose Gregory to Roger Ailes

Mr. Ailes:

I'm not going to bother to ask you to be more fair and balanced. The jig is up on the Fox News slant. Bias isn't so bad when it's disclosed.

I am writing to tell you that there are plenty of people who adore the new Crossfire. We are thrilled that we finally have some lefties on the air who are competitive debaters. We were tired of being represented by losers like Colmes. Now THAT was a rigged debate.

I am overjoyed that CNN has stopped trying to beat you at the right wing game. There is money in appealing to the majority, even if we aren't, on average, as wealthy as the bleating right wingnut minority.

You're putting up quite a fight, but the right wing has lost the hearts and minds of the majority, and it will continue down that slope. CNN's new Crossfire is there for you whenever you decide to give up 19th century thought.

Rose M. Gregory
Nashville, TN

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Email from Roger Ailes to Rose Gregory

Subject: Re: News
Date: Thursday, April 11, 2002 12:08 PM
From: "Ailes, Roger" <roger.ailes@foxnews.com>
To: 'Rose Gregory' <xxx@xxx.xxx>

We are fair and balanced but if you enjoy watching two hired spinners who get paid to lie for a living beat up. An old man and a lttle boy who are journalists (therefor must base answwers in fact) then enjoy yourself. A show should either be all spinners or all journalists, if is mixed either way the spinners will always win. CNN knows this but most of the public doesn't. The show is set up for liberals like you to enjoy because they've been losing the battle for ideas.
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Sent from my Blackberry Wireless Handheld (www.BlackBerry.net)

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Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI