MSNBC lies to viewers. Again. Should they be fined?

I think it's high time that people started fighting back and suing these news outlets for libel. Look how news outlets used the edited tap in the Trayvon Martin case that made out the shooter to be a bigot. How they edited a tape to make Romney appear to say he enjoyed firing people by editing out the phrase "that don't do their jobs". I haven't heard Obama edited but I'm sure it's happened. And just to be fair and objective, I've also heard conservative talk show hosts, take things out of context or only play part of a clip in order to make someone look bad. All of these shenanigans are libelous no matter who the victim is. I wish everyone who has been libeled n this fashion would take legal action and force the media to do their jobs and quit trying (and succeeding) in influencing voters as well as trying legal cases in the media before they get to court.

After reading this, some of the responses here, and checking out the blogosphere, I'm thoroughly impressed at just how ironic some of the justifications have become. Case in point: Blaming Fox because of hating Fox because of places like MediaMatters using the MSNBC editing tricks to begin with. There's a difference in being politically biased on a network and outright--and habitually!--editing footage in disturbing ways to create a narrative. We're not talking about some commentators here who spin different numbers to give an uberpartisan take on goings-on in America. We're not talking about a host who is blatantly biased (and, let's face it; for every Hannity there's a Maddow). Hell, this isn't even about running a poor story by mistake without checking it out. If any other cable news network did this outside of MSNBC, especially Fox, the heat would be far worse. For Fox in particular, the White House would be taking it to the streets -- along with the admin-friendly badged-up lambs whose idea of "news" is to powwow together while brainstorming of ways to catch Romney in an "oops" moment. Even CNN would be facing a world of backlash from this. So I'm not sure which is more worrisome to me. The fact that no one really cares about MSNBC's habitual editing habits, because they can simply point the finger in the other direction, or the fact that it's expected from this network. No news organization has its hands clean. They're all in it for something, and they all have elements which root for a particular party or candidate, give a twisted, warped take on the news, and dismiss differing opinion. But MSNBC is the only network I know of to continuously edit these clips to CREATE the narrative. Yes, some cut clips to play with a narrative. But we're not talking about playing to a bend; we're talking about manufacturing the news. This goes way above and beyond something like D. Morris interpreting unemployment numbers a different way than the left does -- which in itself somehow warrants 4-days worth of front-page coverage on MM and similar sites. This isn't O'Reilly's white-bread commentary about going to a black-owned restaurant. This is more akin to Oliver Stone. I'm not sure if it's criminal. If the 405 people still watching the network enjoy it, good on 'em. But even the most fervent Fox haters out there should expect much more instead of simply pointing the finger right back. There's a HUGE difference in being biased and in crafting the news altogether through editing software! But I'm not sure why I'm b1tching. The person who doesn't realize that doesn't deserve to realize it. Then again, I was recently told that making a video insulting Islam is worse than murdering someone because of it. So I'm totally flippin' spent on this site and on people's opinions in general. If they like it, go on and watch it. I hope it's around forever. I got my stuff in order, so phuck 'em.

Absolutely! They should be fined and third strike you're out should be the absolutely most lenient policy. Should lose license the first time, as they have proven they have an agenda and cannot therefor be trusted! (Shaking head!) I simply cannot believe how much the 'American' People are tolerating.. The upcoming election is for a president, not a king!

When your media source lies to you, stop listening/reading. Hit them where it hurts. Let their sponsors know why you aren't listening. I know after CNNs mishaps, their ratings are dropping. The great thing about MSNBC, they don't have that many listeners/readers already

You know, every time someone on here says, oh, you got that from FOX and their part of the Republican party, I'm gonna say; MSNBC is a part of the Democrat party, so what! It is amazing that some people are stupid enough to claim that MSNBC is a trustworthy news outlet. What is this? The third of fourth time they've been caught?

Of course these corporations that control these news organizations and stations should be fined (and {whatever else can be done} to control the deception), but as you know, we now live in a world where lies are painted to be truths and truths are made out to be lies. Left is right, right is wrong...you know how it is. You yourself could write a letter, or several letters to the powers that be and let them know how you as an American citizen feel about this. You could write your local and state congressman or woman. People are not being held accountable anymore, and they should be, from the bottom to the top. And never make the mistake of thinking that your one "little" voice won't help. That's what they want you to think.

Ah, but Rollo, they all lie and edit feeds. Why single out the MSNBC?

It's really quite interesting reading all the responses to this discussion, both from the left and the right. The lefties react as usual, either pointing fingers at others or trying to deflect the discussion to something else, or both. They will never admit any wrongdoing by their candidates or media sources, facts be damned. What I find the most disturbing about how MSNBC operates is that they intentionally misreport and even manufacture their "news" and basically turn it into propaganda. All news agencies make mistakes and have to correct themselves later. Getting it wrong once in a while is inevitable, but quite obviously in this case, MSNBC didn't make an inadvertent error in reporting. They deliberately and willfully changed a story into an outright lie, purely for political purposes. It should be quite obvious to anyone that they can't be trusted as a news source. They're a joke. They have zero credibility. Yet the lefties defend them to their dying breath and berate Fox News for reporting the truth and showing MSNBC for what they really are. It boils down to two different kinds of people. One type wants to hear the truth and the other type wants to be told what they want to hear. It doesn't matter if it's a lie as long as it reinforces their beliefs. There will always be a certain group of people that will watch MSNBC no matter what they do. I don't really know if the FCC could do anything in this case, other than maybe imposing a fine or something. It's not very likely that they will do anything at all. They are after all a government agency that is under the control of the Obama administration at the moment. It's certain that they wouldn't want anything done to stop MSNBC from doing what they're doing. I think it's ultimately up to the people to realize what MSNBC really is and just not watch it. Their rating is pretty low anyway, so that's a good sign, but as I said, the dedicated left will watch them no matter what. Luckily, there are enough real news sources that will always expose their lies for all to see.

This is nothing new when it comes to media. I am sure most of them do the same thing. You are at peace if you could just stop watching some of these news.

The links are fox news.... and the examiner. Fox News... The same station that had a lawsuit filed for lying and were pretty much told that "distortion of the news" was allowed under the first amendment. You are going to sit here and complain about another news station doing the same thing as one of your sources. You do know that it is only a policy. There is no real law, rule, or regulation. Why on earth would you use a source that went to court and was given an 'ok' to misinform the public? Should MSNBC be fined? No. If they get fined we have a lot more news stations to fine as well. Fining them would be taking away one of their constitutional rights as the press and then we'd have to fine any other news outlet that has ever made a wrong story, and I don't think those other outlets would be too happy with that, especially the one you so wonderfully used. Now when will Americans boycott ALL of them? Probably never. There are still people out there who use them to make points against each other hence your Fox News link. No one is going to boycott something they are still using. It is akin to boycotting toilet paper even though you still use it.