To Fox, 'Fair and Balanced' Doesn't Describe Al Franken

Lawyers for Fox News Network, part of Rupert Murdoch's media empire, News Corporation, contend that Mr. Franken should not be allowed to use those words in the title of his new book due in stores next month, "Lies, and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right" (Penguin).

They argue that Fox has trademarked "Fair and Balanced" to describe its news coverage and that Mr. Franken's use of the phrase would "blur and tarnish" it.

"Franken is neither a journalist nor a television news personality," according to the complaint. "He is not a well-respected voice in American politics; rather, he appears to be shrill and unstable. His views lack any serious depth or insight."

Says Bill O'Reilly: "It is simply a joke for The New York Times to editorialize that fabricated personal attacks are acceptable under the banner of satire . . . It's unfortunate, but in this country, if you're successful or famous, many courts will allow defamation, slander and liable (sic, foxnews.com) to go unpunished. But once again, that's not the issue here. The point is accountability. We are shining a spotlight on the haters and the enablers. You can decide if that spotlight is aimed in the right direction. Talking Points cannot understand how people could side with the defamers and their pals. But it's important to know just who these people are."

(Brilliant, Bill. You do realize that "if you're successful or famous," there's actually a different standard for libel, don't you? Or do you just not want to let your viewers know about that, because it makes it harder for you to rant about people who criticize you?)

And Al Franken's response:

Franken thanked Fox ''for all the publicity.'' [The book went from 200 to 4 on Amazon's best-seller list.] ''As far as the personal attacks go, when I read 'intoxicated or deranged' and 'shrill and unstable' in their complaint, I thought for a moment I was a Fox commentator. And by the way, a few months ago, I trademarked the word 'funny.' So when Fox calls me 'unfunny,' they're violating my trademark. I am seriously considering a countersuit.''

I have to laugh, and the only thing that stops me is the realization of how many Americans watching Fox News agree that Franken's book is just an outrage, an outrage!

I guess O'Reilly's still bitter about how Franken called him on a lie on Book TV back in May and left him to splutter, "Shut up! Shut up!" And he knows this book will be much more of the same. Can't wait to read it. :-)

  ¶ 1:44 PM