In recent weeks, Democrats, including the front runners for the party's presidential nomination, have blasted the Bush Administration for the purportedly political firings of 8 US Attorneys. (Nevermind that Hilary Clinton admits, that if elected she would replace all of Bush's appointees to the position.) The scandal, if it can be such when the public largely yawns, is the latest in a line of (sometimes valid) charges that Bush eliminates dissent. Yet there is a limit to the dissent tolerated by Clinton and her fellow Senators Edwards and Obama-if they don't like it, it's not okay.

Accordingly they have decided they just can't appear at a Fox News (and Congressional Black Caucus) sponsored debate. Edwards, the first to withdraw, said, "There's just no reason for Democrats to give Fox a platform to advance the right-wing agenda while pretending to be objective." He then said that CNN would be a better debate venue. (Evidently, he feels that being a hero of the blogosphere will make up for the fact that according to Nielsen ratings, Fox draws nearly twice as many viewers as CNN.)

While Fox is clearly more than a right-wing muckraker, there is little doubt that it has a conservative orientation. Yet, there is also no denying that much of the rest of the media, including CNN, has a liberal bias. This fact is so obvious, that Pew Institute surveys reveal that among Independents, certainly not the President's core constituency, a full 1/3 believe the press treats Bush unfairly. Fox CEO Rupert Murdoch might be an arrogant, outspoken, conservative, but change conservative to liberal and you have a very accurate description of Ted Turner (CNN's CEO).

Beyond the troubling fact that Democrats still feel the best way to score points in the primary is to bash all things Republican, it is unfortunate that presidential candidates would ignore the millions whose main news source is Fox. Will they next refuse to speak to millions of gun owners or Evangelicals? "Even" President Bush eventually spoke to the NAACP, adding his own voice to that forum despite its bias. He kept listening and he certainly kept talking. For once, Democrats should follow his lead.

In a society that is often politically apathetic, it is the duty of leaders to go to the voters and citizens-or at the very least, to make the effort. Franklin Roosevelt, one of the first modern Democrats, perfected that notion with his fireside chats and America responded. What if he, objecting to the political leanings of radio producers in Hawaii, had refused to be heard there? If Democrats want to talk about real solutions for Iraq or health care or anything at all, they need to talk to those Americans affected by those issues, many of whom do watch Fox News. Unfortunately they have decided not to do so.

America was built on diverse political opinions-the Federalists and Anti-Federalists make Republicans and Democrats look like friends-and it will continue to find strength there. More diversity of opinion would certainly have been beneficial regarding Iraq. When the next "Iraq" occurs, will the Democrats allow any more diversity of thought than the man they criticize so fervently? (Joe Lieberman has an answer.)

Bias is not inherently bad, as long as it is equally distributed and not disguised. Fox's much maligned slogan, "We Report, You Decide" is true. That's what Americans should do-take in news, evaluate it, and then make a decision. For three years that's been my goal for this column, to spread knowledge, provoke thought, and encourage discussion. I don't deny bias, but hope I've always been fair-minded. Thanks to those who have "listened" and then spoke out. I hope you will do the same both in Ripon and beyond. So adieu, farewell, and may God continue to bless America-with both strong leaders and those who are worthy to challenge them.
Fox silences chicken Democrats - Opinion

"Accordingly they have decided they just can't appear at a Fox News (and Congressional Black Caucus) sponsored debate"

Ignoring the Congressional Black Caucus.........tsk, tsk..........won't they let Hillary speak in her Southern Drawl as if she were visiting with Al Sharpton?

Have a good one!:s4: