I always find it humorous (and frustrating) when FOX is vilified. They are no more or less partisan that ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, Huff PO, MSNBC, & the NYT. The difference: FOX doesn't pretend that their opinion shows are middlin,' only that they strive to present opposing views on those programs & that their actual hard news programs, like Bret Baier & Shepherd Smith are balanced; Those noted above pretend to be balanced & give opposing views a shot, they probably even believe they are not partisan hacks, yet, the boot licking they do of the Democrats & the derision with which they treat conservatives is clear.
Joel Robin MarksAugust 28, 2018
Mr. Madison is the 'Father of the Constitution', Father of the Bill Of Rights, Father of the 2nd Revolutionary war, one of authors of the Federalist Papers, and also the author of the 'Notes of the Federal Convention.' He is a man to be studied and Mr. Smith really does 'Go to Washington' when he writes correctly of the great James Madison.
God bless America and the Dream of liberty and Freedom.
Robert E. FiskAugust 16, 2018
This is a great article. Here are some thoughts that detractors of a free press might consider. If you take away someone else freedom of speech don't put at risk your own freedom to speak your mind. If you require everyone else to be accurate in everything they say shouldn't you live by the same rule. I find quite often people say things they find out later were not correct. Generally that correction comes from something that was written before they said it. This is not to say that somethings are inappropriate or incite to anger and it would have better left unsaid. The only way to overcome these things is through patients, meekness, humility and a love of your your fellow beings. A little research might help to soften the heart. If only because it will put a little distance between what you heard and how you will respond.
Don PritchardAugust 16, 2018
I do not believe the author's use of the name Republican to describe the opposition party to the Federalists to be accurate. At the least it is misleading. The modern-day Republican Party was born out of the Whig Party in the late 1850s. I do not believe it has any connection to the party which the author referred to as Republican. At least, that's the way I heard it.
RaNae HealyAugust 16, 2018
While this article speaks of history it really doesn't address today's issues. FOX news is a propaganda machine for Trump. He uses FOX as his own; they speak to an audience of one (Trump). Thank goodness we have a free press who are doing their jobs to report & research what is happening. To even call the main stream media "fake news" is alarming. That's what authoritarian regimes do. I challenge all LDS members to open their minds and listen, read other media besides FOX. Critical thinking is what is needed today. We have some tremendous resources available, so let's to our job as responsible citizens.
Vickie Rice GriffithAugust 14, 2018
Thanks for this article reminding me of parts of our history I had forgotten and putting perspective on the current battle between parties.
Mark DonaldsonAugust 14, 2018
Great article! I enjoyed it very much! I agree wholeheartedly with Brother Smith's conclusions!
Phillip C. SmithAugust 14, 2018
How important it is to allow all to express themselves in speech and print, even when such activity results in attack against things we hold dear. Educational institutions should be at the forefront of such efforts. Fairness for all should become the watchword for our society. What a great man James Madison was and is, if for nothing more than the First Amendment.
This said, comments should be civil and respectful. We need to remember that we are all children of loving heavenly parents. We should treat others as we would hope they would treat us.
Fixit1404August 14, 2018
The issue is not really about whether the press should be free to oppose one opinion or another, but whether they should be held accountable for publishing unsubstantiated "facts" or blatant untruths.
There is
Don CarrollAugust 14, 2018
It is interesting the double standard placed on Trump and conservatives in general. Just as the left wing progressive media has the right to print their vile distortions at Trump, so does Trump and conservatives have the right to defend and express themselves, including the comment that Trump is being criticized for in this article concerning the left media being an enemy to the people. Trump has not tried to shut down the media, but on the other hand, left organizations and institutions including many college campuses are constantly striving to suppress freedom of thought coming from conservatives. Other than the double standard applied to Trump in this article, this was very informative and great to learn some lessons concerning the freedom of press from our founding days.
KirkAugust 14, 2018
A good article and I agree for the most part. I do believe; however, that we live in a different time. The tide is turning back toward the middle in regards to a balanced media, i.e. fair number of media on both sides. Yet, it is still far from a fair number on both sides. Fox news leans right slightly, but every other t.v. station is completely left. With talk radio and the internet, the opportunities available to the public to hear both sides have increased but Satan does not let go so easily, throwing in political correctness and intolerance and social justice.
No I think we live in a far different time than the founding fathers.
Just one last thought. The people loved Jesus, he blessed them, healed them, loved them. Yet, I believe that fake news was a major factor in the call to Pilot to crusify him. Was it also not fake news that allowed the Germans to murder 6 million Jews?
herm olsenAugust 14, 2018
Excellent reminder. Thanks for sharing.
Charles McClellandAugust 14, 2018
A timely reminder of the importance of a free and independent press to the preservation of our democratic republic - thank you!
Comments | Return to Story
Darla GaylorOctober 29, 2018
I always find it humorous (and frustrating) when FOX is vilified. They are no more or less partisan that ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, Huff PO, MSNBC, & the NYT. The difference: FOX doesn't pretend that their opinion shows are middlin,' only that they strive to present opposing views on those programs & that their actual hard news programs, like Bret Baier & Shepherd Smith are balanced; Those noted above pretend to be balanced & give opposing views a shot, they probably even believe they are not partisan hacks, yet, the boot licking they do of the Democrats & the derision with which they treat conservatives is clear.
Joel Robin MarksAugust 28, 2018
Mr. Madison is the 'Father of the Constitution', Father of the Bill Of Rights, Father of the 2nd Revolutionary war, one of authors of the Federalist Papers, and also the author of the 'Notes of the Federal Convention.' He is a man to be studied and Mr. Smith really does 'Go to Washington' when he writes correctly of the great James Madison. God bless America and the Dream of liberty and Freedom.
Robert E. FiskAugust 16, 2018
This is a great article. Here are some thoughts that detractors of a free press might consider. If you take away someone else freedom of speech don't put at risk your own freedom to speak your mind. If you require everyone else to be accurate in everything they say shouldn't you live by the same rule. I find quite often people say things they find out later were not correct. Generally that correction comes from something that was written before they said it. This is not to say that somethings are inappropriate or incite to anger and it would have better left unsaid. The only way to overcome these things is through patients, meekness, humility and a love of your your fellow beings. A little research might help to soften the heart. If only because it will put a little distance between what you heard and how you will respond.
Don PritchardAugust 16, 2018
I do not believe the author's use of the name Republican to describe the opposition party to the Federalists to be accurate. At the least it is misleading. The modern-day Republican Party was born out of the Whig Party in the late 1850s. I do not believe it has any connection to the party which the author referred to as Republican. At least, that's the way I heard it.
RaNae HealyAugust 16, 2018
While this article speaks of history it really doesn't address today's issues. FOX news is a propaganda machine for Trump. He uses FOX as his own; they speak to an audience of one (Trump). Thank goodness we have a free press who are doing their jobs to report & research what is happening. To even call the main stream media "fake news" is alarming. That's what authoritarian regimes do. I challenge all LDS members to open their minds and listen, read other media besides FOX. Critical thinking is what is needed today. We have some tremendous resources available, so let's to our job as responsible citizens.
Vickie Rice GriffithAugust 14, 2018
Thanks for this article reminding me of parts of our history I had forgotten and putting perspective on the current battle between parties.
Mark DonaldsonAugust 14, 2018
Great article! I enjoyed it very much! I agree wholeheartedly with Brother Smith's conclusions!
Phillip C. SmithAugust 14, 2018
How important it is to allow all to express themselves in speech and print, even when such activity results in attack against things we hold dear. Educational institutions should be at the forefront of such efforts. Fairness for all should become the watchword for our society. What a great man James Madison was and is, if for nothing more than the First Amendment. This said, comments should be civil and respectful. We need to remember that we are all children of loving heavenly parents. We should treat others as we would hope they would treat us.
Fixit1404August 14, 2018
The issue is not really about whether the press should be free to oppose one opinion or another, but whether they should be held accountable for publishing unsubstantiated "facts" or blatant untruths. There is
Don CarrollAugust 14, 2018
It is interesting the double standard placed on Trump and conservatives in general. Just as the left wing progressive media has the right to print their vile distortions at Trump, so does Trump and conservatives have the right to defend and express themselves, including the comment that Trump is being criticized for in this article concerning the left media being an enemy to the people. Trump has not tried to shut down the media, but on the other hand, left organizations and institutions including many college campuses are constantly striving to suppress freedom of thought coming from conservatives. Other than the double standard applied to Trump in this article, this was very informative and great to learn some lessons concerning the freedom of press from our founding days.
KirkAugust 14, 2018
A good article and I agree for the most part. I do believe; however, that we live in a different time. The tide is turning back toward the middle in regards to a balanced media, i.e. fair number of media on both sides. Yet, it is still far from a fair number on both sides. Fox news leans right slightly, but every other t.v. station is completely left. With talk radio and the internet, the opportunities available to the public to hear both sides have increased but Satan does not let go so easily, throwing in political correctness and intolerance and social justice. No I think we live in a far different time than the founding fathers. Just one last thought. The people loved Jesus, he blessed them, healed them, loved them. Yet, I believe that fake news was a major factor in the call to Pilot to crusify him. Was it also not fake news that allowed the Germans to murder 6 million Jews?
herm olsenAugust 14, 2018
Excellent reminder. Thanks for sharing.
Charles McClellandAugust 14, 2018
A timely reminder of the importance of a free and independent press to the preservation of our democratic republic - thank you!
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